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The God Jar
A young couple are scuba diving off the Cornish coast when they find a mysterious object on the seabed. What is it? They soon discover it’s not what it seems and it possesses mysterious powers. Its past is buried in history, and it has links with Queen Elizabeth and the Spanish Armada.
Others hear about their find and will stop at nothing to get it. The couple are hunted, and challenged to their limits until, in a tense climax, they must make a decision that will change the rest of their lives.
The action switches between the present day and Tudor England in this intriguing thriller.
Others hear about their find and will stop at nothing to get it. The couple are hunted, and challenged to their limits until, in a tense climax, they must make a decision that will change the rest of their lives.
The action switches between the present day and Tudor England in this intriguing thriller.
355 pages, Paperback
Published September 20, 2019
4 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
About the author
Phill Featherstone
16 books97 followersPhill Featherstone read English Literature at Cambridge University and followed this with an MA at Leicester University. He taught older teenagers in schools in England before moving into advisory work. After this he and his wife started an educational publishing business, which they ran until it was acquired by Bloomsbury Publishing. Phill alternates between writing, drinking coffee, and playing the saxophone (badly) - not always in that order. He lives in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England with Sally, his wife and partner of more years than they can count.
Phill is the award-winning author of 11 novels and a book of short stories.
'Paradise Girl', Book 1 of Phill's REBOOT trilogy, is set in the northern hills where, amidst the majestic beauty of the rolling moors, a world pandemic consigns a lone young woman to a bleak future. In Book 2, 'Aftershocks', her twin brother sets out to discover the truth behind the infection. REBOOT concludes with 'Jericho Rose'. By now the pandemic is over, and it's time to rebuild. However, there are a selfish few who seek to exploit the situation for their own ends and this risks losing the little that's left.
Phill's fourth novel, 'The God Jar', is a tale of magic and mystery which straddles 16th century Europe and 20th century England. John Dee, Elizabethan sorcerer and mystic, finds a jar which he discovers has supernatural powers. 400 years later it resurfaces when a pair of honeymooners come across it on a diving trip. But have they found the jar or has it found them?
In 'What Dreams We Had!' a group of young people are offered a fantastic holiday in Italy, but once there they are forced to confront uncomfortable issues about who they are and what's important to them, and to wonder whether anything they thought was true actually is.
'I Know What You're Thinking' is a story about two teenagers who share a remarkable ability: each can read the mind of the other. When one of them is kidnapped their friend must use this gift to find them, but nothing is easy in this taut thriller.
The Leopard's Bane series consists of 3 titles – The Poisoner's Garden, The Rhymer's Daughter, and A Hanging Moon. It's the tale of a family feud and a struggle between two brothers, one bent on selfish advancement and the other seeking to correct a corrupt society. Oh, and there's a poor girl from the slums who possesses the knack of turning everything upside down.
'Butterflies' tells of a girl from a sheltered background who finds herself in the world of the titled and wealthy. She is forced to confront her situation, which compels her to leaves this existence and find another.
'Tideswell', the title of Phill's eleventh novel, is the name of a decaying village on the east coast of England. The heroine goes there to clear out a cottage which has been used by her vanished sister. She unearths some disturbing questions about herself, her family, and the past which force her to rebuild her life.
Phill's novels have won Chill With a Book Reader Awards and Indie BRAG Gold Medallions. They have been finalists in the Page Turner and Wishing Shelf Awards.
Phill has also written a book of short stories, 'Undiscovered Countries' which is free to subscribers to his email newsletter. Details are on his website.
Phill is a member of The Society of Authors, The Alliance of Independent Authors, Promoting Yorkshire Authors, Sheffield Authors, and The British Library.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
December 20, 2020
2/5 stars
It took me a long time to get to this review, just as it took me a long time to work my way through this book in the first place. I make it a point to finish all ARCs I receive, but with this one, I really struggled, mostly because it just wasn’t what I was expecting. As always: I feel a bit worse for writing a “negative review” for an ARC I received for free, yet ultimately honesty is your most important trait as a reviewer. Therefore, my thoughts on The God Jar: 3 reasons this didn’t work for me.
The God Jar focusses on a young woman who finds a mysterious jar on the oceanfloor whilst scuba diving. As she and her husband uncover more of its ancient secrets and mysterious properties, they soon realize they might be in over their heads. The novel switches perspective between the past and present, as wel discover the truth behind the God Jar alongside them.
