The Owling by Roger Elmer has been reviewed by Focus on the Family’s marriage and parenting magazine. It is the second book in the “Shadowside Trilogy” series.
The Owling by Roger Elmer has been reviewed by Focus on the Family’s marriage and parenting magazine. It is the second book in the “Shadowside Trilogy” series.
In book 1 of “The Shadowside Trilogy,” Oriannon (Ori) Hightower learned about the existence of a nation of people called Owlings, who are living on the opposite side of her planet. In this volume, Ori’s personal mission to help the Owlings is sabotaged when a charismatic leader named Sola promises to bring peace to the planet. Sola, playing on Ori’s desire for a mother-figure, pulls Ori into a media frenzy and sets the young girl up as a champion for her (Sola’s) cause. Ori’s fascination with Sola quickly turns when she realizes Sola has destroyed the Owlings’ homes, put them into prison camps and plans to bring them to Ori’s side of the planet as slaves. Ori knows she must save her Owling friends, and she calls on her former teacher, Jesmet, for aid.
“The Shadowside Trilogy” is a biblical allegory in which Jesmet, once a teacher at Ori’s school, is killed by the Assembly (representing the Pharisees) and then comes back to life to share a message of love with the planet. Jesmet promises his followers that he will bring them a special power called the Numa (representing the Holy Spirit), which He does just when they feel all hope is lost. Jesmet has the power to heal and even raise the dead. He urges Ori and his other followers to take his “song” to everyone on the planet.
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Jesmet returns intermittently to help his followers through difficult situations. He also sends Numa so they will know he is always with them. Sola, hungry for power, imprisons the Owlings and uses them as slaves, all the while telling the nation of Corista that she is saving the Owlings. She raves about how they were living in horrible conditions, which she has actually brought on them herself. Ori’s father, an Assembly leader who appeared unyielding and harsh in book one, recognizes the threat Sola poses and begins to listen more closely to his daughter regarding the Owlings’ plight.
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