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The Antediluvian Legacy #1
Leviathan
Young Noah begins a epic quest to destroy a monster and save the planet from destruction in this fantasy adventure inspired by the Bible story.
The Earth is cursed, humans scrape meager livings from the soil, and legendary beasts roam the wilderness. When a fearsome leviathan threatens his homelands, Noah must find a way to defeat the monster. Desperate to discover its weakness, he journeys to seek the aid of the half-angel giants called the Nephilim. Meanwhile, the angelic Watchers known as the Grigori have seized the great city of Enoch, and their powerful leader has become obsessed with Noah’s bride-to-be.
Friendships and faith are tested, and Noah is thrust into the middle of an impossible revolution against the fallen Grigori. His Nephilim comrades must choose whether to fight on the side of humanity or the angels, and their decision may mean the difference between the earth’s salvation and its annihilation.
Praise for Leviathan
“This exciting story about the event that changed our world and the unforgettable man Noah, who God used to make it come to pass, will captivate your interest.” —Tim LaHaye, #1 New York Times –bestselling co-author of the Left Behind series
“Huffman has woven a richly textured and engrossing biblical what-if tale. Prepare for a thrilling journey into the antediluvian world!” —Mark Andrew Olsen, bestselling co-author of Hadassah , author of The Watchers and Ulterior Motives
“A captivating tale of Noah’s earlier years, combining romance, riveting action, and exhilarating adventure.” —Tim Chaffey, author of the Remnant Trilogy
The Earth is cursed, humans scrape meager livings from the soil, and legendary beasts roam the wilderness. When a fearsome leviathan threatens his homelands, Noah must find a way to defeat the monster. Desperate to discover its weakness, he journeys to seek the aid of the half-angel giants called the Nephilim. Meanwhile, the angelic Watchers known as the Grigori have seized the great city of Enoch, and their powerful leader has become obsessed with Noah’s bride-to-be.
Friendships and faith are tested, and Noah is thrust into the middle of an impossible revolution against the fallen Grigori. His Nephilim comrades must choose whether to fight on the side of humanity or the angels, and their decision may mean the difference between the earth’s salvation and its annihilation.
Praise for Leviathan
“This exciting story about the event that changed our world and the unforgettable man Noah, who God used to make it come to pass, will captivate your interest.” —Tim LaHaye, #1 New York Times –bestselling co-author of the Left Behind series
“Huffman has woven a richly textured and engrossing biblical what-if tale. Prepare for a thrilling journey into the antediluvian world!” —Mark Andrew Olsen, bestselling co-author of Hadassah , author of The Watchers and Ulterior Motives
“A captivating tale of Noah’s earlier years, combining romance, riveting action, and exhilarating adventure.” —Tim Chaffey, author of the Remnant Trilogy
314 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 29, 2015
16 people are currently reading
65 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 13, 2022
I had to stop reading the book. My tolerance ran out of the clunky passages, male gaze, and questionable plot. It's 2 stars because my MIL liked it and read its sequel.
September 23, 2017
Was this book written by a 4 year old? Honestly, the writing was terrible, the plot was awful and contrived, and the editing was subpar. This author should stick to whatever his day job was
December 31, 2021
It’s a great book! My only problem with it was towards the end. It became a wee bit too slow for me. Most likely it will get way better in the next book. I totally recommend it.
April 29, 2023
I wish I could start this review with some snarky comment making fun of how awful this book is. I wish I could talk about how it murders the English language on every page or how it made me feel mental anguish on par with physical pain. I can’t though. If Leviathan was the worst book ever, that would be something. Instead this book is… empty.
It’s a tale based in Christian mythology, all about the life of Noah when he was a young man, long before God told him to build the Ark so he could escape the Great Flood. It takes place in a world filled with angels, giants, dragons (actually dinosaurs in this world), and at the center of it is a man chosen by God to do great things. Does that sound cool? Well, yeah, I thought so too. There are 2 issues (at least 2 big issues, there’s plenty of small ones) that prevent this book from being… anything.
1: The author believes that all of this is literally true. He genuinely believes that the Earth is only a few thousand years old and dinosaurs lived with humans in Biblical times. That’s hardcore stupid on its own, then you realize it means that R.M. Huffman believes this book is all true. Maybe parts of it are fictional in his mind, but which parts? It’s impossible to say.
Imagine if J.R.R. Tolkien wrote The Lord of the Rings under the impression it was real. He wouldn’t be writing it to make interesting characters or a cool world to explore or a story with heart, he’d be writing it with religious reverence. He’d be copying something someone else already made without any new ideas or themes added and expecting everyone else to admire it as much as he does. And if anyone doesn’t admire it, it’s because they hate God and Christians. No need for self-reflection or taking criticism, because this isn’t actually a fantasy novel (in his mind).
The issue here is not that the author has different beliefs than me, or even that he’s clumsily pushing them in his book. The issue is that there is nothing here beyond his beliefs, which brings me to the next point.
2: There are maybe 6 events that transpire over the course of more than 400 pages.
This isn’t an adventure, or even a series of adventures, it’s just Noah. Noah hanging around at home and basking in everyone talking about how great he is and how he’s destined for great things. Noah going to get help for his town without running into trouble. Noah coming up with brilliant plans to defeat villains such as
That might be fine if Noah had any personality or interesting things to say/do, he doesn’t though. He’s just the hero because the author made him the hero, and the author made him the hero because the Bible did.
There’s a final battle near the end which, to be fair, isn’t half bad. It would be better if the protagonist actually did things instead of just knowing how to win without effort, but y’know, I’ve read worse.
The only real entertainment value it has is to remember that the author believes this is all literally true. He’s an insane dipshit who believes humans and dinosaurs lived together, this isn’t a fantasy world for him, its existence is a religious fact, never to be questioned. And if anyone does question it, they must be attacked/silenced.
So I can’t even act like this book is the worst thing ever. I want to channel my inner Roger Ebert to roast it until it’s reduced to ashes so I can scatter them on the wind. I can’t though. And even if I could, this book isn’t worth it. There is nothing here, not even anything to mock.
I know Christian conservatives would say that dog shit tasted like candy if the dog claimed to love Jesus first, so I expect at least some hate for this negative review. I don’t care though. This book isn’t bad because it’s Christian, it’s bad because it’s bad.
It’s a tale based in Christian mythology, all about the life of Noah when he was a young man, long before God told him to build the Ark so he could escape the Great Flood. It takes place in a world filled with angels, giants, dragons (actually dinosaurs in this world), and at the center of it is a man chosen by God to do great things. Does that sound cool? Well, yeah, I thought so too. There are 2 issues (at least 2 big issues, there’s plenty of small ones) that prevent this book from being… anything.
1: The author believes that all of this is literally true. He genuinely believes that the Earth is only a few thousand years old and dinosaurs lived with humans in Biblical times. That’s hardcore stupid on its own, then you realize it means that R.M. Huffman believes this book is all true. Maybe parts of it are fictional in his mind, but which parts? It’s impossible to say.
Imagine if J.R.R. Tolkien wrote The Lord of the Rings under the impression it was real. He wouldn’t be writing it to make interesting characters or a cool world to explore or a story with heart, he’d be writing it with religious reverence. He’d be copying something someone else already made without any new ideas or themes added and expecting everyone else to admire it as much as he does. And if anyone doesn’t admire it, it’s because they hate God and Christians. No need for self-reflection or taking criticism, because this isn’t actually a fantasy novel (in his mind).
The issue here is not that the author has different beliefs than me, or even that he’s clumsily pushing them in his book. The issue is that there is nothing here beyond his beliefs, which brings me to the next point.
2: There are maybe 6 events that transpire over the course of more than 400 pages.
This isn’t an adventure, or even a series of adventures, it’s just Noah. Noah hanging around at home and basking in everyone talking about how great he is and how he’s destined for great things. Noah going to get help for his town without running into trouble. Noah coming up with brilliant plans to defeat villains such as
That might be fine if Noah had any personality or interesting things to say/do, he doesn’t though. He’s just the hero because the author made him the hero, and the author made him the hero because the Bible did.
There’s a final battle near the end which, to be fair, isn’t half bad. It would be better if the protagonist actually did things instead of just knowing how to win without effort, but y’know, I’ve read worse.
The only real entertainment value it has is to remember that the author believes this is all literally true. He’s an insane dipshit who believes humans and dinosaurs lived together, this isn’t a fantasy world for him, its existence is a religious fact, never to be questioned. And if anyone does question it, they must be attacked/silenced.
So I can’t even act like this book is the worst thing ever. I want to channel my inner Roger Ebert to roast it until it’s reduced to ashes so I can scatter them on the wind. I can’t though. And even if I could, this book isn’t worth it. There is nothing here, not even anything to mock.
I know Christian conservatives would say that dog shit tasted like candy if the dog claimed to love Jesus first, so I expect at least some hate for this negative review. I don’t care though. This book isn’t bad because it’s Christian, it’s bad because it’s bad.
May 28, 2020
Read this for my internship – a great YA fantasy novel with biblical roots. I especially appreciated the way it delved into the gaps in Genesis (Noah and all those guys were REALLY old when they're mentioned in the Bible, so what happened in the years before the flood?) and Huffman's portrayal of the Nephilim was interesting and entertaining to read. Not my usual cup of tea, but would recommend to high schoolers (remember that the Nephilim were created because angels started lusting, so I hesitate to recommend to younger than HS) or fans of the genre! Definitely an enjoyable and exciting read
February 19, 2019
It wasn't too bad, just had to get it in my head to read as a SciFi and was able to get through it. There were some pretty good parts but overall not a favorite.
February 2, 2021
This was a fun read with a very unique premise that hasn’t been used as much as it should be. Well written and entertaining.
February 20, 2024
Not bad if you are looking for Biblically-inspired fantasy, however, not quite my cup of tea.
April 22, 2016
I had this book on my To Be Read shelf but it was the previous edition titled Antediluvian. When I saw this current edition, I approached the author for a review copy as it had been revised.
After reading this, I am glad I had bought the first edition as that edition has some very positive reviews and I can say the same for this edition.
Huffman is one very talented author and is very passionate about this topic of the antediluvian world, specifically the Watchers (Grigori, fallen angels), Nephilim (Genesis 6:4) and the generation from earth's beginning to the generation of Noah.
This is one busy and fast-paced novel that never lets up and has many twists and turns. The book seems to have 2 different environments, the fist half or nearly half is taken up with life in Eden where Noah, Methuselah, Lamech live, farming their land and their involvement in their community. Huffman describes this lifestyle well and includes the faith of Noah's family rich in the genealogies from Adam to present including all his teachings and from their recorded history and this forms a strong foundation for their faith. Huffman also portrays well those of Noah's neighbours who have strayed from God and consider Him to be a fairy tale. It is during this half of the novel, that we are introduced to the creature called Leviathan and the quest by the Edenites, namely Noah and his family with the help of the Nephilim from Enoch, to rid Eden of its threat and destruction of themselves, their livestock and waterway allows the author to further develop the characters, plot, and action that leads to the second half which involves the history (some of it esoteric) of the Nephilim and the Watchers/Grigori, and the political, social and spiritual deception (perpetrated by the Grigori) that exists in Enoch. It is the only novel so far that I have read involving the antediluvian world that depicts a comprehensive life of the Grigori and their Nephilim offspring and their involvement in the human race since leaving the heavenly habitat and seeking after human women.
Huffman writes well and has constructed a solid novel that is consistent in it pace and plot throughout. His research into the extrabiblical texts, most notably the Book of Enoch shows and translates into a rich antediluvian world that is a joy to read and get lost in. This together with his imagination, fills in the gaps between the Biblical and extrabiblical texts and creates on very enjoyable tale that not only entertains but gives some light and background to this controversial topic of who the Nephilim were and the question as to whether the Grigori were able to or even did have sexual relations with human women. It is obvious from this research and his plot, that Huffman resides in the camp where the majority of bible researchers reside and it is this view of the Gen 6:4 interpretation that resonates with myself from similar research and readings of similar novels where this is outlined. It seems to be the only one that makes any sense and explains events from Genesis to what is currently happening now, especially as we see what is expressed in the bible coming to fruition,
Matthew 4:37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
Luke 17:26 Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man.
We know from the biblical record that Noah and his family were strong in the faith and totally committed to God and Huffman portrays this very well and it is very encouraging to see this, but more importantly, I appreciated Huffman showing Noah's faith in action by the many instances where he was portrayed as praying to God, asking for guidance and wisdom and in other places where circumstances were out of his control, that he surrendered his situation to God and let Him have His way. Another way he lived his faith in action was showing no fear in defending this faith and anything relating to God, His attributes or His precepts
This is what I like to see in Christian fiction, where God is depicted as the God of the Bible and the characters living out their faith as it encourages in this manual and the Spirit of God empowering these characters. I loved the part during a final confrontation between the Grigori and Noah, the Lord Himself appeared with warrior Angels and dealt with them as only He can. I could see no other way that this could have happened as the only weapon against the defiant and deceptive Grigori would be that from God himself as the human race just do not have the power within themselves to deal with them, even to this day, and God never intended us to do so in the first place, but only by His Spirit as it says in the Word.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and eagerly look forward to the next one.
Highly Recommended.
After reading this, I am glad I had bought the first edition as that edition has some very positive reviews and I can say the same for this edition.
Huffman is one very talented author and is very passionate about this topic of the antediluvian world, specifically the Watchers (Grigori, fallen angels), Nephilim (Genesis 6:4) and the generation from earth's beginning to the generation of Noah.
This is one busy and fast-paced novel that never lets up and has many twists and turns. The book seems to have 2 different environments, the fist half or nearly half is taken up with life in Eden where Noah, Methuselah, Lamech live, farming their land and their involvement in their community. Huffman describes this lifestyle well and includes the faith of Noah's family rich in the genealogies from Adam to present including all his teachings and from their recorded history and this forms a strong foundation for their faith. Huffman also portrays well those of Noah's neighbours who have strayed from God and consider Him to be a fairy tale. It is during this half of the novel, that we are introduced to the creature called Leviathan and the quest by the Edenites, namely Noah and his family with the help of the Nephilim from Enoch, to rid Eden of its threat and destruction of themselves, their livestock and waterway allows the author to further develop the characters, plot, and action that leads to the second half which involves the history (some of it esoteric) of the Nephilim and the Watchers/Grigori, and the political, social and spiritual deception (perpetrated by the Grigori) that exists in Enoch. It is the only novel so far that I have read involving the antediluvian world that depicts a comprehensive life of the Grigori and their Nephilim offspring and their involvement in the human race since leaving the heavenly habitat and seeking after human women.
Huffman writes well and has constructed a solid novel that is consistent in it pace and plot throughout. His research into the extrabiblical texts, most notably the Book of Enoch shows and translates into a rich antediluvian world that is a joy to read and get lost in. This together with his imagination, fills in the gaps between the Biblical and extrabiblical texts and creates on very enjoyable tale that not only entertains but gives some light and background to this controversial topic of who the Nephilim were and the question as to whether the Grigori were able to or even did have sexual relations with human women. It is obvious from this research and his plot, that Huffman resides in the camp where the majority of bible researchers reside and it is this view of the Gen 6:4 interpretation that resonates with myself from similar research and readings of similar novels where this is outlined. It seems to be the only one that makes any sense and explains events from Genesis to what is currently happening now, especially as we see what is expressed in the bible coming to fruition,
Matthew 4:37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
Luke 17:26 Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man.
We know from the biblical record that Noah and his family were strong in the faith and totally committed to God and Huffman portrays this very well and it is very encouraging to see this, but more importantly, I appreciated Huffman showing Noah's faith in action by the many instances where he was portrayed as praying to God, asking for guidance and wisdom and in other places where circumstances were out of his control, that he surrendered his situation to God and let Him have His way. Another way he lived his faith in action was showing no fear in defending this faith and anything relating to God, His attributes or His precepts
This is what I like to see in Christian fiction, where God is depicted as the God of the Bible and the characters living out their faith as it encourages in this manual and the Spirit of God empowering these characters. I loved the part during a final confrontation between the Grigori and Noah, the Lord Himself appeared with warrior Angels and dealt with them as only He can. I could see no other way that this could have happened as the only weapon against the defiant and deceptive Grigori would be that from God himself as the human race just do not have the power within themselves to deal with them, even to this day, and God never intended us to do so in the first place, but only by His Spirit as it says in the Word.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and eagerly look forward to the next one.
Highly Recommended.
January 20, 2016
In July of 2014, I read and reviewed R.M. Huffman's novel Antediluvian. At the time, this is what I said of it:
"It's a fascinating story about the world-that-was described so sparingly in the Book of Genesis, where morning mists covered the Earth in lieu of rain, Watcher angels gave into lust to lay with human women, and dragon-like sauropods were used as beasts of burden."
I'm pleased to announce that Dr. Huffman has re-released this extraordinary fantasy novel with publisher Lampion Press under the title Leviathan: Book One of the Antediluvian Legacy. In addition to illustrations of some of the characters, places, and beasts in the novel, this new edition includes:
A genealogy of both Biblical and Huffman's characters.
A bestiary that tells you the difference between a creodont and an indrik.
A preview of Fallen: Book Two of the Antediluvian Legacy.
What makes Leviathan stand out, in part, is how lived-in Huffman made the setting, the theology. When one farmer says to another, "Toil, plants of the field, sweat of our faces...we'll be well aware of the ground's curse for certain," it makes sense: they're the Biblical Adam's heirs, just a few generations from the Fall, and they know it. They live it every day.
This is reinforced by the fallen Watcher angel Azazyel saying, much later, "We watched as Adam was made, and then we watched him ruin everything. And now, Samyaza is paying the price for Adam's loosing of death into the world." Despite the fantasy theme, we know these characters from Bible study.
Huffman's description of dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals used as beasts of burden maintain the Biblical-historical theme, as does the Edenites being vegetarians (a tradition ended after the Flood when God says in Genesis 9:2-3, "The fear and dread of you will fall on all the beasts of the earth, and on all the birds in the sky, on every creature that moves along the ground, and on all the fish in the sea; they are given into your hands. Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.")
Some of my favorite parts of Leviathan were the references to other places, adding to the richness of the world. Kenan, a former adventurer, says to Noah, "I slew the high priests of the Om-Ctherra snake cult, along with its monstrous 'deity.' I fought a warlord-sorcerer, possessed by one of Satan's princes, with the Nomads of Nod." Kenan becomes Howard's Conan, or even Moorcock's Corum Jhaelen Irsei.
If you want adventure in a fully-realized fantasy world that's both familiar and mysterious, you've got to get Leviathan. And then tell Dr. Huffman to finish up Fallen already!
"It's a fascinating story about the world-that-was described so sparingly in the Book of Genesis, where morning mists covered the Earth in lieu of rain, Watcher angels gave into lust to lay with human women, and dragon-like sauropods were used as beasts of burden."
I'm pleased to announce that Dr. Huffman has re-released this extraordinary fantasy novel with publisher Lampion Press under the title Leviathan: Book One of the Antediluvian Legacy. In addition to illustrations of some of the characters, places, and beasts in the novel, this new edition includes:
A genealogy of both Biblical and Huffman's characters.
A bestiary that tells you the difference between a creodont and an indrik.
A preview of Fallen: Book Two of the Antediluvian Legacy.
What makes Leviathan stand out, in part, is how lived-in Huffman made the setting, the theology. When one farmer says to another, "Toil, plants of the field, sweat of our faces...we'll be well aware of the ground's curse for certain," it makes sense: they're the Biblical Adam's heirs, just a few generations from the Fall, and they know it. They live it every day.
This is reinforced by the fallen Watcher angel Azazyel saying, much later, "We watched as Adam was made, and then we watched him ruin everything. And now, Samyaza is paying the price for Adam's loosing of death into the world." Despite the fantasy theme, we know these characters from Bible study.
Huffman's description of dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals used as beasts of burden maintain the Biblical-historical theme, as does the Edenites being vegetarians (a tradition ended after the Flood when God says in Genesis 9:2-3, "The fear and dread of you will fall on all the beasts of the earth, and on all the birds in the sky, on every creature that moves along the ground, and on all the fish in the sea; they are given into your hands. Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.")
Some of my favorite parts of Leviathan were the references to other places, adding to the richness of the world. Kenan, a former adventurer, says to Noah, "I slew the high priests of the Om-Ctherra snake cult, along with its monstrous 'deity.' I fought a warlord-sorcerer, possessed by one of Satan's princes, with the Nomads of Nod." Kenan becomes Howard's Conan, or even Moorcock's Corum Jhaelen Irsei.
If you want adventure in a fully-realized fantasy world that's both familiar and mysterious, you've got to get Leviathan. And then tell Dr. Huffman to finish up Fallen already!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews