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The Devil's Prayer #2
No Shadow Without Light
On 06/06/06, the world’s population crossed 6.66 billion. Any further increase could only occur at the cost of other species and future generations.
This triggered the Devil’s Game. A Treasure Hunt for the twelve missing pages of the Devil’s Bible, which hold the Devil’s Prayer. A game designed for Jess Russo, the daughter of the Devil, to unleash Armageddon. Each page Jess finds encourages people to be selfish. To hoard for themselves and theirs, wiping out every chance future generations and all other species have of survival. Only her elder sister Siobhan can stop her, by finding the pages of the Devil’s Prayer hidden across the globe before Jess does.
When the bells of Amalfi Cathedral toll twelve repeatedly one night, Inspector Luca Reginalli races to find four ancient frescoes and a note in a jade sarcophagus. The cryptic note offering the Twelfth Page of the Devil’s Prayer in exchange for Siobhan goes viral. The treasure hunter Siobhan becomes the hunted.
From the Templars of Tomar to the Doomsday Chest in London, from the Tomb of Amir Temur to the Shadowless Pagoda of Wuhan, Siobhan and Reginalli follow the trail of carnage left by each page of the Devil’s Prayer.
Can they save the world from its own destruction?
This triggered the Devil’s Game. A Treasure Hunt for the twelve missing pages of the Devil’s Bible, which hold the Devil’s Prayer. A game designed for Jess Russo, the daughter of the Devil, to unleash Armageddon. Each page Jess finds encourages people to be selfish. To hoard for themselves and theirs, wiping out every chance future generations and all other species have of survival. Only her elder sister Siobhan can stop her, by finding the pages of the Devil’s Prayer hidden across the globe before Jess does.
When the bells of Amalfi Cathedral toll twelve repeatedly one night, Inspector Luca Reginalli races to find four ancient frescoes and a note in a jade sarcophagus. The cryptic note offering the Twelfth Page of the Devil’s Prayer in exchange for Siobhan goes viral. The treasure hunter Siobhan becomes the hunted.
From the Templars of Tomar to the Doomsday Chest in London, from the Tomb of Amir Temur to the Shadowless Pagoda of Wuhan, Siobhan and Reginalli follow the trail of carnage left by each page of the Devil’s Prayer.
Can they save the world from its own destruction?
411 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2021
10 people are currently reading
632 people want to read
About the author
Luke Gracias
3 books143 followersDogboy v Catfish -in the press
https://theprint.in/ani-press-release...
It's not historical fiction, occult or environmental. A story about a woman who marries a dog whisperer. On the day she marries she knows that in 18 months she will not just take half of all his assets but be able to claim maintenance for her five year old daughter for the next 13 years.
Seven out of nine suicides in Australia are men. Seven! A journey into the murky world of counterfeit designer goods, an industry which sells fakes worth more than the exports of Australia.
Dogboy v Catfish... A missing person has more rights than someone alive.
https://theprint.in/ani-press-release...
It's not historical fiction, occult or environmental. A story about a woman who marries a dog whisperer. On the day she marries she knows that in 18 months she will not just take half of all his assets but be able to claim maintenance for her five year old daughter for the next 13 years.
Seven out of nine suicides in Australia are men. Seven! A journey into the murky world of counterfeit designer goods, an industry which sells fakes worth more than the exports of Australia.
Dogboy v Catfish... A missing person has more rights than someone alive.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
October 16, 2021
Good follow up story!
No Shadow Without Light
By Luke Gracias
I loved book one and was excited to hear book two was out! It takes up where book one left off and has our gal still running from the red monks and her sister who is the devil's daughter. She needs to find the last few pages of the Devil's Bible before they do. Many people that help her along the way don't make it. Suspenseful and super great! Reminds me of a paranormal Dan Brown book!
No Shadow Without Light
By Luke Gracias
I loved book one and was excited to hear book two was out! It takes up where book one left off and has our gal still running from the red monks and her sister who is the devil's daughter. She needs to find the last few pages of the Devil's Bible before they do. Many people that help her along the way don't make it. Suspenseful and super great! Reminds me of a paranormal Dan Brown book!
March 21, 2022
Special thanks to the author and NetGalley for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
“No Shadow without Light” is the second novel in author Luke Gracias series, “The Devil's Prayer”. In the sequel, Jess Russo is searching for the Twelve Pages of the Devil’s prayer, a collection of passages put together by Satan himself, known to trigger Armageddon. The only one who can prevent Jess from collecting all of the pages, and causing a catastrophic world event, is Jess’s sister, Siobhan, who, with the help of a few friends, must find the pages of the Book before her sister does.
I read Luke Gracias’ first novel, at his request, when it was published, in 2016. Now, five years later, I found it very difficult to pick up where this series left off. A lot of time had passed (and a lot of books had been read) between then and now and I found the five year hiatus to be too long. I enjoyed his first book more than this one, and his last book was still only mediocre for me.
“Light” has a lot of characters (mostly with foreign names) and it took some time to sort out who was on what side. There’s Siobhan and Jess, of course, but when you take into consideration the priests and other religious figures, plus at least one member of the police forces in Australia and Italy, and a few underground religious groups and their collective, there was quite a few characters to sort through. I liked the idea of Dark/Light and Good/Evil that existed in the sister relationship, but there was not enough of it.
I found the formatting difficult to read as well (although this may very well be because it was an electronic version). Gracias uses quotation marks, but the spacing is off (one sentence would look like; Person A says “I think this is the place” and Person B says “Yes, I think you’re right”) which makes paragraphs longer than they need to be, and reading the material itself was a challenge as a result.
The first half of “Light” played out like a Dan Brown wanna be novel, and the second half played out like a tour guide of Italy, Australia and a few other scattered places in between. Although I appreciated Gracias’ photographs to set up the locations, I did not need the specific details of each scenic locale, nor an extensive description of each area’s historical background. In fact, the novel focused on the location and the history so much, that much of the plot was lost.
Gracias has a background in Environmental Engineering, and it is obvious from his writing that he is well-educated, and his writing is well-researched. However, I wanted a fiction novel full of adventure, intrigue and world travel, but what I got was a diatribe on Global Warming and the dangers of social media (not that I don’t agree with these opinions, but it seemed like a bait and switch). I wanted to enjoy this book, but I almost DNF’ed it. I am sure Gracias intended a deeper meaning with this novel, and perhaps I missed it, but the story seemed scattered and disjointed.
“No Shadow without Light” is the second novel in author Luke Gracias series, “The Devil's Prayer”. In the sequel, Jess Russo is searching for the Twelve Pages of the Devil’s prayer, a collection of passages put together by Satan himself, known to trigger Armageddon. The only one who can prevent Jess from collecting all of the pages, and causing a catastrophic world event, is Jess’s sister, Siobhan, who, with the help of a few friends, must find the pages of the Book before her sister does.
I read Luke Gracias’ first novel, at his request, when it was published, in 2016. Now, five years later, I found it very difficult to pick up where this series left off. A lot of time had passed (and a lot of books had been read) between then and now and I found the five year hiatus to be too long. I enjoyed his first book more than this one, and his last book was still only mediocre for me.
“Light” has a lot of characters (mostly with foreign names) and it took some time to sort out who was on what side. There’s Siobhan and Jess, of course, but when you take into consideration the priests and other religious figures, plus at least one member of the police forces in Australia and Italy, and a few underground religious groups and their collective, there was quite a few characters to sort through. I liked the idea of Dark/Light and Good/Evil that existed in the sister relationship, but there was not enough of it.
I found the formatting difficult to read as well (although this may very well be because it was an electronic version). Gracias uses quotation marks, but the spacing is off (one sentence would look like; Person A says “I think this is the place” and Person B says “Yes, I think you’re right”) which makes paragraphs longer than they need to be, and reading the material itself was a challenge as a result.
The first half of “Light” played out like a Dan Brown wanna be novel, and the second half played out like a tour guide of Italy, Australia and a few other scattered places in between. Although I appreciated Gracias’ photographs to set up the locations, I did not need the specific details of each scenic locale, nor an extensive description of each area’s historical background. In fact, the novel focused on the location and the history so much, that much of the plot was lost.
Gracias has a background in Environmental Engineering, and it is obvious from his writing that he is well-educated, and his writing is well-researched. However, I wanted a fiction novel full of adventure, intrigue and world travel, but what I got was a diatribe on Global Warming and the dangers of social media (not that I don’t agree with these opinions, but it seemed like a bait and switch). I wanted to enjoy this book, but I almost DNF’ed it. I am sure Gracias intended a deeper meaning with this novel, and perhaps I missed it, but the story seemed scattered and disjointed.
October 27, 2021
This book is the long-awaited sequel to The Devil's Prayer by author Luke Gracias, which started originally as a low-budget film script in 2014 and evolved into an exciting debut novel in 2016. Gracias has a master's degree in Environmental Engineering and worked as an Environmental Specialist for over 25 years. In 2007, he started a film production company which had some success in Bollywood. One can see the film influence in his writing which brings all the cinematic excitement of other tales of 'adventure quests' such as The Davinci Code and the Indiana Jones movies.
In these two stories, there is an epic battle going on to save humanity, with God (the Light) and the selfless on one side and the Devil (God's shadow) and the selfish on the other. The stories are a mix of adventure, history, thriller and horror with some pretty graphic violence. I would recommend reading The Devil's Prayer first, as this second novel builds on the first.
The plot: According to a pact made between God and the Devil, once the human population surpassed 6,666,666, which came to pass in 2006, the side of good must find seven of the missing pages of the Devil's bible by 02/02/2020, with one page to be released each year. If they fail in this quest, humanity is doomed. The Devil's Bible is a true relic of medieval times, huge in size, containing 322 sheets, from which 12 sheets have been removed--supposedly containing the Devil's Prayer. The quest has fallen to Siobhan, a young woman whose mother left her home in Australia to become a nun after making a deal with the devil. There are many conspiring to stop Siobhan, including her sister Jess, who we've learned is the Devil's daughter.
The plot is gripping and exciting with lots of twists and turns. The human selfishness depicted has to do with how we are abusing and destroying the earth at the expense of all other living creatures and any future life for our children and grandchildren. Gracias includes many startling and disturbing facts about climate change in his author's notes. This is just one of several books published this year that are raising the alarm. What can our generation do to stop this destruction? Maybe start by supporting politicians who are trying to make important changes.
The author has included many beautiful photos of the sites depicted in the story which really enhance the reader's enjoyment of the various settings. The author says his sister Francis came up with the idea to include photos so kudos to her. I also admire the cover art very much.
I received an arc of this new book from the author in exchange for my honest review. It was available to download from both NetGalley and Amazon Kindle Unlimited. Many thanks for the opportunity.
In these two stories, there is an epic battle going on to save humanity, with God (the Light) and the selfless on one side and the Devil (God's shadow) and the selfish on the other. The stories are a mix of adventure, history, thriller and horror with some pretty graphic violence. I would recommend reading The Devil's Prayer first, as this second novel builds on the first.
The plot: According to a pact made between God and the Devil, once the human population surpassed 6,666,666, which came to pass in 2006, the side of good must find seven of the missing pages of the Devil's bible by 02/02/2020, with one page to be released each year. If they fail in this quest, humanity is doomed. The Devil's Bible is a true relic of medieval times, huge in size, containing 322 sheets, from which 12 sheets have been removed--supposedly containing the Devil's Prayer. The quest has fallen to Siobhan, a young woman whose mother left her home in Australia to become a nun after making a deal with the devil. There are many conspiring to stop Siobhan, including her sister Jess, who we've learned is the Devil's daughter.
The plot is gripping and exciting with lots of twists and turns. The human selfishness depicted has to do with how we are abusing and destroying the earth at the expense of all other living creatures and any future life for our children and grandchildren. Gracias includes many startling and disturbing facts about climate change in his author's notes. This is just one of several books published this year that are raising the alarm. What can our generation do to stop this destruction? Maybe start by supporting politicians who are trying to make important changes.
The author has included many beautiful photos of the sites depicted in the story which really enhance the reader's enjoyment of the various settings. The author says his sister Francis came up with the idea to include photos so kudos to her. I also admire the cover art very much.
I received an arc of this new book from the author in exchange for my honest review. It was available to download from both NetGalley and Amazon Kindle Unlimited. Many thanks for the opportunity.
July 21, 2022
A worthy conclusion to the thrilling saga as Siobhan Russo continues her treasure hunt for the 12 missing pages of the Devil's Bible to prevent Armageddon. This is action-packed and full of historical references as Siobhan tries to complete her mission facing danger at every turn.
How fun it is to read an entire story back-to-back from beginning to end without having to wait ages to find out the end!
I received an ARC of the first book several years ago and it languished on my TBR shelf until this sequel was about to be published. A gentle reminder made me look to see if I had read the earlier one or if I still had it as I do not like to read books out of order or miss the beginning of a set or series. After I devoured The Devil's Prayer , I immediately begin this follow-up.
There is a moral here -- that humans are selfish and that their greed to accumulate and hoard precious resources will end up costing the survival of future generations. As stewards of the Earth, only with selfless behavior and curbing this behavior can all species continue to live. The story may be fictional, but the details and descriptions of the places and events that have already occurred are pertinent and relevant to current situations as well. The author also includes photographs of some of the sites that Siobhan visits in her quest and the history of them is fascinating. The topics of religion from a historical perspective and the themes of darkness and light, good and evil, carry a warning. I always enjoy a book that makes me think and this one certainly did. I would love to have some great discussion with like-minded readers and definitely look forward to a film adaptation of these two novels.
Thank you to NetGalley and Authors Upfront for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.
How fun it is to read an entire story back-to-back from beginning to end without having to wait ages to find out the end!
I received an ARC of the first book several years ago and it languished on my TBR shelf until this sequel was about to be published. A gentle reminder made me look to see if I had read the earlier one or if I still had it as I do not like to read books out of order or miss the beginning of a set or series. After I devoured The Devil's Prayer , I immediately begin this follow-up.
There is a moral here -- that humans are selfish and that their greed to accumulate and hoard precious resources will end up costing the survival of future generations. As stewards of the Earth, only with selfless behavior and curbing this behavior can all species continue to live. The story may be fictional, but the details and descriptions of the places and events that have already occurred are pertinent and relevant to current situations as well. The author also includes photographs of some of the sites that Siobhan visits in her quest and the history of them is fascinating. The topics of religion from a historical perspective and the themes of darkness and light, good and evil, carry a warning. I always enjoy a book that makes me think and this one certainly did. I would love to have some great discussion with like-minded readers and definitely look forward to a film adaptation of these two novels.
Thank you to NetGalley and Authors Upfront for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.
March 14, 2022
3.5 stars
No Shadow Without Light by Luke Graciasis historical fiction, and the second in the series.
First, I'd like to thank NetGalley, the publisher Authors Upfront, and of course the author himself, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Series Background: (Warning – May contain spoilers from previous books)
Denise Russo disappeared six years ago. Her daughters, Siobhan and Jess Russo were at a loss. It turns out Denise was living as a nun in an obscure convent in Spain, where she committed suicide. She had been brutally raped and left mute and paralyzed, but so that she could exact her revenge, she made a deal with the devil. She was healed, but she gave up Siobhan's soul, and the Devil is Jess's father. Siobhan travelled to the convent, looking for answers, but instead found her mothers confession, and five pages of "The Devil's Prayer" which had been stolen from a group of fanatical red monks. Supposedly twelve pages of apocalyptic text are missing from The Devil's Bible. These are but five.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Siobhan is back in Australia, with her grandmother Edith and her sister Jess. Unfortunately, she is not sure she can trust her sister, as she saw Jess talking to a man that her mothers' confession said is Jess's father... the Devil.
Siobhan and Jess must part ways. Jess's role is to cause Armageddon, and Siobhan's to prevent it. Their paths are in different directions. To prevent Jess from completing her mission, Siobhan will have to find all twelve pages of the Devil's Prayer before Jess does, and before the monks find her. But this may be the end of Jess, and Siobhan cannot give in. Her mother gave up her life to get the five pages to her, and it can't be for nothing. As much as they are rivals, the sisters still love each other.
Meanwhile, in Italy, Inspector Luca Reginalli finds Giovanni Barbano, the security guard for the Amalfi Cathedral, tied up and in a coffin. As well, a note was left offering the Twelfth page of the Devil's Prayer in exchange for the nun's elder daughter. They are perplexed, but the Vatican wants that page, and Reginalli is tasked in finding it.
Jess and Siobhan are in a fight for all of humanity. Each page of The Devil's Prayer that Jess finds will allow people to become more selfish, wiping out the survival of future generations.
My Opinions:
Many of my complaints about the first book have continued into this one. Too much historical details, dates, people and place names. Again, the first thing I had to do is to change the font, as it was too light, and too small.... As well, we really didn't need pictures...ie a photograph on Jess's bedside table? A lane in Melbourne? This might work better in a hard-copy book, but even then...probably not necessary.
The books are very philosophical, religious, and environmental in nature...not to mention historical. It's not just about good and evil. It's about survival of our world, humanity, all species.
The author re-capped the first book really well...which was a good thing since it has been quite a while between the two books.
The overall plot was very good. Unfortunately, there was so much history told, that I ended up skimming to get back to the actual plot. The author again did a phenomenal amount of research.....but again, it actually took away from the story. As well, because of all the history, the book seemed very slow.
The characters, however, were really well developed, and all were really interesting.
Overall, it was good....but I'm glad it's over.
For a more complete review of this book and others (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, author information and contact details, as well as a favorite quotation or two from the book), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
May 14, 2022
No shadow without light is 2nd in the sequel by author luke gracias.
I recommend you all to read 'the devil's prayer' (the 1st in the series )before you go for this one.
The book revolves around Siobhan Russo & her sister jess Russo who are the devil's children.
Both of them got different responsibilities Siobhan is on the side of 'the light' who are protecting humanity whereas jess is on the side of the dark and wants to destruct it.
According to the pact between god & devil when the world population surpass 6.66 billion on 06/06/06 it will trigger the event called the devil's game.
& the side of lights should find all the seven missing pages of the devil's bible before 2020 & if they fail to do so humanity will vanish.
Would Siobhan & his people be able to find the lost pages before her sister does?
This won't be an easy task, to know what happens in the story you need to read this book.
What I like the most about the sequel was the plot. It was very exhilarating with lots of twists & turns & the way the author has made the use of history along with the contemporary environmental issues, that how humans are becoming greedy & want to hoard for their selfishness at the expense of humanity is very fascinating.
The book is also filled with beautiful pictures which you surely gonna like so if you have not read it yet, just drop your current read & just go for it 🖤
I recommend you all to read 'the devil's prayer' (the 1st in the series )before you go for this one.
The book revolves around Siobhan Russo & her sister jess Russo who are the devil's children.
Both of them got different responsibilities Siobhan is on the side of 'the light' who are protecting humanity whereas jess is on the side of the dark and wants to destruct it.
According to the pact between god & devil when the world population surpass 6.66 billion on 06/06/06 it will trigger the event called the devil's game.
& the side of lights should find all the seven missing pages of the devil's bible before 2020 & if they fail to do so humanity will vanish.
Would Siobhan & his people be able to find the lost pages before her sister does?
This won't be an easy task, to know what happens in the story you need to read this book.
What I like the most about the sequel was the plot. It was very exhilarating with lots of twists & turns & the way the author has made the use of history along with the contemporary environmental issues, that how humans are becoming greedy & want to hoard for their selfishness at the expense of humanity is very fascinating.
The book is also filled with beautiful pictures which you surely gonna like so if you have not read it yet, just drop your current read & just go for it 🖤
October 24, 2021
Amazing Book, Amazing Message
I have looked forward to this sequel to The Devil's Prayer for so long and was not disappointed. The story was fast paced and kept me turning pages late into the night. But the message contained in this book was something I didn't expect and has affected me greatly and in, what I hope, is a very positive way. There are no other books I can compare "The Devil's Prayer" and "No Shadow Without Light" to. They are both very worthy of a movie in my opinion. They are two of the best and most unforgettable books I have read.
I have looked forward to this sequel to The Devil's Prayer for so long and was not disappointed. The story was fast paced and kept me turning pages late into the night. But the message contained in this book was something I didn't expect and has affected me greatly and in, what I hope, is a very positive way. There are no other books I can compare "The Devil's Prayer" and "No Shadow Without Light" to. They are both very worthy of a movie in my opinion. They are two of the best and most unforgettable books I have read.
May 2, 2022
Siobhan, the Nun's elder daughter is racing against her sister Jess to find out the twelve missing pages of the Devil's Bible which holds the Devil's Prayer. Each page that Jess Russo, the daughter of the Devil finds, encourages people to be more selfish. A cryptic note goes viral, serving 250,000 silver marks and the twelfth page of the devil's prayer in exchange of Siobhan alive. The treasure hunter Siobhan herself becomes the hunted and it is upto her to save the world from destruction.
I'm intrigued with the books and movies depicting the "good vs bad" or the light vs dark, so naturally I had to pick this one up.
This book is the sequel to The Devil's Prayer, I haven't read the first book but I'm sure that I'll definitely be reading it soon. No Shadow Without Light is massive with 378 pages with a fast paced gripping historical fiction thriller with a moral message for the environment and some essence of philosophy, with the added bonus of real life photographs from gorgeous locations from Italy and Australia that certainly add beauty to the book and also making it like a sort of travelogue, but the book becomes too descriptive at times.
I'm in awe of the book cover that depicts the Shadow and the Light, the Devil and the God. The writing is well-respected and elaborate. The locations mentioned have been extensively described, that in my opinion, could have been reduced, therefore reducing the overall length of the book as well. The book was initially quite difficult to get into and I had to re-read parts of the story initially as it's an intense read. But I was intrigued at all times and enjoyed the book overall.
With book one being originally written as a movie script, I'm sure that these books have the capability to be picked up as movies which I'll be more than glad to watch.
I'm intrigued with the books and movies depicting the "good vs bad" or the light vs dark, so naturally I had to pick this one up.
This book is the sequel to The Devil's Prayer, I haven't read the first book but I'm sure that I'll definitely be reading it soon. No Shadow Without Light is massive with 378 pages with a fast paced gripping historical fiction thriller with a moral message for the environment and some essence of philosophy, with the added bonus of real life photographs from gorgeous locations from Italy and Australia that certainly add beauty to the book and also making it like a sort of travelogue, but the book becomes too descriptive at times.
I'm in awe of the book cover that depicts the Shadow and the Light, the Devil and the God. The writing is well-respected and elaborate. The locations mentioned have been extensively described, that in my opinion, could have been reduced, therefore reducing the overall length of the book as well. The book was initially quite difficult to get into and I had to re-read parts of the story initially as it's an intense read. But I was intrigued at all times and enjoyed the book overall.
With book one being originally written as a movie script, I'm sure that these books have the capability to be picked up as movies which I'll be more than glad to watch.
November 29, 2021
Firstly please read The Devil's Prayer first and foremost as this is the sequal and makes numerous references to the first.
This is essentially the story of the survival - the survival of mankind, of the environment, of faith, of life on earth in all its form. And it preempted by a game - a battle of wits - between good and evil, light and dark, the emissaries of God and the Devil in the form of two sisters (Siobhan and Jess) and the respective mysterious religious factions that support them in their quest.
Their quest: find the twelve missing pages of the Devil's Bible - the Codex Gigas - that make up the Devils Prayer which will either save or destroy mankind, depending on who is holding the majority of the pages. The sisters' quest will take them from their hometown in Australia throughout Europe and Asia ... the path to the pages of the Devil's Prayer was littered by a trail of dead bodies ... such was the determination of each faction to take possession.
There is an abundance of research that went into the narrative, which I always appreciate when historical and religious overtones merge and meld with modern fiction. It will provoke thought and discussion and argument but ultimately the message is quite clear - the earth is the only thing we all have in common.
This is essentially the story of the survival - the survival of mankind, of the environment, of faith, of life on earth in all its form. And it preempted by a game - a battle of wits - between good and evil, light and dark, the emissaries of God and the Devil in the form of two sisters (Siobhan and Jess) and the respective mysterious religious factions that support them in their quest.
Their quest: find the twelve missing pages of the Devil's Bible - the Codex Gigas - that make up the Devils Prayer which will either save or destroy mankind, depending on who is holding the majority of the pages. The sisters' quest will take them from their hometown in Australia throughout Europe and Asia ... the path to the pages of the Devil's Prayer was littered by a trail of dead bodies ... such was the determination of each faction to take possession.
There is an abundance of research that went into the narrative, which I always appreciate when historical and religious overtones merge and meld with modern fiction. It will provoke thought and discussion and argument but ultimately the message is quite clear - the earth is the only thing we all have in common.
April 11, 2022
I'm pleased to be reading the follow-up to "The Devil's Prayer" such an excellent story continued. This book is set out differently than most novels in that this one is like a history of what happened when Siobhan and her sister Jess each strive to be the one to release pages from the Devil's Prayer - one to save humankind, the other to condemn them to Hell.
This book differs from the previous one in that it contains photographs of the physical locations of places within the story. I couldn't decide whether this detracted or enhanced the story, because I changed my mind depending on how I felt at the time of reading
Regarding quotes from books, they are a little snippet from within the core, they are not the content. They cannot convey the depth of what is within.
"If I wish to leave a message for you, I will leave it under the skull you chose. You can do the same for me. We will meet again on the 24th of April at 11 a.m. We will only speak when we are kneeling down in prayer in front of the two skulls."
I received an e-ARC of this novel through NetGalley. I am delighted to provide a fair and honest review. NetGalley does not allow for paid reviews.
This book differs from the previous one in that it contains photographs of the physical locations of places within the story. I couldn't decide whether this detracted or enhanced the story, because I changed my mind depending on how I felt at the time of reading
Regarding quotes from books, they are a little snippet from within the core, they are not the content. They cannot convey the depth of what is within.
"If I wish to leave a message for you, I will leave it under the skull you chose. You can do the same for me. We will meet again on the 24th of April at 11 a.m. We will only speak when we are kneeling down in prayer in front of the two skulls."
I received an e-ARC of this novel through NetGalley. I am delighted to provide a fair and honest review. NetGalley does not allow for paid reviews.
January 15, 2022
Now Shadow Without Light is the sequel to The Devil's Prayer by Luke Gracias.
In the first book we meet Siobhan, the eldest daughter of a Nun who is found hanging from a bell in the ancient church of San Juan Bautista. Siobhan discovers her mother's confession and within that confession some pages from a book called the Devil's Prayer. The discovery of these pages sent her on a flight across the globe pursued by the Red Monks who are trying to retrieve the copied pages and stall The Devil’s Game.
When Siobhan arrives in Brisbane she spies her younger sister Jess, speaking to a man who is described in her mother’s confession in great detail. This man the father of Jess but also the Devil. So begins the 2nd novel with Siobhan still trying to evade the Red Monks.
There are a lot of moving parts to this book, who can Siobhan trust, and who to fear. Many puzzles and adventures to be resolved. Can Siobhan collect the pages and keep her sister Jess from releasing them into the world, and therefore dooming humanity?
My only real criticism regarding the book is there is a lot of information, and there were many times I had to go back and reread a section.
This ARC was provided by Author’s Upfront (via NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review.
In the first book we meet Siobhan, the eldest daughter of a Nun who is found hanging from a bell in the ancient church of San Juan Bautista. Siobhan discovers her mother's confession and within that confession some pages from a book called the Devil's Prayer. The discovery of these pages sent her on a flight across the globe pursued by the Red Monks who are trying to retrieve the copied pages and stall The Devil’s Game.
When Siobhan arrives in Brisbane she spies her younger sister Jess, speaking to a man who is described in her mother’s confession in great detail. This man the father of Jess but also the Devil. So begins the 2nd novel with Siobhan still trying to evade the Red Monks.
There are a lot of moving parts to this book, who can Siobhan trust, and who to fear. Many puzzles and adventures to be resolved. Can Siobhan collect the pages and keep her sister Jess from releasing them into the world, and therefore dooming humanity?
My only real criticism regarding the book is there is a lot of information, and there were many times I had to go back and reread a section.
This ARC was provided by Author’s Upfront (via NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review.
April 24, 2022
I read and reviewed the first part of this story, The Devil’s Prayer, five years ago, and I thank NetGalley (Authors Upfront) and the author for providing me an ARC copy of this book, which I freely chose to review.
I remembered having enjoyed the original novel and some details of it, but after such a long gap, I have to admit that I wasn’t sure how well I’d manage to follow the story. Thankfully, the beginning of the book provides readers with a brief reminder of the main plot points, not in a preface, but incorporated into the story. The first novel was written in a particularly interesting way, as the protagonist, who is also one of the main characters in this story, Siobhan, found her mother’s diary, and she (and the readers) learned the background to the events thanks to that account.
