I had a hard time deciding whether or not to give this book 2 stars or 3 stars. If I could give it 2.5, I would -- so let's just say I rounded up.To start with, the quality of writing is abysmal. I could not help but be annoyed every time the authors tried to make the characters sound more... I dunno, "ethnic" perhaps... by peppering in foreign words, and then immediately having the character repeat the word in English in the following sentence. It was as if they had never heard of context before. Furthermore, every time God entered the conversation, I felt like I was being preached at. Because, you know, there is only one correct way to worship God. Right?Secondly, the stories of Rayford's youth drove me berserk. He was the smartest, fastest, cutest, and most athletic boy in his school. He was the coolest, most popular kid... in FOURTH GRADE. Really? On top of that, he develops shame of his parents because they are not rich and don't drive fancy cars. All of that from a 9-year-old? I have taught all ages from kindergarten on up, and while I have no doubt that 9-year-olds can be sassy, his character just seemed far-reaching. That type of self-centered materialism doesn't seem to fully entrench itself until kids hit 7th grade or so.The one thing I appreciate about this book is the character of Marilena. I have read the entire series, and hers is the ONLY character I have ever actually cared about. She seems more conflicted, more human, more deep than any other character in the series. I found myself feeling truly sorry for her at some points, and feeling relief when she turned to God.I also think they did a pretty good job with Carpathia's back story. No doubt that it, too, is a little far-fetched, but we're talking the end of the world here. Normality is out the window. Anyway, while some of his outright cruel actions made me squirm, it definitely sets the stage for his becoming the anti-Christ.So... 3 stars for Marilena, 2 for abysmal writing, 2.5 for everything else.
I read most of the rest of the series before I discovered the prequels, and then got them for my birthday, along with the complete set of the series.Before, I thought of Nicolae as someone who happened to be in the right place at the right time. He seemed innocent in the first couple of books, Left Behind and Tribulation Force.Now I have no sympathy for him. He is a power-hungry maniac who expects things done before he asks for them. Marylena, his mother, or vessel, as she was also called, loved him like a son. Nicolae hated her like a bad babysitter. She wanted him desperately, he wanted nothing to do with her.This book allowed me to dig deeper into the life of Nicolae Carpathia, before he was known to all the Christian converts after the disappearances as the antichrist. It left some questions to our imaginations to decide, while others were dwelled on for pages and pages.Overall, The Rising provides insight into the backgrounds of the main characters of the series, including Irene, Rayford's wife, who disappears and only is mentioned in flashbacks. The prequels are the only books in the series that show the story from Nicolae's point of view, since the lives of all the characters intercept his later in the series. It is titled appropriately, as the antichrist is followed from birth, and how he gains authority over those who care for him.
Do You like book The Rising: Antichrist Is Born (2005)?
A boy grows up, with a dream to fly.A woman longs for a child. Who's dream with come true.When Rayford Steele is growing up, he never really fell for the "religion" his parents were into. When a woman gets pregnant with Evil himself, she has no idea what she is in for, and neither does the world.This book was creepy, also quit evil. I was a little desterbing with how much information we got on Maleina and Sorin Carpahtia's relationship, and then the secret about Sorin made you shudder. Such a horrible life! The Idea of Nicolea having two fathers was also really weird!It was a pretty good book...for fiction. I really didn't see any "prophetic" value in it. It was just for entertainment.
—Meadow
I've read this book before but I still enjoyed reading it for a second time. My favorite series is the left behind series so when the same authors decided to continue writing about them, I jumped on board. This book is all about before the Rapture, and how their lives were leading up to the Rapture. It helps to see the characters background, and it helps you see why they were the way they were whenever you begin the actual series. I give this book a 10 out of 10! I think what makes this book so exciting is that this could happen and will happen, but not necessarily like this. I think it makes it easier for me connect with this book because I actually believe that in the end times events like this will happen.
—Damon Gerber
I am a huge fan of the Left Behind series. Though I realize the books themselves are fictional, I believe that they are fact-based fiction. For that reason, I love these books. I do not want to spoil anything in the book and for that reason, I will keep the comments brief and about the book itself and not so much a focus on the happenings in the story. This book, supposed to be the beginning of it all, was a good read. LaHaye and Jenkins did a wonderful job laying out the characters. I also thought they very tastefully told the story of Rayford’s promiscuous choices. The one character portion that I thought was poorly done, in relation to the other books, was Nicolae himself. This child was unruly, very disobedient, hateful and truly evil. Until Nicolae’s rise to power, we did not see this in him in the others books, especially not Left Behind and Tribulation Force, except on those occasions when he was brainwashing people around him. (a.k.a. the taking out of his “friends” and enemies in the first book) I would have expected the child side of Nicolae as charismatic, appearing innocent, charming and sweetly manipulative. Not evil like a rabid dog. I would expect, considering who and what he is, for Nicolae to be somewhat evil, but just not in the way that he is portrayed in the book. Overall, the story about how Nicolae came to be, his parents, his birth mother from beginning to end, Viv Ivans, and the story about Rafe and Irene were well told. The most interesting and exciting part of the story is what happens with his mother as well as who his “father” is and how he came to be…as well as what happens to those biological parents that provided the genes. If you are a fan of the Left Behind series, you will enjoy the 1st prequel book as well. Happy Reading!!
—Johnny Mark
