The Korr Stigmata

by Tim Dugan

Librarian Note: See Alternate Cover Edition HERE.

In September 1940 the German blitz began pounding England in preparation for invasion, and it looked for all the world as if mighty Britain would be the next European state to fall to Nazi Germany. Graduate student Grace Arundel, who recently ended a long engagement, finds herself suddenly alone in the middle of the war, and her world is in complete turmoil. The crisis throws her together with historian John Perceval and a new relationship blossoms, and it is at that time that the incredible begins. Arthur, the once and future king, appears to Grace and tells her she is “important” to the unfolding conflict.

Shaped around actual WWII events, including the SS search for the Holy Grail, the story becomes a desperate race for the lost Grail, the mysterious but powerful key that will turn the war in favor of its possessor. Grace is caught up in the chase along with Arthur, John and the druid Merlin, and before it’s over she discovers the staggering secrets passed down from her ancestors that eventually make her the object of the race. The Sign of the Grail is an adventure, and it also has mystical elements. But at the core it is the story about Grace at the most pivotal point in her life, and what she has to do and learn and overcome in order to find out who she truly is.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fantasy

355 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 23, 2016

About the author

I am coming to writing a little late. In college I compared my writing to my college authors—Joyce, Yeats, et al.—and because I felt I couldn't touch them, I slowly let my writing slip away. It was easy to fall into the corporate world in Silicon Valley, although I continued to read a great deal. I grew personally, including living in England for two years, until one day after just returning home, I was at the kitchen table and the idea for a book popped into my head. That book became The Korr Stigmata.

Reviews

[Done Working]

A page turner not to be missed.

What did I like .. everything dislike nothing I literally sat up all night to finish it totally enthralled. Lord knows how much I'm praying for a continuation of the story so much potential here.
I NEVER do a review unless I was truly impressed. If I heard that there was a follow up book if have already pre ordered and paid for it then desperately begin to wait its arrival.
An extremely well written and well researched book thank you

[Richard Myers]

Wonderful book

This book took me in a completely different tact that I wasn’t prepared for. It is very well written and I can’t say much more without giving away any of the plots.

[Lauralee]

It is the year 1940, and the Germans are preparing to invade England. Grace Arundel is a graduate student who plans on finishing college. However, the war forces her to put her plans on hold. One day, she witnesses the return of King Arthur. King Arthur has come to save England in its darkest hour. He asks Grace and her boyfriend John to help him with the task. As Grace goes on a dangerous mission to find the Holy grail and save England, she finds herself on a journey to learn who her ancestors were and who she truly is.

At first glance, I thought Grace was a Mary Sue character. She is smart, beautiful, and is described as special. However, as the novel progresses her character evolves. She becomes a very relatable character. There were moments when she was afraid of the mission she was assigned and wanted to run away. However, when she realized her responsibility to save her country, she felt brave and capable enough to do her task. She never stops seeking to find her identity. Therefore, Grace was a likable character. However, I was disappointed when she became a damsel in distress at the end.

I thought that the romance between John and Grace was not developed enough and could easily have been left out. John was a very passive character and did not have much of a role in the story, except as Grace’s boyfriend. While I did not get to know more about Arthur and Merlin’s new abilities that were mentioned many times throughout the novel, I thought they were the best characters in the story. They were very fun, and I sensed a deep friendship between them.

Overall, this book is about self-discovery, responsibility, and love. The characters for the most part are very static characters with not much character development. Despite the novel’s flaws, it was a very light and enjoyable read. It moves at a rapid pace, and it is filled with mystery, action, and suspense that will keep you on the edge of your seat. As an Arthurian fan, I thought that it stayed true to the myths of King Arthur and the Holy Grail. I not only recommend this to fans of the Arthurian legend, but also for fans of time-bending stories and those interested in the early days of World War II England.
(Note: This book is given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.)

[Mark D]

very good reading!! I recommend.

Good read. Good story line. Needs a sequel to show more points in history that might have had “help”. Interesting idea of “what if”.

[dorothy cannon]

4.5 for an excellent book,

This book combines The Davinci Code with Arthurian legend and the Nazis.
It's easy to read and enjoyable. Read it and see?

[Tim]

shameless self-promotion, but hey, the ads aren't working

[Barb Taub]

Graduate student Grace Arundel’s family have lived in Stokehill in England for centuries but she’s the last of her line. The year is 1940, and England is bracing against the threat of invasion by the Germans, and reeling from their losses as the bombs fall. After Grace’s heartfelt prayer for help, she sees an oddly dressed man arrive in a small boat. When he retrieves a sword from an arm reaching out of a lake, she realizes that he is actually the legendary King Arthur, returned to help England in her darkest hour. Together with John, another student, they meet Merlin and the group races against time to find Korr Stigmata—symbols made up of five dots—that lead to the Holy Grail.

I’m sure I’m not alone in the iconic images that come to mind with the mention of King Arthur and Merlin. The legend that they will return at England’s darkest hour has seen many forms and interpretations. I enjoy a good alternate-history, but for me, The Korr Stigmata didn’t do justice to its subject. The setting and storyline seemed to be Indiana Jones meets Bedknobs & Broomsticks, their tagline “The Nazis awaken the Once and Future King.” Although both Arthur and Merlin are medieval figures, neither is particularly disoriented by the presence of cars and planes, let alone the rest of the modern world. Nor is there any point where people stop and say, “Hold on. What’s all this mixture of religious and magical legends got to do with the German invasion of England?”

The rest of the adventure involves car chases, Nazi spies plotting to acquire the Grail, and a host of unlikely events. In addition to the plot issues, the characters were flat, with little development or change, while the romance between Grace and John is even less likely.

[QUOTE]“I know we’ve technically been on only one date, but…” Grace watched him stammer, “b-but I think I love you.” [END QUOTE]

Sentences were short and choppy, with a number of unusual word choices. (“Palely” was constantly and painfully used, as characters look at each other “palely”.)

At its most basic level, The Korr Stigmata is a light adventure yarn perhaps best aimed at a young adult audience.