A group of friends out hiking stumble across the ruins of a thirteen century cathedral. After exploring the site they suddenly start to manifest unusual gifts-and find themselves the subjects of unwanted supernatural attention. Confused about what is happening to them, they seek out the only group who seem to have any answers-the mysterious and secret Order of the Brightening Dawn.
They soon come to understand that the future direction of human development will rely upon the choices they make both individually and as a group. They must put aside their petty grievances and long held alliances in order to hold together for the good of mankind. Easier said than done when supernatural forces are holding back nothing in their efforts to split the group asunder and reclaim the earth from humanity.
Conspiracy theories, angels, demons, secret sects: this book had the potential to be a real page turner. Instead it turned out to be a combination of the The Da Vinci Code and The Celestine Prophesy, with all the credibility and literary merit as those two works.
After a sparkling prologue the main story settles down with a much more mundane style. Large info dumps slowed the pace several times. The equal emphasis given to all characters made for only the most superficial development of any of them, leaving it difficult for the reader to identify with any one. The frequent point of view shifts (almost every chapter is told from the perspective of a different character) gave the story a cobbled together feeling.
There is a decent story hidden in this book but it is presented in a stilted and amateurish manner worthy of an early draft rather than a published piece. This debut novel took on a premise the author does not yet have the skill to execute. It was only the promise made by the outstanding quality of the prologue that kept me reading until the end.
This author can write. I can’t help but lament the loss of the book this could have been if the editors had insisted the rest of the story came up to the mark set by the prologue.
Publishers please note: sometimes a book isn’t ready for print no matter how good its potential or how hot its topic at the time. This was, unfortunately, one of those books.-Lynn
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