I can’t wait to tell you about J. J. Fischer’s newest book, just released in May! If you’re a fan of Pirates of the Caribbean, Laura Frantz, or C. S. Lewis (or all three), The Soul Mark is right up your alley with its Colonial-era swashbuckling, sweet (and clean) romance, and rich, Christian allegory.
I don’t know where to start. The unique setting of a tropical paradise island turned hellish lifelong prison? The multi-layered romance of mutual attraction and misconceptions worthy of Jane Austen? The deep, thought-provoking themes of allegory that bring old truths into new light? The intricate plot with the perfect amount (and perfect timing) of twists, turns, and connections? (Oh, and what about the main character whose pet animal is a FOX?)
If these things don’t intrigue you yet, let me sing Fischer’s praises a little louder. I’m picky with romance and even pickier with allegory, but Fischer delivers both elements of this story with marvelous heights of skill, creativity, and thoughtfulness. In the romance, Sela and Caleb stand out as real people with real obstacles to a real relationship—facing fears, assumptions, and difficulties that any of us might face in our own pursuit of love. I delighted in the front-row seat to their heart journeys from strangers to reluctant confidants to—well, I won’t give everything away. 🙂
In the allegory, Fischer uses a tasteful mix of recognizable Bible content and original imagination, veering close enough to reality to give the story depth and power, while keeping enough distance to avoid literary heresy or bad writing. Truly, this allegory will touch the hearts of all readers as, no matter where we are in our spiritual walk, we seek to understand God’s mercy side-by-side with His justice, yield to His sovereign goodness over bad people and events, and ultimately find the worth of all our souls before Him.
My last word of praise for this book is that everything feels so real. Besides the spiritual truths that ARE real, the characters and places feel as authentic as my neighborhood on my morning walk. This authenticity is what pulls me into Fischer’s stories from page one, keeps me inside until the end, and brings me back for second and third (and more) reads. Even with the scary jungle nights and the villains like Uriah Smith, I want to live in the world of The Soul Mark—a world whose story, in and through the struggles and messes, promises beauty, love, freedom, and redemption.
“Mercy and justice are strange bondmates, my son. Only the Carver understands the intricacies of their Binding.”
Lord Auberon
The beginning captivated me with a premise like The Hunger Games’ Reaping with spiritual overtones. The chapters that followed carried me on the irresistible current of good writing through perfectly balanced action, romance, and allegory. The themes spoke to my heart and led me to new worship. The ending—the ending gave me chills.
Read this book for yourself and you’ll see what I mean—and why I’m greedier than Uriah Smith and Lord Auberon combined to get my hands on the next book (due to release March 2024). J. J. Fischer is a paragon author of Christian fantasy and I’m genuinely proud to have The Soul Mark on my bookshelf.
Warning: Consumers of this product may experience feelings of rage, helplessness, impatience, anxiety, and/or thoughts of harm toward the author during the final pages. Suggested treatments include repeating consumption of the product, following the author on social media, and pre-ordering the sequel product when available.
