Spiritualism – The Reading Bud

Book Review: The Book of the Devil: Genesis by Veronica Preston

04/09/2025Mythic Fantasy, Speculative-Fiction, SpiritualismLeave a Comment

Book Details:

Author: Veronica Preston
Release Date: August 27, 2025
Series: Book #1
Genre: Spiritual Fantasy, Mythic Fiction, Speculative Fiction
Format: E-book
Pages: 201 pages
Publisher: –
Blurb:
This isn’t a tale of horns and pitchforks.
It’s a tale of questions, echoes, and exile.
Book of the Devil: Genesis reimagines the Devil as Iblis—a being of fire, loyalty, and impossible choices. Born into a world of smokeless flame, Iblis is chosen to serve God, but he begins to question the nature of obedience, justice, and divine will. His rebellion is not out of vanity, but love, sorrow, and a desire to understand. As he rises through the celestial order, Iblis walks the line between sacred and profane, setting the stage for a fall that may be more holy than it seems.

Review

Few books dare to give the Devil his own voice, and fewer still manage to do it with the lyrical weight and mythic imagination that Veronica Preston brings to Book of the Devil: Genesis.

Author Preston roots her tale in an expansive cosmology. The Devil here is not a caricature of evil, but a Jinn, born of smokeless fire, whose origins precede mankind itself. Through his eyes, we witness the birth of Nahar, a planet of singing trees, plasma-blooded beings, and a civilization bound by free will and consequence. The refusal to bow to Adam is rendered not as arrogance, but as clarity. In this reframing, the author invites readers to question centuries of dogma: what if the Devil is not our corrupter, but our tester, our liberator, the one who insists humanity use its mind rather than bask in blind innocence?

Thematically, the novel is a meditation on choice, identity, and the necessity of shadow. It threads together Quranic references, Biblical echoes, and speculative cosmology, creating a narrative that is both reverent and rebellious. The chapters read like a blend of scripture and epic fantasy, making the book feel at once timeless and startlingly modern.

As an editor, I must note that author Preston’s greatest strength, her lush, almost operatic prose, can also be the book’s stumbling block. Sentences often run long, heavy with imagery and metaphor. While this lends grandeur, it occasionally slows the pacing and risks overwhelming readers who crave more narrative momentum. There are places, especially in the middle chapters, where the philosophical musings could have been pared back in favor of tighter dramatic action.

That said, Book of the Devil: Genesis succeeds in something rare: it makes the reader pause and reconsider a story they thought they knew. It is provocative without being blasphemous, imaginative without losing its theological moorings. It dares to ask what if the Devil’s fall was not rebellion, but part of the Architect’s design?

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Book Review: Rage Against the Machine by H. Meadow Hopewell

04/05/202504/05/2025Christian Fiction, Science-Fiction, Speculative-Fiction, Spiritualism, Surreal Fiction, Suspense, ThrillerLeave a Comment

Book Details:

Author: H. Meadow Hopewell
Release Date: November 21, 2024
~~Series~~:
Genre: Speculative Fiction, Thriller, Suspense, Spiritual Fiction
Format: E-book
Pages: 154 pages
Publisher: Elk Lake Publishing, Inc.
Blurb:
Award-winning director, Roare Murdock, is approached by a private group of investigative journalists who invite her to spearhead a documentary. She agrees to join the project to expose the dark side of transhumanism. With the assignment comes grave danger to herself and those around her. And someone in her close circle of trusted associates is not what he seems. She wonders why God would choose a wayward follower like her to warn the masses of an imminent threat to humanity.
Amid the challenges and dangers of research and filming, Hunter Barraclough, Roare’s biological father, enters her life for the first time. When Roare reaches her breaking point, help comes from an unlikely source, Sloane McInerney, Roare’s bodyguard. Sloane has his own reasons to join forces with Roare to unmask a malevolent AI lab whose CEO plots to destroy human souls through AI and other-worldly technology. As she battles demonic forces, Roare uses fear and anger to her advantage. But how long will she last before she questions her own survival?

Review

Rage Against the Machine by H. Meadow Hopewell is an unapologetically bold novel that is part speculative fiction and part spiritual wake-up call that tackles big questions about AI, faith, and the fragile nature of human agency. I’m drawn to books that take risks, and this one certainly does. It leans into its high-concept premise with conviction and delivers a story that is both timely and deeply rooted in spiritual introspection.

What really impressed me is how the author bridges the gap between the speculative and the sacred. The futuristic technologies—neural implants, augmented intelligence, and algorithmic control—feel eerily plausible, but what makes this story resonate is its grounding in prophecy and human frailty. Characters are not just pawns in a sci-fi world; they wrestle with guilt, redemption, divine purpose, and what it means to resist a system that increasingly erases individuality and soul.

There are moments where the narrative dips into exposition-heavy territory or could benefit from more subtlety in its messaging. But the sheer ambition of the themes—especially around digital enslavement vs. spiritual freedom—more than makes up for that. It reads like Black Mirror crossed with The Book of Revelation, and somehow, it works!

If you’re looking for a high-concept thriller that’s unafraid to ask deep questions—and answer them through a faith-driven lens—Rage Against the Machine is a compelling and intelligent read that leaves you thinking long after the last page is turned.

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Book Review: Why We Make Bad Choices: The God’s Labyrinth of Good and Evil Encountering the Self by Maria Liviero

04/12/2023Non-Fiction, SpiritualismLeave a Comment

Book Details:

Author: Maria Liviero
Release Date: March 19, 2023
~~Series~~:
Genre: Spirituality-Religion, Non-Fiction
Format: E-book
Pages: 244 pages
Publisher:
Blurb:
This book explores our sense of self and the source of the unhealthy behaviours and thinking patterns that cause us to make bad choices through the symbolic themes and characters of Genesis 1–3.
The journey towards understanding ourselves is undertaken by a character called Eve, who enters a parallel universe between Genesis and the present day only to discover the dark side of human nature that stems from God, and where she learns how to deal with the resulting false self.
This is a self-help book for anyone interested in investigating the depths of the human self and exploring how a false self can manifest itself causing us to make unhealthy choices. It will take you on a journey where you will encounter both the good and evil that exists within all of us, a journey first introduced in the creation story of Genesis.

Review

In “Why We Make Bad Choices,” Maria Liviero delves deep into the labyrinth of the human psyche, exploring the intricate relationship between our sense of self and our propensity for unhealthy choices. This thought-provoking journey, inspired by the symbolic themes of Genesis 1–3, offers a unique and profound perspective on understanding and confronting our inner selves.

The narrative is skillfully woven around a character named Eve, who embarks on a journey through a parallel universe that bridges the biblical past with the modern day. Liviero’s use of Eve as a conduit to explore the darker aspects of human nature is both innovative and insightful. As Eve encounters various facets of the human condition, the reader is invited to reflect on the duality of good and evil within themselves. This exploration is not only enlightening but also deeply relatable, making the book a compelling read for anyone on a quest for self-understanding.

One of the most striking aspects of Liviero’s work is her ability to seamlessly blend complex theological concepts with practical self-help guidance. The book doesn’t shy away from challenging the reader to confront their ‘false self’ – the source of many unhealthy decisions. The journey is an intricate blend of self-discovery and introspection, providing readers with valuable insights into how they can identify and alter destructive thinking patterns.

Liviero’s writing style is engaging, making complex concepts accessible without oversimplifying them. Her approach to the creation story of Genesis as a metaphor for the human experience of grappling with good and evil is both innovative and enlightening.

In conclusion, “Why We Make Bad Choices” is a powerful and insightful read. It offers a unique lens through which to view the age-old struggle between good and evil within ourselves and equips the reader with the tools to navigate this terrain. Liviero’s book is an essential read for anyone interested in personal growth and understanding the deeper motivations behind their choices.

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Book Review: I AM NOT GOD: How Far Can a Reality Show Go by Joshua Veridical

12/07/202211/07/2022Joshua Veridical, Philosophy, SpiritualismLeave a Comment

Book Details:

Author: Joshua Veridical
Release Date: 1st Febrauary 2022
~~Series~~:
Genre: Spiritualism, Philosophy
Format: E-book
Pages: 152 pages
Publisher:
Blurb:
In the Rush of living our life, it is true that we forget Purpose of life. Religion keeps us disciplined and shows us the path to find that purpose. There are many monks, Spiritual Leaders and Priests who guide us to maintain stability in life and help our soul grow. This book takes you in the unusual journey of Spiritualism where the purpose of life is found by our main protagonist but in a very unusual way.

Review

I Am Not God by Joshua Veridical is a book based on the spiritual journey of the main protagonist that tackles many philosophical questions about life and its meaning in general. Overall the book is a decent read and proved to be a quick read. The main character, although not extremely relatable, was likeable enough for me to be able to read the entire book to learn more about his journey.

I did feel that the book needed more polishing as the writing felt a bit rough and could have been better, but of course, that is my personal opinion and being an editor myself I do have tough standards when it comes to writing style, especially in Indian literature.

This book would be perfect for readers of philosophical books and spiritual enthusiasts.

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Audiobook Review: The Mystery Of Martha by Eliza Harrison

10/01/202107/01/2021Eliza Harrison, Historical, Mystery, SpiritualismLeave a Comment

Author: Eliza Harrison
Narrated by: Eliza Harrison
Release Date: 2nd October 2020
Genre: Mystery, Historical Fiction
Series:
Format: Audiobook
Pages: 9 hours 13 minutes
Publisher:
Blurb:
Two women, two millennia apart, with seemingly unconnected lives – one from the English Lake District and the other from Bethany in Palestine. Neither is sure of their role or purpose, which leaves in them feelings of emptiness and uncertainty.

Martha of Bethany has Yeshua as friend and guide. From a place of tenderness and intimacy, she witnesses the last three years of his life and sees him embody the mystery and power of love. This leads her on a journey to the Sacred Isles where she finds her own pathway to awakening.

Martha from Borrowdale’s story begins in 2000 AD as she faces challenges that expose her deepest fears and insecurities. With her partner Ben, she discovers the mystical Aramaic teachings of Yeshua that offer her a pathway to Self-realisation and freedom.

These two redemptive stories weave alongside each other until finally they converge. It is a tale of revelation and mystery that uplifts and transforms.

Review

The Mystery Of Martha by Eliza Harrison is a unique kind of mystery novel that is set against the historical backdrop and inlaced with spiritualism that takes the reader on a surreal journey.

I was intrigued about this book from he start because spiritualism is a little hard to blend into a historical mystery and so I was curious to see how the plot unravelled. It was good for the most part and the writing was good. The narration wasn’t the best but it made for easy listening and I appreciated it a lot. The overall concept was a little out of my personal comfort zone, but it still made for a good and engaging read.

I think that if you are into spirituality and like reading experimental literature revolving around it then you’d appreciate this book a lot more than me and it would make for a really good read.