Outcasts

“That left only one option that Shaylinn could see. “So we give Bender the three recruitment letters that that’s it. But we also have to go to Levi right away and hope he can come up with a plan before Bender betrays us all. Book:Outcasts, Safe Lands Series #2 by Jill Williamson, Blink (Zondervan) Publishers, 2014

Genre: Futuristic/Science Fiction

Target Audience: Girls and Boys 18+

Subject: Euthanasia, Sex, Jealousy, Selective Genetics, Freedom, Forgiveness

Summary: Living in the Safe Lands is anything but safe for the captives taken from the village of Glenrock. They’ve chosen to not join the community and are therefore in hiding. It seems they’re not the only ones though. Some of those in the Safe Lands don’t feel safe anymore either. The trouble is figuring out who you can trust. Some of the rebels seem to be on both sides. And there are various factions of the rebel groups. And even within the Glenrock brothers there is a lot of division. Levi just wants to grab the rest of his people and get out. Mason wants to discover a cure for the virus inflicting every one in the Safe Lands. And Omar is perhaps the most desperate of all. He feels he needs to do something to make up for all the harm he has caused. With everyone divided and everyone hurting and everyone in danger, how can they ever hope to succeed?

Notes:  This is the second in the Safe Lands series, a futuristic series on the issue of freedom – whether or not a person should deny themselves any desire and whether or not anyone has the right to force someone to help them. This second book has a lot more spiritual elements than the first book did. Basically, the two main female characters have a very strong faith and are encouraging the three main male characters who have not yet made the faith of their fathers, their own. The following quote says it best: “’They’re bored,’ Jemma said. ’And spoiled and lazy. They have no serious responsibilities to give them purpose in life. It leaves them aching for meaning. So they fill themselves with pleasure. It won’t ever satisfy in the long run.’ The Lord. Levi had always assumed he’d have time to read the Bible when he was older. And was village elder it was his responsibility to train the next generation in their faith. But how was he supposed to do that when he barely understood it himself?”

Also, due to the issues dealt with in this book, it is not written as a light-hearted, entertaining reading, but rather than an intense, graphic look at a serious issue. If you would like more on this topic, check out The Center For Bioethics And Human Dignity - http://cbhd.org/, a Christian organization that helps people figure out how to respond to these sorts of subjects. 

Spiritual Content Recommendation Scale: 3.5/5

Overall Quality Recommendation Scale: 4.5/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Romans 1:16-17 – I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

Romans 10:12-13 – For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Thank you to the author for providing me with a free review copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.