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ARKANE #1
Stone of Fire
An ancient power. A desperate quest. The clock is ticking.
When psychologist and religious expert Dr. Morgan Sierra's sister and niece are kidnapped, she's thrust into a deadly race against time to find twelve ancient stones that could unleash unimaginable power. With only days until Pentecost and the kidnapper's deadline, Morgan must use all her knowledge and resources to track down the artifacts.
She's not alone in the hunt. Jake Timber, an enigmatic agent of ARKANE, a secret British agency investigating the supernatural, has his own orders to retrieve the stones at any cost. Torn between her desperate need to save her family and Jake's mission to secure the stones, lines blur as Morgan and Jake forge an uneasy partnership.
From the holy sites of Israel and the Vatican to the desert of Tunisia and the Sonoran wilderness of Arizona, Morgan and Jake face sinister forces, ancient traps, and a fanatical enemy determined to use the stones' power for their own dark purposes. Danger, betrayal and a growing attraction complicate their quest.
With Pentecost approaching and a storm of apocalyptic proportions brewing, Morgan must confront her past and unearth long-buried secrets to have any hope of saving her family and preventing global catastrophe. Emotions run high and faith is tested as the clock ticks down.
Can Morgan stop the stones from falling into the wrong hands, or will she have to choose between saving her family and saving the world?
Fast-paced and gripping, Stone of Fire is a thrilling adventure that weaves together history, archaeology, and the supernatural into a pulse-pounding race against time. Perfect for fans of Dan Brown, James Rollins, and Steve Berry, this action-packed novel will keep you turning pages late into the night.
Stone of Fire is book 1 of the ARKANE Thriller series by award-winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, J.F. Penn. It can also be read as a stand-alone story.
When psychologist and religious expert Dr. Morgan Sierra's sister and niece are kidnapped, she's thrust into a deadly race against time to find twelve ancient stones that could unleash unimaginable power. With only days until Pentecost and the kidnapper's deadline, Morgan must use all her knowledge and resources to track down the artifacts.
She's not alone in the hunt. Jake Timber, an enigmatic agent of ARKANE, a secret British agency investigating the supernatural, has his own orders to retrieve the stones at any cost. Torn between her desperate need to save her family and Jake's mission to secure the stones, lines blur as Morgan and Jake forge an uneasy partnership.
From the holy sites of Israel and the Vatican to the desert of Tunisia and the Sonoran wilderness of Arizona, Morgan and Jake face sinister forces, ancient traps, and a fanatical enemy determined to use the stones' power for their own dark purposes. Danger, betrayal and a growing attraction complicate their quest.
With Pentecost approaching and a storm of apocalyptic proportions brewing, Morgan must confront her past and unearth long-buried secrets to have any hope of saving her family and preventing global catastrophe. Emotions run high and faith is tested as the clock ticks down.
Can Morgan stop the stones from falling into the wrong hands, or will she have to choose between saving her family and saving the world?
Fast-paced and gripping, Stone of Fire is a thrilling adventure that weaves together history, archaeology, and the supernatural into a pulse-pounding race against time. Perfect for fans of Dan Brown, James Rollins, and Steve Berry, this action-packed novel will keep you turning pages late into the night.
Stone of Fire is book 1 of the ARKANE Thriller series by award-winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, J.F. Penn. It can also be read as a stand-alone story.
290 pages, Paperback
First published January 5, 2011
1462 people are currently reading
4923 people want to read
About the author
J.F. Penn
55 books2,233 followersI'm the award-winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thrillers, crime, dark fantasy, horror, short stories, and travel memoir.
Reading order: https://jfpennbooks.com/pages/reading...
The fast-paced ARKANE thrillers weave together historical artifacts, global locations, a kick-ass protagonist and a hint of the supernatural. Described by readers as "Dan Brown meets Lara Croft."
The Brooke & Daniel Crime Thriller Series features British detective Jamie Brooke alongside museum researcher Blake Daniel, as they solve dark crimes around London.
The Mapwalker fantasy adventure trilogy is set between Bath, England and the Borderlands in a split world fantasy where Sienna and the Mapwalker team travel through maps to adventure ...
A Thousand Fiendish Angels is a collection of 3 short stories bound together by a book of human skin. Inspired by Dante's Inferno.
You can buy books directly from me https://jfpennbooks.com/
I have a blog and podcast at http://www.BooksAndTravel.page
I'm passionate about writing and I love reading. My favorite authors include James Rollins, Jonathan Maberry, John Connolly, Daniel Silva, and I also read a lot of travel books.
Reading order: https://jfpennbooks.com/pages/reading...
The fast-paced ARKANE thrillers weave together historical artifacts, global locations, a kick-ass protagonist and a hint of the supernatural. Described by readers as "Dan Brown meets Lara Croft."
The Brooke & Daniel Crime Thriller Series features British detective Jamie Brooke alongside museum researcher Blake Daniel, as they solve dark crimes around London.
The Mapwalker fantasy adventure trilogy is set between Bath, England and the Borderlands in a split world fantasy where Sienna and the Mapwalker team travel through maps to adventure ...
A Thousand Fiendish Angels is a collection of 3 short stories bound together by a book of human skin. Inspired by Dante's Inferno.
You can buy books directly from me https://jfpennbooks.com/
I have a blog and podcast at http://www.BooksAndTravel.page
I'm passionate about writing and I love reading. My favorite authors include James Rollins, Jonathan Maberry, John Connolly, Daniel Silva, and I also read a lot of travel books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 491 reviews
December 26, 2022
I Liked the Ending.
This book is about two people on a mission to find some religious rocks.
Morgan Sierra and Jake Timber are on a journey to collect twelve stones that are two thousand years old.
Dr. Sierra is motivated by the abduction of her sister and Jake Timber works for ARKANE, a religious organization that secretly collects memorabilia of a supernatural and religious nature.
As they collect the stones from around the world, they are pursued by outlaws who also want the stones.
Will they finally get what they’re looking for?
The story has a weak spot, but once it gets into the traveling around the world, things start to pick up. The action comes thick and heavy.
Four stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book is about two people on a mission to find some religious rocks.
Morgan Sierra and Jake Timber are on a journey to collect twelve stones that are two thousand years old.
Dr. Sierra is motivated by the abduction of her sister and Jake Timber works for ARKANE, a religious organization that secretly collects memorabilia of a supernatural and religious nature.
As they collect the stones from around the world, they are pursued by outlaws who also want the stones.
Will they finally get what they’re looking for?
The story has a weak spot, but once it gets into the traveling around the world, things start to pick up. The action comes thick and heavy.
Four stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
January 10, 2014
Having developed a great respect for the author through her Twitter and YouTube accounts, I've been meaning to read this book for quite some time.
I have to say it's not really what I expected. I rather expected the title to be more metaphorical, that it would be a thriller with only passing hints (at best) at Christianity. What I got was something deeply entrenched in Christian history and tradition (and some extra bits made up and thrown in). Don't get me wrong, that's not a bad thing!
Aspects of the story reminded me very much of Indiana Jones (only with a female protagonist), as the heroine goes on an epic quest to retrieve the twelve stones of the Apostles before time runs out. Along the way, we're treated to descriptions of some of the most beautiful and historically significant places in Christianity, and told a little of the history of each.
