Archives: Testimonials

Hello. My name is Kestrel. I’m a senior in high school (18 years old), and I just recently was asked to write an essay for a college entrance application regarding a book series that really influenced me. I wrote about your series, Oracles of Fire. After finishing the essay, I decided I wanted you to read it as well. I know you’ll probably gather this from the essay, but your books have meant a lot to me and have greatly shaped my faith as well as other aspects of my life. In light of that, I wanted to say thank you–thank you for giving me hope and showing me what a relationship with the God of the Universe can look like.

I remember in sixth grade a friend of mine recommended that I read a series called Oracles of Fire by Bryan Davis. I loved reading, and she was willing to lend me the first two books, so I began the series. I didn’t realize it at the time, but this series was going to change my life. Before I get ahead of myself, I suppose I should tell you a little about me. I was raised in a Christian home and had been homeschooled before beginning to attend a Christian private school in fifth grade.

I had been baptized in early elementary school and, honestly, I considered myself a great Christian. However, if you had asked me what a personal relationship with Christ Jesus looks like, I would not have been able to answer. Also, starting about fifth grade, I had begun struggling with depression. It wasn’t particularly severe at the time, but it had been steadily growing worse ever since.

So there I was, a depressed sixth grader reading a new series, expecting nothing more than a good story. The first thing I noticed about these books was that they were obviously Christian. Biblical characters made appearances throughout the story, and prophets of the Most High spoke to the characters in songs. This didn’t bother me. It surprised me, but I had grown up reading the Bible, so I wasn’t offended or uncomfortable. The Bible just provided the setting of the story, or so I thought.

A few chapters into the first book I met a character named Sapphira Adi. As I read her story, a story of betrayal and loneliness written in blood and tears, I felt my heart go out to her. She was lonely as I was lonely—hurting in all the ways I was hurting. Yet her life was worse than mine. She had lost a best friend and twin, while I had just always lived without one. She had been abused, while I just felt unloved. In every way, she was worse off than I was. I wanted to meet her. I wanted to be able to show her that she could have a friend. I continued reading, desperate to know whether there was hope for the lonely freaks of nature in the world.

It was then that she met our Lord. I had known Christ, grown up with the Gospel, but as He revealed Himself to Sapphira, I caught a glimpse of what His love really looks like. Sapphira’s life didn’t become perfect in an instant. She still faced loneliness and depression, but now she had hope: no matter what anyone said or did, she wasn’t alone for her Lord was with her.

That summer, I was sitting alone at camp when I had my worst depression spell yet. I still remember how cold and dark the air around me felt, even though it was the middle of the day in the hot Texas summer. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. All I knew was that no one was there and if I disappeared, no one could care. I was alone.

Then, like a thin stream of cold water flowing onto parched ground, words I had memorized began to seep into my mind. When I had first read the Oracles of Fire series, I had memorized one of the songs in it, because it perfectly summarized the hope that had saved Sapphira’s life. That hot summer day, in my darkest hour, I remembered the words. It was like being jolted awake from a nightmare.

In that moment I realized that I had been depressed, something I had never realized before. Even more incredibly, I have not had another episode of depression since. That’s why I will recommend this series to anyone and everyone—I believe it saved my life. I don’t know if I would have committed suicide; but if my depression, which had begun when I was so young, had continued, it’s very possible that I would have.

So I want to leave you with the words that saved my life on that summer day: “Whither shall I go from Thy Spirit, or whither shall I flee from Thy Presence? If I ascend up into Heaven, Thou art there. If I make my bed in Hell, behold, Thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there shall Thy hand lead me and Thy right hand shall hold me. If I say surely the darkness shall cover me, even the night shall be light about me. Yea the darkness hideth naught from Thee, but the night shineth as the day, for the darkness and the light are both alike to Thee” (Psalms 139:7-12 KJV).

Thanks again for everything. It’s been an honor, truly.

Sincerely,
Kestrel
An Oracle of Fire

Dear Sir Davis,

You don’t know me, but I’m one of your readers. I love your books, especially the Echoes from the Edge. (And I haven’t read The Seventh Door yet, but I’m working on it.)

I wanted to tell you how much I love your characters. Billy and Walters are some of my favorites because they seem like me. Normal, I guess. And these are the characters that I love. The ones I cheer for whenever I read books.

Now, I know people complain about some characters (especially Bonnie) being too perfect, and I will say I can’t relate to her as well as others, but I believe such characters have a role to play in fiction as well. We, being young people, long to have roll models, and Bonnie is that for me. She’s the model that I look up to. She’s the one who models what Christ-likeness looks like in action.

Sometimes I feel like I couldn’t ever live up to the standard she sets, but I suppose that’s a good thing. It turns me back to God and the fact that I’m a work in progress. It gives me something to work toward…and with Christ all things are possible.

So thanks for your books and your characters. They’re all awesome, and you’ve inspired me to write fiction of my own with the hopes of publishing myself. Please keep pushing young adults to higher levels as you’ve done for me.

God Bless.

Sincerely,
Hannah Y.

My name is Mirjam. I am 15 years old and currently live in New Zealand.

I felt obliged to write this e-mail, to thank you for your books, they have LITERALLY inspired my love for reading.

I was maybe nine or so, and at that point in my life I still had to accompany my parents everywhere. One day, while I was sitting in the car during my little sisters net-ball game, my mum gave me a book, Raising Dragons.

As I started reading I couldn’t stop, I think I broke my personal record for reading a book the fastest, which was impressive since English is my second language. I believe my mum started to regret ever giving me that book, cause at this very moment I have about 15 of your books on my shelf, and a few hundred more from various other authors, we before the most I had was my Bible and kiddie books. Dragons in our midst, oracles of fire,  1&2 of children of the bard, starlighter and tales of starlight. I have read ALL these books multiple times, and can I just say, you’re a freaking genius!!!

I have lent these books to all my friends and they love them too. If I’d never read your books, I’d never have learnt to love books the way I do, the only downside of this is that I’ve gotten in trouble  for reading during class, though I think that the teachers were more impressed with the size of the books than the apparent disturbance to my learning curriculum

Yours sincerely

Mirjam

Dear Mr. Davis,

I must begin by saying that I am a huge fan of your books! I have most of your works on my kindle and I just finished reading “From the Mouth of Elijah.” I am truly enjoying Matt and Lauren’s story as well as revisiting the stories of past characters. I have seven siblings, (five brothers and two sisters) and I am very close to one of my brothers so, naturally I love reading stories about a brother and sister who really care for each other and act like a true family.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this! I can’t wait to continue reading your books!

God Bless you and your family!

The Seventh Door I would say has got to be one of the best books Bryan Davis has ever written so far, hands down. The content is so rich, so full of love in it’s truest and purest form. The passion, the love, the trust and the faith the characters show for God through all of their trials and triumphs has simply overwhelmed me. This book has honestly lifted up my spirit to new heights, reminding me of God’s truths and promises the world tries so hard for me to forget.

I thank Bryan Davis so much for his work, for using his God-given talents to write this book, and the many books he has written through the years, and hopefully through many more in the years to come. I thank him and I thank God so much for Bryan Davis’ books, for this book, because they have truly changed my life, and truly saved my life.

Thank you Bryan Davis; thank you.

I finished “Exodus Rising” Today. Wow. I am utterly speechless. I wish I was as eloquent as Adrian right now, but I’m not so I can’t even begin to do the book justice. Thank you, Mr. Davis, for creating such a literary masterpiece for the world to see. You give many young people, including myself, goals to strive for and examples to follow. Thank you.

Hey Mr. Davis, my name’s Adam and I’m 16. I’m almost finished with ur series Dragons in Our Midst and it’s just fantastic! I could really relate to Billy in Raisimg Dragons and especially The Candelstone and the way he changed in the strength of his faith towards the end of The Candelstone; it really affected me.

I struggled with the same sort of anger Billy struggled with and, like Billy, i didnt know how to shake it, reading these books motivated me more than anything anyone has told me. My girlfriend got me to read the first book and i was hooked! The funny thing is, she could really relate to Bonnie! And each of us are crazy similar to the two characters! Cool, huh?

Bonnie reminded me so much of my girlfriend Erin, it hit me pretty hard when Bonnie died, but then again i was that much happier when she was revived. I used to be a big Rick Riordan (i believe i spelled his name right) but i didn’t like the fact that his books tried to bring other gods, such as Greek and Egyptian gods to life instead of supporting the one true living God. The books i have read by you so far are everything and more i liked about Percy Jackson and The Kane Chronicles, but you brought God into it, bringing God ito the picture really stuck out to me and the lessons i learned about faith, trust and friendship so far through these books are just what i needed! Ok, im done… I think… Im sure you get more emails and fanmail than you can read in a day, so i tried to make this short. I believe i failed at that but i pray u get the chance to read this and know i’m thankful!

By the way, I’m sorry for any typos, my phone screen is shattered and i would write you and hand written letter, but my handwriting is inadequate. Thank you and God bless you!