The Seed: A True Myth by Erik Guzman

About the Book

★★★★✩
Goodreads | Amazon
Read an excerpt here.

Young Madeline and Roark are desperately running from the shadow that destroyed their home and is threatening their lives. 

One day, they encounter Tatus, an older man who has sworn to avenge the death of his family at the hands of the shadow, and they form an alliance with him. Tatus promises that he can keep them safe from the shadow if they will help him build a fortress. So they build.

But as fortress-building consumes their lives, Madeline and Roark are increasingly filled with anger and fear, and an unseen evil threatens to ultimately destroy them. When they finally face the shadow, he presents them with an unthinkable offer that will reveal shocking secrets of the forgotten past, the unseen present, and the unimaginable future.

We've all had the feeling that something's not quite right with our lives. It's bigger than any specific failure or disappointment. It's bigger than any person. No matter what you achieve or how much you drink or sleep, you can't shake it. It haunts you---night and day

---and propels you to do something. So you build. You build and build the maze that is your exhausting life. Sound vaguely familiar?

The Seed: A True Myth is a journey into the personal labyrinths we create to protect ourselves and those we love from the pain of living in a broken world. Guzman's "true myth" takes the reader on an unforgettable journey that is, in essence, the grand narrative of God's redemptive work in the world. This page-turning Christian fantasy tale is packed with mystery and drama, and readers will feel the weight and power of redemption as they journey alongside Guzman's characters in their epic battle. The Seed deftly communicates the heart of Trinitarian theology through story---without using theological language or Christian terms---and reinforces biblical themes such as God's character and man's true identity and calling.

Every now and then I need to read a book or two a bit outside of my well-established reading choices. I have a tendency to pick up books with similar patterns and characteristics, and while I generally love them and have no complaints, I still like to branch out. Recently, Erik Guzman’s The Seed: A True Myth offered me that chance.

The Seed tells an imaginative and highly allegorical version of humanity’s fall and redemption, and with its mythic style, the story has a unique and engaging pull from beginning to end. Despite the few moments I found challenging and confusing, I thought The Seed to be a quite thought-provoking read. Guzman’s storytelling conveys interesting insight about a familiar biblical narrative and its theological principles without overused rhetoric, and I enjoyed this opportunity for me to read something a little different. For fans of myth and allegory, The Seed would be a perfect read.

Thanks to LitFuse Publicity Group, I received a copy of The Seed and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own. To read other opinions, be sure to check out what other reviewers think here, and purchase a copy of the book here.

About the Author

Erik Guzman is Vice President of Communications and Executive Producer at Key Life Network. He's the co-host of the nationally syndicated talk show Steve Brown, Etc. and announcer for Key Life. Guzman's writing has been featured in the organization's magazine and website as well Liberate.org, Burnside Writers Collective, and Sojourners (sojo.net). He has a BA in mass communication and an MBA and is perpetually working toward a Master's in theological studies. He is also the author of the soon-to-be-published book The Gift of Addiction: How God Redeems Our Pain. Guzman is also a Lay Eucharistic Minister, a drummer, and a fifth-degree black belt in Aikido. He lives near Orlando, Florida, with his wife and their three children.

Website | Facebook | Twitter