She's helped along the way by ARKANE, an international organisation dedicated to the preservation and understanding of relics from all sorts of faiths. Another strong image that kept popping into my head was at the descriptions of ARKANE's vaults and electronic library, where I couldn't help thinking of the television show, Warehouse 13.
I enjoyed the story, and found the premise to be quite believable. Penn definitely did her research for this one, and her degree in Theology is evident in her knowledge (rather, her protagonist's knowledge) of the places and their histories.
I just found the writing to be a little... amateurish. For one, my brain kept inserted comma's where there were none (but in my mind, should've been), and I sometimes did have to do double-takes to understand what was being said, when a comma would've made all the difference! The author's uses of the pronouns "he" and "she" is also confusing at times, when there are multiple "he"'s in a scene, and it's not immediately obvious which one she's referring to. Ms Penn furthermore has a tendency to over-use the phrase "tears pricked his/her eyes", and I could've used a little more variation in the language.
Finally, I'm not entirely sure why Penn decided to use the US spellings of words like "color" (being British), while using the UK convention for title abbreviations like "Dr" and "Mr". Of course, this last point is just the editor in me coming out, and I'm sure no-one else will notice!
All the above comments about language and punctuation are of course personal preference, though, and I'm sure people have had similar thoughts about my OWN writing.
All said, it's a good story, and it held my attention enough that I wanted to keep reading to find out what happens next.
I might just pick up the next story in the series!
I have to say it's not really what I expected. I rather expected the title to be more metaphorical, that it would be a thriller with only passing hints (at best) at Christianity. What I got was something deeply entrenched in Christian history and tradition (and some extra bits made up and thrown in). Don't get me wrong, that's not a bad thing!
Aspects of the story reminded me very much of Indiana Jones (only with a female protagonist), as the heroine goes on an epic quest to retrieve the twelve stones of the Apostles before time runs out. Along the way, we're treated to descriptions of some of the most beautiful and historically significant places in Christianity, and told a little of the history of each.
She's helped along the way by ARKANE, an international organisation dedicated to the preservation and understanding of relics from all sorts of faiths. Another strong image that kept popping into my head was at the descriptions of ARKANE's vaults and electronic library, where I couldn't help thinking of the television show, Warehouse 13.
I enjoyed the story, and found the premise to be quite believable. Penn definitely did her research for this one, and her degree in Theology is evident in her knowledge (rather, her protagonist's knowledge) of the places and their histories.
I just found the writing to be a little... amateurish. For one, my brain kept inserted comma's where there were none (but in my mind, should've been), and I sometimes did have to do double-takes to understand what was being said, when a comma would've made all the difference! The author's uses of the pronouns "he" and "she" is also confusing at times, when there are multiple "he"'s in a scene, and it's not immediately obvious which one she's referring to. Ms Penn furthermore has a tendency to over-use the phrase "tears pricked his/her eyes", and I could've used a little more variation in the language.
Finally, I'm not entirely sure why Penn decided to use the US spellings of words like "color" (being British), while using the UK convention for title abbreviations like "Dr" and "Mr". Of course, this last point is just the editor in me coming out, and I'm sure no-one else will notice!
All the above comments about language and punctuation are of course personal preference, though, and I'm sure people have had similar thoughts about my OWN writing.
All said, it's a good story, and it held my attention enough that I wanted to keep reading to find out what happens next.
I might just pick up the next story in the series!
June 6, 2018
During the first Pentecost, each of the disciples were given a stone, which they carried to the ends of the known world imbued with supernatural power of healing and persuasion through the passage of a comet which appeared during Jesus's resurrection. Two groups are interested in gathering the twelve stones together for each group's nefarious purposes before the next Pentecost since the same comet will be above the Earth at that time. Holders of the stones are being killed for the stones they are protecting.
Oxford University psychology professor and former Israeli soldier Morgan Sierra and her twin sister each possess one of the stones given to them by their father. When Morgan's sister and niece are taken hostage by one of the two groups, she agrees to collect the stones in exchange for the hostages. Assisting in this effort by Jake Timber, an agent of ARCANE, a British governmental agency specializing in the paranormal and religious experience. As the two travel from Armenia to Spain to Jerusalem, etc., their efforts are being thwarted by others who don't want the two to gather the stones. Morgan is also being warned that ARCANE's purposes may not be noble either.
Morgan Sierra is a female cross between Indiana Jones and Dan Brown's Robert Langdon. I found it interesting that the protagonist was the stronger of twins who is seeking the stones to rescue her sister while the antagonist is the stronger of twins who is seeking the stones to heal his schizophrenic brother. Although I thought the narrator of this fun read adequately portrayed the various characters, I thought her rate of speech too fast during time of non-suspenseful narration. I kept expecting suspense when it was actually lulls in the story.
Oxford University psychology professor and former Israeli soldier Morgan Sierra and her twin sister each possess one of the stones given to them by their father. When Morgan's sister and niece are taken hostage by one of the two groups, she agrees to collect the stones in exchange for the hostages. Assisting in this effort by Jake Timber, an agent of ARCANE, a British governmental agency specializing in the paranormal and religious experience. As the two travel from Armenia to Spain to Jerusalem, etc., their efforts are being thwarted by others who don't want the two to gather the stones. Morgan is also being warned that ARCANE's purposes may not be noble either.
Morgan Sierra is a female cross between Indiana Jones and Dan Brown's Robert Langdon. I found it interesting that the protagonist was the stronger of twins who is seeking the stones to rescue her sister while the antagonist is the stronger of twins who is seeking the stones to heal his schizophrenic brother. Although I thought the narrator of this fun read adequately portrayed the various characters, I thought her rate of speech too fast during time of non-suspenseful narration. I kept expecting suspense when it was actually lulls in the story.
January 10, 2016
The 12 Pentecost stones have been hidden for 2,000 years, but don't worry, our heroes find them all in a couple of days time.
October 27, 2020
This was a fun ride and moved along nicely It is kind of Indiana Jones light.
Solid characters that are well developed and had some depth. I have personally visited many of the scenes and the author described them precisely
It was truly fast paced. It jumped off the starting blocks right into the plot quickly. Plus, I remained interested throughout.
The plot was a superb mix of history, religion, science and pure fiction. Most importantly, the story seems believable even though the author states it is fiction. I appreciated the emphasis on Fiction so I could take off my theological hat and just enjoy it.
I recommend this book
Solid characters that are well developed and had some depth. I have personally visited many of the scenes and the author described them precisely
It was truly fast paced. It jumped off the starting blocks right into the plot quickly. Plus, I remained interested throughout.
The plot was a superb mix of history, religion, science and pure fiction. Most importantly, the story seems believable even though the author states it is fiction. I appreciated the emphasis on Fiction so I could take off my theological hat and just enjoy it.
I recommend this book
July 8, 2016
I usually try very hard to find something good to say about every book I review; however, I found little to recommend about J.F. Penn’s “Stone of Fire” book. It’s free; the concept is interesting…did I mention that it’s free?
Despite all the hype that Ms. Penn issues regarding her novels, I was far from impressed with this book. The premise was interesting: stones from the Pentecost that might contain mystical powers. However, the writing was less than stellar…in fact, it was barely adequate.
