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Empire of Light
Matt's ex-girlfriend is caught up in a cult. Trapped in the murky uncertainty of good and evil where even his own feelings are suspect, Matt must race to find her, and to uncover the true nature and power of the Empire of Light.
Matt Kelly is shocked when his ex-girlfriend Anna Barrett joins a shadowy organization known as Imperium Luminis--and disappears. As Matt researches Imperium Luminis, he finds himself both strangely attracted to the group's aspirations, and suspicious about their intentions. But when he begins to uncover some questionable practices, and becomes convinced that Imperium Luminis is actually a cult, Matt decides to persuade Anna that she has been deceived--even going so far as to pretend to join Imperium Luminis himself. But how can one pretend to join? Trapped in this murky uncertainty of good and evil, where truth twists into lies, where even his own feelings are suspect, Matt must race to find Anna, and to uncover the true nature, and the true power, of the Empire of Light.
Matt Kelly is shocked when his ex-girlfriend Anna Barrett joins a shadowy organization known as Imperium Luminis--and disappears. As Matt researches Imperium Luminis, he finds himself both strangely attracted to the group's aspirations, and suspicious about their intentions. But when he begins to uncover some questionable practices, and becomes convinced that Imperium Luminis is actually a cult, Matt decides to persuade Anna that she has been deceived--even going so far as to pretend to join Imperium Luminis himself. But how can one pretend to join? Trapped in this murky uncertainty of good and evil, where truth twists into lies, where even his own feelings are suspect, Matt must race to find Anna, and to uncover the true nature, and the true power, of the Empire of Light.
236 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2003
68 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
December 6, 2017
Onvan : Empire of Light - Nevisande : David Czuchlewski - ISBN : 399151036 - ISBN13 : 9780399151033 - Dar 236 Safhe - Saal e Chap : 2003
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July 27, 2011Brilliant novel, and an eerie concept of something so real in our society. This author did his homework; I actually looked up online to see if the Empire of Light existed--so realistically did he depict his fictitious cult in this novel. And what colorful imagery he used to describe fear, Italy, Anna's hair, the detailed procedures of the initiation. A novel that will haunt its reader months after being read...
June 4, 2020
Just like The Muse Asylum, this novel can be categorized as a psychological thriller, just a thriller, or an action novel. Regardless, it is intelligent and a relatively fast-paced book.
I appreciated the impression we get of the Empire of Light, given that it can be considered a cult, but its members would disagree, and it has many aspects that could place it on one side or the other, rather than being an obvious Davinci Code-esque evil secret society.
The main character did annoy me somewhat. And the ending was frustrating, but I imagine it was supposed to be.
***SPOILERS BELOW*****
The juxtapositions were revealing, although I'm not sure I grasped everything they were supposed to reveal. There were definite contrasts between the narrator's father, who did the right thing (back in Vietnam) but attained bad results. While Giuseppe Conti (and the Imperium Luminis) would do the wrong thing, but with the 'right' results.
Another one was how Giuseppe Conti seemed to hate his sheep. I'm sure there is some analogy here about how Jesus loved his "flock" and God said to be a shepherd among men. But again, I'm not sure what the exact analogy is supposed to represent.
I appreciated the impression we get of the Empire of Light, given that it can be considered a cult, but its members would disagree, and it has many aspects that could place it on one side or the other, rather than being an obvious Davinci Code-esque evil secret society.
The main character did annoy me somewhat. And the ending was frustrating, but I imagine it was supposed to be.
***SPOILERS BELOW*****
The juxtapositions were revealing, although I'm not sure I grasped everything they were supposed to reveal. There were definite contrasts between the narrator's father, who did the right thing (back in Vietnam) but attained bad results. While Giuseppe Conti (and the Imperium Luminis) would do the wrong thing, but with the 'right' results.
Another one was how Giuseppe Conti seemed to hate his sheep. I'm sure there is some analogy here about how Jesus loved his "flock" and God said to be a shepherd among men. But again, I'm not sure what the exact analogy is supposed to represent.
October 11, 2019
Ik heb hard getwijfeld over het aantal sterren dat ik dit boek zou geven. Uiteindelijk hou ik het bij drie.
Waarom?
De plot zelf zou ik 4 sterren geven. Zeker het verrassende einde maakt dat dit boek je bijblijft. Dat je 's nachts, in bed, voor het slapengaan, het verhaal nog een paar maal herkauwt. Het boek nodigt je uit tot nadenken.
De schrijfstijl zelf kon mij echter minder bekoren. Hoewel het een dun boek is en ik het in 2 dagen tijd uitlas, vond ik het toch te langdradig. Nochtans ben ik niet speciaal fan van de korte, snelle pageturners die boordevol actie zitten. Ik vind het net leuk wanneer een schrijver de tijd neemt om personages vorm en inhoud te geven en om een specifieke sfeer te creëren.
Maar om de één of andere reden werkte het bij dit boek gewoon niet voor mij. Ik werd ongeduldig en begon me hoe verder ik kwam te storen aan bepaalde zijsprongen en flashbacks. Ik voelde me te hard een buitenstander die het allemaal vanop afstand bekijkt i.p.v. te worden meegezogen in het verhaal.
Maar alles bij mekaar genomen is het een goed boek dat bijblijft.
Waarom?
De plot zelf zou ik 4 sterren geven. Zeker het verrassende einde maakt dat dit boek je bijblijft. Dat je 's nachts, in bed, voor het slapengaan, het verhaal nog een paar maal herkauwt. Het boek nodigt je uit tot nadenken.
De schrijfstijl zelf kon mij echter minder bekoren. Hoewel het een dun boek is en ik het in 2 dagen tijd uitlas, vond ik het toch te langdradig. Nochtans ben ik niet speciaal fan van de korte, snelle pageturners die boordevol actie zitten. Ik vind het net leuk wanneer een schrijver de tijd neemt om personages vorm en inhoud te geven en om een specifieke sfeer te creëren.
Maar om de één of andere reden werkte het bij dit boek gewoon niet voor mij. Ik werd ongeduldig en begon me hoe verder ik kwam te storen aan bepaalde zijsprongen en flashbacks. Ik voelde me te hard een buitenstander die het allemaal vanop afstand bekijkt i.p.v. te worden meegezogen in het verhaal.
Maar alles bij mekaar genomen is het een goed boek dat bijblijft.
October 15, 2017
St. Francis ER
Laureate
Tulsa, OK
Valley Hope
Cushing, OK
Laureate
Tulsa, OK
Valley Hope
Cushing, OK
September 21, 2020
The author has pretty good storytelling skills but halfway thru the novel loses its way.The author still is one of the many talents that are springing up from NYC.
October 31, 2011
I had high hopes for this book after reading The Muse Asylum. I love the style of writing that Czuchlewski uses and I always have a hard time putting down his books. In fact, I read this book in one day, which I have not done in a long time.
Being a Roman Catholic myself, I was intrigued by the storyline and the idea of an underground society (which somewhat made me think of The Da Vinci Code). I think this book definitely causes the reader to at least ponder the idea of cults and religion in society.
Being a Roman Catholic myself, I was intrigued by the storyline and the idea of an underground society (which somewhat made me think of The Da Vinci Code). I think this book definitely causes the reader to at least ponder the idea of cults and religion in society.
May 27, 2012
I'm not sure if I should give this book 2 stars or 4 stars.
I didn't like the main character Matt, his inability to move on and be a separate person didn't appeal to me.
I loved the style of writing and the whole of the story.
The depth of it was amazing and the twist on the end you saw coming but you never wanted it to come true.
I wouldn't read this book again though, just something about it made it so I wouldn't need to read it again.
I think I'm going to give it 5 stars.
I didn't like the main character Matt, his inability to move on and be a separate person didn't appeal to me.
I loved the style of writing and the whole of the story.
The depth of it was amazing and the twist on the end you saw coming but you never wanted it to come true.
I wouldn't read this book again though, just something about it made it so I wouldn't need to read it again.
I think I'm going to give it 5 stars.
September 14, 2015
I think that this is an amazing book. Maybe the best ever. Certainly the best I have ever read. Maybe it was the emotional connection I had to this book. I first got it when I was young and it was too complex. But I read it when I got older. There is something about it that makes it feel like it is very important. It makes you never want to read it again because it makes an amazing first impression. Reading it again would cheapen your first experience.
December 20, 2007
This book in no way fulfills the promise of Czuchlewski's debut , the excellent Muse Asylum. He follows up that charming little literary puzzle with this similar yet less affecting and much less interesting offering, a half-baked story about a Catholic organization that is obviously supposed to be Opus Dei. Good thing his day job is, uh, being a doctor.
July 30, 2011
Haunting, creepy, one of the best contemporary novels I've read! I love Czuchlewski's style of writing--it's invigorating, it's original, he's a born storyteller! And what a concept! I rarely buy books--seeing how you can get them at the library for free--but this is one novel I will definitely be searching for in bookstores!
August 21, 2010
Was good, but not as good as his first work, The Muse Asylum. I recommend the latter, but not really this work.. it was just kinda "bleh". Good filler while I was waiting for my new books to arrive.
July 3, 2007
Almost as good as his other book, the Muse Asylum, very clever look at the world of religious cults and brainwashing.
July 31, 2007
This book sucked me in really quick but the ending was horrible! A very frustrating read.
August 23, 2007
not as good a read as the muse asylum, but he is a promising author
February 26, 2008
I really hope that he writes another book (or ten). I like Muse Asylum better, but this was very good.
July 1, 2009
I really liked the author's style of writing...wasn't very happen with the ending...but was a nice read..quick and suspenseful.
November 24, 2009
Engrossing philosophical mystery of a guy's search for the truth about a possible cult his girlfriend has joined.
February 11, 2013
David Czuchlewshi never fails to amaze me. Not as grand as The Muse Asylum- though to me The Muse Asylum is ' the perfect novel". I was excited to see Horace Jacob Little reappear in this.
August 12, 2016
I wasn't moved by any of the scenes in the book.
Spiritual search = girl/relationship/money search. Maybe it's a fact.
Spiritual search = girl/relationship/money search. Maybe it's a fact.
April 9, 2017
A deceivingly short novel that is packed with theology, personal exploration, faith, tragedy and love. Matt is a Princeton grad who is teaching in a Harlem ghetto when his ex-girlfriend Anna from high school & college shows up on his doorstep. She subsequently joins a sect of the Catholic Church known as the "Empire of Light" (Imperium Luminis in Latin) which Matt suspects is little more than a cult, despite how the organization seemed to help Anna with her drinking problem and refocus on helping those in need. Matt finds himself reading the teachings of the sect's founder and, despite his intense skepticism of Imperium Luminis, sees some appealing truth in these written words of enlightenment and salvation.
Czuchlewski writes beautifully though simplistically which easily pulls you into the novel to the point that you can not put it down until completion. He makes many an interesting point about what is truth and how should one direct their faith. And what if love is conditional upon servitude? Is deceit acceptable if done for the greater good? So many interesting concepts and themes - this novel keeps you thinking even after you turn the last page over.
Czuchlewski writes beautifully though simplistically which easily pulls you into the novel to the point that you can not put it down until completion. He makes many an interesting point about what is truth and how should one direct their faith. And what if love is conditional upon servitude? Is deceit acceptable if done for the greater good? So many interesting concepts and themes - this novel keeps you thinking even after you turn the last page over.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews