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3.5 Stars

Travis Thrasher’s American Omens fits in many genre categories. It’s part suspense, part sci-fi, part speculative, but wholly entertaining (and maybe even disturbingly plausible).

In 2038, powerhouse names like Amazon, Google, Apple, and Facebook are no more. But technology has advanced in ways that are hard to imagine today from automatically driven vehicles (autovehs) to AI assistants that do everything from connecting you with others, selecting music, and offering advise based on the information the computer has for the individual, the potential for manipulation is great. And Christians are now the criminals as their conversations of faith are viewed as hate crimes.

Thrasher dangles three story threads in front of readers, inviting them to follow along until they all collide in a massive undertaking. From a programmer (it’s much more complicated than that, but I’m going to simplify it for time’s sake), a bookstore owner, and a man hired to get the job done no matter the method, the build up to the climax is gradual but steep, keeping you focused on what’s to come.

I have to say I appreciated the ending of this story. While it is satisfying, there are still questions because not everything is wrapped up in a neat little bow. Not everyone responds as the group expects, and even some in the group are still searching for their own answers.

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255. ( )

I received this book from Waterbrook Multnoman in exchange for my honest review.
This book caught my attention from the first page. Set in the future, 2038, we find the main character, Cheyenne Burne working for Acatour as a programmer. Her father has disappeared after becoming a Christian. Then Cheyenne is given a coded message, by a stranger, which leads her to a group of believers. She comes across a man known as the Reckoner. This man has a group of people following him and his beliefs in bringing back Christ to this land. He also has shown what is behind the disappearances of , not just Cheyenne's father but many others who openly practice Christianity.
This vision of the future leaves the reader thinking about our world where we could not openly serve Christ. Behind the story, Thrasher has done research on legislation concerning items that could lead to Christian speech being against the law.
The book was mainly focused on a visionary view of America while not including other countries and how they are looking upon Christianity. However, I feel this book was able to reinforce by faith and pushes me to make sure I am demonstrative about my Christianity.
Highly recommended to all. ( )

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.* ( )

Title: American Omens
Author: Travis Thrasher
Pages: 352
Year: 2019
Publisher: Multnomah
My rating: 5 out of 5 stars.
The past weekend I spent time enjoying the story of American Omens. The subtitle is “The Coming Fight for Faith,” which seems to already be a part of American society today. As I progressed through the tale, I became enamored with Cheyenne’s character. In the futuristic setting, we see “Chey” (Cheyenne) working for a company that has developed highly technical software. She is one smart cookie! However, Chey enters her workplace one day and she is handed a note. She reads it later for fear someone else might see it.
The book was hard to put down because the plot thickens, the danger heightens, and it wasn’t hard to imagine fiction being reality. I was turning pages for hours until my eyes got tired, but I wanted to read on. Why are churches closed? Why are people seeming to disappear without any concern from others? Is the man who is revealing God’s plan to a select few at first a plausible character? I will answer only the one question about the prophet as that character is very mysterious and intriguing to say the least.
Christians in the novel are forced to live life off the grid but challenged to share their beliefs with others, knowing that comes with a cost. There were twists and turns in the plot that kept me engrossed and thinking, plus there are Scripture references and a quote from Oswald Chambers that I really was impacted by. On page 161, it reads as follows: “Seeing is never believing we interpret what we see in the light of what we believe. Faith is confidence in God before you see God emerging; therefore, the nature of faith is that it must be tried.”
So, when you read the novel, don’t be surprised if something stands out to you that stirs your mind, heart and soul. The timing of the release of the novel is providential in that it seems like a wake-up call to pay attention, decide for or against being a disciple of Christ, and living that faith out before the world. Here is a great story to read and share with others, perhaps even discuss it with someone!
Note: I received a complimentary copy for an honest review of this book. The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility. ( )