Son of the Doomsday Prophet

WHOA! Thought Provoking, Eye- Opening Adventure

With a catchy title, an amazing cover, and a unique premise, author Steven J. Byers presents readers with an unexpected thrill ride in Ã?¢ââ??¬Ã?"Son of the Doomsday Prophet.Ã?¢ââ??¬Ã?Â? So, what can readers expect from a book that bills itself as Ã?¢ââ??¬Ã?"A Fantasy Adventure in the Days of Noah?Ã?¢ââ??¬Ã?Â?

First, if youÃ?¢ââ??‰â??¢re expecting a fleshed-out version of the Biblical account of Noah, sailing aboard the ark with his family, you may find yourself disappointed. Although I certainly did not. This is historical fiction, meaning it is a fictional story using some historical events, places, and people. It revolves around the family of Noah in the years preceding the Great Flood. The narrator is not Noah as one might expect, but rather Jayfeth, the eldest of NoahÃ?¢ââ??‰â??¢s three sons. Jayfeth shares his memories with readers long after the historic flood, indicating that he is the last living remnant of the flood survivors and therefore the literal last person on Earth who witnessed the ancient pre-flood world. ThatÃ?¢ââ??‰â??¢s right- the one God determined should be wiped out of existence. It therefore not only has a historical feel to it, but also the sense of being a cautionary tale as well. As such, it is a fearful and mighty story.

What Byers has done here is extraordinary. Readers see the doomed world through the eyes of a son of the man who knew what was coming. The only man to be prepared and take heed of GodÃ?¢ââ??‰â??¢s warning. Jayfeth begins his memoir at the time he is a child, in fact an only child at the time, though his brothers Shem and Ham follow soon after. We discover that life for NoahÃ?¢ââ??‰â??¢s family, and most especially for NoahÃ?¢ââ??‰â??¢s eldest son, was not an easy one. They were scorned, ridiculed, shunned, and expelled. Most people thought Noah was mad and had no pity for the nuclear family that stuck by him, helping to build his monstrosity of a boat. In the desert.

JayfethÃ?¢ââ??‰â??¢s entire life was devoted to his fatherÃ?¢ââ??‰â??¢s vision. He had no choice. They toiled for decades against incredible odds to build something that made no sense and that no one appreciated. Jayfeth and his brothers were outcasts; unwanted within their family and community. No father would give his daughter in marriage to the sons of the misfit Noah. It was a lonely life. A tough one for the young man who struggled with his own faith, wondering if his father really heard that word from the Lord.

IÃ?¢ââ??‰â??¢ll admit to total fascination as I read about and considered the strain this vision put on NoahÃ?¢ââ??‰â??¢s family. Noah was basically a rock. He knew what he heard and what God wanted him to do. His faith was strong. But the rest of the family suffered with him, dedicating their entire existence to building a cargo ship in the sand. I wondered how this would be enough to sustain an entire novel. But I didnÃ?¢ââ??‰â??¢t wonder for long as the author took readers on several strange and wonderful journeys as we began to see the total step-by-step devastation of the civilization God intended.

This is a story of treachery, betrayal, lies, politics, subversion, and the decay of morality. But within this seething cauldron of hate is a tale of strength, faith, endurance, patience, and lasting unfathomable love. The power in this story is intense and forceful, at times striking blows of terror into the minds of readers as we experience the full depravity of a society destroying itself. While there were terrifyingly horrible events unfolding; events of pure evil and inhumanity, the absolute most horrific moments for me were the scenes when Jayfeth fought off a rat. Yep. Not a leviathan or behemoth, not the executioner of Satan or the fiery lake. It was one. Rat. But its sneaky persistence spoke of the true foe who manifests throughout the story.

I want to tell you a thousand more things about this mesmerizing piece. But I wonÃ?¢ââ??‰â??¢t ruin it for you. This is a tale you must experience on your own to truly appreciate. I am impressed beyond measure with the nature of this work. Byers did not sit down with a list of historical names and pen his own tale. This is well-researched and maintains a dignified sense of the Biblical story and legends from that time. It is a strikingly profound story with depths as deep as the sea and yet as transparent as crystal. There is so much to be gleaned from this one novel I have no doubt I will be reading again to catch more of its wisdom, power, and majesty.

Because of its superior wordsmithing, this inspiring and fearsome story can easily be enjoyed by those who know their Bible stories as well as those who have never held a Bible in their hands. ItÃ?¢ââ??‰â??¢s not scripture and isnÃ?¢ââ??‰â??¢t intended to be. ItÃ?¢ââ??‰â??¢s also not preachy. ItÃ?¢ââ??‰â??¢s profound. The fiction within is haunting, sincere, and insightful. I heartily recommend Ã?¢ââ??¬Ã?"Son of the Doomsday ProphetÃ?¢ââ??¬Ã?Â? by Steven J. Byers to those who enjoy historical fiction as well as thrillers, epic fantasies, adventures, and even horror stories. Young adults and teens will enjoy this work as well.Ã?¢ââ??‰â?¬Å¡This is a genre-busting work with great characters, intense emotions, quests, romance, politics, spies, dysfunctional families, and one lone man who will face a world against him. Because he believes.