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First Souls Trilogy #2
The Thirteenth Disciple
THE FIRST SOULS, WINNER OF BEST BOOK SERIES, INDIE NEXT GENERATION BOOK AWARDS -- In it first few months of publication, this intriguing book has already won in three prestigious book competitions--Best Book Award, Christian Illumination Award, and the Montaigne Medal. The novel reveals the answers to many puzzling mysteries woven into the familiar stories of the Bible. Using recently recovered near-lost gospels of the earliest Judeo-Christian mystics, Peter Canova reconstructs Western spiritual history in a spellbinding story of fall from grace, transcendence, and redemption. Mary Magdalene's story is not just about the lost feminine voice of the early Church; her story is our story, the universal saga of humanity's origin, purpose, and destiny. It's the page-turning story of divine knowledge silenced by opposing empires to prevent a shocking truth from transforming humankind.
Magdalene escapes from slavery and forced prostitution to become the primary disciple of Jesus and spread the secret knowledge he taught to a select few. As empires clash, and murder, espionage, and betrayal grow rampant, a Roman assassin pursues Magdalene, who embarks on an odyssey across the ancient world to carry the true message of the martyred Jesus before she too can be silenced and her native Judea destroyed in a rain of fire and blood. Please visit thethirteenthdisciple.com for more articles and information.
Magdalene escapes from slavery and forced prostitution to become the primary disciple of Jesus and spread the secret knowledge he taught to a select few. As empires clash, and murder, espionage, and betrayal grow rampant, a Roman assassin pursues Magdalene, who embarks on an odyssey across the ancient world to carry the true message of the martyred Jesus before she too can be silenced and her native Judea destroyed in a rain of fire and blood. Please visit thethirteenthdisciple.com for more articles and information.
520 pages, Paperback
Published May 24, 2016
3 people are currently reading
7 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 10, 2017
This book took me a long time to read, comparatively speaking, because it was so full of good stuff which made me want to stop and think about the underlying premises more than once. Following a long anticipation after the release of Pope Anastasia (which was an awesome read), I was pleased to get it! I didn't find it as easy to read as the first book (which was more 'linear' in its presentation of the time line).
The book carries us back and forth between two different eras; the first deals with a fictional historical narrative of the life and times of Mary Magdalene. I say fiction because there's no way to confirm or otherwise this story of the Magdalene, or any other for that matter. I've read other fictional accounts (and have just started to read another) of her life, times and ongoing influence on those who call themselves mystics, Christian or otherwise (among whom I count myself), thus filling in the blanks of her possible life story and her place in history, about which not much is actually known.
The second arc of the book was fascinating, but I found myself skimming through the much of the purported 'history' of the future of Christianity (it's set a few short years from now), bearing in mind the suppression of the sacred feminine by the church, which includes the place of the possible teachings of Mary Magdalene through the ongoing narrative.
Having said all this, I have really enjoyed the book. I have a few more short chapters to read, but I'm happy to review it before finishing it completely. I look forward to reading the third book in Peter Canova's trilogy.
ADDENDUM
I've read the final chapters and I have to say these tie the two arcs of the book together excellently. They go into the spiritual & esoteric nature of the whole book. I won't outline any of it here as it's for others to read and decide for themselves. I don't know if I agree with all Peter Canova wrote about therein (i.e. not everything resonated with my spirit/soul), but I'm open-minded and will continue to read around the topic of the legacy of the Gnostics (I consider myself a modern gnostic mystic), and the Cathars. I'm more than OK with being a Happy Heretic! :-)
The book carries us back and forth between two different eras; the first deals with a fictional historical narrative of the life and times of Mary Magdalene. I say fiction because there's no way to confirm or otherwise this story of the Magdalene, or any other for that matter. I've read other fictional accounts (and have just started to read another) of her life, times and ongoing influence on those who call themselves mystics, Christian or otherwise (among whom I count myself), thus filling in the blanks of her possible life story and her place in history, about which not much is actually known.
The second arc of the book was fascinating, but I found myself skimming through the much of the purported 'history' of the future of Christianity (it's set a few short years from now), bearing in mind the suppression of the sacred feminine by the church, which includes the place of the possible teachings of Mary Magdalene through the ongoing narrative.
Having said all this, I have really enjoyed the book. I have a few more short chapters to read, but I'm happy to review it before finishing it completely. I look forward to reading the third book in Peter Canova's trilogy.
ADDENDUM
I've read the final chapters and I have to say these tie the two arcs of the book together excellently. They go into the spiritual & esoteric nature of the whole book. I won't outline any of it here as it's for others to read and decide for themselves. I don't know if I agree with all Peter Canova wrote about therein (i.e. not everything resonated with my spirit/soul), but I'm open-minded and will continue to read around the topic of the legacy of the Gnostics (I consider myself a modern gnostic mystic), and the Cathars. I'm more than OK with being a Happy Heretic! :-)
August 13, 2024
Amazing account of early Christian church
This tells of the suppression of the Gnostic movement and how different factions had different interpretations, leading to the Catholic Church, which declared Gnosticism as heresy.
Read this and decide for one’s self which faction is more uplifting.
This tells of the suppression of the Gnostic movement and how different factions had different interpretations, leading to the Catholic Church, which declared Gnosticism as heresy.
Read this and decide for one’s self which faction is more uplifting.
Read
November 27, 2019Excellent take on the back story of Mary mandolin. This is very possible that she might have become a prostitute in that way . Well-written and easy-to-read and easy-to-read. Packed full of actual Biblical facts that make the plott seem entirely entirely plausible.
February 20, 2017
Reviewed by Carol Hoyer for Reader Views (02/17)
In “The Thirteenth Disciple,” author Peter Canova provides an excellent detailed fictional account of Mary Magdalene and lost mystical teachings with a modern twist. Mary Magdalene’s story talks of how individuals, no matter what their belief, have forgotten the true teachings of God and entered life with greed, anger and condemnations of those who did not think the way they did. Each reader will develop his or her own perception of the views presented in this book. The information provided is based on historical accounts of the Bible, along with information the author uses to fill in the gaps.
In A.D.12, Mary of Magdala was a young, out-spoken child about her beliefs on God and the hypocrisy of others. Many thought she had premonitions and was a witch. When she could handle no more of this behavior by them and her father, she ran away toward Jerusalem.
Through the course of her journey in search of truth and the real meaning of God, Mary was violated by a Roman soldier and sold in Babylon to a whoremaster. During the same time, many others could see the negative events occurring due to their own actions. It was thought that due to the shift of people’s attitudes toward, freed, ignorance and false belief, the world they knew would be no more. The Grand Council of the Mystery Schools met and decided that, based on a scroll that pointed to a woman as the focus, they would fight the negatives with truth.
Canova vividly describes events that occurred over the years that pitted friend against friend, religions against religions, and the crucifixion’s impact on all who roamed the earth. He throws in a modern twist to history which will have readers question history and what they grew up believing. The ending will surprise everyone.
At 490 pages, my initial thought was, “How would I ever get through this?” Once I started reading, however, I couldn’t put it down. “The Thirteenth Disciple” is very well written, easy to read, and very thought provoking. Peter Canova captures the attention the reader from the first page and keeps their attention throughout with different thoughts and events.
In “The Thirteenth Disciple,” author Peter Canova provides an excellent detailed fictional account of Mary Magdalene and lost mystical teachings with a modern twist. Mary Magdalene’s story talks of how individuals, no matter what their belief, have forgotten the true teachings of God and entered life with greed, anger and condemnations of those who did not think the way they did. Each reader will develop his or her own perception of the views presented in this book. The information provided is based on historical accounts of the Bible, along with information the author uses to fill in the gaps.
In A.D.12, Mary of Magdala was a young, out-spoken child about her beliefs on God and the hypocrisy of others. Many thought she had premonitions and was a witch. When she could handle no more of this behavior by them and her father, she ran away toward Jerusalem.
Through the course of her journey in search of truth and the real meaning of God, Mary was violated by a Roman soldier and sold in Babylon to a whoremaster. During the same time, many others could see the negative events occurring due to their own actions. It was thought that due to the shift of people’s attitudes toward, freed, ignorance and false belief, the world they knew would be no more. The Grand Council of the Mystery Schools met and decided that, based on a scroll that pointed to a woman as the focus, they would fight the negatives with truth.
Canova vividly describes events that occurred over the years that pitted friend against friend, religions against religions, and the crucifixion’s impact on all who roamed the earth. He throws in a modern twist to history which will have readers question history and what they grew up believing. The ending will surprise everyone.
At 490 pages, my initial thought was, “How would I ever get through this?” Once I started reading, however, I couldn’t put it down. “The Thirteenth Disciple” is very well written, easy to read, and very thought provoking. Peter Canova captures the attention the reader from the first page and keeps their attention throughout with different thoughts and events.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews