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Legacy of the Watchers #1
The Hidden Ones
LEGACY OF THE WATCHERS (the series)
A historical, speculative, science fiction adventure
Thousands of years ago something came out of the sky that changed the course of human history. Testimonies abound of these ‘angels’ and their hybrid offspring, the ‘Nephilim’ giants. These mighty ‘gods’ quickly rose to power, and the ancient world came alive with industry and culture. People who lived for hundreds of thousands of years as hunters and gatherers suddenly began settling in one place, cultivating the land and even governing themselves. They invented irrigation, the wheel and algebra. Yet amidst all this progress, an undercurrent of terror was spreading like wildfire, carrying whispers of ‘djinn,’ ‘daeva’ and ‘demons.’
The Watchers were supposed to do just that: watch. But humankind proved far too tempting and they ‘fell’ to earth, taking wives and even producing children. But their children grew into unruly giants whose souls didn’t ascend like human souls when they die, but remained here on earth. These errant souls haunt the earth to this day. They are the ‘djinn,’ the ‘hidden ones,’ also known as ‘daeva’ and ‘demon.’ They have one purpose—to live. But to live they need bodies.
This chain of events has now reached the point where the djinn need more than just our bodies to survive. They must take back control of the earth, just as in the days when they ruled as gods.
The Hidden Ones (book one)
As CEO of her own thriving company, Nadia Adeire is flush with success, but a secret society dating back to the Essenes believes her to be one of the ancient djinn—the notorious demoness of Hebrew legend, Lilith. What’s more, they have reason to believe that she’s plotting a catastrophic attack on the world.
Nadia is snatched from her ‘perfect’ life and caught in a maze between a present day disaster and the ancient legends of the djinn. The only way out is to retrace the steps of her deceased grandmother, Helene. The deeper Nadia delves into the past, the harder it will be for her to emerge unscathed. But it’s the only way to stop this impending disaster that was set in motion five thousand years ago!
A historical, speculative, science fiction adventure
Thousands of years ago something came out of the sky that changed the course of human history. Testimonies abound of these ‘angels’ and their hybrid offspring, the ‘Nephilim’ giants. These mighty ‘gods’ quickly rose to power, and the ancient world came alive with industry and culture. People who lived for hundreds of thousands of years as hunters and gatherers suddenly began settling in one place, cultivating the land and even governing themselves. They invented irrigation, the wheel and algebra. Yet amidst all this progress, an undercurrent of terror was spreading like wildfire, carrying whispers of ‘djinn,’ ‘daeva’ and ‘demons.’
The Watchers were supposed to do just that: watch. But humankind proved far too tempting and they ‘fell’ to earth, taking wives and even producing children. But their children grew into unruly giants whose souls didn’t ascend like human souls when they die, but remained here on earth. These errant souls haunt the earth to this day. They are the ‘djinn,’ the ‘hidden ones,’ also known as ‘daeva’ and ‘demon.’ They have one purpose—to live. But to live they need bodies.
This chain of events has now reached the point where the djinn need more than just our bodies to survive. They must take back control of the earth, just as in the days when they ruled as gods.
The Hidden Ones (book one)
As CEO of her own thriving company, Nadia Adeire is flush with success, but a secret society dating back to the Essenes believes her to be one of the ancient djinn—the notorious demoness of Hebrew legend, Lilith. What’s more, they have reason to believe that she’s plotting a catastrophic attack on the world.
Nadia is snatched from her ‘perfect’ life and caught in a maze between a present day disaster and the ancient legends of the djinn. The only way out is to retrace the steps of her deceased grandmother, Helene. The deeper Nadia delves into the past, the harder it will be for her to emerge unscathed. But it’s the only way to stop this impending disaster that was set in motion five thousand years ago!
449 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2012
5 people are currently reading
385 people want to read
About the author
Nancy Madore
20 books162 followersNancy Madore achieved enormous critical acclaim with her ENCHANTED series, which includes ENCHANTED, ENCHANTED AGAIN and ENCHANTED DREAMS.
Now, following her life-long interest in ancient history and mythology, Nancy Madore is launching a new series in the historical and science/speculative fiction genres, called LEGACY OF THE WATCHERS. So far, the series includes THE HIDDEN ONES and POWER OF GODS. Madore is currently working on the third book in the series.
You can read more about Nancy Madore's LEGACY OF THE WATCHERS series by visiting her website at www.nmadore.com.
Now, following her life-long interest in ancient history and mythology, Nancy Madore is launching a new series in the historical and science/speculative fiction genres, called LEGACY OF THE WATCHERS. So far, the series includes THE HIDDEN ONES and POWER OF GODS. Madore is currently working on the third book in the series.
You can read more about Nancy Madore's LEGACY OF THE WATCHERS series by visiting her website at www.nmadore.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
October 17, 2021
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
In The Hidden Ones Nancy Madore deftly crafts a tale that encompasses present day terrorism, myths about the ancient world, and mystical scrolls found in Qumran in the late 1940s. As the story opens Nadia Adeire, CEO of a charitable foundation, is kidnapped by a cryptic group of men who believe she has knowledge of roaming djinn (spirits of the dead) who mean to unleash terror on the world. The men who abduct Nadia are anxious to learn about her grandmother Helene.
In 1948, at the age of 16, Helene traveled to Qumran with her father to witness a ritual meant to raise Lilith, an ancient warrior, from the dead.
Qumran
Lilith - tall, beautiful, headstrong, cunning, and cruel - was the first of the female Nephilim, the offspring of unions between male angels and human women.
After the Qumran ritual Helene was orphaned and forced to marry an Arab man, a distressing event that completely changed her life.
Helene eventually became ill and died but she left her descendants a legacy of stories about Lilith. These tales - which stir debate among the characters about truth vs. myth - fascinate Nadia's kidnappers. They fear the djinn left behind by Lilith and other Nephilim are currently planning murderous attacks on humans.
Djinn
The story is told from three points of view: Nadia in the present, Helene in the mid-1900s, and Lilith in ancient times.... but the reader can easily follow the threads. I found the stories about the ancient world engaging, with massive Nephilim battling for control of cities and forests, and benevolent angels at first helping mankind and then becoming harsh masters trying to evade the wrath of God.
Helene's life in a strict Muslim household was also absorbing and instructive. Nadia's storyline was the least developed, largely being a vehicle to talk about Helene and Lillith.
The book is described as partly science fiction but I didn't find much evidence of this genre in the story other than speculation that the 'angels' may have been aliens. Some of the characters, such as Lilith, ancient warrior/king Asmodeus, and immortality-seeking Gilgamesh are captivating and memorable. Others, like Helene's father and his traveling companions, are more two-dimensional and functional.
Asmodeus
Gilgamesh
There's a bit of romance in the book, some of it not quite credible in the context of the story. I also felt that Nadia and her abductors got unrealistically chummy and that the ancients incongruously spoke in very modern lingo. Overall, though, I enjoyed the book and look forward to reading the sequel. I'm curious to see what happens to the remaining characters and to learn how the conflict between humans and djinn plays out. I recommend the book to all readers, especially fans of adventure, legends, and myths.
You can follow my reviews at http://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com/
December 9, 2018
Copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review
"Thousands of years ago, something came out of the sky that changed the course of human history. Testimonies abound of these ‘angels’ and their hybrid offspring, the ‘Nephilim’ giants. These mighty ‘gods’ quickly rose to power, and the ancient world came alive with industry and culture. Many consider this period in history to be the ‘dawn’ of our civilization. People who lived as hunters and gatherers for hundreds of thousands of years suddenly began settling in one place, cultivating the land and even governing themselves. They invented irrigation, the wheel, protective armor and algebra. They somehow acquired knowledge of our solar system that even modern technology wasn't able to confirm until the 1970s. Most importantly, they began to read and write. Yet an undercurrent of terror was spreading like wildfire, carrying whispers of ‘djinn,’ ‘daeva’ and ‘demons.’"
Back in present day, Nadia Adeire, CEO of BEACON, a successful company based on charity for victims of natural disasters, is kidnapped from her Manhattan office while working through her holidays. She is taken by a mysterious group of people wearing strange masks to a desolate location in Saudi Arabia, kept prisoner and interrogated for days. This book is the story of that interrogation.
The kidnappers believe Nadia to be the newest incarnation of Lilith, the notorious demoness from old Jewish legends. They also suspect that she is heavily involved with an impending terrorist attack that will stun the entire world. While faced with the relentless questioning of her interrogators, Nadia recounts the story of her grandmother Helene, who recently passed away and who was obsessed with the legends of Lilith...
The story of The Hidden Ones is told from three different points of view: Nadia herself in present day, Lilith 5,000 years ago, and Helene as a young girl in 1948. Nadia's POV mostly just provides a frame for the rest of the story, and the interrogation takes place for the entire length of the book, something that unfortunately makes Nadia's chapters quite boring at times. The other two POV's are a lot more interesting, especially Helene. Even those chapters occasionally struggled to keep my attention, but all in all I felt that this method of storytelling, with three different protagonists in three different periods of time, was well executed.
Both the story itself and the characters featured in it have both their positive and negative sides. On the positive side, the story is both innovative and quite fascinating, providing interesting explanations to mysteries of history, religion and fairytales alike, like the legends of Gilgamesh and his famous quest for eternal life, the biblical Deluge, and a lot of others. In Lilith and Helene, we also get two really interesting characters. On the negative side, none of the other characters are interesting to read about at all; they're one-dimensional and it doesn't feel like they add anything to the story. Also, despite a traumatising kidnapping and the threat of a terrorist attack, it doesn't feel like much is happening to cause great excitement. Somehow, it feels like Nadia's story is completely detached from the threats to the world, possibly because she spends almost the entire book being interrogated by her kidnappers.
When it comes to the writing, the word 'flawless' is the first that comes to mind. That doesn't mean I'll go around quoting from this book for the rest of my life, only that there was absolutely nothing wrong with the way this book was written, and that everything seemed to be done in a completely professional manner.
My opinion about this book is certainly influenced by the fact that this is not the kind of book that I normally tend to read. There is too much of the paranormal for my taste, but that does in no way mean that the book was bad. Only that I didn't like it as much as I could have.
Would I recommend this book? Yes, I think I would. Especially if you enjoy reading paranormal books, urban fantasy, or even thrillers and crime fiction. It is quite easy to see that both the series and the author have a lot of potential here, especially because the book seemed to be gradually improving all the way from the beginning until the end. That certainly bodes well for the rest of the series, and even this book was interesting enough that I will most likely continue reading the sequels as well.
"Thousands of years ago, something came out of the sky that changed the course of human history. Testimonies abound of these ‘angels’ and their hybrid offspring, the ‘Nephilim’ giants. These mighty ‘gods’ quickly rose to power, and the ancient world came alive with industry and culture. Many consider this period in history to be the ‘dawn’ of our civilization. People who lived as hunters and gatherers for hundreds of thousands of years suddenly began settling in one place, cultivating the land and even governing themselves. They invented irrigation, the wheel, protective armor and algebra. They somehow acquired knowledge of our solar system that even modern technology wasn't able to confirm until the 1970s. Most importantly, they began to read and write. Yet an undercurrent of terror was spreading like wildfire, carrying whispers of ‘djinn,’ ‘daeva’ and ‘demons.’"
Back in present day, Nadia Adeire, CEO of BEACON, a successful company based on charity for victims of natural disasters, is kidnapped from her Manhattan office while working through her holidays. She is taken by a mysterious group of people wearing strange masks to a desolate location in Saudi Arabia, kept prisoner and interrogated for days. This book is the story of that interrogation.
The kidnappers believe Nadia to be the newest incarnation of Lilith, the notorious demoness from old Jewish legends. They also suspect that she is heavily involved with an impending terrorist attack that will stun the entire world. While faced with the relentless questioning of her interrogators, Nadia recounts the story of her grandmother Helene, who recently passed away and who was obsessed with the legends of Lilith...
The story of The Hidden Ones is told from three different points of view: Nadia herself in present day, Lilith 5,000 years ago, and Helene as a young girl in 1948. Nadia's POV mostly just provides a frame for the rest of the story, and the interrogation takes place for the entire length of the book, something that unfortunately makes Nadia's chapters quite boring at times. The other two POV's are a lot more interesting, especially Helene. Even those chapters occasionally struggled to keep my attention, but all in all I felt that this method of storytelling, with three different protagonists in three different periods of time, was well executed.
Both the story itself and the characters featured in it have both their positive and negative sides. On the positive side, the story is both innovative and quite fascinating, providing interesting explanations to mysteries of history, religion and fairytales alike, like the legends of Gilgamesh and his famous quest for eternal life, the biblical Deluge, and a lot of others. In Lilith and Helene, we also get two really interesting characters. On the negative side, none of the other characters are interesting to read about at all; they're one-dimensional and it doesn't feel like they add anything to the story. Also, despite a traumatising kidnapping and the threat of a terrorist attack, it doesn't feel like much is happening to cause great excitement. Somehow, it feels like Nadia's story is completely detached from the threats to the world, possibly because she spends almost the entire book being interrogated by her kidnappers.
When it comes to the writing, the word 'flawless' is the first that comes to mind. That doesn't mean I'll go around quoting from this book for the rest of my life, only that there was absolutely nothing wrong with the way this book was written, and that everything seemed to be done in a completely professional manner.
My opinion about this book is certainly influenced by the fact that this is not the kind of book that I normally tend to read. There is too much of the paranormal for my taste, but that does in no way mean that the book was bad. Only that I didn't like it as much as I could have.
Would I recommend this book? Yes, I think I would. Especially if you enjoy reading paranormal books, urban fantasy, or even thrillers and crime fiction. It is quite easy to see that both the series and the author have a lot of potential here, especially because the book seemed to be gradually improving all the way from the beginning until the end. That certainly bodes well for the rest of the series, and even this book was interesting enough that I will most likely continue reading the sequels as well.
December 7, 2015
"The Nephilim were endowed with all the emotions of man, both good and bad, which they inherited fro their mothers. Their enormous size and superior strength was a kind of mutation that occurred from the father's side, due perhaps to the fact that the angels themselves were mutations. For although the bodies they created appeared perfect, they were only imitations."- Nancy Madore, The Hidden Ones
I enjoyed this book a lot. It was very thrilling and fast paced, following three main story-lines. The first is of Nadia, who lives in present-day Manhattan:
"Being alone in Manhattan, truly alone, the kind of alone where none of the senses were infringed upon by another human being, can bring about an alarming sensation. There was always some sign of other people's presence. Smells and sounds wafted through windows and vents, bringing with them a vague but constant awareness of activity, from the shrill scream of a fire engine's siren to the gentle ping of an elevator."
The book also gave us the storyline of Helene, and finally of the mythical Lilith. The stories intertwine in a really interesting way. Nadia is the grandchild of Helene and spent her childhood listening to her grandmother's stories about Lilith and the Nephilim which surely can't be real? Only they seem to be and a secret group is trying to discover more:
"Telling the stories was very different from simply listening to them. It required more involvement but it made them seem more real. The little details suddenly seemed significant."
From the little I've learned about Lilith, she is often presented as a rebel and a feminist icon, and in this book she's presented as such too. She's a Nephilin, offspring of the union between angels and humans, which makes her stronger and larger than humans, but she's still a woman and has to deal with a lot because her strong-willed nature isn't appreciated in a woman. I liked reading her story because she had to prove herself as a rightful warrior, and I think that story is relatable to a lot of women.
Lilith was quite arrogant, but in a sense you can understand her arrogance as wall to protect her from her own isolation. She was quite harsh towards the humans as well, but I think there's a grain of truth to what she thought:
"But that was the way of the sons of men in all things. They mutilated the simplest pleasures with their irrational fears and misguided sentiments. They acted as if joy was in short supply, to be measured out in small doses."
I enjoyed the writing style: although it was a thriller and quite fast-paced, I thought the writing was far from being simplistic. I think it's quite the feat to combine Biblical stories with mythology and discuss the repercussions to modern time, but I think Nancy Madore did this quite well. I'm looking forward to reading Book 2.
I enjoyed this book a lot. It was very thrilling and fast paced, following three main story-lines. The first is of Nadia, who lives in present-day Manhattan:
"Being alone in Manhattan, truly alone, the kind of alone where none of the senses were infringed upon by another human being, can bring about an alarming sensation. There was always some sign of other people's presence. Smells and sounds wafted through windows and vents, bringing with them a vague but constant awareness of activity, from the shrill scream of a fire engine's siren to the gentle ping of an elevator."
The book also gave us the storyline of Helene, and finally of the mythical Lilith. The stories intertwine in a really interesting way. Nadia is the grandchild of Helene and spent her childhood listening to her grandmother's stories about Lilith and the Nephilim which surely can't be real? Only they seem to be and a secret group is trying to discover more:
"Telling the stories was very different from simply listening to them. It required more involvement but it made them seem more real. The little details suddenly seemed significant."
From the little I've learned about Lilith, she is often presented as a rebel and a feminist icon, and in this book she's presented as such too. She's a Nephilin, offspring of the union between angels and humans, which makes her stronger and larger than humans, but she's still a woman and has to deal with a lot because her strong-willed nature isn't appreciated in a woman. I liked reading her story because she had to prove herself as a rightful warrior, and I think that story is relatable to a lot of women.
Lilith was quite arrogant, but in a sense you can understand her arrogance as wall to protect her from her own isolation. She was quite harsh towards the humans as well, but I think there's a grain of truth to what she thought:
"But that was the way of the sons of men in all things. They mutilated the simplest pleasures with their irrational fears and misguided sentiments. They acted as if joy was in short supply, to be measured out in small doses."
I enjoyed the writing style: although it was a thriller and quite fast-paced, I thought the writing was far from being simplistic. I think it's quite the feat to combine Biblical stories with mythology and discuss the repercussions to modern time, but I think Nancy Madore did this quite well. I'm looking forward to reading Book 2.
February 22, 2015
This was a book that I kept putting aside due to other book obligations. Not once, however, did I consider not finishing it. It was interesting enough to pull me back in each time I picked it up and I am glad that I finished the story. I did not know anything about the djinn when I picked up this book and I still found it fascinating, so if it is something you have an interest in, you should definitely check it out.
Thank you to Nancy Madore for providing me with a copy to review.
Thank you to Nancy Madore for providing me with a copy to review.
April 5, 2013
Nadia Adeire has a perfect life among Manhattan’s elite. The CEO of a thriving nonprofit, she seems to have it all. Then one day, she’s abruptly kidnapped by three masked men and whisked off to Saudi Arabia, where the men reveal that they are part of an ancient secret society bent on protecting the world from an ancient danger: the djinn. They believe Nadia to be the notorious demon Lilith, who is working with terrorist cells to plot a devastating attack on the world.
Nadia desperately tries to convince the men that she is in no way involved with Lilith. However, she recalls stories of the demon passed down from her deceased grandmother, Helene, and recounts them in an attempt to give the men what they want and help them find out what the djinn are planning before it’s too late.
The Hidden Ones is an imaginative urban fantasy that blends retellings of ancient tales with a modern day thriller. It’s essentially three stories packed into one novel: Nadia’s, Helene’s, and Lilith’s. Like Scheherazade of One Thousand and One Arabian Nights, Nadia serves as both a protagonist and a storyteller. She tells the story about Helene’s life in the mid twentieth century—how she went from a 16-year-old British schoolgirl to a Saudi man’s second wife. Along the way, Helene encountered Lilith through her father’s archeological pursuits, and Lilith’s is a story within Helene’s. An arrogant and powerful woman in ancient Mesopotamia, Lilith lived in a time when angels roamed the earth. Madore uses Lilith’s story to combine Judeo-Christian mythology with Near Eastern tales, explaining how the djinn of the Near East are related to the angels and demons of Hebrew legend.
Madore indicates which section we’re in at the beginning of each series of chapter (for instance, “Ancient Mesopotamia” indicates that we’ll be spending the next few chapters hearing about Lilith). Although Nadia’s is the main story, the other two are at least as interesting. Lilith’s story shows the reader who the djinn threatening the modern world are—how they lived, what they did, and how this all culminated in the war between angels and the Great Flood. Helene’s story serves as the bridge between Nadia’s and Lilith’s and tells us how the two are connected.
The Hidden Ones is very well plotted, and I’m afraid my attempt above at explaining it doesn’t do the novel justice. Madore clearly put a lot of attention and thought into building her world—of angels and djinn that made their way into modern legend. She cleverly weaves together various pre-existing mythology and uses her own to explain how it came to be. For instance, Gilgamesh of the ancient Mesopotamian epic was the son of an angel from Judeo-Christian mythology, Lilith was not only a Judeo-Christian demon, but also a Near Eastern djinn, etc.
All three female protagonists are admirably strong, albeit in different ways. Lilith, demonized in mythology, is portrayed as a warrior queen, a modern woman in ancient times vilified for refusing to bow to backward customs. She’s no saint – she’s arrogant, self-centered, and often cruel – but neither is she the being of pure evil she’s often portrayed as. Helene’s strength is of a quieter sort. A Western woman forced to bow to a misogynistic foreign culture, she chooses her battles carefully. Nadia is the epitome of the self-assured modern career woman, who finds herself in an unthinkable situation when she’s abruptly kidnapped. Although initially frightened, she refuses to take crap from anyone, even the masked men who knocked her out and tied her up.
The three kidnappers turn out not to be the frightening thugs Nadia initially took them to be. Once they realize Nadia’s trying to help them, they develop sympathy for her, although they can’t let her go for security reasons. They’re not crazed cultists or thugs, but rather guardians of the Earth protecting the people from unseen dangers. Gordon, my personal favorite among the three, and Clive lighten up the mood with their antics, while Nadia finds herself increasingly intrigued by the enigmatic Will.
Madore knows her subject matter well, and her assured, professional writing draws you into each scene. There’s so much going on in The Hidden Ones, and there’s never a dull moment. It’s unique, daring, well-written, captivating… I’m running out of adjectives here. A retelling of ancient myths and biblical tales, the story of a British girl trapped in a foreign world, modern day terrorists and secret societies…
Oh, just read the damn thing.
Nadia desperately tries to convince the men that she is in no way involved with Lilith. However, she recalls stories of the demon passed down from her deceased grandmother, Helene, and recounts them in an attempt to give the men what they want and help them find out what the djinn are planning before it’s too late.
The Hidden Ones is an imaginative urban fantasy that blends retellings of ancient tales with a modern day thriller. It’s essentially three stories packed into one novel: Nadia’s, Helene’s, and Lilith’s. Like Scheherazade of One Thousand and One Arabian Nights, Nadia serves as both a protagonist and a storyteller. She tells the story about Helene’s life in the mid twentieth century—how she went from a 16-year-old British schoolgirl to a Saudi man’s second wife. Along the way, Helene encountered Lilith through her father’s archeological pursuits, and Lilith’s is a story within Helene’s. An arrogant and powerful woman in ancient Mesopotamia, Lilith lived in a time when angels roamed the earth. Madore uses Lilith’s story to combine Judeo-Christian mythology with Near Eastern tales, explaining how the djinn of the Near East are related to the angels and demons of Hebrew legend.
Madore indicates which section we’re in at the beginning of each series of chapter (for instance, “Ancient Mesopotamia” indicates that we’ll be spending the next few chapters hearing about Lilith). Although Nadia’s is the main story, the other two are at least as interesting. Lilith’s story shows the reader who the djinn threatening the modern world are—how they lived, what they did, and how this all culminated in the war between angels and the Great Flood. Helene’s story serves as the bridge between Nadia’s and Lilith’s and tells us how the two are connected.
The Hidden Ones is very well plotted, and I’m afraid my attempt above at explaining it doesn’t do the novel justice. Madore clearly put a lot of attention and thought into building her world—of angels and djinn that made their way into modern legend. She cleverly weaves together various pre-existing mythology and uses her own to explain how it came to be. For instance, Gilgamesh of the ancient Mesopotamian epic was the son of an angel from Judeo-Christian mythology, Lilith was not only a Judeo-Christian demon, but also a Near Eastern djinn, etc.
All three female protagonists are admirably strong, albeit in different ways. Lilith, demonized in mythology, is portrayed as a warrior queen, a modern woman in ancient times vilified for refusing to bow to backward customs. She’s no saint – she’s arrogant, self-centered, and often cruel – but neither is she the being of pure evil she’s often portrayed as. Helene’s strength is of a quieter sort. A Western woman forced to bow to a misogynistic foreign culture, she chooses her battles carefully. Nadia is the epitome of the self-assured modern career woman, who finds herself in an unthinkable situation when she’s abruptly kidnapped. Although initially frightened, she refuses to take crap from anyone, even the masked men who knocked her out and tied her up.
The three kidnappers turn out not to be the frightening thugs Nadia initially took them to be. Once they realize Nadia’s trying to help them, they develop sympathy for her, although they can’t let her go for security reasons. They’re not crazed cultists or thugs, but rather guardians of the Earth protecting the people from unseen dangers. Gordon, my personal favorite among the three, and Clive lighten up the mood with their antics, while Nadia finds herself increasingly intrigued by the enigmatic Will.
Madore knows her subject matter well, and her assured, professional writing draws you into each scene. There’s so much going on in The Hidden Ones, and there’s never a dull moment. It’s unique, daring, well-written, captivating… I’m running out of adjectives here. A retelling of ancient myths and biblical tales, the story of a British girl trapped in a foreign world, modern day terrorists and secret societies…
Oh, just read the damn thing.
February 4, 2013
Every now and then you stumble into a book that stands out above the rest. For me, that is a book that make me think. The Hidden Ones is that kind of book. It is interesting and flows effortlessly, even though it literally takes you through three historical landmarks thousands of years apart. It begins in the present, with a deadly attack about to happen any minute. An innocent woman, Nadia, is the suspect. She can’t believe what is happening but once she accepts the situation she begins telling them stories about a paranormal experience her grandmother had back in 1948. At first she’s just going along to save herself, but eventually she starts believing. And I was right there with her. Madore cleverly combines real historic events with fiction so seamlessly that I could not tell which of the historical was real and what was made up. Paranormal can sometimes make me want to toss the book out the window, but Madore writes with such authority you can’t help but take it seriously. For example, one of the chapters is a narration by the leader of the fallen angels. I don’t even believe in angels but it was so convincing it gave me chills. By the end of the book, Nadia can no longer tell which side is right and which is wrong. I felt the same way. All I can say is The Hidden Ones is a unique reading experience you shouldn't miss. I got a free kindle version on Amazon, but I would like the hard copy.
July 23, 2014
** I had received a free copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review**
I have always had an interest in angels after watching the Prophecy with Christoper Walken and Eric Stoltz (great flick). It was then that I learned that angles were not just halo clad ghosts playing the harp abd floating from cloud to cloud. Turns out that some angels are warriors and some are revolutionaries who are cast from Heaven to form Hell. And the battles they fought....biblical in proportion (ha!).
The Hidden One's blends biblical lore and history in a mystery/thriler tale that takes place in the current day as well as in the ancient Middle East. I really enjoyed how the author took a real historical event and spun it in to her book, some of her explanations of how and why some events transpired was a lot of fun to read.
I also really liked how djinn's were a big piece of the book. As the author writes (paraphrase), the djinn was the first monster and all other monsters sprang from that legend. The more I think about this, the more if makes sense, the djinn was the first monster, how cool is that?
Great ending here too.....I was surprised. If I was watching this as a movie instead of reading the book I would have stood up in the theater and yelled "OH NO YOU DIDN'T!!"
Fun read, definitely recommend, this is the first book in a series (hooray!) and I will be reading the rest.
I have always had an interest in angels after watching the Prophecy with Christoper Walken and Eric Stoltz (great flick). It was then that I learned that angles were not just halo clad ghosts playing the harp abd floating from cloud to cloud. Turns out that some angels are warriors and some are revolutionaries who are cast from Heaven to form Hell. And the battles they fought....biblical in proportion (ha!).
The Hidden One's blends biblical lore and history in a mystery/thriler tale that takes place in the current day as well as in the ancient Middle East. I really enjoyed how the author took a real historical event and spun it in to her book, some of her explanations of how and why some events transpired was a lot of fun to read.
I also really liked how djinn's were a big piece of the book. As the author writes (paraphrase), the djinn was the first monster and all other monsters sprang from that legend. The more I think about this, the more if makes sense, the djinn was the first monster, how cool is that?
Great ending here too.....I was surprised. If I was watching this as a movie instead of reading the book I would have stood up in the theater and yelled "OH NO YOU DIDN'T!!"
Fun read, definitely recommend, this is the first book in a series (hooray!) and I will be reading the rest.
July 12, 2016
I was given a review copy of this novel, but that did not affect my opinion in any way.
Nadia was kidnapped all of a sudden by three men. Despite her constant begging of wanting to know the agenda of the kidnapping, the kidnappers clearly stated that they ask the questions, and she answers.
This novel in a way reminded me of Dan Brown. It felt like a Fantasy-Historical Fiction, just like most of Dan Brown's novels. This one though felt lighter, despite the topic it discussed.
This had three point of views. Nadia, Helene, and Lilith. I'm not going to discuss the plot of the novel, as that would spoil everyone of the experience. I can't really say much without giving away a huge spoiler. I'd like to say though that Lilith is one of my favorite fictional characters, so that made me like this novel even more.
The characters were really good. Interesting character development. Like I said, I can't even describe the characters without spoiling, so I'll just leave it to the readers to find out.
More of a 3.5. Some parts in the middle were quite tedious to read. The overall plot was very enjoyable, and the mystery was solved. For fans of Dan Brown, Historical Fiction, and especially of the paranormal, this is a novel you should read. Quite lengthy to be honest, but it didn't bother me that much to give this a low rating.
January 15, 2013
"The Hidden Ones" series has me hooked. Hook, line and sinker. I should just go ahead and pay Nancy Madore for the next two books in the series. This story is so darn fascinating. Imagine this: you go back in time and meet up with these tall and intimidating "heroes of old." Before you run for cover, one of them glances your way ... you stop in your tracks. That's what this book does ... it seizes you and owns right up to that last page.
July 19, 2013
LEGACY OF THE WATCHERS (The Series)
Thousands of years ago, something came out of the sky that changed the course of human history. Testimonies abound of these 'angels' and their hybrid offspring, the 'Nephilim' giants. These mighty 'gods' quickly rose to power, and the ancient world came alive with industry and culture. Many consider this period in history to be the 'dawn' of our civilization. People who lived as hunters and gatherers for hundreds of thousands of years suddenly began settling in one place, cultivating the land and even governing themselves. They invented irrigation, the wheel, protective armor and algebra. They somehow acquired knowledge of our solar system that even modern technology wasn't able to confirm until the 1970s. Most importantly, they began to read and write. Yet an undercurrent of terror was spreading like wildfire, carrying whispers of 'djinn,' 'daeva' and 'demons.'
The Watchers were supposed to do just that: watch. But humankind proved far too tempting and they 'fell' to earth, taking wives for themselves and even having children. But their children grew into unruly giants whose souls didn't ascend like human souls, but remained here, on this earth. These errant Nephilim souls haunt the earth to this day. They are the 'djinn,' the 'hidden ones,' also known as 'daeva' and 'demon.' They have one purpose--to live. But to live they need bodies.
This chain of events has now reached the point where the djinn need more than just our bodies to survive. They must take back control of the earth, just as in the days when they ruled as gods.
THE HIDDEN ONES, Vol. 1
As CEO of her own thriving company, Nadia Adeire is flush with success, but a secret society dating back to the Essenes believes her to be one of the ancient djinn--the notorious demoness of Hebrew legend, Lilith. What's more, they have reason to believe that she's plotting a catastrophic attack on the world. Nadia is snatched from her 'perfect' life and trapped in a maze between a present day disaster and the ancient legends of the djinn. The only way out is to retrace the steps of her deceased grandmother, Helene. The deeper Nadia goes into the past, the harder it will be for her return unscathed. But it is the only way to stop the impending disaster that was set in motion five thousand years ago.
Review:
This is the first book I've been able to pick and completed in over three months and I am so glad that I did. The story had me right from the beginning. The characters where lively and realistic with obvious villains to love and hate throughout the story. This story pulls you in several different directions without confusing the reader. If you are a sci-fi reader and have a love for history, this story will definitely please the senses.
I can wait for the next installment. Nancy Madore definitely is an author to watch.
This book is available in paperback and ebook. Click here to pick up your copy.
I give this book four and half stars. I would have given it five stars but I absolutely hated the book cover.
Thousands of years ago, something came out of the sky that changed the course of human history. Testimonies abound of these 'angels' and their hybrid offspring, the 'Nephilim' giants. These mighty 'gods' quickly rose to power, and the ancient world came alive with industry and culture. Many consider this period in history to be the 'dawn' of our civilization. People who lived as hunters and gatherers for hundreds of thousands of years suddenly began settling in one place, cultivating the land and even governing themselves. They invented irrigation, the wheel, protective armor and algebra. They somehow acquired knowledge of our solar system that even modern technology wasn't able to confirm until the 1970s. Most importantly, they began to read and write. Yet an undercurrent of terror was spreading like wildfire, carrying whispers of 'djinn,' 'daeva' and 'demons.'
The Watchers were supposed to do just that: watch. But humankind proved far too tempting and they 'fell' to earth, taking wives for themselves and even having children. But their children grew into unruly giants whose souls didn't ascend like human souls, but remained here, on this earth. These errant Nephilim souls haunt the earth to this day. They are the 'djinn,' the 'hidden ones,' also known as 'daeva' and 'demon.' They have one purpose--to live. But to live they need bodies.
This chain of events has now reached the point where the djinn need more than just our bodies to survive. They must take back control of the earth, just as in the days when they ruled as gods.
THE HIDDEN ONES, Vol. 1
As CEO of her own thriving company, Nadia Adeire is flush with success, but a secret society dating back to the Essenes believes her to be one of the ancient djinn--the notorious demoness of Hebrew legend, Lilith. What's more, they have reason to believe that she's plotting a catastrophic attack on the world. Nadia is snatched from her 'perfect' life and trapped in a maze between a present day disaster and the ancient legends of the djinn. The only way out is to retrace the steps of her deceased grandmother, Helene. The deeper Nadia goes into the past, the harder it will be for her return unscathed. But it is the only way to stop the impending disaster that was set in motion five thousand years ago.
Review:
This is the first book I've been able to pick and completed in over three months and I am so glad that I did. The story had me right from the beginning. The characters where lively and realistic with obvious villains to love and hate throughout the story. This story pulls you in several different directions without confusing the reader. If you are a sci-fi reader and have a love for history, this story will definitely please the senses.
I can wait for the next installment. Nancy Madore definitely is an author to watch.
This book is available in paperback and ebook. Click here to pick up your copy.
I give this book four and half stars. I would have given it five stars but I absolutely hated the book cover.
January 5, 2013
Nadia is a hard worker who started BEACON, a not-for-profit business that assists countries and people after disasters strike. While working during her vacation she is kidnapped, stuffed in a garbage barrel and flown half way across the world to retell stories that have been passed down to her for two generations. These legends will reveal clues about life on the planet 5,000 years ago when the Nephilim walked the earth with humans. After the great flood many of the Nephilim perished leaving their souls trapped on the planet as djinn. Nadia’s kidnappers believe that the djinn are the masterminds behind a terrorist attack that is about to occur on US soil.
This intricate story weaves through the lives of three very strong women over a 5,000 years span. Author Nancy Madore hooks you in the first few pages by dropping clues and hints that leave you wanting to keep reading until you literally can’t read another word. She masterfully creates characters that you want to root for and hope fail at the same time, creating a compelling story that doesn’t just push you forward but propels you to the end.
My favorite part of this book is the deeper theme of family and discovering how we define who we are when we are rejected by the ones who created us, whether that is our god or our parents. Madore digs deep into the human psyche with the choices her characters make as they decide how to honor, or not honor their makers.
(This book was provided to Compulsion Reads for review by the author.)
This intricate story weaves through the lives of three very strong women over a 5,000 years span. Author Nancy Madore hooks you in the first few pages by dropping clues and hints that leave you wanting to keep reading until you literally can’t read another word. She masterfully creates characters that you want to root for and hope fail at the same time, creating a compelling story that doesn’t just push you forward but propels you to the end.
My favorite part of this book is the deeper theme of family and discovering how we define who we are when we are rejected by the ones who created us, whether that is our god or our parents. Madore digs deep into the human psyche with the choices her characters make as they decide how to honor, or not honor their makers.
(This book was provided to Compulsion Reads for review by the author.)
December 17, 2012
The Hidden Ones brings a unique perspective to an old myth. I love the way Nancy Madore tied the past to the present. This is a carefully constructed story that is hard to characterize. I didn’t feel like I was reading historical fiction even though theres a lot of history in there. I didn’t feel like I was reading paranormal either. Like I said, it’s unique. I can’t think of a book I’ve read that I could compare it to. And for that reason alone I would have given it five stars.
The characters were what I liked best. A woman is kidnapped and held in the desert by three men who work for some underground secret organization and hunt down ancient spirits with their own agenda for the world. Then theres the story of the spirits themselves. That part gave me chills, especially when the angels go to war over them. Madore ties this into the historical flood and other historical legends of Lilith, Gilgamesh and Asmodeous. The grandmother of the woman whose kidnapped is another memorable character who suffers a terrible fate when she gets caught in the crossfire of all this.
The Hidden Ones is part of a series but it isn’t one of those books that just stops. The story actually ended, so I’ll be curious to see where Madore goes with the next book.
This is a really cool read. It’s very different. Very interesting. A page turner.
The characters were what I liked best. A woman is kidnapped and held in the desert by three men who work for some underground secret organization and hunt down ancient spirits with their own agenda for the world. Then theres the story of the spirits themselves. That part gave me chills, especially when the angels go to war over them. Madore ties this into the historical flood and other historical legends of Lilith, Gilgamesh and Asmodeous. The grandmother of the woman whose kidnapped is another memorable character who suffers a terrible fate when she gets caught in the crossfire of all this.
The Hidden Ones is part of a series but it isn’t one of those books that just stops. The story actually ended, so I’ll be curious to see where Madore goes with the next book.
This is a really cool read. It’s very different. Very interesting. A page turner.
July 15, 2014
Reading The Hidden Ones was like going for a never-ending Roller Coaster Ride. The Plot Twists like a Maze at short Intervals.
The Book spans into 3 POVs brilliantly interlaced with each other: 1) Nadia, CEO of BEACON, a charity based company is kidnapped & flown to Saudi Arabia. She is accused of being an incernation of the notorious Mythological Character Lilith & that she is part of Terrorist activity . She is clueless at first however she starts telling her kidnappers how her grandparents were involved with Lilith. This is where the POV of Lilith & Helena( Nadia's great grandmother) starts 2) Lilith's POV gives us a bird's view on how she rose to Success, fell in love & lead to Apocalypse 3) Helena's POV gives us a window to her disaster of a journey followed by a small archaelogical adventure she took with her father.
Author Nancy Madore successfully manages to quench your Thirst for diverse Genres like Mythology, Historical, Psychology, Thriller,Religion, Science Fiction with this Book. The Characters are Brilliantly etched. Reading about Helena's domestic life was quite Nerve-wracking. Hats off to Nancy Madore for the thorough Research she did for this Book. The only problem I had with this book was that it was too Lengthy. Wish It was edited a Bit. Nevertheless, This Book is worth its weight in Gold. Its a Bit of a Shame how under-rated this book is.
The Book spans into 3 POVs brilliantly interlaced with each other: 1) Nadia, CEO of BEACON, a charity based company is kidnapped & flown to Saudi Arabia. She is accused of being an incernation of the notorious Mythological Character Lilith & that she is part of Terrorist activity . She is clueless at first however she starts telling her kidnappers how her grandparents were involved with Lilith. This is where the POV of Lilith & Helena( Nadia's great grandmother) starts 2) Lilith's POV gives us a bird's view on how she rose to Success, fell in love & lead to Apocalypse 3) Helena's POV gives us a window to her disaster of a journey followed by a small archaelogical adventure she took with her father.
Author Nancy Madore successfully manages to quench your Thirst for diverse Genres like Mythology, Historical, Psychology, Thriller,Religion, Science Fiction with this Book. The Characters are Brilliantly etched. Reading about Helena's domestic life was quite Nerve-wracking. Hats off to Nancy Madore for the thorough Research she did for this Book. The only problem I had with this book was that it was too Lengthy. Wish It was edited a Bit. Nevertheless, This Book is worth its weight in Gold. Its a Bit of a Shame how under-rated this book is.
October 8, 2014
Hmmmm...this one was a surprise. When I realized it was about angels and nephilim and so on I was, I must admit, a little nervous. there was no need, it was a great read and a great idea.
Looking forward to reading the next part.
Looking forward to reading the next part.
January 28, 2016
I received the book from the author for an honest review.
First word: WOW...The plot, the manner the book was written in, the realistic and interesting characters, the structure, and the different layers of the book had me glued to this story from the moment I started to read it. It simply was more than an enjoyable read, and I cannot wait to read the follow up in this series: Power of Gods. I had no idea when Ms Madore asked me to do a review that I would enjoy the book so much. She is a very talented author that seems to capture the readers interest from the word get go. Writing effortlessly, as she explored the world of Ancient Biblical times dating back as far as the history before the flood to bring you a very modern story with biological warfare as the main plot. The way she brought it all together was just fantastic. She definitely has a new fan.
With all that said, I really liked every character that was portrait in this book. But the two who stood out the most was Helene's and Asmodeus's characters. Both stories were touching, each in an unique way, although years and centuries apart. Both doing what they had to do to safe their loved ones, even if it meant they had to pay the ultimate price. Helene was thrust into a world she had no idea about and when she finally was married off, without her knowledge, to a Muslim man by a trusted friend her whole life changed. Suddenly she had to adapt to a whole different life: where Allah's word is law and a woman is nothing. My heart really went out to this young woman, who remained strong through out never giving up her own believes.
The story begins with Nadia who was abducted from her office. Her abductors thinking that she was the dijnn they were looking for, but through her stories you learn more about the ancient times and the people who lived there, and were equally mystified as the plot became known through her telling.
You are taken back into history where we learn more about Helene and the Qumram caves, the discovery of the tablets, and the encountering with Lilith for the first time: an ancient Nephilim. This woman was very independent for her time: dating back 5000 years ago. A time when angels and giants ruled the earth. Women had to know their place, but this woman did everything opposite. She became a well known warrior, and Goddess, and people perceived her to be a demon: an evil deity. She fell in love with another Nephilim, Asmodeus. Warrior, king and god. The two ruled and reigned during their time together, with a passion that fueled their love even more.
At the end the conclusion in the book would startle you and you couldn't help but feel sorry for the two dijnns wondering if they ever would come together.
In their quest to find this dijnn, Nadia's abductors listened to her stories, finding answers to question they had, and soon we see that a friendship blossomed between her and them. Unraveling the mystery and finding the terrorist cells that wanted to destroy the West. Reprimanding herself, Nadia didn't want to be the next Patty Hearst, but you see the empathy and friendship grows despite the awkward situation.
Really a great book filled with mystery that kept you guessing till the end, with strong and believable characters that enhanced the plot even better.
First word: WOW...The plot, the manner the book was written in, the realistic and interesting characters, the structure, and the different layers of the book had me glued to this story from the moment I started to read it. It simply was more than an enjoyable read, and I cannot wait to read the follow up in this series: Power of Gods. I had no idea when Ms Madore asked me to do a review that I would enjoy the book so much. She is a very talented author that seems to capture the readers interest from the word get go. Writing effortlessly, as she explored the world of Ancient Biblical times dating back as far as the history before the flood to bring you a very modern story with biological warfare as the main plot. The way she brought it all together was just fantastic. She definitely has a new fan.
With all that said, I really liked every character that was portrait in this book. But the two who stood out the most was Helene's and Asmodeus's characters. Both stories were touching, each in an unique way, although years and centuries apart. Both doing what they had to do to safe their loved ones, even if it meant they had to pay the ultimate price. Helene was thrust into a world she had no idea about and when she finally was married off, without her knowledge, to a Muslim man by a trusted friend her whole life changed. Suddenly she had to adapt to a whole different life: where Allah's word is law and a woman is nothing. My heart really went out to this young woman, who remained strong through out never giving up her own believes.
The story begins with Nadia who was abducted from her office. Her abductors thinking that she was the dijnn they were looking for, but through her stories you learn more about the ancient times and the people who lived there, and were equally mystified as the plot became known through her telling.
You are taken back into history where we learn more about Helene and the Qumram caves, the discovery of the tablets, and the encountering with Lilith for the first time: an ancient Nephilim. This woman was very independent for her time: dating back 5000 years ago. A time when angels and giants ruled the earth. Women had to know their place, but this woman did everything opposite. She became a well known warrior, and Goddess, and people perceived her to be a demon: an evil deity. She fell in love with another Nephilim, Asmodeus. Warrior, king and god. The two ruled and reigned during their time together, with a passion that fueled their love even more.
At the end the conclusion in the book would startle you and you couldn't help but feel sorry for the two dijnns wondering if they ever would come together.
In their quest to find this dijnn, Nadia's abductors listened to her stories, finding answers to question they had, and soon we see that a friendship blossomed between her and them. Unraveling the mystery and finding the terrorist cells that wanted to destroy the West. Reprimanding herself, Nadia didn't want to be the next Patty Hearst, but you see the empathy and friendship grows despite the awkward situation.
Really a great book filled with mystery that kept you guessing till the end, with strong and believable characters that enhanced the plot even better.
December 27, 2014
@nanmadore
@readwomen2014
#thelegacyofthewatchers
This has to be one of my favorite reads this year and I have read about 40 very, very good books so far.
I know 2014 is not over yet but my next read would have to be a hell of a contender (no pun intended ;).
The Hidden Ones may not be the first novel by Nancy Madore but is the first one I read by this author.
I have seen a few reviews mentioning the saga to be on par with Dan Brown's writings but I personally feel The Legacy of the Watchers is in a league of its own.
As a reader, I was taken to a world of Arabic folklore I knew and still know very little about.
The main character Nadia is recounting what she believes to be children's story, the ones her mother was telling her as a child, not knowing the importance of the information she holds. Those stories will be the key to prevent the impending catastrophe on the world we know today.
I will give you this, those last few lines are not in anyway depicting an extraordinary plot...
However, the author is herself an expert storyteller and her love of ancient history bleeds through every single word.
I absolutely loved how Lilith was written. I could nearly feel sorry for her and understand her anger...until I remembered that she was one of the worst kind of evil.
This novel, is a fascinating work of fiction linking present times to 5000 years worth of very well researched history.
Who knows...it might just even be all real...
@readwomen2014
#thelegacyofthewatchers
This has to be one of my favorite reads this year and I have read about 40 very, very good books so far.
I know 2014 is not over yet but my next read would have to be a hell of a contender (no pun intended ;).
The Hidden Ones may not be the first novel by Nancy Madore but is the first one I read by this author.
I have seen a few reviews mentioning the saga to be on par with Dan Brown's writings but I personally feel The Legacy of the Watchers is in a league of its own.
As a reader, I was taken to a world of Arabic folklore I knew and still know very little about.
The main character Nadia is recounting what she believes to be children's story, the ones her mother was telling her as a child, not knowing the importance of the information she holds. Those stories will be the key to prevent the impending catastrophe on the world we know today.
I will give you this, those last few lines are not in anyway depicting an extraordinary plot...
However, the author is herself an expert storyteller and her love of ancient history bleeds through every single word.
I absolutely loved how Lilith was written. I could nearly feel sorry for her and understand her anger...until I remembered that she was one of the worst kind of evil.
This novel, is a fascinating work of fiction linking present times to 5000 years worth of very well researched history.
Who knows...it might just even be all real...
December 4, 2017
The author sent this to me in exchange for an honest review.
The whole Watchers trilogy was a mixture of science fiction/fantasy/romance set mainly in contemporary times; I couldn't pigeonhole it into one definite genre. Any historical fiction/fantasy was based on the Lilith/Nephilim legends; they attracted me in the first place. Nadia, the heroine, CEO of a charitable nonprofit, BEACON, is kidnapped one day and taken to Saudi Arabia where she tells her kidnappers, members of a group called the Raphaelians, of her grandmother's stories and the legend of Lilith, who is trying to bring catastrophe on the world. They try to prevent it: a pandemic. We are taken back and forth from present time; to when her grandmother--the unwilling wife of a Saudi--was living; and back to the ancient days in Mesopotamia for the story of the djinn Lilith, one of the Nephilim as mentioned in the Old Testament, and her race. I did like reading about some of the Muslim culture but I fear much was negatively stereotypical. I appreciate the author's efforts and from so many positive comments I see on the GR reviews, I am sure there are many others who would like her trilogy, but it is not really of my interest. I had no complaints about the writing style: a yeoman effort with minimal proofing errors. I couldn't connect with any of the characters. The love interest subplot was strange. I could only read Book 2 partway then abandoned it. I never even tried Book 3. I'm not interested enough to find out how the story finishes.
The whole Watchers trilogy was a mixture of science fiction/fantasy/romance set mainly in contemporary times; I couldn't pigeonhole it into one definite genre. Any historical fiction/fantasy was based on the Lilith/Nephilim legends; they attracted me in the first place. Nadia, the heroine, CEO of a charitable nonprofit, BEACON, is kidnapped one day and taken to Saudi Arabia where she tells her kidnappers, members of a group called the Raphaelians, of her grandmother's stories and the legend of Lilith, who is trying to bring catastrophe on the world. They try to prevent it: a pandemic. We are taken back and forth from present time; to when her grandmother--the unwilling wife of a Saudi--was living; and back to the ancient days in Mesopotamia for the story of the djinn Lilith, one of the Nephilim as mentioned in the Old Testament, and her race. I did like reading about some of the Muslim culture but I fear much was negatively stereotypical. I appreciate the author's efforts and from so many positive comments I see on the GR reviews, I am sure there are many others who would like her trilogy, but it is not really of my interest. I had no complaints about the writing style: a yeoman effort with minimal proofing errors. I couldn't connect with any of the characters. The love interest subplot was strange. I could only read Book 2 partway then abandoned it. I never even tried Book 3. I'm not interested enough to find out how the story finishes.
April 17, 2015
**This book was sent to me by the author and this is an honest review of the book. Enjoy!**
If you LOVED Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor, you will immensely enjoy this novel.
This novel has two simultaneous stories intertwined. One, the life of Nadia Adeire, a successful businesswoman who was abducted by people hired by a secret organization and the only way she had to survive is to keep feeding them the history and legend behind angels and the how they affected the lives of early people living on earth, their language, agriculture and such. These stories were passed on to her by her mother (as her grandmother did to her mother). Two, the story of Lilith, a half nephilim/giant that roamed the earth and lived among us before the dawn of time.
Each of these worlds are fast paced, the characters vivid and real... especially Lilith’s story is sooo gripping! I am blown away by Lilith, she's like a female Gladiator to me haha
Nadia is a bit boring as a character but man, Lilith is just sooo freaking gorgeous and sexy and smoldering and she is one bad ass warrior.
Even though this story is about nephilims and djinns which we have all heard and perhaps read at one point, it is still so amazingly original that you will keep turning the pages to see how It’s going to end.
All in all, thoroughly enjoyed the book!
If you LOVED Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor, you will immensely enjoy this novel.
This novel has two simultaneous stories intertwined. One, the life of Nadia Adeire, a successful businesswoman who was abducted by people hired by a secret organization and the only way she had to survive is to keep feeding them the history and legend behind angels and the how they affected the lives of early people living on earth, their language, agriculture and such. These stories were passed on to her by her mother (as her grandmother did to her mother). Two, the story of Lilith, a half nephilim/giant that roamed the earth and lived among us before the dawn of time.
Each of these worlds are fast paced, the characters vivid and real... especially Lilith’s story is sooo gripping! I am blown away by Lilith, she's like a female Gladiator to me haha
Nadia is a bit boring as a character but man, Lilith is just sooo freaking gorgeous and sexy and smoldering and she is one bad ass warrior.
Even though this story is about nephilims and djinns which we have all heard and perhaps read at one point, it is still so amazingly original that you will keep turning the pages to see how It’s going to end.
All in all, thoroughly enjoyed the book!
December 30, 2012
This was a great read. I will be looking for the second one (and future ones) when they come out.
The story takes place in 3 time periods. The Mestopian era, the mid 1900's, and present day. It follows three different woman, Lilith, Helene, and Nadia. It is quite the read, and not exactly what I was expecting.
I enjoyed that this was a work of fiction that was heavily based on historical accounts (and the bible), and the factual parts where factual...not just made up facts. This was a nice blend of reality and fiction, and done in a way that not many authors can seem to master as well as Nancy Madore did.
I found the stories of Lilith and Helene to be the most capitvation. I am curious as to what has become of Lilith after the final scene of her with Nadia and Gorden.
I was also surprised to find that the author of this work has written what many deam as 'Erotica' in her past works - and this is really her first branch out from that genre. While there was romance in the book - and sex - it was blatent, and discussed pointedly. An adult reader would know what was going on, but if this book was being used in a school, it would still be accepted as it wasn't in your face or overly descriptive.
A nice work, and I hope to read more by this author.
The story takes place in 3 time periods. The Mestopian era, the mid 1900's, and present day. It follows three different woman, Lilith, Helene, and Nadia. It is quite the read, and not exactly what I was expecting.
I enjoyed that this was a work of fiction that was heavily based on historical accounts (and the bible), and the factual parts where factual...not just made up facts. This was a nice blend of reality and fiction, and done in a way that not many authors can seem to master as well as Nancy Madore did.
I found the stories of Lilith and Helene to be the most capitvation. I am curious as to what has become of Lilith after the final scene of her with Nadia and Gorden.
I was also surprised to find that the author of this work has written what many deam as 'Erotica' in her past works - and this is really her first branch out from that genre. While there was romance in the book - and sex - it was blatent, and discussed pointedly. An adult reader would know what was going on, but if this book was being used in a school, it would still be accepted as it wasn't in your face or overly descriptive.
A nice work, and I hope to read more by this author.
July 29, 2014
This book's genre is hard to classify - fantasy, historical fiction, suspense, modern day political intrigue, archaeology, mythology and a little romance tossed in. However, I enjoyed every page of it and read it in two days. Nancy Madore brought both her modern characters and those from the ancient past to life for me, with believable dialog and vivid descriptions that kept the story fast paced. By the end of the book, I felt I knew all the characters well. I also liked the way she dovetailed stories from the old Testament (which mentions giants and angels on earth) with the plot of the book, making it seem even more believable.
Her main character, Nadia, is kidnapped by undercover government agents to find out what she knows about her grandmother's experiences with djinn (genies). Her family had a history of passing along stories in the oral tradition, so Nadia knew what they were searching for. Was she able and willing to help these agents piece together enough information to stop an attack that would end human life on earth?
This is the first of three books in the "Legacy of the Watchers" series, and I can't wait to get to the next book! I was sent a complimentary paperback copy of The Hidden ones for review purposes.
Her main character, Nadia, is kidnapped by undercover government agents to find out what she knows about her grandmother's experiences with djinn (genies). Her family had a history of passing along stories in the oral tradition, so Nadia knew what they were searching for. Was she able and willing to help these agents piece together enough information to stop an attack that would end human life on earth?
This is the first of three books in the "Legacy of the Watchers" series, and I can't wait to get to the next book! I was sent a complimentary paperback copy of The Hidden ones for review purposes.
April 7, 2013
Based on the idea that the Bible is literal interpretation, Nancy Madore has woven together a perfect thriller involving religion, mythology, and historical events. I loved Madore's telling the story of strong women, both good and evil, throughout time.
The Hidden Ones starts out with the kidnapping of CEO Nadia Adeire because a secret group believe her to be djinn, specifically the seductive demon Lilith of Hebrew legend. The descendant Nephilim souls from long ago are looking for a way to both save themselves and save humanity, even if it means destroying humans in the process. The secret society is rounding up all the djinn to prevent suspected worldwide disaster, and Nadia plays an integral part of their race to capture the demons.
The storyline was very intriguing. Madore goes back and forth throughout history and the well-written tale makes it easy to follow. It is one of a trilogy. Suspenseful with a little romance and a lot of action, this book has something for everyone. The characters were memorable and even the evil ones I took a liking to. I look forward to reading all the books in this series.
Note: This review was published on my book blog.
The Hidden Ones starts out with the kidnapping of CEO Nadia Adeire because a secret group believe her to be djinn, specifically the seductive demon Lilith of Hebrew legend. The descendant Nephilim souls from long ago are looking for a way to both save themselves and save humanity, even if it means destroying humans in the process. The secret society is rounding up all the djinn to prevent suspected worldwide disaster, and Nadia plays an integral part of their race to capture the demons.
The storyline was very intriguing. Madore goes back and forth throughout history and the well-written tale makes it easy to follow. It is one of a trilogy. Suspenseful with a little romance and a lot of action, this book has something for everyone. The characters were memorable and even the evil ones I took a liking to. I look forward to reading all the books in this series.
Note: This review was published on my book blog.
August 28, 2014
A longer review of this book can be found on my blog
This was very good. I am sad I took so long reading it, but when it comes to e-books if I don't make myself sit down and read them it takes a while. I am glad I got a chance to read this and hope to continue with the series. I can see how the author would have to do a lot of research for this book it incorporates history, religion, and mythology. I liked how this story progressed. I was confused when first starting this book but soon realized the differences between the three POV's and why it was important to tell it this way. The only thing I would change is the cover... it is not my favorite but did not stop me from reading after I read the synopsis.
This was very good. I am sad I took so long reading it, but when it comes to e-books if I don't make myself sit down and read them it takes a while. I am glad I got a chance to read this and hope to continue with the series. I can see how the author would have to do a lot of research for this book it incorporates history, religion, and mythology. I liked how this story progressed. I was confused when first starting this book but soon realized the differences between the three POV's and why it was important to tell it this way. The only thing I would change is the cover... it is not my favorite but did not stop me from reading after I read the synopsis.
January 13, 2013
Fantastic read. How clever is Madore? Weaving a modern day story with a time line in the 1940's and then again in ancient Mesopotamia was masterful. Jinn and giants written about over the ages come to life as they were portrayed in our most sacred religious texts. The plot and twists weave a story that's engaging, and smart. Nadia is kidnapped and taken to a secluded place and is forced to reveal stories passed down to her through the generations of women in her family as they seem to unlock the keys to mysteries we've all wanted answers to. But there is another twist, time is of the essence as answers need to be derived quickly to prevent a terrorist attack on US soil. I can't wait until the sequel, I've found another author I can't put down. Enjoy!
July 2, 2014
Another thought, (yes, that kind of book...it stays with you) I love the strong, female characters. LOVE them.
I was a little apprehensive to take a journey spanning thousands of years. I feared confusion and a story that told instead of showed. But, after reading the prologue, I decided to trust the author, and away we went! This novel has so much: historical fiction, romance, mystery...and an author who brilliantly keeps it organized and intriguing. This is an ancient journey tied to present day. It brings an interesting spin to age-old happenings. Read this with an open mind. And be prepared, you may just root for the "bad guys." I did.
Sent to me for review.
I was a little apprehensive to take a journey spanning thousands of years. I feared confusion and a story that told instead of showed. But, after reading the prologue, I decided to trust the author, and away we went! This novel has so much: historical fiction, romance, mystery...and an author who brilliantly keeps it organized and intriguing. This is an ancient journey tied to present day. It brings an interesting spin to age-old happenings. Read this with an open mind. And be prepared, you may just root for the "bad guys." I did.
Sent to me for review.
September 29, 2014
I'm a huge fan of paranormal fiction, angels, demons and aliens!! So no surprise that I said yes to review the books when the author contacted me for a review.
I'm giving 'The Hidden Watchers' 5 stars as I loved reading it and it kept me intrigued till the end. Yes, I want to know more, hence reading the second installment and almost done.
I will recommend it to anyone who loves paranormal fiction.
If you like you can read my full-review of this amazing book on my blog: http://passionatebookreviews.blogspot...
I'm giving 'The Hidden Watchers' 5 stars as I loved reading it and it kept me intrigued till the end. Yes, I want to know more, hence reading the second installment and almost done.
I will recommend it to anyone who loves paranormal fiction.
If you like you can read my full-review of this amazing book on my blog: http://passionatebookreviews.blogspot...
September 5, 2014
Wow. I haven't liked a book this much in a long time. I especially liked the impartial observations about god, angels and aliens. This is written really well. I can't wait to start the next book in the series.
October 28, 2014
If you could see me right now, you’d be able to see my scrunched face.
The Hidden Ones elicits a love-hate relationship that varies tremendously through the course of this long, strenuous, read that left me aching to skim pages but unable to for fear of missing vital pieces to this intriguing mystery.
Nadia is the successful business owner of a nonprofit relief organization, so when she finds herself kidnapped, in the midst of her terror, she finds herself wondering why anyone would want to abduct her, her of all people! The situation goes from bleak to insane when Nadia’s captors begin to question her about djinn while making it blatantly clear that her life is dispensable unless she provides them with information they seek.
It is not that the story is boring or poorly written; quite the opposite is true. The novel is remarkably well written and flows well in spite of the constant changes across time and personas. It’s that the content, while interesting, is overwhelmed in details with historical significance… something I found was not for me. History has never been a favorite of mine.
Nevertheless, I have to admit that Madore did an excellent job combining history and fantasy. The plot twists were striking, taking me by complete surprise and the story unfolded in an engaging manner. Her present day characters irritate me to no end. I wanted to slap the protagonist a few times. Okay, that is a lie, many, many times over is a more accurate statement. I found her to be whiney, naïve, and pathetic. She is not the type of heroine that I find appealing. This made it difficult for me to understand her perceptions and actions, hence the insane amounts of exasperation I felt directed at her. The characters that transcend time were phenomenal. I loved learning more about them and what shaped them.
So you see, love-hate.
I found myself caught up in the storyline, but felt tortured at times with the details I didn’t find necessary. If I had more of an appreciating for history, I may have felt differently.
Madore took a novel idea and weaved an intricate story of past and present with an unsettling twist. This book for you if you enjoy the fantasy genres just as much as historical ones, otherwise, let it be.
*** This book was received from the author in exchange for an honest review. ***
www.candidbookaddict.com
The Hidden Ones elicits a love-hate relationship that varies tremendously through the course of this long, strenuous, read that left me aching to skim pages but unable to for fear of missing vital pieces to this intriguing mystery.
Nadia is the successful business owner of a nonprofit relief organization, so when she finds herself kidnapped, in the midst of her terror, she finds herself wondering why anyone would want to abduct her, her of all people! The situation goes from bleak to insane when Nadia’s captors begin to question her about djinn while making it blatantly clear that her life is dispensable unless she provides them with information they seek.
It is not that the story is boring or poorly written; quite the opposite is true. The novel is remarkably well written and flows well in spite of the constant changes across time and personas. It’s that the content, while interesting, is overwhelmed in details with historical significance… something I found was not for me. History has never been a favorite of mine.
Nevertheless, I have to admit that Madore did an excellent job combining history and fantasy. The plot twists were striking, taking me by complete surprise and the story unfolded in an engaging manner. Her present day characters irritate me to no end. I wanted to slap the protagonist a few times. Okay, that is a lie, many, many times over is a more accurate statement. I found her to be whiney, naïve, and pathetic. She is not the type of heroine that I find appealing. This made it difficult for me to understand her perceptions and actions, hence the insane amounts of exasperation I felt directed at her. The characters that transcend time were phenomenal. I loved learning more about them and what shaped them.
So you see, love-hate.
I found myself caught up in the storyline, but felt tortured at times with the details I didn’t find necessary. If I had more of an appreciating for history, I may have felt differently.
Madore took a novel idea and weaved an intricate story of past and present with an unsettling twist. This book for you if you enjoy the fantasy genres just as much as historical ones, otherwise, let it be.
*** This book was received from the author in exchange for an honest review. ***
www.candidbookaddict.com
February 2, 2023
I will also do a video review here at my channel: http://www.youtube.com/magicofbooks
"The Hidden Ones" is book 1 in the "Legacy of the Watchers" series by Nancy Madore. Nadia is CEO of a thriving charitable foundation, but one day she is kidnapped by three strange men who think she has some sort of connection to the notorious demoness of Hebrew legend, Lilith. These men seem to believe that a terrorist attack is about to happen involving supernatural forces and it's up to Nadia to reexamine the stories she heard about her grandmother and her mother to search for the whereabouts of Lilith to stop this impending disaster.
First, Nancy Madore so very kindly contacted me way back in 2014 to read this trilogy, and as you can see, the year is 2023. I feel so incredibly mortified and embarrassed that I'm just now getting to this trilogy after she sent them to me. A lot of this has to do with just being so overwhelmed with books and trying to prioritize certain ones, but also trying to read things I'm interested in. I just have too many books, let's be real, and this trilogy unfortunately got pushed way back into the pile. So Nancy Madore, if you are reading this, I do apologize. A late review is better than no review, right?
I gotta say, I was very pleasantly surprised with this first book. Since this trilogy has practically been lying in my room for a decade, I went into this book initially begrudgingly because there's so many other books I've been dying to read. I genuinely had a blast with this book! It's fun with some action packed moments, and dealing with a story that goes all the way back to the early days of history that now has ramifications for things going on in the present that involve some sort of supernatural terrorist attack. It was pretty exciting. The novel is essentially divided up into three points of view, so I'm going to do my best to attack everything as best I can in this review.
Our main POV is through Nadia, CEO of a charitable foundation that helps people in need during disasters. Nadia is the overall frame of the narrative as the other two narratives weave gradually into the story. One day Nadia is kidnapped by three men who take a while to inform her exactly what's going on. But once they do, they tell her about an impending supernatural terrorist attack that involves Lilith, a Nephilim warrior who dates all the way back to the early days of history as well as the Bible. Of course Nadia finds all of this silly, but once the men tell her that her family is involved, Nadia begins to reexamine stories that she heard about her grandmother through her mother. This is where we get the second POV which is through Helene, Nadia's grandmother, taking place in 1948 in the Middle East. Helene is with her father and two of his colleagues and they are looking for some Books of the Dead. They end up summoning Lilith with the help of one of these books. Their discovery of Lilith could change the scientific, historical, and religious communities. Of course word slips out, bad men come and take over the whole situation, some terrible things go down, and Helene's life is forever changed in truly horrific ways. Our third POV is through Lilith herself in ancient Mesopotamia. We learn about her origins as a Nephilim, the child of an angel and a human, and her desire to be a female warrior and prove herself to the man she comes to love. Much of her narrative is showcasing certain key moments from the Bible and her involvement in those moments and how her story eventually connects to Helene and Nadia.
I really enjoyed all three POVs. I think Nancy Madore did a good job distinguishing each of their voices that none of them sounded similar. Though I did like Nadia, I did find her chapters to be a bit frustrating because her narrative really goes nowhere. For the most part she is trapped with her kidnappers and telling them stories. Her whole plot for a good 80% of the novel is in a little house where it's all dialogue and not very much action. She's the frame that keeps the narrative together that puts the other two narratives in the order that they need to go in as we learn more and more information. So her story remaining rather stagnant makes sense, but at the same time kind of frustrating because you just want the action to get away from the house. And I wasn't quite sure how I felt about her relationship with her kidnappers. They aren't bad people, but you feel like they are for a good chunk of the novel. It takes a while to realize they are trying to prevent this apocalypse and they truly felt like Nadia was possessed by Lilith. Either way, Nadia forms a sort of Stockholm Syndrome type relationship with them. Nancy Madore tries her best to get you to like the men, and even has Nadia form a crush on one of them, but it still felt a little icky on occasion. They still kidnapped her! If Nadia was to start having romantic feelings for one of the men, I would have preferred for something like that to happen in perhaps the next book in the series, rather than in this one. Like I said, it comes across as a little weird and uncomfortable. I also ended up liking Helene's POV more than I expected. I enjoyed everything leading up to the summoning of Lilith and then I was truly shocked where her narrative went next. I obviously can't spoil anything, but what happens to Helene is some of the most traumatizing sequences I've ever read in fiction and Nancy Madore doesn't shy away from some of the brutality that happens to her. I also loved Lilith's chapters too. This is where Nancy Madore includes all of her ancient history and Bible research. Lilith is a badass, what can I say. I adored her relationship with fellow Nephilim, Asmodeous. I enjoyed her journey to become a warrior. There's an incredible sequence involving the flood (you know, the one about Noah and the ark), and it's perhaps one of the most thrilling moments in the narrative that left me on the edge of my seat. I think what Nancy Madore does well here with Lilith's story in general is just her overall portrayal as a complex, flawed woman, and I was never quite sure if I was supposed to see her (as well as Asmodeous) as a villain. I liked that complexity and it broadened her character to someone you could sympathize with rather than her just strictly being the one-dimensional antagonist. Because is she truly even a villain at the end of the day?
Overall, I really enjoyed this first book. There are a few problems here and there. I do think the book might be a tad bit too long in places. Occasionally it felt repetitive. Or sometimes I felt like we didn't need to keep flashing to Nadia as much as we did for her to just explain what we just read about either Helene or Lilith. Not gonna lie, the ending did confuse me a bit and I felt like we just jumped to that ending out of nowhere after all of Nancy Madore's careful buildup. But for the most part, I had an incredible amount of fun with this book and I'm very excited to get into the next one.
