American Omens is a book I've been looking forward to reading for a while now and it was just as good as I had hoped!

I loved how the story was written. It was very easy to keep track of who everyone was even though there were a lot of characters. I found the setting and time fascinating; at times, it was creepy how certain things in this story seemed like they could really happen right around the corner.

All in all, American Omens was a great read and one that I definitely recommend.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

I had some difficulty getting through this book, I think primarily because it was sort of unnerving. The plot, the events, the things happening in this story were too familiar. Fiction, yes, and yet some of it is already happening or on its way to happening in real life. I'll be sharing this book with friends.

Thought Provoking End Times Story!

Travis Thrasher has created an Amazing, Thought Provoking, End Times, Christian, Action/Adventure Novel in "American Omens". It's set in the near future, 2038, in the United States, with believable characters
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All the technology of today, has advanced, in a very plausible accelerated way. It invades nearly every area of daily life in the disguise of convienence; but the cost is Personal Privacy. It's scary & eye opening to think about!

Considering what's happening Today, this could very well be the future for America's Christians! I Highly Recommend this Fantastic, Prophetic, Page-Turning Story. 📖⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

It’s 2038 and America is being dominated by one organisation, Acatour, which is owed by a trillionaire, Jackson Heyford, who has far too much control over all things by the looks of thing. Thrasher presents a version of the antichrist from some interpretations of Biblical revelation.

It’s a technology future, however, interestingly, all the major tech companies like apple, Amazon, FB, etc have imploded and now Acatour is king. Interestingly, Christianity is gradually being eradicated and Christians are having to go underground not unlike what is happening at the moment in the Middle East and China.

The story is told through the eyes of three people: Cheyenne, a 20-something tech guru who works and lives in the mother ship of Acatour; Will Stewart, a husband with three delightful young girls whose bookstore has just had to closedown due to external pressures; and Jon Dowland, a hitman of sorts who is out to find the leader of the Christian rebellion who is responsible for publishing fire and brimstone-style propaganda. This individual has been affectionately dubbed The Reckoner.

The story moves well for the first two hundred or so pages and is fun to read as we move between the three POVs plus meet a bunch of other characters, most of whom are Christians involved in a plot to overthrow Heyford and Acatour. In order to succeed, they must engage Cheyenne and Will as they have vital connections, which can open up doors to enable the plot to succeed. It’s clever writing.
I appreciated the faith arc that both Cheyenne and Will walked through the story. Cheyenne is initially unconvinced and struggles through most of the story to be convinced, however, makes a move forward by the end of it. I think this was a realistic progression and well portrayed. Will, on the other hand, is clearly a struggling believer and once again we see a realistic portrayal of his journey.

I found the fire and brimstone messages a little tough but once again this is a common interpretation of the future that God will bring a reckoning upon the earth that will involve death and destruction like what was experienced in the Old Testament.

I found the last hundred pages a little odd. The pace seemed to fall out of it and the prophecy that had been prominent in the beginning of the story didn’t seem to eventuate or if it did it wasn’t nearly as dramatic as it could have been. Accordingly, the story sort of just ran out of steam. It lacked a really good climactic moment when good and bad confront each other and duke it out (whatever form that might take). By all accounts this is a standalone novel but one was left with a feeling that we might see these characters once again in another story.

I would still recommend the story simply because it has a good perspective of a future America that’s less than 20 years away and the character arcs are well done as you’d expect from such an experienced author as Travis Thrasher. I'd rate it 3.5/5

American Omens by Travis Thrasher was an amazing glimpse at what is happening in America today. We are desensitized to the evil from within our own country. I fear that we will come to a point where the church must go underground and we will be persecuted like the early church was. I loved that Thrasher used the most unexpected characters as good. This was a great thriller that I would definitely recommend to others who like to read thrillers/suspense.

American omen is a thought provoking look at how evil and righteous might battle for the world. If you are a fan of the left behind series then this is a book for you

American Omens

The Coming Fight for Faith: A Novel

by Travis Thrasher

WaterBrook & Multnomah


Multnomah

Christian , Mystery & Thrillers

Pub Date 12 Feb 2019





I am reviewing a copy of American Omens through Waterbrook &Multonomah and Netgalley:





In this book we travel ahead to the year 2038 where we meet Cheyenne Byrne, a brilliant young computer programer working for the world’s top computer firm Acatour. After he Father goes missing without a trace after becoming a Christian. After a stranger hands her a coded message she finds herself on a collision course with a clandestine group of believers and she must decide whether to follow and trust a man known as The Reckoner! He tells her he wants us to bring Faith in Christ to America as well as to show her whose behind the disappearances of Christians.





The Reckoner operates in the shadows, and lives off grid. He assembled a ragtag team that includes a former bookseller who had his store shut down for selling books the government had prohibited he uses them to take his battle for transparency to the top. After a ruthless FBI agent starts closing in can Cheyenne and the others help America turn to Christ before its to late.





I found American Omens to be an engaging book, it was full of action, adventure and end time prophecy. I give it five out of five stars!





Happy Reading!

This book was very interesting how it touched on some of the issues we are facing right now in this society. Issues of control and manipulation of those of the Christian faith. Labeling the Gospel as hateful and intolerant. If you as the reader of this review do not see that, then read this book. It shows how these issues if ignored, could escalate into something devastating. It is very challenging to be bolder in my faith and encouraging to others of like faith. The book itself was a bit difficult to get into at first. I enjoyed how things were brought around in the end, but there does seem to be an open-endedness for future books. I liked the future aspects of the book. The scenarios were believable and not fanciful. I would recommend this book to someone based on the challenges it poses.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.


***Also posted in B&N, CBD

American Omens was an intriguing novel about the future of America in 2038. Just twenty years in the future, imagine life where Christianity is under attack combined with the existance of highly advanced technology. This novel was filled with anticipation, danger, and conflict that will keep the readers eagerly wanting to read more. Readers will see some parallels with things that are happening in society today and wonder if something similar could happen in the future as society seems to be focused on being politically correct and non-offensive to various groups of people.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from WaterBrook & Multnomah through NetGalley and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

A United States where Christianity is banned as hate speech? Where everyone has a chip implanted in their brain that communicates with whoever they want to, or searches what passes as the internet for information? Cell phones are virtually obsolete, as are computers.

Set in the year 2038, American Omens presents a world where no Christian is safe. An elite hit team operates under the auspices of the FBI, taking out any vocal, influential Christian, resorting to murder when they can't simply discredit them. Think about that for just a minute, then consider some of the things that are happening already today. This book's setting is only 19 years into the future. Could this really be where today's America is headed??

Cheyenne Burke is a tech architect for Acatour, the most powerful tech giant in the world. One day she's at the top of the world, the next, her father disappears and she's escorted from her office in the Incen Tower and confined to her apartment in the same building. When a voice breaks into her Synapsys, a virtual impossibility, telling her to pack a small bag and leave, she obeys. Full of questions and hoping to find her father, Chy obeys, finding herself in an underground network led by someone called, The Reckoner. A modern-day prophet, The Reckoner is predicting the fall of Chicago - which has become the unofficial capitol of the US - and even more specifically, the fall of Acatour, in a cleansing reminiscent of Sodom and Gomorrah.

While this book is billed as a "taut thriller", it's setting also puts it in a dystopian future. What I found most chilling was the complete plausibility of Thrasher's whole concept. More and more today, we are seeing instances where Christians are silenced, and beliefs are slammed as hateful. It's not a far stretch to believe that the day may come where professing belief in Jesus becomes not only ridiculed, but demonized. 2038? That's within my lifetime, and certainly within my children and grandchildren's lifetimes.

Readers who enjoy dystopian, futuristic novels, will enjoy American Omens. This story is told from a Christian perspective, so ultimately, there is the knowledge that God wins, even though He "loses" a few skirmishes. This was eye-opening to me, as I read today's headlines, and see the attacks on Christianity, in both subtle and overt ways.

I am so glad that I did not let my initial reaction to this story keep me from reading on. I went from thinking it was a far-fetched futuristic tale to believing that this, or something like it, could truly be in our country's future, if not in our lifetime, then our children's.

Thrasher has created a future United States in which hate speech laws have been used to silence Christians, and social media has been eliminated after becoming a tool for spreading hate. Instead we see a society largely void of God and made up of people with implanted chips in their brains rather than smart phones in their hands, a society manipulated by technology and those behind it. Within this society is a group of people led by someone who goes by the name of Reckoner among other code names. Few have seen Reckoner, and many have not met one another, but they are working toward a common goal: to awaken Americans to the ways in which they are being manipulated and to the coming wrath of God as well as the reality of His grace to those who truly believe in Jesus Christ.

Thrasher is a very talented writer, one with a deep and worthwhile message. Prepare to have your world rocked! I am grateful to have received a copy of American Omens from Multnomah via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to write a positive review and received no monetary compensation.

American Omens: The Coming Fight for Faith by Travis Thrasher is as advertised a 'taut thriller'. Set in the future by just twenty years, readers will quickly be drawn into a world of almost unimaginable technological advances (I'd love a bed that remakes itself!), and a world where being a believer in Christ can be dangerous and even deadly. A world where privacy, one's most valuable commodity, has surreptitiously been stolen from the masses. Thrasher has created a story about people from different walks of life and at different levels of understanding of the mission who are chosen to help bring about an awakening. Who is this prophet who is known by a number of names and yet one stands out, The Reckoner? Can he be silenced before he completes his mission? A mission to help people wake up and see the lies and manipulations, to hear the truth. The riveting characters are well-defined and relatable, and are expertly crafted to evoke strong emotional connections with and reactions from the reader. The story flows well at a driving pace and has edge-of-the-seat action that keeps interest high. It is frightening to think of a time where the faith of our founders is forbidden and yet despite the bleak outlook, the murders, and suppression of God's Word, the author depicts a hope, hope that God is in control and we can trust Him to work in the difficult times of our lives. I enjoyed this thought-provoking book and am hoping there is more to come for the characters introduced in American Omens.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from Multnomah Press and was not required to write a review. The opinions are my own.

American Omens was an OK book. It is a dystopian novel, taking place 20 years from now, in a time where technology has taken over, Christianity is banned, and privacy is invaded. There was a lot of action and I really liked the message that the Reckoner was trying to convey. But I couldn’t really connect well with the characters…not enough character development. I also thought there would be more instances of Christian persecution and while it was discussed in general, I was hoping for a little more drama to that. The story was somewhat anticlimactic. However, this was a very thought provoking book and it really makes you think, especially with the overall direction this country is currently taking.

Rating: 3 out of 5

This book was provided by Waterbrook and Multnomah in exchange for a review.

Wow. This book is full of moments that make you stop and think (and possibly smash you Alexa, jk).
Seriously though, I can see our future as a culture slip over into the description this author gives. It is a reminder that we need to take to heart. We must stand strong in our faith and how we allow the world to control our actions.
The story follows three people in the not too distant future as they find themselves faced with having to choose between right and wrong, between standing up or going with the flow.
I expected this book to be a kind of shoot-em-up thriller, but it was a more slow/even paced book with several quotable references. (I plan to purchase a copy of a certain AW Tozer book).
I took one star off because I prefer my stories to be a bit more about the characters, not just the message of the story. Still a good read, made me think.
I was provided a copy of this book from the Publisher through Netgalley,my opinion is my own.

AMERICAN OMENS by TRAVIS THRASHER is a book in which the author deals with corruption in high places, and we see an escalation of wickedness in a country (America in 2038) where godlessness is rife and technology has been pushed to frightening extremes. There is neither peace not privacy as wicked men use technology to not only infiltrate people's lives but also to control everything about them.
The story starts in Chicago, a city which is compared to Sodom and Gomorrah. It is in this city that a man who goes by the name Reckoner, a modern day prophet, and a group of Christians, use this technology to get God's message across to the people. This takes faith and courage as Christianity and Christian morality have been banned as "hate speech" and judgmentalism, and the men and women who stand for the truth of God's word are in very real danger of being murdered. Will this message be enough to turn the population back to God before it is too late?
I like the characters - both the good and bad are well portrayed. The book is an excellent study of human nature.
The author shows the dangers of complacency and spreading a merely social gospel. There are many quotes from Scripture, especially from the book of Zephaniah, which are very apt for the situation in the world today.
This book is a wake up call for believers and I feel it is a "must read" for anyone who is serious in his or her commitment to the Lord. Obedience to the call of the Holy Spirit is the key.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Waterbrook & Multnomah. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

Travis Thrasher is a successful multi-genre writer with a new release expected for early 2019. American Omens: the Coming Fight for Faith is set in 2038. While it’s technically 19 years into the future, some of the plot seems underway already.
All the time I was reading it, I kept thinking of specific people I know who would delight in this book’s futuristic plot. These readers are my acquaintances who are tech savvy, love IoT (Internet of Things) and consider the possibilities of artificial intelligence with great enthusiasm. American Omens will be a must read for those who love to ponder the pros and cons of technology. The LC’s or robotic life companions are noteworthy details in the book, as wells as the SYNAPSYS form of communication and on demand interactive wall-screens.
The main theme throughout the book is the persecution and yes sometimes elimination of Christians. It’s a post-Christian world in 2038 and those in authority are determined to keep it this way. A remnant of Christian characters work to reverse this condition. A showdown is staged in Chicago where unrepentant residents ignore the warnings and suffer disastrous consequences.
A good measure of the dialogue and plot will resonate favorably with readers who are mature Christians. Words shared by key characters like Hutchence and Will are likely to stir the heart and cause heads to nod in agreement. At the conclusion, their journeys finish in a satisfying fashion while simultaneously sharing truths that are in alignment with Biblical truths. The end shows these characters more receptive to following God’s will and demonstrating trust, even when things aren't going smooth.
There is much to think about in this book. The erosion of individual privacy and censorship run throughout the story. For me I had been on a steady diet of historical fiction, and was interested to read a selection from another genre. The characters are certainly very memorable. There are some fun references to art and music sprinkled throughout the story that keep you thinking. The Orwellian theme draws you in from beginning to end. American Omens: The Coming Fight for Faith will find its way into the hands of many readers and spark a lot of discussion.
I received an ARC of this book from WaterBrook Multnomah in exchange for my honest review.

What a novel idea (bad pun intended)! This Christian murder mystery genre is new to me, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Half expected the plot to contain too much purely religious content, and though I absolutely AM a Christian, I don't typically envision it playing a part in my past-time reading. To my surprise, this novel was very good and suspenseful, and I enjoyed every bit of it. The first book of Mr. Thrasher's that I've read, but it won't be my last. Good book!

American Omens envisions a future United States where Christians are actively persecuted for living out their faith. Given the current political climate, such a world is all too believable. I think the author successfully writes a suspenseful story while avoiding the profanity and sensuality common in "secular" dystopian novels. That is certainly refreshing.

I did find the pacing of the story slow. It was difficult to engage with the first main character that was introduced. As the perspective shifted (by chapter) between three main characters, I found myself asking, "So, who is this person again and what's their backstory?" That's often a good sign that the characters need to be given more depth.

Overall, a solid work, but less engaging than it could have been. Personally, I would have appreciated more of the backstory (how did America get to this point) up front.

Can the anti-Christ be a corporation or a cabal? Can a Paul return to save Christianity? "American Omens' does not necessarily attempt to answer these questions but the possibility definitely exists. This America is set in the future where the bible and mega-churches are outlawed. The science is fun to think about, just not too hard. The author ignores the ability of satellite observation and cell-phone evesdropping. The author's writing ability is much better than that found in the 'Left Behind' series. There will probably be follow on books to this one.

This book had an interesting premise but it was a bit clunky to follow everything. The story progressed well but I am not sure that I was a sold out fan of this story.