Dark Wanderings

Title:	Dark Wanderings
Cover Artist:	Don Semora
Genre:	Christian, Scifi, Survival, Adventure
Series:	The Offworld Chronicles
Publication Date:	August 2020
Media Types:	Print (paperback) and Ebook
ISBN:	TBA
Preceded By:	The White Mountains
Followed By:	Troubled Waters

Dark Wanderings is the fifth book in The Offworld Chronicles novel series. This book continues the journey of Simon and his indomitable team through the White Mountains on their way to the Great Sea and the numerous, exciting adventures that wait for them there.

Back Cover Blurb

Deadly swamps, treacherous mountains and murderous enemies, more numerous than one can count, danger continually threatens Simon's team from all sides as they continue to press forward through the White Mountain. And the further they go, the darker things become. But, that darkness doesn't fall entirely on them, as changes are unfolding within the Syndicate that threatens to rip it apart from within and bring about positive changes on the tiny planet of Offworld that no one ever expected.

Summary

The story starts out with a quick flashback to several months earlier, and what became of Section 9, and why they suddenly went quiet. The story then returns to the present and focuses in on four men, royals by birth, who Garloond, Maggy, Pehkek and Fallon are sent to protect. After a brief time together, they drop them off with the Nandar. Meanwhile, Simon and his team encounter Meltok who pretends to be nice and personable, but is deep down is very blood thirsty and malevolent. He takes them to The City of Mists, where he betrays them, and tries to slaughter Simon's team, but fails when Angus and his wolves show up.

Elsewhere, Susan's team enters Renata, and have a run-in with Chester Westman before Adam and Martha rescue them, resupply the team, and send them on their way. As they do, Maul Ratinar, the Chief Director, and several other groups either begin, or continue to unfold their individual plans for the race, both good and bad, including Adramelech and his demon brotherhood. After escaping the Deadly Slues, Simon's team meets Lukas in a small village and has their horses looked after before continuing the race again.

Shortly after they discover that Yurg is now listed as a racer, and that all of their profiles are reset and blank. Back in Morten Weyr Narond is dying and will soon pass. Maggy comes to be by her grandfather's side in his last moments, and brings Garloond with her, which ends up causing several awkward moments for both of them, especially with Maggy's mom, Ophena. At this same time Shuman is made the new Weyr Master in Narond's place. Simon's team soon catch a ride along a river, only to be shipwrecked halfway down to the sea. They all survive, and then resume their journey.

They soon reached a village along the trail and stop briefly to talk with the villagers. However, as they do, soldiers of Kaspar arrive and ransack the village for food, resources, and other things, even though the villagers had nothing left. Seeing this, Birash confronts the soldiers, after which a fight breaks out. The battle is brief, and everyone from Simon's team survives, even though over half the Kasparian soldiers are killed. Simon's team then ministers to the villagers, many of whom become saved after seeing God manifest, through Simon's witnessing, food, supplies, healing, and more.

Kaspar then sends reinforcements, but they are swiftly defeated by Angus and his wolves, who show up and provide protection to Simon's team, and the village. After being divinely showered with gifts, blessing, and restitution for all that was taken from them, the village encourages Simon and his team to tell the other villages the good news that he'd shared with them. So for over a week after this Simon's team moves from village to village, town to town, sharing the gospel wherever they go. Having completed their brief missionary tour of Kaspar, Simon's team returns to the trail and begins heading west again only to come up against the impassable shores of The Great Sea where they find themselves trapped, and unable to continue.

Awards and Reviews

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