Ain't No Messiah

Tales of the Blessed and Broken, Book 1

De: Mark Tullius

Narrado por: Ric Chetter

A dark and disturbing supernatural suspense.

The coming-of-age story of Joshua Campbell, a man of death-defying miracles, whose father proclaimed him as the second coming of Christ.

This psychological thriller takes us through Joshua’s childhood of physical and emotional abuse at the hands of his earthly father, and into adulthood as Joshua attempts to break away from his family and church in order to find happiness.

The entire world is watching as Joshua prepares to finally show the world who he really is.

Buy the first book in the five-book series Tales of the Blessed and Broken today.

©2019 Mark Tullius (P)2020 Mark Tullius

Highly Original Coming-of-Age & Great Storytelling

Ain’t No Messiah is a coming-of-age story with psychological depth and supernatural suspense that explores the damage caused when a child’s identity is built around someone else’s delusion and manipulation. In this story, a father’s indoctrination of his son to believe he’s the “Messiah” powerfully showcases how parental belief, emotional manipulation, and unmet expectations can distort a young person’s understanding of self-worth, masculinity, and purpose. It's important to know that this book doesn’t focus on faith or prophecy but instead is character-driven and is a fascinating journey of self-discovery and peeling back the layers of programming and trauma.

The story follows Joshua Campbell, whose father, Charles, preaches that Joshua is the Messiah after he survived a near-death experience at birth. His father reinforces the idea through public church services, manipulating others, and controlling Joshua’s mother, all while keeping Joshua and his brother Paul extremely sheltered and disconnected from the real world—until it becomes all too much and Josh and Paul run away to seek family in Georgia. From there, Joshua’s life takes on many unexpected turns, leading him from carnival worker to unconventional jobs to Las Vegas and having multiple terrifying near-death experiences (and body mutilations) that ultimately make him and readers wonder if he is indeed superhuman!

Joshua’s journey of self-discovery is the real heart of the story—he’s a compelling, flawed, impulsive, and powerful protagonist. Much of the first half delves into Joshua’s childhood, giving readers a clear picture of the abuse he endured. His relationships with his father, mother, and brother are all different and add texture to the story. As he enters adolescence, he begins to internalize his father’s beliefs in different ways—sometimes feeling a sense of entitlement from the admiration they bring & other times feeling shame for failing to live up to the image his father has conveyed of him.

Despite all of his father’s control tactics, Joshua’s innate curiosity and determination push him to break rules and develop secret friendships. Unfortunately, his warped belief system and naivety lead him to be dismissive, defensive, and emotionally reckless in friendships and romantic situations—until he's gone through a reckoning and is an adult and a father himself. Readers will quickly become emotionally invested in his journey of self-discovery and personal growth!

The pacing of the story is a bit uneven, but it perfectly mirrors the ups and downs of Joshua’s life. After leaving home, Joshua faces several near-death experiences—some unexpected, others stemming from poor choices shaped by his sheltered and abusive upbringing. The middle section includes a lot of Joshua’s internal monologue and repeated social failures, each helping him grow and evolve. In the second half, there are a few surprises, including reappearances of characters from Joshua’s past that cause him more turmoil and add tension to the story. The last 30 percent has quicker pacing, as Joshua begins to pull away from repeated mistakes and takes better charge of his life and stands up to those who’ve been manipulating him, which is satisfying and makes his character arc quite pronounced! The story reaches its climax with a dramatic confrontation and some of its most exhilarating scenes, finishing with a cliffhanger that will keep readers wanting more. This book is marketed as the first book of "The Blessed and Broken" series, so hopefully a sequel will be forthcoming!

NARRATION:

The audiobook Ain’t No Messiah is read by Ric Chetter, a longtime radio and broadcast professional and voice actor!

Chetter gives a standout performance as protagonist Joshua Campbell. The story is told from Joshua’s first-person POV, and Chetter portrays him with a strong, grounded voice that has an undertone of introspection and curiosity, perfectly capturing the character. In the early chapters of Joshua’s childhood and his father’s "Messiah" proclamations, Chetter adds a mixture of fear and forced confidence to Joshua's voice, amplifying the psychological manipulation he’s experiencing and helping listeners become emotionally invested in his story early on. As Joshua grows up, Chetter adds subtle shifts in his tone to convey his adolescent frustration, self-doubt, and bitterness—and it gives the audiobook a very cinematic “coming of age” vibe!

Chetter also provides distinct voices and personalities for all the characters—and there are a lot! Joshua’s father, Charles, in particular, is given a charming yet firm voice, making it easy to understand how he manipulates those around him. Female characters, including Joshua’s mother and romantic interests, sound just as convincing as the male characters.

Chetter’s pacing is another strength. Throughout the ten-hour runtime, he modulates his speed to match what's happening in Joshua's life. Even when the story slows in the middle, Chetter’s lively voice and acting skills ensure listeners stay fully engaged. The final chapters, packed with tense confrontations and action, are especially well executed and keep listeners hanging on every word!