In this taut thriller that depicts a future where belief is dangerous, faith is deemed hatred, and a group of powerful elite keeps watch, the Reckoner has come to wake up America.The year is 2038 and Cheyenne Burne is a brilliant young programmer working for Acatour, the world’s top technology firm. Her father converts to Christianity, and he suddenly disappears without a trace. When a stranger … When a stranger hands Cheyenne a coded message that sends her on a collision course with a clandestine group of believers, she must put her life in the hands of those following a man known only as the Reckoner. He claims he wants to bring back true faith in Christ to America and also reveal the forces behind the disappearances of the many renowned people who publicly declared their Christian faith.
Operating in the shadows and living off the grid, this mysterious prophet assembles a ragtag team–including a former bookseller whose store was shut down for selling prohibited books–to help him take the battle for transparency to the top. With a ruthless FBI agent closing in, can Cheyenne and the others expose the truth and lead a return to God in America before it’s too late?
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Twenty years in the future and Christianity is outlawed as hate speech, big brother has gotten even bigger, and a prophet sent by God enlists a group of both strong and weak Christians to take down an evil mogul and open people’s eyes.
Due to the premise and current events, this is one of those books that sticks with you and sheds light on the Christian persecution and privacy issues we face today and will likely face in the future. While the style of writing wasn’t always to my taste, the story brings both goosebumps and awareness.
I would recommend American Omens to anyone interested in end times fiction, as well as, current events as they affect Christianity.
@WaterBrookMultnomah #Partner. This suspense, thriller is set in 2038. The weird part of the novel is that it is also tied into 2019 as well. Thomas Thrasher is an excellent writer. The characters are so well written that I found myself having a strong dislike for one while hoping and cheering for others. I usually do not read this type of book, but after reading this book, I have decided to read any future books Thomas Thrasher writes. I have given one to 2 of my children already. Some of my children will not choose to read it but I have a plan. I am going to take them for coffee at their favorite bookshop and hand them one to read while I am there. Bet they do not leave without purchasing one. I am so passionate that my children and grandchildren read this book because of the underling message throughout the book. If you are wondering if the book is for you, simply read the first chapter or two.
I really, really liked “American Omens”. Thought-provoking, fast-paced, and action-packed, it gripped me from start to finish and provided, to me, a realistic depiction of where America could be headed in the not-too-distant future.
One of my favorite lines came near the end: “What would it be like to suddenly stop your vehicle as it was heading down the highway at ninety miles an hour? To not only stop, but to suddenly take a side road and begin heading down an entirely different road? One that was unknown and uncharted. One that you trusted would lead to something bigger and better.” (ARC 335)
That is what this story is truly all about…a calling that bears a striking similarity to the road God calls each of us to. Are we ready to follow? Would we, if the road looks like it does in “American Omens”?
Recommended for fans of Frank Peretti, Ted Dekker, and the Left Behind series.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
American Omens was an intriguing novel about the future of America in 2038. Just twenty years in the future, imagine life where Christianity is under attack combined with the existance of highly advanced technology. This novel was filled with anticipation, danger, and conflict that will keep the readers eagerly wanting to read more. Readers will see some parallels with things that are happening in society today and wonder if something similar could happen in the future as society seems to be focused on being politically correct and non-offensive to various groups of people.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from WaterBrook & Multnomah through NetGalley and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.
This is a challenging book on many levels. It’s taken me a little while to decide how I wanted to review this book as there’s several different ways to write a review on it. I’m going to focus on the story itself and not debate in this review anything about the author’s theological view of end time events. I’m also going to share how it challenged me personally.
We see this story unfold through the eyes of three main characters: Cheyenne, Dowland, and Will. Cheyenne is an unbeliever who is not antagonist towards Christianity—she just doesn’t understand it. When her dad becomes a believer and then disappears, her main purpose becomes finding her dad. Dowland is an unbeliever who hates everything about Christianity and will do anything that he can to stop it. He’s an agent of the government who has no hesitation about murdering believers as soon as he finds them. Will is a believer whose bookstore was closed down because he sold books with a Christian viewpoint. He’s lost his courage and focus, and is struggling to take care of his family and his marriage. The author does a great job of shifting viewpoints among the three as he takes us through the story.
The most mysterious character in the book, and the one who is driving the story, is The Reckoner. He is a modern day prophet that God is guiding to spread the message of salvation throughout the world. We learn some about his past life, but not enough to fill in all the blanks. To the last chapter of the book, we still don’t learn all we’d like about him.
The setting is the year 2038. It’s hard to imagine the world in this shape. Technology is at it’s height. The author imagines some very interesting technology that I believe could very well come about in some form. That technology is at the core of this storyline and is somewhat disturbing to think about. SInce the Church has been forced to go underground, society is in a sad state. At the highest point of technological development, people are the most wretched.
The heart of the book for me was a discussion between The Reckoner and Will in Chapter 4. In discussing spiritual warfare, The Reckoner asks Will this question: “Do you believe he’s (satan) real? Not a notion or an idea but real and true, a leader of an army of demons?” Then later in that conversation, The Reckoner makes this statement about spiritual warfare: “We are pacifists, not because of some strong belief to be so, but because we don’t have strong beliefs in the first place.”
So, if you are reading this review, are you a pacifist in spiritual warfare? That’s the challenge of this suspenseful and intriguing book. It’s a question that all of us are facing, whether or not we want to acknowledge it.
I’m hoping there’s a sequel to this book. I’d like to see how these characters face their next spiritual battle now that they are awake spiritually.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
You don’t have to look too hard to see that we live in a day and age where Christianity is under attack by a manipulative concept known as “tolerance.” Thrasher has created a world 20 years in the future at a point where technology has taken over and Christianity has been outlawed. I thoroughly enjoyed this story but I would describe it a bit differently than what is written on the back cover. While Christianity is clearly under attack, I would argue that the bigger plot is over the technology of the day and it’s manipulation of the people. Although faith is mentioned often, you see people run into trouble when they rebel against technology and the people who control it instead of for faith reasons. It’s still a highly engaging story, but not quite what I was expecting from the back cover.
At least at this time it doesn’t appear that this book is going to be a part of a series but I hope that there is at least one more book. Ever see 20 pages left in a book and think there’s no way all the loose ends can be tied in that time? That’s how the ending felt for this one. What was left out of the conclusion could easily be a full book in itself, so I’m hoping that’s what happens. Sorry for being vague, but I don’t want to spoil anything. It’s still worth the read!
I’m not anti-technology but I’ll admit I struggle with how much it has taken over our world. In a lot of ways people have traded in vital relational connections for technological addictions. American Omens is haunting in it’s ability to predict what the future could be like if that doesn’t change. It’s a real eye-opener that’s for sure! When new technology comes out many people get excited to have the “latest and greatest” but how often do they look at the ramifications of what that could mean for their privacy and protection? It’s seriously some scary stuff!
For people who enjoy dystopian and end-times stories this is one I’d highly recommend. It’s loaded with suspense and paints a scary portrait of what the world could be like 20 years from now after several booms in technology.
*I received a copy of this book from Waterbook & Multnomah. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.
Travis Thrasher penned a persecuted church thriller with the fright of what could be coming for future America. Torn from the pages of present life, Thrasher used the fears of tons of Americans and placed into a novel with Christians being the targeted group. American Omens could be predicting the future with elements that appeared realistic. While the plot moved at a slow pace, I enjoyed the concept and watched the three different perspective characters discover the truth about what the government allows the world to see. The main problem I have with the story is how long it took for Thrasher to explain what the purpose of hunting for Cheyenne’s father and the Reckoner was. I wanted this big moment at the end of the story to expose and / or destroy the Acatour, but it really wasn’t that big of a deal. It was a small thing. Even though, in reality, it might have caused a lot of damage, but from a reader’s perspective, I wasn’t that wowed. I wanted more. From the ending, it was hard to tell if this was the first book in a series or if this was the only one in its kind. Overall, the premise intrigued me, but I think the idea’s delivery didn’t come across the way it wanted it. I feel torn on how I feel. If this story captured a reader’s imagination, I suggest picking up Amanda G. Steven’s Haven Seekers’ four book series.
I received a complimentary copy of American Omens by Travis Thrasher from Waterbrook/Multnomah Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.
This was a truly fascinating book. It took me awhile to even start, with the great misconception that it wouldn’t hook me in. But it did. All it took was starting on the first chapter and I was captivated. I didn’t want to stop reading and when I came to the end of the book, my reaction was more or less, WHAT!?
The story is essentially about Cheyenne Burne who is a programmer in the year 2038. She works for a notable technology firm, but her father has been missing for over a year after he converted to Christianity. A note handed to Cheyenne brings into into the underground network of people trying to bring Christianity back to to the world.
