Found and Lost

I enjoy reading stories that ask an ultimate question. What if? Dystopian genre does exactly that. What if we lived in a world where books were not allowed? What if we lived in a world where Christians were hunted and re-educated? What if the Bible is a banned book that could send you to prison if you read it? Amanda G. Stevens, in her second book of the Haven Seekers series, ask those exact questions. True to the dystopian genre, Stevens has created a story for the readers to ponder and a plot that will haunt them long after they put the book down.

One of my favorite aspects of the story is the characters of Clay and Violet. Neither one of them is the actual hero or heroine; they are just the characters the readers follow during the story. I loved how Stevens allows Clay and Violet to be realistically flawed. First, Violet has been truly brainwashed and consumed by the culture that hates Bibles and Christians. After the church raid, she is taken to a Christian home and mingles with them. Violet’s story is a typical story of a conversation from the worldly view to the Christian view. Stevens does a good job at getting into the mindset of the way a non-believer thinks. Clay, however, is a great example of someone who is an active Christian, but after a while, he questions his belief. I enjoyed watching the journey and transformation Clay and Violet took.

Stevens is a master storyteller. The story is written well with an even amount of descriptions to anchor the readers and dialogue that flows naturally from the characters. I never once felt like I was taken out of the setting and the action occurring on the page. The story moves at a realistic pace and the ending makes me anxious for the next book in the series that comes out in August. The only problem I had, and I had this same problem when I read the first book, Seek and Hide, is Stevens never informed her readers how the scare of Bibles and Christians got so bad. Usually in most dystopian novels, the characters have an elder who explains the old times, but Stevens does not do this. It did not ruin the story, but I would have liked to have known this. Also, the setting is realistic enough and can happen in any town in any state. Stevens does a good job at keeping the descriptions strong when they need to be, but vague in a general sense.

The tension of the story happens internally and externally. Violet, externally, fights the Christian Resistance and, internally, fights her feelings of wanting to be loved. On the other hand, Clay, externally, fights the Constabulary, the police, and, internally, fights his feelings of losing his family. The paths Stevens set before Clay and Violet were well-developed and creates conflicts every person has at one time or another. Both characters definitely change by the end. One for the better. One for the worst. There really is no romantic tension; the story focuses on the external and internal dilemmas.

Stevens incorporates the spiritual concerns of the novel by allowing the characters to either fight for or fight against the Christian resistance. I do not think Stevens is too heavy handed with the way she does it; I believe the elements of the Bible are important to telling the story. Similarly, there is no questionable content, so the story would appeal to conservative readers of any age. Also, I think this would be a great series to pass on to unbelievers who still question whether they should follow Jesus or not. It would be a great witnessing tool told in a story form. This story is completely original and unpredictable. I enjoy how Stevens uses the familiar title backwards. I believe she highlights how one character will be lost and one found, but the characters change, so the title is flip-flopped to highlight that element.

Overall, Amanda G. Stevens in her latest book, Found and Lost, transports her readers to a world with no Bibles or Christians, relatable characters, and explains the gospel story in a new and unique way. I really enjoyed the story and will be recommending it.

Another action packed thought provoking book by Amanda G. Stevens, When given the chance to review this second book of the series (Seek and Hide was the first) I couldn't wait to start reading! I wasn't disappointed, it was also a page turner,

The author again makes me think about how I would handle the injustices brought about by the law and stand up for God in the midst of my trials. Her writing takes you through the feelings of first bravery then fear of doing the right thing. Joy and peace I know can be there too when you know that God is with you through it all.

I love the inclusion of non-Christians in the books. Their willingness to fight to make the law right again is so courageous. Throughout the book you begin to see what good people they are and hope they will become believers also.

I'm excited to read the next book in the series. That being said, I was a bit disappointed at the conclusion of this book, that I felt left me with a few too many loose ends.

This is the second novel in Amanda's 'Haven Seekers' series, and I thoroughly enjoyed this one! "Found and Lost" picks up near the end of "Seek and Hide", and brings back favorite characters Marcus and Lee.

Seen as the head of the resistance, Marcus continues to shoulder the heavy responsibility of protecting true believers from the con cops. When Khloe and her best friend Violet get separated from Khloe's parents, it's Marcus who finds them and takes them to safety.

But it seems a spy is in their midst, and the house church from the first novel is now under arrest and undergoing re-education. With nothing but government approved bibles available, how can anyone find the truth? God will make a way if people truly seek Him.

The action is evenly paced and "Found and Lost" gives us another side to the conflict between the government and Christianity. Families are torn apart and lives are stretched to the breaking point as each person must decide what to believe...because to believe in Amanda's world is a choice between life and death.

I look forward to the next novel in this dystopian series that sends a chill down my spine. Be warned: it can be a very dark story, but Amanda gives us just enough glimmers of hope to keep the pages turning.

My thanks to my friends at David C. Cook Publishing for my advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. "Found and Lost" is most definitely recommended.

Found and Lost (Book 2 in the Haven Seekers series) is just as amazing as Seek and Hide (Book 1) was, and together they’ve left me eager to read more from this series. Thankfully, Take and Give (Book 3) has recently released, with a fourth book (Far and Near) on the way!

So what’s to love? For starters, the series has a fascinating (and chilling) premise. The books take place in a near-future society in which there’s a government sanctioned church and a revised Bible, but Christianity as we know it is illegal, as are traditional Bibles. Citizens are led to believe that Christians are extremists in need of re-education. And that’s exactly what they get, if they’re caught. It’s the kind of premise that grips you and really makes you think.

Then there are the characters. While Book 1 focused on Marcus, Aubrey, and Lee, Book 2 focuses more on Clay, Violet, and Khloe who bring along a whole new set of personalities and challenges. Clay’s desperation to restore his family and Violet’s journey of discovery both feel so real, it’s easy to get caught up in their stories. I found myself marveling at the unique perspectives each character brings to the series and how their viewpoints complement each other, giving a clearer picture of their society as a whole.

I think my favorite part of this book is the scene where a character reads a black market Bible and discovers that “This Jesus was different.” (Chapter 36) That scene in particular is so well done. The details, the emotion, the truth. It’s powerful.

I highly recommend this book. You’ll want to start with the first in the series though, since they build on each other. Oh, and fair warning, loose ends are not all tied up by the end of this one, and you will be left wanting more. Which is a good thing, considering there’s more to come!

Thank you to publisher David C Cook for providing an electronic copy of this book for review purposes.