Review: The Victory Perspective by E.J. Kellett

What if we had a bird’s-eye view of the early moments of existence, the very first conversations between God and his angels before the world was born? This religious framework guides the lives of billions around the world, and in The Victory Perspective by E.J. Kellett, readers are invited to explore an eye-opening new perspective on this inconceivable beginning.

The book rests on the premise that in a magical paradise, five beings inexplicably awaken – Michael, Gabriel, Alpha, Lucifer, and Raphael. With no idea of what life means, or what their purpose on that plane is, their personalities begin to develop – domineering, submissive, curious, and questioning. Leadership emerges, roles are assigned, and this microcosm of humanity begins to take shape.

The gradual discoveries of simple aspects of life are beautifully penned by Kellett, from the discovery of pain to the sensation of fullness after eating a large meal. These characters are infants in terms of the rules of being alive, but they are imbued with the ability to speak and engage, resulting in each pushing boundaries and experiencing emotions of ambition and resentment, even if they don’t have words for those feelings. Despite being lost and confused creatures in an unpredictable, mystical paradise, there is still a foundation of humanity within these characters.

The group begin as equals, but the balance of power cannot be maintained forever. When one of the members develops supernatural powers, the ability to create anything with a single thought, he seeks to use these abilities to become the ruler of this mysterious world. Through the eyes of the other characters, we witness the fall of a man and the rise of a god, but perhaps not the endlessly omniscient and compassionate god to whom many people pray in the real world.

When it comes to the eternal question of whether man was made in God’s image, this book answers it in a brutally honest fashion. This heavily philosophical novel is a study in creative religious fiction and an illuminating exploration of religious dogma, from vegetarianism and homosexuality to the taking of life in its various forms, and tackles some of the most fundamental beliefs that divide us.

While Kellett is expert at posing and exploring fascinating questions, the writing is lacking in certain parts, and the simplistic sentence structures can become monotonous. Other scenes feel rushed, as though Kellett is more concerned with fitting in a thematic concept than with fleshing out a valuable piece of the narrative. Some of the symbolic conversations between the characters also feel more abbreviated than necessary. To counter that, Kellett is occasionally heavy-handed with the book’s message, and with allusions to moral and religious ideals. That being said, the story does progress at a steady pace, which certainly holds one’s interest.

For someone who is looking to challenge their conceptions about religion, or ask themselves the hard questions about faith and morality, The Victory Perspective is ideal. What it proposes will be upsetting for some, and enlightening for others, which seems to be precisely what the author intended.