Yay or nay?
Discover what the internet is saying about Ted Dekker.
Upgraded Reviews scanned the web to find out what real users are saying about Ted Dekker.
See the highlights below and decide for yourself!
Table of contents
- ✅ Pros
- ❌ Cons
- ⚖️ Summaries
- 💸 Top Discount
✅ Pros
“This book is easily digestible; it’s easy to read, even while covering what could be considered a heavy subject: The evil in all of us.”
“I was pleased that this one is more reminiscent of his earlier works.”
“I enjoyed Rachelle’s journey—it has a very familiar feel to it, one that long-time Dekker readers will appreciate.”
“The description on Amazon makes the books sound just what Christian parents are looking for.”
“Anyone who has ever read another Ted Dekker book would love this book.”
“Theology/accuracy is a strange mixture, but with more good than bad.”
“Not necessarily the most artful wordsmith there is, Dekker is however gooood with his imagery and anticipation antiques.”
“I think of it as a much more fitting balance of narrative and teaching.”
“The series has a cyclical projection with the last book merging into the first, resulting in no ending.”
“There was much good in these books.”
“His use of allegory in this series is amazing.”
“The story also has a deeper meaning, for those who search for it.”
“It flows smoothly for the most part, the characters are believable (if somewhat simple) and there were no glaringly ill-fitting parts.”
“It weighs in at 1442 pages total, including the alternate ending and a few notes by Dekker.”
“In 2013 NPR readers nationwide named him as one of the top suspense writers of all time.”
“The solution presented by this book is to let go of that fear and to accept that we are beautiful and the light of the world.”
“I appreciate that this book series is not just fluff and for entertainment.”
“Anticipation is built up by the happenings in both worlds though set apart by eons.”
“Probably because the book is so easy to read, and is suspenseful enough to make it hard to put down.”
“The passion by which all of the main protagonists yearn for their Creator and the authority with which He is revered…perfect.”
“Readability is more difficult than his fiction, but still easy enough to read.”
“Shauna’s therapist explains that God want her not to forget her pain but to remember it differently.”
“The story also deals with a lot of modern issues of faith, some of which are clearly evident, while others are hidden between the lines.”
“I very much enjoyed the seal of truth from book.”
“This book is only 423 pages.”
“He weaves other Biblical imagery into almost every scene.”
“Each of his books is different from the others, but the way he writes is steady across the board. All his books are awesome!”
“Ted Dekker is a multiple award-winning, New York Times and international bestselling author of over 40 novels.”
“When it comes to metaphor and parallelism, Dekker is king.”
“Dekker grabbed me in the first several pages and wouldn’t let me go.”
“The covers look amazing.”
“We both agreed that it was his most mature work to date.”
“This book series teaches readers that we are light in the same way that God is light – that we are actually made of his light.”
“There’s a lot of good stuff in here.”
“Ted’s passion is simple: to explore truth through mind-bending stories that invite readers to see the world through a different lens.”
“The book is a four-in-one series.”
“I would classify this as suspense/thriller, science fiction, and Christian fiction all wrapped into one.”
“The first is the suspense/thriller storyline of two murdered teenagers in a world where VR is much more advanced and dangerous.”
“The human problem in this book has to deal with fear. It’s failing to recognize that we are light and that we are beautiful. All our fears will go away if we believe this.”
“Reading these books is like being told the awesome story of sin, the Cross, and redemption for the first time, and The Great Romance between Elyon and his people will stir even the hardest heart.”
“I did find his modern allegory intriguing.”
“In a nutshell, it’s very well written.”
“It is helpful to awake Christians to their slumber.”
“Its gripping. Full of rocky uncertainty and it keeps a reader locked in.”
“There are true statements about God.”
“His work has reached tens of millions worldwide and has been translated into numerous languages and adapted into major feature films (Thr3e and House).”
“I would consider it a masterpiece in its genre.”
“Each book in this series made it to the New York Times bestseller list.”
“Ted Dekker wrote this series with his daughter Kara and they effectively capture the reader into an exciting, imaginative, fast-paced story.”
“It is quite a unique take on an oft-diagnosed condition.”
“Infused throughout the story are reminders of great Biblical principles, subtly melded into the fantasy world.”
“The third is the spiritual allegory that would make a really interesting book club discussion.”
“The story contains a trademark Dekker twist, which I enjoyed.”
“Like many of Dekker’s novels, the story was suspenseful and moved at a quick pace.”
“They are certainly worth reading.”
“The second is a critique of VR technology in general.”
“The story line is geared for 7-12 year olds, an age where parents are always looking for more books to give new and voracious readers.”
“It is the kind of book that you could read once and thoroughly enjoy, or read several times and find more with each telling.”
“The 49th Mystic is clearly connected to the original Circle books (along with many other Dekker novels).”
“This story continues in the Circle world, which was a major selling point for me.”
💸 Top Current Discount
❌ Cons
“It is supposed to be the missing link, but it reads more like a fourth book in a series.”
“The only thing I could say is that the book can be predictable. It’s not so predictable, however, that it ruins enjoyment of the story.”
“The dialogue left a bit to be desired.”
“The overall message of the series was a little muddy.”
“Too many characters in Green are not well-developed and you will probably get lost if you have no concept of the story up to this point.”
“One of my pet peeves in writing is blocks of bare conversation where you can’t follow who is saying what.”
“This is not a quick weekend read.”
“The writing in The Dream Traveler’s Quest is mediocre.”
“Some of the content is questionable.”
“Dekker also uses a fair amount of vampiric imagery, even taking it to the point that he ‘explains’ where vampires actually come from.”
“I have a much harder time forgiving imperfections in their representations when they are actually supposed to be those people.”
“As with all teachings that begin to stray from Scripture, it seems that the reason for the poor theology here is found in Mr. Dekker picking and choosing which Bible verses he wants to focus on.”
“The theology is debatable.”
“I would also say that I’ve never been a fan of “preachy” fiction, and this certainly feels preachy at times.”
“Sin is dark and Dekker has always pushed the envelope a bit; still, some of the images in the book are not for the faint-hearted.”
“While I agree that we need a Christian worldview, the emphasis here instead seems to be finding the good in the bad.”
⚖️ Final Say
Read the summaries of what reviewers think about Ted Dekker below.
“Overall, I believe the plot enticed me more than the characters did. I wanted to see how this all would end, but not because I was concerned with the characters necessarily. Since I have the rest of the books already I’m going to continue the series, but it’s not to the greatest start for me yet.”
“I love this book for its suspense (a Dekker trademark), it’s critique of VR (I’m a curmudgeon who recognizes that the world never learns from books and movies that lay out the clear and present danger of technology and we just wait 10-20 more years and proceed with said dangerous tech because it’s more accepted and humanity only cares about ‘progress’), and its discussion potential of perception, reality, truth, and identity.”
“Dekker has a way of taking these life lessons and turning them into a breathtaking story. I highly recommend the Kiss to those who enjoy suspense with some life lessons tossed in.”
“While I don’t believe reading The Dream Traveler’s Quest series would harm my children because they wouldn’t probably catch the issues I did, there is only so much time to read, and I would prefer to give them great quality books.”
“The story itself is absolutely great and I think the book is definitely worth a read; but if you are easily swayed, stay away. I truly pray that Mr. Dekker will either straighten up his theology or else keep with the more simple themes of the faith.”
“An older, discerning child might be able to navigate this series without reading into the “Seals of Truth,” but it is hard for me to recommend this series, despite it being an exciting read, because of the confusing spiritual themes.”
“If you are looking for a thrilling read, Adam is a great place to look. I have read few books that have grabbed me in such a firm way – and that I look back on with deep thoughts. I think the question of the darkest edges of humanity (e.g. serial killers) fascinates us because we believe at some point that it gives us insight into the whole of humanity. We want to understand how we can aberrate so far – we want to find an answer. Dekker encourages us to search our souls for the right answers.”
“I recommend this book to persons interested in the Christian faith in some capacity (being an allegorical work which helps expand some scriptural revelation). If you’re a fantasy-thriller reader, go for this. Looking for some fast-paced read or a challenge? you’re welcome.”
“Overall, I’m glad I read The 49th Mystic. I’ve enjoyed the return to the world Dekker created long ago and I’m looking forward to the next book. I just can’t wholeheartedly recommend it. 3 stars.”
“His books are thrilling, and they have something important to say about our world and about our faith. That makes them worth reading, in my book. Of course, once you enter this imaginative series, your mind won’t rest until you’ve read them all and the story has come full circle.”
“Although Ted and his daughter Kara offer a highly relatable story intent on helping kids with important lessons, the lessons actually promote alternate worldviews under the guise of Christian language.”
“Overall, good at describing the condition. Not so good at proposing a cure.”
“I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a really good, easy read. The pace of the story is kept up by the character development. No character is truly one-dimensional. Even the supporting characters are relatable. We all have a Slater in our lives. Sometimes Slater is as discreet as that time we talked about our friend behind her back, and sometimes Slater shows up as a terrorist. Slater is in all of us. Samantha is in all of us. Sometimes we are Kevin, desperately trying to make sense of our world, in between Slater and Samantha.”
“Overall, highly recommended.”
“Ted Dekker is a leader in Christian fiction. His books are some of the edgiest, most thrilling Christian fantasy books out there, from the Blessed series with Bill Bright to the hugely popular Circle trilogy. And now his fans will be excited to hear that the Trilogy just became a little something more with his latest release, Green. This book is being marketed as a completion to The Circle — the beginning and the end, a book Zero that can be read either before or after the other three, Black, Red, and White.”