Book Review: Soul’s Gate, Book 1 of the Wellspring series by James Rubart

Title: Soul’s Gate

Author: James L. Rubart

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Genre(s): Christian, Fiction, Spiritual, Christian Fantasy, Christian Mystery & Suspense
Suspense Thrillers

Print Length: 400 Pages

Release Date: November 5, 2012

The premise of Soul’s Gate presupposes the ability to travel inside another person’s soul to engage in spiritual warfare and fight for their freedom and healing. As the characters learn how to accomplish this, they journey through their own past and confront their deepest wounds. The main characters are well developed and relatable. Each has an intimate relationship with God and a willingness to give everything for Christ.

The plot had plenty of suspense and edge-of-your-seat action, but Soul’s Gate serves as a reminder that the spirit world is real, not an illusion. The author draws a fascinating link between quantum physics, faith, and the spiritual realm. 

One of my favorite scenes is called “the naming scene.” In this scene, the characters receive new names from the Holy Spirit, sort of like how Jesus renamed Simon to Peter, or Saul to Paul. It was incredibly powerful. I wanted to climb inside a book and have that experience myself.

Another favorite scene happens early on in the narrative. It shows one character talking to another about the Holy Spirit.

Reece stooped and picked up a leaf lying on the platform, held it up, and pointed to a drop of dew that hung from the end. ‘This is the amount of water most people who follow Jesus tap into. But that’–Reece pointed at the falls–‘is the kind of power available when we fully tap into the Spirit.”

James L. Rubart, Soul’s Gate

Filled with examples of healing, prophecy, visions, and teleportation, this book presents a Christianity few believe possible and even fewer experience. The author readily admits traveling into another’s soul is pure fiction, but it does mirror the spiritual reality of intercessory prayer. I saw many parallels between these ideas and the very real healing detailed in the non-fiction book, Unbound.

Whenever I’m asked to name my favorite books and authors, James L. Rubart and Soul’s Gate are always near the top of the list. I recommend this book without hesitation or reservation. It will have stronger appeal among believers than nonbelievers, especially those who place a greater emphasis on the active work of the Holy Spirit.

It’s an excellent read, with profound characters and a challenging message.