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Mendicant
In the shadows of New Orleans, evil hunts children. And Dee, a one-time Voodoo princess, has discovered why. There is a dark connection between the missing boys and the church. It is a connection only the Scion can sever, but Scott’s powers are failing him and he’s running out of time. Now, he races to expose the church’s corruption in time to save Dee, the boys, and his friends. But in saving them will he lose himself.
Kindle Edition
Published October 10, 2020
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About the author
Brian Shotton
12 books8 followersBrian Shotton thought he was going to be an architect, but color-blindness and the sage advice of Dr. Jiménez guided him to a post-graduate literary degree. There, Mr. Shotton specialized in Old English and Middle English literature. His translation of Beowulf and thesis on battle-language remain dear to his heart.
Out of university, he had the great pleasure to work for DK Books and BradyGames when they still had an office in Indianapolis. There he wrote and edited and managed books for World of Warcraft, Diablo, Pokemon, and the UFC.
It was also where he met his good friend Keith Lowe and started a board game company. The dungeon crawling and hobby miniature kind, not the Monopoly and Clue kind. Mr. Shotton was lead designer and primary writer for eight games. Together, Keith and Brian found great success. One of their board games, MYTH, was selected by Popular Mechanics as one of the fifteen best in 2014. Mr. Shotton was nominated but not selected for the BGG Designer Hall of Fame in 2016.
In the realm of board games, Brian has written three massive world-building tomes, fifteen short stories, and many dozens of shorter game-centered quests.
Mr. Shotton still lives in Indianapolis with his wife. They have two grown kids. When he isn't writing, he meets with a group of men, including fellow author and dear friend Greg Kishbaugh, who call themselves The Illiterati. The reading group discuss literature from all of the world and even rip apart some of their own musings.
GRACEWORKS, his first non-fiction book, was written at the same time as SOJOURNER, the first book in the Song of the Sword series. MENDICANT was finished two years later in 2020. Mr. Shotton currently is hunched over his east-facing kitchen table, sun fully on his face, writing book four--Pilgrim.
Out of university, he had the great pleasure to work for DK Books and BradyGames when they still had an office in Indianapolis. There he wrote and edited and managed books for World of Warcraft, Diablo, Pokemon, and the UFC.
It was also where he met his good friend Keith Lowe and started a board game company. The dungeon crawling and hobby miniature kind, not the Monopoly and Clue kind. Mr. Shotton was lead designer and primary writer for eight games. Together, Keith and Brian found great success. One of their board games, MYTH, was selected by Popular Mechanics as one of the fifteen best in 2014. Mr. Shotton was nominated but not selected for the BGG Designer Hall of Fame in 2016.
In the realm of board games, Brian has written three massive world-building tomes, fifteen short stories, and many dozens of shorter game-centered quests.
Mr. Shotton still lives in Indianapolis with his wife. They have two grown kids. When he isn't writing, he meets with a group of men, including fellow author and dear friend Greg Kishbaugh, who call themselves The Illiterati. The reading group discuss literature from all of the world and even rip apart some of their own musings.
GRACEWORKS, his first non-fiction book, was written at the same time as SOJOURNER, the first book in the Song of the Sword series. MENDICANT was finished two years later in 2020. Mr. Shotton currently is hunched over his east-facing kitchen table, sun fully on his face, writing book four--Pilgrim.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 11, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. The pacing was more even than the first book (which I thoroughly enjoyed). My comparison to Frank Peretti’s “This Present Darkness” still stands, and that’s a high bar to meet. Not that this book is a copycat by any means. It’s just similar subject matter and just as riveting a story. I’m looking forward to seeing where this journey takes us, as the author has several more books planned for the series. I’ve grown attached to the characters and want to see how things progress.
March 15, 2021
Mendicant by Brian Shotton is the second book in the Song of the Sword series. It is a supernatural, theological fiction novel jam packed with action, evil intentions and good friendships.
In the first book Sojourner, that I read and reviewed back in September of last year, I was introduced to Scott, a Scion; a vessel gifted with powers from God to battle evil. He learns who and what he is with the help of an old priest, a new priest, a professor and a recovering alcoholic.
Mendicant continues Scott’s journey as he desperately tries to get to grips with the full weight of the powers he has been gifted. They are fighting and failing him, resulting in Scott losing his confidence in his ability to wield them and defeat the demons that are walking the earth.
When boys begin to go missing Scott along with his faithful friends need to work out what kind of evil is responsible. Can Scott find his true faith by overcoming his inner demons and become at one with his powers? Can his friends help him and discover the evil that resides within the church in New Orleans and find the missing boys before it is too late?
I was very honest with my review of Sojourner when I read it; although I enjoyed the characters and the story I found the weight of religious explanation a little too heavy for me. Therefore, I was a tad wary of reading Mendicant, even though the author had assured me that it didn’t contain as much explanation as the first.
To my delight I devoured this book. The flow of writing is fast, packed with sensory descriptions that allowed me to experience the story right along with the characters. The narrative still contains a lot of religious elements, which is to be expected with it being a theological fiction novel. Yet this time it does not at all halt the pace of reading, instead it enhances Scott’s turmoil and feelings. I can now absolutely understand why the author filled the first book to the brim so that the second would run more smoothly as a supernatural fantasy novel where Good battles Evil.
I really enjoyed the changing of points of view in this story, hearing the thoughts and feelings of Scott’s friends and new characters that are brought into the book allowed me to become completely invested in them.
Scott’s inner turmoil is palpable again as he continues his journey, he discovers so much about himself and that he cannot face his destiny alone. I am very eager to find out what comes next for the determined Scion and his band of faithful friends in Exile - The Song of the Sword Book 3.
In the first book Sojourner, that I read and reviewed back in September of last year, I was introduced to Scott, a Scion; a vessel gifted with powers from God to battle evil. He learns who and what he is with the help of an old priest, a new priest, a professor and a recovering alcoholic.
Mendicant continues Scott’s journey as he desperately tries to get to grips with the full weight of the powers he has been gifted. They are fighting and failing him, resulting in Scott losing his confidence in his ability to wield them and defeat the demons that are walking the earth.
When boys begin to go missing Scott along with his faithful friends need to work out what kind of evil is responsible. Can Scott find his true faith by overcoming his inner demons and become at one with his powers? Can his friends help him and discover the evil that resides within the church in New Orleans and find the missing boys before it is too late?
I was very honest with my review of Sojourner when I read it; although I enjoyed the characters and the story I found the weight of religious explanation a little too heavy for me. Therefore, I was a tad wary of reading Mendicant, even though the author had assured me that it didn’t contain as much explanation as the first.
To my delight I devoured this book. The flow of writing is fast, packed with sensory descriptions that allowed me to experience the story right along with the characters. The narrative still contains a lot of religious elements, which is to be expected with it being a theological fiction novel. Yet this time it does not at all halt the pace of reading, instead it enhances Scott’s turmoil and feelings. I can now absolutely understand why the author filled the first book to the brim so that the second would run more smoothly as a supernatural fantasy novel where Good battles Evil.
I really enjoyed the changing of points of view in this story, hearing the thoughts and feelings of Scott’s friends and new characters that are brought into the book allowed me to become completely invested in them.
Scott’s inner turmoil is palpable again as he continues his journey, he discovers so much about himself and that he cannot face his destiny alone. I am very eager to find out what comes next for the determined Scion and his band of faithful friends in Exile - The Song of the Sword Book 3.
February 6, 2021
God works in mysterious ways.
Scott fights demons in New Orleans. Brian Shotton continues his epic series in Mendicant. Once again I learn more as I read this action and mystery novel. While each book in this series has a deeply religious background, there is also a significant mystery involved.
Scott fights demons in New Orleans. Brian Shotton continues his epic series in Mendicant. Once again I learn more as I read this action and mystery novel. While each book in this series has a deeply religious background, there is also a significant mystery involved.
July 27, 2020
Not nearly as entertaining
This is a demonic tour de force. There is truth hidden within, but you have to work for it. The operative procedure? Pray before entering. The Lord will protect you if you know Him.
This is a demonic tour de force. There is truth hidden within, but you have to work for it. The operative procedure? Pray before entering. The Lord will protect you if you know Him.
August 8, 2020
As someone that is not religious at all, this book is one of my new favorites. Instantly fell in love with all the characters. If you like Supernatural and/or Hellblazer (Constantine) you will love this story. Even better than the first in my opinion.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews