Fiction Anthology Review

Sin: A Deadly Anthology
ISBN-10: 0974793469
Review by Heather Froeschl


Sin: behavior that goes against the moral and religious norms. Sin: the topic of a captivating anthology. Like being drawn to watch a tragedy in progress, readers will be enticed to turn the pages, witnessing horrific moments of sin. From some of Chicago’s popular fiction authors, “Sin, A Deadly Anthology,” is gripping.

What could force a person to commit a sin? Love? Hate? Revenge? Insanity? When does an action become a sin? At the moment the idea hits the person? When they admit that it was wrong? Is sin in the eye of the beholder? Readers will have to decide for themselves as each story unfolds.

Sex, murder, and greed are all obvious sins, but when the circumstances are impossible, things can be seen in another light. Nothing is simply obvious. A story about a flood and a loving husband choked me with tears. Another that involved a demon had me pondering the legends I’ve grown up with. A tale of buried family memories inspired questions of what we are told in our youth and what we trust as adults. Each contribution to the book has a different feel but an underlying theme of encouraging contemplation on what is understood to be sin.

The writing is all tight and solid. Each author putting his or her own spin and finishing touches on the anthology. It is an intriguing read. Dare you be seen holding a book titled: Sin? It is well worth any stares you might receive.

Christian Fiction Review

The Journey
by Arnita C. Wright
ISBN-10: 1597813265
Review by Heather Froeschl

In "The Journey" Arnita Wright leads readers through the lives of a family and shares what she believes is a heavenly message. The story revolves around two women and eventually leads to a scroll and a command from on high to spread the word.

Janice begins this journey with a heart attack and is hospitalized. There her daughter, Karen, having rushed to be by her side, had an accident in the parking lot and ends up being admitted for a slight concussion. The two lapse into comas, confounding doctors and worrying their family. But these comas are caused by God and the purpose is to take Janice to heaven and allow her to watch as Karen is reminded of the awesome Christian God she has begun to lose faith in.

Karen is shown, through time travel and angel power, moments of her mother's life in which God's intervention and the power of prayer saved her many times over. She bears witness to moments when prayer saved her father's life as well, and eventually, even her own. Through it all Karen is guided by angels who are able to intervene in the goings on, while Karen of course, cannot. Will she learn from all of these glimpses into the past? Will she become a messenger for God?

Everything comes under attack in this book. This is one all-inclusive piece of propaganda. Readers are shown that good Christian children who pray and are prayed for will be protected from child molesters. We are told that teachers who instill children to have open minds by exploring other cultures are into evil doings. The author even states that a war against religion, Christianity specifically, began in the 1950's and everything people did that was outside of Christianity was in fact against it. (It couldn't be that all American's right to freedom of religion, all religion, not just Christianity, was being protected?)

In "The Journey," demons, like Discouragement, Disillusion and Lust are unlocked and invited into lives through books, games and television shows. Yoga and meditation are also invitations for evil to enter into lives and homes. Abortion is touched on in a self righteous way and stillbirth is explained as a blessing. But those who pray and are prayed for, to the Christian God, are protected, insinuating that those who aren't Christian are not protected. Arnita Wright seems to have an opinion on everything and her work of fiction "creatively altered (of) her own personal journey" reeks of just another attempt at "salvation" and conversion of non-Christians.

Clearly this isn't just a work of fiction but is a slap in the face to non-christian readers, with a pretty face promising to pray for them.