Book Review: Instigators of the Apocalypse

In Instigators of the Apocalypse, author Kevin Timothy O’Kane sets out to prove how those with false interpretations of the Book of Revelation influenced wars and revolutions in the history of Western civilization. A monumental work indeed by O’Kane, and it is nigh impossible to encapsulate in this short review all that he manages to cover in his book. How does one go about condensing the history of Christian eschatology and how it has played out in the political arena and subsequently the battlefield? The author takes us right back to the beginning of Christianity in order to take us forward, covering decisive moments in history such as the Crusades, the Reformation,  the conquest of the Americas, the Inquisition, and various revolutions including the American Civil War. The time span is centuries, and the litany of carnage and destruction is depressing. The history of the early Christian church is one of Roman oppression, divisive factions and sub-factions, and a large number of arguments over the literal or spiritual meanings behind much in the Bible; however, most were strongly focused on the divinity or lack thereof of Christ, and the literal or figurative meaning in the Book of Revelation. When would the end of days and the new millenium come, and who would be the Anti-Christ?

The ideal of the predicted ‘New Jerusalem’ has permeated religious belief down the centuries, even to modern times. Interestingly, the manipulation of various so-called Christian and Muslim prophecies spawned what can only be described as ‘disinformation’ that was used to serve various political purposes, and with dire consequences. This is such a turning point because the church, impatient for results, ultimately eschewed Jesus Christ’s message of peace and submission in the face of oppression, and turned to more violent means to achieve the final days. Ironically, once the subject of persecution, Christianity morphed into an excuse for the Crusades, which had bloody and tragic consequences. Subsequently, Islam, already conquering from the 7^th century with jihad as its diktat, was as brutal and destructive, and conversion by the sword the order of the day. Jerusalem, what it meant and has come to symbolise historically and theologically, is a key point in this drama. One is left saddened and astonished at the madness that prevailed when both Christians and Muslims were gripped by a religious fervour that defied all sense, all morality, all true belief as would form the basis of any faith. Even more sadly, nothing has changed because the actions of ISIL in the modern day Middle East chaos seem to herald a return to those days of carnage in the guise of divine sanction. The territorial skirmishes between Palestine and Israel have focused attention once again on an age-old issue; possession of Jerusalem, I feel, more than anything else. The Palestinian denial of Israel’s right to exist and the intention to wipe out this nation also echoes the past. Current warfare between the Arab nations, based on their own religious schisms between Sunni and Shia sects and sparked by the unrest in Yemen, rings warning bells, given the extent of the various nations’ military might.

This is a complex topic, and possibly theology students would whiz through this book. However, the author masterfully achieves what he sets out to do and that is make his theory comprehensible to the lay person, or the ordinary reader interested in Christian eschatology and the role it has played in politics, both then and now. The author enlivens the facts by introducing key figures in this vast and sweeping historical landscape, some familiar, some not, and brings their own personal stories to life. His excellent and succinct writing style allows the reader to fully absorb a large number of complicated facts, but at the same time appreciate the ‘story’ behind the history. I was astounded by the far-reaching effects of charismatic leaders over the centuries, and how in many cases a single man’s opinions, beliefs and ambitions have shaped history and the political landscape today, in many cases with negative consequences.  Tragically, faith, which brings comfort, solace and strength to millions around the world, can be twisted to wreak havoc and, with today’s access to modern weaponry, threatens to plunge the world into destruction. A fictional section of the book’s final chapter sounds a warning note. There are detailed end notes for the serious biblical scholar to refer to, testimony to the amount of research put into this fascinating, well constructed, very readable and thought provoking work. Five stars.

Book Review: To Be a Duke

To Be a Duke is the story of a Border Collie cross named Duke. Duke began life being taken away from his mother early, much to his shock. A couple of homes and owners later, and Duke wasn’t really getting the love, training, and attention he needed. His previous owners just didn’t know how to handle him so their reaction was either to pass him on, or tie him up in the yard and ignore him. He developed bad chewing habits, was never house trained, was never properly leash trained and, to the outside person, was a handful. He cowered when threatened, having been beaten in the past. His behaviour didn’t live up to his name, Duke. Life was full of sadness and confusion, and hunger … Until the day a kind lady noticed him, noticed his scabs and thin appearance, and bought him from the man who couldn’t care less about him. But this kind lady was only temporary. Life, miraculously, got even better. From this warm, loving home where Duke found that he was not scolded, beaten or starved, Duke finally went to a Fur-Ever Home, one where everyone seemed to love him, want him, and spent the time and energy to get his behaviour right in a fun and happy way. He ‘unlearned’ fear and confusion, and learned how to be a dog, how to play with a ball, how to catch treats, and how to be confident. He learned that he was needed by every single member of his new family in some way, some mysterious and special way that only he could offer. They were all ‘friends forever.’ Even more mysterious, the spirit of Misty, the previous family dog, still lingered, appearing in his dreams, and Misty was there to guide Duke in his new, happy life. Duke learned to cope with the ups and downs of family life, and discovered he had a very special talent!

Sadly, Duke’s story is nothing new. People get a puppy that starts out cute, and ends up uncontrollable. With the proper chew toys, potty training, leash training, and the ability to respond to obedience commands, a dog knows where it is in life; it knows what the owner expects and everyone is happy. Author Emily-Jane HillsOrford knows dogs and it comes out so clearly in the text. What I really loved about this story is how the author gets right into Duke’s head, showing readers how a young dog can become easily afraid, easily cowed by not being taught properly and thus annoying the owner who doesn’t understand that a dog, like a child, needs to be taught. A dog is not psychic, and it responds badly to what it perceives as anger, violence, and other negative emotions. The author has an amazing gift for being able to portray life from the dog’s perspective and it certainly showed me how my two (much pampered) little pooches could misinterpret my moods and action. The author does not dwell overly long on Duke’s sad past, something that soft hearted animal lovers will prefer, and this makes the book suitable for older children. Instead she focuses on Duke’s new beginnings, his progress of learning how to fit into his new life, and the role he plays in the family’s life. This is also good for new owners and youngsters to read because training is just that—training. A dog does not come with an instruction manual in its head to tell it not to chew something that looks deliciously chewy (shoes, perhaps?). The author subtly highlights how getting a new dog, especially a puppy, involves input and time from the owner. However, the words of warning are there in the beginning of this story, and all too often dogs, so loving, so eager to please, are shuttled around from home to home, finally ending up dumped or at a shelter. Duke is one of the very lucky ones. This is a delightful book for animal lovers, animal owners, and youngsters to enjoy. A heart warming, five-star story for the whole family!

Book 3: The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper

Finishing up Book 3 in The Chronicles of the Stone series has taken up a huge chunk of time. Since my young heroes are in a completely foreign and exotic environment (a tropical jungle!), that has meant devoting time to a great deal of research in order to get the historical and physical facts right. As in my previous books, there are some great illustrations for young explorers to enjoy, including images of the uncontacted tribe that rescues them, the dreadful Tezcatlipoca, or Smoking Mirror, and other intriguing images to help young explorers imagine they are right there in the thick of the adventure!

Here's some tantalising detail to whet your appetites: Continuing the adventure that ended in Britain just a short while ago in The Search for the Stone of Excalibur, cousins Adam and Justin Sinclair, with their friend Kim Maleka, are now hunting for the third Stone of Power, one of seven mysterious stones lost centuries ago. The third stone might be located in an ancient city, hidden in the depths of the Mexican jungle.

Tezcatlipoca, the Smoking Mirror!

When their small plane crashes in the jungle, Adam, Justin, Kim, and James are rescued by an uncontacted tribe. James, who is wounded, must stay behind as the kids, with only a young boy, Tukum, as their guide, make their way through the dense and dangerous jungle to find the city. Riding rafts on a crocodile-infested river and evading predators are just part of this hazardous task.

