"But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven."
Luke 10:20

First off, I’ll note that, to my recollection, this verse isn’t directly quoted in the text. However, I came across it last night and it really articulated my main points of discussion. I like this verse because Jesus is pointing His followers back to His Kingdom, when their focus is drifting toward the supernatural gift they’ve been given.

It’s easy to focus on the excitement of a spiritual gift or calling, but what ultimately matters most, even more than the mission, is relationship with Jesus. In some ways, the novel does a good job (see “Positives”) of portraying this truth. However, I did identify one major problem (see “Negatives”) that is also worth discussing.

Positives
The novel begins with the perspective of Nicolas Woland, a defected Shepherd. Having joined the Shepherds in the hopes of climbing the ranks to the top, Woland had no trouble switching allegiances, when he decided he could have more power as a dark one.

Jed, the main character, eventually learns that Woland is the main reason that each team has two leaders: a tactical strategist and a spiritual adviser. After Woland’s defection, the organization decided that there needed to be more accountability in place.

Woland illustrates what happens when a person gives into the temptation to seek spiritual authority, as itsN own end. He’s easily swayed because his motivation isn’t walking with God. It’s grasping for as much power as possible.

In contrast, Jed is learning, through his training, about what it means to serve God. He learns that, apart from God, failure is imminent. As Morvant explains to him, God will give us more than we can handle. What He won’t give us is more than He can handle. (Isn’t that a great assurance?)

Negatives
On the flip side, there was one line, in particular, that really bothered me: “As Shepherds, we are the guardians of the gate holding chaos at bay.” The line troubles me for two reasons. First, the emphasis is on the people, not on God. Second, the line has an air of exclusivity. The Shepherds are the one separating mankind from destruction.

While I absolutely believe that God gives specific people anointings, callings and talents, including intercession, I am strongly opposed to the idea of a single person or community “saving the world.” Jesus is the One to do that and there is no biblical precedent for elevating one group above another.

Unfortunately, this is a real trend I have witnessed in contemporary society: people talking about ascending “levels” of spirituality or using terms like “General” to describe a status in the realm of spiritual warfare. I’ve seen this with people who describe themselves as Christians.

For this reason, I’m very leery of this one line of the book and, even though it is just one line. Yes, the book is a work of fiction, but it is so heavily laden with spiritual principles that it makes sense to consider the logical conclusions of that one line.

Additionally (and this is a big one), I really feel a lack of actual relationship with God. Yes, there are references to His power and sovereignty, but there’s a lot more emphasis on training sessions. The spiritual gifts, rather than being illustrated as an outpouring of God’s power from a relational place, seem almost separate, at times. As a result, I have some trouble with the book’s premise, in general.

What I Liked
While the above line does make me very uncomfortable, there is a lot to appreciate about the book. For one thing, most of the thematic content really does support the message of Luke 10:20, as noted above, with various examples. In fact, for a person who does struggle with seeking supernatural power for its own sake, there is some good discussion/illustration of why that’s a dangerous pursuit

Book two also continues building on the foundations laid in book one, in terms of plot, character development and relationships. I think that this was one of the reasons I enjoyed Dark Angel so much. Because the authors devoted sufficient time to introducing the Shepherds in book one, there is more time to develop the organization, in book two (For this reason, I would recommend starting with Dark Intercept, as I don’t think Dark Angel would make a great standalone).

We also get to enjoy some rewarding pay-offs, in terms of character interactions. Jed and his former best friend are rebuilding their friendship, and Jed has become an uncle figure to Sarah Beth. (I really enjoyed seeing the respectful way Jed approaches this relationship, making sure her parents are involved in and aware of each aspect of the friendship).

For those who are unfamiliar with operational terms, the authors provide quick explanations of the terms. I’m impressed with how well they integrate these definitions into the text, without appearing to “insert” them. Moreover, there’s also a glossary at the back of the book.

The plot is highly engaging and very well-paced, thanks to shifting perspectives. While Jed is definitely the main character, we also read from the perspective of several other people.

The novel provides a satisfying conclusion for book two, while also leaving several threads loose. For this reason, I am eager to read book three when it arrives.

Content
As a reader, I am more concerned with language that misuses God’s names than “swear” words. With that said, there are several uses of “swear words” in the text.

Some chapters of the story are in the voice of some of the vile characters, including the defected Shepherd, Nicolas Woland. As a result, we’re party to his gruesome thoughts.

In terms of romantic/sexual content, there are some flirtatious comments, plus a few of the evil characters trying to seduce other people. It’s clear that this content is included to show the character of the people performing these acts– not to put the reader into their shoes.

As with the first book, there’s also a bit of violence, due to the nature of the conflict.

Concluding Thoughts
This was definitely an entertaining, well-written novel. As I reflected on the book, I realized that it also raises some important questions about the purpose of supernatural gifts and their source. While there are definite references to God’s power, I would have liked to see a lot more of Jed’s relationship with the Lord. As it is, he seems fairly young in his faith, which makes me feel a bit uncomfortable with his role in the Shepherds, especially when they claim to be such a powerful organization.

For these reasons, I have several hesitations in providing an unreserved recommendation of the title.

On the other hand, Jed’s immaturity is also a reminder that God chooses who He chooses. It doesn’t always make sense to us. There’s also some valuable content about accountability and the importance of relying on God. It’s also a good book in that it highlights the reality of the supernatural world, while emphasizing God’s control over it all.
Based on the nuances discussed above, I would categorize this title as “Reader Discretion Strongly Advised.” I really enjoyed reading the book, but I felt that the spiritual content was a bit off-base.

Action packed story! Greater character development of many characters from the first book in the series.
However, if you don't want to read a story with some swearing, violence and some graphic descriptions, this book is not for you. I'm sure that this book is mild compared to those written by authors who aren't Christians, but it does have some of that...
Thanks to NetGalley and Tyndale House for the advance e-copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Jedidiah Johnson is back in school in Dark Angel by Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson. This is the second book about The Shepherds and we are back in Nashville and we get to follow how Jed is being trained together with his group of warriors. In this book we also get to learn a little more about the history of The Shepherds and the watchers and also about the Dark ones. They are also sent on a great mission into the Vatican. It is not really my cup of tea with all this supernatural stuff but the authors are so good at writing that I really enjoy the story. I will definitely follow this series as it develops. I had a conversation with the authors and this is a direct quote "The next one is kinda epic...no spoilers but the finale is Return of the Jedi good" If the next book is going to be epic I don't know what to say about this one. It simply is a great book and fun read, I hope you try it and enjoy it as much as I did. As a long time reader and avid book collector I have followed many authors and I have seldom seen someone write so many good book a year, it amazes me. I send a big thanks to @TyndaleHouse #TyndaleHousePublishers @netgalley #Netgalley for letting me read this advance copy of #DarkAngel and of course @BAndrewsJWilson for writing these great books. This one is out in stores April 5th 2022.

A compelling story combining spirituality and the supernatural with tier one operators and hard-hitting action sequences, Dark Angel provides a front row seat to witness the age-old battle of good versus evil in a way you likely haven’t experienced before. The dynamic duo of Andrews & Wilson delivers a stimulating faith-based military thriller that will take you on a journey beyond this world where anything is possible, and light must stomp out darkness to maintain the fragile balance of today’s society.

Dark Angel represents the origin story of Jed Johnson’s membership in the Shepherds organization, a collection of tier one operators teamed up with spiritual guides and watchers with the preternatural ability to see events unfold and communicate telepathically with those tasked to thwart would-be evildoers. Jed, a former Navy SEAL himself, goes through an intense boot camp with his new team that provides new physical, mental and spiritual challenges the likes of which he’s never experienced before. While learning to harness his capabilities on this world while tapping into a higher plane of consciousness, Jed’s team is sent on a mission to stop the forces of hell from successfully executing a plan to throw the religious world into chaos and bloodshed. It’ll take every bit of Jed’s training, along with the extraordinary talents of all his teammates, to defeat the powerful and determined enemy to reign victorious.

Filled with advanced technology and weaponry, intense combat scenes, hard-to-kill demons, badass operators, and telekinetic children, Dark Angel offers a little something for every Thriller fan. Kudos to Andrews & Wilson for marrying their belief systems of faith and military service into a fast-paced, well-written novel. By doing so, their passions and authenticity leap off the pages of Dark Angel and produce a uniquely powerful story sure to resonate with those who embrace strong spirituality and belief in the supernatural.

Dark Angel is a story of spirituality and soldiering. A fable of faith and firearms. A guide to gospels and guns. A book bursting with belief and bullets. A drama of devotion and direct fire.

Ok, that may have been a bit much with the alliteration and duality of this book… but it is the exploration of those parallel tracks that makes this such an interesting read.

Andrews & Wilson craft military thrillers as well as anyone in the thriller genre. The authenticity, dynamics, and creativity they employ when writing action scenes is other worldly. With the addition of supernatural components in this series, the intensity and danger are taken to another level.

Former Navy SEAL Jedidiah Johnson has started his training with the elite task force known as the Shepherds. Thrust into a surprise leadership role that is putting him under immense pressure, Jed begins having visions of an imminent attack overseas. With time running out, Jed and his team are dispatched to Europe in order to neutralize the threat. With rumors of who is spearheading the attack, Jed hears about an individual who turned his back on the Shepherds organization. The stakes could not be higher with the potential of a literal global holy war breaking out should Jed and his team fail.

As someone who reads a ton of military/operator thrillers, A&W is always on my must read list. This series is no different. The addition of faith based components, which is somewhat limited outside of the scope of the supernatural powers, will definitely broaden the books potential audience and will likely bring home best awards in the Best Christian Thrillers and Christian Mystery/Suspense categories.

Dark Angel by Brian Andrews continues the story of the Shephards. All of the characters are ex-military that have been in service, but they serve the Lord and now want to fight the dark forces aka demons that are running rampant in the world. The plot was a little slow in the first part as the story takes place in the training world of the Shephards. It was interesting to see how they are trained to prepare to face the dark angels, but it did take a long part of the story. Once they were called up, the story started to take off and create a little more tension. The part of the story where the dark angel, who is creating the havoc, is allowed to show his past story and emotions is some of my favorite parts of the story. Part III is a nicely handled section full with a number of high-octane moments with plenty of action. Overall, Dark Angel by Brian Andrews is full of action, just like I enjoy my stories, in the second and third parts. If readers enjoy suspense books like Joel Rosenberg with a hint of hope from God, then this might be the book for them to read.

I received a complimentary copy of Dark Angel by Brian Andrews from Tyndale Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

Brian Andrews and Jeffery Wilson are no strangers to writing kickass military action thrillers brimming with real-operations-authenticity and keen imagination that’s not too far away from reality. Dark Angel marks a vastly different approach to traditional A&W stories with the inclusion of religious and supernatural elements.

Even though it is the second book in the Shepherd series, Dark Angel has the markings of an origin story of Jedediah Johnson, who is invited to join the Shepherds organization, a tactical and spiritual warfare team to battle enemies of physical as well as supernatural dispositions through god-gifted abilities of special sights. When a former member of Shepherds organization and now satan’s dark angel is broken out of prison by an evil force to cause religious conflict between Muslims and Christians and usher in an age of darkness, Jed must lead his new command to stop the dark forces before their plan comes to fruition.

It’s easier said than done when Jed and his team have to fight through a horde of supernatural creatures that can’t be stopped with a few punches and scratches. The dynamic duo of Andrews and Wilson show off their action prowess with some hard-knuckled fisticuffs and aggressive shootouts with trendy and futuristic weaponry and tech right out of a Matthew Reilly book, setting the fierce and intense mood for the boiling narrative.

The critical element of the story is the emphasis on faith and supernatural connection between characters that guides the heroes on the path to stopping the bad guys. It takes a while to get used to the spiritual vernacular if one’s not well versed with this niche genre of books but Andrews and Wilson keep the momentum flowing and the characters interesting for readers to follow the general narrative easily. In the vein of Tier One and Sons of Valor books, a few subplots are introduced but left unresolved to be explored further in the future, keeping us on our toes as we excitedly await what befalls our brand new team of spiritual warriors next.

Dark Angel is a hopeful tale of the everlasting battle of good vs evil with a tantalizing fusion of religion and action that adds new twists to keep the fable burning bright.

Full review will be posted with blurb image on https://www.bestthrillerbooks.com