This book is book is a awesome book. It is just amazing. I read it in 5 hours. That is how good it was. Buy it and you will not regret it.

I could read this book over and over and not get tired of it. The Winds od Light books are some of the best books I have ever read.

I know I should save 5 stars for Doestoevsky, but this was food for my soul when I needed a good book! There are little historical tidbits searched out and well-used by the author, and the culture of the day stays true. I loved that Brouwer didn't tread the normal path for medieval novels--I was kept guessing, yet the plot followed well. I devoured the whole series, and plan to read them to my children.

I know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but it was the cover of "Out of the Shadows" that first got my attention. Dark and mysterious, it hints of intrigue in the South, of mystery and secrets and drama. And it accurately points to the success of Brouwer's writing.

This is great fiction. With a strong hook in the prologue, Brouwer draws us into this modern-day mystery. Through a series of flashbacks, we follow Nick Barrett's search for his mother, his ex-wife, his blackmailers...and for secrets he isn't even aware of. Although the tension flags slightly through the middle of the tale, and the dialogue remains clipped, these characters come to life through solid storytelling. As the plot turns tighter, the author parcels out more and more secrets so that the last fifty pages fly by. What I thought would be a solid 4-star book became an enthusiastic 5-star recommendation after reaching the climax of this Southern mystery.

If you've read "Double Helix" and had a lukewarm reaction, let Brouwer prove to you that he's grown as a writer. "Out of the Shadows" is a gripping story, with spiritual and emotional impact. Having only recently moved to Nashville, I've decided that Sigmund Brouwer is one of this areas best-kept Southern secrets.

Sigmond Brouwer has proved to me that not only can he write books that keep kids coming back but, he can write a captivating adult novel as well! "Out of the Shadows", is a story of greed, bitterness, forgiveness and redemption. The main character in this book is Nick Barrett who has returned to Charleston a town that he grew up in and vowed to never return to again. Charleston brings back the childhood memories of his mothers abandonment as well as a very short marriage as a teenager that are too hard to bear. He is sent an anonymous letter telling him to come back to Charleston with the promise that he will be given a chance to find out what happened to his mother. Thus begins a journey of finding out the truth for Nick. As Nick finds out more about his past and who he is, he also begins a spiritual journey back to God. There are twists and turns galore as well as a story of forgiveness and love. Any one who likes a good mystery will throughly enjoy this book!

Sigmund is not only a great writer but a good father too. This is so beautifully captured in the parent/child relationship of this suspensful novel. The pathos this son experiences as he discovers more truths of his mother ...well read for yourself. Once you crack open this book keep going, you will not be disappointed ...and oh the secrets you will discover of this wealthy southern town. So, pour yourself some sweet tea and enjoy another exercise in fine writing by a wonderful novelist. Thanks Sig for a few good hours!

This book is a collection of vignettes about the final week of Jesus. Sigmund Brouwer takes his novelist's eye and creates an engaging new look at the old story, bringing the story to life in a new way.

I also read his full-length novel THE WEEPING CHAMBER at the same time. Many of the vignettes from this book are included in that book, but both books offer original material, too. If you enjoyed this book, get a copy of the other. It is even more powerful then this one.

This is an awesome book. It really drives home the real meaning of Easter & what Jesus did for us. As the author describes the events leading up to the first Easter morning, you feel as if you are there. You feel the excitement & thrill of being in the crowd on Palm Sunday. Your king is arriving. Then he descibes how these feelings change - how gladness turns into jealousy & betrayal. When he describes what happens to the body during an actual crucifixion, I broke into tears & had trouble breathing! This book really drove home for me what the Savior did for me on that cross. I will never look at a cross the same way again.

this book is one of the best winds of light books. if you havent read any of them start with Wings of Dawn and just read them all together.

this book is a must-read for all young people it combines myth and legend with everyday medeival life . this is a great book

Ricky Kidd is a responsible sort. He keeps busy by doing odd jobs for old Mrs. McEwan and hanging out with his friends Mike and Ralphy. His younger brother, Joel, follows him everywhere, but has a knack for being unseen.

One day, Mrs. McEwan has a special job for Ricky. She wants him to meet her long lost nephew at the train station, but before he leaves, she shows him her valuable antique jewelry collection. In the center of the collection is the jewel of Madagascar - a huge, beautiful, red stone; unlike any Ricky has ever seen.

Mrs. McEwan encourages Ricky to take a closer look. He immediately grabs the stone with both hands instead of using the tongs on the table.

At the look on Mrs. McEwan's face, he places the stone back on the cloth. Mrs. McEwan proceeds to tell him about the curse placed on the stone many years ago.

Whoever touches the stone, their friends will become enemies and their enemies will become friends. Ricky doesn't believe in curses, but he feels funny after touching the stone.

A few minutes later, Joel comes in carrying a baby crow. Not only does Joel have a knack for being unseen, he also has an uncanny ability with animals. Mrs. McEwan's five cats are at Joel's feet, eyeing the bird hungrily.

When Joel hands the bird to Ricky, the cats pounce. Ricky's hands are scratched and he is knocked off balance. The baby crow frantically tries to get airborne. In the struggle, Ricky bumps into the china cabinet, causing a bronze statue to hit the table and smash many of the antique jewels into small bits.

Ricky is devastated at the loss he has caused. Though Mrs. McEwan tells him not to worry, he feels he must pay for the damage, but he has no idea how. On the way to the train station to pick up the long lost nephew, Edward, he sees his pals, Mike and Ralphy. He tells them of his dilemma, and though they'd like to help, they don't have that much money either.

Once Ricky sees Edward, the supposedly long lost nephew, he knows something isn't right. He suspects this person is posing as Mrs. McEwan's nephew and is up to something.

Ricky makes it his mission to find out what Edward is up to. He's convinced that Edward is trying to steal from Mrs. McEwan so he sets out to prove it.

In the meantime, Ricky's friends are acting strangely. Mike and Ralphy seem to be doing things without him and keeping secrets from him. Ricky thinks back to the curse placed on whoever touches the jewel of Madagascar.

Is the curse coming true? Who is Edward and is he trying to steal from Mrs. McEwan? What do worms have to do with any of it?

"The Disappearing Jewel of Madagascar" blends childhood mischief with suspense. This book is a treat for both girls and boys. They learn the value of trust and friendship. The godly lessons subtly woven into the story teach kids about prayer and worry.

Ricky Kidd doesn't believe in curses. But soon after he touches the Jewel of Madagascar, the prize in neighbor Mrs. McEwan's jewelry collection, his friends seem to abandon him. Worse, he's crushed part of the collection, and now must figure out a way to repay the debt. Trying to work off his debt brings him in contact with Mrs. McEwan's nephew. Ricky's sure he's not all he claims to be, but no one seems to believe him or even care. Is Ricky right? If so, can Ricky prove it before it's too late? And what are his friends up to?

This is a reedit and reprint of a book from the original series. Rachel, Ricky's new baby sister, has been added. Several scenes that were humorous character scenes have also been cut. I didn't miss them until I looked back at my first copy, but it's still a shame they've been cut out. One of these cut scenes is referenced later in the book, so hopefully they'll do better editing jobs in the future.

The story itself is still intact and great fun. Rereading it, I was once again drawn into the mystery, even though I remembered the ending. The characters are great fun, and there were still lots of humorous parts.

Anyone looking for a great mystery with well-developed characters and great humor should definitely check this series out. It's a series that everyone will enjoy reading.

I found this plot amazing. I wasn't sure if i wanted to read such a sad and depressing book, even right in the start of the book. I was angry at some spots and amused at others. This book is very easy reading. I liked the ending a lot. It was a complete ending, you felt good at the end. I am glad Sigmund Brouwer gave the book this ending.

Nathaniel contracted leprosy while serving in the British Army in India in the middle 1800's. Rather then expose his family to his disease; he secludes himself from the world. But when he finds a baby girl, how will her unconditional love change his out look on his life?

This novella is a quick read. I got through it in a couple hours one evening. But that doesn't make it any less powerful. Sigmund Brouwer has created a cast of characters that need the love of God, and works them through their problems. The ending had me in tears.

Anyone looking for a good story that will move you while making you rethink your own priorities need look no further. This powerful little book is must reading.

I am 12 years old and really liked this book! I already ordered the other sequels. Rebel Glory was funny in some parts and there were mysteries to figure out, too. At first, I didn't want to read it, but now I'm thirsty for more! Sigmund Brouwer, you're the best!

Im not a big reader but my wife brought home rebel glory for my son wesley who is 10 and plays roller hockey. Well I picked it up and started reading it and couldn't put it down. Since then we have the hole series and we are sharing them with Wesleys team mates to introduce them to Sigmund Brower. Thanks for good clean books that chidren can read, as well as us big kids.

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This book is a wonderful way to end a great series. every one should read this book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This book is really interesting! I won't bother summarizing the plot because many other people have already done that, but I agree that the historical research WAS very good, and the story and characters... were all superb. The only complaint I had was that it was slow at times. But it was definitly worth the read and the money.

And a comment: This book was written BEFORE the "Winds of Light" series. The WoL don't have all of Magnus in them, either. They're supposed to be children's books, and so Brouwer took the witchy parts out along with some other stuff, and divided it up eight ways. I know, because I owned Magnus before the WoL were published. I talked to Brouwer about it a few years ago, and although we didn't speak of that particularly, he did say that there were parts taken out of the WoL that were in Magnus.

This book by Brouwer is the best book I have ever read. It was so gripping I found it hard to put down. It followed the life of a young knight that was faced with uncountable struggles. He didn't know who to trust and was circled by evil. Druids were trying to find an ancient secret that he had learned in a monastry when only a boy. This book is so deep and compelling I couldn't possibly explain it all. I highly recommend it.

I think this is definitly the best book by Brouwer I have ever read! It is about Druids (heard of them?) and Merlins (haven't heard of them?) and the struggle between them in the 1300's.

This novel is one man's spiritual journey during Christ's final week on earth. As our main character struggles with his personal problems and guilt, he also interacts with Jesus. Will he see the true freedom that Jesus offers before time runs out for both of them?

I was blown away when I read this book. Sigmund Brouwer weaves a fictitious story around the real events of the Bible seamlessly. And his account of the Bible story is eye opening. While fictitious, it made me look at the people involved in a different light. I have a new understanding of what Jesus did for all of us because of it.

I also read Sigmund Brouwer's THE CARPENTER'S CLOTH at the same time. There are some overlapping passages between the two books, but both are well worth a read and include material not in the other.

The title of my review best describes the impact this book has had on my soul. Sigmund Brouwer confirms that the human heart is the center of spiritual struggle and wholeness. Brouwer touches the depth of human struggle in his story told of two men in parallel frames. While the tragedy of one man is that he plumits into a distructive fight for release from torment and self distruction, unbeknown to him, he encounters in another man who is the Christ, the real meaning of human freedom and liberation.

The story begins with a man who is identified much later as Simon, who is standing in his own perception of what is his own weeping chamber, his own dark burial cave, comtemplating his life and fate. The story ends with the same man standing inside the bright burial chamber of the other man in the story, the Christ. The issues surrounding his own life find resolution through his increasing involvement in the life of the other man. They become linked in a redemptive process, and identify the true weeping chamber to be the soul of man, the house where it is possible for the mind to descend into the heart. Brouwer perhaps captures a core reality in the biblical account of salvation history.

The story strives for biblical and cultural accuracy. It is entertaining in that it is told with hints of the investigative or detective like approach. However, this approach does not diminish the overall purpose of the author, which I feel is to enlighten us in the dynamics of the spiritual work place of the human mind and heart, that is the soul. Congratulations!

This is an excellent book to introduce someone to the historical and spiritual significance of the Easter holiday. The time the author and his wife, singer/songwriter Cindy Morgan, spent in Jerusalem enabled him to provide a cultural perspective of which many reading the biblical account of Christ's last week would be otherwise unaware. This storytelling gently brushed away my biased view of biblical days, and allowed me to see what life was really like for Christ's followers and detractors. I highly recommend this book and Cindy Morgan's album "The Loving Kind" for those interested in learning more about the life and times of Christ. The chapters are short--usually no more than four or five pages, sometimes two or three. The subplot of the narrator is moving with its realistic view of marriage and family. Do not be surprised if you can not put it down! It may take some hunting now that it is out of print, but this book could greatly enhance its readers' spiritual lives.