Morningstar Ascendant

by Nicholas Galante

At the dawn of time, the archangel Lucifer was cast out of Heaven for daring to defy his creator. Beaten but undaunted, Lucifer vowed revenge against God. For centuries, the Devil and his cohorts were content with small victories, and their valorous march on the pearly gates was nothing but a distant memory of bygone glory. However, the reappearance of an old foe changes everything, and reveals to Lucifer that there may be untapped powers at Hell's disposal, ancient powers that date back to the churning dark that reigned before the Genesis.

Lucifer is ready to wager everything he has in a second war against Heaven, but this time, he has stacked the deck in his favor. This time, it will be God that falls.

Genres: Fantasy

366 pages, Paperback

Published August 18, 2016

About the author

Nicholas Galante was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The son of two English teachers, he started writing stories for his friends when he was eleven years old. He earned his B.A. in Literature and English with distinction from Juniata College, and his M. Phil. in Popular Literature from Trinity College, Dublin. His first novel, Morningstar Ascendant, was published by Black Rose Writing in August of 2016, and he has written several academic articles on comics studies.

Reviews

[José · Rating 2 out of 5]

50/100.

Pensaba que odiaría este libro cuando leí los primeros capítulos, pero una vez llegué al epílogo, no estuvo mal. Morningstar Ascendant es el primer, y de momento único, libro escrito por Nicholas Galante, un profesor universitario nacido en Allentown, Pensilvania.

La obra se divide en 40 capítulos y un epílogo. A pesar de que la elección de un narrador omnisciente me convence, creo que teniendo en cuenta la temática, podría haberle dado mucho más juego hacia el final, en el momento de la revelación final. Se cuenta desde dos puntos de vista diferentes: los dos lados de la guerra celestial que se da entre sus páginas. Por un lado, tenemos a Lucifer y a su mujer, Lilith, y por el otro lado, a los arcángeles capitaneados por Miguel.

Morninstar Ascendant es un thriller: Lucifer busca romper los siete sellos que Dios impuso sobre los Cuatro Jinetes del Apocalipsis y el Caos para tomar todas sus fuerzas y conquistar el Cielo; por su parte, los ángeles tienen que evitar que Lucifer consiga su cometido.

Ha sido divertido leerlo una vez me he metido en la lectura, aunque me ha costado unos... diez capítulos, más o menos. ¿Por qué? Porque muchos de los personajes son arquetipos. Nicholas estaba jugando con la mitología cristiana y tenía tanto material... Aun así, me ha gustado esta nueva visión del personaje de Lucifer. También de Miguel en uno de los capítulos finales (aunque ha sido bastante soso en el resto del libro).

[Nolite · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting take on the whole genre of Lucifer fiction. I enjoy reading (and watching) stories about Lucifer as a fully fleshed out character, as well as how he might interact with the modern world. The plot of this book was unique and I liked how revelations were tied into it. Classical mythology (Christian and otherwise) was woven seamlessly into the novel. I loved Lilith's role in the book, since she is a character I have always been intrigued by and she tends to be left out. I would have liked to have seen the characters more well rounded, since it felt like they were a bit empty. But overall, this was an enjoyable, well written read.

[Mario Galante · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating story that joins a classic work with modern fantasy fiction

Morningstar Ascendant is an fantasy that makes the struggle between the forces of good and evil transcend time and place. The classical forces of both heaven and hell are humanized in a creative and intriguing plot with surprising twists and turns.
As a new author,Nicholas, shows a talent for both creativity and character development. A must read for fantasy lovers and students of Paradise Lost.

[Andy C · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel was a great way for Nick to kick off his career. The influence of religious literature and his experience abroad shines through the story. Reading The Divine Comedy and Paradise Lost beforehand will help the reader understand the events better. The characters were interesting and brought the story alive. The book was entertaining even if you lost your faith. I recommend reading it!