Green: The Beginning and the End (Circle Series #0)

Great Book for Newcomers/Average for Vets

The first book I ever read by Ted Dekker was Black - the first book in his circle trilogy and, even more so, the beginning of a unique universe where the future mingles with the past and where evil and goodness meet.

When I discovered that Dekker would be writing a fourth book directly related to the Circle Trilogy, I was anxious for its release. The ending to White (the last in the trilogy) was a satisfying conclusion, but at the same time I was left wanting more. Along the way, Deker dropped hints in his other books suggesting that life went on for Thomas Hunter, the book's protagonist. Green did not totally disappoint.

The story starts off slow in my opinion. However, Dekker states that all of his books can be read in any order. When one considers that this may be the first book one reads of Thomas Hunter, then I suppose the start does a nice job of presenting characters and back story. For those already immersed in the history, it may not get off to the quick start you're hoping for.

The story is full of the actions sequences and world (or is it time) hopping that were staples in the previous novels. Dekker also does a nice job of answering questions that we left hanging at the conclusion of White. What became of both the worlds? Did Justin ever return? What became of the Forest Guard and their battle against the Horde? In which world did Thomas really belong?

I know many people who were on the fence about this book and I can understand why. While this book is well written and full of that Dekker-esque mystery, it just lacked something. As I mentioned, I've found that those who have already been through the trilogy as well as the other related books (Showdown, House, Skin, The Lost Books, Sinner, Saint, etc) did not enjoy this book as much as the others. The ending, while great and something I definitely didn't see coming, left something to be desired. Especially when compared to White's conclusion - there were questions yes...but it really stemmed from a desire of wanting the story to continue. I believe if I had read Green before any of the other books, I would have felt differently.

I'd rate this book 3/5 for returning Circle fans and 4/5 for newcomers.

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I must be Green

Green is supposed to serve as either the start to your adventure in The Circle series or the conclusion of your journey through the novels.

For myself (having not read any of the others and reading this first), I found certain characters and plot lines which were key to the base story not developed enough. I felt somewhat lost in much of the book, because I sensed that I only partly knew what was going on. Of course knowing that it is a series and much of that would (or should) be explained in the other three novels, doesn't make it any less frustrating while you're actually reading.

I understand the interest in fantasy books written from a Christian perspective, but personally I found a lot of the book quite dark, and at times disturbing.

The preface of the book, touches on previous books written where good and evil duke it out in a mythical sense, like Aslan's and Frodo's tales. Green slides very much to the side of the Hobbit's book in its telling, quite unlike the more mild nature of the land within the Wardrobe's story.

All that being said, if you are a fantasy buff, interested in the battle of good, evil and human nature, can read about people partaking in blood drinking and other less than glorifying ritutals all without making your stomach queasy, you may want to read Green, Book 0 in The Circle Series.

Myself, I'm not itching to read Black at the moment (the next book), there are plenty of other books on my list I'll pick up first.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

For my book review this time I selected a book by Ted Deker entitle Green. The whole premise of this book is that you can read it either as the first in the series or the last. The series in which this book belongs is called The Circle and the othe

Quite a few teens in our local church know how much I like to read and suggested this author. I have never read anything else by him and quite frankly probably never will. The book takes the settings of present and future. That concept I can handle but the rest of the book is just odd. Maybe my mind couldn't take part of the journey the author was hoping for but I was lost and quite frankly bored. The story was unbelievable and the sensuality in the book is nothing that I would want my 13 yr old to read. The main character of the book in present times is Thomas Hunter but he gets swept back into the future and wakes up in the Black Forest. I see the analogy the used in the colors black representing bad and green representing good but that is the only thing I understood or even enjoyed. I am thinking that this is one circle that should not have been reborn

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Green by Ted Dekker

"Green" is the fourth book in the series, after "Black," "Red," and "White," and is referred to as both the beginning and the end of the series. Since I haven't read the first three books, I found this book very hard to get into because Dekker often refers to the previous books (and other books he wrote). I was lost right from the start because the author seems to assume the readers are familiar with the other books, and due to this, there was a lack of character development in "Green." This story is set in a future world, where evil is evident.

The book was well-written, and if you liked the first three books in the Circle Trilogy, this will probably work for you. Dekker does a good job of weaving together the stories from several different books, but I don't think he should assume the readers are familiar with all his books. "Green" wasn't for me, because it was hard to follow as a first-time Dekker reader. I didn't care for the vampires, and it was a bit too violent for my taste. I will consider reading the other three books and trying to make sense of it all after that, but my first impression of Dekker's writing was not great.

I am a Thomas Nelson book reviewer. http://brb.thomasnelson.com/

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

No thanks

For the 10 yr old girls out there i did not like this book at all. I guess it's ok but defineitely not for me

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great

Its said that you can read this book before or after the Red, Black, White trillogy. I would recommend after, it makes more sense that way. That said I loved the book and highly recommed it.

WOW

Could not put it down, yet again. Make me wish Ted would write a 'Blue' with a different ending, because I wanted to start back it the begining of the series.

Interesting

Green is book zero in Ted Dekker's "The Circle" series, Green actually being the fourth installment of the series. The idea is that a reader should be able to pick up the series at any point, and follow through all four books, thus the title of the series"The Circle". I found green to interesting, and as I got into it, I discovered some familiarity although I have not read any of the other three books from the series. Dekker has cleverly tied this series in with another series of his, the Paradise novels. I had read the book "Showdown" from that series a few years ago. As I said I did find Green to be interesting as a story and the series interesting from a conceptual standpoint. However, whether it was unfamiliarity with the other titles or not understanding the whole of how all these titles intertwine, or a combination of all of the above I found it difficult at times to keep up and understand. I constantly felt I was missing something that would not be found within the pages I was reading, yet not curious enough to sort it out by going through the other titles that are related to Green. Maybe if I had started at a true beginning point it would have been different.

Thomas of Hunter lives on!

I totally geeked out when I received this book in the mail.

Not because I had read any of Ted Dekker's book previously in the past or due to even a marginal interest in Christian Fiction books.

No, I geeked out because earlier in the year a friend of mine told me about the Circle Series books. He said that "the books twist you and turn you and flip you and by the end you are not completely sure what happened except that you're loving Jesus more." His word is an authority for me when it comes to literature.

So needless to say, I geeked out.

I found the book available and asked my literature guru friend whether I should start or end with Green. His answer was a definitive "End with it, dude."

So I ordered the rest of the books, read them and then moved onto this book.

The series is truly phenomenal and Green was a great read.

Quick Summary: Green is a story of love, betrayal, and sweeping reversals set within the apocalypse.

I believe that the series could not have ended any better or any more seamlessly then it did with Green.

I would recommend this book to anyone who had read the previous books in the series or wanted a good read that would "twist you and turn you and flip you and by the end you are not completely sure what happened except that you're loving Jesus more."

The Circle: The Final History

"Green," the conclusive book in the Circle series, by Ted Dekker, is both the first and last book in the series. Living up to his reputation, Dekker certainly delivers, with the final installment in the tale of the Books of History. Easily the best book I have yet read (and I've certainly read a few), "Green" both concludes/begins the Circle series and definitively ties together this series with both the Paradise Novels and the Lost Books series.

As is his tradition, the worlds that Ted weaves throughout the present day and the Second Earth are both multi-faceted and immensely complex. Delving deeply and openly into the modern battle between spirituality and worldly desires, Dekker ties together this story with the other three in the series, finally eliminating many nagging questions that were previously left unanswered. It also works as a perfect prequel for the other three books if you have not previously read them.

I would reccommend this book to absolutely anyone who has the capacity to understand the complexities of the "Dekker universe" (roughly anyone who is of middle school reading level or higher). I give it (if not already apparent) five out of five stars on all levels.

Disappointing

Green is a fantasy novel, created as an allegory to parallel the realities of right and wrong. At first sight, the novel's preface, written by the author Ted Dekker, purports that the quality of this fantasy is comparable to C.S. Lewis' Narnia series and J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. However, Green fails to elicit the profound symbolism and dynamic resolution that both Narnia and The Lord of the Rings contain.

The story Green begins in a new world that God created after the apocalypse, and it begins to unfold as Thomas Hunter, the leader of the Circle, and the Circle - the "chosen" people - delight in their Great Romance at a ceremonial celebration of their faith. As beautiful as that description of faith is, the story begins a downward spiral of dark themes beyond this initial attribute.

Thomas and the Circle have been given a command from God to love their neighbors at all costs, which leads them to flee their enemies, the Horde, who are warriors out for blood. The plot stirs as Samuel, Thomas Hunter's son, begins to rebel against this command, and leads a group to battle the forces of evil amongst them. Thomas Hunter then initiates a battle between the Horde and evil leaders, who are consumed with blood.

At this point, I was forcing myself to read this Christian fiction, as the layers of grotesque blood sacrifices from the evil powers sent this novel flying over the fence into the land of weird for me. A dual experience then comes into play, as the antagonist characters, Janae and Billy, who were living in present day 2010, find a way to enter the future, the new world, and join the forces of evil to plot against the Circle, and mainly, their leader, Thomas, as the Circle holds out in hope that God will deliver them from evil.

I would not recommend this book at all, but if you are in the market for Christian allegories/fantasy, I would instead recommend making room in your library for C.S. Lewis and Tolkien, as the author, at least in endeavor, tried to replicate those classics.

Green: The Beginning and the End

Green begins ten years after the events of White have taken place. The Circle has given up their violent ways in favor of a more loving aproach to the hoard. Green finds Thomas Hunter primarily living in the future earth as opposed to living on earth as we know it, as is true of the other three books in the series. Also, instead of traveling in his dreams when he sleeps Thomas can only travel when he has four of the seven books of history. I read Green last in the series and although the series is written to be a "circle" I believe that if i had read Green first I would not have had the knowledge necessary to fully comprehend everything that happens. Also, because it is book zero, I feel as if the ending was very unsatisfying... ending with the exact same words as Black begins with. Overall a well written book and an excellent read.

AMAZING!!!!!

As an amateur writer I can appreciate how difficult it is to make a series of books truly seamless, but this series is truly circular. When I read that this new addition could be read either at the end of the series or the beginning I have to say I greeted it with just a bit of skepticism. I've heard those claims before and they've proven highly exaggerated. This however was amazing in its execution and continuity. It is original yet accessible as it draws on things we can all relate to. I truly enjoyed this book and will be adding other of Ted Dekker's work to my library.

Green by Ted Dekker

Thomas Hunter is facing one of the most challenging situations he's had to deal with. The Circle is losing hope the Elyon will come back. They have lost sight of Elyon's ways and begin to want to take things into their own hands.

Green is an interesting book, as it completes or begins the Circle trilogy of Black, Red and White. It is called Book Zero in the Circle..."the beginning and the end." I had started reading the Circle trilogy before. For me, Green was finishing the series that I had started with Black.

It is well written, as are the other books in the series. Thomas Hunter is in our reality and has dreams that take him to another reality that is an allegory of things of God (ie: the fall of man, Christ's coming...etc.).

At first, I thought that the idea of this book completing the series and also beginning the series was a neat idea. I was caught in the suspense of the book and finding out how things where going to turn out. I was a little disappointed with the end though. There was the big climax at the end, but before it really ended, it segued into the beginning to transition to Black. Being a circle, it never really ends the story, it just picks it back up to start all over again.

I think I might have enjoyed it better had I started with Green and then went into the rest of the series instead of ending the series with a book that brings you right back to the beginning.

Review of Green (The Circle: Book Zero)

This was my first Ted Dekker book. I received it from BookSneeze publishing after choosing (what looked to be) an interesting novel from their selections. I was not disappointed.

I've read quite a few Christian novels and most of the time am disappointed by the writing and the plot. That wasn't the case with Green. From the first chapter I was hooked and sucked into the world of Thomas Hunter and his dreams. So hooked that I immediately requested the rest of the "Circle" books from my library so I could read them.

This is both the first and the last of the circle series. You can read it as the first (like I did) or the last. It's difficult to understand and the symbolism is quite thick, but the story is an incredibly fast-paced, interesting one.

What I loved most about this book was that Ted Dekker doesn't hesitate to pull punches. He doesn't spare characters or make things go the way you would like them to go, but instead he stays true to the story and paints a brutal picture of the nature of sin and the glory of salvation. I was horrified at the descriptions of the "Horde" and moved to tears when salvation was chosen for one of the characters.

Overall a very interesting, thrilling read and I'll definitely be reading more of Dekkers books in the future

Green: The Beginning and the End

The Beginning and The End is very appropriately titled for the fourth book in Ted Dekker's Circle Series. The book starts out where it left off in Thomas Hunter's Other Earth, and comes back to the Earth we are all familiar with; however, the tables have turned in this book compared to the other three in the series, changing how the story progresses.

Also, Billy Rediger, one of the characters from Dekker's Paradise novels, gets involved in the story's plot, and I find myself learning more details of Dekker's other books.

