I found this as a Read Now in the Christian category on Goodreads. I downloaded a sample from Amazon & binge read the first 4 chapters- then committed to reviewing it for Netgalley bc it was really, really good. I'm wary of new-to-me authors bc I'm so often disappointed; I don't just request willy nilly.
I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED!
This book is complex (but not too complex), well-written, has surprisingly well-developed characters, inserts pertinent flashbacks to events from thousands of years prior, spiritual warfare that feels realistic, not cheesy at all, s/o to Celebrate Recovery. I don't understand how Viktor Rose made all these elements work but he did it- masterfully. I can go on. I am just a mom in Ohio who reads books in my spare time but FWIW I plan to promote this hidden gem of a book on every platform available to me.
Thank you to Netgalley and Viktor Rose for providing a free copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Premise:
When Angela Ward vanishes without a trace, her life becomes the hinge between two one radiant and one corrupt. Angels wage a quiet war to protect her, while demons circle with ancient hunger, whispering madness into the man who stole her away.
Trapped in Marshall’s grasp and caught in a cosmological war intertwined with human destiny, Angela discovers that hope, fear, and faith are all weapons—and that even in the darkest depths, light fights to break through.

SO GOOD. If you enjoyed classics like Frank Peretti’s This Present Darkness, old school Ted Dekker, or C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters, you’ll devour this. Really well written and everything good I’d want in a page-turning (not cheesy!) Christian fiction.

This was a dark, intense psychological thriller with a haunting supernatural twist that dives deep into trauma, addiction, survival, and the question of whether people can truly find redemption after being broken by life’s worst moments. It is definitely not a light read, but it is the kind of story that makes you think long after you close the book 📖✨.

What I liked most was the complexity of Angela’s character. She is not written as a perfect victim, but as a deeply flawed person struggling with addiction, guilt, and the belief that she has already failed everyone around her. Watching her face her fears and fight for herself made her journey powerful because survival became about much more than escaping her captor 💔🌱.

Marshall was a fascinating and unsettling character because the story explores how someone becomes who they are. His past, trauma, and twisted sense of control add layers to the suspense, making you question where personal choices end and outside influence begins. The psychological battle between Angela and Marshall kept the tension high throughout 😨🕯️.

I also enjoyed how the supernatural elements were woven into the story. The presence of an ancient evil adds an eerie atmosphere and gives the book a bigger theme about influence, free will, and the darkness people carry within themselves 👁️🌑.

The strongest part of the book was the exploration of healing and redemption. It asks difficult questions about whether someone who feels completely lost can still find their way back. Angela’s journey is ultimately about reclaiming her identity and realizing she is worth fighting for 💪❤️.

Out of the Depths
by Viktor Rose

Rating: 5 star rating

Out of the Depths by Viktor Rose is a supernatural thriller that I just couldn't put down. It is a fiction book (about 318 pages), but it feels so real because it deals with the true spiritual warfare that happens all around us every single day.

The story is about a woman named Angela. She is struggling in life, fighting a bad drinking problem, and separated from her young son. One night, she gets kidnapped by a very sick, broken man named Marshall. Marshall had a terrible childhood and is actually being manipulated by a demon, though he doesn't realize it. While a detective is trying hard to find Angela, the book shows us the real battle; the spiritual war between angels and demons fighting over these souls.

Being locked up forces Angela to sober up and face her demons, literally and spiritually. Instead of giving up, her faith and survival spirit start to break down her kidnapper's control. I won't give away the ending, but the author wraps everything up in a great way.

There are no tricks, it just shows that God gave us free will, and that even in our darkest moments, there is hope and redemption. It is a dark and spooky story at times, but it left me feeling so inspired about the power of prayer, angels, and God's love. If you love a good mystery with deep Christian themes, you need to read this.

Thank you, NetGalley, V&E Rose Publishing, and author Viktor Rose for this free book review consideration. All review opinions are my own.

#NetGalley
#VandERosePublishing
#ViktorRose author
#OutoftheDepths

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