The idea of these alternating timelines was what got me intrigued in the first place, but the desparity between both ended up being the book’s downfall. I was expecting the historical one to be “secondary” to the modern one, yet the opposite seemed to be the case. The historical plot and characters felt more fleshed out and more developed than the modern ones, which made for a bit of an unbalanced whole. Seeing as it was the modern storyline that had originally drawn me to the book, I was quite disappointed to see it pale in comparison. I believe the author did a lot of research on the historical timeline, and that shows in the endresult, but the contrast between the two was honestly jarring at times.
My second problem is partially a direct result of the first. As someone who’s quite character driven in their taste of books, I have hard time getting invested in a story if I don’t care about the characters. The protagonist couple in The God Jar unfortunately lacked the personality and the chemistry for me to do so. They seemed like cardboard standins and acted based on what the plot needed, as opposed to from a set characterstructure. It made it hard for me to stay engaged in the story, as I simply couldn’t care what happened to the characters.
My third problem was the writingstyle, and this again has its roots in the two narratives. The modern narrative at times feels very simplistic, a bit rushed and even amateurish, as if it could have done with one more edit. The historical narrative however, seemed far more deliberate, even “over-written” at some points. I’m not sure if it was this style, or the fact that there was a lot of research and “lore” behind this, but at times it was difficult for me to keep up, and I had to read passages again.
I could be completely wrong, but these three points combined created this picture in my mind about how this book came to be. I got the impression it was the historical narrative that the author favoured, and actually wanted to write. A lof of work, and many edits went into this, possibly creating some of the confusing parts I struggled with. The modern narrative seemed more of an afterthought, added on in the end to create a more layered story.
Although I liked the idea of the dual timeline, it was the lack of balance between the two that kept me from enjoying the novel as a whole.
As always: many thanks to the publisher Opitus Books for providing me with an early copy of the book. My apologies that it took me quite a while to write this.
It took me a long time to get to this review, just as it took me a long time to work my way through this book in the first place. I make it a point to finish all ARCs I receive, but with this one, I really struggled, mostly because it just wasn’t what I was expecting. As always: I feel a bit worse for writing a “negative review” for an ARC I received for free, yet ultimately honesty is your most important trait as a reviewer. Therefore, my thoughts on The God Jar: 3 reasons this didn’t work for me.
The God Jar focusses on a young woman who finds a mysterious jar on the oceanfloor whilst scuba diving. As she and her husband uncover more of its ancient secrets and mysterious properties, they soon realize they might be in over their heads. The novel switches perspective between the past and present, as wel discover the truth behind the God Jar alongside them.
The idea of these alternating timelines was what got me intrigued in the first place, but the desparity between both ended up being the book’s downfall. I was expecting the historical one to be “secondary” to the modern one, yet the opposite seemed to be the case. The historical plot and characters felt more fleshed out and more developed than the modern ones, which made for a bit of an unbalanced whole. Seeing as it was the modern storyline that had originally drawn me to the book, I was quite disappointed to see it pale in comparison. I believe the author did a lot of research on the historical timeline, and that shows in the endresult, but the contrast between the two was honestly jarring at times.
My second problem is partially a direct result of the first. As someone who’s quite character driven in their taste of books, I have hard time getting invested in a story if I don’t care about the characters. The protagonist couple in The God Jar unfortunately lacked the personality and the chemistry for me to do so. They seemed like cardboard standins and acted based on what the plot needed, as opposed to from a set characterstructure. It made it hard for me to stay engaged in the story, as I simply couldn’t care what happened to the characters.
My third problem was the writingstyle, and this again has its roots in the two narratives. The modern narrative at times feels very simplistic, a bit rushed and even amateurish, as if it could have done with one more edit. The historical narrative however, seemed far more deliberate, even “over-written” at some points. I’m not sure if it was this style, or the fact that there was a lot of research and “lore” behind this, but at times it was difficult for me to keep up, and I had to read passages again.
I could be completely wrong, but these three points combined created this picture in my mind about how this book came to be. I got the impression it was the historical narrative that the author favoured, and actually wanted to write. A lof of work, and many edits went into this, possibly creating some of the confusing parts I struggled with. The modern narrative seemed more of an afterthought, added on in the end to create a more layered story.
Although I liked the idea of the dual timeline, it was the lack of balance between the two that kept me from enjoying the novel as a whole.
As always: many thanks to the publisher Opitus Books for providing me with an early copy of the book. My apologies that it took me quite a while to write this.
September 1, 2019
I loved this book. It is not my typical read but from the onset, it held my attention for it is in essence two tales in one. The first is a history lesson in the time of England leading up to the taking on the mighty Spanish Armada and at the same time a modern-day story about a honeymoon couple, Amy and Jack. While diving, Amy becomes entangled in fishing lines and her life is spared by an unusual jar which she holds on to underneath the water. The jar appears to have mystical properties and its history goes back to the time of Dr John Dee, Sir Francis Drake and other historical figures. The two timelines are poles apart and balance the story nicely. Well written and paced.
September 1, 2019
A mixed bag this one. Interesting premise but the historical bits were much better than the modern day “thriller” sections which were packed with cliche.
March 7, 2022
An unusual story
An interesting story set in the UK, although it does have some foreign areas in it too. The God jar is the stuff of legends. John Dee lived in the time of Queen Elizabeth the first. Dee was renowned as a man of science and magic
An interesting book.
An interesting story set in the UK, although it does have some foreign areas in it too. The God jar is the stuff of legends. John Dee lived in the time of Queen Elizabeth the first. Dee was renowned as a man of science and magic
An interesting book.
July 5, 2020
This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: The God Jar
Author: Phill Featherstone
Star Rating: 4.5 Stars
Number of Readers: 18
Stats
Editing: 8/10
Writing Style: 9/10
Content: 8/10
Cover: 6/10
Of the 18 readers:
16 would read another book by this author.
10 thought the cover was good or excellent.
18 felt it was easy to follow.
17 would recommend this story to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 12 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 6 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
18 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
17 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
‘A good, sold adventure story with elements of the supernatural. It’s well-paced with an interesting cast of characters. The author shows skill in plotting a complex thriller and shifting time.’ Male reader, aged 43
‘The shifting in time worked excellently in this thriller.’ Male reader, aged 54
‘Who would think the story of an old jar could be so gripping! This is perfect for readers who enjoy fast-paced thrillers, and also fans of historical fiction.’ Female reader, aged 39
‘Descriptive writing style and a cleverly plotted storyline. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Although the cover’s a bit naff, the story’s not. Starts off strong and ends with a bang. Good stuff!’ Male reader, aged 44
To Sum It Up:
‘A gripping thriller, cleverly plotted and superbly paced. A FINALIST and highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
Title: The God Jar
Author: Phill Featherstone
Star Rating: 4.5 Stars
Number of Readers: 18
Stats
Editing: 8/10
Writing Style: 9/10
Content: 8/10
Cover: 6/10
Of the 18 readers:
16 would read another book by this author.
10 thought the cover was good or excellent.
18 felt it was easy to follow.
17 would recommend this story to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 12 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 6 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
18 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
17 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
‘A good, sold adventure story with elements of the supernatural. It’s well-paced with an interesting cast of characters. The author shows skill in plotting a complex thriller and shifting time.’ Male reader, aged 43
‘The shifting in time worked excellently in this thriller.’ Male reader, aged 54
‘Who would think the story of an old jar could be so gripping! This is perfect for readers who enjoy fast-paced thrillers, and also fans of historical fiction.’ Female reader, aged 39
‘Descriptive writing style and a cleverly plotted storyline. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Although the cover’s a bit naff, the story’s not. Starts off strong and ends with a bang. Good stuff!’ Male reader, aged 44
To Sum It Up:
‘A gripping thriller, cleverly plotted and superbly paced. A FINALIST and highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
February 23, 2023
The God Jar by Author Phill Featherstone is a fascinating spin on the traditional genie in a bottle tale, and tells the story of a mystical jar, that was used in the 1500s by astrologer and magician, Dr John Dee, to save the nation in its hour of need. 400 years later a couple honeymooning in Cornwall stumble upon the jar, and events soon take a dramatic turn when it’s discovery is revealed in a local news broadcast.
