The Judging

The Corescu Chronicles #1

by Ellen C. Maze, Virtual Voice (Narrator)

"It's DEXTER with fangs!" Amazon Reviewer
A Godly man awakens as a vampire. How did this happen and how can he serve God when cursed?“How do you perform the will of God when you’ve become a monster?”

With the sharp stab of the demon’s fangs, village priest Markus Corescu finds his world turned upside-down, coming to the realization that he has been transformed into an abomination, a vampire. Immediately, the newly-undead clergyman assigns a divine calling to his bloodthirsty nature and satisfies his despicable hunger on the humans around him without remorse. Fast forward to the present, and the priest begins to recall (and is forced to deal with) his suppressed past. Can he make amends with God in such accursed flesh?

The Corescu Chronicles Books 1 - 5The Judging, The Corescu Chronicles Book OneDamascus Road, The Corescu Chronicles Book TwoTree of Life, The Corescu Chronicles Book ThreeAnathema, The Corescu Chronicles Book FourNovus, The Corescu Chronicles Book FiveGrab your copy in a beautifully designed eBook or softcover TODAY!

Genres: Paranormal, Horror, Fiction, Christian Fiction, Thriller, Vampires, Romance

Audible Audio

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Ellen says, "I'm friendly. I write about vampires and other paranormal critters. I believe in God. I love my readers. My books will creep you out, make you think, and stick in your head a long time."

NEWS FLASH: My Edgy Crossover Christian Horror/Vampire novel RABBIT:CHASING BETH RIDER is the #1 Customer-Ranked Horror novel on Kindle for several weeks now. The Kindle is $.99, the print copy $12.95 -- please go to Amazon and try it out! LINK: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084YSCM9D?...

Book 5 - Conundrum - earned THREE 5-STAR RATINGS from Reader's Favorite. It is for mature teens/readers.

THE CORESCU CHRONICLES (Books 1-5) from Little Roni Publishers have garnered 5-star reviews across the board, including SILVER 5-STAR SEALS from Reader's Favorite. Yay! Go to http://www.ellencmaze.com for more info on this and all of my delicious tales!

SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER & never miss a release or perk: http://www.ellencmaze.com/contact-and...

LET'S BE FRIENDS: on facebook: 'Author Ellen C. Maze Main Page' & on Twitter: @authorellenmaze

BIOGRAPHY:
A recovering vampire/horror fanatic, Ellen uses her experience in that subculture to bring the Light into the vampire genre. Addicting and delicious, Ellen’s brand of story-telling is rife with deep character study and honest emotion.

PARENTAL ADVISORY Rabbit Saga Books 1 & 2 suitable for 13+, and Books 3-6 cover the POV of the vampires and have more language and mature themes. Mature 13 yr olds okay.

Ellen graduated cum laude from Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Alabama with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology and a minor in Sociology.

Ellen's Blog https://therabbittrilogy.blogspot.com

Ellen lives in Small Town Alabama with her family. A Brown Dog, a Yellow Dog, and a Siamese Cat that thinks she's a Dog.

Ellen has no holes in her neck…

Reviews

[Ellen Maze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Note from Author: Oh, how I have longed to put this book in your hands. Written from 2004 to 2006, then waiting patiently to be picked up by a publisher, this Christian vampire thriller is looking to entertain you and make you think.

For readers of RABBIT: CHASING BETH RIDER, you recognize this title as the book Beth Rider wrote to enrage the Rakum (vampires) and cause them to hunt and chase her down.

Enjoy!

[Aimie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book from one of Ellen C. Maze's competitions, Ellen wrote inside it “Enjoy the ride”. What a ride it was!

Mark Corescu is like Dexter with fangs.

Mark was a Priest before being transformed into a vampire, back in 1640. He has lived his vampire life, believing he is doing God’s will by killing evildoers of the human race; giving them the chance to repent, before draining their bodies of blood and subsequently ending their lives.
Fate brings two people into his life who make him question whether these judging’s he’s been performing are really the will of God? Or could it be an idea the humanity left in him cooked up so he can live what he has to do to survive?

This is so well written.
Throughout ‘The Judging’ Ellen C. Maze takes you from one characters point of view to the next. I personally find this confusing or annoying in other books. But Ellen does it so well, I found myself enjoying each character as they came along and connecting with them in a way i never thought possible. It was always just at the right time. When I was starting to think what is he/she thinking about this, the next paragraph I’d be in his/her head and he’d/she’d be telling me exactly what I wanted to know or just enough to satisfy my mind for the time being.

I’ll be first in queue to buy ‘Damascus Road: Book Two of The Corescu Chronicles’.

I already have Ellen C. Maze’s other book ‘Rabbit: Chasing Beth Rider’ sat on my kindle waiting to be read next. :)
Everyone should definitely go out and buy this book immediately, you don’t know what your missing.

[Darkfallen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Judging is a story about a man named Mark, or should we say vampire, that believes he is doing the work of God buy killing his victims. You see before Mark was turned into a vampire back in the 1600's he was a priest. And now that he has been turned into a demon of sorts he has found the only way he can to live with himself. To delude himself to think he is doing God's will by judging those that have sinned, making them repent to save their souls, and then killing them to rid the world of their evil. For four hundred years he has never questioned his work...

Then he meets Hope, and he begins to question everything. Will Hope be able to save Marks soul? Or will he be lost to God forever?

First I need to start by saying...gets ready for the gasps & possible lynching I am NOT a religious person. THERE I said it! Now stop looking at me like that and let us move on. If you calm down I will even give you a little look into why I'm not as it pertains to the book.

Are you ready? OK! This book deals with one of the HUGE issues I have with religion, or should I say Christianity? That problem being is that I find so much hypocritical aspects in that world. I mean how many times do we have to hear about the priest molesting the young & innocent? How many times to we have to hear a mother claim God told her to kill her family? Or a man say God told him to kill his wife? Or how about every killer, rapist, pedophile, and who knows what else that is rotting in prison but now claims to have found God? That they are saved? Only when some of them are given a second chance in the world they commit the same crimes? And don't even get me started on the petty stuff like those who believe premarital sex is a sin, then does it anyways, comes home an preys/repents, then goes out and does it again tomorrow? See? Hypocrites.

Yes I realise that I have a very jaded review on religion, and that is putting it mildly. Just like I know a religious person would tell me that all these examples I've listed are the work of the devil NOT god. I respect that, I do. So just respect that I don't feel that way.

How does this all pertain to the book? Simply! You see Mark is a killer, but he thinks he is doing God's will. That's how he justifies it. This story is ultimately about a man on a quest to find himself and a God he once adored. For him to figure out where it all fell apart. For him to repent for his sins. While the story was well written. I mean there were times when I couldn't put it down...there where also a lot of things that bothered me. For instance Hop is supposed to play the role of a girl that is not so religious. However her best friend, Tony, is a preacher so she goes to church with him and stuff. Ok that I can buy. But what I don't buy is how by the end Hope is saying things like "I think God wants me to save him. That this is my purpose." And then later at the end makes a comment about how she isn't the one to pray. She just didn't feel consistent in my opinion.

Also I would have liked a little more actually romance from Mark and Hope. NO I am not saying they needed to have sex, I'm just saying that it felt rushed. One minute they meet. The next they are telling each other that they love each other and can't live without them. Then Hope is conflicted over Marks situation, but she never questions leaving him. All the while they never even kissed. (yes the was a few kisses on the forehead, but that doesn't count.)I think we could have put a little more in this department and maybe cut out something else.

But the ending?!?!

Ok so the ending was FANTASTIC!!! No really... it was! The last 40 pages had me on the edge of my seat. I loved how everything really pulled together at the end. I love even more HOW it ended. The cliff hanger? Well I can;t get into that without spoiling anything but the word bitter comes to mind. *winks*

Overall I think if you are event the least bit a God fearing person then this book will be a home run with you, and you should definitely pick it up. I mean with the way it ending even I want to see what happens in the next book! Besides...a book heavy with religion milking a 3 star review from me? That must be a good book;)

[Krisi Keley · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Rabbit: Chasing Beth Rider, a novelist is targeted by an ancient race, known as the Rakum, for unknowingly writing some truths about vampires and, more dangerous still, for suggesting that they, too, can be saved. The Judging is the first of “Beth Rider’s” vampire-provoking novels. It is also the first written, though subsequently released, of author Ellen C. Maze’s equally provocative novels. In this case, however, what’s provoked is not reflection and a sense of hope for vampires, so much as self-reflection and a sense of hope within the reader, and a call to re-examine the way one views the judging of others and what God really asks us to do in the face of evil in the world.

While I loved Rabbit for its parable-like style, where a simpler, more down-to-earth story on the surface offered many layers of meaning underneath, I loved The Judging for completely different reasons.

This novel begins the story of Dr. Mark (Markus) Corescu, a 17th century village priest made vampire, who has all but fully repressed memories of his human lifetime and has remade himself as a type of angel of wrath, lethally judging those human beings whose heinous crimes – murder, abuse, rape – call to him with ghastly images. But, when he meets Hope Brannen, the woman he believes God has destined to be his partner in immortality, those repressed memories begin to surface and Mark is forced to question his assumed calling as judge – whether it is truly a fulfillment of God’s will or only a way he has been able to justify his bloodlust and find some degree of peace with what he’s become.

Unlike Rabbit, The Judging is a dark and much less simple, even on the surface, novel. It’s every bit as action-packed and exciting as Rabbit, though with even deeper character development and more atmospheric imagery, but this novel’s tone, from the outset in its haunting prologue, is notably different, as perfectly befits both the main character’s medieval origins and the book’s terrifying premise. Many of the story’s characters, while either sympathetic or at least identifiable with in their human frailty, are sometimes not altogether likable, as their behavior is selfish or self-serving, no matter their intentions. And the comparison some readers will find between Mark’s self-justification and the human tendency to judge others much more harshly than oneself, even judging to the point of death, might make some uncomfortable, albeit in a beneficial, thought-provoking way. Nonetheless, the light in this story – the promise that God is willing to and does offer forgiveness and redemption, no matter how grievous the sin – is a light that shines that much brighter for the darkness it must pierce. As that light, that hope, only just begins to pierce the darkness of Mark’s existence in The Judging, I’m eagerly awaiting Damascus Road, the next book in the series, to see how Mark continues on the long and often arduous path back to God. Another amazing novel by an extremely gifted storyteller and highly recommended reading!

[Anthony Policastro · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Ellen C. Maze’s novel, The Judging: The Corescu Chronicles Book One, the author provides her readers with a well-written narrative that is not only compelling, but also extraordinary. What I found to be of particular interest was how Maze broke through the confines of the Dracula myth, which was defined, established, and popularized in a novel by Bram Stoker and published as a hardcover in 1897 by Archibald Constable and Co.
The story heats up when Hope Brannen, a young widower, get romantically involved with Dr. Mark Corescu, a former priest from Hungary, dating back to 1640, and who now lives in present-day Atlanta, George, where he judges and executes evildoers, or those who have sinned against God. He believes he is an agent of God, administering justice. Nevertheless, Anthony Agricola, a part-time seminarian, calls him a vigilante. Of course, Dr. Corescu doesn’t just execute his victims – administering justice, as he perceives it – he also drinks their blood. In the course of time – over four hundred years – he has murdered over one hundred thousand victims or one each and every night, since his inauguration.

You will be delighted with the way Maze superbly conflates the past history of the priest - how he was attacked by a demon, the Other, the Master, and became a vampire – with his present story, involving not only the beautiful Hope Brannen, and Anthony Agricola, but also Connie Nixon, a blackmailing reporter, Glorie Brannen, Hope’s sister and a murderer, Fran Booker, Dr. Corescu’s secretary, Reuben Stuckey, Dr. Corescu’s driver, and Paul Black, the doctor’s manservant. The human emotion of jealousy that arises between the characters and how it affects their actions and relationships is more than a little interesting and intriguing, despite the bloodlust of Dr. Corescu.

The ultimate conflict, however, is the clash between good and evil – the good represented by Hope and Anthony and the evil represented by Dr. Corescu, the Other, and, eventually, Paul Black, who evolves into a vampire on equal footing with the good doctor. His evolution is particularly fascinating and will become one of several developments in the story that will draw you to Maze’s sequel, Damacus Road. I highly recommend this book.

[Teric Darken · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Judging: Who Will Hang in the Balance?

Scripted previously, though subsequently released, The Judging, by Ellen C. Maze, is the prequel to the Rabbit: Chasing Beth Rider series. This is the very book, penned from fictitious author, Beth Rider, which prompts the nefarious Rakum to begin a blood-thirsty search for her, as it unleashes a ravaging, spiritual maelstrom within their species. And though the book ties in with the Rabbit/Beth Rider series, The Judging stands on its own merit… stands, and stands tall.

In this author’s opinion, The Judging serves as a reminder: The more humanity plays “God”- attempting to spiritually condemn others for eternity, by hanging them in our biased measuring scales, the more monstrous one becomes- as but blood-thirsty vampires, hell-bent on sucking the life right out of our fellow man. Much as the characters in The Judging: as humanity continues down that mentally-murderous path, we wind up being hung from our own scales, measured by our very measures. Which side will outweigh the other: The nurture, grace, and love portion that every human was meant to know? Or the murderous monster aspect- as but roaming creatures of the night filled with bloodlust for our fellow man? Or do we choose to ride the fence? A “vampire” must be careful not to slip and fall- or that fence’s stake may just pierce through one’s heart. Our very lives hang in the balance.

Kudos to author Ellen C. Maze for a rich, fully developed, and uniquely delivered storyline, prompting one’s mind to pause and consider important aspects of life.

Teric Darken
1/23/11
Author: K - I - L - L FM 100 / U-TURN KiLLuR
<><+><>

[Kitty Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

"THE JUDGING" & "DAMASCUS ROAD" BY ELLEN C. MAZE

My intention with this dual review is not to give away one iota of detail about either book. What I do intend to do is praise the genius that is Ellen C. Maze's writing finesse. These books are the first I have ever read that put a quite successful Christian twist on an ages old horror theme.

So maybe we have seen books with vampires in them that intend to do good by ridding the world of the evil of mankind. Ellen takes it to another level by having created a truly tortured soul that is on one hand trying to do what he deems, God has created him to do, while being plagued by the voice of the devil that tries so hard to push him in the other direction.

Both books are written with this general theme in mind but with a depth that makes you feel the main character's anguish.
I give the books 5 Ravens each!

Kitty Bullard / Great Minds Think Aloud / http://www.greatmindsliterarycommunit...


Read more: http://www.greatmindsthinkaloud.probo...

[Tobyann Aparisi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yeah! I got my copy yesterday and couldn't wait to read it! thank you so much Ellen I am looking forward to this one! Ellen there was no disappointment here! This was an EXCELLENT book. I loved the characters, the twist on the vampire genre. The turmoil in the heart of a vampire I could not imagine the fear of those feelings. Does God still love me? or am I truly dammed for eternity. THis was touching and riveting and just plain fabulous. I cannot wait to read more of your work, you are an easy author to read in the matter that the words flow just like the characters are talking to you re-counting their story. I love that way of writing, modern and somewhat personal. I am sure my words don't accurately cpnvey my feelings, and journey through this book. All I can say is thank you again so much for picking me for the contest. I absolutely loved this book and will cherish it. Looking forward to more works by you and your husband.

warm regards,

Tobyann

[Willow · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book wasn’t quite what I was anticipating. I think I was hoping for some deliciously dark and twisted tale of a vampire priest who has somehow meshed the sacred and profane together in his mind and now was just a wee bit insane. And I suppose in some ways, that’s what this story is, but Corescu isn’t half so dark. He’s more like a lost soul that’s been blinded and now he’s now coming out of it. He’s an interesting character if not a real menacing and mesmerizing one. I had a hard time deciding if he was a good guy or a bad guy, but Maze has certainly done everything she can to make him sympathetic.

I’ve decided to give this book three stars because it’s fast-paced, it has an interesting plot, and lots of characters that all have their own agendas. I liked reading about Corescu’s memories, and I think the ending was suspenseful. I had no idea how everything was going to work out.

The problem I had with this book though was the characters motivations didn’t make sense to me. I felt like they needed to be more developed. For instance, why would Corescu go and do volunteer work on a Sunday when he has a bunch of horrible crap going on in his basement? He hadn’t even committed himself yet. Does he leave just because Hope suggested it?

Also poor Hope is so underdeveloped and kind of vapid. She’s lost her parents and her husband, but doesn’t dwell on them once. Her relationship with her twin sister is not really clear. She says she’s not religious, but she goes to church all the time with Anthony. I also thought she sure seemed to accept Corescu being a vigilante vampire pretty easily.

The character of Anthony is almost too pure. The only reason he’s there is because Hope told him about Corescu on a fluke. I kept asking myself, why did she do that?

Anyhoo, take my criticism with a grain of salt. I had super high hopes for this book, and it wasn’t what I imagined at all, so I may be letting my disappointment cloud my review. I wanted dark fantasy and instead I got a Christian inspirational vampire story. It's my own fault for not doing research.

This is a fast-action book and an enjoyable read.

[Ed Rambeau · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Ellen C. Maze’s novel, The Judging: The Corescu Chronicles Book One, the author provides her readers with a compelling story of a centuries old vampire, Dr. Mark Corescu, a former priest from Hungary, dating back to 1640, who now lives in present-day Atlanta, Georgia. There, he judges and executes evildoers; those who have sinned against God. He soon becomes fascinated with a beautiful, young woman named Hope Brennan, who becomes equally fascinated with him. In the course of their relationship, she helps him to resurrect his memory of once being a priest, but along with the priest comes The Other, a demon who owns and corrupts the vampire's soul. Hope's dear friend, Anthony Agricola, a part-time seminarian, considers the good (or should I say, "bad") doctor to be more of a vigilante. Agricola tries to mend his errant ways by attempting to return Corescu, the long-time-ago priest, back to God.

Dr. Corescu's prodigy, Paul Black, who has been his manservant throughout the ages ends up committing a crime which displeases his master, and even though all is forgiven, Paul goes on to become more like his master as the story progresses.

For lovers of the vampire genre, this book is highly recommended and should be right up your alley.

by Ed Rambeau (author of FORBIDDEN STEPS)

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Judging” takes the reader into the world of Dr. Mark Corescu, highly successful OB-GYN who has a sideline that involves judging the evil in this world and bringing the perpetrators to repentance before sentencing them to death. However, Dr.Corescu finally finds the one he has searched for all his life in the beautiful and highly spirited Hope Brannen. Will the love of a woman turn his ordered world upside down? This engrossing vampire novel captured my attention from the first pages and had me furiously turning the pages to see where the ultimate struggle between good and evil would go.

Ellen C. Maze weaves a fascinating tale as the reader journeys from Hungary in the 1600’s to modern day Atlanta; from the power of evil over humanity to the power of God’s salvation. If you loved “Rabbit”, you’ll love “The Judging”


David Gelber MD
Behind the Mask: The Mystique of Surgery and the Surgeons Who Perform Them
Future Hope: Book 1 of the ITP Series
Joshua and Aaron

[Cathy Brockman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Ellen wasnt kidding when she says welcome to my imagination,enjoy the ride! this one one heck of a ride. Not a rollercoaster though,wasnt much downs. So I'll say ferris wheel! When first get on you are taken back in time to a priest and a horrible incident, dont freak and get off, you dont stay there. Up we go,to the first judging,*cringes*. Then we move up to meeting characters,Hope the female main character,Her friend Fran that works for the handsome but mysterious or should I say scarey, Dr Corescu. We go around a little (pretty fast paced)meeting more characters and seeeing more judgings. Then hope meets Dr.Corescu and is infatuated. Now we are stuck on top for quite a while *holds breath a lot* We find out a lot of Dr. Corescu,and hope. So want to know what happens? sorry not telling , you got To read the book. Then if I was you I would read Rabbit chasing Beth Rider also!

I give this five stars. It is a thrill ride with a touch of wit,and a lot of imagination. It is definitely not your ordinary vampire book. Definitely no sparkles. Just good ole scary vampire tale with a fast paced story line with a unique take on christianity.

So hop on board and take a ride it sworth it. Now get me of this ferris wheel ,I hate them.Ellen next time lets go for the rollercoaster!!

[Lynn Dove · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mark Corescu is a handsome doctor, wealthy, intelligent and has fallen in love with the slightly ditzy Hope Brannen. It is a match made in heaven, or so he thinks. But how to tell his girlfriend that he is a vampire who believes he has been given a task by God to rid the world of criminals and murderers by "judging them"? Worse yet, how does he tell her that her sister Glorie will soon need to be judged for her murderous sins?
Mix up fascinating characters, incredibly warped vampire theology, some incredibly gory "judging" and even a little humour and you've got a roller coaster ride of a storyline that kept me interested and engaged right through the book.
Ellen C. Maze has blazed a whole new genre with her books: Christian Horror, yet her vampire books, even with the gore and blood shed still manage to share a redemptive message to her readers.
First with Rabbit: Chasing Beth Rider and now with The Judging, Ellen is in a class all her own with her unique, distinctive voice in the literary world. Christian Horror?...who would have thought?

[Abbey Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first received my copy I was a little weary to read it, I am not at all familiar with the Christian horror genre, nor had I ever wanted to read a book in that genre. This book however, changed my views.

Mark, a vampire centuries old, has always believed he is doing God's will by ridding the world of it's evil-doers. He along with his two companions, driver and assistant live a lavish lifestyle, free of guilt. All of this changes when Mark meets the girl he's waited his life for, Hope.

I found the idea of a vampire love story common, however this story is so much more. It's about finding yourself and trusting in God as well as your heart. The plot was unpredictable and held my interest. At points I found myself confused by the number of characters as the story is told through the point of view of all of the 7 main characters. But the story lines of each character meshed well in the end.

The end is a major cliff-hanger and I can't wait for the next installment!

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very different vampire novel. The beginning on the story felt a bit rushed, and I didn't get a feel for time or a feel for the character's personalities. I wasn't sure at first whether or not Mark was happy and good, or if he was angry and mean. Hope seemed very, gullible, and helpless. I also didn't get a feel for how they felt for each other, just that their feelings for each other had come about in barely a matter of days.

I loved the flashbacks of Mark's life! Made me understand his confusion, and his personality more.

The last ten or so chapters of the novel were much more clear, detailed, and entertaining. I enjoyed seeing Paul's personality change, and Tony's determination (although a little unrealistic). Great story, very unique, and the religion adds a new twist.

[Karendenice · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a surprise. I was trying to read it at the same time I was reading another book but it won out. I couldn't seem to finish it fast enough.The plot was great and the fight between good and evil was written well. the end was set up so that you wanted to read the next in the series right away, which I'm definitely looking forward to. I'm also going to see if she has written any other books as I would be interested to check out. A truly enjoyable, edge-of-your-seat read. The part in the book that really got to me was where she showed how evil is so close to us especially spiritually and literally in our ears to draw us away from God and His still small voice.

[Bonnie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had a hard time rating this book... Do I rate the storyline or the writer? I rated the storyline.

"Ellen Maze is a brilliant writer! I was hooked from the first sentence by her writing style and ease of transition from person to person during the initial set-up of characters.

That being said... I don't care for vampire story lines. I read this book - a fast page turner, but will probably not follow this series.

Ms. Maze has graciously given me the link to information on a storyline outside the vampire genre that she has written. I am looking forward to reading more of her writing.

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Impressive. A vampire story that is written within the interesting category of Christian Horror seems a challenge in itself but Maze's combination works. She creates strong visual characters thrown into situations that are believeable enough in a fantasy world. Then has a vampire that is put in a spot where he starts to question his actions and his past. I would recommend this title to readers that are true vampire/horror readers. The religous perspective, to me, makes it all the more interesting.

[Claire Riley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A twisting & exciting look into vampires & the lives behind the 'beautiful' picture we are painted these days.
The characters - as always- were so easy to connect with, you all at once loved & loathed them.
A delicious read from start to finish.
Ellen is an amazing writer with so much talent & each life she emancipates onto paper has me yearning to read the next story quicker than i can swallow her words.

[Stacey · Rating 2 out of 5]

The beginning felt rushed. There was no character development. I feel like there couldn't possibly be anybody as dumb as Hope and I didn't really connect with any character. In the end, I feel like there wasn't that life change I was looking for. I realize it's a series-but I won't be reading the next.

[Lynda Loges · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wild concept!!! A priest as a vampire vigilante! How in the world did you figure this one up and run SO WELL with the idea!??? I loved this book. I think it's one that I've read the fastest in a long time!! Ellen, when's the next one coming out! I'm DYING for it!!

[William Rains · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book in a free Goodreads giveaway. I found this book to be very interesting. Yet the last few chapters had to be my favorite. I recommend this book to anyone who likes to read fantasy and vampires.

[Kim Bowen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know what to say about this book...it is so different from anything I've ever read. It kind of blew my mind. Think vampires and God. Weird. But I liked it. I got frustrated with the author's inconsistent portrayal of the female lead...but I kept wondering what was going to happen next.

[Linda Hodge · Rating 2 out of 5]

Is he a Vampire or does he do GOD's Will? After reading the first 25 chapters, I was so confused on what the true story line was, until I deleted it from my Kindle. The story is confusing. It was just not my cup of tea.

[Josef · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story, fun read.

[Marie Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be truely a great read, i deffinatly reccomend this book to anybody who loves a great book.

[Russell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sorry to say this novel just didn't do it for me. I tried and tried. But it just couldn't pull me in.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I began reading "The Judging," I had no idea it was considered to be a "Christian Thriller." I found this out afterwards. For some reason, that description is a bit off-putting. Not because I have any quarrel with Christianity, but because there have been some truly abysmal books released under the "Christian" banner. I read somewhere--it was a blog post or an online op-ed piece, and I'm sorry I don't remember--asking why Christian Literature, Music, and Films "suck." (nb: Google "Why Does Christian Art Suck," and you get a number of hits) Anyway, the conclusion, if I recall, was that if you write a novel that labels itself as "Christian," you automatically remove yourself from competing with fiction-writing writ large. You're not competing with Stephen King, John Grisham, John Green, et al. You are writing for a small audience with limited choices, and--pardon the cliche--you're "preaching to the choir."

A friend who is a devout Christian wrote a reaction on her blog, and she wholeheartedly agreed. She's a Christian, but she also happens to be an incredibly well-educated book editor. She's found the quality of many Christian novels she's sampled to be substandard. Christian films are frequently slipshod production-wise, and unwatchable except for the already-believers.

Oh, and I offer this disclaimer: I freely admit that I've never really explored Christian Literature before.

All that thus disclaimed, I don't care if "The Judging" is considered Christian Literature, a supernatural thriller, or Young Adult Paranormal (which is where I'd put it), it is an awesome book.

Dr Mark Corescu is mysterious and handsome, and soon falls in love with Hope Brannen, a free-spirited artist and horse enthusiast. She is enchanted by the doctor, and falls in love with him as well. This would be great, except for one thing: Dr Corescu is actually a vampire.

There's a twist, though. While he's killed over 100,000 people through the years, he seeks out truly evil people, and before he kills them, he encourages them to repent for their sins. Some do; some don't. Either way, he kills them, feeding on their blood.

Moreover, he believes that God is leading him to these people. It may be God, or it may be God's evil counterpart.

Hope's best friend is a theology student named Tony Agricola. Tony is leery of Hope's speedy attraction to Dr Corescu, especially when Hope paints the Doctor as a sort of noble vigilante. At a revival, Tony encounters a stranger--a pastor from another church--who gives Tony a message from The Holy Spirit, telling him a trial awaits him.

Dr Corescu has two minions, if you will: Paul and Reuben. They clash constantly, and one of them nearly betrays them all, and meets a grisly end.

Things start to go wrong for Dr Corescu. He starts hearing the voice of "The Other," the demonic man who turned him into a monster centuries ago. All too soon, there's a sleazy reporter on their trail, and an ever-growing trail of dead bodies.

I just flat-out enjoyed this book. It works as a paranormal thriller, and the fact that somebody would fight for a vampire's salvation is a refreshing change from the typical vampire novels. There are extended flashback sequences showing how Dr. Corescu--then Father Corescu, a Catholic priest--ends up being turned into a monster. To me, these detracted from the momentum and flow of the book. They fill-in back story, but the book's pace would have been better with a little less of the history, or a more-efficient use thereof.

The ending leaves various characters dissatisfied with their situation, and you can sense that big things will happen in book two of the Corescu Chronicles.

In retrospect, there truly are a number of religious elements and events in "The Judging," but they are true to the characters. At no point does author Ellen C. Maze bash us over the head with religion like a TV evangelist. What she bashes us over the head with is a taut, mysterious, extremely interesting novel. I look forward to book two.

Recommended

[Irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book through the Goodreads First-Reads program.

This was an excellent book. Maze has taken the now-clichéd theme of vampire romance and twisted it into something dark and...well, twisted. When I read the blurb on the back of the book, it was obvious to me what would happen and what the solution to the main problem (vampirism) should be. I am happy to say that while reading this book, all the obvious answers disappeared; I didn't know what was coming next, and I didn't know what the solution would be anymore. This was a welcome change from some of the more shallow books in which readers can tell from the get-go how the book will end (with about an 85% accuracy rate, that is).

The plot did not seem contrived, and the logic behind it was sound. I'm sure if I read this book a few more times I'll come up with some kind of question about the daily lives of the characters that the author forgot to mention, but for now my only question is, How does Hope get so much free time as an equestrian that we only see her horseback riding once? Doesn't she need more practice to win those competitions, and isn't that time spent practicing rather important?

It was interesting watching one character redeem himself while another falls into the pit the first left behind, as well as losing faith in one character who didn't seem all that bad while another character proves his purity. Great juxtaposition! I liked the horse symbolism as well. This is good writing.

I do have a few things that I didn't like, however. First of all, at the beginning we get introduced to a new character each chapter to the point where it's no longer easy to tell who's who. It also didn't help that the characters had simple, one-syllable names (Paul, Mark, etc.) because then it's twice as easy to confuse one character with the next! Also, the style seemed to me to be a bit too straightforward. Although there's nothing wrong with that, it was a bit annoying at the beginning when the writer seemed to go straight from point A to point B without taking any detours. I appreciate a few side notes, side stories, and unexpected occurances in the plot that tell me more about the characters' personalities. When some of the twists came in later in the book, though, this problem went away. Finally, although I liked the story a lot, I just couldn't seem to connect with the characters. I couldn't really relate to any of them because they didn't really have the ideosyncracies and emotional outbursts of normal people. They were always perfect and adaptable, and therefore they seemed a bit foreign. I certainly wouldn't have accepted Mark's story as easily as those two characters (no names, no spoilers!) did. They just accepted it and moved on right away.

Thank you, Ms. Maze, for this interesting book, and I assure you, I did indeed enjoy the ride.

[Crystal Trent Ramey · Rating 5 out of 5]

By: Ellen C. Maze

Reviewed By: Crystal Trent Dotson

Dr. Mark Coresu was a priest in the 1600's before being turned into a vampire. Now four centuries later he is a successful Dr. , but when darkness falls he begins his "Judging" of those who have sinned and done evil. He believes by making them repent then killing them , he is serving God. He has done this for so long he believes it's right and does not question his actions.

He then meets Hope Brannen , who he now thinks God has sent to him to be his mate. Hope falls for him , but knowing his "Judging" isn't right she turns to Anthony Agricola, to help Mark uncover his past. But will the two of them be able to save his soul or will he be lost forever.

I have read alot of Vampire books and alot of them have the same storyline to them, but I haven't read anything quite like this before. I love the way that vampirism and christianity are put together with a bold , yet twisted plot. This brings a whole new meaning to Good v/s Evil. The characters are brilliant and exciting.

I know I will soon be reading Damascus Road- The Corescu Chronicles Book Two !

Five Stars and Two Thumbs up !

www.thejudgingnovel.com

www.thejudging-ellenmaze.blogspot.com