Steven T. Collis's novel Praying with the Enemy is a well-researched work set during the Korean War. The novel is based on the true story of two men, American POW Captain Ward Millar and North Korean soldier Kim Jae Pil. In 1951 Captain Ward Millar is on a bombing mission over North Korea when his plane malfunctioned. Ward ejects from his plane and makes it to the ground, but finds both his ankles are broken. He is captured by Chinese and North Korean soldiers and could face execution at any moment. North Korean soldier Kim Jae Pil was a Christian. When the Communists seized power in North Korea, Kim Jai Pil had to keep his Christian faith a secret or risk execution. His assignments in the army included the delivery of supplies to front-line troops. Both Ward and Jae Pil wanted to escape from North Korea. Faith and prayer were central to each man's hopes for survival and escape. Their paths cross, and the story pivots into a gripping tale of courage, friendship, and a desperate plan to escape.

From start to finish, Steven T. Collis's historical novel Praying with the Enemy is a compelling and riveting story of two extraordinary men. I became immersed in the tale of Ward Millar and Kim Jae Pil and their unflinching courage and fortitude. I think the alternate chapters about each man's life, backstories, and family added great depth to the book. I liked how the novel's crisp prose, realistic dialogue, and evocative descriptions of villages and army encampments captured the perilous wartime situations in which Ward and Jae Pil found themselves. I found the story thought-provoking when Ward's and Jae Pil's thoughts, feelings, and emotions revealed more about their deep, difficult inner journeys. Their beliefs and convictions about faith and freedom are interwoven in the narrative. Ward's inward turning to God and prayer was gradual, while Jae Pil was determined to hold on to his Christian faith. For me, the story's most powerful and intense moments are when Ward and Jae Pil meet and realize they are both desperate to be free again. This is a deeply moving story of two extraordinary men, their steadfast faith, and their friendship under extremely difficult wartime circumstances.

Praying with the Enemy by Steven T. Collis is as engrossing as it is powerful, considering that this is based on factual events. Ward Millar finds himself within enemy territory after ejecting from his plane. Sustaining broken ankles, escape becomes an impossible option as he is held captive by North Korean and Chinese forces. Millar must play his cards right to get medical attention. Providing the enemy with military information is his key to staying alive, especially from the execution-hungry North Koreans. He needs to provide value. He claims to be a special observer, and what he gives them are things that they believe are precious, yet this is information that is unclassified and readily accessible even to the media. Meanwhile, Kim Jae Pil, a North Korean soldier, wants to escape to the democratic South. When these two men encounter each other, hope for salvation becomes renewed for both of them—but they will have to pass through the eye of the needle.

This is a fascinating story that celebrates the indefatigability of the human spirit. It largely reminds me of memorable war films like The Killing Fields and Behind Enemy Lines and novels like Empire of the Sun. It breaks barriers and makes you renew your confidence in humanity. Considering the fact that these two protagonists are largely different in terms of culture and language, they manage to forge a friendship and exhaust all means to find a way out. Steven T. Collis’s simple yet crisp narrative further helps to make this story engaging. You can’t help but put yourself in the shoes of Millar and Jae Pil as you get all the necessary sensory details that give dimension to their respective plights. The role of faith in the storyline is so grounded that it inspires you even if you are a nonbeliever. Praying with the Enemy is a powerful story, a true-to-life tale that I highly recommend.