Cephas returns in this epic sequel to Divinity Dawns bringing to life for the first time the interpretation of scripture from the book of Revelations in the Holy Bible. He has lived in the Middle East, it is his destiny to fulfill the pledge. Join him for this epic voyage that takes you from the streets of Riyadh through London and Douala to downtown Shenzhen in China.
Eli is the second book in a trilogy that began five years ago with the book Divinity Dawns. It follows the journey of the hero Cephas as he discards his past and travels to Saudi Arabia in pursuit of his inheritance. Things are not as they appear to be for Cephas as he soon discovers. He is at the fringes of uncertainty in his personal life and relationship. Broken and despondent, camaraderie and his faith in God are his only hope for survival in the Kingdom. His Christian faith is put to the test in a vibrant Muslim community compounded by the instability of the war in the Middle East. However his odyssey into the Kingdom is only the beginning of a mysterious path that is waiting to be unraveled. This path begins in the shape of Salem, Cephas’s great grandfather allowing him no choice but to relive moments of his ancestors existence.
Salem’s life is espied in the late 19th and early 20th century during the settling of the first Basel missionary in West Africa. His story is related delving into a period when the first settlers of Christianity moved into Africa at the height of slavery. Salem’s journey is pursued from his origins as a pagan to his acceptance of Christianity and indoctrination as a priest in Basel, Switzerland. There is further enlightenment to the mysterywhen he finally relinquishes his mantle of faith down generations to finally be received by Cephas.
With the main pieces of the puzzle now in place the scene is set in the Far East for Cephas to fulfill the ultimate mission that emblems the word Elias had always been his desire from the beginning. His inheritance and his ancestry through Salem are all the foundation he needs to build upon unveiling some of the mysteries behind the scriptures of the Holy Bible. Cephas takes upon a spiritual body and becomes a guide in the busy streets of Shenzhen, China where he unravels parts of the scriptures that have remained a mystery for centuries.
After this, Cephas moves to the outskirts of the Athens where he sets the scene to the introduction for a grand finale in the third book of the trilogy.
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Excerpt
‘It is your priesthood!’ he said.
Cephas had accepted his anointment. It had taken 1000 years to do this! It began in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia where his Christian faith is put to the test in a vibrant Muslim community compounded by the instability of the war in the Middle East. However his odyssey into the Kingdom is only the beginning of a mysterious path that is waiting to be unraveled. This path begins in the shape of Salem, Cephas’s great grandfather allowing him no choice but to relive moments of his ancestors existence.
Salem’s life is espied in the late 19th and early 20th century during the settling of the first Basel missionary in West Africa. His journey is pursued from its origins as a pagan to his acceptance of Christianity and indoctrination as a priest in Basel, Switzerland.
‘Then let no one stand in your way!’ he exclaimed.
With the main pieces of the puzzle now in place the scene is set in the Far East, China for Cephas to fulfill the ultimate mission that emblems the word Eli and unveil some of the mysteries behind the scriptures of the Holy Bible.
Professional Reviews
Pacific Book Review by Gary Sorkin
Beautifully written in a first person format, Leslie Musoko brought me into the mind and thoughts of characters of immense spirituality seeking their destiny, in a masterpiece composition, ELI. Revelations between reality and the spirit world conflict within their minds, as his novel brought me into the depths of human awareness. Skillfully written using multiple dimensions of thoughts, feelings and actions of his protagonist, combined with the minutia of detail Leslie Musoko amassed from his life experiences and research, he constructs a philosophical pulpit. I felt transported into the mind of his character Cephas; seeing through his eyes, feeling through his touch, sensing all around him whilst listening to his thoughts, understanding his faith and witnessing first-hand his cognitive awareness. Kudos to Mr. Musoko for achieving such an artful literary feat.
I knew I was in for a treat from the very first page, during the Prelude, he writes, “Cry I say, cry I wish, yet there are no tears from me. I am all cried out, all dried up.” For those words written told me volumes about Leslie Musoko’s sensitivity and literary skills. His pen scribes an acme of articulation, reminiscent of eternal quotes and commensurate as a Shakespearian coinage. The introspective contemplative lamellate of his characters’ personality, juxtaposed against their logical layer, or public façade layer, divulges the depth of Musokos’ erudition of character development. The quest to find his character’s sanctuary in faith brings us all closer to our own. “Eli” translated meaning “My God” was exclaimed by Jesus Christ on the cross. “Eli, Eli lama sabathani,” said Jesus. “My God, my God why have you forsaken me?”
Eli is the second of a trilogy series of writing about Cephas, a Christian put to tests of his faith through a series of challenging circumstances. Achieving an advanced caliper of literary percipience, Leslie Musoko’s Eli is recommended to all readers with a cultivated appreciation of character development, epic storytelling, and faith based philosophy. I found it to be challenging and stimulating. One thought, written somewhere in the storyline, Musoko stated how odd it is for humans to have evolved to a point in their use of language where at times it is used to mislead or mask one’s innermost feelings. How absurd a culture would embrace such deceptive tactics, he pontificated. Mr. Musoko leads no reader down a path of deception, nor does he fraudulently portray his thoughts. Eli is communication at its highest level of veracity.
Apex Review By Josee Morgan
As Cephas continues his trek to Saudi Arabia in pursuit of his inheritance, he soon discovers that discarding his past will be a much more difficult task than he anticipated. With his personal life steeped in confusion and uncertainty, not to mention his spirit nearly broken, Cephas is forced to rely on little more than his faith to survive in an increasingly challenging world. Little does he know, though, his current trials and tribulations - no matter how formidable - are just the beginning...
Thoughtful, moving, and deeply introspective, Eli is an immensely rewarding read. Skillfully crafted by author Leslie Musoko, this second installment of a compelling new trilogy takes the reader deep into the mind and heart of a devout Christian struggling to reconcile his faith with the often hostile reality that surrounds him. Not only that, he must also contend with the internal forces threatening to cloud his judgment and distract him from the all-important spiritual quest for which he's been pre-anointed. As deep as it all may sound, Musoko does a commendable job of framing Cephas' physical and metaphorical journey in clear, accessible terms, fostering a profound empathy within the reader - regardless of your specific personal faith. In so doing, Eli serves as an invaluable guide for anyone who finds themselves similarly conflicted in the spirit; by following Cephas' brave example, we will find it much easier to handle the emergent spiritual tests that unexpectedly befall our everyday paths.
Equally riveting and profound, Eli is an instant storytelling classic. Be on the lookout for more compelling works from this promising new literary talent on the rise.
It unites spiritual wisdom from the East and West to help readers experience Christ consciousness in the here and now. Combining the Oneness teachings of India with a fresh look at the New Testament.
