Seek and ye shall find…
| The God Killers | |
|---|---|
| |
| Author | John F. Allen |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | Ivory Blaque Series |
| Genre(s) | Urban Fantasy |
| Publisher | Seventh Star Press |
| Publication Date | July 2013 |
| Media Type | |
| Pages | 344 p.(Paperback) |
| ISBN | 9781937929169 |
| Followed by | The Conclave |
Plot[]
Former professional art thief Ivory Blaque is hired to retrieve a pair of antique pistols and gets much more than she bargained for when several attempts are made on her life. Ivory’s world is further complicated by the early prison release of her mentor and former lover, who wants to continue their relationship both sexually and professionally, but Ivory is not interested. He then steals artwork from her former clients and frames her for it, all in an effort to discredit her and rebuild his criminal enterprise. Her client turns out to be a shadowy government agent who reveals that the pistols are linked to her unique heritage and the special psychic gifts she possesses. But when she comes to the attention of Chicago’s vampire lord, her friend—the alpha of the local werewolf pack—assigns his enforcer to watch over her and chaos ensues. In order to regain her autonomy, clear her name, unlock the secrets of her past, and protect the lives of those closest to her, Ivory must play along with the forces trying to manipulate her. Ivory’s life is rapidly spiraling out of control and headed for an explosive conclusion which she just might not survive.
Reviews[]
Reader Reviews: “Ivory herself is everything I look for in a heroine. She is independent and smart, she has had her share of heartbreak but still has that attitude that gives her a little bit of edge. I really appreciate that while she is slow to trust and has her demons, she is not totally isolated. There are people in her life she does trust. I absolutely love that she is involved in the art scene, making her a refreshing example of a kick-ass woman. She has a past that informs her actions. I did not even mind that there looks like there could be a possible love triangle in the making, because while men are certainly on her mind, they really are not the most important thing happening to her.I adore the secondary characters. These people come alive, I want to know more about them and see what is going to happen in the future. I think these characters being so solid helps establish and ground this world. The political structure of the various groups is palpable, even though we only get fairly minimal exposure to each.The mechanics of The God Killers just work really well. It excellently-paced, Ivory’s voice is strong and certain, and it sets up what I can easily see as being a much wider world with endless potential. The plot is fantastic, including some very effective twists that make this a really fun read. The God Killers is obviously the opening salvo to a promising series, yet it still manages to give resolution to the initial mystery.John F. Allen has a splendid and solid debut on his hands. If you are a fan of Jane Yellowrock and Mercy Thompson I think you will get a huge kick out of Ivory and The God Killers. I cannot wait to see what is next.”
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. Review by Bitten By Books CLICK BELOW FOR FULL REVIEW!http://bittenbybooks.com/the-god-killers-by-john-f-llen/
I was instantly drawn to this book. I love books with strong female maincharacters. And this one came through. It was very action packed and fast movingand for sure left you begging for book two. It had Vampires, Lycan, incubus ohmy!! Ivory is smart, clever and willing to do what it takes to get to the bottomof things. Allen writes well rounded characters with rich detail and solidhistories. Which I found amazing. These were characters you really got to knowalong the way. I really enjoyed this book and truly look forward to book two.Congrats Mr. Allen you put out one heck of a debut novel.
My Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5. As usual the Seventh Star art does not fail to please either.Enggar Adirasa was the artist on this one and it is stellar. I love that SeventhStar releases have interior art. This book/eBook being reviewed was provided for an honest review, and that no compensation was provided.
By Robin Blankenship
I was able to get a signed copy of this book shortly after it was released. Theauthor gave out teasers prior to the books release. This is John’s debut noveland it didn’t disappoint. Ivory Blaque is smart and sassy. She comes home andhas to feed and walk her dog…that makes her so normal. She has a uniqueheritage and psychic gifts. Of course her life is complicated by vampires andwerewolves and secret government agencies. The action is fast paced and Ifinished reading it in a day. Now I’m ready to read book#2!
I gave it: 5 out of 5 stars
By Eugena Mcfarland
Initially, reading The God Killers reminded me very much of my first encounter with Anita Blake. John F. Allen appeared to have crafted a standard urban fantasy tale, immersed in the supernatural, and spiced with elements of paranormal romance. Even the narrative structure and pacing of the first few chapters reminded me of Laurell K. Hamilton’s work.That’s not a bad thing, and not at all a knock against either author. It’s simply an acknowledgement of how the book initially struck me.I say ‘initially’ because as Allen settles into the story, becoming more comfortable with the lovely Ivory Blaque in the process, he begins layering in some really exciting story elements that definitely kick the story up a few notches. Before long we have a great story behind the God Killers themselves, a pair of antique pistols that Ivory is hired to recover for their rightful owner – or owners, to be precise, since she’s hired twice for the same job, but two very different clients! In addition, we have a well developed hierarchy of the supernatural, complete with warring vampire clans and close-knit werewolf packs, and an uneasy alliance with humanity that’s as imaginative as it is simple. Where Allen really won me over, though, is with a back story that brings it all together. His interpretation of mythology is fascinating, and I really liked the way he managed to weave centuries of faith into one crazy roller coaster ride of warring gods. He also gives us a peek behind several historical events, with one tragedy in particular revealed as a cover-up for vampire activity, which helps to put a veneer of plausibility on the tale. All of that would be wasted, however, were it not for the ability of Ivory to carry a story. Strong, confident, and appropriately flawed, she’s an entirely human protagonist in an otherwise inhuman world. She has a flair for goading people, loves retail therapy, and isn’t shy about her loves or her lusts. While it’s really become something of a cliché within the genre, her reluctant entanglement in a vampire/werewolf love triangle actually works because of how well she’s been established as a character, and how willing she is to defend her honor and her right to choose. There are a lot of questions left unanswered, but that’s to be expected from the first book in the series. While there is something of a cliffhanger to the last chapter, it’s a development that comes after the main story is resolved, making it more of a tease. Overall, The God Killers is a fun story, with great imagination, and a heroine you want to read more about. If you’re a fan of the genre, then you’ll definitely enjoy this.
By Bob Milne