<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: Cleaver and Creative!
Review: Good vs. Evil. Evil vs. Good. Sounds like the same thing, right? Well, not in Keith Rommel's impacting debut novel, Spirit of Independence. Rommel confidently keeps the tables turning in this fantasy-like thriller involving good spirits and bad spirits, but which is which is the persistent question throughout the story.
The cast of characters is clever, the plot, intriguing. Travis Winter was a young soldier, murdered in 1944 during World II. Winter is now like an angel known as Spirit. While Navarro, who some might consider the root of all evil-the devil himself-calls on Spirit, pleading for Spirit to listen to his side of the story. And there is DemAngel, who was once a heavenly angel who preferred the demonic side of existence. And all of their paths cross when there is an attempted robbery. Spirit's daughter was the clerk. Spirit, using his power, steps in to save his daughter's life and chases after one of the fleeing thieves. When the theif vanishes through some type of mystical portal, Spirit follows and finds himself submerged in the conspiracy of an after-life time.
Heaven and hell seem to always have been at opposite ends of the battlefield. Most have always assumed that Heaven was synonymous with righteousness. Is it possible that we have the story wrong? Backwards? Who has ever stopped to listen to what Navarro had to say on the matter?
From beginning to end, Spirit of Independence held my interest. It is a well-written and fast-paced novel. It is written from many viewpoints, which was fascinating and unique. Imaginative scenes and creative settings are consistently woven into each of the chapters making for a fulfilling and satisfying read. I look forward to Rommel's next work in the series.
--Phillip Tomasso III, author of Third Ring, Tenth House & Mind Play
Rating:
Summary: Cleaver and Creative!
Review: Good vs. Evil. Evil vs. Good. Sounds like the same thing, right? Well, not in Keith Rommel's impacting debut novel, Spirit of Independence. Rommel confidently keeps the tables turning in this fantasy-like thriller involving good spirits and bad spirits, but which is which is the persistent question throughout the story.
The cast of characters is clever, the plot, intriguing. Travis Winter was a young soldier, murdered in 1944 during World II. Winter is now like an angel known as Spirit. While Navarro, who some might consider the root of all evil-the devil himself-calls on Spirit, pleading for Spirit to listen to his side of the story. And there is DemAngel, who was once a heavenly angel who preferred the demonic side of existence. And all of their paths cross when there is an attempted robbery. Spirit's daughter was the clerk. Spirit, using his power, steps in to save his daughter's life and chases after one of the fleeing thieves. When the theif vanishes through some type of mystical portal, Spirit follows and finds himself submerged in the conspiracy of an after-life time.
Heaven and hell seem to always have been at opposite ends of the battlefield. Most have always assumed that Heaven was synonymous with righteousness. Is it possible that we have the story wrong? Backwards? Who has ever stopped to listen to what Navarro had to say on the matter?
From beginning to end, Spirit of Independence held my interest. It is a well-written and fast-paced novel. It is written from many viewpoints, which was fascinating and unique. Imaginative scenes and creative settings are consistently woven into each of the chapters making for a fulfilling and satisfying read. I look forward to Rommel's next work in the series.
--Phillip Tomasso III, author of Third Ring, Tenth House & Mind Play
Rating:
Summary: This book is refreshingly unique. A surprise a minute.
Review: In 1947, Travis Winter was on a covert operation in East Berlin when his captain shot him in cold blood. As he lay dying, a hand reached up from within the ground and pulled Travis though the layers of the earth until he reached Hell. The devil using the name Navarro insists they must talk, but before they chat angels arrive freeing Travis.
For the next half a century, Travis has been the SPIRIT OF INDEPENDENCE in God's Army. He serves as a modern day angel waiting to fight on the front lines when the Day of reckoning arrives. However his five decades of angelic living makes Travis question God's ruthlessness so he joins Navarro's minion as the cold war between Heaven and Hell has heated up to what seems like the final solution.
Anyone who enjoys the "Left behind" novels will gain immense pleasure from SPIRIT OF INDEPENDENCE, the first tale of the "Spirit Chronicles" series. Kith Rommel visualizes images so that even an atheist will believe in Heaven and Hell. Travis is one heck of a lead protagonist, as he seems so human even in the afterlife that he is a sort of modern day doubting everyman. Keith Rommel displays his talent with this powerful inspirational fiction. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: This book is refreshingly unique. A surprise a minute.
Review: In 1947, Travis Winter was on a covert operation in East Berlin when his captain shot him in cold blood. As he lay dying, a hand reached up from within the ground and pulled Travis though the layers of the earth until he reached Hell. The devil using the name Navarro insists they must talk, but before they chat angels arrive freeing Travis.
For the next half a century, Travis has been the SPIRIT OF INDEPENDENCE in God's Army. He serves as a modern day angel waiting to fight on the front lines when the Day of reckoning arrives. However his five decades of angelic living makes Travis question God's ruthlessness so he joins Navarro's minion as the cold war between Heaven and Hell has heated up to what seems like the final solution.
Anyone who enjoys the "Left behind" novels will gain immense pleasure from SPIRIT OF INDEPENDENCE, the first tale of the "Spirit Chronicles" series. Kith Rommel visualizes images so that even an atheist will believe in Heaven and Hell. Travis is one heck of a lead protagonist, as he seems so human even in the afterlife that he is a sort of modern day doubting everyman. Keith Rommel displays his talent with this powerful inspirational fiction. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: The Devil himself makes a plea to Travis
Review: The first and debut volume of the "Spirit Chronicles" series, Spirit Of Independence by Keith Rommel is a fascinating allegorical fantasy novel of Travis Winter, a man who falls in battle during World War II and then learns he has been chosen as a celestial knight in the ancient war between Heaven and Hell. Yet when the Devil himself makes a plea to Travis, begging only to be heard, Travis learns that there is much more to the ancient cosmic feud than what appears. Though he distrusts the Devil's plea, he must set out on a personal quest to learn more about what drives the afterlife into such violent conflict, and what can possibly be done about it, in this incredible, powerful story of questing for truth and redemption in worlds both within and beyond mortal reckoning. Spirit Of Independence is very highly recommended for fantasy buff reading lists and community library fantasy collections.
Rating: 
Summary: Unique type of book, full of surprises.
Review: Travis Winter's human life ended abruptly, executed. He had been chosen to become the next Spirit. Divination was the keeper of Travis's bones. If his bones were ever buried, as was all the Spirits' before him, he would be thrown into limbo. The world believe Navarro to be the Devil. Navarro showed Travis his side of the story. Thus began a Holy War. This time, Armageddon was real! **** I have never read a book like this one! Author Keith Rommel has shown a rare talent in his craft! There are several secondary characters and each get their turn. In a strange twist, the book is interactive with the reader! Travis, Navarro, and others actually speak to the reader. I admit that I found it to be a bit unsettling. A wonderfully unique type of book that will have readers looking over their shoulders and often losing themselves in thought! An extremely surprising ending that left me eager for the second book of the series! Excellent! **** ...
<< 1 >>
| 