During the first third of the book, the plot and story were so thin that the framework she was building for the book was easily visible. It was like sitting in the audience of an amateur drama and watching the actors mill around while the stage hands pushed and pulled the various sets around. The characters were undefined and unclear as was the plot and the story. Someone told her she needed to have something dramatic happen in chapters 1, 3 and 5, so she focused on making that occur, whether those occurrences worked within the framework she was struggling to build or not.
About mid-point, the author finally seemed to have figured out the plot and the story started to come together. Unfortunately, she still hadn’t defined her characters. In fact, they were so ill-defined that she couldn’t even keep the POV straight. A paragraph would start out with Morgan’s POV (the female protagonist) but end with Jake’s (the male protagonist). And if the author can’t tell one character from another, how are we, the readers, supposed to? The mixed POV’s continued throughout the rest of the book, leaving me distanced and struggling to care about these characters at all. The only character that the author seemed to know and understand, and that I enjoyed, was the clergyman, Ben. However, we only got his POV for about one chapter.
In the last third of the book, Ms. Penn seemed to have finally figured out the basics of storytelling; however, she still couldn’t seem to determine whose POV she was using as we drifted from head to head, sometimes even mid-sentence. The ending was as weak as the overall book was poorly written. And the author added an addendum, which was her way of “fixing” the story so that it could become a series.
Overall, I would give this story a half-star (if only for its original premise), but since that’s not allowed in Amazon or Goodreads, I will give it one star with the note that it is half a star too much.
Despite all the hype that Ms. Penn issues regarding her novels, I was far from impressed with this book. The premise was interesting: stones from the Pentecost that might contain mystical powers. However, the writing was less than stellar…in fact, it was barely adequate.
During the first third of the book, the plot and story were so thin that the framework she was building for the book was easily visible. It was like sitting in the audience of an amateur drama and watching the actors mill around while the stage hands pushed and pulled the various sets around. The characters were undefined and unclear as was the plot and the story. Someone told her she needed to have something dramatic happen in chapters 1, 3 and 5, so she focused on making that occur, whether those occurrences worked within the framework she was struggling to build or not.
About mid-point, the author finally seemed to have figured out the plot and the story started to come together. Unfortunately, she still hadn’t defined her characters. In fact, they were so ill-defined that she couldn’t even keep the POV straight. A paragraph would start out with Morgan’s POV (the female protagonist) but end with Jake’s (the male protagonist). And if the author can’t tell one character from another, how are we, the readers, supposed to? The mixed POV’s continued throughout the rest of the book, leaving me distanced and struggling to care about these characters at all. The only character that the author seemed to know and understand, and that I enjoyed, was the clergyman, Ben. However, we only got his POV for about one chapter.
In the last third of the book, Ms. Penn seemed to have finally figured out the basics of storytelling; however, she still couldn’t seem to determine whose POV she was using as we drifted from head to head, sometimes even mid-sentence. The ending was as weak as the overall book was poorly written. And the author added an addendum, which was her way of “fixing” the story so that it could become a series.
Overall, I would give this story a half-star (if only for its original premise), but since that’s not allowed in Amazon or Goodreads, I will give it one star with the note that it is half a star too much.
June 26, 2012
It's been awhile since I've read a thriller and I was looking for an enthralling one. Sadly, this was not the case here. I had one too many problems with Pentecost and it seemed like every time I got over one, another one popped up or returned.
For example, in the beginning, there were some interesting ideas that I wanted to think or learn about. I never got a chance because the sentences were really long and kept going, along with these huge paragraphs of description, which felt like everything was being crammed in, and both of those together made for a tiring read. That eventually disappeared when characters started talking, but other problems arose.
I didn't know how many sides there were. I thought there were four after the stones but then three and soon back to four. The villain was more laughable and stereotypical than anything else. There should have been more time focused on him or especially the sister and niece. I didn't care about them at all. It reminded me of all these shows and movies where they harm, kill, or kidnap the hero's family but you don't care because you've never spent any time with them.
Speaking of the hero, I liked her...until the ending. She was strong, smart, and beautiful but at the end she was just too naive. It was predictable what happened. I didn't mind that but I expected her to be smarter about it and expected it to happen.
However, my biggest problem is that the middle of the book just sagged. That's probably the worse thing a thriller can do. It dragged for a couple of reasons. There were far too many stones. It would have different if they each had their own power ala Jackie Chan Adventures. Or maybe if there was one special artifact like Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Or if there was just less of them it would have been better.
The ending kind of had me intrigued but I doubt I'll continue this series.
For example, in the beginning, there were some interesting ideas that I wanted to think or learn about. I never got a chance because the sentences were really long and kept going, along with these huge paragraphs of description, which felt like everything was being crammed in, and both of those together made for a tiring read. That eventually disappeared when characters started talking, but other problems arose.
I didn't know how many sides there were. I thought there were four after the stones but then three and soon back to four. The villain was more laughable and stereotypical than anything else. There should have been more time focused on him or especially the sister and niece. I didn't care about them at all. It reminded me of all these shows and movies where they harm, kill, or kidnap the hero's family but you don't care because you've never spent any time with them.
Speaking of the hero, I liked her...until the ending. She was strong, smart, and beautiful but at the end she was just too naive. It was predictable what happened. I didn't mind that but I expected her to be smarter about it and expected it to happen.
However, my biggest problem is that the middle of the book just sagged. That's probably the worse thing a thriller can do. It dragged for a couple of reasons. There were far too many stones. It would have different if they each had their own power ala Jackie Chan Adventures. Or maybe if there was one special artifact like Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Or if there was just less of them it would have been better.
The ending kind of had me intrigued but I doubt I'll continue this series.
October 27, 2011
I really enjoyed this debut thriller from the multi-talented Joanna Penn. The first in a projected series of thrillers based on religious and cultural history, it features an engaging heroine in Morgan Sierra, a secretive underground organization and some creepy villains.
The book is a little like a Dan Brown novel but with better writing. The action moves from one exotic locale to another but you'll be surprised just how much you learn about early church history along the way.
It kept me going until the last page and I'm looking forward to the sequel, Prophecy. Highly recommended.
The book is a little like a Dan Brown novel but with better writing. The action moves from one exotic locale to another but you'll be surprised just how much you learn about early church history along the way.
It kept me going until the last page and I'm looking forward to the sequel, Prophecy. Highly recommended.
June 5, 2017
I think I picked up STONE OF FIRE at exactly the right moment. After a week filled with dark and distressing headlines, it was a fantastic relief to immerse myself in a piece of sheer escapism.
That’s what it is at its core – unpretentious escapist fun. It’s just happy whisking you from exotic locale to exotic locale, asking you to cling on to its helter-skelter spirit of adventure and not look back. Whisked together in its story of powerful ephemera from Jesus’s time, are an Oxford academic with military skills, a secret organisation, another secret (but more evil) organisation, and a mad American billionaire with a diabolical scheme. The whole thing is preposterous, but undeniably gripping in its bonkers way.
This week Roger Moore also died, the kind of news which, when it broke in context of Tuesday, made me feel how lucky and incredible it is that some people get to live to eighty-nine and have full and rich lives. But STONE OF FIRE, as well as stealing me away from the horrible headlines, also seemed like a strange tribute to him.
To describe this book succinctly, it’s basically a Roger Moore James Bond film with a thick topping of religious Macguffins.
If you get chance, please visit my blog for book, TV and film reviews - as well as whatever else takes my fancy - at frjameson.com
LIke my Facebook page
Or follow me on Twitter or Instagram: @frjameson.
That’s what it is at its core – unpretentious escapist fun. It’s just happy whisking you from exotic locale to exotic locale, asking you to cling on to its helter-skelter spirit of adventure and not look back. Whisked together in its story of powerful ephemera from Jesus’s time, are an Oxford academic with military skills, a secret organisation, another secret (but more evil) organisation, and a mad American billionaire with a diabolical scheme. The whole thing is preposterous, but undeniably gripping in its bonkers way.
This week Roger Moore also died, the kind of news which, when it broke in context of Tuesday, made me feel how lucky and incredible it is that some people get to live to eighty-nine and have full and rich lives. But STONE OF FIRE, as well as stealing me away from the horrible headlines, also seemed like a strange tribute to him.
To describe this book succinctly, it’s basically a Roger Moore James Bond film with a thick topping of religious Macguffins.
If you get chance, please visit my blog for book, TV and film reviews - as well as whatever else takes my fancy - at frjameson.com
LIke my Facebook page
Or follow me on Twitter or Instagram: @frjameson.
May 15, 2016
Follow Morgan Sierra as she searches for the Pentecost stones in this thriller about religious relics.
Joanna writes a wonderful and entertaining thriller that should appeal to all readers regardless of their faith or views on religion. Her book has a lovely mix of fact and fiction. There is lots of history and background in this story which is gently explained. You do not need to be a religious scholar to understand what is going on because as this story unfolds, the characters explain both the nature of faith and the importance of the Pentecost stones.
I found Stone of Fire a very interesting read because of all the detail within the plot. Joanna has done a tremendous amount of research to build her story around the Pentecost and this depth is a joy to read. This book works on a number of levels, the concept of faith, conspiracies, secret rooms and societies plus adventure and the thrill of the chase. The whole feel of this book is very similar to the average Dan Brown novel but for all the right reasons.
Stone of Fire was a pleasure to read. I loved the writing style which was very descriptive, educated, informative and with an extensive vocabulary. The whole story was bright and refreshing. It was a very entertaining tale and because I am an Atheist, I found it very funny! Joanna does not poke fun at religion but it made me laugh! She writes a very convincing tale that is verified by lots of detail and background. It was lovely that when the story ends she includes some author notes to explain which parts were fact and which were fiction in case you were confused. She gave me what I want from my reading experience, a refreshing trip into another world and for that I vote her the top score of 5 stars.
I used to read a daily newspaper and did not bother with books. But a passenger left behind a copy of The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown on my coach and I took it on holiday with me in June 2007. I enjoyed reading it so much that I abandoned my daily newspaper and moved onto books instead. I have never looked back and I feel that a novel like Stone of Fire can very easily turn on people and make them want to adopt reading books as a hobby. I view Stone of Fire as a stepping stone for readers to get the bug of a media that can give them years of pleasure.
Joanna writes a wonderful and entertaining thriller that should appeal to all readers regardless of their faith or views on religion. Her book has a lovely mix of fact and fiction. There is lots of history and background in this story which is gently explained. You do not need to be a religious scholar to understand what is going on because as this story unfolds, the characters explain both the nature of faith and the importance of the Pentecost stones.
I found Stone of Fire a very interesting read because of all the detail within the plot. Joanna has done a tremendous amount of research to build her story around the Pentecost and this depth is a joy to read. This book works on a number of levels, the concept of faith, conspiracies, secret rooms and societies plus adventure and the thrill of the chase. The whole feel of this book is very similar to the average Dan Brown novel but for all the right reasons.
Stone of Fire was a pleasure to read. I loved the writing style which was very descriptive, educated, informative and with an extensive vocabulary. The whole story was bright and refreshing. It was a very entertaining tale and because I am an Atheist, I found it very funny! Joanna does not poke fun at religion but it made me laugh! She writes a very convincing tale that is verified by lots of detail and background. It was lovely that when the story ends she includes some author notes to explain which parts were fact and which were fiction in case you were confused. She gave me what I want from my reading experience, a refreshing trip into another world and for that I vote her the top score of 5 stars.
I used to read a daily newspaper and did not bother with books. But a passenger left behind a copy of The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown on my coach and I took it on holiday with me in June 2007. I enjoyed reading it so much that I abandoned my daily newspaper and moved onto books instead. I have never looked back and I feel that a novel like Stone of Fire can very easily turn on people and make them want to adopt reading books as a hobby. I view Stone of Fire as a stepping stone for readers to get the bug of a media that can give them years of pleasure.
January 14, 2014
As found on Pen and Muse
Secret KJ fact: I am OBSESSED with the Indiana Jones movies. (Not counting the last one, because no.) So the thought of reading a book with a character like Indiana Jones, but female had me bouncing for joy. I didn’t always relate to her, but I did admire her. I’m drawn to novels with strong female protagonists, and found Morgan Sierra to fit the bill. Morgan Sierra is pretty kick-ass…or at least she used to be before she gave up her Special-Ops life to live a more quiet life in England. Funny thing about living a quiet life is no one ever expects you to have a past. What I loved most about Morgan is that she’s an intelligent heroine – I didn’t spend the novel yelling at her actions, or cursing her choices.
If a female Indiana Jones met THE DA VINCI CODE, you’d get PENTECOST. It’s an exciting opening to a series, but would work well enough as a stand alone as well. (You guys know how I feel about that!) Like The Da Vinci Code, the story is woven through religious history, creating a fictional prophecy that needs to be unraveled so that the heroine can save the day – and her family. This blend of fact and fiction seems to heighten the feel of adventure in the story for the reader.
While being a story involving religion, religion doesn’t become a central theme. There’s no browbeating, preaching, or really any hints of what the author’s personal religious beliefs are. I found this important – and impressive – as I can’t read any book that feels like the author is preaching to me, whether I agree or not.
High paced action? Check.
Strong, well-crafted characters? Check.
Adventure and excitement? Check.
Romance? Check.
All and all, I’d call this an intellectually exciting read. I had a hard time putting this book down – even when I had to read books that I had specific deadlines for.
Secret KJ fact: I am OBSESSED with the Indiana Jones movies. (Not counting the last one, because no.) So the thought of reading a book with a character like Indiana Jones, but female had me bouncing for joy. I didn’t always relate to her, but I did admire her. I’m drawn to novels with strong female protagonists, and found Morgan Sierra to fit the bill. Morgan Sierra is pretty kick-ass…or at least she used to be before she gave up her Special-Ops life to live a more quiet life in England. Funny thing about living a quiet life is no one ever expects you to have a past. What I loved most about Morgan is that she’s an intelligent heroine – I didn’t spend the novel yelling at her actions, or cursing her choices.
If a female Indiana Jones met THE DA VINCI CODE, you’d get PENTECOST. It’s an exciting opening to a series, but would work well enough as a stand alone as well. (You guys know how I feel about that!) Like The Da Vinci Code, the story is woven through religious history, creating a fictional prophecy that needs to be unraveled so that the heroine can save the day – and her family. This blend of fact and fiction seems to heighten the feel of adventure in the story for the reader.
While being a story involving religion, religion doesn’t become a central theme. There’s no browbeating, preaching, or really any hints of what the author’s personal religious beliefs are. I found this important – and impressive – as I can’t read any book that feels like the author is preaching to me, whether I agree or not.
High paced action? Check.
Strong, well-crafted characters? Check.
Adventure and excitement? Check.
Romance? Check.
All and all, I’d call this an intellectually exciting read. I had a hard time putting this book down – even when I had to read books that I had specific deadlines for.
May 31, 2012
Morgan Sierra, an Oxford psychologist and former Israeli Army conscript, finds herself the target of an attack by a shadowy group of religious fanatics known as Thanatos. Her sister and niece are kidnapped by another religious whacko and Morgan is left to save everyone. Luckily, a military hunk from a long forgotten branch of the English bureaucracy called ARKANE offers a helping hand. Sorta. We understand early on that ARKANE and Morgan have differing end games planned. Nonetheless, they work together to solve ancient riddles and take on the bad guys. Until he walks out on her. The scum.
Joanna Penn achieves what Steve Berry dreams of, a thriller that takes the reader deep into remote locations, ancient myths, and local histories with a passionate, compelling voice. Where Steve Berry’s passages read like a travelogue, Ms. Penn flows like an adventure with an enthusiastic guide. No doubt this is due to her Masters in Theology and her love of psychology. She uses her knowledge to flesh out a thriller with real details lovingly told. And oddly it is not a religious book.
For a full review, visit Review of Pentecost on SeeleyJames.com
Joanna Penn achieves what Steve Berry dreams of, a thriller that takes the reader deep into remote locations, ancient myths, and local histories with a passionate, compelling voice. Where Steve Berry’s passages read like a travelogue, Ms. Penn flows like an adventure with an enthusiastic guide. No doubt this is due to her Masters in Theology and her love of psychology. She uses her knowledge to flesh out a thriller with real details lovingly told. And oddly it is not a religious book.
For a full review, visit Review of Pentecost on SeeleyJames.com
January 31, 2024
New series…not as good as I was hoping it to be. Hopefully next two books are better
April 18, 2012
Pentecost is Joanna Penn’s debut thriller novel and it’s a good one.
The hero, Morgan Sierra, is a biblical scholar and an Oxford trained clinical psychologist. Before becoming an academic she was a member of the Israeli Defense Forces, where she was trained in combat and uses the self-defense art of Krav Maga to kick some serious ass in this fast-paced religious thriller.
Morgan and her sister are keepers of two of the 12 Pentecost stones once carried by the Apostles. The stones came from the rock that covered the tomb of Jesus and together the stones are believed to hold incredible mystical powers.
Morgan’s sister and niece are kidnapped by Joseph Everett, a wealthy and sadistic madman, who wants Morgan to find the rest of the stones and bring them to him – so he can use their power to resurrect his dying brother.
This mission sends her on a globe-hopping, rollercoaster ride of adventures, tracing the footsteps of the Apostles, to find the stones of the Pentecost – before her sister and niece are sacrificed.
She’s aided by Jake Timber from the ARKANE group, a secret British government agency. They specialize in locating powerful paranormal and religious objects, and keeping them safe from other groups like Thanatos (the Greek personification of death), who seek to use the stones for their own evil ends.
Joanna Penn’s passion for the subject is evident by the in-depth research she conducted to craft this story. Given the rich descriptions of places in the story, it’s obvious she’s been to many of them.
As you read the book you’ll feel influences of Dan Brown thrillers and Indiana Jones adventures. The characters are richly drawn and stand out every bit as much as those in Clive Cussler novels. Pentecost will definitely appeal to all thriller fans.
The story is immediately engaging and has you caring not only for the main character, but even finding sympathy for the antagonist. It hits the right plot points and has some good twists and is well-paced, increasing in intensity right to the explosive ending.
This was a very solid first effort, and I can only imagine the novelist Joanna will evolve into as she continues to thrill her fans. I can hardly wait to see what adventures Morgan faces in Joanna’s new thriller Prophecy.
Pentecost is a real pager turner. Get it, read it and you too will become a fan.
The hero, Morgan Sierra, is a biblical scholar and an Oxford trained clinical psychologist. Before becoming an academic she was a member of the Israeli Defense Forces, where she was trained in combat and uses the self-defense art of Krav Maga to kick some serious ass in this fast-paced religious thriller.
Morgan and her sister are keepers of two of the 12 Pentecost stones once carried by the Apostles. The stones came from the rock that covered the tomb of Jesus and together the stones are believed to hold incredible mystical powers.
Morgan’s sister and niece are kidnapped by Joseph Everett, a wealthy and sadistic madman, who wants Morgan to find the rest of the stones and bring them to him – so he can use their power to resurrect his dying brother.
This mission sends her on a globe-hopping, rollercoaster ride of adventures, tracing the footsteps of the Apostles, to find the stones of the Pentecost – before her sister and niece are sacrificed.
She’s aided by Jake Timber from the ARKANE group, a secret British government agency. They specialize in locating powerful paranormal and religious objects, and keeping them safe from other groups like Thanatos (the Greek personification of death), who seek to use the stones for their own evil ends.
Joanna Penn’s passion for the subject is evident by the in-depth research she conducted to craft this story. Given the rich descriptions of places in the story, it’s obvious she’s been to many of them.
As you read the book you’ll feel influences of Dan Brown thrillers and Indiana Jones adventures. The characters are richly drawn and stand out every bit as much as those in Clive Cussler novels. Pentecost will definitely appeal to all thriller fans.
The story is immediately engaging and has you caring not only for the main character, but even finding sympathy for the antagonist. It hits the right plot points and has some good twists and is well-paced, increasing in intensity right to the explosive ending.
This was a very solid first effort, and I can only imagine the novelist Joanna will evolve into as she continues to thrill her fans. I can hardly wait to see what adventures Morgan faces in Joanna’s new thriller Prophecy.
Pentecost is a real pager turner. Get it, read it and you too will become a fan.
July 14, 2017
I downloaded Stone of Fire after avidly reading the Creative Pennfor a few months. I am a big fan of Penn's non-fiction titles, so I was quite eager to read her first novel.
I am not rating because of the writing or the plot.
I began reading knowing that this was her first novel, and I figured the writing may not be as strong as it is now.
What ruined the experience for me was the background for her main character. As someone who has been studying the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for almost ten years, has read from both sources, has spoken with Israelis, Palestinians and third party sources, this book has only left a bitter taste in my mouth.
While the character is semi-believable, albeit the repetitious mentioning of Israel in the first two chapters alone was enough to set me off. The "melting pot of religions" comment is less applicable now than in pre-1900 and pre-1947, before it became an exclusively Jewish state.
The overemphasis on the "exotic" nature of the protagonist and the lack of nuance about such a background forced me to put the book down prematurely. I was disappointed, as I am fascinated by theology, especially the original Judaic Kabbalah, and I really wanted to support an author whose other works I enjoy.
Unfortunately, the lack of research and poise in dealing with such a character really turned me off. It appears that I will have to stick to her non-fiction for now on.
I am not rating because of the writing or the plot.
I began reading knowing that this was her first novel, and I figured the writing may not be as strong as it is now.
What ruined the experience for me was the background for her main character. As someone who has been studying the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for almost ten years, has read from both sources, has spoken with Israelis, Palestinians and third party sources, this book has only left a bitter taste in my mouth.
While the character is semi-believable, albeit the repetitious mentioning of Israel in the first two chapters alone was enough to set me off. The "melting pot of religions" comment is less applicable now than in pre-1900 and pre-1947, before it became an exclusively Jewish state.
The overemphasis on the "exotic" nature of the protagonist and the lack of nuance about such a background forced me to put the book down prematurely. I was disappointed, as I am fascinated by theology, especially the original Judaic Kabbalah, and I really wanted to support an author whose other works I enjoy.
Unfortunately, the lack of research and poise in dealing with such a character really turned me off. It appears that I will have to stick to her non-fiction for now on.
April 9, 2013
This is the perfect book for vacation. It entertains, yet doesn't demand too much. Reading it made me wish I was at the beach - not because it is set at the beach, but because it's exactly the kind of book I'd read while at the beach.
Joanna Penn has been compared frequently to Dan Brown, and it's an apt comparison. Pentecost is action-packed, with the main characters circling the globe in about a week. There are bad guys, good guys, and secrets unrevealed.
My main criticism is that one of the bad guys is a fairly unbelievable character. He is an extremely wealthy politician who is insane and kills people regularly. He grew up abused but somehow got very wealthy and obtained a position of power. It's not that I don't believe that politicians can be crazy, or that I don't believe they can kill people, it's just that all of those factors together create a character who is not likely to exist.
But, like watching an action movie, a certain suspension of disbelief is required to enjoy this book - as I said, it's the sort of entertaining book that you don't think too much about. If you like action movies, Dan Brown, history sprinkled throughout your exciting adventures - grab a margarita and kick back beside the pool with Pentecost.
Joanna Penn has been compared frequently to Dan Brown, and it's an apt comparison. Pentecost is action-packed, with the main characters circling the globe in about a week. There are bad guys, good guys, and secrets unrevealed.
My main criticism is that one of the bad guys is a fairly unbelievable character. He is an extremely wealthy politician who is insane and kills people regularly. He grew up abused but somehow got very wealthy and obtained a position of power. It's not that I don't believe that politicians can be crazy, or that I don't believe they can kill people, it's just that all of those factors together create a character who is not likely to exist.
But, like watching an action movie, a certain suspension of disbelief is required to enjoy this book - as I said, it's the sort of entertaining book that you don't think too much about. If you like action movies, Dan Brown, history sprinkled throughout your exciting adventures - grab a margarita and kick back beside the pool with Pentecost.
February 7, 2011
Mix history, fast-action and fiction together and you get Joanna Penn's debut novel, Pentecost. Each page prompts you to turn to the next one, making it difficult for you to put this book down. This thriller is set in the Christian history that most are familiar with, but takes a new look at it through the author's creative and intriguing fiction that is woven throughout the story. The characters, plot and action weave together keep your interest piqued on every page. A lot of comparisons have been made to Indiana Jones, Lora Croft, The Da Vinci Code, and others, but Penn has created an entertaining work that stands on its own. I sincerely hope that Pentecost is the first of many fast-paced thrillers from this debut author.
Read
February 28, 2022DNF at 50%
Wow, I didn’t know I started this one back in January 🤣 It was not catching my attention and it’s kinda obvious as I took over a month to decide to DNF.
It’s very Dan Brown like but somehow I wasn’t feeling it and kept starting other books instead. Maybe I’m over my Dan Brown phase
Wow, I didn’t know I started this one back in January 🤣 It was not catching my attention and it’s kinda obvious as I took over a month to decide to DNF.
It’s very Dan Brown like but somehow I wasn’t feeling it and kept starting other books instead. Maybe I’m over my Dan Brown phase
October 11, 2011
I followed the author a while back and was really excited to be offered a free review copy.
Despite some minor copyediting problems, I really enjoyed this book. While I knew the stones were a fictional device, I was content to suspend my disbelief. The adventure moved along so quickly that I read the book in about twelve hours--including taking time off to be a mom. It's Da Vinci Code meets Indiana Jones.
Unlike the author, I do not have an advanced degree in Theology, but I was able to follow and buy the logic and history. Several of the exotic locales were described very vividly (I wasn't surprised to learn the author had actually been there).
I did want Morgan to find truth. (Side argument: If you recall, in the Last Crusade, Dr. Jones tells his class, "Archaeology is the search for fact . . . not truth. If it's truth you're looking for, Dr. Tyree's philosophy class is right down the hall." And at the end of the movie, his father asks him, "What did you find, Junior?" Indy avoids the question, but my theory is that he found truth.) I wonder if that might be her journey over the course of the series--and that's something I'd like to see. I found it interesting that her Judaism seldom factored into the plot, or her viewpoint.
The villain was a bit over-the-top maniacal (again, perhaps a pitfall of the genre).
The copyediting problems: the characters addressed one another by name a lot. In some scenes, they called each other by name nearly every line. And as if that wasn't annoying enough, the names were almost never set off by commas. An American villain used a few Commonwealth phrases. There was a tiny tendency toward "As you know, Bob," dialogue (two characters discussing something they both know in detail), which is a common pitfall in this genre.
A few Hollywood moments made me balk: tazers cannot paralyze you for ten minutes after contact; though you will definitely react, a bullet graze to a shoulder will not make you spin around; shooting something out of someone's hand is a one in a million shot.
I'll probably pick up the sequel to this fun, fast, and pretty darn clean read.
Despite some minor copyediting problems, I really enjoyed this book. While I knew the stones were a fictional device, I was content to suspend my disbelief. The adventure moved along so quickly that I read the book in about twelve hours--including taking time off to be a mom. It's Da Vinci Code meets Indiana Jones.
Unlike the author, I do not have an advanced degree in Theology, but I was able to follow and buy the logic and history. Several of the exotic locales were described very vividly (I wasn't surprised to learn the author had actually been there).
I did want Morgan to find truth. (Side argument: If you recall, in the Last Crusade, Dr. Jones tells his class, "Archaeology is the search for fact . . . not truth. If it's truth you're looking for, Dr. Tyree's philosophy class is right down the hall." And at the end of the movie, his father asks him, "What did you find, Junior?" Indy avoids the question, but my theory is that he found truth.) I wonder if that might be her journey over the course of the series--and that's something I'd like to see. I found it interesting that her Judaism seldom factored into the plot, or her viewpoint.
The villain was a bit over-the-top maniacal (again, perhaps a pitfall of the genre).
The copyediting problems: the characters addressed one another by name a lot. In some scenes, they called each other by name nearly every line. And as if that wasn't annoying enough, the names were almost never set off by commas. An American villain used a few Commonwealth phrases. There was a tiny tendency toward "As you know, Bob," dialogue (two characters discussing something they both know in detail), which is a common pitfall in this genre.
A few Hollywood moments made me balk: tazers cannot paralyze you for ten minutes after contact; though you will definitely react, a bullet graze to a shoulder will not make you spin around; shooting something out of someone's hand is a one in a million shot.
I'll probably pick up the sequel to this fun, fast, and pretty darn clean read.
August 3, 2015
Book 1, in the Arkane series
Also under the title “Pentecost”
This fast-paced and highly imaginative story weaves a mix of Indiana Jones thrilling action into a tale that explores ancient myths and religion à la Dan Brown.
“Stone of Fire” brings Morgan Sierra, a knowledgeable Oxford individual with an Israeli Special forces background to work with Jake Timber, a handsome Arkane operative, their quest is to find the twelve “Pentecost stones” taken from the tomb of Jesus Christ by the apostles. The stones are alleged to have great power and at least two other groups will go to any lengths to get hold of them also….and the chase takes us on a global trip from India to England, from Italy to Tunisia and from Iran to the US.
Not at all what I expected not to say I didn’t like being push along while being informed at the same time. Ms. Penn is a master in religious information and her vivid descriptions of cathedrals, basilicas and the settings are what brought life to this thriller. This book is a highly fictionalized mishmash of unbelievable occurrences. Although the pacing is right and overall well told my mind still wandered through many parts. I simply got lost in the redundancy and the similarity with other books. The characterization is interesting but really clichéd. The dialogue lacked the sharpness expected in heated moments. Although this story does not make it in my best book of the year list it still offered some great entertainment. It is a kind of story preferable not to take too seriously……
Also under the title “Pentecost”
This fast-paced and highly imaginative story weaves a mix of Indiana Jones thrilling action into a tale that explores ancient myths and religion à la Dan Brown.
“Stone of Fire” brings Morgan Sierra, a knowledgeable Oxford individual with an Israeli Special forces background to work with Jake Timber, a handsome Arkane operative, their quest is to find the twelve “Pentecost stones” taken from the tomb of Jesus Christ by the apostles. The stones are alleged to have great power and at least two other groups will go to any lengths to get hold of them also….and the chase takes us on a global trip from India to England, from Italy to Tunisia and from Iran to the US.
Not at all what I expected not to say I didn’t like being push along while being informed at the same time. Ms. Penn is a master in religious information and her vivid descriptions of cathedrals, basilicas and the settings are what brought life to this thriller. This book is a highly fictionalized mishmash of unbelievable occurrences. Although the pacing is right and overall well told my mind still wandered through many parts. I simply got lost in the redundancy and the similarity with other books. The characterization is interesting but really clichéd. The dialogue lacked the sharpness expected in heated moments. Although this story does not make it in my best book of the year list it still offered some great entertainment. It is a kind of story preferable not to take too seriously……
December 13, 2014
Morgan Sierra finds herself with very little time to gather 12 pieces of stone before a comet passes over Earth on Pentecost and her sister and niece are hurt. Or worse!
The stones, believed to have once been with the 12 Apostles on the first Pentecost, are wanted by many people and not all for good reasons. If Morgan can't gather them all and avoid the dangers of such a task then it won't be just her and her sister's family in trouble, everyone could be.
This book is action packed from the beginning, with the action coming across as believable. The religious beliefs/myths that surround the events in the book are explained so that they can be read and understood without getting lost in traditions and religious history.
J.F.Penn has got the balance right between giving enough information to explain things whilst managing to to keep the story moving along.
It didn't matter that I am not overly religious, nor that i am a man and the main character is female. Some female characters like Morgan are surrounded by men wanting to rescue them or are portrayed like Lara Croft (Tomb Raider,) but thankfully Morgan has escaped these cliches and is a believable character whose adventure I thoroughly enjoyed reading.
The stones, believed to have once been with the 12 Apostles on the first Pentecost, are wanted by many people and not all for good reasons. If Morgan can't gather them all and avoid the dangers of such a task then it won't be just her and her sister's family in trouble, everyone could be.
This book is action packed from the beginning, with the action coming across as believable. The religious beliefs/myths that surround the events in the book are explained so that they can be read and understood without getting lost in traditions and religious history.
J.F.Penn has got the balance right between giving enough information to explain things whilst managing to to keep the story moving along.
It didn't matter that I am not overly religious, nor that i am a man and the main character is female. Some female characters like Morgan are surrounded by men wanting to rescue them or are portrayed like Lara Croft (Tomb Raider,) but thankfully Morgan has escaped these cliches and is a believable character whose adventure I thoroughly enjoyed reading.
June 3, 2022
If I could I would give this 4.5 stars. This was a lot of fun and full of danger and excitement. They traveled to so many exotic locations and it was wonderful to ‘experience’ them. I am sure some won’t enjoy this book because of the religious aspects but I found it all quite fascinating. It was a little Indiana Jones and sure, some of it seemed ridiculous in their narrow escapes and ability to figure out things so quickly despite these stones being hidden for so very long. But suspend your disbelief and this is such a fun ride. I will definitely read the next in the series.
January 10, 2015
I love few things more than a story featuring mystery, history, inventive mythology, great characters, and a jumbo, catering-sized quantity of action (which probably explains why I wrote one myself recently).
JF Penn's Pentecost doesn't disappoint.
Great fun.
- John Bowen is the author of 'Vessel' and 'Where the Dead Walk'. You can find him here on GoodReads, and his published work at Amazon.
JF Penn's Pentecost doesn't disappoint.
Great fun.
- John Bowen is the author of 'Vessel' and 'Where the Dead Walk'. You can find him here on GoodReads, and his published work at Amazon.
January 26, 2015
A engaging read that is laced with action across several destinations, which are the types of books I love. Well researched and thought out, with good character development.
Look forward to reading the second in the series
Look forward to reading the second in the series
August 25, 2011
Very interesting book! Can't wait for the next one!
September 24, 2018
The opening chapter immediately grabbed me and pulled me into the nun Aruna Maria’s plight, setting up the troubles to come.
Morgan is a complex character and I immediately bonded with her – perhaps because we’re both suspicious about coincidences and on guard for danger lurking around every corner. She’s a kick-ass heroine (she used to be in the Israeli military and she’s an Oxford psychologist).
The way the different locations were described made me feel like I’m there – it’s the small details that enrich the world the author created. I like how much research went into finding the essence of each locale.
You never know who the good guys are and who the bad guys are – and even if you guess, there’s something to humanise the supposed bad guy and cast suspicion on the supposed good guy. Just another reason for Morgan not to trust anyone.
There’s a bit too much head-hopping for my taste, but it does move the plot forward.
I liked Jake. His backstory had the ring of truth to it that a lot of stories dealing with South Africans in other countries didn’t. “He had made his peace with death a long time ago, when he had identified the bodies of his butchered family in Walkerville, near Johannesburg. South Africa was a mess of politics and religion wasn’t the only thing that could spark attempted genocide… His mother’s British passport enabled him to join the British military…” Usually a character like Jake would be a South African mercenary who was forced into the SA military at a young age – the authors not taking the time to note that things like that haven’t been the way for almost three decades. Kudos to this author for actually doing research and not writing based on assumptions.
“…ARKANE worked above the law of the land they operated in, hidden by the shadows between what could be proved and that which no one would admit to. In a modern world where ancient faith was now beginning to play an increasingly political role, they were often behind the scenes at the crux of international flash-points. ARKANE were also called in whenever there was a situation that could be called supernatural. The people who worked in the small teams across the globe understood that there are other entities loose in this world, not human, not alien. There is an evil that humans conjure and use against each other even as it stalks their souls. There are words of power that can be used as weapons and a host of unseen things that were better off being denied.”
Brilliant, right? I enjoyed the thriller aspect of this novel, but it is this part – the myths, legends, unseen things – that truly drew me into the story. I like the mix of modern technology and ancient artefacts that come together to create chaos and solve problems. There’s loads to learn about the early Church, feuding sects and secret societies.
I don’t usually read thrillers, but I thought to expand my reading realm by reading this book by Joanna Penn (I love her non-fiction books and website) and I wasn’t disappointed. It is as action-packed and full of thrills as any of my favourite TV series in the same genre. Now I can use the best graphic chip in existence to bring the stories to life: imagination.
This is a book that entertains as well as educates. It has a few exciting twists and turns. It’s also a clean-read. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series – and a new book is coming out next month too!
Morgan is a complex character and I immediately bonded with her – perhaps because we’re both suspicious about coincidences and on guard for danger lurking around every corner. She’s a kick-ass heroine (she used to be in the Israeli military and she’s an Oxford psychologist).
The way the different locations were described made me feel like I’m there – it’s the small details that enrich the world the author created. I like how much research went into finding the essence of each locale.
You never know who the good guys are and who the bad guys are – and even if you guess, there’s something to humanise the supposed bad guy and cast suspicion on the supposed good guy. Just another reason for Morgan not to trust anyone.
There’s a bit too much head-hopping for my taste, but it does move the plot forward.
I liked Jake. His backstory had the ring of truth to it that a lot of stories dealing with South Africans in other countries didn’t. “He had made his peace with death a long time ago, when he had identified the bodies of his butchered family in Walkerville, near Johannesburg. South Africa was a mess of politics and religion wasn’t the only thing that could spark attempted genocide… His mother’s British passport enabled him to join the British military…” Usually a character like Jake would be a South African mercenary who was forced into the SA military at a young age – the authors not taking the time to note that things like that haven’t been the way for almost three decades. Kudos to this author for actually doing research and not writing based on assumptions.
“…ARKANE worked above the law of the land they operated in, hidden by the shadows between what could be proved and that which no one would admit to. In a modern world where ancient faith was now beginning to play an increasingly political role, they were often behind the scenes at the crux of international flash-points. ARKANE were also called in whenever there was a situation that could be called supernatural. The people who worked in the small teams across the globe understood that there are other entities loose in this world, not human, not alien. There is an evil that humans conjure and use against each other even as it stalks their souls. There are words of power that can be used as weapons and a host of unseen things that were better off being denied.”
Brilliant, right? I enjoyed the thriller aspect of this novel, but it is this part – the myths, legends, unseen things – that truly drew me into the story. I like the mix of modern technology and ancient artefacts that come together to create chaos and solve problems. There’s loads to learn about the early Church, feuding sects and secret societies.
I don’t usually read thrillers, but I thought to expand my reading realm by reading this book by Joanna Penn (I love her non-fiction books and website) and I wasn’t disappointed. It is as action-packed and full of thrills as any of my favourite TV series in the same genre. Now I can use the best graphic chip in existence to bring the stories to life: imagination.
This is a book that entertains as well as educates. It has a few exciting twists and turns. It’s also a clean-read. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series – and a new book is coming out next month too!
December 8, 2020
Having just read one book that left me a little cold with its hurtling around the world and death defying antics, I quickly realised that I had started on another one that could be classified in the same way. However, I was a little more intrigued by this one und watched a video put together by the author explaining her background and interests. Those in themselves were fascinating and I read the book with that knowledge in mind.
The author is very well travelled as well as being very highly educated in the areas which she explores in this her first story. She also goes to great lengths at the end to explain some of her reasons for including certain items in her plot. True, there are times when the escape from some situations seem a little too straightforward, but these are offset by the quality of the writing and the solving of clues, the substance of which must have taken some devising.
In the end I found it hard to put down until completed, even though I did have a thought about The ARKANE Vault which Morgan was shown around, being reminded of two television series - "The Librarians" and "Warehouse 13", both of which I had found very entertaining, if a little incredulous at times.
This is a series that I will follow up on for the time being - I hope the author can keep up the research, as described in her video, to enable her to maintain the standard set here.
The author is very well travelled as well as being very highly educated in the areas which she explores in this her first story. She also goes to great lengths at the end to explain some of her reasons for including certain items in her plot. True, there are times when the escape from some situations seem a little too straightforward, but these are offset by the quality of the writing and the solving of clues, the substance of which must have taken some devising.
In the end I found it hard to put down until completed, even though I did have a thought about The ARKANE Vault which Morgan was shown around, being reminded of two television series - "The Librarians" and "Warehouse 13", both of which I had found very entertaining, if a little incredulous at times.
This is a series that I will follow up on for the time being - I hope the author can keep up the research, as described in her video, to enable her to maintain the standard set here.
December 28, 2024
J.F. Penn's 'Stone of Fire' is an entertaining and fast-paced story that follows the main characters on a quest to recover the 'Apostles Stones'. These religious artifacts, allegedly taken from the tomb of Jesus, are imbued with powers derived from the Pentecost, capable of being used for both good and evil.
The narrative takes readers on a whirlwind tour of religious sites around the world, including the Vatican, adding a rich layer of historical and cultural intrigue. However, much like the Indiana Jones movies, the religious elements in 'Stone of Fire' don't delve too deeply. Instead, these artifacts are attributed almost magical powers, and the religious sites serve primarily as dramatic backdrops for the action.
While the stakes and motivations of the characters are clearly outlined, this sometimes comes at the expense of narrative surprise. The predictability of the plot can cause the story to lose momentum, especially in the second half. Nevertheless, Penn's ability to weave intriguing tidbits about ancient history and mythology keeps the reader engaged, even when the story's pace wanes.
Overall, 'Stone of Fire' offers a light and entertaining read that blends action, history, and a dash of the supernatural. It may not challenge you with deep philosophical questions, but it delivers a thrilling adventure that is perfect for a quick escape from reality.
The narrative takes readers on a whirlwind tour of religious sites around the world, including the Vatican, adding a rich layer of historical and cultural intrigue. However, much like the Indiana Jones movies, the religious elements in 'Stone of Fire' don't delve too deeply. Instead, these artifacts are attributed almost magical powers, and the religious sites serve primarily as dramatic backdrops for the action.
While the stakes and motivations of the characters are clearly outlined, this sometimes comes at the expense of narrative surprise. The predictability of the plot can cause the story to lose momentum, especially in the second half. Nevertheless, Penn's ability to weave intriguing tidbits about ancient history and mythology keeps the reader engaged, even when the story's pace wanes.
Overall, 'Stone of Fire' offers a light and entertaining read that blends action, history, and a dash of the supernatural. It may not challenge you with deep philosophical questions, but it delivers a thrilling adventure that is perfect for a quick escape from reality.
June 22, 2018
It has all the makings of a great mystery and I liked it but only liked it.
The characters are interesting and diverse but I just wanted to like them more, care more and to cheer them on. I didn't really feel it for Morgan, Jake, or Faye.
There was so much more Christian history than mystery that I wasn't gripped with a need to see what happened. The ending wasn't a surprise either which is why I gave it two stars.
The characters are interesting and diverse but I just wanted to like them more, care more and to cheer them on. I didn't really feel it for Morgan, Jake, or Faye.
There was so much more Christian history than mystery that I wasn't gripped with a need to see what happened. The ending wasn't a surprise either which is why I gave it two stars.
April 12, 2024
Really didn't care for this one. It was too fast-paced—there wasn't enough description or downtime with the characters to really get invested in the story. I enjoyed the Oxford scenes (I used to live there!) and the setting in general is well-described. But the plot is thin and the violent scenes seem to be used more for shock value and not to move the story arc along. I'm not sure I want to read the others in this series.
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