I really tried to get into this book, but I had a hard time with it and found it kind of boring and dense so I did not finish it.

I don't understand. What just happened? I think I liked it. I think it might have been a little long. I think I may have missed the main point. I'm really confused.

This book was not at all what I expected. I really enjoyed it. While I understood it was going to be somewhat mystical, the added elements of good and evil was a very nice surprise. I started recommending this book before I had even finished it.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book. Unfortunately it’s not the book for me. DNF @ 8%.

1.5 stars.

In a single sentence: Not my cup of tea.

Elaborated review: This book felt like it had a thousand characters with an equal number of backstories and there was nothing to ensure that the reader grasped all of this information and retained it. The plot had an intriguing start, albeit disjointed but at least till the first half, I felt compelled to read to find out the big reveal, which is where all the disappointment stems from because that ending. Just, no. I couldn't connect or like the protagonist, Ellsworth, either, the whole old and rude but very well-verse in worldly knowledge man didn't really work for this book. Moreover, this book could've been short and maybe that would've helped its case but there were so many long, slow parts where nothing was happening. Overall, would not recommend.

I really enjoyed the premise of this book, though the execution did bother me a bit. I like that it was based after World War I because I feel like most books are about WWII these days. It was interesting and kept me reading, but I wish the plot was a bit tighter.

I wanted to love this book so badly! A creepy chapel in the woods with a supernatural feel?? It sounds amazing. But it didn't hit the mark for me. There were a lot of characters and backstories and the book never really seemed to find it's footing on what it is trying to be. I did not like the ending.

Markert's newest supernatural novel is captivating from the beginning. His prose brings an eeriness to the story that readers cannot quite put a finger on, but feel in their core that something is off about the town of Bellhaven, South Carolina and the little chapel in the woods. Markert's timing is impeccable, giving readers enough, but holding back and letting the story unfold in due time. Readers of Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker will love Markert's newest release.

I really, really wanted to love this book, but I just didn’t. Unique concept, but the characters were unlikable to me and I didn’t connect with them.

Michael Ellsworth Newberry, Ellsworth to many, is the pillar of his town. At least he was, until his wife Eliza died and he lost a leg in the war. Now, he sits around his house, bemoaning the loss of his favorite person in the world, desiring to end his own life. Sometimes, he hobbles to his window and sees his crazy neighbor, Tanner, wander back to his house from out of the woods. Those woods aren't right. Everyone in town knows that. Another neighbor, Anna Belle Roper, dutifully brings Ellsworth his meals, taking care of him because of her loyalty to his deceased wife.

One day, everything begins to change. The cardinals come back into town, and spring comes - early and everywhere. People begin to discover the chapel, and the town begins to change. At first, the changes are good. Everyone is happy, and new people are moving into town. Then people who had lived side-by-side peacefully for all of their lives begin to fight. It begins with little acts of violence and tempting thoughts that are left to simmer until they lead to action. These battles begin to escalate all across town.

There are a precious few who can withstand the lure of the chapel and see clearly enough to fight against this unnamed evil that has come to their precious town. They'll need Ellsworth to stand with them and fight if they are ever going to win.

In All Things Bright and Strange, you see how something that looks so good and can really be so bad. You see the deceitful and pervasive nature of sin. The chapel is a magical place with the voices of your loved ones telling you everything you ever wanted to hear. You are forgiven. You are loved. We, alongside the characters in the story, can question, "How can something this good really be bad?"

All Things Bright and Strange is indeed a strange story, but I was drawn into the world of the characters, and cheered for Ellsworth and Anna Bella Roper and for Gabriel and Raphael with their interesting personalities and enough bravado to try to save their town. However, as this book was published by Thomas Nelson, I was surprised by a choice made by the main character, Ellsworth. Portrayed as a true believer, he chooses to sleep with the woman he comes to love before any wedding vows are said (and it is seen in a positive light).

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Publishers. I received an advanced reading copy through NetGalley for my honest opinion.

I started reading this book, and I read maybe 7% of the book before deciding I was no longer interested. I will be giving this book 3 stars so that I don't impact the rating in a particularly negative or positive way. This book was just not for me!

All Things Bright and Strange is an interesting period horror fable set in interwar period in the southern USA. Released 30th Jan 2018 by HarperCollins' Christian imprint Thomas Nelson, it's 336 pages and available in most formats, including large print.

James Markert has a deft touch with plotting and characterization. The dialogue was, admittedly, choppy in places. It wasn't ever egregious enough to yank me out of the story though. What I did find heavy going was the philosophy. There is nothing very subtle about the religious aspects of the book. There are angels (literal angels), a number of religious professionals (priest, rabbi, etc, along with the angels) as well as a large cast of everymen including the protagonist Ellsworth, whose search for meaning and healing for himself and the town drives the story.

The Gothic atmosphere and creeping horror of this book were remarkable. I almost found myself dreading reading because I kept waiting for a jump-scare that never materialized. The author just kept ratcheting up the tension until it was physically uncomfortable to read. (In a good way? I guess?).

I can imagine that some more rigid religiously adherent readers might possibly take exception to the representation of the angelic and demonic characterizations in the book. There is also a feeling of 'all valid roads lead to redemption' with which some readers might take exception.

It is possible to read this book without over-examining and dissecting the religious aspects. I think it compares quite favorably with other fiction with religious overtones (The Exorcist, or Needful Things, for example) and can certainly be read for the story itself. It would make a good reading group selection (and indeed, it includes a number of questions for discussion at the end), and also for horror fans who prefer their books more atmospheric than explicit.

Three and a half stars.

I got a bit lost in all the symbolism in this story. I did not really understand the colour thing happening to people either. These were both important for this story I think and I do feel I missed out on something essential.
I did enjoy things. The way the townspeople turned on one another. Starting to fight and get selfish. The situations created where people who were always friends now fighting and people harbouring a secret hate now making it very public. There are some really nasty things happening.
Character wise I liked Raphael best and would have loved to hear how he experienced things. Ellsworth was a very difficult and troubled character. I could not connect to him.
The pace and writing style of the story are very good which made that I was able to finish this book.

one of the strangest things about this book for me is that i have no idea as what i should categorise this book. Is it Science fiction? is it fantasy? horror? mystery? a life story? paranormal? a mixture? What is this book supposed to be?
I have no idea!
The bright thing about this book? The writing is well done and kept me going though i was utterly confused as to what was happening in this book.
If you don't mind not knowing what is real and was isn't? Great book for you.
If you need to know what is going on? Might want to skip this one!

Enter the days of prohibition and bootlegging.

Set in a small South Carolina town, Bellhaven in the 1920s this is a historical fiction with a touch of fantasy and horror. 

I have to say I did find this to be a rather odd book with a mix of romance, war, religious symbolism, magic, and baseball! Touching on issues such as racism and hate crimes. A pretty eclectic range of things all wrapped up in one book where the main theme running through it being Good v Evil.

It takes place after WWI in a small town near Charleston with a mysterious chapel in the woods that people can communicate with their departed loved ones. The 'healing floor' feels like a slice of heaven to the townspeople...until it slowly starts to turn the townspeople malicious.

With some quirky characters, some not so likeable this is a compelling story bringing the characters to live and the book draws you right into Bellhaven.

Reminiscent of Stephen King's Needful Things this is a somewhat unique, mystifying read but all in all I am glad I read it!

Many thanks to the author James Markert, publishers Thomas Nelson--FICTION and NetGalley for my copy in exchange for an honest, independent review.

All Things Bright and Strange starts off ok, but gets lost in the middle. It's sort of horror but not that spooky, it's sort of science fiction but not that well developed, kind of fantasy? It could have been interesting, but it gets quite muddled and doesn't commit to one direction so I struggled to keep my attention on it.

I admittedly struggled a lot with this book. The premise is interesting enough, but the writing drags forever. There are dozens of characters to keep track of, and they all slip in through the cracks. You don't think anything of them when their names are listed, but suddenly they have portions of chapters and entire background stories that make their actions important. I shouldn't need a map of characters to help me understand and enjoy a book. Sure, it's an entire town that Ellsworth is holding up, but even by the halfway point, I was confused and tired of meeting even more new characters.

I also never truly got the feeling that this book takes place after WWI. Despite the number of times it was brought up, the writing didn't ever encapsulate that. This could have been any old town in any decade, and I was hoping for something more genuinely historical. The main character sounds more like a cranky old man than someone who just came back from the war, and all the characters are almost too old-timey to be believable. They're filled with too many cliches, and maybe that's just my lack of knowledge about the south during that time, but everyone felt like they were on a movie set rather than real characters.

A really wonderful book. Markert has an excellent writing style that helps the plot and pacing flow along at a great speed. Enjoyable characters and plot.

A mysterious chapel in the woods draws townsfolk to it. Legend says the church has a healing floor, but the truth is the more time you spend on it, the older you get. Ellsworth, the protagonist is both enthralled by the chapel and decided to get to the bottom of the mysteries that surround it.

All Things Bright and Strange by James Markert has been labeled Christian fiction, historical fiction, and Southern fiction. It is and it isn't. What I enjoy about the book is its very strong message of tolerance. This small South Carolina town is quite diverse in its ethnic, racial, and religious demographics. Yes, it is constructed to make a point, but it works for it repeats a powerful message. More unites us than divides us, and standing together, good prevails. For that, I label this book enjoyable, thought provoking fiction.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2018/04/all-things-bright-and-strange.html

Reviewed for NetGalley