The God Jar is an interesting story that keeps the reader invested, and moves along at a satisfactory pace, although some may find it a little slow in places. The writing is cleverly done, transporting the reader between past and present events with ease, as we learn more about the mystical jar and why everyone is so eager to get their hands on it. The jar does elicit a strong emotional response and reaction from its bearer, which reminds me of Tolkien’s character, ‘Gollum,’ and his ‘my precious.’ I enjoyed reading these interactions between the jar and its keeper, although on occasion I felt the author could have gone further in his story telling.
The characters are believable and the dialogue is appropriate for both periods in time. There are some minor editing issues but these do not detract from the readers enjoyment of the story and can easily be addressed by the author.
Overall we enjoyed reading the God Jar, and was captivated by the events of the past. I award a solid 4 stars.
The God Jar is an interesting story that keeps the reader invested, and moves along at a satisfactory pace, although some may find it a little slow in places. The writing is cleverly done, transporting the reader between past and present events with ease, as we learn more about the mystical jar and why everyone is so eager to get their hands on it. The jar does elicit a strong emotional response and reaction from its bearer, which reminds me of Tolkien’s character, ‘Gollum,’ and his ‘my precious.’ I enjoyed reading these interactions between the jar and its keeper, although on occasion I felt the author could have gone further in his story telling.
The characters are believable and the dialogue is appropriate for both periods in time. There are some minor editing issues but these do not detract from the readers enjoyment of the story and can easily be addressed by the author.
Overall we enjoyed reading the God Jar, and was captivated by the events of the past. I award a solid 4 stars.
May 1, 2020
I was a bit disappointed with this book as I thought it was going to be a lot more exciting than it actually was. The characters were mediocre and the writing style was rather flat and boring. I think it is suitable as a young adults book.
May 19, 2020
The God Jar by Phill Featherstone has received a Chill with a Book Readers' Award.
www.chillwithabook.com
www.chillwithabook.com
May 13, 2021
We are proud to announce that THE GOD JAR by Phill Featherstone is a B.R.A.G.Medallion Honoree. This tells readers that this book is well worth their time and money!
February 10, 2022
I enjoyed this tale going back to the beginning of time. Following the jar through a portion of time and where it ended up currently, was an interesting tale of good and evil.
March 11, 2026
Very entertaining novel with like able characters. The pacing is good, the story moves right along with a few “I have to keep reading to find out what happens” moments!
Highly recommended!
Highly recommended!
July 28, 2023
Fascinating. Fun. Time travel starting with an Uber wealthy man financing hand-picked specialists to attempt to travel into the past and return to their time. The God Jar is an artifact that links the two time lines of the novel: “current” time and Elizabethan. The characters are interesting and introduce the reader to their diverse religious and spiritual views.
September 22, 2019
An enjoyable read.
The author put together two plots - one in the present and one in the past - that slowly inch towards each other with at the center the 'God Jar' (possibly, in quite a literal sense).
The past timeline - set around 1570 - is focused on alchemist John Dee and his family and servants. His belief in God and how this God send him on a mission to find an object, for which purposes he only finds out later in the story.
The present timeline presents two newlyweds, finding a particular object, which then takes control of the young bride, warping her. All the while, the whole world seems to be searching for this object. Luckily the husband has a friend who is well acquainted with the right people and may help them keep the object safe.
My problem with the work is twofold. I have read the book on an online platform where the writer made comments to inquiries. From these comments, it became clear he thoroughly researched John Dee - and wrote way too much for the novel's length. The result was a lot of editing. And it can be felt in some scenes. I needed to re-read a few passages as I wondered if I missed a few details. Nothing that conflicted with the main plot, but it was still a small annoyance to me.
The other problem I had was with the portrayal of the characters. They felt inconsistent. Not problematic, but at times I felt like what we were told about the character, how the character acted and what the character thought was out of sync. Also the pace of the character development felt off.
Overall, it was an enjoying read, however. If you are into Occult theories and 1570 scenes mixed with modern tech parallel plot, this may be a book to pick up.
The author put together two plots - one in the present and one in the past - that slowly inch towards each other with at the center the 'God Jar' (possibly, in quite a literal sense).
The past timeline - set around 1570 - is focused on alchemist John Dee and his family and servants. His belief in God and how this God send him on a mission to find an object, for which purposes he only finds out later in the story.
The present timeline presents two newlyweds, finding a particular object, which then takes control of the young bride, warping her. All the while, the whole world seems to be searching for this object. Luckily the husband has a friend who is well acquainted with the right people and may help them keep the object safe.
My problem with the work is twofold. I have read the book on an online platform where the writer made comments to inquiries. From these comments, it became clear he thoroughly researched John Dee - and wrote way too much for the novel's length. The result was a lot of editing. And it can be felt in some scenes. I needed to re-read a few passages as I wondered if I missed a few details. Nothing that conflicted with the main plot, but it was still a small annoyance to me.
The other problem I had was with the portrayal of the characters. They felt inconsistent. Not problematic, but at times I felt like what we were told about the character, how the character acted and what the character thought was out of sync. Also the pace of the character development felt off.
Overall, it was an enjoying read, however. If you are into Occult theories and 1570 scenes mixed with modern tech parallel plot, this may be a book to pick up.
September 2, 2019
An intriguing mystery set in two time periods
My thanks to Books Go Social for making available a digital edition of Phil Featherstone’s ‘The God Jar’ in exchange for an honest review.
Again, I was pleased to also have the opportunity to join with other readers in The Pigeonhole to comment on and discuss this novel on a daily basis.
Amy, a young woman on her honeymoon in Cornwall, is diving with her husband, Jack. She notices an object on the sea floor. However, as she picks it up, she gets tangled in a net lying hidden on the seabed and almost drowns. It’s a dramatic opening to this intriguing novel that moves between two time periods.
Amy quickly becomes very attached to the small jar, which exerts an unusual influence. It soon transpires that a number of people are interested in the jar and will take extreme measures to obtain it.
Parallel to these modern day events is a more sedate story set in the late 16th Century featuring Dr. John Dee, who is seeking a legendary object named the God Jar.
The modern day chapters were action packed while the historical chapters were unhurried and took place over a number of years. This did create a bit of an unevenness in the pacing, though this didn’t really bother me.
My long interest in John Dee and his work initially drew me to this novel. I felt that Featherstone was respectful in his portrayal of Dee and his beliefs.
Garvey, who was Jack’s best friend, was a very enigmatic supporting character and certainly I would welcome more adventures from Featherstone perhaps featuring Garvey as he seems very knowledgeable and the sort of man who thrives on mystery.
My thanks to Books Go Social for making available a digital edition of Phil Featherstone’s ‘The God Jar’ in exchange for an honest review.
Again, I was pleased to also have the opportunity to join with other readers in The Pigeonhole to comment on and discuss this novel on a daily basis.
Amy, a young woman on her honeymoon in Cornwall, is diving with her husband, Jack. She notices an object on the sea floor. However, as she picks it up, she gets tangled in a net lying hidden on the seabed and almost drowns. It’s a dramatic opening to this intriguing novel that moves between two time periods.
Amy quickly becomes very attached to the small jar, which exerts an unusual influence. It soon transpires that a number of people are interested in the jar and will take extreme measures to obtain it.
Parallel to these modern day events is a more sedate story set in the late 16th Century featuring Dr. John Dee, who is seeking a legendary object named the God Jar.
The modern day chapters were action packed while the historical chapters were unhurried and took place over a number of years. This did create a bit of an unevenness in the pacing, though this didn’t really bother me.
My long interest in John Dee and his work initially drew me to this novel. I felt that Featherstone was respectful in his portrayal of Dee and his beliefs.
Garvey, who was Jack’s best friend, was a very enigmatic supporting character and certainly I would welcome more adventures from Featherstone perhaps featuring Garvey as he seems very knowledgeable and the sort of man who thrives on mystery.
September 2, 2019
The book has story lines on two separate timelines; one during the time leading to the defeat of the Spanish Armada sent by Phillip II of Spain to overthrow Queen Elizabeth I, led by Medina Sidonia and the other during present day.
The main character in the historic timeline is John Dee, a mathematician, astrologer, astronomer & philosopher who engaged in alchemy, divination, and scrying. Through his various activities he was able to secure the confidence of Queen Elizabeth and became one of her favoured advisers. The story began with John Dee's acquisition of a painting that lead him to the discovery of a mythical object said to contain essence of God, with immense power to control natural elements - the God Jar. We followed him on his quest to secure the object and his endeavours to control its forces, and his seemingly impossible commission to defeat the Spanish Armada.
The present timeline began when Amy, a young lady on her honeymoon unwittingly coming across the God Jar and was the ruthlessly pursued by unknown foreign agencies as well as the British Government. Many parties were at play and the pace of the pursuit was relentless. The motorcycle chase on the scarlet Ducati Multistrada 1200S was vivid. Amy ultimately was overcome by the object and was altered irrevocably.
The book presented an enjoyable reading but I did not find affinity with either of the main characters. In many parts I found that the story lacking credibility. The ending was not satisfying and felt to me slightly incomplete. I did however appreciate the historical references and found reading up about Aeolus, the God of the Four Winds interesting.
The main character in the historic timeline is John Dee, a mathematician, astrologer, astronomer & philosopher who engaged in alchemy, divination, and scrying. Through his various activities he was able to secure the confidence of Queen Elizabeth and became one of her favoured advisers. The story began with John Dee's acquisition of a painting that lead him to the discovery of a mythical object said to contain essence of God, with immense power to control natural elements - the God Jar. We followed him on his quest to secure the object and his endeavours to control its forces, and his seemingly impossible commission to defeat the Spanish Armada.
The present timeline began when Amy, a young lady on her honeymoon unwittingly coming across the God Jar and was the ruthlessly pursued by unknown foreign agencies as well as the British Government. Many parties were at play and the pace of the pursuit was relentless. The motorcycle chase on the scarlet Ducati Multistrada 1200S was vivid. Amy ultimately was overcome by the object and was altered irrevocably.
The book presented an enjoyable reading but I did not find affinity with either of the main characters. In many parts I found that the story lacking credibility. The ending was not satisfying and felt to me slightly incomplete. I did however appreciate the historical references and found reading up about Aeolus, the God of the Four Winds interesting.
September 2, 2019
I loved this book. I love a book that takes place in two different time periods - in this case nowadays and also goes back to the 1500s in the time of Queen Elizabeth I, Francis Drake and The Spanish Armada. The book follows the 'God Jar', a seemingly harmless, though sealed container, which contains an ancient spirit that if freed will unleash terror and destruction on an unsuspecting world. Elizabethan mystic Dr John Dee believes that once he has the jar - he has seen it in a painting that supposedly shows him with it - he can learn to control it, destroy the Spanish ships and win the war thus pleasing the Queen. It's a long journey for him and his family via Poland and Prague with a lot of mishaps along the way. In the modern day, Amy dives into a shipwreck, almost drowns and believes that the jar saved her life. Now she won't let go of it even though numerous people are prepared to kill for it and it's making her ill. A few nasties also die along the way. This is a story of utter hokum and delight. A kind of Lord of the Rings meets Jonathan Strange (when he uses magic to help The Duke of Wellington). The jar is definitely Amy's 'my precious'. I really hope the jar will turn up again in another tale.
Many thanks to the Pigeonhole, my fellow Pigeons and the author for making this such an enjoyable read.
Many thanks to the Pigeonhole, my fellow Pigeons and the author for making this such an enjoyable read.
October 8, 2019
I enjoyed The God Jar, particularly the historical storyline set in Tudor England. Dr John Dee is an alchemist who becomes obsessed by a mysterious painting and the powerful God Jar, and is called upon to serve his Monarch. The historical detail was well researched.
In the modern storyline, Amy and Jack discover the God Jar on a diving trip. It leads to a series of events where they are pursued by a range of security or spy agencies, it’s not entirely clear who these operatives are working for.
Overall I found the Tudor storyline more compelling although there were a couple of plot twists which weren’t adequately explained. The author alluded to having to edit his material heavily which lead to a couple of ‘big leaps’ in the plot.
I read it on The Pigeonhole which provides daily instalments, I am not sure this worked that well with the split narrative, as it tended to accentuate the stop-start effect. An enjoyable read.
In the modern storyline, Amy and Jack discover the God Jar on a diving trip. It leads to a series of events where they are pursued by a range of security or spy agencies, it’s not entirely clear who these operatives are working for.
Overall I found the Tudor storyline more compelling although there were a couple of plot twists which weren’t adequately explained. The author alluded to having to edit his material heavily which lead to a couple of ‘big leaps’ in the plot.
I read it on The Pigeonhole which provides daily instalments, I am not sure this worked that well with the split narrative, as it tended to accentuate the stop-start effect. An enjoyable read.
September 2, 2019
An intriguing dual timeframe mystery set in the present day and the 16thC, involving a mysterious and much desired jar, a newly married couple and real life Elizabethan mystic, Dr John Dee.
This is a nicely paced adventure story which kept me engaged from beginning to end. If I had to choose, I think I preferred the historical timeline to the modern. It seemed well researched. Both stories are entertaining and fit well together (although I think the modern one could have been fleshed out a little more). Dr John Dee is realistically depicted and the rest of the characters seem convincing and well rounded. The ending is a little ambiguous so don’t expect things to be neatly tied off. Instead it gives food for thought.
I read this book via the Pigeonhole app, reading one stave a day for ten days, interacting with other readers, which all added to the enjoyment of this engaging mystery.
This is a nicely paced adventure story which kept me engaged from beginning to end. If I had to choose, I think I preferred the historical timeline to the modern. It seemed well researched. Both stories are entertaining and fit well together (although I think the modern one could have been fleshed out a little more). Dr John Dee is realistically depicted and the rest of the characters seem convincing and well rounded. The ending is a little ambiguous so don’t expect things to be neatly tied off. Instead it gives food for thought.
I read this book via the Pigeonhole app, reading one stave a day for ten days, interacting with other readers, which all added to the enjoyment of this engaging mystery.
September 9, 2019
My thanks to NetGalley for supplying this book in exchange for an honest review.
After reading the premise of this book I thought it sounded intriguing. On thhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/list... whole I wasn't disappointed.
This is a book split into two storylines. One present day and one historic that have a common theme. The historic story has a little more plot in my opinion but the present one has more action. I don't tend to like these alternating splits in books but this one works well.
I read this book in one afternoon/evening. To me it's an ideal holiday read. as it's engaging and uncomplicated, with a touch of history, mystery and action.
I would have liked a little more depth, especially in the modern day storyline. Improbable characters pop out of the woodwork so be prepared to suspend your disbelief.
I feel the ending is also a little weak.
In saying all that I enjoyed the book and give it a solid 3.5 stars
After reading the premise of this book I thought it sounded intriguing. On thhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/list... whole I wasn't disappointed.
This is a book split into two storylines. One present day and one historic that have a common theme. The historic story has a little more plot in my opinion but the present one has more action. I don't tend to like these alternating splits in books but this one works well.
I read this book in one afternoon/evening. To me it's an ideal holiday read. as it's engaging and uncomplicated, with a touch of history, mystery and action.
I would have liked a little more depth, especially in the modern day storyline. Improbable characters pop out of the woodwork so be prepared to suspend your disbelief.
I feel the ending is also a little weak.
In saying all that I enjoyed the book and give it a solid 3.5 stars
September 2, 2019
Exciting, enthralling and educational too. This roller-coaster adventure reaches into history to provide wonderfully escapist entertainment. From events in Tudor England to the current day, the God Jar affects the people it comes into contact with. And everybody seems to want it. I really enjoyed the switch between the two timelines, and found the information about Dr John Dee very interesting. And the development of the characters was brilliant because I felt an emotional connection to them.
I read the book with other readers on the Pigeonhole, and some were disappointed by the ending, but I felt that it was totally appropriate. Yes, there are some inconsistencies, and definitely some unanswered questions, but all in all, the plot flowed well, and the story was absorbing. Just my cup of tea.
I read the book with other readers on the Pigeonhole, and some were disappointed by the ending, but I felt that it was totally appropriate. Yes, there are some inconsistencies, and definitely some unanswered questions, but all in all, the plot flowed well, and the story was absorbing. Just my cup of tea.
September 2, 2019
I read this with Pigeonhole and, although it wasn’t my normal genre of book, I really enjoyed it. The God Jar is found by Amy, who almost dies after her oxygen runs out while scuba diving and from then on she will not let it out of her sight. The God Jar was also found by Dr John Dee, during the time of Queen Elizabeth and the Spanish Armada. The 2 storylines are cleverly linked and it all makes for an engrossing tale. In some ways, the effect that the Jar had on the people who were holding it reminded me of the ring in “Lord of the Rings”. I did find that the ending left some issues “up-in-the-air”....maybe there will be a sequel? I would highly recommend this book. Thanks to Pigeon and the author for allowing me to read it!
September 4, 2019
The title hooked me; the premise of the story even more. And, moving between present day and the 16th century was the icing on a very interesting cake called ‘The God Jar’. Phill Featherstone has left me (as well as other #Pigeon readers) hankering for more – at least of the character, Garvey, who is an intriguing mix of rough exterior, sensitive male, with a James Bond type vibe going on. If you would like to settle into a thriller with more than a touch of the paranormal that has you travelling, metaphorically speaking, through time; then this book is it. Thanks to #ThePigeonhole and the author for facilitating this read.
September 2, 2019
A book with two threads separated by time - present day Jack and Amy who find the God Jar whilst diving near a Cornish wreck and John Dee in Tudor England who searches for the jar in Prague. The book held my attention, although I found the historical story more interesting as John Dee was a real life alchemist, magician and advisor to Queen Elizabeth 1. The supernatural element aside, some of the modern day plotting was not always convincing and the ending of the novel seemed a little rushed and inconclusive.
September 2, 2019
A couple scuba diving on honeymoon discover an ancient jar. Amy and Jack's honeymoon takes a dramatic turn with Amy trapped on the seabed. Whay happens as a result of this is a fast paced adventure mystery with a back story line that links to Tudor England, the mystical John Dee and the Spanish Armada. A good modern day adventure with a historical twist, which I enjoyed, though I did feel there was not enough depth into why Amy and the jar connected and the ending seemed a little shallow. However it was book I really enjoyed reading.
September 4, 2019
I really enjoyed this book by Phil Featherstone. He cleverly weaves together two storylines and links them together with a common thread ... The God Jar. John Dee discovers it in the 1500s and everyone seems to want to own it in present day. John Dee is an intriguing character but I've never come across him in a work of fiction previously. He made the historical element of this book very fascinating. Couple that with an almost Dan Brown style thriller set in modern day, complete with high speed bike chases. What's not to like?
November 7, 2019
I don't normally read a mystery thriller, but I was drawn into this adventure from the very beginning. The excitement of Amy discovering an intriguing object on a scuba dive off the coast of Cornwall, and the life and death struggle that ensues, kept me very interested. The story jumps between Elizabethan times and the present. I enjoyed these contrast of different periods, the rich descriptions of atmosphere, scents and the hardships of living in the 15th century to our fast-paced modern world, but so closely linked. I wanted to solve this mystery and was compelled to read to the very end.
September 1, 2019
This book had an interesting premise although for the most part it lacked credibility. I’m a pragmatist but I read on as I was eager to learn how the storyline progressed. Dr. Dee’s quest and his wife’s submissiveness made for an incredulous storyline. Amy’s behaviour once in possession of the jar make her become a totally unlikable character. My Kelley too was horrible, intendedly so. I liked the idea behind this book however I found it to be very predictable and a little rushed in parts.
September 1, 2019
I really enjoy books that rewrite the fabric of history and this one didn’t disappoint.
The historic thread of this story was the better one for me. I loved the way it took the original story and filled in the gaps with real and fictional characters.
The modern story was a good contrast but, for me, wasn’t as strong. That doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy it or that I wouldn’t recommend it. Read it and see what you think.
The historic thread of this story was the better one for me. I loved the way it took the original story and filled in the gaps with real and fictional characters.
The modern story was a good contrast but, for me, wasn’t as strong. That doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy it or that I wouldn’t recommend it. Read it and see what you think.
September 1, 2019
I read this book via Pigeonhole and started in a bit late so needed to catch up about 5 staves to bring myself up to speed. But wow, what an easy, interesting and intriguing read! Hopping between Tudor England and the present this book is fascinating and fast-paced at the same time. A fantastic choice if you want something between Clive Cussler and Dan Brown. Looking forward to what the Jar will be up to in future novels...holding thumbs.
September 19, 2019
This is such a good story, very intriguing. Alternating between the Elizabethan and modern day is an excellent touch, and Mr. Featherstone handles this technique beautifully; I was definitely transported back in time with his descriptions and colourful characters. The concept of the God Jar is immensely interesting and makes one ponder historical possibilities. This is a thoroughly enjoyable read that is hard to put down - fascinating, creative and well-written. Excellent adventure!
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