"The Hidden Ones" is book 1 in the "Legacy of the Watchers" series by Nancy Madore. Nadia is CEO of a thriving charitable foundation, but one day she is kidnapped by three strange men who think she has some sort of connection to the notorious demoness of Hebrew legend, Lilith. These men seem to believe that a terrorist attack is about to happen involving supernatural forces and it's up to Nadia to reexamine the stories she heard about her grandmother and her mother to search for the whereabouts of Lilith to stop this impending disaster.
First, Nancy Madore so very kindly contacted me way back in 2014 to read this trilogy, and as you can see, the year is 2023. I feel so incredibly mortified and embarrassed that I'm just now getting to this trilogy after she sent them to me. A lot of this has to do with just being so overwhelmed with books and trying to prioritize certain ones, but also trying to read things I'm interested in. I just have too many books, let's be real, and this trilogy unfortunately got pushed way back into the pile. So Nancy Madore, if you are reading this, I do apologize. A late review is better than no review, right?
I gotta say, I was very pleasantly surprised with this first book. Since this trilogy has practically been lying in my room for a decade, I went into this book initially begrudgingly because there's so many other books I've been dying to read. I genuinely had a blast with this book! It's fun with some action packed moments, and dealing with a story that goes all the way back to the early days of history that now has ramifications for things going on in the present that involve some sort of supernatural terrorist attack. It was pretty exciting. The novel is essentially divided up into three points of view, so I'm going to do my best to attack everything as best I can in this review.
Our main POV is through Nadia, CEO of a charitable foundation that helps people in need during disasters. Nadia is the overall frame of the narrative as the other two narratives weave gradually into the story. One day Nadia is kidnapped by three men who take a while to inform her exactly what's going on. But once they do, they tell her about an impending supernatural terrorist attack that involves Lilith, a Nephilim warrior who dates all the way back to the early days of history as well as the Bible. Of course Nadia finds all of this silly, but once the men tell her that her family is involved, Nadia begins to reexamine stories that she heard about her grandmother through her mother. This is where we get the second POV which is through Helene, Nadia's grandmother, taking place in 1948 in the Middle East. Helene is with her father and two of his colleagues and they are looking for some Books of the Dead. They end up summoning Lilith with the help of one of these books. Their discovery of Lilith could change the scientific, historical, and religious communities. Of course word slips out, bad men come and take over the whole situation, some terrible things go down, and Helene's life is forever changed in truly horrific ways. Our third POV is through Lilith herself in ancient Mesopotamia. We learn about her origins as a Nephilim, the child of an angel and a human, and her desire to be a female warrior and prove herself to the man she comes to love. Much of her narrative is showcasing certain key moments from the Bible and her involvement in those moments and how her story eventually connects to Helene and Nadia.
I really enjoyed all three POVs. I think Nancy Madore did a good job distinguishing each of their voices that none of them sounded similar. Though I did like Nadia, I did find her chapters to be a bit frustrating because her narrative really goes nowhere. For the most part she is trapped with her kidnappers and telling them stories. Her whole plot for a good 80% of the novel is in a little house where it's all dialogue and not very much action. She's the frame that keeps the narrative together that puts the other two narratives in the order that they need to go in as we learn more and more information. So her story remaining rather stagnant makes sense, but at the same time kind of frustrating because you just want the action to get away from the house. And I wasn't quite sure how I felt about her relationship with her kidnappers. They aren't bad people, but you feel like they are for a good chunk of the novel. It takes a while to realize they are trying to prevent this apocalypse and they truly felt like Nadia was possessed by Lilith. Either way, Nadia forms a sort of Stockholm Syndrome type relationship with them. Nancy Madore tries her best to get you to like the men, and even has Nadia form a crush on one of them, but it still felt a little icky on occasion. They still kidnapped her! If Nadia was to start having romantic feelings for one of the men, I would have preferred for something like that to happen in perhaps the next book in the series, rather than in this one. Like I said, it comes across as a little weird and uncomfortable. I also ended up liking Helene's POV more than I expected. I enjoyed everything leading up to the summoning of Lilith and then I was truly shocked where her narrative went next. I obviously can't spoil anything, but what happens to Helene is some of the most traumatizing sequences I've ever read in fiction and Nancy Madore doesn't shy away from some of the brutality that happens to her. I also loved Lilith's chapters too. This is where Nancy Madore includes all of her ancient history and Bible research. Lilith is a badass, what can I say. I adored her relationship with fellow Nephilim, Asmodeous. I enjoyed her journey to become a warrior. There's an incredible sequence involving the flood (you know, the one about Noah and the ark), and it's perhaps one of the most thrilling moments in the narrative that left me on the edge of my seat. I think what Nancy Madore does well here with Lilith's story in general is just her overall portrayal as a complex, flawed woman, and I was never quite sure if I was supposed to see her (as well as Asmodeous) as a villain. I liked that complexity and it broadened her character to someone you could sympathize with rather than her just strictly being the one-dimensional antagonist. Because is she truly even a villain at the end of the day?
Overall, I really enjoyed this first book. There are a few problems here and there. I do think the book might be a tad bit too long in places. Occasionally it felt repetitive. Or sometimes I felt like we didn't need to keep flashing to Nadia as much as we did for her to just explain what we just read about either Helene or Lilith. Not gonna lie, the ending did confuse me a bit and I felt like we just jumped to that ending out of nowhere after all of Nancy Madore's careful buildup. But for the most part, I had an incredible amount of fun with this book and I'm very excited to get into the next one.
May 8, 2016
"Just as she hoped, this last piece of information caused the men to practically jump out of their seats. She had them on the hook." -- A fatal line in this wonderfully adventurous tale, because just like the those men, I was hooked.
Nancy Madore's novel doesn't waste any time in enrapturing your senses and pulling you into the story. From page one your curiosity is piqued and you are dying to know what happens to Nadia, to Helene, to Lilith. But more immediately you want to know what happens next! This story haunts you like the djinn haunt the world. You cannot put it down without the shadow of it following you and berating your mind until you pick it up again. The three tales of these different women are woven together so intricately and so precisely that you know one false note would destroy the book, but Madore proves herself to be exceptionally informed and expertly skilled.
The enchanting tales that follow these three characters are very different, but each powerful and resonates with you in their own way. Each of the female characters are so strong that you vote for them to achieve the outcome they desire, even though they directly conflict with the others! You will find yourself exasperated and tired of all the emotions that rattle inside of you but in the best way possible. That is exactly what you want from a good book; writing that makes you uncomfortable, that makes you feel trapped within yourself when all you want to do is shout from the heavens.
This book merits four stars for consistency in writing, language and the anxiety that it fills you with, but garners the last star for the unbelievable ending that helps to wrap up one story but propels you directly into the others, leaving you panting for more. Well done Ms. Madore, well done.
Nancy Madore's novel doesn't waste any time in enrapturing your senses and pulling you into the story. From page one your curiosity is piqued and you are dying to know what happens to Nadia, to Helene, to Lilith. But more immediately you want to know what happens next! This story haunts you like the djinn haunt the world. You cannot put it down without the shadow of it following you and berating your mind until you pick it up again. The three tales of these different women are woven together so intricately and so precisely that you know one false note would destroy the book, but Madore proves herself to be exceptionally informed and expertly skilled.
The enchanting tales that follow these three characters are very different, but each powerful and resonates with you in their own way. Each of the female characters are so strong that you vote for them to achieve the outcome they desire, even though they directly conflict with the others! You will find yourself exasperated and tired of all the emotions that rattle inside of you but in the best way possible. That is exactly what you want from a good book; writing that makes you uncomfortable, that makes you feel trapped within yourself when all you want to do is shout from the heavens.
This book merits four stars for consistency in writing, language and the anxiety that it fills you with, but garners the last star for the unbelievable ending that helps to wrap up one story but propels you directly into the others, leaving you panting for more. Well done Ms. Madore, well done.
June 11, 2014
Nadia Adeire was a CEO of a non-profit company (relief organization) & founder of BEACON (Supporting Women around the World network) & lives in Manhattan NY. Her mother Gisele Adeire had passed away & Nadia inherited the company. Is there a dark side to Nadia?
1 day something awful happens & she is kidnapped by 3 diverse ethnic race/cultural men (Will; Blue Eyes/, Gordon; Gene; Western Indian/, Clive; A/A) dressed in janitors uniforms. Nadia & the men were on a plane destination unknown to her. Saudi Arabia is where she is being held.
What do the 3 kidnappers want with Nadia? Who/what role does Lilith (Li-la-kee; created before Eve; Nephilim; giant; Queen of Kiriath Arba; Goddess of Death) play?
Why is the cave of Qumran important? What/who are/is the Qliphoth (souls of the Nephilim)?
Finally what is djinn?
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written flip back in time Ancient Mesopotamia (ethnic/cultural/relgious) to present day adventure fantasy mythological book. It was very easy to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. No grammar errors, some repetition (book filler), but no out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios (earthquakes, war), with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make great adventure movie (Avatar, Raiders of the Lost Ark), animated cartoon, or mini TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free book (Goodreads)
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
1 day something awful happens & she is kidnapped by 3 diverse ethnic race/cultural men (Will; Blue Eyes/, Gordon; Gene; Western Indian/, Clive; A/A) dressed in janitors uniforms. Nadia & the men were on a plane destination unknown to her. Saudi Arabia is where she is being held.
What do the 3 kidnappers want with Nadia? Who/what role does Lilith (Li-la-kee; created before Eve; Nephilim; giant; Queen of Kiriath Arba; Goddess of Death) play?
Why is the cave of Qumran important? What/who are/is the Qliphoth (souls of the Nephilim)?
Finally what is djinn?
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written flip back in time Ancient Mesopotamia (ethnic/cultural/relgious) to present day adventure fantasy mythological book. It was very easy to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. No grammar errors, some repetition (book filler), but no out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios (earthquakes, war), with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make great adventure movie (Avatar, Raiders of the Lost Ark), animated cartoon, or mini TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free book (Goodreads)
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews