Rating: 
Summary: Can't wait until the series ends!
Review: I have to admit that I got hooked on the Left Behind series with the first book. I really couldn't put it down! The second book was decent; then starting with book 3, I found myself literally skipping several pages at a time or falling sleep during reading. I began to complain to my husband about how horrible the quality of the books have gotten. We complained to each other about how the writers are exploiting the whole thing--filling pages with useless dialogue, big font and huge margins and being repetitive till Kingdom Come (yes, pun intended).After the 7th book, I wanted to stop reading because of the disgust I felt for the books and the writers, but I felt I couldn't because I had invested so much time into reading them. So I continued and after each new book, my poor husband (he had stopped reading at book 4) got an earful from me--until now. The latest book, for which I'm writing the review (I promise I'll get to it--finally!), was actually, pretty good. Maybe it was because the believers were in their final stage of the battle and Christ would be coming back soon or because that signifes the fact that there would be only ONE MORE BOOK!! Perhaps it was the combination of the two. I gave the book 4 stars because it was easy reading and because it was A LOT better than its 8+ predecessors. The story lines were better (some people die!) and there seemed to be less fillers. It made me think about my spiritual life and the urgency of having people accept Christ. It almost felt like the way I felt when I was reading the first book. Well, almost. So take it from me--a die-hard criticizer of the Left Behind series--no matter how disappointed you were with the other books--I think this one is worth reading. I promise.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent continuation of a great story
Review: I read this whole book in less than ten hours. It is filled with tension and very well written. The sudden ending left me awed. I haven't yet read some of the other end-times series like "Conquest of Paradise", but I hear they also are good. The Left Behind audio dramas are also quite impressive. This book covers almost the entire final year of the tribulation. Only one original member of the Tribulation force is left alive now with the Glorious Appearing only hours away. Book twelve, the final book in the series, is due in the Spring of 2004. I can't wait!
Rating: 
Summary: NOT BAD NOT GREAT.
Review: I like the series, but it's starting to drag alittle. I'm sure the ending will be worth the reading. I can't wait. Also, I would like to share another good read for people enjoy a 'good vs evil' storyline with a wonderful message. THE FIST OF GOD by A.T. Nicholas is a great spiritual warfare novel. I highly recommend it.
Rating: 
Summary: Just how far can you stretch 10 pages of the bible...
Review: I really enjoyed the first 5 books or so of this series - but after that point they describe in 200 pages what could be done in 10. Armageddon is just another example of this. The "plot" was half baked and often pointless and the ending was just agony. In addition, the main characters do things completely out of character and for little to no reason. I almost tossed the book out the nearest window!! (But it was a library book so I thought better of that idea.)
Rating:
Summary: Action and character development make for a really good read
Review: I think that character development hit a peak in Armageddon, particularly for Chloe and Tsion. Without spoiling the story for anyone, let me hit a few highlights. Among the long-term main characters:
Chloe, a somewhat flat sitcom-like character in the rest of the series, becomes one of the series' most outstanding role models! A side of Tsion emerges that we have barely glimpsed since Book #3 (Nicolae). Buck is an emotional dynamo, swinging from a desperate need to DO something, to lashing out at people, to a sad and tender young-father figure, to a distracted man needing to get back in the action. The way Buck acts in Chloe's absence is an astonishingly beautiful display of his love for her, far better than in Book #4 (Soul Harvest). Mac and Abdullah seem somewhat subdued, especially after their large parts in the past few books. I was shocked that Albie's character seemed so carelessly wasted: ever since he rose to a prominent role in Book #7 (Indwelling) it seemed that the Battle of Armageddon would be his time to shine. Rayford is a much quieter role model than in other books, a man who has to God's will, utterly and completely. Among the more recent characters:
Sebastion finally stops looking like a stock character! It's about time. It's nice to see Zeke again. Ree still seems largely faceless, though, as do many of the Co-Op cast. There are some new characters, and by far the best of these is Naomi. Her interaction with Chang provides a MUCH needed counterbalance to the rest of the action. Don't get me wrong: this is not my idea of a light story, or something to read to kids before bedtime. I recommend this book to anyone who appreciates action-driven character development, somewhat horrific descriptions of injury / persecution, or just has a fine sense of catharsis.
Rating: 
Summary: stretched thin
Review: They're stretching things pretty thin now. They should have given up on their commitment to 12 books and ended it with this one. The book ends just moments before the return of Christ, which means that the authors are going to try to deal with the events that follow His return in the next book. While I'm curious to see how they describe life on earth upon the return of Jesus and the destruction of Carpathia and company, I'm also surprised that the authors would try to tackle something that's based on even more speculation than the events in the first 11 books. It's one thing to describe how you think the devil would ruin the world, but quite another to presume to describe what heaven on earth would be like afterwards. The action and dialogue in book 11 are painfully cheesy and unrealistic. The last half of the series hasn't been near as gripping and interesting as the first half was. I think the whole series could have been written in eight or nine books, easily, maybe even seven: one for each year of the tribulation. So beware, the only point of reading any more is to find out how it ends after divesting so much time in reading the series
Rating:
Summary: Only the initial premise keeps this series afloat
Review: I've had many complaints about the plodding pace of the books, the one-dimensional characters, the missed opportunities for dramatic twists. Only the initial premise is keeping me hanging on until the bitter end. Each installment spends the first 100 pages reminding us what happened before, resolves one plot line, then spends the second half setting up the next cliffhanger. Christians are all goody two shoes with virtually no shortcomings or character flaws, despite being brand new believers. Apparently conversion changes your fundamental character and you no longer have moral dilemmas. The reader almost roots for the Antichrist because he's the only interesting character! This book is even worse. Now the Antichrist is reduced to mere hand-wringing, like Mr. Burns on the Simpsons. Technology is used too conveniently - the Antichrist must have no firewalls in his entire computer network. Over and over Trib Force members have carried off too many impossible rescues of each other, so it was a relief to finally have someone die in this book (it's about time!). Too many characters have been introduced simply to serve a miraculous purpose for God's plan, and those who weren't quickly killed remain underutilized and underdeveloped in this book. It was a relief to have Krystall the secretary in this book, the first non-Christian who had any redeeming qualities at all. Other than her, the authors again wrote non-believers with zero human qualities - don't you think the guillotine workers might have grumbled slightly about their disgusting jobs rather than reveling in all that blood and gore? Most characters are written as subliterate cowboys, and even the women are written as though they are men. Just one example: On page 180 when Chloe is drugged by her captors, it "reminded her of how she felt after giving birth to Kenny". Kenny was an unmedicated homebirth. No woman would compare natural childbirth to feeling groggy or drugged! The too-literal interpretation of the Bible is still consistently annoying. Revelation mentions frogs jumping from Antichrist's throat, so it literally has to happen? How unimaginative. I'm suckered in for the final book, but it won't be a fond read. It'll be a relief just to get this series over with and move on to something else. Don't waste your money on this series. There are plenty of copies at the local library.
Rating:
Summary: Just a book
Review: I just had to say to all of the reviewers who are complaining about the way this books portrays Christians. This is just a book, it is not something to base your life upon. (That is what the Bible is for). The characters are not real, they are not telling their real life story. It's a book. And let me say that there are a lot of people out there that read these books so they can be informed in "laymens" terms what could happen. Also, nobody (Christians included) is perfect. We make mistakes. The only thing we can do is pray that we are forgiven for what we have done.
Rating:
Summary: Review of Armageddon
Review: A Review of "Armageddon" by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins
As a fan of the entire Left Behind series of books, I thought that "Armageddon," the eleventh book of the series was well written. The authors maintained the suspense level found in the other books of the series, which made it easy for the reader to stay interested. On the other hand, I must confess to a small degree of disappointment in the book. The authors seem to be a little uncertain where to take some of the characters as they prepare for the twelfth and final book of the series. It almost seems as if they have run out of ideas for individual characters, so they found that the easiest thing to do would be to kill them off.
For the characters, emotions are running very high as they anticipate the Battle of Armageddon, which will be the final event of human history before the return of Jesus to begin His reign on Earth. Many of the characters allow their emotions to get the best of them, which leads to quite a few intense situations during the course of the book. Chloe wanders away from the Tribulation Force's bunker, which becomes a cause for great concern, not only for her, but for the entire Tribulation Force. Albie finds himself dealing with an old acquaintance, hoping that his loyalties have not changed.
There was a very light moment towards the beginning of the book in which Rayford, taking advantage of the darkness, goes to New Babylon to retrieve Chang and, during a briefing being held by Potentate Nicolae Carpathia, is able to have a little bit of fun at the Potentate's expense. Nicolae did not enjoy it a bit, and it was fun to see the character portrayed as the Antichrist taken down a notch or two.
My favorite character is Rabbi Tsion Ben-Judah, who is the writers' tool to share the Biblical prophecies with their readers. Even though I have read these Scriptures many times myself, I find myself more excited as I picture the words being preached by Tsion. Not only have the writers made him an inspiration on a spiritual level. He is a man to be looked up to because he is not content to merely preach, but also wants to join in on the work, including taking up a weapon and participating in the final battle.
As the days for the battle draw near, the writers are able to hold the reader on the edge of his seat. There is very little imagery in this book. The writers instead choose to keep the action nonstop, using the descriptions of the action in the story to place the pictures in the reader's mind. They do this very well.
The writers inject humor at the right moments to help break some of the tension that is taking place in the action. At one point, with bullets flying all around, Tsion, passing the healing pool of Bethesda, says to Buck, "I was not hit, Cameron! No need for healing!" The only thing Buck can think at this point is "Millimeters from death and the rabbi jokes."
The book does a good job of clarifying the Biblical prophecies of the last days. Even if you think the language of the book of Revelation is figurative rather than literal, you will enjoy seeing these events unfold.
Rating:
Summary: I've stuck with it this long ... I might as well finish!
Review: I almost didn't buy this, but figured I might as well take it to the end. The first 2 and maybe 3 books of the series were great and I happily loaned them out to friends. My advice now is, "Don't get started!" The writing style is obviously geared towards stretching out the story. The wide margins are a pitifull example of how the writers are milking the public for every last dime. This series should have been at most 6 books. What started out with a bang is going out with a whimper.
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