Apocalypse Burning: The Earth's Last Days: The Battle Lines Are Drawn

The Military Left Behind Series is/was written much better than the original - I checked with the publisher to find out when the next volume would be printed and was told that the series was cancelled. They told me "the original contract was for three books and when he completed those he went to another series". Maybe if enough of us complain to them they will see the light and get this rolling again.

As with the first two of this series, I'm again impressed with Odom's work on this third book in the series. Odom does a masterful job of helping the reader get to know each character. When it comes to making characters 3-dimensional and real, Odom is one of the best I've encountered. As with the first two books, there were portions where the story seemed to drag. That's what part of me wants to write in this review, but I have come to realize that the story seems to drag only because I want to know what happens next to each of the characters in the various story lines. While reading, I often wanted faster action in the book, but as I read further, I realized Odom was simply filling in details that strengthened the story and added to the action once it broke loose. Once again, quite a few editing oversights, but they served as mere momentary distractions as Odom pulled me along from page to page through this book. I am very impressed with this series. As I've stated in my reviews of the first two books, I am impressed with Odom's ability to help me know the characters - what they're thinking, the interpersonal politics they're facing, their inner struggles, their doubts, their physical condition, their ulterior motives, etc. Odom does a great job of putting skin on his characters and letting the reader get to know them in-depth. I have thoroughly enjoyed the first three books and would recommend them to anyone who finds themselves attracted to the prophetic fiction genre.

Mel Odom took on a double-edged sword by agreeing to a "militarized Left Behind" series. He got an instant audience, but also accepted the constraints of the simplicity, comic-book like action, and straightforward preachiness of Lahaye-Jenkins. EXCEPT, that he did not abide by those constraints. Three books and over 900 pages of Odom's story line has been a treat of character-depth, very human emotions and complex grappling, plus episodes of action that seem necessary, rather than contrived to spice up the tale. In my review of Book Two of this Apocalypse series I granted four-stars with the hope Odom would break out of possible meandering (such as plagued the middle books of the Left Behind series). Mel did more than free himself--he found his voice. We are only one week into the Tribulation, and I feel I've read through several lifetimes. Deep, powerful, realistic stuff! Bravo! Bottom-line: Left Behind: Apocalypse Book Three is the breakaway novel in this series. Odom will outdo the original series! A definite buy!

The disappearance of millions of people around the globe which includes all the children under twelve years old fails to stop the latest Middle East flare-up. When Syrian forces attack the Turkish city of Sanliurfa US Ranger Captain Cal Remington vows that this engagement will not derail his career so he eagerly accepts help from the soon to be appointed Secretary General of the United Nations Nicolae Carpathia, who sends his minion to abet the ambitious American soldier. First Sergeant Samuel Adams "Goose" Gander realizes that his friend has aligned himself with the forces of evil, but has no idea what he can do about this but he is not willing to give up on Cal. Goose is unaware that at Fort Benning, Georgia fighters are skirmishing in a different battlefield. His son Chris is one of the children that vanished and his stepson Joey is nowhere around. His wife Meg, a post counselor is being charged with dereliction of duty for failing to inform an abusive father that his son was hospitalized; depriving him of their last minutes together. He plans to sue Meg and the Army in civil court if she is found guilty. APOCALYPSE BURNING follows the trials and tribulations of Goose and Meg as they cope with war, the disappearance of their child, and evil forces that want to destroy them. Goose remains an admirable leader of soldiers especially in contrast to Cal who will use murder to further his career. Using two fronts and a global backdrop, Mel Odom has written an exciting war and legal thriller that focuses on two decent people trying to do the right thing in a world heading towards its final countdown. Harriet Klausner