Friday 25 November 2022

Ashes Visible & Invisible 10 Stories for Teens - Catholic Teen Books

Ashes Visible & Invisible 
10 Stories for Teens 
From Catholic Teen Books
ISBN 9798985348514
ASIN 


This is the fourth anthology from the authors at the Catholic Teen Books collective. Each has been a great read. This Lenten volume is also, to be honest, my favourite of the four now. Normally, one of the things I love about reading anthologies, is discovering new authors. That was not the case this time. I have read books by all of the contributors. In fact, at the time of writing this review, I have over 100 reviews and articles from authors that are part of the CTB group. I knew I was in for some great reading when I picked up this collection. And I had some high expectations, based on the contributors and the previous three anthologies. And yet even with those high expectations, I was incredibly impressed with this collection and, to be honest, each story within it. Often when I read an anthology, there are a few great reads, some good reads, and some okay reads. That was not the case this time. Each story was a remarkable. I read the volume, reading 1 story a day. And then as soon as I finished, I used adaptive technology and listened to each of them.

In the foreword for Secrets, Visible & Invisible, the first anthology in this series, Mark Hart of Life Teen International states:

“We call Him Savior, Teacher, Wonder Worker, and Lord. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the Bread of Life and the Light of the World. He is the Messiah, the Promised One, the Divine Physician…the Good Shepherd. Jesus Christ is all of these titles and an endless list of more. Yet, there is one title that I’ve rarely – if ever – heard used to describe Jesus of Nazareth, and I feel it is a glaringly myopic omission on our part. Almost never have I heard Jesus Christ described as “Master Storyteller,” though He most certainly was.”

Many of the contributors to this collections, in their own way, imitate Christ and are master storytellers in our own generation. I have a great deal of respect for the ten authors who contributed to this series. And a couple of them are among my all time favourite authors. And I read a couple hundred books a year. This is a collection of 10 faith filled stories by 10 great authors.

Contributors:

In this collection we have one short story from each of the contributors. Some contain characters you can encounter in novels by the authors. Some are from books and series that have been around for a few years and others to recent releases or forthcoming works.

Contents:
Finishing The Journey - Leslea Wahl
Follow Me - Cynthia T. Toney
Take Up Your Cross - Marie Keiser
A Big Ask - Carolyn Astfalk
Lent Royal And Ancient - Amanda Lauer
No Greater Love - Ellen Gable
A Very Jurassic Lent - Corinna Turner
Lucy And The Forsaken Path - Antony B. Kolenc
Bread Alone - T. M. Gaouette
Prepare The Way - Theresa Linden

As previously mentioned this is a great collection of short stories. I really could not pick a favourite or least favourite. Each story is very well written. And I thoroughly enjoyed them all. 

For fans of any of the authors in this collection, you need to pick this book up to read their contribution. For readers who love remarkable stories, this collection is for you also. And if you want some great reads that are clean Catholic fiction this is the book for you. This anthology is Amazing!

(Note this book does not release until January 2023. It will be worth the wait. I am already planning on rereading it.)

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2022 Catholic Reading Plan!

Links to other reviews of books by the contributors:

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