Member Reviews

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  1 of 1 members found this review helpful.

  • Rated 3 stars

  “I read in an interview with Travis Thrasher, that he likes to write stories that are all character-driven - he says "I like to write about main characters who are flawed. At the core, I want to write about real people who are searching, who are failing, and who are stuck in some drama which forces them to change." That is the main case here. The topic of this book is spiritual warfare - something that Frank Peretti first brought to our awareness in his books. Travis takes it up a few notches for sure; almost too graphic for my taste in some parts. I have a friend who was a missionary for many years, and when I visited her, she would tell me of the spiritual battles that were so visible in Africia and the other places she stayed. When there is a spiritual strong-hold by the enemy (in an area), very crazy things happen because the enemy has been given permission to operate there.
  
  Travis did research for this book and says some things were so graphic that they didn't make it into the book (I can't imagine what parts those were, because the few things he put in his book were graphics-overload for me). Travis says that the scariest things weren't graphic, but just the fact of being alone - isolated. Just because you are a Christian doesn't mean that you will always feel HIS presence, or know why He does the things He does, or hear God or understand His plan. His ways are definitely not our ways. It's easy for those who are on the front lines in ministry, who have see the dark side, to feel isolated and all alone. These are the things they can't teach you in a book. Travis says that when you let your guard down and don't rely on God, you're prone to attack. Not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually. The main character feels alone - isolated. He can't explain what he has gone through and if he shares what he feels, people might think he's crazy. The story is about the forces of good and evil in an all-out battle.
  
  Oh, to have that child-like faith! The missionary's only son believes. He has faith even when his parents are weaving in their faith and are disillusioned.This book is not for the faint of heart. If this were made into a movie, I would be putting my hands over my eyes to block out the graphic parts. It has a powerful message, but I would have liked less blood (I'm sure the missionarys in real life would have too!). This book makes you aware that the devil is alive and well, but God is too. We can be overcomers, but it takes work - nothing is easy. Travis Thrasher's next book is Ghost.
  
  Nora StLaurent
  Book Club Servant Leader - ACFW Book Club Assistant
  www.psalm516.blogspot.com ”

  Nora wrote this review Sunday, September 14 2008. ( reply | permalink )
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  • Rated 0 stars

  “On a rainy day during nap time, this book arrived on my doorstep via UPS. Sadly, I did not know this and Isolation got sopping wet. Thanks to my hair drier and a few days laid out on a towel, the book was saved! And it's a good thing too, because immediately the setting hooked me in and I found myself way more concerned for this isolated fictional family than I ought to be. It took me less than 2 days to barrel through the book like a madwoman, and I was scared witless when I read at night. One thing that didn't connect with me was the ending, but on the whole it was a good read. If you're a fraidy cat, best read this with a buddy and a great big dog at your side.”

  Georgiana wrote this review Thursday, October 9 2008. ( reply | permalink )
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  • Rated 5 stars

  “This is one of the best "horror" books that I've read in a long time! Fast paced read, great plot, great story! You won't be disappointed. ”

  Evette W wrote this review Monday, September 22 2008. ( reply | permalink )
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  • Rated 4 stars

  “Travis Thrasher’s “Isolation” is an incredibly suspenseful novel. The author dangles clues about the characters’ pasts that imply they have great bearing on the present circumstances. I’m sure this was intended as a suspense tactic, but it frustrated me. Perhaps if a bit more of the past was revealed each time, I would have felt more excited as this aspect of the story was revealed.
  
  I don’t want to give away any major plot points, but I must congratulate the author on his development of this villain. I have personally believed for some time that mental illness is one form of modern-day demon possession. Bravo, Travis, for bringing this concept to life in this novel!
  ”

  Stacey D wrote this review Monday, September 15 2008. ( reply | permalink )
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  • Rated 5 stars

  “The Miller family has just returned to the states after a stressful ordeal on the mission field of Papua New Guinea. Jim and Stephanie have begun to feel distant in their faith and marriage and are concerned about the effects on their children, Zachary and Ashley. Feeling the urge to get away from it all, Jim moves the family to an abandoned lodge in the remote wilderness of North Carolina.
  
  As the family settles in to their new home, strange things begin to occur. Despite a welcome visit from her brother, Stephanie finds herself continually plagued by disturbing visions that leave her doubting her own sanity. Zachary soon stumbles upon a series of hidden passageways that lead him to even more startling secrets. As Jim investigates the history of the lodge, he begins to uncover mysterious and shocking revelations about the previous owner. Suddenly a severe storm sets in trapping the family and cutting them off from the outside world. A dark evil now sets in and threatens to strip away any remaining hope and faith the Miller's are clinging to.
  
  A Travis Thrasher novel is always a surprise to me, because you never really know what kind of story you're going to get. In his previous novels he has tried his hand at suspense, romance, drama, and even adventure and I'm always amazed at his storytelling ability. When I heard he was taking a stab (pun intended) at the horror genre I could not wait to see the result. Once again, Travis Thrasher has exceeded my expectations and found a way to awe me.
  
  Isolation is everything I wanted it to be: frightening, suspenseful, mysterious, and ultimately inspiring. While this story portrays strong spiritual truth throughout, Thrasher never holds back with the terror and fear that plagues the Miller family. Indeed, many of the more memorable scenes are exceedingly creepy and disturbing, making the overall message of hope and light that much more powerful.
  
  I don't know if Travis Thrasher intends to settle on one particular genre, but I think he has found his niche with Isolation. Not only will this book scare you (and I mean scare you), but it will also challenge your faith and remind you of the all encompassing power of the love of our Savior. This guy only gets better with each new offering and this latest tale might just be his best yet.”

  jachism wrote this review Wednesday, August 27 2008. ( reply | permalink )
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  • Rated 5 stars

  “I wrote this book, so here are a few thoughts. If you like Stephen King (who is my favorite writer), then you'll enjoy this. It shares a similar premise with The Shining--a family stranded in an isolated cabin in the middle of winter. But that's all--the story is very different from King's novel. It's dark and intense--and everybody keeps saying it's my best. ”

  Travis Thrasher wrote this review Tuesday, August 26 2008. ( reply | permalink )
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  • Rated 5 stars

  “Good story with a fantastic plot twist make this a highly-recommended book.”

  Steve Yohn wrote this review Sunday, August 24 2008. ( reply | permalink )
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  • Rated 5 stars

  “Isolation by Travis Thrasher is a haunting, frightening book about the malevolence of Satan, and at the same time a striking, life-affirming view of the power of God. James and Stephanie Miller are missionaries recently returned from the field of Papua New Guinea with their children 8-year-old Zachary and 4-year-old Hannah. Their faith has been deeply shaken by failures there, and they are looking for a way to reconnect with each other and God when the opportunity arises to spend time in a remote mansion in the mountains of North Carolina. But Stephanie is seeing visions of blood pouring down the walls, James doesn't believe her, and Zachary has some secrets of his own. This book made me turn on every light in the house, and I didn't dare go to sleep until my husband came home. Stephanie's visions and the chapters in the mind of the villain are startling and jarring. Thrasher never crosses the line between frightening and titillating the reader, keeping the adrenaline level high. Stephanie and James have grown apart in their marriage and instead of talking to and confiding in each other, they rely on themselves, which allows Satan to trick both of them. The revelation at the end about the glory of God is wonderfully done giving insight not only into the story but as to why suffering exists in the world. This is Thrasher's best work to date.”

  clockstein wrote this review Wednesday, May 21 2008. ( reply | permalink )