Piercing the Darkness

Great sequels build upon their predecessors. Good sequels provide a different spin on the original. Poor to average sequels take the original source material, change a few details, and then release a near-clone of the first book. Frank Peretti's Piercing the Darkness falls into this last category.

Reading this book felt at times like I was rereading the first book, This Present Darkness. Once again, a town is under attack from demonic forces. Tom Harris, principal of a local Christian school, is under attack from the family of a former student (backed by an organization that definitely is meant to represent the ACLU). Claiming that he abused this child, this organization aims to tear down every Christian stronghold, including the local Community Church. Meanwhile, they try to hunt down Sally Beth Roe, who is connected to everything somehow.

Expect plenty of spiritual battles, generic action sequences, and a few appearances from the characters from the first book. Expect plenty of conspiracies, jabs at liberals, and critique of other Christian denominations. Don't expect anything too surprising or new.

If you liked the first book, you'll like this one. If you didn't like it, don't bother with this follow-up.

It was OK to me, but I gave it 1/2 star less for lack of progression. It's still an above average Christian fiction entry.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

59/100 books, still on track!