Another stellar thriller from Andrews and Wilson. The unique combination of two authors writing the entire book as individuals but rewriting the other work has got to be tiresome, but they continue to impress. The path that Jedidiah Johnson has taken has been an extremely difficult one, especially with the changes that are going on in his head about everything that he knows. Being trained and challenged to do something he has already done for years has got to be frustrating but he knows no bounds. Fighting the supernatural beings and being threatened in every single way is not an easy life but someone has to fight for what it is right. In the battle of good versus evil, Johnson and his team at the Shepherds are on the hunt. Brilliant action scenes, great character development, this is a great book.

Wow. This was a thrill of a ride. Heart pounding, heart stopping action. It was interesting seeing the Dark and the Shepherds fight, and the raw strength the demons gave to the Dark force.

Having said that...

Because of the nature of sin and demons, there were a [very] few thoughts and insinuations of lust and sex, which made me uncomfortable. There were also quite a few curse words, many of which were spoken by the Shepherds. THAT made me very uncomfortable. I mean, I understand military talk and all that, but to have the Christians saying those words doesn't set well with me.

Other than those things, this was an excellent book, and one that I think my husband would love. If it weren't for those things, this book would easily have a 4.5 star rating from me, but as it stands, I can only give it 3 stars. This is, after all, a Christian fiction book.

*I was given this book for review by NetGalley. All opinions are my own.*

Fans of the thriller genre know the writing team of Brian Andrews and Jeffery Wilson. They have fused together their combined experience of their military backgrounds to create two of the most anticipated military thriller series in the business. Add to that, each has their own stable of impressive novels they have penned individually that has created buzz in various genres. This writing portfolio is impressive in and of itself, however, Andrews and Wilson did not stop there. They have increased their reach in the thriller genre with the Shepherds series of “Military Action and Supernatural Warfare” thrillers. They crashed onto the scene of supernatural warfare with Dark Intercept, and now they are about to release their second novel of the series, Dark Angel, and I couldn’t be more excited for this!

In Dark Angel, we are back with former Navy SEAL Jedidiah “Jed” Johnson. The events of the first novel have shaped him, and he is ready to join the elite warriors known as the Shepherds. Jed heads to training expecting it will be a walk in the park. In a complete reversal for him, he is put through his paces as a new team leader, and he comes to recall what it takes to create a brotherhood among elite warriors.

Meanwhile, an individual who has intimate knowledge of the inner workings of the Shepherds organization has escaped prison with help of the Shepherds enemy: The Dark Ones. In the mists of training, Jed learns about the treachery Nicolas Woland committed; of the betrayal in and out of the organization that has left a mark. As Jed goes through training, he starts to experience visions of a massive attack that will take place overseas. Jed and his team are deployed to try to thwart an enemy who knows no boundaries, and who will push this yet to be tested team to the brink. Can Jed and the Shepherds stop the plans of The Dark Ones before it comes to fruition?

Reviewed for Best Thriller Books

Dark Angel was such an amazing read. Not only was it an expertly written thriller, but the story line lent itself to a heart-wrenching experience for all the characters; a plot line that compelled me to devour this book in quick time. The action sucked me in, and the emotional heart strings were plucked in just the right way all throughout! Even with the supernatural aspect involved, the story line still felt grounded in real life, and I did not feel lost in another world. It felt like it could be happening in my world completely. The Shepherds series is a must read for anyone looking for a new line in the military thriller genre!

Love the mix of warrior and faith. Like modern day templar knights could be.
Well written and well laid out. Well done to the authors.

This book is trying to fill the "Christian men's fiction" hole that exists. It is very military based and a little to war based and rough around the edges for my taste. I did not finish but I am also not the targeted audience. I would live to know the targeted audiences review on this.

I loved the dynamic pairing of Andrews and Wilson and what they bring to the table for what is termed as a ‘faith-based military thriller.’ I was encouraged to read something by this duo by a friend because she assured me that the authors would present me with a refreshing take on good versus evil - that they did! As I turned the final page, I thought about how this book influenced my vision of spiritual warfare and how it made me realize the importance of daily questioning my allegiance. What army am I enlisted in; the army of God or the army of this world?

I started right in with book two and didn’t feel like I missed too much of the background information that I would have been given had I started at the series opener. The authors give readers a history of Jed Johnson’s membership with the Shepherds organization, taking them through boot camp with Jed and seeing him hone his combat skills. As is always the case in the real world, timing is never perfect, and the team is called out on a mission before training can conclude. I loved the setting and appreciated the metaphor.

I really enjoyed this book because Andrews and Wilson were able to get me inside the mind of an elite warrior and show me the many faces of the enemy. Their plethora of expertise gained from various careers gave this novel an authentic feel. The pace kept me on the edge of my seat, the battles were intense and the content kept me engaged. I really enjoyed the skillful plotting and the opportunity to see and understand the enemy prior to his arrival at the Vatican. The characters were a perfect blend of military and faith based men and women who relied on training to make it to the dawn of another day. The spotlight on 2 Corinthians 10 was insightful and I don’t think I’ll read it again without thinking of the Shepherds. I have a deeper appreciation for our military who put our safety in their top priority…daily. Failure to anticipate the enemy is an important part of any soldier's mission; likewise, as ‘soldiers’ in this world, we need to have our spiritual ‘go bag’ at the ready, a reliance on our source of power, and knowledge of our enemy’s tactics. Andrews and Wilson highlighted the importance of being combat ready, both naturally and spiritually. I appreciated this reminder.

I look forward to reading more by this author duo.

I was gifted this copy by Brian Andrews, Jeffrey Wilson, Tyndale House Publishers and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

Definitely strange. Like Screwtape Letters on steroids meets the Exorcist meets the Gray Man. I know evil exists. I know there is a ancient war going on largely unseen. But, I am at once intrigued and uncomfortable with Exorcist-ing this battle. I am not sure we are meant to see or be part of this battle in this overt fashion. But, like the Left Behind series preceding it, Dark Angel makes for a good story in the hands of a skilled and creative writer. In this installment, Johnson and his newly found and formed SOF team are off to battle Victor and his subjugants yet again, this time in the Vatican itself.

Aside: Nice to know someone enjoys a good burger as much as I do. Jed's description of biting into a hamburger at David's BBQ party had me wondering what was still open at 2:14 a.m. I know Brian and Jeff do not keep track of who wrote what, but I am curious who came up with that bit of succulent prose.

An intense action filled read. Although slightly dark based on the nature of the story, it displays a fascinating interaction between the spiritual realm and the physical realm. It explores the idea that war rages around us on many levels and that there is can often be a connection between what is taking place in the physical realm and what is taking place in the spiritual realm. I enjoyed it as well as the development of the characters over the course of the story.
I received an ARC copy through NetGalley from the publisher and all opinions are my own.

The second book in the Shepherds Series is even darker, more sinister and thrilling than the first! Readers will be entranced with this fantastic supernatural thriller!

After his first mission with the Shepherds, Jeddiah Johnson returns to Nashville for extensive training with the group. At the training, he meets a whole new group training to be Shepherds working in a state-of-the-art facility. Many have been training for a while and when Jed comes in as the new team leader while technically being a rookie, several feathers are ruffled. Jed tries to fix the team dynamic, but when he starts having visions of an attack overseas, the team are sent over to stop the threat before they finish their training. Jed and the team go up against their biggest threat yet, Nicholas Woland, once a Shepherd himself who now works against them spreading chaos and knowing how the Shepherds work makes it easier for him to defeat them. Jed and the Shepherds race against Woland and his sinister plot to stop hundreds from being taken out and evil to win. With their team still in training, they will have to work together and trust one another more than ever in order to win this battle against good and evil.

