I enjoyed this imaginative novel for teen readers. It is in the style of Narnia with ghosts, portals into the spirit world, secret passages, spiritual beings and two girls engaging in a battle of good verses evil. Lucy is the thirteen year old heroine and Schuyler is her best friend.

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Lucy is at a flea market when she sees an artifact, much like an old magnifying glass. It calls to her but when she tries to buy it, the vendor says she must buy an entire trunk and its contents. When Lucy does so, she enters into a battle that has been waging for millennia. The items in the trunk will be essential tools as she enters the conflict.

There is no clear gospel message but like many imaginative young teen novels, there are many Christian principles. The theology contained might not be perfect but the narrative generally follows biblical principles. Young readers familiar with the Bible will recognize elements like the Tree of Life, rebellious angels, spiritual warfare, the armor of God, and more. Those not familiar with the Bible will get an entertaining adventure with spiritual lessons from the author at the end.

At the beginning of the novel, neither Lucy’s nor Schuyler’s parents believe in ghosts or spiritual beings. They think the girls are just living in a fantasy world. Like Schuyler’s parents, readers will experience the reality of angels and demons and spiritual warfare. Some of the girls’ experiences may be scary for some readers. Nixon is great at describing spiritual creatures and, even though I’m a septuagenarian, I found myself not wanting to read the book too late at night.

This is the first installment in The Issachar Gatekeeper series. I like how Lucy and Schuyler grew into their task. I’ll be watching for the next in the series.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from the author. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Joan, A Goodreads reviewer ★★★

In The Issachar Gatekeeper, our main character, Lucy, and her friend, Schuyler, are tasked to protect as well as use ancient items that magically transform into necessary items when threats are imminent. My daughter would say, “It’s not fair!” when Lucy was accused of something a ghost did.

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But Lucy held fast to her character, though upset she maintained her cool and even rose above the anger at the injustice and continued on. She is a good example of how any of us should react in times of trial and false accusations.

And her friend is a good example of what it means to be a loyal friend. This is not your average MG/YA ghost hunter story. Besides spirits/ghosts, there are also angels, demons and other creatures. The book reminded me of a mix between Nancy Drew, Narnia and This Present Darkness. A little bit of detective work, some magical creatures and elements, and some spirit realm battling. At times, the story becomes very exciting, spooky and scary. I’d definitely recommend this for a Middle Grade reader that enjoys these types of stories. An enjoyable read and it looks like the author is planning at least another book! I received a complimentary copy from the author. However, the honest opinions in this review are my own.

The Consulting Writer ★★★★★

This is a very good read. I highly recommend it.

It’s suspenseful and kept my interest throughout.

Audra, An Amazon reviewer ★★★★★

Love, love, love this book! From its spooky start to a satisfying conclusion, this story has all the elements expected in a haunting mystery; ghosts, shape-shifting entities, and an empty Victorian mansion. The quirky heroine soon discovers the existence of an enchanting yet terrifying spiritual realm. Here is a ghost story you won’t want to miss. Highly recommend. Can’t wait for book two!

Wendy, An Amazon reviewer ★★★★★