Jesusfreakhideout.com: S.G. Campbell, "Gates of Eternity" Book Review

JFH Staff Book Review

S.G. Campbell
Gates of Eternity

Genre: Christian Fantasy
Page Count: 377 Pages
Street Date: September 28, 2023

If you made a mistake so heinous and shocking, could you ever find forgiveness? Would you even want it? These questions swirl at the heart of Gates of Eternity, the latest fantasy novel from S.G. Campbell. Apparently picking up from a previous book (Spire of Tyranny), the story follows Kadmiel, a warrior fresh off of murdering his former rival and friend, Eli. The reason for that act is complicated. Kadmiel had allowed himself to be possessed by a powerful sorceress named Lilith. After Eli called Lilith out of Kadmiel and into his own body, Kadmiel struck down his companion in an effort to banish Lilith forever, though in the act Eli is also lost. Wracked by guilt, Kadmiel takes it upon himself to burn every trace of sorcery in the land. It's a mad quest, but one he's willing to burden himself with to make some atonement for his acts.

In addition to this "present day" storyline, every three chapters contain "The Zaan Chronicles," which give backstory to the original war between Lilith and the High King Zaan. Not only do these Chronicles fill in some history, they also explain or foreshadow things that are happening in the present day plot. If you're going to do dual timelines, this is a great way to utilize them. Another nice added touch is that the pages of the Chronicle chapters are a different color, as if you're reading older parchment. This adds a good visual distinction for the reader and helps avoid confusion. In some ways, I found the exploits of Zaan more interesting than the adventures of Kadmiel. This is in part due to the more streamlined plot with Zaan where Kadmiel's arc is ever-expanding. In other words, Kadmiel's story feels episodic, like short stories strung together with a common goal, while Zaan's chapters feel like a cohesive novella running in the midst of the collection.

If this is your first time stepping into Campbell's world, it's a fairly simple one to pick up. The island this adventure takes place on is constituted by different regions that are loosely tied together as the Tetrad Union. Although there's no map in the book to give the reader a visual picture, it's an easy one to visualize nonetheless. You have the Inner Kingdom in the center and, surrounded on the four corners of the map, you have the different regions that have a particular topography to them (like the "Northern Marshes" or the "Southern Shores"). The world may not feel as complex or lived-in like, say, Tolkien's Middle Earth, but the fact that a clueless reader can easily pick up the geography is a plus.

In addition to the physical world, we are introduced to the afterlife of this universe. Aegenthaus is a cold, desolate place that comes off as a mix between purgatory and hell. When a person dies, they start off here and can either continue their existence there, try to enter the titular Gates (if they can get past the Accuser), or surrender themselves to some desperate emotion and become "Consumed". The Gates lead to a more heavenly afterlife in Eldravein, where it's warmer, brighter, and overall more joyful of an existence. People who come here while yet living will have their bodies heal faster. These Nether regions (which occupy a surprising amount of plot space) are in many ways more interesting than their physical counterpart. Campbell does a good amount of world-building in both the physical and spiritual places, naturally establishing the rules and expectations. There are some questions that get left unanswered (like, what happens to the Consumed? When Eldravein is threatened, can the people there get "killed"? If so, what happens then?), but these are minor hiccups in the overall enjoyment of the novel.

The characters who inhabit this world may not be the most three-dimensional you can find, but they are interesting in their own rights. Kadmiel's arc of going from murderer seeking redemption to warrior with a righteous cause is compelling and feels fresh. His companion through most of his journey, Idella, is a spunky young warrior harboring a grudge against Kadmiel and (predictably) coming around to like him. There are a few other side characters in the physical world, but they don't make as deep of an impression as our protagonists. Even the main villain in the physical realm, the mysterious Veiled Assailant, fails to make much of a splash outside of his explosive introduction.

Just as Zaan's Chronicles held more interest plot-wise, the past storyline also holds more colorful characters. Zaan is a young king trying to find his way, his advisor is likeable, his underlings a powder keg who prove to be unreliable. Lilith is the true big bad of the book, and she is a well-written villain who feels dangerous every scene she's in. Her motivation borders the line of being understandable and yet reprehensible at the same time. The tension between her and Zaan add to the spice that makes the past storyline more intriguing.

As mentioned in the opening paragraph, the theme of this book is forgiveness, and Kadmiel isn't the only one who needs it. One of the interesting aspects of Aegenthaus is that the people stuck there feel they have some sort of debt they can't let go. This is the reason why they can't cross over into Eldravein. They, like Kadmiel, feel they owe a debt of some sort, and they can't see how they can possibly pay it off. Kadmiel is fortunate in that he comes across people who show him forgiveness. It is this that brings him back from the brink of the abyss. These conversations are poignant when they happen, even if they often end somewhat awkwardly. This strong theme (and all the little ways Campbell backs it up) help make the novel more engaging and rich.

When reading Christian-based fantasy, it's easy to immediately draw conclusions to either Tolkien's Lord of the Rings or Lewis' Narnia. That's often not a fair starting point. For Gates of Eternity, it lands somewhere between the two. It's not as developed or self-serious as Tolkien's work, nor is it as carefree and light as Narnia. The writing is modern and the dialogue is colloquial, making it more akin to Peterson's Wingfeather books (though for adults). Comparisons aside, S.G. Campbell's second novel stands on its own as a worthwhile fantasy book. You could probably skip its predecessor, given that the first two chapters are chock full of exposition, but reading the first book will likely enhance the second.

- Review date: 10/17/23, written by John Underdown of Jesusfreakhideout.com

Publisher: Independently published

Page Count: 377 Pages

Street Date: September 28, 2023

Buy It: Amazon.com (Paperback)

Buy It: Amazon.com (Hardcover)

Buy It: Amazon.com (Kindle)

Jesus Freak Hideout (John Underdown): For those unfamiliar with your work, what's a little bit of your background?

S.G. Campbell: Let's see, those unfamiliar with my work, that's upwards of 8 billion... Hello strangers! My name is Scott, I work at my local church, and I write books on the side. I'm pumping them out at a blistering speed of about one project per six years, so I'm a furiously fast blur of activity. My debut series is called "A Rift in Reality," book 1 is titled "Spire of Tyranny" and book 2 is "Gates of Eternity." I appreciate you reviewing the new book. I call it simultaneously a standalone novel, a sequel, and a prequel. These books are for fans of fantasy, and are intended to resonate purely on a story level, while also weaving biblical themes and spiritual truths into the allegorical construction of the adventure.

JFH (John): What are some of the works that you've been the most influenced by?

S.G.: All the classic examples such as Lord of the Rings and Chronicles of Narnia, which I read with my dad during our homeschool reading lessons. The Eragon series also left an impression on me, especially considering that the author put his first book out before even reaching adulthood, which inspired me to start writing at a young age. One of my more obscure influences would be Bionicle books and comics, which is a surprisingly rich storyline surrounding a brand of buildable LEGO action figures. And I think it's no secret that some Ted Dekker DNA made its way into my stories as well. Outside of books, I am influenced by well-written shows. One example would be Cobra Kai, which in my opinion has high highs and low lows, but one thing is for sure... they know how to build tension! Sometimes all it takes is for Character A to walk into the same room as Character B, and you know it's about to go down. Some intense character confrontations just like that take center stage in Gates of Eternity.

JFH (John): What inspired you to write this book/series?

S.G.: My dad led each of our family members through a process which took into account three core aspects of our personhood: our talents, interests, and values. This discovery process was meant to result in an understanding of how God uniquely equipped us. My result was "God made you to be a writer," so I got to work on my first book.

JFH (John): World-building is key in sci-fi and fantasy. How did you go about crafting the Tetrad Union?

S.G.: I tried to strike a balance between a world that is rich and interesting, but also one that is not overly complicated, with hard to pronounce locations or geographic details that are difficult to remember. What I landed on was quite simple-an island with four settlements at each of the cardinal directions, and a central place between them all from where the High King rules. Each of the cities sort of have their own biome as well, which makes it interesting for my characters to adapt to their changing surroundings as they travel from the swampy Northern Marshes over to the icy Eastern Peaks, for example. The land also has a deep history which I outlined far outside the bounds of an individual book, and those past events influence the world's inhabitants and come up in conversation often. If you read Spire of Tyranny, you may feel as if you were dropped into Episode IV of Star Wars, in a lived-in world where there is much to discover in the past and future. Gates of Eternity takes some of those loose historical threads and weaves them together with the advancing plotline.

JFH (John): I found the "afterlife" of this universe to be a fascinating place. What inspired this? Is Aegenthaus a stand-in for purgatory?

S.G.: The titular Gates of Eternity bisect two lands, Aegenthaus and Eldravein, opposite halves of the afterlife. Aegenthaus is a cold, barren wasteland and Eldravein is a warm, communal country teeming with light and life. Not every aspect is a perfect parallel to our Christian understanding of eternal life, such as the fact that death instantly transports you to Aegenthaus. From there, a spirit will wander and either make a home in the miserable land, or will choose to approach the Gate and face the Accuser who stands guard. Some readers are taken aback that the entrance to paradise is blocked by the Accuser, who does everything he can to make you feel unworthy to enter. I believe our own spiritual enemy is real, and he does not play fair. This novel may help a reader evaluate the seriousness of their standing in relation to the afterlife, and not take for granted the power of the forces in opposition.

JFH (John): Some of the scenes in this book felt drawn from personal experience (such as the more emotional exchanges between characters). Is that the case or are you a very empathetic person?

S.G.: You are right that the book is full of emotionally complex conversations and deeply meaningful interactions, whether those are between sworn enemies, former friends that have experienced betrayal, and even loved ones in the throes of familial loss. Thankfully, I have had to experience very little of this in my personal life. I have been blessed. What I set out to do was essentially explore the gospel in a fictional setting, pushed to its limits. We start on page 1 with Kadmiel coming to grips with the fact that he is a murderer. Is it possible for a killer to be redeemed? If so, what would that person attempt to do to earn their way back? What kind of realizations and revelations would they have along the way? How would the victim's family members react? I tried to create characters that respond realistically to these life-shattering scenarios. There's a lot of humanity explored, so I appreciate that you found those parts relatable or realistic.

JFH (John): Forgiveness is a major theme in this novel. I found the aspects of debt and being "Consumed" in Aegenthaus particularly clever. What drew you to wanting to explore these ideas?

S.G.: Forgiveness is everything, in real life and in this book. What sets the hero apart from the villain is that one learns from their mistakes, and the other does not. Kadmiel represents us-humanity, and I wanted to take on the challenge of bringing a broken man from the depths of depravity as far along the path of redemption as possible. He is working out his eligibility to enter Eldravein, all the while the threat of being Consumed is real. Inhabitants of Aegenthaus who were set on a trajectory during life away from humility, away from repentance, towards shame or anger or bitterness, they will eventually be turned into an unmoving, unbreathing depiction of their greatest vice. I think we are always becoming more like Jesus or less like Him, and those tiny decisions made every day turn us one degree towards that goal or off the path.

JFH (John): Do you have more stories planned in this universe? What's next for Kadmiel and company?

S.G.: When my head hits the pillow every night, I lay awake thinking about the Tetrad Union and its heroes Kadmiel, Idella, Eli, Abner, Rayorden, and the rest. I'm dreaming up one more installment in the trilogy, a book that will complete the saga and bring an immense amount of resolution in the end, and it will be a wild ride to get to that conclusion.

JFH (John): What are the best ways people can support you in your writing endeavors?

S.G.: You can go to my website or social media-oh wait, I don't have either of those! There are three huge favors I could ask. #1) Read 2.5 chapters for free on the Amazon website/app, where you get a big preview of the digital (Kindle) version. If you're not hooked after that sample, it's on me! #2) If you are intrigued by the book, consider putting it on your Christmas list or gifting it to the avid readers in your life. #3) I do have a Facebook group open, and we're launching a book club style read-through of Gates of Eternity beginning on January 1st, where I'll be sharing behind-the-scenes info along the way. Come join the conversation! It's going to be a great time.

JFH (John): Finally, a more silly question: if you were in a battle, would you rather be at the frontlines with a sword or up on a wall with a bow and arrow?

S.G.: I have never been in anything that even resembled a fight, so I apologize in advance to my brothers in arms. I would have to opt for the projectile and keep my distance, and pray that I land more hits on Lilith's cult of sorcerers rather than my brave fellow soldiers in the Tetrad Union army.