Of course, their old adversary Dr. Khalid is close behind as the kids press on in search of the lost city of stone gods. But he is not the worst of their problems. This time Adam will clash with a terrible enemy who adopts the persona of an evil Aztec god, Tezcatlipoca, and is keen to revive the ancient tradition of human sacrifice. Adam, Justin, and Tukum must survive a dreadful ball game of life and death. Will they emerge alive from the jungle? Will Dr. Khalid find the third Stone of Power before they do?

This is perfect for the young (and young at heart) explorer in the family, as well as reluctant readers who will be riveted by non-stop action and adventure. Loads of interesting facts create the wonderful and mysterious ambiance of an ancient city, hidden away in the jungle for centuries. Danger and potential disaster lurk around every corner... What more could a young explorer ask for? Available soon on Amazon, B&N and all good book sites. Read the first chapter of Book 3 at the end of Book 2! For readers new to this exciting, adventure filled Middle grade series, it all starts with Book 1: The Secret of the Sacred Scarab.

Book Review: Godhead: Book I of the Aldariad

In Godhead: Book I of the Aldariad (Volume 1), Greg McLeod weaves a fantasy tale that merges with the real world in a magnificent, gripping saga. Seemingly disparate stories are begun, and then abruptly stop; only to be picked up again as the threads linking the two dimensions are drawn together. In Diggers Row, in the American West, in 2001, a boy named Billy disappears before his friend’s eyes while they’re out hunting. Then we are transported to Vereld, a world grown complacent over time with no apparent threat to make maintenance of the fortifications against enemy invaders seem a necessity. We meet Rather, a healer – although he terms himself more hedge wizard than mage – who is summoned to the house of a peasant couple to attend to their autistic boy. Something is terribly wrong. The boy, a savant, has covered the walls in his bedroom with prophetic sayings. Rather is able to translate and, having an eidetic memory, remember them. Then all hell breaks loose… The reader is swept into a loathsome maelstrom of black magic as a grim and awful dark god awakens and starts to get his grip on a world totally unprepared for the onslaught. There are many sorcerers willing to invest their powers in the creation of hybrid, monstrous creatures to fight in a battle that draws on black and white magic. As the story unfolds, we are introduced to three Redeemers – Anili, Jon and Orrin - whose stories merge so that they can fulfil their part of the prophecy and save humanity. The story moves from Billy’s disappearance - which elicits the interest of the US security forces, and other, more unscrupulous parties anxious to commercially exploit this new dimension’s resources – to events in Vereld that link the two dimensions, to the Nazi interest in Jon’s great-uncle’s castle that holds a great secret, and finally unites the three people who can stem the impending tide of destruction.

I absolutely loved this book. It’s hard to find the words to encompass the scope of this bold and brilliant tapestry. Although there are strong hints of the influence of Tolkien, this story is uniquely the author’s own. Greg McLeod is a true ‘Wordlord’ in that he can describe a scene so beautifully and yet so succinctly that the reader imagines themselves transported there, be it a battle, a moment of quiet beauty or introspection, or the unfolding of a character’s development. I was captivated by this tale and although the abrupt changes in the story, as a new scenario is introduced, take some getting used to, the author deftly draws the reader back and reignites their attention. I loved the side characters who got equal attention in their portrayals as much as the main characters. The seven Unborn, misshapen and frightening to behold, but tender, compassionate and gentle, were wonderful. There is such a vast cast of characters that one is hard pressed to pick out particular names. They are all well developed and serve their purpose, from Baran the soldier tasked with protecting Anili, to Torgrim the wizard mentoring Jon, to the forest folk who saved Orrin from captivity. I also enjoyed the quotes that prefaced each chapter, in which a reader may glean more about coming events as well as information about how the magicality of Vereld works. Greg McLeod has created a compelling tale of good versus evil, with a unique and yet realistic fantasy world, populated with characters that rise to fulfil their destiny for the greater good, no matter what the cost. This story has everything for the fantasy fan, as well as the reader who enjoys a deep, well constructed plot, believable and appealing characters, and imaginative and credible world-building. Five stars!