Immanuel’s Veins – Ted Dekker

Immanuel's Veins by Ted Dekker
Also by this author: The Promise, The Drummer Boy, Sinner, Green, The Dream Traveler's Quest, Into the Book of Light, The Curse of Shadownman, The Garden and the Serpent, The Final Judgment, Millie Maven and the Bronze Medallion
Published by Thomas Nelson on September 2010
Genres: Fiction, Christian, Suspense, Speculative
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It is a dangerous tale of times past. A love story full of deep seduction. A story of terrible longing and bold sacrifice. Then as now, evil begins its courtship cloaked in light. And the heart embraces what it should flee. Forgetting it once had a truer lover.

With a kiss, evil will ravage body, soul, and mind. Yet there remains hope, because the heart knows no bounds. Love will prove greater than lust. Sacrifice will overcome seduction. And blood will flow.

Because the battle for the heart is always violently opposed. For those desperate to drink deep from this fountain of life, enter. But remember, not everyone is for this story.

This story is for everyone – but not everyone is for this story. In a tale of love and betrayal, Ted Dekker sets before us a story we have all heard before, a story we have ourselves experienced. But the height and depth of the story push the edge of imagination and take us to the brink of what our heart can hold until our cup runs over. The sheer power of Story drives one to one’s knees as those with eyes to see and ears to hear weep, rejoice, then weep and rejoice again, as Dekker peels back the layers of our heart and holds up this story as a mirror to one’s soul.

Toma Nicolescu is a warrior, servant of her Majesty the Empress Catherine the Great. His mission is to protect and defend the Cantemir family of Moldavia, as they could provide a key ally in current war. So he and his sidekick Alek, take up residence in the Cantemir house, ready to slay any creature of the night that might attack.

The Cantemirs—or rather the Cantemir women—were of renown in Moldavia, for reasons that beautiful women are renowned to be renowned for. Prepared for a battle of flesh and blood, Toma is not prepared for the battle of the heart that will ensue. Where evil begins its courtship cloaked in light. Where the heart spurns its true lover and turns toward a darker seduction. Where Toma will be pushed to and through and past his limits for the sake of Love. And blood will flow.

Dekker has written some great books in his time. Each of them in their own way use the concept of Story to unleash the reader from the constraints of reality and pursue Truth, explore Redemption, and ponder Sacrifice. With Immanuel’s Veins, Ted Dekker takes his storytelling to a whole other level, engaging the reader and taking him captive to the story in a way that is as breathtaking and marvelous as it is gut wrenching and terrifying. Metaphor, imagery, theology, mythology—they all combine to create a stunning masterpiece that explores God’s love for us.

The first person technique provides the reader with an intimate look into the story, which only makes the theme more powerful. The loose ties into Dekker’s novels known as the Books of History Chronicles will prove to be mind-blowing for longtime fans of Dekker, while those coming to him first through this novel will not find themselves lost—just intrigued and wanting to know more.

In sum, Immanuel’s Veins is a master story crafted by a master storyteller. Few can explore Truth through fiction as well as Dekker, and among all Dekker’s forays toward Truth this just might be his best. But I warn you. Be careful. Not everyone is for this story. Should you read this story, you will not find yourself the same person as when you opened the cover. Your mind will be engaged, your pulse will be quickened, but above all your heart will be challenged to run after its true Lover.