Dale Martin tells the story of Wes Aettian, a young man ordinary in every way except for two things: he is to be king, and he is part of ancient and sacred bloodline. In Martin’s The Lineage, we follow Wes in his journey of becoming king and fulfilling a prophecy. The Aettians, the royal family of Cassia, are in hiding from the invading Naborn. Upon his father’s death, Wes discovers that, although he is the middle-born son, he is the Chosen Heir. Eventually he discovers that he is the heir to more than the Cassian throne. The Lineage is a beautiful story – reminiscent in many ways to the Bible – that allows us to watch Wes grow from a young man into a king and a man firm in his faith in God, the Creator, and one true King.

The Lineage is a wonderfully thrilling book. The writing is spot-on, from the dripping of snow melt, to the scent of death, to the ever-present love of God. Dale Martin has done a fantastic job of bringing you into a world similar to Earth, but unique in so many ways. The twists and turns were perfectly timed and most were unseen, which is a first for me. Martin’s ability to create a novel set in a different world while using the Bible, God, and Christ’s sacrifice as its centre is impressive. The faith and belief of each character was believable, including the conversion of one of the characters, to which I can personally relate. If there’s ever a book to read that speaks of God’s love, sacrifice, life as a believer, and our goal to trust in God, this is it.

The Lineage by Dale Martin is a classic struggle between good and evil in a science fiction setting. It is also a coming of age story about a boy destined to be a king. Wes Aettian is the middle son of King Zor of Cassia. All his life he has refused to really think about or want the crown, but by the time Wes is nineteen, Cassia has lost its position as the richest and most powerful nation in the world and is occupied by its neighbor, the Empire of Nabor. When King Zor is killed and passes the crown to Wes, instead of his elder brother Kej, an action packed tale of courage, betrayal, and faith begins. Wes doubts himself at a time when his country needs faith and strength, and we watch as he finds both with the help of good friends and God. The Lineage is a story about family, God, and doing the right thing.

Dale Martin has done something few writers even try. He has reconciled the seemingly polar opposite worlds of science and religion. In The Lineage he has created strong but believable characters. We can relate to their doubts and fears, and it is easy to cheer when they overcome the many obstacles in their paths. The Lineage is the perfect book for a young Christian science fiction fan. It shows that even in the most complex society there is always a place for faith, love, and God.

The Lineage is a fast paced novel with a medieval setting. Zor, King of Cassia, fears for the worse as a result of the ongoing war with the Naborn clan. He fears for the lives of his children, especially Wes Aettitian. He gave his ring to Major Gell to pass onto Wes. Wes was utterly confused that his father had chosen him to be his successor. Learning of the death of both parents, he was thrown into the spotlight as the new king. He made the rash decision to attack a main refinery of the Naborn. He and his team were captured and taken to meet Sha’ad, the evil ruler of Naborn who utilized sorcery to maintain control over the town. Wes discovered that the ring passed on to him had special powers and he instantly knew the exact words of the Scrolls. Wes uses the ring of light to fight the evil spirit dominating the city.

The Lineage is an intense book. I was captivated by its magical spell. The author, Dale Martin, did an excellent job creating this gem of a book. I enjoyed the lively interaction between the main character and his allies. I appreciated the pervasive theme of good overcoming evil. This aspect of the novel was tastefully explored without being too extreme. The language used is semi-formal to reflect the stature of the main character. The romantic thread is a welcome distraction from the obvious battle between the two clans. I loved the transformation of belief that one of the characters experienced. When faced with the presence of evil at its finest, this persona was forced to acknowledge God’s absolute power. Ironically, this change also occurs in us humans - when we have all the time in the world to accept God, we refuse to do so. Pressing or tragic circumstances sometimes force us to make this mental and emotional shift. I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Lineage and I recommend it to all readers.

The Lineage by Dale Martin follows the journey of the nineteen-year-old successor of Cassia, Wes Aettian, who finds himself unprepared to become King of Cassia when his father unexpectedly dies. He had never given thought to taking leadership of his people. To make things worse, his father has taken many secrets with him to the grave, including the wisdom that could have helped Wes in these difficult times. His country is invaded by a powerful enemy and his family is in hiding. Kyrit Sha'ad, an evil man with strong dark magic has seized the opportunity to annihilate the Aettian bloodline and nothing will stop him. Can young Wes protect his kind at such a decisive moment in their struggle for survival?

