The Gift and the Defender (Lumen Legends, Book I)
With a head full of dreams, Adam Malloy, a young man from a small town, moves to New York City. There he discovers he has a remarkable gift: the ability to change the world with his mind. But is he capable of reshaping reality without turning his gift into a curse?
In the final days of a bloody war with the Malum, Michaelis, a Lumen villager, shows he has what his land desperately needs: courage. His service to the king puts him at the center of a changing world. Is it too much to rely on one man?
What people are saying about The Gift and the Defender
“This first novel by Bramwell is an exercise in human nature. Time, place, and cultures change, but a sinful human nature always remains. We are all sinners in need of grace and the Light of Christ… This reviewer’s recent reading of this novel was a joy. The author has a pleasant and unique voice, respectful of those who enjoy Lewis and Tolkien, but not imitative.”
Lutheran Book Review
Read the full LBR review and interview
“Bramwell uses beautiful description and vivid imagery to connect the reader to the story and the story to reality—the realities that too many of us take for granted or discount as fantasy. Bramwell instead uses his created world to describe the life of faith. Fans of Tolkein and Lewis will feel right at home. Those who know the Bible well will pick up on plenty of insightful symbols used in the plot. Any reader who enjoys science fiction or fantasy genres will connect quickly with the characters and join them on their journeys.”
Lisa M. Clark
Author of The Messengers: Discovered
“What happens when you mix allegory and adventure with fantasy and futuristic drama? Bramwell’s book, The Gift and the Defender. It is both a gift and a defense. It is meant to be unwrapped, read, and enjoyed, like a childhood Christmas present, offering the reader greater delight the further one dives into its pages. And this gift – a narrative glimpse into reality and a biblical worldview woven into a well-crafted story – is also a defense. The Gift and the Defender is an apologetic that is sorely needed, a tonic in a world drunk on the lies of postmodernism. It is a marvelous example of a narrative and imaginative apologetic, a story which points to the greatest story of all time.”
Rev. Sam Schuldheisz
Pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Huntington Beach, CA
Contributor at 1517: The Legacy Project
“This is a great book. When it becomes available, get it. I can see a family sitting together each evening and taking it a chapter at a time. Wonderful! Well done, Tyrel Bramwell!”
Rev. Christopher Thoma
Pastor of Our Savior Lutheran Evangelical Church in Hartland, MI
Author of The Angels’ Portion (Volume I and II), Ten Ways to Kill a Pastor, The Homiletical Canvas, and Feeding the Lambs.
“When I was singing A Mighty Fortress… I thought about the Malum when I sang, ‘if devils all the world would fill.’… Great stuff! I LOVED the names. Very clever… I was hooked, line and sinker once the gift was revealed! ”
Mary Moerbe
Author of How Can I Help: God’s Calling for Kids and Whisper, Whisper: Learning about Church. Co-author of Family Vocation, and Blessed.”
Read Moerbe’s full review on her website.
“Bramwell offers the rare combination of imaginative, substantive, and fun.”
Ray Keating
Author of the Pastor Stephen Grant Novels
“The Gift and the Defender is a superb blend of medieval fantasy crashing into modern reality. You will enjoy the rich depth of story and the journey as it unpacks and then builds to the end – but not the conclusion.”
Joshua Rothe
Author of Stitched Crosses: Crusade
“This is a fun and somewhat unexpected novel from a young author… For nearly 3/4 [of the] book, I thought that he was telling [two] separate stories: one set in contemporary New York, and another set in a vaguely Narnia-esque realm. The stories are linked, but I won’t tell you how or why. Finding out for yourself is part of the fun. I enjoyed walking with Bramwell as he used fiction to explore some of the “BIG QUESTIONS.” This is one of the gifts of the various fiction styles: allowing us to ask questions that we might not ask otherwise.”
Lisa
Goodreads user
“Bramwell’s first piece in the Lumen Legends Series is a wonderful introduction… he certainly paints a wonderful picture with details that are top-notch. He weaves a wonderful story that includes a past, present, and future world that is otherworldly. It follows two main characters, one that you would think was in the realm of knights of the middle ages with one that starts in the present and then transforms into a horrifying post-apocalyptic future where the world is turned upside down… It is a wonderful start to a series that should continue to develop well into the future.”
Rev. Jason Toombs
Pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Downs, KS
Rev. Tyrel Bramwell 