The first book in the Shepherds series laid the groundwork for the supernatural battle within the pages. Dark Angel picks up where the first left off and takes it even deeper into the world of evil we live in and how many of us walk around oblivious to the sinister and dark attacks we are under daily with angels around to help keep us safe. I loved the character of Jed and how he knew he needed help to fulfill the missions he was sent on. Even though he is a highly trained Navy SEAL, he knows that the skills needed to succeed are more than he alone possesses. There is a lot to unpack within the pages of this novel, but for me, it was well written with a fast plot, characters I wanted to see succeed and a lot of moments that left me with some good questions to ponder about life, spiritual matters and so much more. This is a book that will leave readers thinking about more than just the work of fiction. That said, it is a work of fiction and needs to be read as such, it isn’t a bible study or writing in that way. I recommend this book to those that love supernatural thrillers that are going to get your heart rate up and be hard to put down.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

This is the second book in The Shepherds series. It's a fabulous read! I was drawn in immediately. The first few chapters filled me with anticipation and eagerness to read the book. It didn't disappoint. This book continues the story in book 1 so it's best to read them in order for them to make sense.

This book has intense battle scenes that combine physical, spiritual, and supernatural elements. It's fascinating to see how "The Watchers" interact with the "Shepherds." There's a strong sense of community and brotherhood as they prepare to battle evil. It's a compelling example of how each person has their own spiritual gifts and the body needs all of them to function well.

The ending sets the stage for the next book. I hope it comes out soon! I'd highly recommend this series. Thank you to Tyndale House for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

** “For centuries, this is how it was, an alliance between men of God and warriors of faith, working together in secret, their partnership a promise, their mission a holy vow to stave off the efforts of the Dark Ones who are trying to keep mankind from God.” **

Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson once again take on good versus evil in an action-packed story filled with both spiritual and physical warfare in “Dark Angel.”

Taking place shortly after “Dark Intercept,” Jed Johnson has officially decided to join the Shepherds program, a group that combines physical military action with spiritual warfare to defeat horrific actions taken by Satan and his Dark Ones to draw people away from God.

Using the special supernatural skill sets of a group called the Watchers, skills Jed seems to also have, the Shepherds are brought into battles in Iraq and the Vatican City. As they face a new foe, they must rely on one another and each of their special gifts to defeat the enemy.

“Dark Angel” is a fast-paced, heart-thumping story with a supernatural influence that keeps the readers on the edge of their seat, following incredible twists and turns. Andrews and Wilson do a great job of developing characters you just can’t help rooting for, as well as some delectably evil characters.

They also fill the book with several great themes, like we all have spiritual gifts, each different to help build and strengthen God’s kingdom; God doesn’t gift us without purpose; the power of shared adversity, bonding and brotherhood; God has His own timing; and Dark Ones don’t play fair.

I would not recommend reading “Dark Angel” as a standalone, as readers might find some aspects confusing if they haven’t read the series’ first installment.

One warning: this book does contain a lot of violence and military action; some alcohol use; and a few mild curse words.

Fans of Mike Dellosso, Craig Parshall, Mike Nappa, James R. Hannibal and the Delusion series by Laura Gallier will enjoy “Dark Angel.”

Five stars out of five.

Tyndale House Publishers provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.

"...I can tell you that God is here, right now. He's with us. And so are the evil forces, because Satan is just as real. There's a war raging all around us - a war that most people can't see. But some of us can."

Dark Angel picks up right where Dark Intercept left off, with Jed Johnson officially part of the Shepherds organization. The action is ramped up even higher than the first book in the series when Jed and his team are thrust into an urgent mission before their training is complete. This intense thriller showcases the war between good and evil in both the natural and supernatural realms. The military action and tactics are so realistic, while the spiritual elements add depth and top-notch character development to the story. Sarah Beth, who we met in the first book, is one of my favorite characters - I love how her friendship with "Uncle Jed" plays such an important role. This book is not only an enjoyable thriller, but also a thought-provoking look at the spiritual battles raging around us. Fans of Joel C. Rosenberg and Ronie Kendig will love this series!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Dark Angel
by Brian Andrews, Jeffrey Wilson
Pub Date: April 5, 2022
Tyndale
Thanks to the authors, Tyndale and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. This is the second book in the series.
I really enjoyed this book. The plot picks up from the first book in the series and moves forward with the storyline of a battle between the dark ones and the shepherds. I’m fascinated by the author’s portrayal of spiritual warfare. I definitely look forward to the next book in the series!
4 stars

