The Follies Of Haven Island

“This town is destined for destruction. Fire will come from the sky and judge us for what we have done. There will be destruction for the unrighteous”

Book: Duncan Ross Book One: The Follies of Haven Island (Volume 1) by Brady L. Hardin, Haven New Heart Publishing, 2013

Genre: Fantasy/Apocalyptic/Allegory

Target Audience: Boys 14+

Subjects: Salvation, God’s Judgment, Truth, Loss, Missions

Summary: It started with a simple piece of paper. A note left on the door of a hermit in the woods. But after that note nothing was the same. He was never the same. A burning desire to know more led the hermit down the mountain in search of answers. A restlessness within his own soul pushed him until he found the truth. But it doesn’t end there. He’s only one man. Their whole island is destined for destruction and he is one of the few who know the truth. The follies aren’t just a legend. They’re real and they’re coming. But will the people believe the truth when they hear it or are they truly all destined for destruction?

Notes: A Pilgrim’s Progress kind of story, The Follies Of Haven Island tells how a young man, Duncan, comes to know Christ, finds others who mentor him or learn and grow alongside him, then set out on a mission to warn the people of the danger coming to them. They face a variety of responses and challenges along the way. Some offer a form of the truth watered down just enough to keep them from salvation. Some know the truth and willingly reject it. Some prefer to make friends with the enemy. Some seem to be with Duncan and the other believers, then turn around and betray them. The quote on the front cover probably does a better job describing it than I can “Part allegory, part pop culture, all Gospel”. It does a great job communicating the Gospel message, the need for salvation and showing the different responses people take to the Gospel. A big part of the story is just living out the parable of the farmer sowing the seeds. It does contain some scary and tragic scenes so I don’t recommend it for younger than 14. But for older teens and adults both, I highly recommend it.

Spiritual Content Recommendation Scale: 5/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Matthew 13:19-23 –When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."