My review of The Delusion by Laura Gallier

About the book:

By March of Owen Edmonds's senior year, eleven students at Masonville High School have committed suicide. Amid the media frenzy and chaos, Owen tries to remain levelheaded--until he endures his own near-death experience and wakes to a distressing new reality.

The people around him suddenly appear to be shackled and enslaved.

Owen frantically seeks a cure for what he thinks are crazed hallucinations, but his delusions become even more sinister. An army of hideous, towering beings, unseen by anyone but Owen, are preying on his girlfriend and classmates, provoking them to self-destruction.

Owen eventually arrives at a mind-bending conclusion: he's not imagining the evil--everyone else is blind to its reality. He must warn and rescue those he loves . . . but this proves to be no simple mission. Will he be able to convince anyone to believe him before it's too late?

Owen's heart-pounding journey through truth and delusion will force him to reconsider everything he believes. He both longs for and fears the answers to questions that are quickly becoming too dangerous to ignore.

My review:

I haven't read many spiritual warfare/ fantasy novels so I can't say how this is similar or different to other authors who write in that genre. I did find the plot interesting and the premise held my attention I especially liked the subtitle "we all have our demons." This captured the heart of the story. I am more of a fan of historical fiction, but the hero in this book was likeable enough to make me want to see how he'd turn his life around. His sudden ability to see the spiritual realm kept the story moving along.

The novel had a YA feel to it and the author had an interesting way of storytelling. The high school had darkness surrounding it that dated back to the occult group that lived in the area over a hundred years prior. Spiritual strongholds were a big part of this story. The illustration of bondage and chains weighing people down made me think about the trappings in my life.  I liked how the author showed that even people in churches have bondage sometimes, and yes, even people who have the light are susceptible to the enemy's schemes. Prayer was the one thing that called the good guys to action. The author also showed that there is always a larger story or plan beyond what we can see. Sometimes it doesn't make sense to us how things turn out, but that doesn't mean God is not aware of the situation. Good message. Good book. If you like novels about spiritual warfare then this book is for you.

The Delusion; We All Have Our Demons was published by Tyndale and released in Nov. 2017 Movie production has already begun on this novel (based on the media alert included with the advance review copy of the book.) Than you, Tyndale, for the opportunity to read this book in advance of publication.