Jedidiah Johnson is returning to action, training with the elite warriors known as the Shepherds. He thinks he knows what he’s getting himself into, but finds himself placed among the raw recruits. As he struggles to earn his place in leadership, he starts having visions of an imminent attack and soon finds himself in a battle that’s far more than physical. Following up the events of Dark Intercept, Dark Angel takes readers further into the mind of Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson, combining military motifs with supernatural warfare to create a masculine, adrenaline-soaked series every bit as plausible as an 80s action movie.

I felt a bit thrown into the middle of the story when Dark Angel began. This is book two in the series, but I wasn’t aware of it initially and Andrews and Wilson don’t exactly do a great job to orient the reader in the setting. There’s an initial breakout scene that’s is over the top and amazing. It really the sets the tone for the book. But then we get to our hero and he’s—just maybe a little too perfect. I’ve read some over the top thriller series before—David Baldacci’s Oliver Stone; James Patterson’s Alex Cross—but those characters had some level of depth or charisma. I just never got that with Jed’s characterization. He never felt natural.

The story itself is overly long, drags in places, and yet still manages to leave out valuable information while taking too long to exposit what it does tell you. There’s flashes of brilliance and at times the novel really gets into a groove, but then a chapter or scene change occurs and all the momentum is lost. Looking at other reviews of Andrews and Wilson novels, I’m clearly in the minority and I’m okay with that. I wanted to try out this book because it’s filling a niche in the market I thought needed filled. Obviously, not my niche.

Another thing I want to talk about is that Andrews and Wilson use Dark Angel to give a shoutout to a real-life organization. In a super-cringey scene, our protagonist has a beer opened for him with a bottle-opener made from a .50-caliber shell. Remember the old timey TV shows where the actors in the show themselves would do the advertising? That’s what this looks like. The character opening the bottle gives you the URL and everything. (For anywhere between $22 and $66, you can get your own Andrews and Wilson bottle opener…also there’s a whole line of Let’s Go, Brandon merch.) I’m writing a review of this book, not the company, but—it’s a super awkward promotion that comes across heavy-handed and alienating.

Dark Angel is trying to fill that “men’s fiction” gap in the Christian fiction bookshelves. And I suppose if you’re looking for a Christian military thriller, this is one of the best out there. Speaking objectively, if Andrews and Wilson did a better job with their exposition, pacing, and explaining the supernatural elements, Dark Angel would be a good book. Speaking subjectively, the glorification of warfare combined with politically conservative overtones make this one a non-starter for me.

eBook ARC Review – In Brian Andrews & Jeff Wilson’s second book of the new Shephard Series, “Dark Angel,” the spiritual warfare story continues to build on the groundwork the coauthors laid in the first book, “Dark Intercept.” The ‘dynamic action thriller duo’ delivered another stimulating faith-based military thriller that was beyond my fiction thriller expectations. Dark Angel was a captivating tale of “spiritual discernment” as many Christians call it with various spiritual agents – divine grace/forgiveness, angels/good, and devils/evil – incorporated into a military action thriller storyline. As a Believer myself and a devoted Bible reader, I understood the plotline of this story, appreciated the character development and enjoyed the overall storyline of this well-written, faith-based thriller. Jed Johnson, the former Navy SEAL, and the main character – used his spiritual discernment as a valuable tool in his decision-making process to helped him and his new team of operators, stop some wrongdoers. His ability to evaluate numerous circumstances and choose courses of action while staying aware of the moral implication of all the options is the basis of spiritual discernment. He used his ‘spiritual gift’ to separate good from evil, truth from falsehood, wisdom from foolishness, and helped him to reach the best decision possible during some very intense times. Johnson displayed this all throughout this fascinating and creative military tale and it made for electrifying, entertaining, and enthralling reading! The Latin root of discernment means to “separate” or “set apart” and Andrews and Wilson have done this with the new Shepherd Series. This new series -- separate from their Tier One and Sons of Valor series – is a new twist in the action thriller genre on the age-old battle of ‘Good vs. Evil’, ‘badass’ military technology, weaponry, and black ops operators, intense battle scenes, wicked villains, and ethical insight, all tied into a spiritual, faith-based system that touches the readers moral conscience and coherent mind set. Hats off to Andrews & Wilson for incorporating their belief systems of faith and military experiences into a fast-paced, well-written novel that is nowhere close to being ‘preachy’ nor offensive to any other religion or belief system. Dark Angel is a ‘righteous,’ no pun intended, sequel to Dark Intercept -- both compelling and distinctive stories that are remarkable reads. Again, spiritual discernment comes only from having a strong relationship/union with God and His word, which means to see things the way God sees them and to live and act accordingly. Jed Johnson has quickly become one of my new action thriller heroes. Big thanks to NetGalley, coauthors Brian Andrews and Jeff Wilson, and Tyndale House Publishers for the digital (eBook) Advance Reader’s Copy of Dark Angel, out on April 5th, 2022, in hardcover. #NetGalley #TyndaleHousePublishing

