“What was living life without giving part of it to another?”
“Hope can conquer more than any army can.” -Children of the Forgotten
We have two quotes today because I couldn’t choose just one.
What a magnificent story of faith, hope, courage, and perseverance. Children of the Forgotten excelled past my expectations. It no doubt lived up to the Christian, post-apocalyptic genres!
4/5 Stars
(Spoiler-Free Zone)
(Briefing)
In a post-apocalyptic world, most people by the age thirty have succumbed to the Sickness, a mysterious illness. But the Sickness is not the only enemy for Collin Mann’s city. Hordes of deranged killers live in the hills around it. With few trained protectors, the future of the little city looks bleak. Collin, fifteen years old, buries those the Sickness consumes. Slight and awkward, he shuns warrior training, avoiding the example of his big brother and guardian. When killers attack at the watering hole, he’s called to step forward and defend. Instead, he freezes. He’s ashamed. His people need him to fight. But can he do it? Or would a clumsy person like himself make any difference in the battle of existence?
(First Impression 4/5)
Charles did a great job introducing this dystopian world in the first couple of chapters. A few battles took place that were action-packed and thrilling to read. The descriptions of these fights and the actions taken by the knights were wonderfully detailed and believable. The beginning was a little slow, but it intrigued me. From the first line, it was evident how hopeless the people were. I instantly loved the somewhat medieval vibes. Post-apocalyptic stories that revert to older traditions and societies are always interesting to read.
(Character Development 5/5)
I loved these characters. Each one had a story to tell, and they all performed and added to the plot perfectly. The growth was unmistakable, especially with Collin: from being a boy who hid from conflict, soon becoming a man who stood for justice. So many characters faced various horrors and trials, and the depth of their wounds made them so real. It was beautiful to see people grow stronger from their pain, yet heartbreaking when others became forever changed by the horrific things that happened to them. Whether it was the main character, side characters, or antagonists, each person was written with a personified structure and personality. It was inspiring to see the reason for the conflicts and how each difficulty prepared the characters and aided them in future battles. The setting of the world no doubt added a layer of complexity to each character, and it had me wondering about the hundreds of stories untold in this book.
Another favorite character was Felicia. Reading about her finding confidence more so in her Creator than herself was a beautiful thing. Then we have Ty, the perfect comedy relief, and much more: a loyal friend, a beloved protector, and a fierce warrior. With jokes ;). I did confuse Arik and Ethan a few times, as their personalities and character traits were similar, along with their luscious hair. But other than that, the character development was phenomenal.
(World-Building 4/5)
There was beautiful imagery within this society and broken world. It was effortless to imagine the small city consumed with fear, the mystery of what awaited them past the mountains, and the vast cultural changes. I loved the return of swords and arrows as the regular weapons, and the farmers, villagers, knights, etc. Even the history and backstories explaining the world’s destructive state, the Sickness, and barbaric criminals threatening all who lived nearby made Children of the Forgotten a thrilling and intriguing read. Charles created a fantastic new society and economy from the fallen world.
(Emotions 5/5)
The loss of hope and peace was the perfect foundation for strong emotions. The concept of faith, God, and the Bible being banned, yet not wholly forgotten, introduced powerful moments of change. There was heartbreak, grief, potent fear, sadness, brokenness, and yet…an underlying hope. I loved the many moments of God’s power being revealed, the truth of Him never leaving us, and an undeniable hope and perseverance that flooded the pages. Charles created such realistic fear and hopelessness. Looking at today’s society, the downfall of humanity in this story and the overall darkness wasn’t hard to imagine. I cried, laughed, and hoped with these people.
(Style 4/5)
I enjoyed the way Charles wrote. The plot itself was a bit drawn out, and it took me a chapter or two to fully immerse myself, but Children of the Forgotten was a remarkable adventure. I could not stop reading. It was also multiple point-of-view, which I think Charles performed wonderfully. The POV created the perfect amount of suspense and clarity, being able to read from all different angles. The inclusion of Biblical principles was incredible. Every time that sprinkling of Christianity came up, I’d jump in excitement. It was subtle initially and then grew, just like one’s relationship with the Lord—a constant journey of growth and obedience. The Christian aspects weren’t preachy—not that I have issues with “preachy”—as in, they weren’t forced but flowed naturally with the plot. This isn’t easy to do, not only because of today’s culture but also in the post-apocalyptic setting the author chose. Charles did a lovely job inserting Scripture and breathtaking moments at just the right time.
(Cleanliness 4/5)
With Children of the Forgotten being a Christian read, cleanliness wasn’t much of an issue. Little romance was included, but not entirely out of the picture. It was sweet and more subtle. I actually enjoyed there being little romance, which isn’t always the case. Sometimes…I finish a book partly because I just want to see my ship sail. But in this story, I read literally for the plot! *applause*
There was a big issue with sexual harassment that appeared in written scenes—mostly foreshadowing and not highly detailed—and mentions or insinuations. With the state of the world and the new society, an unfortunate normalcy to sexual harassment was created, along with violence and gore. It was heartbreaking and frustrating. The many battles were filled with brutal actions, and when added to the Sickness, death was common. A short scene hinting at suicide does come up, but nothing too severe, though tragic all the same. Ritualistic practices were included—inevitably so with all those whacko killers on the loose—but nothing obtrusive and more so near the end. In light of all this, however, God’s presence and power shone through the darkness.
(Conclusion 5/5)
I am amazed I haven’t gone broke from all the books I’ve purchased this year, and now, I must buy the second book in this series because of the ending.
It couldn’t have concluded in a better way, my goodness. I didn’t sob as I thought I would but was more in shock and freakin excited to buy the next book. There was great resolve, breathtaking battles my eyes could not keep up with, and powerful moments where God proved time and time again that He was always there. And He always is. Nevertheless, there are still many unanswered questions that I must know the answers to!
Children of the Forgotten was an inspiring story and better than I anticipated. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy reads that are Christian, dystopian, apocalyptic, action-packed, adventuresome, and filled with epic battles.
Thank you to Book Sirens for this free copy of Children of the Forgotten. This review is in my honest opinion and voluntary. (Follow Book Sirens on Instagram: @booksirens & @booksirens_crew)
!Trigger Warnings!
Death, sexual assault, rituals, violence, grief, gore, fear, suicide implications
“For the Lord your God is He who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.” Deuteronomy 20:4
Julia Rose Books 