The Hunter and the Valley of Death: A Parable of Surrender - Psalm 23 (The Psalm Series) Paperback – June 25, 2018

This is the 4th work I've read from this author. I like what Mr. McPherson’s writing does to me – how it makes me feel and how it makes me think. I love those feeling! By that I mean the feeling I get through the descriptive parts of the book that takes me right there in the story. Brennan McPherson really has a gift for doing this. And the characters – I feel like I’m inside each one of them. His way of writing like this makes that possible for me, and that’s important if I’m to enjoy and benefit from a book. He reaches within the fictional characters and makes them seem real. Using the 23rd Psalm for the basis of this work is genius.This is one of the great thoughts Brennan brings us in the devotional part, after the story:“We don’t have to dread God’s discipline. Rather, we can trust that it’s proof of his passionate love for us. That his refining work in our souls and spirits, which can feel so painful at times, is a good thing that brings about our holiness and deeper intimacy with him—so long as we surrender to it.”The fantasy fiction work of “Hunter” prepares our hearts to sit up and take notice of thoughts like these. For me, this book made me hunger for the devotional thoughts because my heart had already been prepped - something like a garden is prepared for planting and growing. This is how lots of us (readers) are wired to work! I love the way these thoughts touch me deeply by the preparation of the fantasy fiction work of “Hunter.” People who read fiction (Christian fiction in particular,) are bound to be touched the same way. Besides all of this, it’s just another flat out good story by Brennan McPherson!

An allegorical tale lending clean to the Psalms provides different look I to the dealer mean I g of the scriptures.

Hunter & Valley of Death is sinply breathtaking. Laced with adrenaline, this story will have you on the edge of your seat for hours, if not days. HVD is one story you DO NOT want to put down this Summer. It is filled with suspense and passion which pulls at your heartstrings and chills you to the bones. Symbolism in Hunter & Valley of Death paints portraits which are more valuable than words can count. EVERY character will question the mind in EVERY aspect. Hunter & Valley of Death is THE Summer read of 2018.

I love Psalm 23, but the pace, voice and story, were not what i expected. For the money, still great value.

Normally, I don't choose fantasies to read; but I gave it a chance, and quickly caught on to the story it told. A good insight on how King David understood traits of Our Lord, and His love for us!

I had a mixed experience reading this novella. It's a good lyrical piece of Biblical fiction with lots of symbolism and strong themes. It presents the gospel powerfully and the importance of surrender and dying to ourselves so we can gain more of God. It's difficult in a novella to develop characters very well and so this story was mostly thematic-based working many of the Gospel's key points in a story of good, evil and love.However, I approached the story excited to see how McPherson presented Psalm 23 in a fictional account. BTW, I love the idea of this Psalm Series of novellas: creating fictional accounts of some of the Psalms. Psalm 23 is many people's favourite, one universally known even by non-believers, for it's beautiful and vivid imagery of Jesus as our shepherd as we journey through life. It's a Psalm of significant comfort, of praise of His goodness and one that fills all of us with hope and faith I believe. It's a special Psalm to use when starting one's day and/or time with the Lord.Having now outlined some thoughts on the Psalm I headed into reading this novella with this background. And my struggle with the novella is that I didn't really find a lot of the essence of the great Psalm. So it wasn't as enjoyable a read simply because I was seeking that essence of the soothing intimacy of the Lord.McPherson writes beautiful prose with vivid imagery which gives the reader a tremendous insider's view of his story. He puts us, the reader, into his story and we get to experience all of the sensory elements he describes so well.But I feel he tried too hard and actually put too much of the Gospel into this one. The fact he has an appendix at the back explaining the symbolism in some ways reinforced this in my mind. And even in reading this appendix I questioned the way he connected his story to the Psalm even though there were specific references to individual verses.It appears I'm an exception to the rule in terms of other reviewers and I would still encourage you to read this novella simply because it's a good story.I'm excited to read the second in the series by Mesu Andrews.My rating 3.5.

I really enjoyed this story. It is not a long novel, but it was worth the money.

Good premise, style preachy, plodding and obvious.

This is an allegory based on the 23rd Psalm. At first I didn't quite get it even though I liked the beautiful imagery. Later on I began to catch on and the story is nicely explained at the end. I think if I reread it I would enjoy it more.

I very much enjoyed this book. Highly recommend (all 3)

While reading this well-written book, my inner eyes and ears popped open, seeing how certain things still need changing in my own life. Love gives and sacrifices for us, with only the King being able to defeat death.Such good lessons, written as a non-stop novel, learned while wondering if and how it will all work out.

A beautiful symbolic tale based on the 23 rd Psalm. Helpful insights into some symbolic representations at the end of the book.

I had a mixed experience reading this novella. It's a good lyrical piece of Biblical fiction with lots of symbolism and strong themes. It presents the gospel powerfully and the importance of surrender and dying to ourselves so we can gain more of God. It's difficult in a novella to develop characters very well and so this story was mostly thematic-based working many of the Gospel's key points in a story of good, evil and love.However, I approached the story excited to see how McPherson presented Psalm 23 in a fictional account. BTW, I love the idea of this Psalm Series of novellas: creating fictional accounts of some of the Psalms. Psalm 23 is many people's favourite, one universally known even by non-believers, for it's beautiful and vivid imagery of Jesus as our shepherd as we journey through life. It's a Psalm of significant comfort, of praise of His goodness and one that fills all of us with hope and faith I believe. It's a special Psalm to use when starting one's day and/or time with the Lord.Having now outlined some thoughts on the Psalm I headed into reading this novella with this background. And my struggle with the novella is that I didn't really find a lot of the essence of the great Psalm. So it wasn't as enjoyable a read simply because I was seeking that essence of the soothing intimacy of the Lord.McPherson writes beautiful prose with vivid imagery which gives the reader a tremendous insider's view of his story. He puts us, the reader, into his story and we get to experience all of the sensory elements he describes so well.But I feel he tried too hard and actually put too much of the Gospel into this one. The fact he has an appendix at the back explaining the symbolism in some ways reinforced this in my mind. And even in reading this appendix I questioned the way he connected his story to the Psalm even though there were specific references to individual verses.It appears I'm an exception to the rule in terms of other reviewers and I would still encourage you to read this novella simply because it's a good story.I'm excited to read the second in the series by Mesu Andrews.My rating 3.5.