CHAOS: The Lost Books #4
Ted Dekker
Thomas Nelson
Fiction
ISBN: 9781595543721
288 pages

In this fast-paced conclusion to the Books of History Chronicles, author Ted Dekker weaves yet another twisting, unexpected storyline around the teenage Forest Dweller heroes.

Using the Book, Johnis and Silvie are transported to Earth and end up near Las Vegas. Dekker opens this text with some comedic overtones as the duo find themselves out of their native forest element and naively try to "name" planes, cars, candy and more in their innocence. Quick learners though they are, they use the gold coins given to them by Thomas to enter the city where they begin a search for the lost books. Trial and error meet danger and despair as both Johnis and Silvie fight against time and unseen foes to reach their destination.

The problem is, neither one knows where the missing books lay hidden until former Horde member Karas rescues the two from police and sweeps them away. Having gone over to earth in the same way as Johnis and Silvie, Karas arrived as a 10-year-old girl. Now a decade has passed since her arrival and she commands the respect of many as the manager of 15 of the world's top billing acts. Again, these one-time Forest Dwellers are learning that even time isn't a constant in this new world. Thrilled to have found another inhabitant from their world who understands the current threat of the Dark One to all of humanity, the team finds itself playing cat and mouse with a mysterious stranger who claims to have possession of one of the books.

Enter Miranda Card, who immediately attempts to manipulate and wrestle control of the heroes' next and uncertain steps. Through deceit and violence, Miranda captures Johnis and takes him to Romania where their ancient deadly foe, Alucard, lurks. With this complication, Karas and Silvie plan a rescue attempt while Johnis tries to buy himself (and them) some time before Alucard or Miranda kills him. In a room filled with thousands of books and surrounded by the stench of mucus and worms, Johnis remembers all too well how evil feels and smells back in his own land. It is no different here on Earth and the stakes are exactly the same. Some things, Johnis realizes, never change.

So the question is: How, where and when will Karas and Silvie find passage to save Johnis and retrieve the remaining books before Alucard wrecks havoc spawned thousands of years earlier? Perhaps a better question: Is it even possible to undo the evil that has been birthed and nurtured beyond time and place? Dekker's final words will read quite satisfactorily to the countless fans and followers of his ever-growing body of work. Readers will discover answers to their questions and clues for the searching out in upcoming titles.

       --- Reviewed by Michele Howe

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