Guardian Angels Battle for Human Souls
Action abounds in this clever faith-flavored narrative about one man’s life story as seen through the eyes of two heavenly angels.
If you’re looking for an unusual read that packs a punch, consider Guardian Angels. Clever and quick, this faith-flavored story chronicles one man’s life story as seen through the eyes of heavenly angels Briathos and Leuviah. In the tradition of C.S. Lewis’s The Screwtape Letters, the peaks and valleys of Lyle’s life are revealed through a series of correspondence between these two angels.
Meanwhile, each chapter or epistle glides smoothly into the next. Characters are full-bodied and action abounds. The author does an excellent job of conveying the intensity and immensity of spiritual battles taking place in the unseen realm. A Prologue and a Glossary of Terms are included. The Prologue ably introduces the concept of guardian angels and provides some crucial background for same. The Glossary will help readers keep names, missions, and characters straight.
Kristine L (Reedsy.com reviewer)
REVIEWS
Heaven's Redemption
A Soul's Journey
The book was easy to read and filled with many examples of how humans have succumbed to the seven deadly sins. Christian fiction readers will appreciate the unique way the story is told as they’re invited to accompany Lyle as he walks down the path. Readers can reflect on their lives and how they might fare once they pass on and face judgment. Through Lyle’s story, the author explores the concepts of repentance, grace, and forgiveness, providing a unique perspective.
- Kate Tant –
Beta Reader, Writer, Editor,
During my college days while studying philosophy, I never believed in the concept of what the Greek philosophers called “moira” (fate) or even in Calvin’s notion of predestination. Instead, I enjoyed debating with a close friend on how God gave us free will or the ability to control our destiny. For all that, it’s not a subject I have thought of much since my academic days. However, I recently came across DL Render’s novel Guardian Angels Battle for Human Souls, and, suddenly, I found my interest in the subject piquing once again.
Render takes the reader through the life story of his protagonist, Lyle. There's nothing special about his life except that the narrators of his story are two guardian angels, Leuviah and Briathos. Or to be more exact, the author narrates the story in the third person through Briathos, a lead guardian angel and Leuviah’s mentor. Apart from us discovering what the work of a guardian angel entails, the reader is compelled to think about two of God’s greatest gifts to mankind, namely His love for us and our free will.
The character of Lyle represents any of us. With Leuviah’s help, I liked how he grew up spiritually, despite the many challenges he faced. I never grew up in a broken family myself. However, in my formative years, I knew of such children as Lyle. Children whose parents had divorced or separated. I remember how my family hosted a neighbor’s kid for a few days as his parents fought for days on end. Relating my experiences with Lyle’s story, I now realize that this kid’s guardian angel may have guided the boy to our home for security reasons.
On the other hand, I didn’t agree with all the dogmatic suppositions advanced by the author. For example, Briathos is quoted as saying that God has graced Leuviah with the “ability to provide blessings, absolve transgressions...” I don’t think anyone can absolve a person from sin besides God, especially considering that Lyle wasn’t even aware of Leuviah’s existence or actions. On a lighter note, I found the conflicting activities of the angels and demons humorous at times. On other occasions, the author’s writing peaked with a funny if not a bizarre twist of words, for example, “The demons were insane with joy, rubbing the blood on themselves.”
In summary, I found the number of editing errors in the novel numerous and distracting for my taste. Therefore, I rated the book 4 out of 5 stars.
I recommend this book to anyone who wants to increase his or her faith in God. With much of our future unknown and uncertain, this book can give the reader a big-picture perspective of the ongoing warfare between hell and heaven for souls. At the same time, there are overt descriptions of violence, bloodshed, and death in the novel. If you are affected by such details, you may be better off giving the book a miss.
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