The Forge by Chris Fabry

The Forge by Chris Fabry
Series: Standalone
Publisher: Tyndale Fiction (August 6, 2024)

Review by Mae Clair

This is a novelization of “The Forge,” a film by the Kendrick Brothers. I’ve read the author, Chris Fabry before, and knew once I cracked the cover, I’d be hooked. Sure, enough I was drawn into the story of Cynthia, and her teen son, Isaiah.

When Cynthia’s lay-about husband cleans out their bank account and leaves her for another woman, Cynthia struggles to fill the roles of both mother and father for Isaiah. Her faith is strong, and she has the support of other women of God, but after he graduates, Isaiah begins slipping into the same directionless patterns as his father—spending all his time playing video games or goofing off with his friends. Cynthia is forced to give an ultimatum—find a job or move out.

Begrudgingly, Isaiah takes a part-time job with Moore Fitness where he comes under the tutelage of the owner, Joshua Moore. A man of faith, Joshua both challenges and guides Isaiah in the transition from angry teen to responsible young man—introducing him to other strong men of faith who form a group known as “The Forge.”

Isaiah’s metamorphose occurs gradually but realistically. I loved watching how the changes in him effect how he treats others. Joshua is equally appealing, with an intriguing backstory of his own.

This is a novel with a strong message of faith, playing out in multiple layers. In addition to Isaiah learning of God’s salvation through Joshua, Cynthia is also involved with a group of Christian women who support her. Among them is “Miss Clara,” an elderly prayer warrior, full of spiritual wisdom for daily living. I’ve highlighted two of her “nuggets” below

---

“See a lot of people think prayer is getting God to do what you want him to do on your timetable. The longer I live, the more I think it’s like stepping off the platform onto a train that’s starting to move. It takes faith to take a step, but once you’re on and you submit to His control, you’re headed in the direction he wants you to go.”

And…

“We can’t treat prayer like it’s some spare tire that you only pull out in an emergency. No! Prayer has to be more like a steering wheel that you hold tightly every day, no matter where you are going.”

The Forge by Chris Fabry

---

While the main thrust of the novel is Isaiah’s growth from boy to man, there’s a secondary plot involving a competitor trying to steal accounts from Moore Fitness. The nitty-gritty of that rocks the last quarter of the book and makes for an exciting conclusion.

If you enjoy stories rich in character development with strong faith-based teachings, I highly recommend The Forge. A heartwarming story with a wonderful ending, I nonetheless applaud the creators for not tying up EVERY minor thread with a tidy, happily-ever-after-bow. In life, not every path culminates as we hope. On occasion, we have to accept there is still work to do, and that some situations may not be resolved in this lifetime.

I give The Forge five favorable fish.

I purchased the paperback version of The Forge