I really enjoyed this book. The plot picks up from the first book in the series and moves forward with the storyline of a battle between the dark ones and the shepherds. I’m fascinated by the author’s portrayal of spiritual warfare. I definitely look forward to the next book in the series!

Andrews & Wilson have taken the common concept of spiritual warfare and embedded it into the physical realm where demons are fought by former military special forces and adolescent “watchers” who have the unique ability to enter into the minds of humans and/or demons, The result is a faith-based fantasy that weaves the world’s spiritual life into a real-world context.

Though the genre is not one I especially appreciate, I did find myself increasingly wanting to see how the story ended the further I read. Not coming to this story with a military background, I appreciated the appendix that included a glossary of terms used within the book. This may not have been my favorite book; but I did find it hard to put down, wanting more and more. The book ends with a brief glimpse of what future volumes hold as the authors continue to write pieces of this story.

I give this book 4-stars while looking forward to what is to come.
______________
This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.

This is the second book in a series about the Shepherds, an elite fighting group battling evil and demons. It's a story about personal faith.

Excellent sequel in an outstanding series that pits the forces of good versus the dark. Personal faith is tested as protagonist Jed must learn to trust if he is to thwart the schemes of Satan.

"But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven."
Luke 10:20

First off, I’ll note that, to my recollection, this verse isn’t directly quoted in the text. However, I came across it last night and it really articulated my main points of discussion. I like this verse because Jesus is pointing His followers back to His Kingdom, when their focus is drifting toward the supernatural gift they’ve been given.

It’s easy to focus on the excitement of a spiritual gift or calling, but what ultimately matters most, even more than the mission, is relationship with Jesus. In some ways, the novel does a good job (see “Positives”) of portraying this truth. However, I did identify one major problem (see “Negatives”) that is also worth discussing.

Positives
The novel begins with the perspective of Nicolas Woland, a defected Shepherd. Having joined the Shepherds in the hopes of climbing the ranks to the top, Woland had no trouble switching allegiances, when he decided he could have more power as a dark one.

Jed, the main character, eventually learns that Woland is the main reason that each team has two leaders: a tactical strategist and a spiritual adviser. After Woland’s defection, the organization decided that there needed to be more accountability in place.

Woland illustrates what happens when a person gives into the temptation to seek spiritual authority, as itsN own end. He’s easily swayed because his motivation isn’t walking with God. It’s grasping for as much power as possible.

In contrast, Jed is learning, through his training, about what it means to serve God. He learns that, apart from God, failure is imminent. As Morvant explains to him, God will give us more than we can handle. What He won’t give us is more than He can handle. (Isn’t that a great assurance?)

Negatives
On the flip side, there was one line, in particular, that really bothered me: “As Shepherds, we are the guardians of the gate holding chaos at bay.” The line troubles me for two reasons. First, the emphasis is on the people, not on God. Second, the line has an air of exclusivity. The Shepherds are the one separating mankind from destruction.

While I absolutely believe that God gives specific people anointings, callings and talents, including intercession, I am strongly opposed to the idea of a single person or community “saving the world.” Jesus is the One to do that and there is no biblical precedent for elevating one group above another.

Unfortunately, this is a real trend I have witnessed in contemporary society: people talking about ascending “levels” of spirituality or using terms like “General” to describe a status in the realm of spiritual warfare. I’ve seen this with people who describe themselves as Christians.

For this reason, I’m very leery of this one line of the book and, even though it is just one line. Yes, the book is a work of fiction, but it is so heavily laden with spiritual principles that it makes sense to consider the logical conclusions of that one line.

Additionally (and this is a big one), I really feel a lack of actual relationship with God. Yes, there are references to His power and sovereignty, but there’s a lot more emphasis on training sessions. The spiritual gifts, rather than being illustrated as an outpouring of God’s power from a relational place, seem almost separate, at times. As a result, I have some trouble with the book’s premise, in general.

What I Liked
While the above line does make me very uncomfortable, there is a lot to appreciate about the book. For one thing, most of the thematic content really does support the message of Luke 10:20, as noted above, with various examples. In fact, for a person who does struggle with seeking supernatural power for its own sake, there is some good discussion/illustration of why that’s a dangerous pursuit

Book two also continues building on the foundations laid in book one, in terms of plot, character development and relationships. I think that this was one of the reasons I enjoyed Dark Angel so much. Because the authors devoted sufficient time to introducing the Shepherds in book one, there is more time to develop the organization, in book two (For this reason, I would recommend starting with Dark Intercept, as I don’t think Dark Angel would make a great standalone).

We also get to enjoy some rewarding pay-offs, in terms of character interactions. Jed and his former best friend are rebuilding their friendship, and Jed has become an uncle figure to Sarah Beth. (I really enjoyed seeing the respectful way Jed approaches this relationship, making sure her parents are involved in and aware of each aspect of the friendship).

For those who are unfamiliar with operational terms, the authors provide quick explanations of the terms. I’m impressed with how well they integrate these definitions into the text, without appearing to “insert” them. Moreover, there’s also a glossary at the back of the book.

The plot is highly engaging and very well-paced, thanks to shifting perspectives. While Jed is definitely the main character, we also read from the perspective of several other people.

The novel provides a satisfying conclusion for book two, while also leaving several threads loose. For this reason, I am eager to read book three when it arrives.

Content
As a reader, I am more concerned with language that misuses God’s names than “swear” words. With that said, there are several uses of “swear words” in the text.

Some chapters of the story are in the voice of some of the vile characters, including the defected Shepherd, Nicolas Woland. As a result, we’re party to his gruesome thoughts.

In terms of romantic/sexual content, there are some flirtatious comments, plus a few of the evil characters trying to seduce other people. It’s clear that this content is included to show the character of the people performing these acts– not to put the reader into their shoes.

As with the first book, there’s also a bit of violence, due to the nature of the conflict.

Concluding Thoughts
This was definitely an entertaining, well-written novel. As I reflected on the book, I realized that it also raises some important questions about the purpose of supernatural gifts and their source. While there are definite references to God’s power, I would have liked to see a lot more of Jed’s relationship with the Lord. As it is, he seems fairly young in his faith, which makes me feel a bit uncomfortable with his role in the Shepherds, especially when they claim to be such a powerful organization.

For these reasons, I have several hesitations in providing an unreserved recommendation of the title.

On the other hand, Jed’s immaturity is also a reminder that God chooses who He chooses. It doesn’t always make sense to us. There’s also some valuable content about accountability and the importance of relying on God. It’s also a good book in that it highlights the reality of the supernatural world, while emphasizing God’s control over it all.
Based on the nuances discussed above, I would categorize this title as “Reader Discretion Strongly Advised.” I really enjoyed reading the book, but I felt that the spiritual content was a bit off-base.