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Sins of a Priest
He dropped the camera and stared at its monitor. The video paused. His face, in lustful pleasure, was frozen on the screen.
Marcus grew up a gangster kid, but now he's a Priest. He's come back home to re-start a 19th century Catholic church that has been completely vandalized. He finds out the community is heavily influenced by Satanism—something Marcus intends on changing, but his past lingers and sin is in his blood.
Jada is a Satanist, and she seduces Marcus. Sex is the result. Jada has a history with Marcus's brother, Louie, involving drugs, money, and murder. She plans revenge against Louie by using Marcus as bait.
Daniel, an old bum who hangs in the streets with goth kids, is the reason for the urban decay; the crime and hate. He's a satanic leader and the church is his palace. When Daniel finds out a new priest has surfaced, he uses Jada to drive Marcus out by exposing the Sins of a Priest.
Marcus grew up a gangster kid, but now he's a Priest. He's come back home to re-start a 19th century Catholic church that has been completely vandalized. He finds out the community is heavily influenced by Satanism—something Marcus intends on changing, but his past lingers and sin is in his blood.
Jada is a Satanist, and she seduces Marcus. Sex is the result. Jada has a history with Marcus's brother, Louie, involving drugs, money, and murder. She plans revenge against Louie by using Marcus as bait.
Daniel, an old bum who hangs in the streets with goth kids, is the reason for the urban decay; the crime and hate. He's a satanic leader and the church is his palace. When Daniel finds out a new priest has surfaced, he uses Jada to drive Marcus out by exposing the Sins of a Priest.
230 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2014
3 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
March 2, 2015
4 forgive me father for I have sinned stars
When Marcus left home he was nothing more than a troubled street kid going down the wrong path, but when his father passed away he switched paths and took one serving God's will. Now he is back as the new Priest of his childhood church, hoping he can make a difference and provide help to those in need. His hometown is overrun by crime, hate and evil
Preparing yourself for the worst and experiencing it first hand brings forth a certain perspective, making you question your faith and your intentions. When you are alone, fighting a losing battle it is easy to lose your way...
When I was asked to read Sins of a Priest I was completely intrigued by the premise of the story and was excited with the unexpected. While I didn't really know what to expect from the story it delivered a powerful tale of a battle between good and evil. Bringing out the truth that not everyone is perfect, we all make mistakes, it is how we deal with to those mistakes that make those actions right or wrong. Redemption, power and revenge all play a role in this tale.
The author did an excellent job setting the tone for the story and bringing his characters to life. Because we are talking about heaven and hell, it is a paranormal thriller, nothing to scary to make you run and hide under your bed, but it does deal with the darker grittier side of life. From the beginning to the end it is a non-stop unpredictable ride, that keeps you glued to the very end. This is a stand alone read, as it does reach a conclusion, but I have to admit I did have a few questions as to what happens next and what is the ultimate fate of them all.
ARC kindly provided by the author, in exchange for an honest review.
***Quotes above are taken from the ARC version of the book and may differ upon publication.
A cause without challenge was not worth pursuing, but a challenge without force was just the way he wanted it.
When Marcus left home he was nothing more than a troubled street kid going down the wrong path, but when his father passed away he switched paths and took one serving God's will. Now he is back as the new Priest of his childhood church, hoping he can make a difference and provide help to those in need. His hometown is overrun by crime, hate and evil
"When we look at ourselves, we often see an unforgiving past, a regrettable present, and an uncertain future."
Preparing yourself for the worst and experiencing it first hand brings forth a certain perspective, making you question your faith and your intentions. When you are alone, fighting a losing battle it is easy to lose your way...
"The priest's sins can be redeemed by God, but the sins of a Satanist burn a soul forever."
When I was asked to read Sins of a Priest I was completely intrigued by the premise of the story and was excited with the unexpected. While I didn't really know what to expect from the story it delivered a powerful tale of a battle between good and evil. Bringing out the truth that not everyone is perfect, we all make mistakes, it is how we deal with to those mistakes that make those actions right or wrong. Redemption, power and revenge all play a role in this tale.
The author did an excellent job setting the tone for the story and bringing his characters to life. Because we are talking about heaven and hell, it is a paranormal thriller, nothing to scary to make you run and hide under your bed, but it does deal with the darker grittier side of life. From the beginning to the end it is a non-stop unpredictable ride, that keeps you glued to the very end. This is a stand alone read, as it does reach a conclusion, but I have to admit I did have a few questions as to what happens next and what is the ultimate fate of them all.
ARC kindly provided by the author, in exchange for an honest review.
***Quotes above are taken from the ARC version of the book and may differ upon publication.
January 16, 2015
I was offered a free copy of "Sins of a Priest", by the author, Brian Smith, in exchange for an my honest review. I read his debut novel, "Purified, and enjoyed it very much, so I was looking forward to read his second novel. His second novel. "Sins of a Priest" is a story about the struggle of Good versus Evil. This novel also touches on elements of mystery, crime, love, deceit, betrayal, and revenge.
Marcus Castellani, grew up on the streets and was heavily involved in the gangs as a teenager, but now returns home, as a new priest to his childhood parish, that has been vandalized. But the community is not the same, and people are turning to Satanism to fill the void in their lives. Marcus has his work cut out for him, to clean up the community. But Marcus must also deal with his enemy, Daniel. Daniel is a bum,a evil Satan-worshiper leader, who lives with the kids on the streets.
Jada a Satanist seduces Marcus,(on Daniel's request) to expose the "Sins of a Priest." Jada had history with Marcus's brother, Louie, involving drug laundering and murder. It was now her chance to get back at Louie by seducing his brother.
Smith did a wonderful job of releasing information on a need-to-know-basis, allowing the puzzle to gradually come together. His setting is real, his characters are troubled and flawed which makes them more human and vulnerable.
Can the past be forgotten and at what cost?
If you’re looking for a psychological thriller that keeps you guessing all along, you must check out "Sins of a Priest."
Marcus Castellani, grew up on the streets and was heavily involved in the gangs as a teenager, but now returns home, as a new priest to his childhood parish, that has been vandalized. But the community is not the same, and people are turning to Satanism to fill the void in their lives. Marcus has his work cut out for him, to clean up the community. But Marcus must also deal with his enemy, Daniel. Daniel is a bum,a evil Satan-worshiper leader, who lives with the kids on the streets.
Jada a Satanist seduces Marcus,(on Daniel's request) to expose the "Sins of a Priest." Jada had history with Marcus's brother, Louie, involving drug laundering and murder. It was now her chance to get back at Louie by seducing his brother.
Smith did a wonderful job of releasing information on a need-to-know-basis, allowing the puzzle to gradually come together. His setting is real, his characters are troubled and flawed which makes them more human and vulnerable.
Can the past be forgotten and at what cost?
If you’re looking for a psychological thriller that keeps you guessing all along, you must check out "Sins of a Priest."
March 11, 2015
I received a free copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
Marcus Castellani is the new priest at St. Paul's Catholic church who tries to make a difference in his community which has been tainted by a Satanist demonic man named Daniel who wants the priest out so he could have the Catholic church for himself. When a young teenage girl named Jada forces herself onto the priest and carries his child, Father Marcus's sins are about to be exposed. Can he make a difference to the community and stop Daniel's dark plan to scare him out of the church before it is too late? Read on and find out for yourself.
This was a pretty good Priest horror story. If you like good versus evil stories and horror, definitely check this book out for yourself. It is available on Amazon and wherever ebooks are sold.
Marcus Castellani is the new priest at St. Paul's Catholic church who tries to make a difference in his community which has been tainted by a Satanist demonic man named Daniel who wants the priest out so he could have the Catholic church for himself. When a young teenage girl named Jada forces herself onto the priest and carries his child, Father Marcus's sins are about to be exposed. Can he make a difference to the community and stop Daniel's dark plan to scare him out of the church before it is too late? Read on and find out for yourself.
This was a pretty good Priest horror story. If you like good versus evil stories and horror, definitely check this book out for yourself. It is available on Amazon and wherever ebooks are sold.
May 18, 2016
Well i would just like to thank Brian for the free copy of this book.
I got offered a free copy for a honest review, so thats what i will do.
When i heard brian release another book i knew it would have to be a step up
from purified. I was worried at first that it wasnt going to be as good. But was i wrong..
From the first chapter it got u going.
2 brothers with the same background but marcus changes his life and becomes a priest.
He comes back to his own town to take over at st pauls that as been badly vandalized. All things go well for marcus until he meets jada and they sleep together.
Marcus finds a camera in the bag he took of the night of passion and dawns on him what he has done and now it makes him question his position as a priest.
Marcus's life turns around since meeting jada. He gets into drugs, murder an violence.
Daniel the leader of the group jada is in seeks revenge for taking his girl.
Book with a page turner for me and really loved it.
Im not so keen on reading about churches and god but this really got to me and loved it.
Defo worth a read.
I got offered a free copy for a honest review, so thats what i will do.
When i heard brian release another book i knew it would have to be a step up
from purified. I was worried at first that it wasnt going to be as good. But was i wrong..
From the first chapter it got u going.
2 brothers with the same background but marcus changes his life and becomes a priest.
He comes back to his own town to take over at st pauls that as been badly vandalized. All things go well for marcus until he meets jada and they sleep together.
Marcus finds a camera in the bag he took of the night of passion and dawns on him what he has done and now it makes him question his position as a priest.
Marcus's life turns around since meeting jada. He gets into drugs, murder an violence.
Daniel the leader of the group jada is in seeks revenge for taking his girl.
Book with a page turner for me and really loved it.
Im not so keen on reading about churches and god but this really got to me and loved it.
Defo worth a read.
March 26, 2015
This book is about good vs evil. Marcus was a runner for a drug dealer in his teens after his father died. Then he left for 8 years and became a Catholic Priest. He's been assigned his old church St. Paul's, which is in ruin, just like the neighborhood. An evil force named Daniel, has taken over the neighborhood and corrupted the youth and some of the adults.
Marcus' brother Louie has become a drug dealer and is not a nice guy but at least he doesn't worship Satan and doesn't follow Daniel. Louie kills Jada's boyfriend and now she owes him $15,000. To get back at Louie, she seduces Marcus. Then the fight between Marcus and Daniel begins.
I won't give anything away, I will say if you like the supernatural and you like good vs evil then you will enjoy this book. It will keep your attention.
I had a little bit of an issue with how fast Marcus was seduced by Jada and how after he found out about her deception he still really cared about her. It was mentioned several times that she was a young teen. Which then made me think Marcus REALLY messed up if he's probably close to 30 yet has sex with a young teen that probably is 16 or 17 even though her age isn't given.
I would like to thank Brian for sending me a copy of the book for my honest review.
Marcus' brother Louie has become a drug dealer and is not a nice guy but at least he doesn't worship Satan and doesn't follow Daniel. Louie kills Jada's boyfriend and now she owes him $15,000. To get back at Louie, she seduces Marcus. Then the fight between Marcus and Daniel begins.
I won't give anything away, I will say if you like the supernatural and you like good vs evil then you will enjoy this book. It will keep your attention.
I had a little bit of an issue with how fast Marcus was seduced by Jada and how after he found out about her deception he still really cared about her. It was mentioned several times that she was a young teen. Which then made me think Marcus REALLY messed up if he's probably close to 30 yet has sex with a young teen that probably is 16 or 17 even though her age isn't given.
I would like to thank Brian for sending me a copy of the book for my honest review.
December 12, 2014
GREAT READ ONE I RECOMMEND TO ANYONE INTERESTED IN A GREAT STORY THAT WILL GRAB HOLD OF YOU FROM THE BEGINNING AND STAYS WITH YOU TIL THE VERY END.
January 2, 2015
After becoming a priest, Marcus returns to his hometown where the people are destitute, depraved, or in despair. He seeks to help them, and high among his priorities is his own wayward brother, and the vengeful Jada. Yet how can he help anyone when he struggles with his own inner turmoil, not to mention an enemy hell-bent on destroying him. Marcus genuinely wants to change not only his own life for the better, but the community's as well. He is no optimist and his resolve is incredibly weak, especially regarding celibacy, yet ultimately he regains our respect by overcoming these difficulties. Not only that, but because he is aware of his flaws, he never becomes falsely righteous.
The rather atmospheric introductory chapters of Sins of a Priest draws us into the lives of these troubled characters; all of them are very human, prone to mistakes (or sins as the Church would call them), regret, and sadness. Jada in particular is very lost. The author does a good job giving nuance to these damaged and corrupt characters, and he reveals their hidden facets and pasts at a measured pace. The exception lies with Daniel. He falls flat compared to the others because he is just the evil Satan-worshiper; as the story shifts towards the supernatural, it becomes more like the traditional good versus evil scenario. While this extra step beyond reality is not strictly necessary, it is not a hindrance either.
In this story secrets, flaws, and crime gradually pile up to create a perturbing tone, and because of this we want Marcus to succeed all the more. Change never comes easily.
(This reviewer was given a free copy in exchange for a review)
The rather atmospheric introductory chapters of Sins of a Priest draws us into the lives of these troubled characters; all of them are very human, prone to mistakes (or sins as the Church would call them), regret, and sadness. Jada in particular is very lost. The author does a good job giving nuance to these damaged and corrupt characters, and he reveals their hidden facets and pasts at a measured pace. The exception lies with Daniel. He falls flat compared to the others because he is just the evil Satan-worshiper; as the story shifts towards the supernatural, it becomes more like the traditional good versus evil scenario. While this extra step beyond reality is not strictly necessary, it is not a hindrance either.
In this story secrets, flaws, and crime gradually pile up to create a perturbing tone, and because of this we want Marcus to succeed all the more. Change never comes easily.
(This reviewer was given a free copy in exchange for a review)
January 14, 2015
Brian Smith’s offered me a free copy of “Sins of a Priest” in exchange for an my honest review. I must say I truly enjoyed Sins of a Priest, a tale of good v. evil.
Marcus Castellani, a new priest to his childhood parish, returns home where things are not the same. people are running the streets, the town seems to have a black cloud of mystery where there is no community unity. Marcus' first task is to revitalize the old decrepit parish and to provide services to the community. Getting the church back operational was a huge feet that isn't the only challenges the young priest faces. Marcus must battle with inner struggle to honor his oath, and must deal with his ultimate enemy, Daniel.
Brian Smith does a superb job introducing the complexity of the characters at times showing us the good and bad sides the characters bringing something relatable. jada, one of the main characters, is an excellent example. We first see her as a lost soul seeking help and direction. Only to be fooled by her betrayal. Sins of a Priest has elements of mystery, good v. Evil, crime, love, deceit, betrayal, and revenge.
Marcus Castellani, a new priest to his childhood parish, returns home where things are not the same. people are running the streets, the town seems to have a black cloud of mystery where there is no community unity. Marcus' first task is to revitalize the old decrepit parish and to provide services to the community. Getting the church back operational was a huge feet that isn't the only challenges the young priest faces. Marcus must battle with inner struggle to honor his oath, and must deal with his ultimate enemy, Daniel.
Brian Smith does a superb job introducing the complexity of the characters at times showing us the good and bad sides the characters bringing something relatable. jada, one of the main characters, is an excellent example. We first see her as a lost soul seeking help and direction. Only to be fooled by her betrayal. Sins of a Priest has elements of mystery, good v. Evil, crime, love, deceit, betrayal, and revenge.
March 12, 2015
Evil flourish where there are decay, lust, hate & greed...
Marcus who was a drug runner in his youth, left his hometown &changed his life around to become a priest. He returned to his hometown to be the priest at the St. Paul's Catholic Church. He found the church in decay and shocked that all the youngsters of his neighborhood are followers of Daniel a satanist. Daniel believed that he is the true son of satan. Although Louie, Marcus's brother was selling drugs and killed Seth, Jada's boyfriend, but at least he was not a satanist. Jada is a satanist and the only way she could avenge Seth's death, was to seduce Marcus. The book is like a roller-coaster ride, it starts slow, then picks up speed and has you glued to your seat. Solid believable characters and scenes you would not forget. Good triumphs over evil. The ending let me wonder if it was deliberately done in that way by the author, to let his readers wonder what would happen next, evil lurks inside the church and around the corner...
Marcus who was a drug runner in his youth, left his hometown &changed his life around to become a priest. He returned to his hometown to be the priest at the St. Paul's Catholic Church. He found the church in decay and shocked that all the youngsters of his neighborhood are followers of Daniel a satanist. Daniel believed that he is the true son of satan. Although Louie, Marcus's brother was selling drugs and killed Seth, Jada's boyfriend, but at least he was not a satanist. Jada is a satanist and the only way she could avenge Seth's death, was to seduce Marcus. The book is like a roller-coaster ride, it starts slow, then picks up speed and has you glued to your seat. Solid believable characters and scenes you would not forget. Good triumphs over evil. The ending let me wonder if it was deliberately done in that way by the author, to let his readers wonder what would happen next, evil lurks inside the church and around the corner...
May 5, 2017
Was very apprehensive about the title of the book, since my first thought was that this was about child molestation. There's been enough of that in the news and I really didn't want to read more about this in fiction. However the book is about a fight between good and evil. It leaves many smaller questions open so you'll have to make some leaps and bounces to tie things up. It is written fast however, with lots of action.
February 2, 2015
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. I would like to thank Brian Robert Smith for giving me the chance to read his novel.*
I read Brian's first novel, Purified and I quite enjoyed it, so I was happy to read this one and let him know what I think. However, I won't lie. This wasn't something that I would have picked up and read on my own.
It started off a little bit slow. We had Marcus, who has had a pretty rough life, come back to his hometown as a priest to try and get the church back on its feet. However, that is proving to be tough. I've been trying to pinpoint something that made it slow, but I'm not to sure what it was. It was a little bit different from the rest of the novel because it is a lot of character development (I think that is the best way to describe it). We learn a lot about the backstories of all of the characters.
However, towards the middle of the novel, I found the story picked up more. There was a bit more going on in the story, not as much character development and that made it pick a little bit more for me. However, I do understand that we need a little bit more of the story behind everything in order to make sense of everything that happens.
The ending confused me a little bit. I found that I still wasn't clear on some of the things that happened in the novel. I wasn't sure where some of the characters stood with relation to Marcus and I wanted a little bit more of a defined line drawn with those characters (ok, it was really only one character). I felt that we had some really deep moments in the book where characters would talk about their life and how they feel, yet there weren't really moments that addressed it later in the novel. I wanted something that brought us back to that moment where they really bared their thoughts.
My favourite thing was that we got a lot of perspectives in this novel. I thought that it was great to see this story unfold from all sides, not just Marcus's. I like that we got to see into the thoughts of Jada, Louie, Grace and Daniel. It really added to the story and the suspense. That way things happening at the same time were drawn out and made the urge to read more stronger because you wanted to know what happened.
All in all, I didn't mind this novel. I thought the beginning was a little slow, but it got better as the novel went on. There was a little confusion with the end for me, but other than that, I found that I enjoyed this novel!
I read Brian's first novel, Purified and I quite enjoyed it, so I was happy to read this one and let him know what I think. However, I won't lie. This wasn't something that I would have picked up and read on my own.
It started off a little bit slow. We had Marcus, who has had a pretty rough life, come back to his hometown as a priest to try and get the church back on its feet. However, that is proving to be tough. I've been trying to pinpoint something that made it slow, but I'm not to sure what it was. It was a little bit different from the rest of the novel because it is a lot of character development (I think that is the best way to describe it). We learn a lot about the backstories of all of the characters.
However, towards the middle of the novel, I found the story picked up more. There was a bit more going on in the story, not as much character development and that made it pick a little bit more for me. However, I do understand that we need a little bit more of the story behind everything in order to make sense of everything that happens.
The ending confused me a little bit. I found that I still wasn't clear on some of the things that happened in the novel. I wasn't sure where some of the characters stood with relation to Marcus and I wanted a little bit more of a defined line drawn with those characters (ok, it was really only one character). I felt that we had some really deep moments in the book where characters would talk about their life and how they feel, yet there weren't really moments that addressed it later in the novel. I wanted something that brought us back to that moment where they really bared their thoughts.
My favourite thing was that we got a lot of perspectives in this novel. I thought that it was great to see this story unfold from all sides, not just Marcus's. I like that we got to see into the thoughts of Jada, Louie, Grace and Daniel. It really added to the story and the suspense. That way things happening at the same time were drawn out and made the urge to read more stronger because you wanted to know what happened.
All in all, I didn't mind this novel. I thought the beginning was a little slow, but it got better as the novel went on. There was a little confusion with the end for me, but other than that, I found that I enjoyed this novel!
August 18, 2015
I really enjoyed this book; horror is not my usual reading preference, erotic romance is my chosen cup of tea. But having said that, I enjoyed Brian's other two books Purified and his new comedy Circumsized at 17.
Brian is showing he has great talent for writing different kinds of books, and books that will reach different age groups.
This book I had on my TBR list for some time, but once I started reading it, I finished it in a day and a half. I was intrigued by the characters and the author did a tremendous job with their histories and setting up the story for the reader to understand.
Good vs. Evil, I really liked Marcus the troubled teen turned Priest, who was so very human and gullible. Jada a young woman who was a follower of Daniel the evil incarnate, set up Marcus to show the "Sins of the Priest". Marcus's family has been fighting these evil forces for years but lies and omissions keep them from realizing the full cost of its toil.
Excellent writing, I was raised in the Catholic church and so I found this story comforting in a way as so many churches are being closed and in northern Canada we search for years to find priests to lead our churches. I was proud of Marcus for his drive and determination to succeed at St. Paul's.
"Welcome, everyone, to St. Paul's Catholic Church. And welcome to a new beginning- a new hope and promise that we all embrace."
"Screeching and flapping wings flooded the tunnel as though they were attacking Louie, but Marcus realized the bats were only trying to get away."
Marcus and his brother Louie worked together to save Jada even though Jada owed him money. "Years on the streets created this cold hearted soul he had for a brother."
"I am the chosen one. Chosen by Satan to spread his word. Chosen by Satan to spill the blood he desires," Daniel said.
All in all, a great book by a new up and coming author; who gifted this book for an honest review.
Brian is showing he has great talent for writing different kinds of books, and books that will reach different age groups.
This book I had on my TBR list for some time, but once I started reading it, I finished it in a day and a half. I was intrigued by the characters and the author did a tremendous job with their histories and setting up the story for the reader to understand.
Good vs. Evil, I really liked Marcus the troubled teen turned Priest, who was so very human and gullible. Jada a young woman who was a follower of Daniel the evil incarnate, set up Marcus to show the "Sins of the Priest". Marcus's family has been fighting these evil forces for years but lies and omissions keep them from realizing the full cost of its toil.
Excellent writing, I was raised in the Catholic church and so I found this story comforting in a way as so many churches are being closed and in northern Canada we search for years to find priests to lead our churches. I was proud of Marcus for his drive and determination to succeed at St. Paul's.
"Welcome, everyone, to St. Paul's Catholic Church. And welcome to a new beginning- a new hope and promise that we all embrace."
"Screeching and flapping wings flooded the tunnel as though they were attacking Louie, but Marcus realized the bats were only trying to get away."
Marcus and his brother Louie worked together to save Jada even though Jada owed him money. "Years on the streets created this cold hearted soul he had for a brother."
"I am the chosen one. Chosen by Satan to spread his word. Chosen by Satan to spill the blood he desires," Daniel said.
All in all, a great book by a new up and coming author; who gifted this book for an honest review.
January 13, 2015
Keeps You Guessing.
I read Brian Smith’s first book, Purified, and enjoyed it, so was happy to accept his offer of a free copy of Sins of a Priest in exchange for an honest review.
Sins of a Priest is a psychological thriller that tells the story of newly ordained priest, Marcus Castellani, who has returned home to preach at St. Paul’s, his boyhood church, which has fallen to ruin along with the rest of his old neighbourhood. It’s a tale of good vs evil with a touch of the supernatural to keep things interesting.
Reading Sins of a Priest felt very much like putting a puzzle together. I read through the first few chapters on faith, knowing it would make sense later on, and sure enough, when I finished the last page, I went back and re-read the first few chapters and found the puzzle pieces I’d missed on first read.
Smith did a wonderful job of setting the scene, comparing and contrasting the old neighbourhood and its inhabitants against the new reality to which he returned. The book had a visual feel to it. I was disappointed we never learned more about Marcus’s parents’ cryptic role in past events and, I must say, I was surprised with the speed at which Marcus’s commitment to the priesthood wavered.
You’ll have to work for this one, but if you’re looking for a psychological thriller that keeps you guessing, you’ll enjoy Sins of a Priest.
I read Brian Smith’s first book, Purified, and enjoyed it, so was happy to accept his offer of a free copy of Sins of a Priest in exchange for an honest review.
Sins of a Priest is a psychological thriller that tells the story of newly ordained priest, Marcus Castellani, who has returned home to preach at St. Paul’s, his boyhood church, which has fallen to ruin along with the rest of his old neighbourhood. It’s a tale of good vs evil with a touch of the supernatural to keep things interesting.
Reading Sins of a Priest felt very much like putting a puzzle together. I read through the first few chapters on faith, knowing it would make sense later on, and sure enough, when I finished the last page, I went back and re-read the first few chapters and found the puzzle pieces I’d missed on first read.
Smith did a wonderful job of setting the scene, comparing and contrasting the old neighbourhood and its inhabitants against the new reality to which he returned. The book had a visual feel to it. I was disappointed we never learned more about Marcus’s parents’ cryptic role in past events and, I must say, I was surprised with the speed at which Marcus’s commitment to the priesthood wavered.
You’ll have to work for this one, but if you’re looking for a psychological thriller that keeps you guessing, you’ll enjoy Sins of a Priest.
July 17, 2015
Since there are already a lot of reviews that go into the details of the plot, I'm going to skip writing about what happens when. Personally I prefer not to know all the details of a story before I read it.
I'd categorize this book as traditional horror.
The story is fast paced and written in the third person, the story focuses primarily on Marcus, occasionally switching to other character’s points of view. I prefer the first person point of view, but that's just me. As a story telling device, the author makes good use of third person.
Over all I enjoyed the story.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
P.S. Here's the breakdown of how I rate my books...
1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.
2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.
3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.
4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.
5 stars... I loved this book! It had earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.
I'd categorize this book as traditional horror.
The story is fast paced and written in the third person, the story focuses primarily on Marcus, occasionally switching to other character’s points of view. I prefer the first person point of view, but that's just me. As a story telling device, the author makes good use of third person.
Over all I enjoyed the story.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
P.S. Here's the breakdown of how I rate my books...
1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.
2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.
3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.
4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.
5 stars... I loved this book! It had earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.
December 17, 2014
I was given a free copy of this book in exchange of a fair review, so here it is.
First of all I'm sorry to give it a low review, I was hoping for a good book, and the author really seem like a nice guy, but if I want to be honest with you and myself, this book was not really great.
The storyline is simple, and the end is not surprising at all, there still some goods twists here and there but not enough for me. The character are as well simple, they seem fake and I had a lot of difficulty to feel something for them. The universe is interesting, like his first novel, with a realistic start that evolve with a touch of fantasy, that is even too less or too much but in a middle way that, I think, will disappoint the realistic fans as well as the fantasy fans. I was expecting more of this book, after reading the first one by the same author, and I was let on my appetite.
So I would recommend his first novel, Purified, which I enjoy a lot and than you can choose by yourself if you want to try this one out.
First of all I'm sorry to give it a low review, I was hoping for a good book, and the author really seem like a nice guy, but if I want to be honest with you and myself, this book was not really great.
The storyline is simple, and the end is not surprising at all, there still some goods twists here and there but not enough for me. The character are as well simple, they seem fake and I had a lot of difficulty to feel something for them. The universe is interesting, like his first novel, with a realistic start that evolve with a touch of fantasy, that is even too less or too much but in a middle way that, I think, will disappoint the realistic fans as well as the fantasy fans. I was expecting more of this book, after reading the first one by the same author, and I was let on my appetite.
So I would recommend his first novel, Purified, which I enjoy a lot and than you can choose by yourself if you want to try this one out.
March 6, 2015
The struggle between Good and Evil.... God and the Devil.... Nature and Nurture. Sins of a Priest calls all of these items into question. Can evil take root in a group, a neighborhood, a society, and take over people's thoughts and actions? And can one man - devoted to God and improving the lives of others - make a difference? Change the path of others? Save the greater good? Or will his past overwhelm him and overrule his goals?
As I read this book, I found myself questioning some of the things I had been taught in church about God and the Devil. The author wrote a great story showing the struggles people face. The main character constantly battled his training and beliefs as a priest with his base desires as a man.
The characters were well developed and the storyline was thought-provoking. I thought that certain side stories would be pulled into teh main story but seemed to just linger and not come to any conclusion. They, however, were not critical parts of the story and just left some (minor) questions at the end.
Overall, I loved the book.
As I read this book, I found myself questioning some of the things I had been taught in church about God and the Devil. The author wrote a great story showing the struggles people face. The main character constantly battled his training and beliefs as a priest with his base desires as a man.
The characters were well developed and the storyline was thought-provoking. I thought that certain side stories would be pulled into teh main story but seemed to just linger and not come to any conclusion. They, however, were not critical parts of the story and just left some (minor) questions at the end.
Overall, I loved the book.
January 19, 2015
Marcus Castellani grew up with his brother Louie in a community that had been falling into decay. Both participated in a negative way in that decay.
However, Marcus turned his life around and returns home 8 years later as the new priest for his boyhood church, St Paul's. He intends to turn the community around.
Louie his brother, the neighbourhood, St. Paul's Church and the people living in the community are living in a worse way than before Marcus left. However, this is not just a simple matter of the usual plight of urban decay. This community has a supernatural element involved. A Satanist named Daniel views this community as his. Jada, a young woman, wants revenge against Louie Castellani. Daniel sees a way to use Jada to keep the community the way he wants it to be. Who will win?
This is an enjoyable story of good versus evil. The author does a good job showing the flawed nature of the characters.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my review.
However, Marcus turned his life around and returns home 8 years later as the new priest for his boyhood church, St Paul's. He intends to turn the community around.
Louie his brother, the neighbourhood, St. Paul's Church and the people living in the community are living in a worse way than before Marcus left. However, this is not just a simple matter of the usual plight of urban decay. This community has a supernatural element involved. A Satanist named Daniel views this community as his. Jada, a young woman, wants revenge against Louie Castellani. Daniel sees a way to use Jada to keep the community the way he wants it to be. Who will win?
This is an enjoyable story of good versus evil. The author does a good job showing the flawed nature of the characters.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my review.
January 20, 2015
It was intriguing, riveting and always kept me
wondering what would happen. I liked the contrast between good and evil and
the exploration and similarities between the catholic church and satan. I
thought Louis admitting he needed a change a nice touch.
The only way the book could have been improved for me was by making it
longer. I would have liked to see the characters developed more thoroughly
to learn about Grace and why she is against Daniel. It would also have been
nice to get more info on Daniel, Father Burk and their rivalry in order to
reveal more details about Louis and Marcus's father's death.
wondering what would happen. I liked the contrast between good and evil and
the exploration and similarities between the catholic church and satan. I
thought Louis admitting he needed a change a nice touch.
The only way the book could have been improved for me was by making it
longer. I would have liked to see the characters developed more thoroughly
to learn about Grace and why she is against Daniel. It would also have been
nice to get more info on Daniel, Father Burk and their rivalry in order to
reveal more details about Louis and Marcus's father's death.
January 9, 2015
Sins of a Priest is about the supernatural and good vs evil. The characters are all flawed; however, the "good" have good intentions and the "evil" are not completely evil (except for Daniel, who is evil incarnate). The story line is predictable, but still interesting. The characters are well-developed and the writing is vivid and illuminating. After reading "Purified" by this author (absolutely loved it!), I accepted a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. If you enjoy the goth subculture, the supernatural, and the triumph of good over evil, give this one a try.
August 1, 2015
I really liked the main character in this book, Father Marcus, but the story line wasn't what I expected. This book has a strong occult/spiritual warfare theme. I anticipated it being more the story of a young priest struggling to rebuild the church in his neighborhood while standing firm in the face of corruption and urban decay. I also thought the beginning was slow, relying mostly on narrative telling rather than character interaction. That said, I think the author did a good job with Father Marcus, allowing his humanity, uncertainty and conflict to come through.
February 7, 2015
This book keeps you wanting more all the way to the end. I like the way the author, Brian, writes. This is my 2nd book I have read from this author and I would read more. This book was entertaining and keeps you wanting to read more all the way to the end. I think you should see what you think of this author too. I think you would like what you read. *I was given a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
December 14, 2014
I received this book free for an honest review. I was hoping it would be what I consider great but for me I felt it dragged for the first half of the book but really picked up after that until the end where I was left with questions.
December 24, 2014
This is a worthwhile new mystery/thriller by Brian Smith. It has great character development. it has some unexpected surprises throughout with a totally unpredictable outcome. I really liked that about it as it keeps you on edge of your seat. Another enjoyable and original read by this author.
January 10, 2015
This was a good read. I enjoyed it very much. The characters were well written and easy to relate to. There was some surprising twists and turns to the story. I will look forward to more from this author.
December 29, 2014
Well its a great book , not has good as the first one,
i enjoyed the story but hated the ending...
i enjoyed the story but hated the ending...
February 10, 2015
It's a great read, with an interesting premise and characters. It really holds the readers attention till the end.
January 22, 2015
Enjoyed thus book. God prevails for those who believe.
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