Immanuel's Veins by Ted Dekker - REVIEW AND GIVE AWAY!

“This story is for everyone but not everyone is for this story.” (back cover copy)

Ted Dekker aptly describes his latest book, Immanuel’s Veins, when stating who his target audience is – and who it is not. Immanuel’s Veins is told in classic Dekker style, and it is sure to be a hit with all of his fans, both old and new. Dekker has chosen a venue that is extremely popular right now and added his unique style to create a love story with eternal consequences. Whether you are one for whom this story is written will be determined rather quickly.

I’m going to be honest and tell you that the first third of this book got on my nerves. It seemed rather odd to me that seasoned warriors would go so ga-ga over a woman. However, as the story progressed and I understood that there was a bit more going on than just two people meeting each other for the first time, and from that point on, I was quickly drawn further into the story. As I continued to the end, I found nuggets of spiritual truth hidden along the way. Dekker is obviously rather put off by religion for religion’s sake, and he makes that very apparent in his writing. He longs for everyone to understand the love that God has shown to His people, and for followers to show that love to one another.

Actually, his stated intent is to explore sacrificial love. He explores this concept through the universal concept of relationship between a man and a woman – and makes it very clear that there is a vast difference between real love and love for pleasure’s sake alone. The hallmark of real love is a willingness to sacrifice and the main character has to deal with that in a rather extreme way. The poor man resists the draw of this love at first, bound by duty to fulfill his assigned mission. However, as he realizes what his duty will ultimately cost him, he then embarks in a life or death struggle between forces of good and evil. He is called to sacrifice by a love that makes him willing to fight an evil far greater than any he has ever known.

I know this may sound kind of vague, but I don’t want to give anything away. This story should be discovered and uncovered as I did it – page by page. The summation of truth that spoke to me most was found on page 366: “So then, if you read this book, and if you encounter any person who might strike you as lost to the darkness, I would only implore you to love them and pray they be delivered into the light by a blood that works to purge evil.” This book contains many surprises, and hallmark Dekker suspense. Do you think you are someone for whom this story was written?

You may go here to see the latest HD video trailer of the book.

*There is some mild language in this book.

I have a VERY SPECIAL give away for this book!! A very limited number of t-shirts were printed to promote this book! (my 15-year-old son has already hijacked mine!) If you'd like to receive a free t-shirt, please enter your name, contact information AND your definition of sacrificial love on this post! I'll draw a winner at the end of the week!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

The son of missionaries John and Helen Dekker, whose incredible story of life among headhunters in Indonesia has been told in several books, Ted Dekker learned at a very early age the difference between authentic Christianity and so-called religion. Surrounded by the vivid colors of the jungle and a myriad of cultures, Dekker received a first-class education on human nature and behavior. This, he believes, is the foundation of his writing.

After earning his Bachelor's Degree in Religion and Philosophy from Evangel College, Dekker spent time in the corporate world before turning to writing full-time in 1997. He states that each time he writes, he finds his vision of God just a little clearer and his expression of that vision a little more vivid. Dekker's body of work contains over twenty novels including Thr3e, The Circle Series, and Sinner.

He lives in Austin, Texas, with his wife LeeAnn and their four children.