I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and was under no obligation to post a review. No compensation was received for sharing this review and all opinions are my own.
on January 1st 1970
Source: the author
Genres: Religious, Speculative Fiction, Suspense
Maria is a Christian woman with one purpose – save her corrupt family from eternal death. As the apocalypse rages around her, she makes an unlikely friendship with one lost soul and the two women flee into the southern wilderness. Forced to take shelter in a long-forgotten church, they fight to survive as all hell breaks loose outside.
Trapped inside a long-foretold prophecy, demonic horse-men and soul-seekers roam the fire-ravaged world haunting and seeking out Maria who must learn to trust no one. As the angels watch on, will she survive Lucifer’s army of the damned, keep her only friend safe and repay the debts of sin?
Note: Kristin reads and reviews both Christian and secular fiction on A Simply Enchanted Life. Out of respect for my readers, I am including a content review. This content review will help you decide whether this book is suitable for you.
Content Review:
Christian or Secular: Christian
Profanity: One curse word that trails off.
Sex&Violence: Violence
Trigger Warnings: Demonic oppression and violence
Disclosure: I feel that some Christians will be bothered by the main character atoning for her family’s sins.
I was contacted by the author to read this book and I was instantly intrigued. She’s fairly young and presents herself so professionally. I was impressed that English is not her first language and she manages to write novels in English—and does a very good job of it I might add.
So, why the lower rating? It kills me to do it because the story was so intriguing and well written. I’d read an explanation from the author about taking creative liberties with the main character from a spiritual standpoint. I thought I’d be okay with those liberties but no matter how I tried to squash my feelings, I couldn’t.
Maria is a believer but her husband and daughter do not know Christ. She trades her own soul so they can go to heaven in the rapture. She pays for their sins by living through the tribulation without taking the mark of the beast.
I read her disclaimer. I thought I could be okay with this. No matter how well written this story is or how compelled I was to turn the page to see what would happen next—I couldn’t shake that this woman was paying a sin debt she could not pay. Only Christ in his sinless state could do that. No matter the horrors I could ever endure, I could never pay my sin debt, much less the debt of someone else.
At the point in the story where Maria cried out to be allowed to save her friend—I just couldn’t. I felt like she was taking God’s place and who is a human to save anyone?
This author is very talented and she told such a compelling story. The characters gripped me and I was so invested in their outcome. And that ending—oh that ending! When Maria is introduced to her friend Zara’s daughter…
I wanted to love this. I truly did. But, I can’t quiet the spiritual pricking that reminds me of my depravity and inability to save myself.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. -Ephesians 2:8-9
About Iryna Combs
Originally from the Ukraine, Iryna K Combs is still considered as a new face to America. Speaking three languages including English, that became just as natural as her native Russian.
She grew up in a town on the south of Ukraine doing the same things other kids her age did: dreaming, hoping and wishing. Growing up, she spoke absolutely no English and never even saw herself somewhere abroad. Nevertheless, writing a novel in another language! She was simply never interested in literature and was not an avid reader.
Iryna went to the local school that brought mostly negative experience in her life. But it shaped her throughout the years. Her college life was much better. She is a holder of bachelor degree in finances. Iryna also studied some psychology and self-studied body language.
In her first year of college she met her future husband online. They both moved to the states, where soon after, got married. Iryna traveled to most of the Europe, Egypt, Bahamas and still wishes to see more countries.
Iryna is an ex-model. In the first few years living in the states she did some modeling and acting. Photo-shoots, run-way and photo in the magazine fulfilled her childhood’s dream.
A few years later she became a mother of a wonderful little boy. Along with learning and experiencing motherhood, Iryna began to design hand-made jewelry and organic soaps. This hobby turned into her small business and became bigger than she thought it would.
In the last year Mrs. Combs discovered: “an author lives inside me”. Never did she know that she would write an English book and that she would love doing it. But she did! And yes, she loved it!
Amazon bestseller in all of its categories “Black Wings” was written by her dream that she saw many months before she actually began writing. The novel was accepted by a romance publisher only two months after she was done writing. Once her book was published, the publisher closed down and Iryna quickly found a new home for her debut. Being released on October 23rd, 2015 her novel rapidly gathered many editorial, professional and customer reviews. Only five months after release “Black Wings” became an amazon bestseller in all of its categories and stayed a bestseller for a week.
Iryna is planning on sequel as she says: “I have so many people asking for sequel that it practically inspired me to write one.”
Combs loves nature, going out with her family, gardening and cooking. She also plans to write her own cook book in the near future. Combs loves to learn new things and thinks it is good to know everything since we never know what we might have to be doing. Iryna, age 29, is a proud Christian and loves learning more about her religion.
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