In the heartbreaking conclusion to Plain Fear: Forsaken,
Samuel Fisher committed the horrific sin of murdering his
brother, Jacob. Despite the fact that Jacob was a soulless
vampire out to murder an innocent woman and her baby,
Samuel can't forgive himself for taking his brother's life.
Now in PLAIN FEAR: FORGIVEN, Samuel will learn the depth of
God's forgiveness and love if he's willing to accept it.
Samuel's quest for answers into Jacob's descent into evil
only draw him further from God and those who love him.
Samuel is also being stalked by the vampire Brydon who
wants to destroy Jacob's family one-by-one, starting by
changing Samuel.
PLAIN FEAR: FORGIVEN by Leanna Ellis starts at the lowest
emotional point for Samuel, setting the stage for a dark,
brooding coming-of-age novel. His struggle to balance his
Amish upbringing and faith with the realities of a world
with vampires is a harsh juxtaposition. The mingling of
dark horror with the simplicity of the Amish life mirrors
the theme of good and evil well. The evils of the world add
complications and questions while faith at its base is pure
and simple. Faith though isn't easy to hold onto. It
requires strength of character and work. Samuel's struggle
with faith and forgiveness pull the story from the
emotional low at the beginning to the precipice of
forgiveness and back down.
Leanne Ellis does a remarkable job of building the vampire
and Amish worlds realistically and twisting them together
to create a solid and unique story. The small details of
Amish life not only build the world but it reflects the
mindset of a different culture. Ellis brings this culture
to life and creates a strong connection with the reader.
The underlying thread of community ties the story together
well. The Amish isn't a community simply because they live
in the same area. They are a community because of a shared
faith, a shared mindset, and shared history. They help
without needing to be asked. They help because they see a
need. They're aware and conscious of what is going on with
the people they know. Ellis builds this sense of community
unobtrusively through the actions of the characters, but
she doesn't neglect to show the flip side of community;
shunning. Anyone who doesn't conform to the ideals of this
community isn't welcomed. Ellis portrays this without
judgment which heightens the impact the action of shunning
has for all involved.
Philosophically, there are many things in this book I don't
agree with. I was frustrated at times with the worldview,
but neither vampires nor the Amish are my usual genres. The
story is intriguing and beautifully written and my
disagreeing with character viewpoints didn't detract from
the story. The ever increasing suspense is balanced with
the sweet moments of romance and the even sweeter message
of God's forgiveness. PLAIN FEAR: FORGIVEN is an intriguing
story and worth checking out even if vampires and Amish
life aren't your preferred genres.
Samuel Fisher has committed a sin of biblical
proportions—he killed his own brother, Jacob. Haunted by
guilt and talked by a vampire out for his soul, Samuel
starts down the same dark path of destruction that led to
his brother's death.
A captivating coming-of-age story unlike any other,
Plain Fear: Forgiven pits redemption against
temptation, love against fear, and simple faith against the
intricacies of sin and salvation. In the gripping final
battle between hunters and vampires, Samuel must choose
where his loyalties lie. The lives of those he loves—as
well as his own ultimate forgiveness—hangs in the balance.
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