Secrets of the Highlands by D J Williams Book Review

About the Book:

Jack Reynolds has uncovered ancient secrets at a great cost. Now he must unleash the truth with the help of his crew: Vince, Tim, Amina, and the chosen one, Emma.

Jack is the only one who can wield the power of Eden’s Star, but can he control it before it destroys him? Badly weakened by the compass and hunted by powerful dark forces across international cities and secret realms, Jack and his crew are desperate to find him a healer. But when new enemies emerge to test the team’s loyalties, the search for the Cherub’s ancient artifacts intensifies.

Fighting against her own heartbreak, Emma struggles to stop the Merikh from capturing innocent Cherub and stealing their powers for their own sinister schemes. As the truth of a haunting prophecy is revealed, and an ally turns to the dark side, Jack and Emma must decide together if trusting a narrow path is worth the sacrifice.

My Review:

I am not a fantasy buff. The analogous aspect of a fantasy novel has to be clear to me or I get lost. And I got lost in this novel. I know the Merikh are the really bad guys. The Cherubs are sort of the good guys but not totally. One character says, “There is freedom in a relationship with Elyon, but I have found that the Cherub often create too many rules and regulations. And I am not blind to the sin that exists in the Cherub either.” (1675/4779) So are the Cherub supposed to represent Christians in church style Christianity with rules and hidden sin? But there is Asiklua, identified as an angel, expelled from Charis a thousand years ago because he led a fallen legion of Cherub. (2266/4479) So are Cherub angels? There is an ancient book, Eternal. Jack is told if he wants a deeper relationship with Elyon he must find truth within the pages of that book. So we have something like the Bible. There are definitely allusions to Christian faith and truths but they are murky for me.

The setting is this earth. Jack notes that they were in this world but spiritual forces were fighting for souls in this world and the others. (1887/4779) So we have helicopters, Land Rovers and Starbucks but then also a supernatural sword and other spiritual powers.

The plot seemed quite repetitive to me. Go to a new place, meet some new people, get some new information on how to get to the Valley of Grace, go to a new place, barely escape the Merikh. Repeat. Because the plot is repetitive, I felt the book is way too long. Some adventures could have been cut without losing the basics of the adventure. It is definitely a novel for people who like to get lost in an adventure for a long time. It is the second in the series and does not read well on its own. The first novel needs to be read to fully understand what is going on here.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

You can read my review of the first book in the series, Hunt for Eden's Star.

About the Author:

D. J. Williams was born and raised in Hong Kong, igniting an adventurous spirit as he ventured into the jungles of the Amazon, the bush of Africa, and the ancient cities of the Far East. His global travels submerged him in a myriad of cultures, providing a unique perspective that fuels his creativity. Providing a fresh voice in mystery and suspense, his novels have climbed the charts on Amazon Hot New Releases and his latest book, The Auctioneer, received a stellar review from Kirkus Reviews. Williams has also been an executive producer and director on over 500 episodes of broadcast television.

Tyndale House Publishers, 496 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)