The Ghost You Can't See

Scott Coleman

A very warm welcome to our listener friends on Worship Road Radio. And, welcome back to The Reading Lane! Scott Coleman here, and as always, Kristen Reimer is with me.

Kristen Reimer

Thanks Scott. It's great to tackle another episode of The Reading Lane. And, you know what? It's also great to welcome back author L. G. Nixon with another great book in his series.

Scott Coleman

As you remember, the Reading Lane is part of Worship Road's resources to find uplifting books for our rapidly growing community to read and experience, and I think you're in for a real treat today.

Kristen Reimer

I agree with you Scott. And something that has occurred to me is I haven't read too many books like Nixon's "The Ghost You Can't See", but I really loved it. So, I'm excited to get into our discussion about it.

Scott Coleman

That's right! Today, we’re digging into 'The Ghost You Can’t See'—that’s the third adventure in L.G. Nixon’s Issachar Gatekeeper series. This is not your average Christian fantasy. It’s thick with scripture, but in a way that feels, well, kind of magical—and not just 'preachy,' if you know what I mean.

Kristen Reimer

Totally. The first thing that struck me—the way Nixon drops in scripture, but not as, oh, little sticky notes pasted in the dialogue, you know? It’s woven into the story through these invented, almost biblical-sounding texts like the Chronicles of Ascalon, and then you get all these moments where real scriptural truths anchor the fantasy. Like, the High King—he’s obviously a Christ figure, but it never comes off as corny. It’s—what’s the word? Weighty, I think.

Scott Coleman

That’s the word. And there’s this idea of spiritual warfare—do you remember the house blessing scene early on? Lucy’s so freaked out by this insane grandfather clock, but the whole time you know: she and everyone inside are protected by this 'Triune seal.' Which, by the way, the Triune part is pretty clear: Father, Son, Spirit. That whole moment reminded me of, let’s see... Psalm 91? That sense of supernatural protection—almost like the magic is grounded in actual biblical promise.

Kristen Reimer

Exactly! And when Lucy’s scoping out the clock with her, um, 'Spectrescope,' and looking for ghosts, she keeps returning to truth—like, she literally tells her friend, “the house had received a blessing, so no entities could sneak in.” That line stuck with me. It’s not just performative religion—it’s faith as an actual defense, within the story’s fantasy system. And all of that is filtered through her pretty realistic doubts and fear of the unknown—even down to the nitty-gritty of moving houses.

Scott Coleman

You know, funnily, when I moved from the UK to Vancouver, it honestly did feel a little bit like Lucy’s first few days in the Carriage House. You sort of step into the unknown, and you can kid yourself you’re grounded. But then something weird happens—like some ancient, enormous antique clock looms in your entryway—and you face what you actually believe. For me, the only thing that kept me stable was clinging to scriptural promises. That’s exactly what Nixon gives Lucy—she steps into these spiritual realms, but her anchor is always truth, not just spectacle.

Kristen Reimer

It brings up that bigger question for me—like, what purpose does scripture really serve in a fantasy novel? I mean, that’s something we keep coming back to on Reading Lane. Without grounding, all that magic stuff can just become escapism, or worse, just spectacle. But Nixon grounds all the magic, all the battles, in scriptural realities—like evil being real, but not ultimate, because the High King’s authority is absolute. I think that makes the stakes feel so much more real.

Scott Coleman

Absolutely—she sort of gives us a lens for good versus evil, but the lens is, well, biblical. And she does it without banging readers over the head. That’s pretty rare.

Kristen Reimer

All right, I love that you brought up Lucy’s 'lens'—because the whole series is about seeing what’s unseen, right? Transformation is everywhere here. You watch Lucy go from absolutely skeptical—like really not buying into spiritual realms—to believing, little by little. There are all these nods to Ephesians 6—the spiritual armor, but also the idea that faith is a process. I loved how Nixon writes Lucy’s moments of doubt as part of that journey—she’s not a perfect Christian hero, she’s messy, scared, sometimes even grumpy. Honestly, more relatable that way.

Scott Coleman

Right. The battles with demons, the magical artifacts—they’re honestly more than just cool fantasy bits. Every artifact she uses, from the Spectrescope to the Spirit Sword, feels like an echo of spiritual tools—the Belt of Truth, Shield of Faith, all of that. Even her magical shoes! I laughed because, you know, the dryad in the stained-glass window literally tells Lucy: 'wear your shoes so you can stand firm in the presence of evil.' That’s Ephesians, plain and simple, translated into this fantasy world.

Kristen Reimer

It totally is! And, can we just talk about the major conflicts in this book? You’ve got Lucy fighting off actual demons, but maybe more importantly, she’s fighting her own doubts and, honestly, the confusion around her friends. Schuyler’s loyalty is up in the air; Mathias is a bit of a mystery—sometimes grumpy, sometimes vulnerable. Nixon is brilliant at layering that everyday friction—change, new house, school drama—on top of spiritual conflict, so you really buy into Lucy’s transformation.

Scott Coleman

Yeah, and I appreciated that Nixon doesn’t shy away from the messy stuff. Everybody’s got their internal battles—Mathias, especially. He’s not just there for comic relief or as a foil; his struggles mirror Lucy’s in lots of ways. And it’s never simple. Some Christian fiction tries to tie up every loose end with a Bible verse, but this novel—well, it sits in the discomfort for a while, just like actual faith journeys.

Kristen Reimer

You know, while I was reading, I kept thinking back to some of the stories I read in my university days—they’d circle spiritual themes, hint at bigger meanings, but often ended in ambiguity or, honestly, a kind of despair. Nixon’s story goes the other way. She’s not afraid to draw her readers in toward genuine hope, toward Christ. It’s clear, but not simplistic. I don’t know if that’s just my take, but I think it makes a huge difference.

Scott Coleman

No, I agree. There’s tension, but always the sense that light is accessible. It’s a powerful reminder that the tools we read about in Ephesians—armor, prayer, vigilance—they really mean something. Nixon re-imagines them as, well, enchanted objects, but at the heart, it’s about faith in action. That’s authentic, and maybe what sets this book apart from a lot of the other faith-based fantasy we’ve covered.

Kristen Reimer

Something else that keeps popping up in Nixon’s story—maybe even more than battles—is community. Lucy’s friendships are tested almost non-stop, sometimes over misunderstandings, sometimes from spiritual confusion. I found the whole 'HALT' idea so interesting—the way Nixon shows that we’re incredibly vulnerable to attack when we're hungry, angry, lonely, or tired. That feels so true to real life, not just fantasyland.

Scott Coleman

Right—she’s also highlighting that spiritual conflict isn’t just in monster fights, but in little betrayals, in that everyday work of sticking together through stress. Lucy’s whole crew—her family, Schuyler, even Mathias—each bring strengths and weaknesses. I love how Nixon doesn’t idealize these relationships. Forgiveness is modeled, but it’s not automatic; vigilance and grace are, I suppose, actively chosen. Reminds me a bit of what we discussed in 'Afternoon Rebecca'—how the everyday rhythms, the little acts, actually defend us against despair.

Kristen Reimer

Oh, absolutely! And Nixon keeps coming back to the need for grace and perseverance—especially under pressure. In a way, the Carriage House itself becomes a symbol for spiritual protection; it’s a literal house 'blessed forever,' but the blessing only works when the people inside choose to lean on one another and on the High King. There’s learning and struggle, but there’s protection in that community. That’s a vital point, I think.

Scott Coleman

Couldn’t agree more. And if I can share a quick story—when I was doing grad school at Cambridge, the only thing that kept me going during the rough spots, and they were rough, was a small group of mates who prayed with me. I’d have lost the plot without them. Like Lucy’s 'squad'—faithful friendships can honestly be the difference between isolation and hope, especially when spiritual confusion is thick. I think Nixon nails that truth here.

Kristen Reimer

Well, I didn't go to Cambridge like you did, but I can just imagine some of the rough spots you mentioned. I had my own in university, but I'm sure it was even more brutal at Cambridge.

Scott Coleman

You know, it doesn't really matter where you are, we all go through peaks and valleys, and those memories of those faithful friendships, again....uh....like Lucy's squad, were invaluable.

Kristen Reimer

No doubt, you're right about that Scott. And, you know, I love that thread in every episode we do here—books that show how faith community is messy, but necessary. Nixon gives us spiritual protection not through perfection, but through people who keep showing up and choosing light. That feels like genuine encouragement to me—both for listeners, readers, and for us, honestly!

Scott Coleman

Well put, Kristen. Before we wrap up, I’ll just say—if you’re looking for Christian fiction that’s alive with imagination but still feels grounded—where the magic is scriptural and the friendships real—'The Ghost You Can’t See' is a great addition to your shelf.

Kristen Reimer

A hundred percent. And...uh...I'm already thinking of this book as a great Christmas gift for a couple of people I know.

Scott Coleman

Funny. I was thinking the same thing. So, all right, we are out of time for this episode. Kristen, as always, thanks again for another fantastic discussion.

Kristen Reimer

Thank you, Scott! And thanks to all of you listening—hope you’ll join us again next week on The Reading Lane for another faith-fueled book adventure. Bye for now!

Scott Coleman

Take care, everyone. See you later on the Worship Road!!.