Orphaned at birth and raised by an abusive aunt and uncle, Apo flees Thelbe, where he was born, to seek his fortune in the nearby town of Blandford. A kindly blacksmith and a helpful priest become his mentors, and he eventually finds himself called to be a priest, warrior, and prophet on the magical world of IR. His world is moving into dark times, and he must warn the “kind” of his world and offer them hope for a way out. While Apo struggles to understand his calling, the charismatic Lord Hevrel grows in strength and enacts diabolical schemes to consolidate all power to himself and to fool even the wise, no matter the lives destroyed. War, plague, and famine scar the land. Inspired by Apo’s messages, the Church will fight to reach and save some. Faced with persecution and death, all the “kind” of IR will be affected. As the end of times approaches, difficult decisions will be made, good people will be martyred, and lives will be forever changed.
An Hour You Do Not Expect is filled with characters from all walks of life. Some you will root for. Others will evoke your anger. Yet others will strike a chord with your heart. All of them will be forever changed.
“Crites novel is filled with tension, betrayal, love, forgiveness, mystery, and friendship. The fight between good and evil will keep you turning the pages. As a reader of fantasy novels, I highly recommend adding this one to your library.” – Amazon Customer⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Targeted Age Group:: 12-Adult
What Inspired You to Write Your Book?
I wrote the first half of An Hour You Do Not Expect in the summer of 1993. I had been woken around midnight by a vivid dream – a grand battle between a knight struggling with his faith and a demon-possessed dragon. Now I typically don't have fantasy dreams (only one ever), and my dreams are never so lucid. I was compelled to write. I proceeded to write the first 25 pages before going back to bed. Then a few hundred pages came that summer. Then I got a real job.
Last summer, I buckled down and carved out dedicated time to write. I finished it in 5 months. My inspiration for this book, besides the dream, was to show what the end times in the Bible might look like if it was occurring in a fantasy world and see how the characters would deal with it. Characters from various walks of life and experiences will struggle with what is happening to them. Some will find hope and faith; others will find despair and sorrow.
