Field of Blood

Jerusalem's Undead Trilogy #1

by Eric Wilson

Judas hung himself in a place known as the Akeldama or Field of Blood.

But what if his death didn't end his betrayal?

What if his tainted blood seeped deep into the earth, into burial caves, causing a counterfeit resurrection of the dead?

Gina Lazarescu, a Romanian girl with a scarred past, has no idea she is being sought by the undead.

The Collectors, those released from the Akeldama, feed on souls and human blood. But there are also the Nistarim, those who rose from their graves in the shadow of the Nazarene's crucifixion--and they still walk among us, immortal, left to protect mankind.
Gina realizes her future will depend on her understanding of the past, yet how can she protect herself from Collectors who have already died once but still live?

The Jerusalem's Undead Trilogy takes readers on a riveting journey, as imaginative fiction melds with biblical and archaeological history.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Christian, Fantasy, Fiction, Vampires, Paranormal, Horror

416 pages, Paperback

First published October 7, 2008

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Eric Wilson is a retired NY Times bestselling author with 21 published books in over a dozen languages. He wrote fiction (suspense, mystery, supernatural), film novelizations, and nonfiction (biography, memoir, travel).

Eric's books, in order of publication:

Shattered Nerves
(unpublished--written in high school)

Something Suspicious in Bear Flag
(unpublished--written in college)

Dark to Mortal Eyes
Expiration Date
The Best of Evil
A Shred of Truth
Facing the Giants
Flywheel
Fireproof
Field of Blood
Haunt of Jackals
Valley of Bones
One Step Away
Two Seconds Late
Three Fatal Blows (cancelled)
October Baby
The Eagle's Nest (cancelled)
Amelia's Last Secret
Alice Goes the Way of the Maya
Taming the Beast: The Untold Story of Team Tyson
Minutes Before Midnight (cancelled)
Samson
From Chains to Change
American Leftovers
What Are You Going to Do?
Confessions of a Former Prosecutor
Come Back Stronger (date not set)
Through the Storms We Faced (never found publisher)

Reviews

[Elizabeth Dragina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t know what to say.

It was kinda disturbing.

Really interesting.

Cal forever. 😍

Nooooo my Dov 😱😭

Why must u end so abruptly.

Forgiveness is good.

Really, quite disturbing.

ALSO WHO IS WRITING IN THE JOURNAL.

thank u goodbye.

[Ellen Maze · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is worth 5-stars, and it is everything I expected from Eric Wilson. Very realistic origin of the vampire, biblical explanations, great historical background for the evil characters, and believable responses of all people in the story.

I will rate this book a very strong PG-13... I am a little squeamish, though, and some of this was too gritty for me. But it was never gratuitous and always apropos to the action.

Bravo Eric. I wish you continued success with your novels!

Ellen C Maze, author Rabbit:Chasing Beth Rider, a new tale of the undead

[Jenny · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was interested to read a vampire take from a Christian author, and I have to admit it was interesting to say the least. Parts were extremely clever and others were so far out that I actually laughed out loud in a couple of places...

Things I liked...
1. The vampires (or revenants) in the story became so in an interesting way. They are evil spirits called Collectors who inhabit the bodies of humans and try to turn their souls to evil (collect their souls so to speak...). These particular Collectors inhabit the bodies of two families buried under the field where Judas hanged himself. It was his blood dripping into the earth that made this possible.

2. The Collectors can also inhabit animals, insects, etc...Think of the story in the Bible where Jesus casts the spirits out of the swine...

3. The Collectors take on some characteristics, memories and personality traits of the bodies they inhabit.

4. In this book, blood is life and carries the memories and experiences of a person. So when a vampire drinks of your blood, they can learn all about you...who you are, what you have done in your life, etc...

5. Jesus is spoken of as simple "The Nazarene". Those who follow Him are called Those Who Resist and have blood that smells better to the vampires than any other, but if they drink it, they literally burn up from the inside out (think holy water...)

6. No swearing and sexual situations are handled very well...the violence is not extreme, but does offer up some interesting visual images.

7. There is some humor in the story, especially with a bit of poking fun at traditional vampire mythology. Each section of the story begins with a quote from Dracula and a quote from the Bible.

8. The Nistarim are those who rose from their graves after the crucifixion and walk among us, protecting humankind...interesting concept.

Things I didn't like...and some stuff that REALLY bugged me...

1. There is a journal entry at the beginning of each of the sections. We never do find out who is writing them. I HATE THAT! I shouldn't have to read the sequel to find things out. Books should be able to stand on their own, even if they are going to have a sequel...

2. I never really figured out exactly what the Nistarim are and do and why if one of them dies, it will end humanity as we know it. And if they can be replaced, then why not just keep replacing them? I found that plot line to be quite confusing.

3. The main character, Gina, is left alone in a cave at the end of the book. We don't know what is going to happen to her at this point...(SEE #1 for the gripe about unanswered questions)

4. If a vampire bites you, you are infected and any weakness you may have grows inside you like a thorny vine. Interesting concept and I liked the paragraph on page 396 that described it...What I didn't like was that the vampires could literally pull a thorny vine from within you at the spot of the bite and drink blood from the thorns. I mean REALLY??? Not only is that a pretty far out there idea, but that is a really icky visual in my mind...The first time this happened was one of those times I actually laughed out loud.

5. There were so many vampire characters that I had to mark the page on which they were listed so that I could go back and refer to it. By the end of a book, I shouldn't have to still be trying to figure out the minor characters. I had difficulty keeping some of these straight. Maybe because the names of many of them were similar.

6. Even the "good guys" had flaws, which is certainly fine, since it makes them seem human and the reader can relate to them. But I want to be able to like them and see that they have a strong moral compass. I didn't see that with some of the characters in this book.

7. I HATE that I am going to have to read the sequel if I want to have my questions answered...I have not yet decided if I will.

SO overall, interesting and clever take on the vampire myth, if a bit silly and convoluted at times...

[Scott Nicholson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wilson mixes chilling encounters and the supernatural in with real-world faith questions, building an intriguing fictional universe that pulls you in long after you should be sleeping.

[Bruce Judisch · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Field of Blood, the first installment in the Jerusalem’s Undead Trilogy, Mr. Wilson weaves an intricate tapestry comprising two fundamentally strange bedfellows: supernatural terror and Christian spiritual persuasion. I couldn’t avoid the image of Anne Rice straddling the line of salvation—one foot sunk in the mire of the inglorious world of vampires and werewolves, and the other planted on the Rock that rescued her from that world. Yet Mr. Wilson skillfully and thoughtfully reconciles these two genres in a work that both entertains and provokes thought.

Picture the proverbial dark cloud with the silver lining.

The dark cloud is the ethereal world of the Collectors: fallen angels who are bent on ushering in Satan’s alternative to the Final Judgment. The Collectors have no corporeal form of their own, but are constrained to indwell ‘host’ bodies to execute their agenda. Their hope of release from this Separation from the physical lies in the field that absorbed Judas Iscariot’s self-shed blood after his betrayal of Christ. After an ancient tomb in the field is breached by an Israeli construction crew, the Collectors seize the opportunity to invade the crypts and inhabit the ancient bones of those buried beneath the cursed soil. They must sustain these host bodies by ingesting human blood, feeding continually in a vain attempt (Okay, yes, I was tempted to say ‘vein attempt’.) to treat their insatiable thirst. The Collectors exploit the human weaknesses of their victims—pride, self-righteous piety, lust, illusions of self-sufficiency; you know, the stuff you and I fortunately have no problems with—to gain advantage over their victims. All the while they seek to destroy the ‘silver lining’.

The silver lining is the nestarim, thirty-six immortal souls who were raised from the grave at the moment of Christ’s crucifixion, per Matthew’s Gospel. And, much like a full silver lining that traces the entire circumference of the cloud, the nestarim contain the Collectors, engaging in perpetual physical and spiritual battle until God executes His Final Judgment. But the nestarim, too, have their vulnerabilities, and the loss of just one of them will collapse the whole community. Then the lining will fade to nothing. And the dark cloud will become suddenly unrestrained.

Gina, a young girl we first meet in Romania toward the end of Nicolae Caucescu’s regime, is unknowingly one of the nestarim. As such, she becomes the target of a clan of Collectors who have traced her whereabouts from Israel. Inhibited by her mother Nikki, and aided by her mentor Cal—both of whom know of Gina’s heritage—the young Gina suffers from the burden she carries into adulthood without knowing why. Not until an unimaginable tragedy strikes does she understand, accept and assume her role in the battle against Satan’s minions.

Mr. Wilson’s research is impeccable. He displays a remarkable ability for subtlety and surprise in tying Old Testament events (such as the story of Jael and Sisera in the book of Judges), New Testament occurrences (such as the Gospel account of Christ banishing the demons into the herd of swine) and recent events in Israel, the Balkan region, and the United States together for the backdrop of his story.

A caution, however. You won’t be gathering the children around for bedtime stories from these pages. Field of Blood is masterfully contrived, its theme acutely poignant, but it is not light reading. The cloud is very dark, and the silver lining often seems woefully inadequate for its task of containment. Prepare to be frustrated, dismayed, perhaps even a bit annoyed. But those, I believe, are among Mr. Wilson’s intended destinations for his readers, and he delivers us there in style.

As a point of critique, the story flows, but there are moments when the dream hits a speed bump laid by thickness in the prose. That, however, should not dissuade you from reading Field of Blood, if your interests lead you into the darker corners of the supernatural genre. It’s a fascinating tale. I look forward to the next part of the trilogy, due out next summer.

[Smaileh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book as part of a program being run by Thomas Nelson publishers. Bloggers who register with them can get a free book as long as they agree to blog about it. I thought it would be a good challenge for me to write up a book that I might not otherwise pick up to read, and this is the first one I chose. Let me say that I have not read a lot of Christian fiction--when I look for an adult book, I generally head for the mystery section--so the thought of a Christian vampire book was too intriguing to pass up.

An archaeological dig in Jerusalem disturbs an anicent burial place, allowing a group of demons to inhabit and regenerate the bodies inside. These demons are called Collectors; at one point they refer to the time that the Nazarene (they never refer to Christ by name) expelled them from a man and sent them into pigs which were then drowned, apparently referring to the incident related in Mark 5:09-13. Since then they have been trapped in an incorporeal existence and are rather out of touch with the rest of their kind. (Other demons have survived and since moved to Romania, giving rise to the legend of the vampire.) Demons are able to inhabit and possess any living being--human, animal, or insect--but these particular demons, led by Lord Ariston, are the first to be able to revive the dead.

Meanwhile, a young girl named Gina has been raised by her mother in a very remote part of Romania. Gina's mother, Nikki, is ruled by superstitions and Gina is longing to escape her tight reins and to be seen as an independent young woman, not as a little girl. Then one day a man arrives, a man her mother obviously knows, tells them they are in danger and takes them away. They escape to America, change their names and start their new lives. What Gina does not know, what her mother does not want to tell her, is that Gina is an immortal, the daughter of one of the Nistarim, and as such will always be a target of the Collectors.

The events in the book span great distances in time and space, and it is not always clear when the setting jumps. For example, Gina is hit by a truck; she should have been killed but walks away with barely a scratch. Shortly afterwards, her mother refers to the accident as having been two years ago--but there was little indication that that much time had elapsed; I thought it had been a few weeks at most. I found the references to the Nistarim confusing--I am not familiar with the Talmudic tradition of the Nistarim and had to look it up. I am still not clear on how Gina can be the child of a Nistarim but not a Nistarim herself but her child could be one. When it seems as if Dov, a young orphan boy that Gina takes under her wing, is a Nistarim, it is unclear whether he has always been one from birth or has become one. A framing device, of a person reading a letter marked with four drops of blood, and seeing the memories of different characters through these drops of blood, also raises more questions than it answers, but will most likely be addressed in the future books.

On the other hand, I really liked the image of a Collector's bite creating a thorny vine which grows within the victim and the blood that collects in the thorns being a purer form of blood which they find more nourishing. I also liked that the demons find a single, sometimes petty, vice to exploit in their victims, creating a sense of discontent. (It reminded me of C.S. Lewis's The Screwtape Letters, or Peter Cook's devil in the 1967 movie Bedazzled: in both those cases, the devil's most effective work was not the great disasters but the little daily annoyances.) Even Dahlia's self-righteousness was shown as a vanity which could be exploited.

I'm not going to waiting expectantly for the next book in the trilogy, but I will read it to find out what happens next.

