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Predatory Ethics #1
Mad Gods - Revelation Cancelled?
The Antichrist lives. He is wanted dead or alive by Satanists, the Catholic Church and the Dark Nobility.
Kostadino must save him or let the world turn into hell on earth.
What I liked about Mad Gods was that the author started the reader out on a journey right from the onset of the book--the plot was well written, easy to understand, and thought provoking.
Cheryl Bradshaw
Mad Gods takes its reader on a spellbinding journey that spans different continents and time periods. The author seamlessly weaves an intricate plot that connects an array of fascinating characters that propel the momentum of this wonderfully ambitious narrative.
Aman S. Anand
Kostadino must save him or let the world turn into hell on earth.
What I liked about Mad Gods was that the author started the reader out on a journey right from the onset of the book--the plot was well written, easy to understand, and thought provoking.
Cheryl Bradshaw
Mad Gods takes its reader on a spellbinding journey that spans different continents and time periods. The author seamlessly weaves an intricate plot that connects an array of fascinating characters that propel the momentum of this wonderfully ambitious narrative.
Aman S. Anand
- GenresHorror
253 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2011
About the author
Athanasios
12 books34 followersAthanasios doesn't always wrestle with his demons, sometimes they just snuggle, they keep him warm at night. He works in Montreal as a graphic/video artist, illustrator & writer in dvd production & film.
Athanasios has been interested in religion & faith since childhood. This led to studying a bewildering variety of beliefs from pagan, wicca, judaism, christianity, islam, to hindu, buddhism, shinto, luciferianism & much more. The interest created its own momentum & brought Mad Gods. It was followed by Commitment and then I Am Eternal.
Predatory Ethics and I Am Eternal are outlets for dark and twisted thoughts. They are how to safely let an evil nature express itself, be seen, felt and savored by every sense that can be conjured in imagination.
Start with I Am Eternal: Cowboys and Vampires if you want to test the waters but if you really have courage and are stout of heart then jump into Predatory Ethics: Mad Gods and immerse yourself in mind and imagination.
Athanasios's other interests include most entertainment, from film, to television & books. He won't try video games for the same reason he doesn't keep his favorite booze in the house; he would do nothing else. There was a short time that he was into World of Warcraft but that became the obsession he knew it would be.
Athanasios has been interested in religion & faith since childhood. This led to studying a bewildering variety of beliefs from pagan, wicca, judaism, christianity, islam, to hindu, buddhism, shinto, luciferianism & much more. The interest created its own momentum & brought Mad Gods. It was followed by Commitment and then I Am Eternal.
Predatory Ethics and I Am Eternal are outlets for dark and twisted thoughts. They are how to safely let an evil nature express itself, be seen, felt and savored by every sense that can be conjured in imagination.
Start with I Am Eternal: Cowboys and Vampires if you want to test the waters but if you really have courage and are stout of heart then jump into Predatory Ethics: Mad Gods and immerse yourself in mind and imagination.
Athanasios's other interests include most entertainment, from film, to television & books. He won't try video games for the same reason he doesn't keep his favorite booze in the house; he would do nothing else. There was a short time that he was into World of Warcraft but that became the obsession he knew it would be.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
March 31, 2013
*Won through a Goodreads Giveaway*
I admit I've put off reading this book for way too long and it's a shame because this was one awesome trip that I could have taken already and by now moved on to the sequels. Predatory Ethics by Athanasios is the well written, thought-provoking story of Kosta and Adam.
Upon first meeting Kosta we find that there is much more to him than meets the eye. He's The Truth and he helps guide spirits to their final resting place. He returns their memories and sets them free... although some unwillingly. He eventually pursues a new task of locating the antichrist to bring him back to his handlers. Instead Kosta decides to hide the child from all opposing sides. The Catholic Church and the Luciferian Church. That old Nature vs. Nurture debate... yes! Kosta knows the Truth and he's convinced that his way of bringing up Adam will prove his thesis.
Adam is the antichrist. He's seemingly like any other child. Anxious for knowledge, comfort, and love. He's also aware that there is something very different about him. The Seekers pursuing them does not do much to assuage this assumption. With a love of TV and radio, Athanasios develops Adam into a character that is fresh besides the antichrist we all picture in our minds.
Predatory Ethics is a great blend of stories most have come to know through either the Bible, myth, or at least pop-culture (The Omen). Kosta and Adam's story is a unique look in the way we view the antichrist or any other religious icons. Essentially giving these entities the power they possess over us instead of realizing they are human all the same. Humans composed of things good and bad.
The mixture of historic text to support the characters in this novel was essential and helps to bring structure. Although at times it slows the novel down, it's easy to breeze through because finding out the fate of our protagonists is of the highest priority. The tensity and suspense is held at such a level that makes every page worthwhile and adds another layer to the world Athanasios has created.
Ultimately, I am so happy that I've been given the opportunity to read Mad Gods:Predatory Ethics (that's a mouthful). There's more to the series and I'm thankful that Athanasios did not leave lover's of this novel hanging. I recommend this novel to fans of... well a few genres and authors, really. Horror, historical thrillers, supernatural, and Clive Barker (courtesy Albert Robbins III from book cover) fans should take a look at this one.
I admit I've put off reading this book for way too long and it's a shame because this was one awesome trip that I could have taken already and by now moved on to the sequels. Predatory Ethics by Athanasios is the well written, thought-provoking story of Kosta and Adam.
Upon first meeting Kosta we find that there is much more to him than meets the eye. He's The Truth and he helps guide spirits to their final resting place. He returns their memories and sets them free... although some unwillingly. He eventually pursues a new task of locating the antichrist to bring him back to his handlers. Instead Kosta decides to hide the child from all opposing sides. The Catholic Church and the Luciferian Church. That old Nature vs. Nurture debate... yes! Kosta knows the Truth and he's convinced that his way of bringing up Adam will prove his thesis.
Adam is the antichrist. He's seemingly like any other child. Anxious for knowledge, comfort, and love. He's also aware that there is something very different about him. The Seekers pursuing them does not do much to assuage this assumption. With a love of TV and radio, Athanasios develops Adam into a character that is fresh besides the antichrist we all picture in our minds.
Predatory Ethics is a great blend of stories most have come to know through either the Bible, myth, or at least pop-culture (The Omen). Kosta and Adam's story is a unique look in the way we view the antichrist or any other religious icons. Essentially giving these entities the power they possess over us instead of realizing they are human all the same. Humans composed of things good and bad.
The mixture of historic text to support the characters in this novel was essential and helps to bring structure. Although at times it slows the novel down, it's easy to breeze through because finding out the fate of our protagonists is of the highest priority. The tensity and suspense is held at such a level that makes every page worthwhile and adds another layer to the world Athanasios has created.
Ultimately, I am so happy that I've been given the opportunity to read Mad Gods:Predatory Ethics (that's a mouthful). There's more to the series and I'm thankful that Athanasios did not leave lover's of this novel hanging. I recommend this novel to fans of... well a few genres and authors, really. Horror, historical thrillers, supernatural, and Clive Barker (courtesy Albert Robbins III from book cover) fans should take a look at this one.
December 8, 2011
Mad Gods is a repurposing and reimagining of mythology and religion. As such, there is a lot of information here--back story, legends, reinvented interpretations of famous historical occurrences, and how they all piece together in a big ole Xian conspiracy. The book touches on correlations between myths that have always fascinated me, with the adage that everyone believes/has faith in the same thing, only in different ways--and some of them, not so great.
This is a killer book. At times, very shocking, but in a way that isn't outrageous--just an uncomfortable reminder that life is cruel and too often we see things through rose-colored glasses. At other times, it is an upbeat view of pop culture 60s amidst the despair and devastation caused by the Darkness.
Lyrical writing, poetic in tone, as well as absolutely vivid imagery. There are dozens of lines that made me pause and re-read because they ring so full of truth.
As a girl whose own faith operates by duality--light and dark, black and white--yet she exists in a blessedly gray area in between, this novel resonated with me. I'm looking forward to spending more time with Adam in the next book!
This is a killer book. At times, very shocking, but in a way that isn't outrageous--just an uncomfortable reminder that life is cruel and too often we see things through rose-colored glasses. At other times, it is an upbeat view of pop culture 60s amidst the despair and devastation caused by the Darkness.
Lyrical writing, poetic in tone, as well as absolutely vivid imagery. There are dozens of lines that made me pause and re-read because they ring so full of truth.
As a girl whose own faith operates by duality--light and dark, black and white--yet she exists in a blessedly gray area in between, this novel resonated with me. I'm looking forward to spending more time with Adam in the next book!
March 22, 2013
Athanasios takes a lot of risks in the construction of Mad Gods; some of those risks pan out beautifully and some sort of fizzle (especially in the second half). Mad Gods is a synthesis of cult favorites, seamlessly invoking and intertwining Dan Brown, Stephen King and William Blatty along with a ridiculously prolific knowledge of American popular culture from the 1960s and just about every conspiracy theory with any staying power from the time of the Crusades to the present. The story follows the prophesied birth of the anti-Christ in the form of a small child named Adam in Argentina and the web of individuals, from shadowy Knights Templar to zealous Luciferians in their attempts to capture the child and use him for their purposes. Guarding the child is a relic of the past, Kostadino Paleologos, a reluctant hero and a descendent of the rulers of ancient Constantinople before its fall into Muslim hands. Mad Gods encompasses centuries of history and is a clever and plausible revision to commonly accepted Church history in the West. Along the way there's magic, lost tomes and dusty libraries as well as action-packed bursts of good versus evil that put many action writers to shame.
Indulgent and overly explicatory, Mad Gods ultimately spends too much time forcibly connecting the dots between disparate historical events and trying far too hard to make everything fit into the narrative from the Kennedy assassination to the popular false-pope conspiracies of John VI. The novel begins as a historical thriller, and the first half is a taut and purposeful page-turner with interesting mysteries and sound historical contextualization - Indiana Jones meets Robert Langdon in a near-Eastern hero who is enigmatic and complicated. Kostadino is chased by Vatican assassins and directed by ghosts to ancient libraries that reveal lost aspects of history that are thought-provoking and ripe for literary exploitation. (The emphasis on the fall of Constantinople and the Fourth Crusade was especially appealing to me; as a historian who wrote several papers on the subject, I was pleased by the level of scholarship and the depth of the narrative.) Herein lies the weakness of Mad Gods, however. In the first half, Athanasios manages the delicate balance between driving the plot forward and back-building, with the explication serving to give depth to the action and his main character. In the second half, the balance is lost. There are simply too many plot-lines to follow - each with their own massive depth of historical context to delve into, which simply distracts from the present plot. The tension of the deadly game of hide-and-seek Kosta and Adam are playing with the various forces looking for them is lost between chapters of explication and backgrounding for characters who, in the end, didn't really matter all that much and ended up being replaced by a "new" shadow organization in the Black Nobility, who become the driving force of much of the plot only in the last quarter of the book. Don't get me wrong, the sudden puppet master twist can work well in books of this kind, but in this case the many factions are so sub-factionalized you risk losing the reader and the labyrinthine connections and double crosses. When the narrative finally does return to Adam and Kosta, it feels like it's done mostly out of a sense of duty, or an afterthought, catching the reader up to events that have been happening with this central pair of characters while the narrative was busy focused on developing conspiracy theories and in those intervals the author seems to be stuck on a stroll down memory lane, with accountings of whatever music or movies happened to come out in that year taking up 80% of the narrative on this much-neglected track.
Mad Gods does present several very compelling and original ideas and, unlike most works in the genre, has some pretty darn amazing prose to back it up. Athanasios paints beautiful pictures, develops interesting characters, and makes oblique historical references interesting and entertaining, but there's just too much there for one book to stay focused and on-point. There's tremendous potential here, and Athanasios is definitely someone to watch for in the future. I have the feeling a good editor could get the second half to focus as well as the first, which would make for a page-turning, but shorter first volume. Some of the tangential stories are interesting in their own right, but perhaps could be part of a companion volume of short stories that fill in gaps in the main narrative for die-hard fans who want to know all the intricacies worked out in the author's mind.
Indulgent and overly explicatory, Mad Gods ultimately spends too much time forcibly connecting the dots between disparate historical events and trying far too hard to make everything fit into the narrative from the Kennedy assassination to the popular false-pope conspiracies of John VI. The novel begins as a historical thriller, and the first half is a taut and purposeful page-turner with interesting mysteries and sound historical contextualization - Indiana Jones meets Robert Langdon in a near-Eastern hero who is enigmatic and complicated. Kostadino is chased by Vatican assassins and directed by ghosts to ancient libraries that reveal lost aspects of history that are thought-provoking and ripe for literary exploitation. (The emphasis on the fall of Constantinople and the Fourth Crusade was especially appealing to me; as a historian who wrote several papers on the subject, I was pleased by the level of scholarship and the depth of the narrative.) Herein lies the weakness of Mad Gods, however. In the first half, Athanasios manages the delicate balance between driving the plot forward and back-building, with the explication serving to give depth to the action and his main character. In the second half, the balance is lost. There are simply too many plot-lines to follow - each with their own massive depth of historical context to delve into, which simply distracts from the present plot. The tension of the deadly game of hide-and-seek Kosta and Adam are playing with the various forces looking for them is lost between chapters of explication and backgrounding for characters who, in the end, didn't really matter all that much and ended up being replaced by a "new" shadow organization in the Black Nobility, who become the driving force of much of the plot only in the last quarter of the book. Don't get me wrong, the sudden puppet master twist can work well in books of this kind, but in this case the many factions are so sub-factionalized you risk losing the reader and the labyrinthine connections and double crosses. When the narrative finally does return to Adam and Kosta, it feels like it's done mostly out of a sense of duty, or an afterthought, catching the reader up to events that have been happening with this central pair of characters while the narrative was busy focused on developing conspiracy theories and in those intervals the author seems to be stuck on a stroll down memory lane, with accountings of whatever music or movies happened to come out in that year taking up 80% of the narrative on this much-neglected track.
Mad Gods does present several very compelling and original ideas and, unlike most works in the genre, has some pretty darn amazing prose to back it up. Athanasios paints beautiful pictures, develops interesting characters, and makes oblique historical references interesting and entertaining, but there's just too much there for one book to stay focused and on-point. There's tremendous potential here, and Athanasios is definitely someone to watch for in the future. I have the feeling a good editor could get the second half to focus as well as the first, which would make for a page-turning, but shorter first volume. Some of the tangential stories are interesting in their own right, but perhaps could be part of a companion volume of short stories that fill in gaps in the main narrative for die-hard fans who want to know all the intricacies worked out in the author's mind.
May 30, 2013
I was a bit skeptical about this was one in the beginning. It was kinda hard for me because it had some history references that I didn't quite follow as history was my absolute worst subject. Fortunately this didn't last too long before the action that I could understand really got going. One of my favorite things about this novel is that it is pretty fast-paced the entire time.
This was a very unique story line about the anti-Christ and book of Revelations. It took elements from the story most folks know and added in new, interesting twists. I am not even a big fan of biblical type stories,....and to be fair I wouldn't describe this book that way either. It is a thrilling adventure that just happens to be a story about the bringing up of the anti-Christ. The characters are very well-written and are very realistic and believable in their actions. I was drawn in to care about what happens to them and at times the book was very hard for me to walk away from.
I also found that the author was not afraid of some controversial subjects either which was very refreshing and made it even more real for me. I don't want to spoil but there are also some parts with real people that we are all familiar with that really made me laugh and say..."I knew it! Explains a lot"
The one thing I was not a big fan of was all the music and movie references. Sometimes these added to the context of the situation but other times it was just too much for me. Most of the references were before my time so I couldn't quite to relate to these either. Other readers may really enjoy this part.
I highly recommend this one and do plan to pick up the next one in the series.
This was a very unique story line about the anti-Christ and book of Revelations. It took elements from the story most folks know and added in new, interesting twists. I am not even a big fan of biblical type stories,....and to be fair I wouldn't describe this book that way either. It is a thrilling adventure that just happens to be a story about the bringing up of the anti-Christ. The characters are very well-written and are very realistic and believable in their actions. I was drawn in to care about what happens to them and at times the book was very hard for me to walk away from.
I also found that the author was not afraid of some controversial subjects either which was very refreshing and made it even more real for me. I don't want to spoil but there are also some parts with real people that we are all familiar with that really made me laugh and say..."I knew it! Explains a lot"
The one thing I was not a big fan of was all the music and movie references. Sometimes these added to the context of the situation but other times it was just too much for me. Most of the references were before my time so I couldn't quite to relate to these either. Other readers may really enjoy this part.
I highly recommend this one and do plan to pick up the next one in the series.
March 30, 2013
I must say I was surprised by this book, it was described to me as a horror novel with some elements of speculative fiction. What I got was not really horror, or fantasy or even religious fiction but a marriage of all three.
Luckily it also turned out to be a good page turner that was well written and briskly paced, so much that it became an effort to actually put the book down, as the mantra that ran through my head was, just one more chapter.
The author appears to have put a lot of effort into his research and it shows in the details that are throughout the book. These range from historic details, musical notes and even cultural references, these add to the story so much, that the book almost has a sound track as you are reading.
To summarise: A good book, well written and worthy of your time and attention.
Luckily it also turned out to be a good page turner that was well written and briskly paced, so much that it became an effort to actually put the book down, as the mantra that ran through my head was, just one more chapter.
The author appears to have put a lot of effort into his research and it shows in the details that are throughout the book. These range from historic details, musical notes and even cultural references, these add to the story so much, that the book almost has a sound track as you are reading.
To summarise: A good book, well written and worthy of your time and attention.
March 23, 2013
First I have to admit.....Athanasios....this dude is WAY smarter than I am!
Now having said that....great book!
A little confusing at times until I got into it. There is just a whole lot going on!
Not for the overly zealot, sanctimoniously religious, "Oh My, How Dare He!" crowd at all!
Beautiful showing of how an author can take an idea and with exemplary research put that idea into words that can fascinate a reader!
Not to mention make a story that is hell of some creepy!!!!!
Now having said that....great book!
A little confusing at times until I got into it. There is just a whole lot going on!
Not for the overly zealot, sanctimoniously religious, "Oh My, How Dare He!" crowd at all!
Beautiful showing of how an author can take an idea and with exemplary research put that idea into words that can fascinate a reader!
Not to mention make a story that is hell of some creepy!!!!!
August 24, 2013
See my review on my book blog: http://quirkyreader.livejournal.com/3...
January 13, 2011
It's like I knew the ending, wow, what a great read!!!!
May 27, 2011
Mad Gods is a Christ vs. antiChrist novel featuring some very dark and disturbing scenes, blended seamlessly with some very loving and honest parenting by Kosta, the man who steals the newborn antichrist and raises him to make his own decisions.
The evil of the dark church is portrayed through religious sacrifice, homosexual sex, torture and sickly death and, in many cases, betrayal by individuals thought to be of the Christian God’s church. The ability of the author to be so willing to attack the very foundations of the Catholic church, and demonstrate how it rose to power on the backs of the repressed, murdered, and scammed is a work of pure courage. When the novel places a Pope in power that is working for the Luciferians the case for corruption is complete, and the argument is firmly made that religion is not the wholesome goodness that it professes to be.
The most enjoyable of this novel’s features for me, personally, was its exceptional historical background. Immaculately researched and choreographed in terms of historical events, this novel must fall, at least in part, under historical fiction. The depth and breadth of the author’s research of the church and its history, as well as the past lives of the antichrist, as written, are very impressive and speak of many hours of meticulous learning. This gives the novel such a deep historical impact, and such a smooth allegorical association with our actual world that a reader may very well find themselves asking: could this really be happening?
Last, but not least, is the antichrist himself, both in past lives and in the present day, who somehow never manages to accept his role as the devourer of humanity. Rather he always seems to find mentors, teachers, and reasons that allow him to be the best of humanity. In the current incarnation of the antichrist, Adam, he is stolen from his home and the Luciferians who would raise him to do their bidding by a Greek gentleman named Kosta, who finds him and rescues him, and raises him with love and affection in a way that was never planned by Adam’s father and his minions. When push comes to shove, Adam cannot be bought by the greed and lust that is said to move those of his kind, and remains loyal to Kosta and his love and teachings.
