Let me tell you a story

Review of the book "Second Life Chances" 

In Second Life Chances, M. W. Engel delivers a gripping, emotionally layered novel that blends military realism with supernatural horror, spiritual introspection with domestic intimacy. Starting in Lincoln, Nebraska, the story follows Matt, a retired Navy SEAL, as he travels to South Dakota to confront both the ghosts of war and the literal demons of a world unraveling. What begins as a quiet morning in middle America quickly spirals into a supernatural siege, forcing  Matt to reckon with faith, trauma, and the fragile threads that hold his life together. 

Matt is a man shaped by violence. His body bears the scars of combat, and his mind is a battlefield of suppressed memories and unresolved guilt. Engel portrays him not as a stoic masculine figure, but as a deeply wounded human being—one who has spent years hiding the truth of his final mission in Pakistan. That mission, which involved rescuing hostages from a terrorist stronghold, is recounted in vivid detail in Chapter Two. It's a harrowing tale of stealth, sacrifice, and near-death, culminating in a miraculous moment that saved Matt's life. 

This moment—both literal and symbolic—marks the beginning of Matt's spiritual awakening. He is a man who has brushed against death and survived, not through skill alone, but through grace. Yet he resists interpreting events as divine intervention. His skepticism is not just intellectual; it's emotional. To accept that he was saved by something greater than himself would mean confronting the guilt of those he couldn't save.

Engels' depiction of darkness and a future of electronic failure is believable. The air grows thick with dread. And yet, amid the chaos, there are moments of grace: a candle that burns against all odds, a burst of light that repels evil, a prayer that steadies trembling hands. These moments are not just supernatural—they're emotional. They remind us that even in the deepest night, there is still the possibility of redemption. 

The title Second Life Chances is more than a clever phrase—it's a thesis. Matt has been given a second chance at life, not just physically, but spiritually as well. The question is whether he will accept it. The novel doesn't offer easy answers. Matt's journey is messy, painful, and incomplete. But it's also hopeful. By the end of Chapter Two, he has begun to open up, to let in others, and to consider that maybe—just maybe—he was saved for a reason. 

What makes Second Life Chances so compelling is its emotional authenticity. Engel doesn't just want to scare you—he wants to move you. The horror is absolute, but so is the love. The trauma is deep, but so is the possibility of healing. Readers will find themselves rooting for Matt not just to survive, but to beat the bad guys