Suspense, intrigue, magic, and pulsating action are some of the thriller elements that readers will love in Dale Martin’s The Lineage. The story starts in the midst of the action, and it creates a compelling opening that makes readers curious about the characters and what they are up to. The sense of urgency and danger is immediately communicated, and the author captures the people's fear in descriptions that are terrifically written. The locales are well written and the elements of the setting, with their social, political, and geographical place in the story, are brilliantly written. The strength of this story lies in the author’s deft handling of conflict. The protagonist is a likable character and the fact that he is ill-prepared for the mission thrust onto him makes it even more interesting as readers want to see him grow into a leader, discover secrets he never knew, and learn about who he really is. I rooted for the protagonist, following him as he unearths one layer after another about the mystery of his people and the mission he is endowed with. While this novel tells the story of a race under attack to the point of annihilation, it also celebrates the triumph of good over evil, featuring characters that are well-developed and likable.

The Lineage by Dale Martin is a great mix of science fiction and fantasy. Cassia is a kingdom on the brink of collapse, conquered by their longtime enemy, the Naborn. While the kingdom has always stood tall against this enemy, this time around, the enemy is led by one powerful man, Kyrit Sha'ad, a sorcerer with incredible black magic on a mission to annihilate the Aettian bloodline. Wes Aettian is the nineteen-year-old prince who suddenly becomes king after the untimely death of his father, and it is at the worst of times. With his family in hiding and being inexperienced in leadership, he will have to figure out who he is, understand the origins of his bloodline, and what role it plays in keeping balance in the world. His father has left him with no preparation whatsoever, so he will have to learn along the way. But can he lead his people in this time of greatest need against a seemingly invincible enemy or will he be the last King of Cassia?

Dale Martin’s The Lineage is very imaginative and features a protagonist that instantly attracts the attention of readers. He is a young man who becomes a king but is unprepared. He is hardly aware of what is at stake, and this is also because his father never shared secrets with him and never prepared him for the task. The young king must grow up quickly and take on responsibilities bigger than the stature of the man he is. Readers will sympathize and root for him at the same time. While this is a tale of an imaginary kingdom, it also has a symbolic nature that explains the conflict between good and evil. It is a tale of courage when faced with the darkest evil, and the story is intelligently and skillfully written to focus on the essential. The intricate plot and the compelling characters kept me racing through the pages. The character development arc is impeccably accomplished, the conflict is skillfully written, and the entire story, although a fantasy, brims with realism. The Lineage was a brief, yet perfect escape for me.

Nineteen-year-old Wes Aettian feels overwhelmed as the new King of Cassia. He had always thought his older brother, Ben, would be the next king, but his father, before he died, had made it known that Wes was to succeed him. To make things worse, the evil, insanely powerful Kyrit Sha'ad is bent on eliminating every last Aettian and anyone that stands in the way, including the people of Cassia that choose to rebel against the Naborn—conquerors of Cassia. As Sha'ad leads the Naborn to destroy the rebellion, he proceeds with his goal to overshadow the light in the world with supreme darkness. Will Wes rise up to the task bestowed upon him by his father and trust God to take the wheel against the evil forces? Find out in Dale Martin's The Lineage.

The Lineage captivates readers with a fast-paced, action-packed plot based on the fight between good and evil. I was seriously frightened by the vividly portrayed supernatural characters, one of which has long, narrow eyes and a wide-open mouth filled with "absolute blackness". Warning! Don't read it at night unless you don't mind having nightmares. Thankfully, the dark themes are accompanied by Christian themes like prayer, prophecies, scriptures, and several inspiring messages. I particularly liked the protagonist's willingness to sacrifice himself for the benefit of others. In fact, I was impressed by several aspects of the book: the strategic plans to win the war against the Naborn, the surprising ending, the expertly done multiple viewpoints, the arguments for and against religion, and more. Dale Martin is definitely an author to watch out for in the Christian fantasy and sci-fi genre!

The Lineage by Dale Martin is a story of the age-old fight between good and evil. When the king of Cassia, Zor, makes Wes Aettian his successor, Wes was surprised beyond belief. He never thought he would be king, let alone at the age of 19. Now that he was king, Wes had to not only lead his people but also protect them from the tyrant Kyrit Sha’ad. Sha’ad was a Naborn (the worst of them all), and it seemed like he wanted a lot more than just power over Cassia. He was after the whole Aettian bloodline, and Wes was his first target. But Sha’ad was no ordinary man. He had powers unlike any other, and Wes knew he had his work cut out for him. Wes had to work hard, long and steady to be the king he could be proud of. But would he survive the attacks by Sha’ad or was it going to lead to his end?

I loved how well Dale Martin mixes faith, science fiction, fantasy, and action together to bring readers an entertaining story. I struggled to connect with Wes in the beginning. I felt he was a little too vulnerable and a little too immature. However, then I realized he was barely an adult with responsibilities that would shake even the most mature character. His development arc was fantastic. He grew from a scared child to being a strong, mindful leader. The action was non-stop, there was never a dull moment in The Lineage, and I enjoyed how the pace never slowed down. I hated Sha’ad, but I enjoyed how cunning he was. He is, perhaps, one of those villains that readers love to read more about. He was fantastic and incredibly vicious. His back story would be incredible.