As the plot of the book deepens, it becomes clear that the other three books in the series have been building up to a final ending, and Green is that ending. In fact, it seems to wrap up Dekker's entire Books of History Chronicles.

Ted Dekker never fails to raise the standards of the quality of his books. As all of his books have been at one time, this is Dekker's new best book. You will not be disappointed by his wonderful writing techniques, which will keep you reading until you find out what happens. So, go ahead and get Green: The Beginning and the End. Whether you read it first or last in the series, you won't regret it.

Review of Green: Book Zero:

First off I haven't read any of the previous books by Ted Draker. So this becomes my first book. And of what I've read in this book, I felt that it was well written and well thought out. For people who don't know the story, Green: Book Zero and its sequels deal with an alternate future where 2 tribes are at war - Circle, followers of Elyon and the Horde.


The protagonist is Thomas Hunter who has escaped Earth into an alternate future and leads a band of people called the Forest Dwellers. This group remains impassive to the havoc wreaked by the Horde in abiding with Elyon's wishes to maintain peace. But Hunter's son Samuel is out to avenge the band and sets out to kill the Horde's leader Qurong who is also Hunter's father-in-law.


Meanwhile on the Earth, events are happening in parallel.ones that may change the course of future on both the worlds. Although Thomas has left the 21st century on Earth, a pharmaceutical firm has samples of his blood. But someone out there is desperate to get the blood samples to follow Hunter into the alternate world.


Now what transpires as a consequence and how the events unfold is what makes this book an interesting read. The concept of redemption is well tackled not to mention the approach that Draker took to depicting the unfolding of yet another apocalyptic event. Again I haven't read the bible so can't comment but a lot of other readers say it is an allegory to David's struggle in the gospel.


Green is considered both a sequel and a prequel bringing the series full circle. It definitely is packed with a lot of action and well worth reading at least once.

Okay read

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the triology, so when I heard Dekker had released Green, I was excited to read it. I found the book to be entertaining and enjoyable enough and I would advise anyone looking for a decent book to pass the time to read it. But it didn't seem to compare to the other three for me. It was a good book and definitely better than so many on the Christian fiction bookshelf, but just didn't reach the quality of Black, Red, and White for me.

A great wrap-up of the Circle novels

Thomas Hunter, the hero of the Circle trilogy, is watching his world fall apart. His son Samuel is rebelling, the Circle is fracturing, and the followers of Elyon are surrounded by enemies on every side. Many in the Circle are beginning to doubt Elyon's promises and question his ways. Meanwhile, in his sister Kara's world, life is also unravelling thanks to Billy Rediger and his quest to find the truth about the events that occured in Paradise, Colorado and how it's tied to Thomas Hunter. A final battle between good and evil is brewing in both worlds, and Thomas must race to save them both.
I have to admit, when I first read the description of Green and the fact that it's both the end and the beginning of Ted Dekker's Circle novels, I wondered how he would pull that off. In a way that only Dekker can, this book truly can be a starting point or an ending. Personally, I would read it as the end of the books, because it also ties up a lot of loose ends and fully brings together both the Circle novels and the Paradise novels. This book is great! I have to admit, the switching back and forth of the settings can be a little confusing at first, but it's all tied together well at the end. The symbolism is unmistakable - I actually found myself reading the last few chapters with tears in my eyes. This book is a must read for any fans of Dekker's Circle and Paradise novels!

My First Dekker Novel and Certainly Not My Last!

Thomas Hunter fell asleep in our world in our time, and woke up 2000 years into the future, well after the Apocalypse had destroyed Earth. Thomas' group, the Circle, as well as his son, are no longer completely faithful to their god, Elyon. Thomas is heartbroken and discovers he must find a way to save the world from another Apocalypse. He must trust Elyon and allow his son to follow his own heart, while Thomas makes the difficult decision to leave the Circle to save them all.

This was my first Ted Dekker novel, and will certainly not be my last. I was a little apprehensive that I could pick up the last book in the series, and read it as the first. I had no idea how Mr. Dekker would accomplish this, but he had done it brilliantly! I easily became familiar with the characters and what roles were played and by whom. The storyline was easy to follow, and like most series, enough was given so that you wouldn't know everything, but wouldn't be lost.

A classic good verses evil tale that kept me totally engrossed and made it difficult to put the book down. I thoroughly enjoyed "Green" and really look forward to reading the others in the series...."Black", "Red" and "White".

This book was supplied by Thomas Nelson Book Review Bloggers for review.