When Thorns Bloom: The Story of Judas

In the quiet streets of a small Californian town, seventeen-year-old Judas is on the path to becoming everything society fears—a cunning gang leader, a master of cruelty, and a soul untouched by compassion. But when his dark world collides with Ruth, a mysterious and gentle girl with an unshakable gaze, his life takes a turn he never could have foreseen. Each night, Judas is thrust into a harrowing dreamscape where he faces the very evils he once inflicted—cruelty, lies, hypocrisy, hatred, and selfishness—embodied by figures who break him down to his core. By day, he wakes to encounters with unexpected mentors who teach him their opposites: mercy, truth, loyalty, love, and generosity. Through this cycle of torment and redemption, Judas is forced to confront his own soul and question who he truly is. As the nights grow darker and the lessons more painful, Judas begins to shed his old identity, eventually becoming John—a young man transformed into the very ideal of what America wishes for its youth. But even in his rebirth, one constant remains: Ruth, his quiet guardian angel, whose presence guided him through the thorns toward the bloom. When Thorns Bloom is a gripping tale of redemption, faith, and the unyielding power of human transformation. Perfect for readers who believe in second chances, and in the beauty that can grow from even the darkest soil.