If there is a singular flaw in the book, it may simply be that I found the author’s descriptions of the mood of a speaker often placed after the speaker had said their piece. I kept wishing that it was moved to the front of the dialogue, to set the mood first. An almost negligible concern, however, that barely distracted from my enjoyment of this novel.
Finally, the author leaves the ending open in such a way that we cannot be sure if, over time, the antichrist will not be finally swayed to take his mantle of power, and so doom humanity. An opening for the next round of tales.
This reader gives Mad Gods Redux a full 5 out of 5 stars, and recommends it to readers of historical fiction, dark and occult readers, horror readers, and anyone who enjoys an epic story.
The evil of the dark church is portrayed through religious sacrifice, homosexual sex, torture and sickly death and, in many cases, betrayal by individuals thought to be of the Christian God’s church. The ability of the author to be so willing to attack the very foundations of the Catholic church, and demonstrate how it rose to power on the backs of the repressed, murdered, and scammed is a work of pure courage. When the novel places a Pope in power that is working for the Luciferians the case for corruption is complete, and the argument is firmly made that religion is not the wholesome goodness that it professes to be.
The most enjoyable of this novel’s features for me, personally, was its exceptional historical background. Immaculately researched and choreographed in terms of historical events, this novel must fall, at least in part, under historical fiction. The depth and breadth of the author’s research of the church and its history, as well as the past lives of the antichrist, as written, are very impressive and speak of many hours of meticulous learning. This gives the novel such a deep historical impact, and such a smooth allegorical association with our actual world that a reader may very well find themselves asking: could this really be happening?
Last, but not least, is the antichrist himself, both in past lives and in the present day, who somehow never manages to accept his role as the devourer of humanity. Rather he always seems to find mentors, teachers, and reasons that allow him to be the best of humanity. In the current incarnation of the antichrist, Adam, he is stolen from his home and the Luciferians who would raise him to do their bidding by a Greek gentleman named Kosta, who finds him and rescues him, and raises him with love and affection in a way that was never planned by Adam’s father and his minions. When push comes to shove, Adam cannot be bought by the greed and lust that is said to move those of his kind, and remains loyal to Kosta and his love and teachings.
If there is a singular flaw in the book, it may simply be that I found the author’s descriptions of the mood of a speaker often placed after the speaker had said their piece. I kept wishing that it was moved to the front of the dialogue, to set the mood first. An almost negligible concern, however, that barely distracted from my enjoyment of this novel.
Finally, the author leaves the ending open in such a way that we cannot be sure if, over time, the antichrist will not be finally swayed to take his mantle of power, and so doom humanity. An opening for the next round of tales.
This reader gives Mad Gods Redux a full 5 out of 5 stars, and recommends it to readers of historical fiction, dark and occult readers, horror readers, and anyone who enjoys an epic story.
December 12, 2011
First and foremost, let me say that I started reading Mad Gods with more than a little skepticism and was fully prepared to have to slog through a written work that I figured was more politically coded than the Bible. I was prepared to be bored out of my mind, Athanasios and you can be annoyed with me for it later but read this review first and perhaps you’ll change your mind about it.
You see, I had interviewed Athanasios at one point and during the course of said interview, he had explained what Predatory Ethics means to him. His definition was something akin to, “Do unto you because I can,” and since he’d written a few works about it and I had read the reviews and garnered some small kernel of the plot line from them, he asked me to read and review the books. Now that I’ve read Mad Gods I must say that I’m glad I have because it was not only an interesting and engaging read, it has underlying meaning and morals intricately interwoven into the storyline that are impossible to miss. Athanasios seems quite adept at multitasking in his written works and I can respect that.
I couldn’t help but notice one consistently underlying theme through out the entire story and it was as simple as this: Destiny is not preordained or predetermined, your life and the direction it takes has everything to do with the choices you make. While a person’s path may be set in front of them, it is up to them to determine which direction that path goes. It’s integral to the story and carved like stone into the plotline.
I enjoyed the blending of religious iconography with mysticism and mythology as well as occultism. Mad Gods was an artful and masterful blend of all the myths, legends, rituals, rites and beliefs to which everyone clings, both the religious and the faithful and it painted a vivid portrait of the writers’ beliefs about the circumstances that brought about all our modern day faiths. Athanasios has a remarkable grasp on historical religions and myths and legends and their influence on the modern day right down to the everyday choices we make.
In the end, I’d have to give Mad Gods a four star rating because there are formatting issues that took me out of the story at first. I thought that it was patterned for dialogue and wondered at it until I noticed that there really was no discernable pattern and I was thereafter able to disregard it and just continue reading. There are also some punctuation errors though I want to stress that they didn’t interrupt the story or take from the storyline for me. I do believe that this is not a work for anyone who is easily offended or for kids because there are openly sexual encounters and though they’re realistically not terribly descriptive, they are not for those who don’t like written illustrations of same sex encounters. I really liked Mad Gods and believe that anyone with an open mind will think the exact same thing I did when they read it; Well done, Athanasios!
You see, I had interviewed Athanasios at one point and during the course of said interview, he had explained what Predatory Ethics means to him. His definition was something akin to, “Do unto you because I can,” and since he’d written a few works about it and I had read the reviews and garnered some small kernel of the plot line from them, he asked me to read and review the books. Now that I’ve read Mad Gods I must say that I’m glad I have because it was not only an interesting and engaging read, it has underlying meaning and morals intricately interwoven into the storyline that are impossible to miss. Athanasios seems quite adept at multitasking in his written works and I can respect that.
I couldn’t help but notice one consistently underlying theme through out the entire story and it was as simple as this: Destiny is not preordained or predetermined, your life and the direction it takes has everything to do with the choices you make. While a person’s path may be set in front of them, it is up to them to determine which direction that path goes. It’s integral to the story and carved like stone into the plotline.
I enjoyed the blending of religious iconography with mysticism and mythology as well as occultism. Mad Gods was an artful and masterful blend of all the myths, legends, rituals, rites and beliefs to which everyone clings, both the religious and the faithful and it painted a vivid portrait of the writers’ beliefs about the circumstances that brought about all our modern day faiths. Athanasios has a remarkable grasp on historical religions and myths and legends and their influence on the modern day right down to the everyday choices we make.
In the end, I’d have to give Mad Gods a four star rating because there are formatting issues that took me out of the story at first. I thought that it was patterned for dialogue and wondered at it until I noticed that there really was no discernable pattern and I was thereafter able to disregard it and just continue reading. There are also some punctuation errors though I want to stress that they didn’t interrupt the story or take from the storyline for me. I do believe that this is not a work for anyone who is easily offended or for kids because there are openly sexual encounters and though they’re realistically not terribly descriptive, they are not for those who don’t like written illustrations of same sex encounters. I really liked Mad Gods and believe that anyone with an open mind will think the exact same thing I did when they read it; Well done, Athanasios!
