Ted Dekker Fans discussion

Hey, all! I am a relatively new Ted Dekker fan, having read the Circle Trilogy (Black through White) last year and really enjoying them. As a lover of fantasy and complicated storylines, I was blown away and very excited to find out they were the start of an extended universe.

I picked the Lost Books series to read next because I found a perfect condition used set at a consignment store (that made me so happy) and they appeared to continue in the same world as Circle. It did irk me to discover, however, that I was missing a few references to the Paradise books, especially when I came to Renegade and found I was missing the entire context of half the book.

As a strict release-order reader, I dropped the book right then and began looking for copies of Showdown. One thing stopped me, though: In some places, Showdown is billed as horror, and one reviewer even said, "It was the most disturbing book I have ever read." Naturally, as a horror-hater and all-around scaredy cat, I continued with my reading. I have now started Lunatic.

Although I have learned enough about Showdown to understand the Lost Books, I am still bothered that I am missing context. I also want to read Saint and Sinner (I understand they're not quite as dark as their predecessor) before I read Green, and I am stubbornly unwilling to read a series out of order, even of its author says I can.

So it all boils down to: Should I read Showdown? I am okay with fantasy violence, but I do not like blood and gore. I also get freaked out very easily. In fact, reading the first couple chapters did, in fact, already freak me out. Does the book continue like this? How much gore is in it? Thank you all for your help!

Yes. I loved these books. Sinner is my favorite of the three.

Oh definitely. Showdown is my favorite Dekker novel, and I'm not a horror person at all. The opening scene is a little rough, but it's not bad after that! :)