Echoes of the Tomb

Author: M. Tobias Harris
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 365
Release Date: December 3, 2024
Publisher: Self-Published

Choice is power. Whether on the battlefield fighting deadly monsters bent on total destruction or in the mind of an average man struggling through life, both will use this power with their own consequences and rewards.

Death is acceptable for the elite warriors of Sword 1-1-8 - defeat is not. As the living weapon of their King, they have been created with the power of Choice to make battlefield decisions that will either ensure victory or give them a front-row seat to witness their brothers and sisters turn into blue statues. Every decision will matter in their mission to defend a decrepit fort behind enemy lines. As armies of nightmarish beasts led by their traitorous brethren descend upon them, the seven members of 1-1-8 will need every resource, gift, and tactical decision to survive. However, with victory as a requirement, they will need to understand what exactly they are guarding and its connection to their King as well as their sworn enemy.

Choice is power. Choice matters. Choices made will echo beyond the tomb and into eternity.

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Reviewer: Trinity Caver

Echoes of the Tomb by M. Tobias Harris is a good Christian fantasy written for the young adult audience, but anyone should be able to enjoy reading it, if they enjoy fantasy. There is some swearing in the book, and the author does say that it is for teaching about good and evil and how cursing can lead to evil. I personally did not see these teaching moments, and if I could not grasp them, I do not think young adults would. I do not personally think swearing should be in Christian writing, even for teachable moments. I thought the overall plot of the book was pretty good.

Commander Titus is the main character on the good guy’s side. He is the commander of an elite squad 1-1-8. He oversees training them for potential deployments against the horde of which Sham, the main bad character, is part of. His squad members each possess unique skills to complement each other and be effectively lethal in combat. Commander Titus’ team receives a mission after a long delay in heading back to the field. They are tasked with guarding a fort, but they find a casket with a flame on it. They are unaware of what this means, but they think it is something significant.

Sham is one of the main demonic-like characters in this book, and he seems to revel in cruelty. He plots his rise to power. He makes some big mistakes and is sent basically into exile. He wants to get back into good graces with the king, so he devises a plan to capture his former brethren to prove his worth.

I liked the book overall, as mentioned, because it appeals to the military and battles and heroes against overwhelming circumstances. I liked that it was a fantasy written about an elite squad of soldiers fighting against demons and other unknown forces. I did not like the use of swearing, although it was not a big part of the book overall. As I mentioned in the introduction, I do not think it has any place at all in Christian writing or entertainment of any kind. We are called to be different in every way, and we are told in God’s Word not to have our speech as it was, to include swearing. I think it can be enjoyed, but I would say to use caution when you consider letting your children read it.

I received a complimentary copy from the author through Interviews & Reviews, for my honest opinion.

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