September 11, 2012
Overall Feedback: So here I was on the IWU Facebook group page, minding my own business when I start getting comments from an author I had yet to have a conversation with. Oh my, me not having talked to an author, oh the humanity. Anyway he points me in the direction of his book, I know, I know, big surprise! So I invite him to submit and so he does. I get his work and read it with a promise that the review would post in a week or so. So here I am at the so as the week has since past. So without further boring chatter from me here is that promised review. Before starting the book I went to Amazon and looked it up and read some of the reviews along with the description, these intrigued me. I mean a book that talks about religion and whatnot but does not overly extend itself to the mantra of this is the end. Come on those do not exist, there has to be something in there that will offend my religion bone, something at all. I then went to Athanasios's (Adam's)blog/website and had a little tour of what I may be in for. Upon visiting and reading some of his posts I could tell that I was in for a well researched and well written book so I stopped the procrastination and started to read. By the second page I was hooked and by the end I was a believer. Athanasios has this way of dragging you into his story without the reader even fully realizing what happened. I would liken it to candy, you start with a little and before you realize it the bag is gone and your kids are asking where the Halloween candy went. I dare you to stop anywhere in this book without trying to pick it back up and continuing to read. A richly told story that will have you questioning the kind of person you are and asking one question. Can a person change?
Point of View: You are looking into Kostadino Paleologos's world and the work he does so well.
Voice: If you are looking at this one stop and buy the book as Athanasios does more than spectacular in moving the reader with the voice in his book.
Character Development: Step right in line with every character and feel every obstacle and emotion in their way. Athanasios will move you with his characters.
Plot: Think 300 with some Clive Barker and a little bit of the Exorcist thrown in for good measure(to paraphrase another review. The plot will drive you to never stop with the reading and you will have to move to the next page.
Dialogue: The dialogue really made me feel as if I was part of the story and making my appearance in the world Athanasios had built.
Pacing: Again Athanasios will astound you with a plot that not only seems real but will also have you on the edge as you make your way through it.
Setting: Our world, immortal beings (not Vampires or werewolves) need I say more.
Continuity: From beginning to end this one does not miss one single detail. Athanasios does well to ensure a complete plot and storyline without losing the feel of any characters. Absolutely stellar storytelling.
Point of View: You are looking into Kostadino Paleologos's world and the work he does so well.
Voice: If you are looking at this one stop and buy the book as Athanasios does more than spectacular in moving the reader with the voice in his book.
Character Development: Step right in line with every character and feel every obstacle and emotion in their way. Athanasios will move you with his characters.
Plot: Think 300 with some Clive Barker and a little bit of the Exorcist thrown in for good measure(to paraphrase another review. The plot will drive you to never stop with the reading and you will have to move to the next page.
Dialogue: The dialogue really made me feel as if I was part of the story and making my appearance in the world Athanasios had built.
Pacing: Again Athanasios will astound you with a plot that not only seems real but will also have you on the edge as you make your way through it.
Setting: Our world, immortal beings (not Vampires or werewolves) need I say more.
Continuity: From beginning to end this one does not miss one single detail. Athanasios does well to ensure a complete plot and storyline without losing the feel of any characters. Absolutely stellar storytelling.
March 27, 2013
Conspiracy, treachery, corruption and greed are the motive power for all of human history in this tale of the birth and rebirth of Lucifer's Son. It is a roiling bubbling stew of Templars and Masons, Catholics, Gnostics, Orthodox and Perfecti, striving with each other over centuries of history to control society and attain power over the world. Into this world of boiling nastiness, is born a child who was prophesied to be the Antichrist, Satan's own son. There is a lot of room for plot twists in this concept and the author provides quite a few. With all of this rich manure to fertilize the fields of imagination, Athanasios plants and reaps with wild abandon, hustling his reader from Byzantium to Alexandria to South America, north to San Francisco, north again to a remote Canadian island. His tale covers history from Thermopylae to the 1960's.
Soooo---what is good and what is bad here? Firstly, imagination. There is a lot of play here. I loved the concept of a family whose job it is to set free the ghosts of lost Byzantium. So cool! Sadly we didn't get very much of this as the author quickly moved the character on to other purposes. This character, Kostas Paleologos, becomes the nanny and father-figure for the Antichrist. Again, so COOL! How could you fault an imagination like this? I also loved George H. W. as Dark Nobility. Wow! (I always knew there was something rotten---) The use of popular culture to illustrate the infant hell spawn's development was , again, SOOOO COOL!. The demon child, shaped and redeemed by Stanley Kubrick and The Beatles. Wazoo! What a concept! Could we ask for anything more? Well---yes.
The edition of this story that I read was 284 pages long. I suggest that a good editing of this sprawl could tighten it up to about 260 and improve it materially. To say that the characters were talky is like saying Lake Michigan is damp. They were maxi-verbal, prolix and preachy. Too much is worse than not enough. A corollary to this thought is that good editing might have lessened some of the confusion I felt as the story developed. The exposition of the plot was jerky and felt a little shaky at times. This can be overlooked if the plot is fast paced, but when the rhythm falters, the reader can become distracted by inconsistent plot development. In particular, the climactic scene had many characters and lots of action, but I had to read it twice to be sure I understood who did what to whom. Sorta took some of the fun out of it.
This book is dark and creepy. It portrays wickedness for the sake of pleasure, corruption, perversion and the dark, damp, squishy parts of the human heart. Don't go here if you are squeamish or prudish. You'll be offended and perhaps frightened. But if you like a frisson of terror in your comfy armchair reading, this is your meat.
Soooo---what is good and what is bad here? Firstly, imagination. There is a lot of play here. I loved the concept of a family whose job it is to set free the ghosts of lost Byzantium. So cool! Sadly we didn't get very much of this as the author quickly moved the character on to other purposes. This character, Kostas Paleologos, becomes the nanny and father-figure for the Antichrist. Again, so COOL! How could you fault an imagination like this? I also loved George H. W. as Dark Nobility. Wow! (I always knew there was something rotten---) The use of popular culture to illustrate the infant hell spawn's development was , again, SOOOO COOL!. The demon child, shaped and redeemed by Stanley Kubrick and The Beatles. Wazoo! What a concept! Could we ask for anything more? Well---yes.
The edition of this story that I read was 284 pages long. I suggest that a good editing of this sprawl could tighten it up to about 260 and improve it materially. To say that the characters were talky is like saying Lake Michigan is damp. They were maxi-verbal, prolix and preachy. Too much is worse than not enough. A corollary to this thought is that good editing might have lessened some of the confusion I felt as the story developed. The exposition of the plot was jerky and felt a little shaky at times. This can be overlooked if the plot is fast paced, but when the rhythm falters, the reader can become distracted by inconsistent plot development. In particular, the climactic scene had many characters and lots of action, but I had to read it twice to be sure I understood who did what to whom. Sorta took some of the fun out of it.
This book is dark and creepy. It portrays wickedness for the sake of pleasure, corruption, perversion and the dark, damp, squishy parts of the human heart. Don't go here if you are squeamish or prudish. You'll be offended and perhaps frightened. But if you like a frisson of terror in your comfy armchair reading, this is your meat.
May 3, 2013
Predatory Ethics By Athanasios
The book opens on May 29, 1960, in Istanbul. Kosta roams the city, preparing to harvest lost souls. He serves as the Truth, as one member of his family has for hundreds of years. He searches for those still locked in the year 1453, in Kostadinoupoli. As he prepares to gather the last soul, the last Byzantine Emperor, his own ancestor, the Emperor tells him to seek out his former teacher Plathon, to be told of yet another task.
He was sent to locate the Iammah-Gan Codex. This codex reveals that the Anti-Christ is about to be born, as well as the location of the birth. Additionally, reading this text (which must only be done in natural light so that the shadows do not alter the text and take over the mind of the reader) convinces Kosta that he must find the infant, kidnap him and rear him away from the influences of either the Satanic church or the Christian church. The child must be allowed the power to make his own decisions.
At the same time, Balzeer McGrath, leader of the church for the Dark Lord, searches for the infant who will rule the earth with evil intent. He plans to take the child for Satan’s church. Of course the child should serve his father, as is his birthright, Balzeer and his followers reason.
Tino Quentin serves the Catholic Church as one of the Knights Templar in covert operations for the “Brotherhood of the Temple.” He searches ancient tomes for information about the evil child to be born into the world. The child should be destroyed. He is evil, as his father surely indicates.
On February 5, 1962 in San Paulo, Argentina the child is born. The location is not as prophesized. The child is definitely not normal; the mother dies as a result of childbirth. Rumors about the child abound. The father is frightened of the changes he sees.
The author has written a seriously intellectual novel about the effects of free will and accountability. One must also look closely at the age-old arguments of nature versus nurture. Which is more important in the grand scheme of things?
As Adam says, predatory ethics is “when you prey on the weak because you can.” The author describes the darkness that exists in Adam that can be sent out to destroy; reminding the reader that it is a choice he makes to send out this darkness.
The novel provides a profound reflection of the effects of religion (any religion) on society. It is a very complex work that touches on many of society’s ills and shows the profound effects of the lack of accountability. I was impressed by the depth of thought that went into this work.
This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review in coordination with Goodreads’ Read for Review program.
The book opens on May 29, 1960, in Istanbul. Kosta roams the city, preparing to harvest lost souls. He serves as the Truth, as one member of his family has for hundreds of years. He searches for those still locked in the year 1453, in Kostadinoupoli. As he prepares to gather the last soul, the last Byzantine Emperor, his own ancestor, the Emperor tells him to seek out his former teacher Plathon, to be told of yet another task.
He was sent to locate the Iammah-Gan Codex. This codex reveals that the Anti-Christ is about to be born, as well as the location of the birth. Additionally, reading this text (which must only be done in natural light so that the shadows do not alter the text and take over the mind of the reader) convinces Kosta that he must find the infant, kidnap him and rear him away from the influences of either the Satanic church or the Christian church. The child must be allowed the power to make his own decisions.
At the same time, Balzeer McGrath, leader of the church for the Dark Lord, searches for the infant who will rule the earth with evil intent. He plans to take the child for Satan’s church. Of course the child should serve his father, as is his birthright, Balzeer and his followers reason.
Tino Quentin serves the Catholic Church as one of the Knights Templar in covert operations for the “Brotherhood of the Temple.” He searches ancient tomes for information about the evil child to be born into the world. The child should be destroyed. He is evil, as his father surely indicates.
On February 5, 1962 in San Paulo, Argentina the child is born. The location is not as prophesized. The child is definitely not normal; the mother dies as a result of childbirth. Rumors about the child abound. The father is frightened of the changes he sees.
The author has written a seriously intellectual novel about the effects of free will and accountability. One must also look closely at the age-old arguments of nature versus nurture. Which is more important in the grand scheme of things?
As Adam says, predatory ethics is “when you prey on the weak because you can.” The author describes the darkness that exists in Adam that can be sent out to destroy; reminding the reader that it is a choice he makes to send out this darkness.
The novel provides a profound reflection of the effects of religion (any religion) on society. It is a very complex work that touches on many of society’s ills and shows the profound effects of the lack of accountability. I was impressed by the depth of thought that went into this work.
This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review in coordination with Goodreads’ Read for Review program.
June 30, 2013
This distinctly fascinating read re-imagines mythology, history and Gods to form a unique outlook.
‘Predatory Ethics’ book 1: Mad Gods is a supremely singular, controversial read that explores secret organizations and religious beliefs. The author focuses on the book of revelations, with parts re-discovered in a totally new light in an anti-Christ way. Being a Christian myself I did find this bold book really interesting to read, as well as being impressed by how cleverly the author combines a solid storyline with varying viewpoints. In-depth and deliciously detailed this profoundly thought-provoking read, is something that could cause contention besides agreement. Capturing quintessentially today’s society, it is clear to see how this is also a realistic narrative filled with inspiring and truth-drawing premise.
Some quotes were instantly brought to mind when reflecting upon this book….
“It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”
― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
Anyone interested in myths and legends, beliefs, traditions and religion will undoubtedly find this book very intriguing and a compelling read. There is so much that shapes our lives and influences our decisions in life, ultimately shaping the course of the future…and so this exploration into that does bring nostalgia and truism to the fore. Athanasios’s own personal views and beliefs are expressed freely through the writing and he paints a very clear, vivid picture of those circumstances which have brought about our modern day faiths. I would classify this book as historical/ religious and which does also contain some scenes of same sex* whilst journeying across the globe; from Egypt to Turkey, the USA and the Vatican. If you enjoy a religious mystery (i.e. Dan Brown etc.) then this should definitely be added to your ‘must-read’ list!
This book (both the genre and content) is something that I wouldn’t normally read, and despite being extremely well-written it was just not my ‘cup of tea’ hence the rating. 3.5 stars
*I won a copy of “Predatory Ethics: Mad Gods book 1” through a Goodreads, first-read giveaway*
‘Predatory Ethics’ book 1: Mad Gods is a supremely singular, controversial read that explores secret organizations and religious beliefs. The author focuses on the book of revelations, with parts re-discovered in a totally new light in an anti-Christ way. Being a Christian myself I did find this bold book really interesting to read, as well as being impressed by how cleverly the author combines a solid storyline with varying viewpoints. In-depth and deliciously detailed this profoundly thought-provoking read, is something that could cause contention besides agreement. Capturing quintessentially today’s society, it is clear to see how this is also a realistic narrative filled with inspiring and truth-drawing premise.
Some quotes were instantly brought to mind when reflecting upon this book….
“It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”
― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
Anyone interested in myths and legends, beliefs, traditions and religion will undoubtedly find this book very intriguing and a compelling read. There is so much that shapes our lives and influences our decisions in life, ultimately shaping the course of the future…and so this exploration into that does bring nostalgia and truism to the fore. Athanasios’s own personal views and beliefs are expressed freely through the writing and he paints a very clear, vivid picture of those circumstances which have brought about our modern day faiths. I would classify this book as historical/ religious and which does also contain some scenes of same sex* whilst journeying across the globe; from Egypt to Turkey, the USA and the Vatican. If you enjoy a religious mystery (i.e. Dan Brown etc.) then this should definitely be added to your ‘must-read’ list!
This book (both the genre and content) is something that I wouldn’t normally read, and despite being extremely well-written it was just not my ‘cup of tea’ hence the rating. 3.5 stars
*I won a copy of “Predatory Ethics: Mad Gods book 1” through a Goodreads, first-read giveaway*
April 17, 2013
Revelation Cancelled, is actually teased in the short story I Am Eternal, as a book that Simon is reading, and it is the first of the “Predatory Ethics" series. It is the story of the growing up of the anti-Christ, and all the forces (Catholic church, Templars, Satanists) that want to control and use him when he comes of age.
When this book opened, it did not seem like it was the story of the anti-Christ: rather, it was the story of a man struggling with his calling. The way the story was setup was different, with it jumping around from place to place, and as the book progressed, from time to time. After the man accepted his calling, he took the anti-Christ under his wing and began teaching him, and the world continued on around them, with both of them “oblivious” to what was going on, but at the same time, the caregiver was prepared for anything, which does happen at the end.
The story was deeply detailed, and well-researched, with flashbacks to ancient times showing previous incarnations of the anti-Christ, all of which ended with his dying. It also introduced us to Simon Magus (yes, the same one from I Am Eternal), only much younger, and much hungrier for something to believe in. I was intrigued with the discussions between Magus and the Byzantine-time anti-Christ and their depth of understanding of what they were discussing.
The subplots concerning the Catholics, the Templars, and the Satanists all trying to locate the anti-Christ was intriguing, and kept me guessing as to whether or not I was going to turn the page and find one of them in the anti-Christ’s house, leading him away for their bidding.
The book was definitely a deep book and you can easily find yourself getting lost in it, but be warned that it is not for someone who is not grounded in their faith, as it could sway your beliefs. There are deep rituals described in the book, and a lot of swearing and violence, especially toward the end.
If you want a story of “what-if” for the anti-Christ, then I heartily recommend both of these books for you to get. If blood, gore, swearing, and violence is not your cup of tea, then steer clear. You have been warned.
When this book opened, it did not seem like it was the story of the anti-Christ: rather, it was the story of a man struggling with his calling. The way the story was setup was different, with it jumping around from place to place, and as the book progressed, from time to time. After the man accepted his calling, he took the anti-Christ under his wing and began teaching him, and the world continued on around them, with both of them “oblivious” to what was going on, but at the same time, the caregiver was prepared for anything, which does happen at the end.
The story was deeply detailed, and well-researched, with flashbacks to ancient times showing previous incarnations of the anti-Christ, all of which ended with his dying. It also introduced us to Simon Magus (yes, the same one from I Am Eternal), only much younger, and much hungrier for something to believe in. I was intrigued with the discussions between Magus and the Byzantine-time anti-Christ and their depth of understanding of what they were discussing.
The subplots concerning the Catholics, the Templars, and the Satanists all trying to locate the anti-Christ was intriguing, and kept me guessing as to whether or not I was going to turn the page and find one of them in the anti-Christ’s house, leading him away for their bidding.
The book was definitely a deep book and you can easily find yourself getting lost in it, but be warned that it is not for someone who is not grounded in their faith, as it could sway your beliefs. There are deep rituals described in the book, and a lot of swearing and violence, especially toward the end.
If you want a story of “what-if” for the anti-Christ, then I heartily recommend both of these books for you to get. If blood, gore, swearing, and violence is not your cup of tea, then steer clear. You have been warned.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2013
An enjoyable speculative fiction novel.
Predatory Ethics 1:Mad Gods is an exceptional alternate history novel, with elements of historic fiction, supernatural, and religious conspiracy.
The story is presented from a 3rd person omniscient point of view as we follow Kostadino Paleologos through a 1960s-era journey to circumvent the rise of the biblical antichrist (and the events of the Book of Revelation). The story takes us to Turkey, Egypt, the Vatican, South America and the United States.
Fans of religious arcana and conspiracy will enjoy this novel. Author Athanasios provides lush descriptions of the locations we visit, at times evoking the style of Gustave Flaubert's "Salammbô" with the details--especially in flashback sequences to the Ancient Near East and pre-Roman France. The later half of the novel also raises questions about the duality of nature, good and evil. Throughout it all, the novel builds momentum and becomes quite a page-turner.
Overall, I greatly enjoyed Mad Gods. It's descriptive passages are unusual in modern fiction and are a delight to read. The editing is meticulous; what few errors there are do not detract from the fantastic (and fantastical) narrative.
I look forward to reading more in this series and am impressed by Athanasios's mastery of religious fiction.
(Disclosure: The author provided an electronic copy of this novel for review.)
Predatory Ethics 1:Mad Gods is an exceptional alternate history novel, with elements of historic fiction, supernatural, and religious conspiracy.
The story is presented from a 3rd person omniscient point of view as we follow Kostadino Paleologos through a 1960s-era journey to circumvent the rise of the biblical antichrist (and the events of the Book of Revelation). The story takes us to Turkey, Egypt, the Vatican, South America and the United States.
Fans of religious arcana and conspiracy will enjoy this novel. Author Athanasios provides lush descriptions of the locations we visit, at times evoking the style of Gustave Flaubert's "Salammbô" with the details--especially in flashback sequences to the Ancient Near East and pre-Roman France. The later half of the novel also raises questions about the duality of nature, good and evil. Throughout it all, the novel builds momentum and becomes quite a page-turner.
Overall, I greatly enjoyed Mad Gods. It's descriptive passages are unusual in modern fiction and are a delight to read. The editing is meticulous; what few errors there are do not detract from the fantastic (and fantastical) narrative.
I look forward to reading more in this series and am impressed by Athanasios's mastery of religious fiction.
(Disclosure: The author provided an electronic copy of this novel for review.)
July 4, 2013
Mad Gods alternatively had me captivated and excited to read what would happen next, and then glazing over a bit with the deluge of information and new characters.
I like history. It can be fascinating and reveal all kinds of human behavior. This was very apparent in this book; the first thing that comes to mind is the history of Constantinople and Kosta's ties to it. It provided a link between the past and present, and I found that I enjoyed this. I also enjoyed the history battle between Kosta and the ghosts, it was enlightening and still entertaining.
I did get a bit confused with the characters. There were so many introduced all the way until the end of the novel, and wouldn't be mentioned until chapters later. I'd find myself scrambling, trying to remember who this character was or what that one had done. I just plain don't remember who Quentin was, but I remember the name! Perhaps because I wasn't expecting this novel to have so much information I didn't retain all the names and history as well as I normally would have.
It's in a class all its own. It was historical fiction, a thriller, a mystery, a supernatural urban fantasy kind of thing, etc. It touched on basically every conspiracy theory and found a way to tie details together in such a way that it actually made sense. A solid read.
I like history. It can be fascinating and reveal all kinds of human behavior. This was very apparent in this book; the first thing that comes to mind is the history of Constantinople and Kosta's ties to it. It provided a link between the past and present, and I found that I enjoyed this. I also enjoyed the history battle between Kosta and the ghosts, it was enlightening and still entertaining.
I did get a bit confused with the characters. There were so many introduced all the way until the end of the novel, and wouldn't be mentioned until chapters later. I'd find myself scrambling, trying to remember who this character was or what that one had done. I just plain don't remember who Quentin was, but I remember the name! Perhaps because I wasn't expecting this novel to have so much information I didn't retain all the names and history as well as I normally would have.
It's in a class all its own. It was historical fiction, a thriller, a mystery, a supernatural urban fantasy kind of thing, etc. It touched on basically every conspiracy theory and found a way to tie details together in such a way that it actually made sense. A solid read.
March 30, 2013
Mad Gods by Athanasios is a post modern occult thriller, darkly reminsiscent of Frank Perritti and Lovecraft. What the author does very well is create a lean, tense mood that drives the storyline throughout the book. Also very good is the use of multiple narrative devices employed to keep the reader engaged. But keeping the reader engaged is not a problem as Athanasios has crafted an imaginative, well researched tale of Revelation with plenty of twists. More than just a revisionist Left Behind series, Mad Gods is a dramatic new concept. I especially liked the layers of history and numerous connections to actual people and places. In a perverse way, this is also a fun book, the author telling a dark tale but with a sophisticated wit.
April 18, 2013
Athanasios weaves a great sense of historical reality within a tense quick rambling story close enough to reality to be chilling.
Predatory Ethics exists in a world of interwoven conspiracy and frighteningly possible interventions perpetrated by the rich and powerful forces controlling the world from behind the scenes and from underneath the altars of the enduring religious forces which insert themselves in the workings of mankind's dealings, controlling government and world economies like flicking a switch.
From beginning to end Predatory Ethics engages and entertains any reader lucky enough to open it up.
Predatory Ethics exists in a world of interwoven conspiracy and frighteningly possible interventions perpetrated by the rich and powerful forces controlling the world from behind the scenes and from underneath the altars of the enduring religious forces which insert themselves in the workings of mankind's dealings, controlling government and world economies like flicking a switch.
From beginning to end Predatory Ethics engages and entertains any reader lucky enough to open it up.
April 2, 2013
This book was one of the most interesting I have read in a long time. I'm always studying ancient conspiracies and religions, so this was right up my alley.
It was well written, and kept my attention. I have to admit that I did get confused in some parts because there were so many different factions involved, but overall, I finished the book understanding the grand scheme.
I really liked where the author went and without giving too much away, the main idea of the book was something I hadn't thought about before.
Overall, a very good book and I would recommend it to others.
It was well written, and kept my attention. I have to admit that I did get confused in some parts because there were so many different factions involved, but overall, I finished the book understanding the grand scheme.
I really liked where the author went and without giving too much away, the main idea of the book was something I hadn't thought about before.
Overall, a very good book and I would recommend it to others.
April 11, 2013
This was a bit of a surprise to me. I expected speculative fiction, but did not expect to connect with the characters in this read. Well written, really draws you in to the story of Kostadino and his life's work. The author takes his time on building this world for us, adding historical details to make it believable. Mad Gods takes an aspect of religious fiction and weaves it with myth and original thought. I really enjoyed this and am looking forward to reading more from Athanasios.
(An electronic copy was provided for review.)
(An electronic copy was provided for review.)
April 9, 2013
I received a message from the author in my Goodreads mail asking if I would review their books. I don't normally read ebooks but I do love horror novels. The first book introduces you to Adam, Kosta and a few other main characters. Kosta is sent in search of a codex. During the book a child is born who is believed to be the son of Satan themself. Kosta will do whatever it takes to protect this child. The book also shows how destiny can be changed.
May 14, 2013
The book tell us about the ethernal fight between good and evil. I was surprised when i seen this battle have more than two sides, and We can see the Antichrist from an another angle.
The story take us back and forth between different times and places. Speak to us about Templars, ancient codexes, secrets, conspiracy theories, truths.
It is an interesting book, but isn't that easy night reading kind for better sleep...
The story take us back and forth between different times and places. Speak to us about Templars, ancient codexes, secrets, conspiracy theories, truths.
It is an interesting book, but isn't that easy night reading kind for better sleep...
May 16, 2013
This is a dense novel which combines all sorts of religous beliefs and historical facts into a fascinating tale that jumps around over time and mold an entirely new take on faith and all religions. It's a daunting and daring task that is well researched and ends up being very interesting. To tell more would spoil the enjoyment.
http://fringesofhorror.blogspot.com
June 16, 2013
Few books allow the reader to think about what it might be like to step into intersection of the Gods and the things that go bump into the night. When giving over one's agreement to a Being that would only grant your request if it served their purpose in some way, you can practically see the trouble coming. This was a great book and I recommend it.
June 2, 2013
I just loved this book. Its a great mix of conspiracy theory and modern day occult, I could keep on going.
Not a book to read in one sitting, it needs time to sink in.
I'd highly recommend it
Not a book to read in one sitting, it needs time to sink in.
I'd highly recommend it
June 6, 2013
A strange story but an enjoyable one of how we are the ones who decide our destiny no outside forces have the most influences than our choices.
June 1, 2013
I would first like to thank the author for giving me an e-book copy of this story to review.
Sadly this book was just not my cup of tea.
At times I was very confused as to what was going on.
I really liked Adam as a character and a paradox at that (nature vs nuture). As well as the past lives. With both sides, or parts, to him being separate in some life times and as a whole body in others.
Sadly this book was just not my cup of tea.
At times I was very confused as to what was going on.
I really liked Adam as a character and a paradox at that (nature vs nuture). As well as the past lives. With both sides, or parts, to him being separate in some life times and as a whole body in others.
first-reads
June 3, 2013No rating because it wouldn't be fair to the story.
Im having issues getting through the paperback. There are commas everywhere and yet not where they are needed.
The Prologue starts May 289th, 1960, Istanbul, Turkey ... no that is not a typo on my part! The book actually has May 289th, 1960 as the beginning date.
I have to re-read sentences. The story is there and it's a great story but to much of a headache reading everything twice because of punctuation issues.
Im having issues getting through the paperback. There are commas everywhere and yet not where they are needed.
The Prologue starts May 289th, 1960, Istanbul, Turkey ... no that is not a typo on my part! The book actually has May 289th, 1960 as the beginning date.
I have to re-read sentences. The story is there and it's a great story but to much of a headache reading everything twice because of punctuation issues.
April 17, 2013
It felt good in my hands.
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