[Georgann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was having some trouble at the beginning, when our heroine is being put off and put off by people who should tell her the truth. Off-putting! Heh heh. And she was so disagreeable that I almost liked the vampires better. That all changed somewhere around the middle of the book, and by the end, the vampires were some of the worst I'd ever read! I still felt frustrated with all the loose ends and unfinished stories, but since I got the 3-in-1 bundle on Hoopla from my library, I'm just reading on!

[Derek French · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fictional, but Biblical undertones, akin to this This Present Darkness, of spiritual beings interacting with humans. Now on to the 2nd book

[Jaime H · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Field of Blood" is the first book of Eric Wilson's trilogy, Jerusalem's Undead and boy, was it an exciting premiere to what looks like it's promising to be an amazing trilogy. The book is a mix of symbolism, history, growth, pain, faith, evil, survival, vampires, action and hope.

The book begins with the death of Judas at the Akeldama (Aramaic for Field of Blood) then goes right to the Collectors inhabiting the bodies of 18 members of two different families who are buried in the field of blood. Collectors are essentially vampires, as they feed off the blood of humans. However, they do have a weakness: Those Who Resist. The blood of the Nazarene pumps strongly through their veins.

There is discussion about the Nistarim. Nistarim who are the 36 righteous people. They carry the weight of the world on their shoulders. They carry the pain, the sorrow, the indignation, and all. The Collectors want to destroy the Nistarim. Here is some information from Wikipedia on the Nistarim http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tzadikim...

We are introduced the Gina on the eve of her 12th birthday and finds the mark of the "Tav" on her forehead. Gina has a traumatic childhood spent with a controlling mother who still practices old Jewish traditions of bloodletting. Releasing the sins committed through her blood. Gina is taken from Romania, to the Ukraine and off to the United States as unbeknown to her, she is being chased by the Collectors. Throughout the book, Gina grows. She matures. She suffers heartache over and over again and she becomes a sarcastic, bitter, cynical and angry. Gina is young and has several obstacles to overcome and grow. She also has a special ability, and well that's for you to learn :)

I liked Gina from the beginning. Maybe I connected with her and her heartaches and being a strong woman. I can't wait to read the next book, The Haunts of Jackals. I am betting Gina has a lot more in store.

Another strong character in the book is Cal Nichols. Or just Nickel. He actually has brief moments, but his presence is so strong that he stays ingrained in your memory. Who IS Cal Nichols? Who IS he to Gina? There are so many unanswered questions about him but yet, there is enough near the end that has you saying "Hmmm.. that's what I was thinking but... " Yeah, exactly. Seems like Cal is going to be on the forefront next book.

I really enjoyed Mr. Wilson's writing style. The dialogue is realistic. Gina's cynicism and sarcasm come off the pages and literally makes you think of the annoying angsty teenagers. However, I think that's his point, she is angry, angsty and important. The action jumps from page one and keeps running at a perfect pace throughout the book. If I can actually VISUALIZE the characters, the scenes, and the events, then that, in my book, is good writing. I was able to close my eyes and see Gina, see Cal, see Benyamin, Dov, Lord Ariston, Erota, I could see the battles, and the scenery of Tennessee. There were so many things that I had to look up, let me tell you, that's NOT a bad thing. This book had me doing side reading afterwards, from the online bible to just plain googling. I read it in two days. I wish I didn't have to put it down, not even for one minute.

I suggest picking up the "Field of Blood" and giving it a chance. Eric Wilson gives a new twist on an old subject. I find it refreshing and unique. This book goes to the top of my favorite books list.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could sum this book up in two words: intelligent writing. That is so difficult to find in the Christian Suspense genre that those two words alone make it a worthy read. But, add to that an complex and interesting story-line, and it makes for an excellent read.

This is not your average vampire book. In fact, it's difficult to even know where to start in this review. Wilson uses a mixture of actual historical events and mixes it with a dab of legend and fantasy. What you get is something that almost feels real and plausible. I have to admit, the vampire theme gave me pause at first. I wasn't sure if vampires in Christian fiction would send the book straight to the sacrilegious category or if this book would prove to be just another of the many poorly written stories out there ripped off from cultural tales already told to market to a Twilight-obsessed fan base. It is neither of those. The author has done his research and it is clear in his writing. The way he melds demon possession with the undead works perfectly and I cannot find even a hint of anything sacrilegious.

