Get 50% off Catholic Books & eBooks

Discover the Next Tolkien & O'Connor

Join Here for FREE to Never Miss a Deal

Find new favorites & Support Catholic Authors

Genre

Biblical fiction, Fantasy, Graphic Novel

Audience

All Ages

Author’s Worldview

Catholic

Year Published

2020

Themes

vocation, trust, faith, good versus evil, demons, obedience, repentance, the Bible, Nineveh, Atlantis

 

Reviewed by

Dr. Lisa Theus

What if Jonah had traveled through the underworld while trapped inside the whale?

Jonah and the whale is a familiar Biblical story: a young prophet, chosen by God to warn Nineveh about its evil ways, tries to run from his calling and ends up in the belly of a whale. Properly rebuked, he fulfills his duty to God and warns the city, inspiring the people to convert. In this reimagination of the Biblical narrative, inspired by the translation written by J.R.R. Tolkien, Jonah’s journey with the whale is given a fantastical twist. He finds himself in Atlantis, also known in this version as Sheol, a place for the dead to wait, where Jonah encounters his Biblical forebearers such as Adam, Eve, and Abraham. Through this meeting, he better understands his mission and his God—and the dramatic battle of good versus evil that has raged since the uprising of Satan.

This adaptation is utterly charming. It starts in the manner of a traditional epic – in the middle of things, with Nineveh on the brink of a terrible decision, and God visiting Jonah apparently not for the first time. It reads like a mix of the Bible and Lord of the Rings with a dash of superhero action for good measure. And our protagonist Jonah has that roguish personality that endears the reader to him and makes his feelings relatable despite the fantastical setting. Who among us hasn’t asked God “Why me? Go away. I’m not good enough!”

The interaction between Jonah and other Biblical figures in Sheol is not only intriguing, it also makes the events of the Bible more personal. These prophets of old become people who can offer support to others who struggle. Although that’s a concept we know as Catholics – that’s why we read the Bible and pray for the intercession of Saints – sometimes a fresh look helps to bring that reality to life.

I absolutely recommend this book to all readers, but especially Catholic boys and young men. Protestant readers may also like it – provided the reader doesn’t mind a little Biblical fantasy. If artistic liberties with the Bible upset you, then this wouldn’t be a good read. And, of course, if Biblical lessons upset you, then this wouldn’t be a good read. Secular readers will probably prefer other adventure stories.

But for the rest of us who enjoy drama, action, humor, and spiritual truths, Jonah’s Voyage to Atlantis is sure to please.

Get Catholic Books & eBooks for as little as $1 to FREE

Why Reading Fiction Made Me a Better Catholic

How reading fiction became a crucial step in my conversion to the Catholic Church.

Mandy Lamb and the Full Moon By Corinna Turner 

A human-sheep hybrid’s friendships with a friendly vampire and a very angsty house-wolf are tested in this story that explores nature versus nurture. 

Leaf by Niggle…by J.R.R. Tolkien

Leaf by Niggle isn’t nearly as well-known as LOTR and The Hobbit, but it is as beautiful and moving in its own way.

Finnian and the Seven Mountains (Vol.2) By, Philip Kosloski and Michael Lavoy

Can one map be the key to stopping the Viking Invasion?

How the Dragon Awards Could Uplift Catholic Fiction

If you don’t like current state of mainstream publishing and wish there were more widely available alternatives, this is your chance to help make that a reality.

If Wishes Were Dragons By Karina Fabian

What happens when LARPing becomes a lot more real than a group of D&D players can handle?

Saint Michael: Above the 38th Parallel by Shanti Guy

The true story of St. Michael, the original punch-communism-in-the-face superhero

Desperate Forest: The Forest Tales Series, Book 1 By Cece Louise

This RomCom fantasy adventure explores a princess discovering the realities of life outside of her kingdom and what true love is really made of.

Defend the Tabernacle by Deacon Patrick Augustin Jones

Catherine and Bernard get whisked away to do battle on the Soulscape, where the true nature of things is revealed.

Shadowmancer by G.P. Taylor

A dark fantasy along the lines of Revelation itself.

Where to begin with J. R. R. Tolkien?

Beyond the adventure, the way to read The Lord of the Rings is not as an allegory but as a meditation on the human Story we are each caught up in, and in which we each have our part to play, our temptations to resist, and our task to accomplish.

Best Books of 2022

Our favorite book finds of the year!

Honor at Stake by Declan Finn

If you’re looking for a vampire-romance with a truly unique twist look no further.

Murder Most Picante by Karina Fabian

The government can’t decide whether he is an illegal immigrant or invasive species. God expects a respectable dragon to find justice for others. This Dragon is not having a good time of it!

Champion of Valdeor by Sandralena Hanley

Fed up with modern 1st person, present tense narratives bursting with ‘hip’ characters? Look no further!

The Eternal Spring By, Phillip MacArthur

A fairy tale about faith, hope, and the destruction they protect us from.

Ironcraft by Pedro Gabriel

Giants war in this Genesis-style mythological fantasy.

Nightside The Long Sun by Gene Wolfe

A groundbreaking classic that conveys the practical need for ritual and a Priesthood to a secular world.

Crusader St. Tommy NYPD Book 5 By: Declan Finn

Detective Nolan embarks on a Crusade against demonic sex traffickers trying to raise a demon.

Nun of My Business by Karina Fabian

When a nun hires Vern to prove that a new pop song is evil, the dragon suspects his new client might be hiding something.