The Begotten (The Gifted Series, Book 1)
by Lisa Tawn Bergren
List Price:
Our Price: $2.70
You Save: $11.30 (81%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Lisa Tawn BergrenEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2007-09-04
ISBN: 0425215601
Number of pages: 464
Publisher: Berkley
Book Reviews of The Begotten (The Gifted Series, Book 1)
Book Review: Tom Clancy Meets Catherine Marshall with a dash of Michael Crichton Thrown In!
Summary: 4 Stars
The Begotten by best-selling author Lisa T. Bergren is the first book of the Gifted series. Book two, The Betrayed, was published in late 2007, and book three, The Blessed, is scheduled for release on 2008.
This book represents a growing subgenre of Christian speculative fiction - the religious thriller. Christian romance and historical fiction are established subgenres. However, "religious thriller" sounds like an oxymoron. The Publisher's Weekly review left me scratching my head in confusion. "CBA readers will find much to cheer, but others will also enjoy this classic battle between good and evil. Disregard Da Vinci Code comparisons and think Lord of the Rings, but without Hobbits and the allegorical trappings."
CBA encourages the publication of upliftingly enjoyable novels such as Christy by Catherine Marshall. Stretching the CBA's boundaries beyond The Chronicles of Narnia seems difficult. I often wonder if The Lord of the Rings had been published now whether it would have been embraced by CBA given the backlash against the Harry Potter books and their ilk. Besides, what is the LOTR without Hobbits and the allegorical trappings?
The story is set in 14th century Sienna, a city-state that will become part of the modern nation of Italy. A prophetic book, purportedly written by the Apostle Paul, describes the coming battle between good and evil, "not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." - Ephesians 6:12.
The powers of darkness work through men moved by greed, lust, sorceries, and death. The Gifted work through powers bestowed by God--wisdom, healing, faith, visions, discernment, miracles, and prophecy.
Before others of the Gifted can gather, the power of darkness strikes like a hammer to destroy them. Can mere men and women stand against such power?
Ms Bergren recreates the world of 14th century Sienna with a deft touch, bringing alive a culture that is completely foreign to our own.
With trembling hands, the old woman set down the box upon the table
and opened the lid. Spectacles! Gianni had only seen two pair of the
new contraptions--once in Venezia, the second in Roma. They were
frightfully expensive, an extravagance of the wealthy. And the lady
bestowed them upon a servant?
Though I would not claim an extensive knowledge of church or renaissance European history, Ms. Bergren fills her story with historical references with just the right amount of explanation that give her story breadth and scope, such as the removal of the papacy to Avignon in France.
The pace and tension of the story rise page by page, impelling the reader forward chapter by chapter to the rich, satisfying conclusion. Tom Clancy and Michael Crichton could do no better.
Ms. Bergren's storytelling demonstrates the blossoming of a genre that will appeal to people of diverse faith cultures--the religious thriller. I am looking forward to reading the other books in the Gifted series.
Recommended
Summary of The Begotten (The Gifted Series, Book 1)
At the height of the Inquisition, a secret half a millennium old is about to be exposed-a lost letter said to have been written by Paul and part of what was to become the foundation of the Christian canon. It speaks of men and women-the Gifted-with mysterious spiritual gifts that struck fear in the heart of the Church. Now the letter has surfaced. The Gifted ones are coming together. Their prophecy is coming true.
Fiction Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Fiction Books
Reluctant Messiahby Salamon Eskinazi
Jason Aronson, Inc.; Published: 2001-07-07; Paperback; Book
Best price: $39.95
Joshua, the Man They Called Jesusby Ian, MBE Jones, Ian Jones
Lothian Books; Published: 2000; Paperback; Book
Price in other shops:
The Christmas Angel (Cape Light, Book 6)by Thomas Kinkade, Katherine Spencer
Jove; Published: 2007-09-25; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.90
Price in other shops:
In His Steps: What Would Jesus Do?by Charles M. Sheldon
Dover Publications; Published: 2010-12-20; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.70
Price in other shops:
On Hummingbird Wings: A Novelby Lauraine Snelling
FaithWords; Published: 2011-04-11; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.99
Price in other shops:
Ghostwriter: A Novelby Travis Thrasher
FaithWords; Published: 2009-05-28; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.98
Price in other shops:
Cyril of Alexandria (The Early Church Fathers)by Norman Russell
Routledge; Published: 2000-06-08; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $112.69
Price in other shops:
![When the Game Is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box [Paperback] by Ortberg, John Image](/images/When-the-Game-Is-Over-It-All-Goes-Back-in-the-Box-Paperback-by-Ortberg-John-0310253195-X.jpg){kind=small}
When the Game Is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box [Paperback] by Ortberg, Johnby John Ortberg
Zondervan; Published: 2007; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.44
Then Comes Marriageby Angela Elwell Hunt, Bill Myers
Zondervan Publishing Company; Published: 2001-02-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $0.01
Price in other shops:
The Language of Silence: The Changing Face of Monastic Solitude (Traditions of Christian Spirit)by Peter Damian Belisle
Darton Longman and Todd; Published: 2003-09; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.06
Price in other shops:
Similar Books and other products
Sing: A Novel of Colorado (The Homeward Trilogy)by Lisa T. Bergren
David C. Cook; Published: 2010-04-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.00
Price in other shops:
Midnight Sun (Northern Lights Series #3)by Lisa Tawn Bergren
WaterBrook Press; Published: 2000-03-14; Paperback; Book
Best price: $12.61
Price in other shops:
Claim: A Novel of Colorado (The Homeward Trilogy)by Lisa T. Bergren
David C. Cook; Published: 2010-06-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.63
Price in other shops:
The Betrayed (The Gifted Series, Book 2)by Lisa Tawn Bergren
Berkley Publishing Group; Published: 2007-09-04; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $2.90
Price in other shops:
The Blessed (A Novel of the Gifted)by Lisa T. Bergren
Berkley Trade; Published: 2009-10-06; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.49
Price in other shops:
The Betrayed: A Novel of the Giftedby Lisa T. Bergren
Berkley Trade; Published: 2008-09-02; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.83
Price in other shops:
The Blessed (The Gifted Series, Book 3)by Lisa Tawn Bergren
Berkley Hardcover; Published: 2008-09-02; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $3.42
Price in other shops:
Waterfall: A Novel (River of Time Series)by Lisa T. Bergren
David C. Cook; Published: 2011-02-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.87
Price in other shops:
Cascade: A Novel (River of Time Series)by Lisa T. Bergren
David C. Cook; Published: 2011-06-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.00
Price in other shops:
Torrent: A Novel (River of Time Series)by Lisa T. Bergren
David C. Cook; Published: 2011-09-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.16
Price in other shops: