The Sword by Bryan M. Litfin
(Chiveis Trilogy, Book 1)
Released: April 30, 2010 | Genre: Fantasy, Christian Fiction
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Four hundred years from now a deadly virus and nuclear war have destroyed the modern world, and those who survived have returned to a medieval-like age of swords, horses, and feudal kingdoms. Yet the breathtaking mountain realm of Chiveis lives in peace, protected from the outside world and obedient to its own gods. Though this noble civilization seems to flourish, Christianity has been forgotten—until a mysterious book is found.
When Teo, an army scout, and Ana, the beautiful daughter of a farmer, discover an ancient Bible, everything begins to change in Chiveis. As old beliefs give way to new faith, persecution rises and the kingdom’s darkest secrets begin to surface. Will the new discovery be the end of Teo and Ana? Or will they find a way to bring the God of the Ancients back to the land of Chiveis?
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The Sword’s fictional world was inspired by Litfin wanting the freedom to invent history rather than be constrained by it. He did so by setting the story in a post-apocalyptic future where society has reverted to a medieval way of life and Christianity has been forgotten. In which, the discovery of an ancient Bible could change everything, just as it did in real-life.
REVIEW
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ☆ ☆
Read it for the concept. 🤔💡
Just a heads up: I started reading this book during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. I knew the story was set hundreds of years in the future after society had collapsed, but I didn’t realize the collapse was caused by a pandemic. So if you plan to read this soon, the prologue might feel a bit awkward.
I have mixed feelings about the approach to religion, especially how the characters handle it. I like that they question their own beliefs, but I dislike how quickly they blindly accept another faith. In a loose way, it reflects real-world attitudes toward religion. The difference is that Christianity has been around for centuries, so people grow up aware of it and its legacy, making acceptance easier.
In The Sword, however, Christianity goes from discovery to full devotion in just days. Characters develop complete faith in a God they just learned about from a random book while questioning the religion they’ve followed their whole lives. I’m not saying quick conversions can’t happen, people do convert all the time, but this rapid shift doesn’t feel natural.
As I said, if you read this book, read it for the concept. The characters are bland and forgettable. Aside from the main character, I struggled to keep them straight.
The world itself is fascinating: a post-apocalyptic future where humanity has reverted to a more primitive sword and shield way of life, yet remnants of today’s cities and structures still remain. The problem is there’s very little world-building, so you rarely get to explore or learn about this intriguing setting.
Where The Sword really shines is its central idea. It’s fascinating to imagine what would happen if a ravaged society discovered a forgotten religion from centuries ago. It’s made even more interesting because, as readers, we already know Christianity and understand its significance.
