Reviewed by Ankita Shukla for Readers' Favorite

The Satan and the Cherubim (There Came Darkness Series Book 1) by Casey Fisher is a historical novel that reflects on the time when King Josiah was intent on prohibiting the worship of any god other than Elohim. Needless to say, his mission created more enemies than friends. The worshippers of the goddess Asherah were some of those adversaries. Samuel, his chief guard, became the protector of the king. The prophecy of Huldah declaring Samuel as the chosen candidate to protect the king escalated his name and fame. Even before this prophecy, a sense of duty was ingrained in Samuel. He did not leave anything to chance when it came to the welfare of the king. So, when he saw a black-cloaked man with ram horns, Samuel considered him a threat. Following him, however, Samuel realized that this was no ordinary man. Apart from this mysterious man, there were many undeniable signs of protests that added to his distress.

Who knew the clash of faiths could turn out to be so appalling and fatal? The punishment of the Asherah priestess by stoning was one of the most vivid scenes in the book. The pain that each stone inflicted on the priestess could not have been elaborated any better. The author describes how each stone battered her skin and eventually led to her death. Although such refined descriptions are nerve-wracking, each one added to the richness of the plot. The author has selected just the right words to convey the feelings of the characters and the importance of every event. No character is insignificant. Each one of them has a flair and wisdom that they provide to readers. Amos is one of my favorite characters. As the plot progresses, so does empathy for Samuel. He, who remained a dutiful protector of King Josiah, could not have gained more sympathy if he had talked about his past himself. The author has slowly but surely peeled back the layers of his complex character and revealed the tormented soul that he was.

The daunting scenes of animal and human sacrifices will remain with me for a long time. The beliefs regarding the rise of Satan were absolutely intriguing. The concept of there being more than one Satan points to the author's extensive research. Various prophecies, twists, and suspense are enough to keep readers glued to their seats. I would recommend The Satan and the Cherubim (There Came Darkness Series Book 1) by Casey Fisher to those who enjoy reading about ancient beliefs and practices.