While I thoroughly enjoyed the book and would highly recommend it, I can imagine that it is not for everyone. I feel obligated to mention a few of the things that might turn some readers off. The book can be a bit confusing. Trying to keep up with all the details, the extensive list of characters, and how it all fits together can be tedious at times. Another area of concern for some might be that there is a bit of a sexual undercurrent in some places with regard to the undead. There is nothing explicitly graphic, however, and I find the believability it adds to be preferable to a story that has been sanitized to the point it is unrealistic.

My only personal complaint is that one of the main characters is sarcastic to a fault. The overuse of sarcasm in all of her conversations starts to make her seem less real and more annoying. Still, on the whole I find the character development quite refreshing. Most of the characters are likeable, and the fact that even the "good guys" are flawed gives depth and believability.

I loved this book enough that I read it in a matter of a couple of days and am excited to continue the trilogy. It is imaginative and entertaining, filled nuance and character.

[Ka · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a strange concept! Eric Wilson claims to have done much research for this trilogy, but there isn't a lot of evidence in the first volume, though there is some. Field of Blood holds some odd, ancient, biblical, or foreign terms that I didn't research. Some explanations are in the text, but they aren't fully satisfying. On the other hand, the plot moves along fast enough that this reader wanted to stay with the unusual characters instead of wandering off to google terms that blend into the story line anyway.

Regina, a.ka. Gina, the protagonist of the novel isn't a very likable person. Since she's mistreated from the moment readers meet her, it's understandable, and it's easy enough to sympathize with her at the very least. In fact, I found myself rooting for her in almost every instance. Her mother, Nicoleta, a.k.a. Nikki, is one of the most dis-likable characters I've ever met. As a mother figure, she's quite disgusting. Her only saving grace is that she tries to save her daughter's life.

Wilson foreshadows each of his chapters with an excerpt from Dracula, and follows that with a Scripture before proceeding to pen his own words. It's an interesting ploy, which adds a certain logic to the work because his undead rise from the unlikely locale of unconsecrated burial place in Jerusalem, one which is tainted with the blood of Judas. They are truly the stuff of nightmares. Unlike Dracula, they operate in the daylight, interact with humanity, wear crosses, and appear to be as normal as any other human around them.

Drawing from the Bible and from classic tales, Field of Blood is gripping, is clearly fiction, is clearly meant to entertain, yet still inserts a touch of Scripture here and there to further captivate the imagination. These undead have returned from the Sea of Galilee and inhabited old, dry, dead bones, given them complete human form. They've taken lives to do this deed, and they are looking for angels on Earth to grant them permanent life. Scary? Yes. Entertaining? Definitely. This reader cannot for volume two to arrive in her mailbox.

[Jill Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A construction crew accidently discovers burial caves on the outskirts of Jerusalem, which turns out to be the Akeldama, the place where Judas Iscariot died. Before the archeologists can arrive to do their thing, the Collectors enter the tombs. The Akeldama Collectors are demon-like beings who have been waiting 2000 years to get at these bones, because bones combined with the blood of Judas that seeped into the soil makes it possible for the Collectors to awaken the dead. Once they each choose a body, they need to feed. Then they need to find and destroy the Nistarim, those immortal beings that rose at the death of the Nazarene to protect mankind.

Gina Lazarescu has managed to break away from her controlling mother and make a life for herself in the States. But when she is hit by a van and hears her body heal itself, the past is dug up again. Could she have a connection to the Nistarim her mother used to talk about, and if so, is she being hunted by the undead?

I have never read such a unique and creative novel from a Christian publisher. I applaud Thomas Nelson for publishing this book. It’s totally creepy—half the book is from the undead (vampire) perspective—so it’s not for everyone. I got a bit confused here and there because the story is action packed and moves right along. I found myself going back to reference characters. There is mild sensuality and violence from the bad guys’ scenes, but there is nothing graphic. If you like vampire stories, characters that are just as flawed as the next guy, and a plot that keeps you guessing, give this one a try. I was very impressed with how Wilson used scripture and history to weave this creative tale. In fact, when I finished reading it, I ran to my Bible to see the scriptures for myself. Pretty cool stuff. Highly recommended (with caution for the creepy factor).

[Marjorie Vawter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to confess that Field of Blood is not a book I would normally read, mostly because of the vampires. In fact, it sat on my to be reviewed pile for several months before I finally read it. And the only reason I did was because I was asked to proofread the second book in this series, Haunt of Jackals. I was so drawn into the story and the characters, I found myself picking up Field of Blood just to get caught up with the backstory. So in essence I read both books at the same time.

The only other vampire book I’ve read is the classic Dracula by Bram Stoker. And Eric Wilson puts an entirely difference spin on his characterization of vampires, putting their lust and evil desires on a more spiritual plain. To me, Wilson’s depiction is more believable to me than Bram Stoker’s.

The premise of Field of Blood and the Jerusalem’s Undead Trilogy is a mixture of truth and fiction. But Eric Wilson’s melding of the two makes even the fiction plausible, given a healthy dose of suspension of belief on the reader’s part. Eric’s characters are real, well-rounded individuals. Even the less savory characters are believable in the context of the story. Lots of research, in-depth and on-site, has gone into this trilogy, giving even more credibility to the story line.

The writing is strong and descriptive. Not only do the characters come alive, but the varied settings do, too. A combination of legend and biblical truth, this first book of the trilogy contains a strong message of spiritual warfare on a much higher level than many of us want to think about. It is a book that demands an open mind to possibilities that might exist beyond our understanding of the spiritual world. Haunt of Jackals releases in July; the final book in the trilogy, Valley of Bones, releases in 2010.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the most interesting books I've ever read. This book starts out with a graphic depiction of the death of Judas. It's his blood that allows for the Collectors to come for many years afterward.

Gina is a young girl who can't understand why her mom cuts her all the time. I thought Nikki was a little neurotic myself and she's not the kind of mom I would want!!

What made this book so interesting is that it's a "Christian vampire" novel. Seems a little oxymoronic! Eric Wilson does a great job of depicting the scenes between Romania and the United States. I loved the rich history described in the book.

These are not your "normal" vampires. I love their method of feeding! It's a bit unique, but not one that I would want to be subject to!

One of my hangups with this book is that I think I got a little to caught up in the symbolism. I am also not a fan of books or movies that switch back and forth from present day to the future, back to the past, and so on. I have a hard time keeping it all straight!!

Character-wise, I HATED Nikki...she's purely evil. I had hoped she'd get her pay back before the book was over. My favorite character is Cal. He's just so mysterious and I hope to see him again in Haunt of the Jackals.

I would give this book an overall 4.5 stars. I will be starting the sequel as soon as I whittle down a few other books for tours this month.

I am an Amazon Associate. I personally purchased this book from Amazon. I receive no monetary compensation for my book reviews.

[Steve Cran]

In a field above the burial place of two families, the traitor, Judas

Iscariot, commits suicide by hanging himself and then plunging a dagger into his

abdomen. His traitorious blood seeps into the ground.THE blood is collected by

the buried bodies nhence th name Akeldama, or Field of Blood. Two thousand plus

years later collectors or fallen angels are wandering the world waiting for

someone to break open the tomb so the cluster of colletors can come and inhabit

the bodies. This does happen when a German working for an Israeli construction

firm accidentallyt break open the tomb. THE collectors then in habit the bodies

and the vampires are born. THeir ffirst victims are a Brazilian worker and the

German worker who broke open the tomb. THeir quwest in to kill the Lamad

vavnikim or Nistarim. Meanwhile in Cuvin Romania Gina is living out her

childhood with a mother inteent on keeping her idnetity hidden. With a special

dagger she cuts out parts of Gina so that she has no memory of certain events..

She has the mark of Tav which marks her as one of the 36 righteous who uphold

the world. Eventually Gina and her mother Nikki leave Romania and setle in

Chattanogga Tenssessee. THe vampires move to Romania and set up their lives in

search of Gina. In AMerica Gina discovers her immortatlity after what should

have been a fatal car accident. She gets married and has a child. A special

child. Event will eventua;lly pull her bacck to Romania got a final showdown

with Ariston head of the vampire cluster.

[Adrienna · Rating 2 out of 5]

In the beginning, I was a little disappointed with this book. I was expecting a fascinating storyline while reading after looking at the cover and the back cover which lays out the synopsis of the book. For me, it did not get interesting until around 200 pages.

Eric Wilson, publisher is Thomas Nelson, Field of Blood uncovers about the "Nazarene Blood: Jesus Christ". There were 36 prophets from Ezekiel 9, during a time when one prophet marked everyone to avoid God's wrath. Supposedly, Judas' blood fell on the place called "the Field of Blood", where these prophets bodies rested under and were raised from the dead on the third day like Christ resurrection, surviving over 2 millenias. These Jews are after a Romania Jews, Nikki and Regina "Gina" Lazarescu meaning "Resurrected from the Dead" since she was marked with the Roman cross, "Crux Commission" on her body at eighteen. Also, speak about "Final Vengeance or Judgement Day", Concealed Ones, and Akeldama Collector who are immortal undead eyes that are able to see those who are lettered (Nazarene Bloodline). A little confused about the Nistarim (believe they are Fallen Ones, angels who were booted out of heaven with Lucifer), but page 250 or so states they are commissioned by Yeshua (Jesus) to protect and confront Those Who Resist. He gives historical artifactual information, but I was looking for the eery parts of vampires. He plans to write a sequel in 2009. NOt sure if I want to raed it if he is like this one! The next book called "Haunt of Jackals" since this book could have been shortened to 200 pages versus 402 pages.

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting start to a vampire series, particularly since it is considered Christian fiction. When picking up Christian fiction, I always worry that it will be too sanitized for a weak constitution, which is annoying when you are the type of Christian who doesn't want to pretend like the "dark side" of life doesn't exist. But this book certainly fits better into urban fantasy than Christian fiction.

The vampires in this book are scary, not sparkly, or alien, or to paraphrase a line out of Nightlight, "better looking than the average person but otherwise completely normal." These vampires, or Collectors, aren't so concerned about sucking blood as much as they are collecting souls of the weak and wreaking havoc in an attempt to hurt the NIstriam, a band of 36 immortals who carry the pain of humanity. If even one Nistriam is destroyed by the Collectors, it ushers in the end of the world.

The most significant problem with this book was that the world building was passed along mostly through inane dialogue. The main characters never got to the point and so you find yourself completely confused as to what is really going on. SPOILER ALERT


At one point you are told Gina is immortal and that all other Nistriam are not immortal, and then you are told that the original 36 Nistriam have been alive since the death of Christ.


I guess I will have to read the next book to figure out what exactly is happening.

[Thomas Wear · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought the second book by accident first at Hastings. When I realized it was the second I bought the first. I then found out the last one wasn't out yet. I waited and agonized for three months until the third one came out. Why would I do that? I had read some of Eric Wilsons books before and absolutely loved them. Facing the Giants for example. I knew that if I got into this story I would want to keep going. I am so glad I waited. I read all three of these books in 8 days. I simply went to work, came home, cooked dinner and read myself to sleep. They were so awesome. I love that the books take something as common as sin and make it into a supernatural force that becomes an addiction of sorts. Eric Wilson wrote the quintessential sin addiction books in these three novels that to me at least is on par with The Pilgrims Progress for allegory material. I very highly recommend the three books in this series. The characters are people you know, your family members and in some cases the characters are you and me. Seeing how each person was tempted and became ensnared just hit home and was the character development was amazing.

[Akeyla Pratt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a bit skeptical of this book at first - being a bit burnt out on the whole vampire thing - but I am so glad I read this. Wilson addresses the concept of vampires biblically (as demons, or "Collectors", inhabiting dead bodies), and he avoids the romanticized image of vampires that has become popular with works like Twilight and the Sookie Stackhouse series. The undead in this work are truly horrific, evil creatures.

Outside of that breath of fresh air, the writing itself is very good, and it flows quickly... the plot never drags or slows down. And this book maintains the genre of horror without giving in to vulgarity, excessive graphic violence, or sex. It is a great story by itself and does not require any of those crutches.

This is a fantastic book, both for Christians and non-Christians alike. It stays true to the spirit of doctrine without being preachy, and doesn't attempt to convert its audience... it's simply a scary story in a more judeo-christian context.

I look forward to reading the next book in the series =).

[Herika Raymer]

Tired of sparkly or emo vampires? Then I definitely suggest Field of Blood!

Inspired by a visit to a specific location in Jerusalem, Akeldama, and by the tales surrounding it, Field of Blood explores lore hitherto unknown or even tried. The vampires of this tale are true predators, devoid of mercy or other weaknesses now written into the monsters. However, they cannot change shape as the Stoker lore suggests. Instead, they are malevolent spirits able to infest and overcome creatures and make them do their bidding.

What are they after? They are after the Concealed Ones, those who bear the woe of the world. If they can kill them, then the world falls into chaos - easy prey for them.

Meet Gina, a Jewish girl with an overprotective mother and an almost overpowering desire to be free of the smothering attitude of her matron. Follow her and learn of the Akeldama Collectors (vampires), of the Concealed Ones, and of her own role in what must happen.

A recommended read!

[Droid · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like the story and setup of this book. However, Wilson writes with such poetry, that at times it can be confusing. He doesn't always say things straight out, rather, he dances around the issue forcing the reader to use his/her imagination. This can make things a little confusing. The book also jumps around location-wise and through time a bit, so its important to pay attention when you're reading, or you'll easily get lost. I think it was a great set-up for the series and a wonderful new twist on the Vampire perspective.

[Darrell Seymour · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author really did his homework on this one!
I loved the book and the characters were fun to follow in the great storyline! I have bought the next book in this series! I don't have as much time to read now I have been in Beekeeping Classes and now working on hives as I build my own! But I will get back to my reading soon, I hope!
I would recommend anyone to read this book if you like christian fiction and don't have a problem with being on the edge of your seat for most all of the time you are reading this one! Just don't fall out of your seat! LOL
Happy reading!
Darrell

[Leslea · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's okay. I'm reading it for Thomas Nelson, so I got it for free. I would not have chosen it from the bookstore or library, but it's better written than a lot of paranormal/urban fantasy is (and it's Christian fiction, so someone must have taken a chance at Thomas Nelson to publish this one).

A lot of the plot/dialogue is predictable, but it's not a total turn-off because the premise is unique.

So far no heavy-handed morality stuff.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Looking forward to the next one. The premise itself is engrossing and Wilson's characters have bite (no pun intended). If I'm being critical, I had no problem setting this book down. There is an awful lot of set up, so the next two novels should be easier to jump into. I would have liked a little more grab and run, if that makes sense. Snatch me up from the first page and keep the pace going. Still, the story is unique and Wilson has given his own version of vampires an interesting twist.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pretty impressed with this start to a new vampire series. The mix of good vs. evil with some Biblical archeology mixed in was a nice twist to the bloodsucker shelf. And the surprise for me was the humor the author throws in. The ending definitely leaves the reader hanging in anticipation of the next novel, yet this is to be expected as it is the first in a trilogy of tales. So now when I get a bit of time I will definitely have to look up the second in the series.

[Jason Reeser · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had great promise, but became bogged down in the middle with a needlessly complex and odd twist that lost the creaztive yet convincing original idea. I gave on it about fifty pages after that. I just couldn't go along for the ride. Too bad, as I enjoyed the first part of it, and thought I had found a series that would be worth my time.

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an amazing journey through history mingled with fantasy. I was so glad to see Christian speculative fiction produce a vampire story that exposes the evil that lurks in a dark world. I have considered the parallels in vampire lore and wondered why no one stepped up and wrote a story like this before. Great book.

[Adrielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this a number of years ago and I have to admit, it is the best series I have ever read involving vampires. There are two sides, good and evil, and they collide in a big way. Even if you aren't a Christian or religious in any respect, this series is imbedded with many little messages. It is meaty and very satisfying, like a good meal.

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't expect to enjoy this too terribly much, but I ended up LOVING it! I got easily pulled in, and I stayed firmly within the pages all the way to the end. It was definitely a different take (at least from what I've seen) on some popular lore, and it was very refreshing to see. Definitely recommend the series (I even expect I'll read it again sometime!)

[Armendia]

I just got a peak at some of my Christmas presents. (It's only me and my oldest brother home and he's not paying very good attention.) I got a good look at book one and two in this series, and I pretty positive my name was on the box... ;-}