Book Review and Rafflecopter Giveaway: The Remnant by William Michael Davidson

The author has created an interesting futuristic world where faith is equated with terrorism.

The Remnant
by William Michael Davidson

◊Release date: February 7, 2017
◊$15.95, 6x9 Trade paperback, 242 pages
◊Science Fiction (FIC028000) / Christian Futuristic Fiction (FIC0402020)
◊Print ISBN 978-1-939844-29-3
◊eBook ISBN 978-1-939844-30-9
◊Order through Ingram, Follett, or from the publisher
◊$4.99 eBook available in all formats

My Rating 4.25 of 5.0

One nation, without God…
Colton Pierce apprehends Abberants—those who display symptoms of faith—and quarantines them on a remote island to ensure public safety. Years prior, the government released a genetically-engineered super flu that destroyed the genes believed to be the biological source of spiritual experience in an effort to rid the world of terrorism. As an extractor with the Center for Theological Control, Colton is dedicated to the cause.
But Colton’s steadfast commitment is challenged when he learns his own son has been targeted for extraction. An underground militia, the Remnant, agrees to help Colton save his son in exchange for his assistance with their plan to free the Aberrants on the island.
Colton is faced with the most important decision of his life. Remain faithful to the CTC? Or give up everything to save his son?

Review:

Colton Pierce is a self-centered, arrogant extractor in the Center for Theological Control (CTC). He prides himself on being one of the best at capturing Abberants - those who display symptoms of faith, most often revealed by praying or even postures that look like prayer. Colton is pressing to become the next Director of his station. He feels he is the best extractor but his people skills are poor and he is competing against a handsome, slick, well connected co-worker, Ashton.

Recently a new woman at the station, Selma, has caught Colton’s eye but Colton is discouraged after he sees her in the company of Ashton. Colton doesn’t have much time to date or deal with that stress. Since his wife left him and then died, he has tried to be there for his son, Marty, now twelve. Colton and Marty don’t have much in common as Colton tried everything to get Marty into some type of sports. Instead, Marty’s interests are in the arts and Colton doesn’t understand his son’s sensitivities.

One afternoon the Extractors are called to round up a group of Abberants. Colton arrives on scene to realize that the home belongs to his son’s friend. He knows his son will be extracted, taken to jail, then sent to the island where the Abberants are quarantined. Suddenly Colton must choose between his career and his son. But even if he helps his son escape, how will they get away when they all have trackable chips?

Colton himself is ‘shanghaied’ by an underground group known as The Remnant. They have found a way to disable the government tracking and they are offering to help Colton save his son. The thing is – they have been waiting for Colton because they believe he will be able to help their plan to free all the Abberants on the island. The situation is almost too impossible to believe but they keep telling Colton that he may have to believe the impossible. Colton knows he shouldn’t trust the CTC who might make a deal for his son’s life. But can he trust these strangers who should hate him? Especially can he trust the mysterious ‘Gus’ who gives him directions through his chip implant?

Colton starts out as a rather obnoxious character but his strong love for his son shows there is more to him. He goes through a positive change before the story ends. Mr. Davidson has created an engaging story and I enjoyed how he weaves in several Biblical parallels. Clearly Colton can be compared to Saul, the chief Christian persecutor, who becomes Paul and one of Jesus’ disciples. There is a plan for “exodus” from the island and there is the promise of impossible things being possible. These and other parallels will be spotted by a believer and perhaps could be a draw for non-believers.

The writing is straightforward and the tension and suspense build nicely to some harrowing moments. The premise of eliminating and silencing faith is not so far fetched. This is clearly labeled as a religious/Christian sci fi and that is an appropriate audience. However, I encourage nonbelievers to take a chance and enjoy the story too.

I received this title from MC Book Tours for an honest review. Please enjoy the author guest post too. This qualifies for my 2017 TBR Challenge.

THE REMNANT is available to order in eBook form at the following sites:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

iTunes

The print format of the book is available at these sites:

Amazon 

Barnes & Noble

Chapters-Indigo

Book Depository

Foyles

Mediander

Fiction DB

Be sure to add THE REMNANT to your bookshelf on Goodreads.

About the Author:

William Michael Davidson lives in Long Beach, California with his wife and two daughters. A believer that "good living produces good writing," Davidson writes early in the morning so he can get outside, exercise, spend time with people, and experience as much as possible.

A writer of speculative fiction, he enjoys stories that deal with humanity's inherent need for redemption.

For more on Davidson and his writing, connect with him on Goodreads, Twitter, Facebook, and Amazon Author’s Page.

Thanks for stopping by today. Be sure to visit the other blogs on the tour for more chances to win. The schedule is located HERE.

GIVEAWAY

This is a tour-wide giveaway for two (2) print copies that are available to those living in the U.S. only and one (1) eBook copy available international.
The giveaway will end at 12 a.m. (EST) on Sunday, Feb. 26. You can enter to win at each stop of the tour.

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