The Wanderer Scorned

Author: Natasha Woodcraft
Genre: Biblical Fiction
Series: The Wanderer #1
Pages: 264
Release Date: April 15, 2024
Publisher: Broad Place Publishing

“Sin is crouching at the door, ready to pounce. You must master it before it masters you.”

Kayin is The Wanderer: A legend shrouded in a curse. A man untouchable, unable to farm or settle.

Centuries after the horrendous act that defines his life, Kayin recounts his soul-stirring chronicle, exposing the far-reaching fallout of his parents' expulsion from Eden and revisiting the moments that shattered his youthful faith. Then came forbidden love and rejection, driving a wedge irrevocably between Kayin and his brother, with tragic consequences.

Why did God scorn Kayin’s sacrifice? What transpired during that final, fateful encounter in the field?

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Reviewer: Laura J. Davis

I have just found a new favourite author! The Wanderer Scorned by Natasha Woodcraft is an insightful, moving look at the story of Cain and Abel. 

The story begins with Kayin (Cain) telling about his downfall in a room full of people who had just heard Lamech announce that he had killed two people and believed he had the same protections as God gave Cain. "If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, then Lamech seventy-sevenfold." So, Kayin begins to tell his story so that those present will know the cost of murder and losing a relationship with God.

Hebrews 11:4 speaks about the faith Abel had when making his offering to God. And it was Abel's offering that the Lord respected, suggesting that Cain did not have faith in the Lord but was merely going through the motions of making an offering because of his upbringing. Essentially, he disrespected God, and when his offering was rejected, he became unrealistically jealous of Abel. His attitude was what caused the problem. And the author of The Wanderer Scorned does a brilliant job of showing that.

I was so impressed with how she got into Cain's mind. His attitude mirrored what many of us go through when we don't hear from God or know what He wants, and as a result, we lose faith. And while her imagination filled in all the missing bits we don't get from the Bible, none of it was too far out of the norm.

While I found a misprint in chapter twenty (a minor blip in the Kindle version), it did not affect my opinions of this book or the author's writing. In fact, I was so enthralled by this book that I went and bought book two right away. 

If you are looking for excellent Biblical fiction, I highly recommend The Wanderer Scorned.

I purchased this book, and this is my honest review.

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