Again, this telling of the story is quite frightening when you think about everything that is going on today versus how the author wove it into the story. It makes you think about the Alexa’s of the day and how we are losing so much of our autonomy in the realm of progress. The generations coming up will be losing so much as they grow into this new normal.
I would definitely recommend reading this book. For me, I continue to think about it even as the days grow longer after finishing the book.
The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book or advanced reading copy.
Do you want a book that will suck you in, sweep you off your feet, and knock you down, then pick you up and do it all over again through the book? Then look no further than this best selling author’s new book, American Omens. It’s fantastically phenomenal, and one that you absolutely do not want to miss.
Now, that said, I’ll be honest and tell you that had I come across this book in the bookstore and read the blurb first, I probably wouldn’t have picked it up. I’m not be on the furturistic style stories. They just don’t appeal to me. But, after reading this one, I would have been missing out on something so incredible.
This book is powerful. It’s about coming into your Faith and understanding what that big little word means. The plot line is one that may get to some. Much like we are starting to see today, this book about people being sought out for their different feelings, or beliefs, will really move you. The characters of the book are chiseled perfectly. I could feel their pain, their suffering, their emotions, as if they were my own. I love that!
This book is definitely getting 4.5 stars from me. I sat down, started reading it at 6:30 pm and was done by 11:00 pm. I just could not put it down. Each page turn convicted me with something new, each turn of the page brought me closer to an ending I wasn’t sure I wanted to reach. But, it was worth it in the end! Grab it now and see what I’m talking about.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Waterbrook & Multnomah and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
I usually don’t read futuristic fiction but this book is published by Multonomah and the subject matter and my respect for this publisher prompted me to give it a try. American Omens is set in 2038 and Christian believers are being targeted for their faith. As I read this I couldn’t help but compare our current situation with the events being portrayed thirty years from now. Yes, it is fiction and yes, it may cause some people to cry “Paranoia” but I consider it possible and even prophetic. We Americans are becoming complacent and more accepting of values that once would have been considered very unacceptable.
I enjoy technology but this book suggests that it is being used to control all of us who use it so freely. Every social media post that we make and every statement that is available for public viewing may also be used as a way to challenge our freedoms and our beliefs in God.
This book won’t be for everyone and every reader won’t agree with the premises being offered but it is certainly a book that deserves to be discussed among fellow believers. There are some very believable situations where the Christian believers are accused, tortured and even killed for their beliefs. Near the end of American Omens the author offers a statement that I plan to keep in my personal journal. A newly converted Christian, whose unexplained absence a year ago is the basis of this story, leaves a letter for his brilliant computer programmer daughter. He tells her that
“I want you to see the power of faith. It’s not fantasy. It’s not scientific, and it’s not computer generated. There won’t be algorithms in Heaven. God doesn’t need them.”
This quote is from an uncorrected proof so it may be changed in the published copy but I love the deep meaning. I also like that author Travis Thrasher uses Bible scripture throughout the story and that he allows his characters to learn to trust one another and to experience growth in their faith. I also appreciate that among all of the warnings there is also hope and encouragement! This book is Christian futuristic but it also has mystery and suspense for readers who enjoy those genres.
I received this complimentary book from WaterBook and Multnomah Book Launch Team but I was under no obligation to review it.
#americanomens #travisthrasher
American Omens: The Coming Fight for Faith by Travis Thrasher is as advertised a ‘taut thriller’. Set in the future by just twenty years, readers will quickly be drawn into a world of almost unimaginable technological advances (I’d love a bed that remakes itself!), and a world where being a believer in Christ can be dangerous and even deadly. A world where privacy, one’s most valuable commodity, has surreptitiously been stolen from the masses. Thrasher has created a story about people from different walks of life and at different levels of understanding of the mission who are chosen to help bring about an awakening. Who is this prophet who is known by a number of names and yet one stands out, The Reckoner? Can he be silenced before he completes his mission? A mission to help people wake up and see the lies and manipulations, to hear the truth. The riveting characters are well-defined and relatable, and are expertly crafted to evoke strong emotional connections with and reactions from the reader. The story flows well at a driving pace and has edge-of-the-seat action that keeps interest high. It is frightening to think of a time where the faith of our founders is forbidden and yet despite the bleak outlook, the murders, and suppression of God’s Word, the author depicts a hope, hope that God is in control and we can trust Him to work in the difficult times of our lives. I enjoyed this thought-provoking book and am hoping there is more to come for the characters introduced in American Omens.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from Multnomah Press and was not required to write a review. The opinions are my own.