This novel is more traditional in its format, although the Devil’s Prayer and its twelve pages also play a big part in the events, and we get to read it (or at least some of it) as the story progresses. The novel is divided into four books, and the story is mostly told in chronological order (the beginning of the novel is split up between two settings, one in Australia and one in Italy, and there are some comings and goings between the two places and the dates), with some jumps forward in time. We follow the characters from 2014 to 2020, and, as the description suggests, we travel with them all over the world: Australia, Italy, China, Portugal, London, the Czech Republic, Uzbekistan... Like the previous novel, this is a mix of genres: there are plenty of adventures; historical background and events are also explored; there is much in common with spy novels (but with a religious/paranormal theme rather than a political one) and with the format of a treasure hunt, where each new clue guides the path of the main characters. There are also elements of horror, a good versus evil fight going on, and a strong environmental message, pointing at humanity’s responsibility for the future of all life on Earth.
Limited resources, selfishness versus selflessness, the importance and nature of religion and religious belief, family relationships, social media, greed, corruption, betrayal... are among the themes that appear in its pages, although that is not an exhaustive list. And we meet all kinds of secondary characters and historical figures: from policemen to bishops and monks, from Knight Templars to librarians, and various popes, Genghis Kahn, and even the Devil put in an appearance.
The story is told in the third person: for most of it we follow Siobhan and share her experiences, as we did in the first book, although sometimes we peer over the shoulder of the baddies and what they are doing, and at times there is a narrator that provides a lot of factual information on the events and the historical background of the places we are visiting. Because of that, there is a lot of telling in the story, although I found most of it quite fascinating, and by the end of the novel, I wanted to visit the places featured there (or most of them, at least. Oh, and there are pictures, as well, so you can see what the settings of some of the adventures are like).
I missed a bit more build-up of the main characters. Siobhan goes through some terrible ordeals, losing loved ones, being betrayed, being incarcerated (I won’t go into much detail to avoid spoilers), but there are only hints of what and how she feels, and the same applies to Reginalli, an Italian inspector who has interesting hidden depths as well. In general, there is more attention paid to the plot and the background than to the psychology of the characters or the complexity of their emotions. I must admit that I don’t usually read books like this, and perhaps this is part-and-parcel of the genre, where readers are looking for action and story, and put themselves in the protagonists’ shoes, rather than want to have their emotions spelled out.
Despite some minor inconsistencies and some to-be-expected required suspension of disbelief, the story is engaging, and no matter how many questions you might ask yourself about the fine details of the plot (in this day and age, with the worldwide access to technology, one always has to wonder), you have to keep reading to see how it all will turn up, especially if you have already read the first novel. As one of the reviewers said, I also feel that this book would make a great movie (and I am aware that the author has written screenplays before and worked in the film industry), although it would be a challenge to fit it all into a single film, and perhaps a TV series would work better. I would be eager to watch it, for sure.
The writing is engaging and particularly effective when it comes to descriptions of places and customs, and to passionately defending what are, quite evidently, convictions strongly held by the author, who has spent his life working as an environmental specialist and knows what he is talking about. The pages of the Devil’s Prayer we get to read are fascinating, scary, and will make all who read them pause and think.
The ending is left fairly open but hopeful as well (although perhaps some readers would like to see a bit more development of one of the aspects of it), as is the author’s note (which is well-worth reading and reflecting upon), and I felt it was appropriate and in keeping with the rest of the story.
As for warnings, like in the other novel, there are plenty of violence, cruelty, and deaths, and although much happens behind the scenes, I know it will bother some readers. Some people might also not share the point of view of the author about environmental issues or religion. I found the tone of the writing to be respectful and neutral, but I know that is always a matter of opinion.
I recommend this book to people who enjoy mixed-genre novels, particularly those who take place in a variety of settings, readers of adventure or spy books, those who have enjoyed books like The Da Vinci Code, and people who are concerned about environmental issues and like to read about those but are looking for some fiction and adventure as well. And, if you want to travel all over the world without leaving your home, and learn some fascinating historical facts at the same time, I definitely recommend you to check both books.
I remembered having enjoyed the original novel and some details of it, but after such a long gap, I have to admit that I wasn’t sure how well I’d manage to follow the story. Thankfully, the beginning of the book provides readers with a brief reminder of the main plot points, not in a preface, but incorporated into the story. The first novel was written in a particularly interesting way, as the protagonist, who is also one of the main characters in this story, Siobhan, found her mother’s diary, and she (and the readers) learned the background to the events thanks to that account.
This novel is more traditional in its format, although the Devil’s Prayer and its twelve pages also play a big part in the events, and we get to read it (or at least some of it) as the story progresses. The novel is divided into four books, and the story is mostly told in chronological order (the beginning of the novel is split up between two settings, one in Australia and one in Italy, and there are some comings and goings between the two places and the dates), with some jumps forward in time. We follow the characters from 2014 to 2020, and, as the description suggests, we travel with them all over the world: Australia, Italy, China, Portugal, London, the Czech Republic, Uzbekistan... Like the previous novel, this is a mix of genres: there are plenty of adventures; historical background and events are also explored; there is much in common with spy novels (but with a religious/paranormal theme rather than a political one) and with the format of a treasure hunt, where each new clue guides the path of the main characters. There are also elements of horror, a good versus evil fight going on, and a strong environmental message, pointing at humanity’s responsibility for the future of all life on Earth.
Limited resources, selfishness versus selflessness, the importance and nature of religion and religious belief, family relationships, social media, greed, corruption, betrayal... are among the themes that appear in its pages, although that is not an exhaustive list. And we meet all kinds of secondary characters and historical figures: from policemen to bishops and monks, from Knight Templars to librarians, and various popes, Genghis Kahn, and even the Devil put in an appearance.
The story is told in the third person: for most of it we follow Siobhan and share her experiences, as we did in the first book, although sometimes we peer over the shoulder of the baddies and what they are doing, and at times there is a narrator that provides a lot of factual information on the events and the historical background of the places we are visiting. Because of that, there is a lot of telling in the story, although I found most of it quite fascinating, and by the end of the novel, I wanted to visit the places featured there (or most of them, at least. Oh, and there are pictures, as well, so you can see what the settings of some of the adventures are like).
I missed a bit more build-up of the main characters. Siobhan goes through some terrible ordeals, losing loved ones, being betrayed, being incarcerated (I won’t go into much detail to avoid spoilers), but there are only hints of what and how she feels, and the same applies to Reginalli, an Italian inspector who has interesting hidden depths as well. In general, there is more attention paid to the plot and the background than to the psychology of the characters or the complexity of their emotions. I must admit that I don’t usually read books like this, and perhaps this is part-and-parcel of the genre, where readers are looking for action and story, and put themselves in the protagonists’ shoes, rather than want to have their emotions spelled out.
Despite some minor inconsistencies and some to-be-expected required suspension of disbelief, the story is engaging, and no matter how many questions you might ask yourself about the fine details of the plot (in this day and age, with the worldwide access to technology, one always has to wonder), you have to keep reading to see how it all will turn up, especially if you have already read the first novel. As one of the reviewers said, I also feel that this book would make a great movie (and I am aware that the author has written screenplays before and worked in the film industry), although it would be a challenge to fit it all into a single film, and perhaps a TV series would work better. I would be eager to watch it, for sure.
The writing is engaging and particularly effective when it comes to descriptions of places and customs, and to passionately defending what are, quite evidently, convictions strongly held by the author, who has spent his life working as an environmental specialist and knows what he is talking about. The pages of the Devil’s Prayer we get to read are fascinating, scary, and will make all who read them pause and think.
The ending is left fairly open but hopeful as well (although perhaps some readers would like to see a bit more development of one of the aspects of it), as is the author’s note (which is well-worth reading and reflecting upon), and I felt it was appropriate and in keeping with the rest of the story.
As for warnings, like in the other novel, there are plenty of violence, cruelty, and deaths, and although much happens behind the scenes, I know it will bother some readers. Some people might also not share the point of view of the author about environmental issues or religion. I found the tone of the writing to be respectful and neutral, but I know that is always a matter of opinion.
I recommend this book to people who enjoy mixed-genre novels, particularly those who take place in a variety of settings, readers of adventure or spy books, those who have enjoyed books like The Da Vinci Code, and people who are concerned about environmental issues and like to read about those but are looking for some fiction and adventure as well. And, if you want to travel all over the world without leaving your home, and learn some fascinating historical facts at the same time, I definitely recommend you to check both books.
May 12, 2022
"Book makes you travel the world without moving your feet."
These were the words by Jhumpa Lahiri which I read many months back.It is one of the popular quote by her.I wont lie but till now I didnt felt this quote to be true.But this book 'No shadow without light' made me travel.
This was a not an easy read for me though,the historical fiction genre is quite a new one for me.I haven't read historical fiction genre so it took a time to get a grip on this one.
This book is a part of series but I didnt knew that and as usual picked this.But because of this I can ensure you people that this book can be read as a standalone too.
Author has done a beautiful job in writing this one.Though this is a series it didnt felt like one.The incidents are clearly distinctive.
The first major thing which I loved while reading was the pictures which were put above while the start of the chapter.I loved seeing those pictures.And I would say those pictures made a serious impact on me while reading the chapters.
The language of the book is not complex but I feel beginners should not go for this.This may kinda seem heavy for them.
The story is based on a very different plot which I immensely liked.The bible pages!
The narration by the author is done in a very good manner. The pace of the story is also very good.The character development is something which I liked about this book.It is also done in a good way.
The cover of the book is designed in a very different manner yet it is very attractive.The title of the book is also intriguing.And both-cover and the title are complementing each other.
Author has done a great job while writing this book.It was very different read altogether.
Also,I am eagerly waiting to read the previous parts and the next part in the series.
These were the words by Jhumpa Lahiri which I read many months back.It is one of the popular quote by her.I wont lie but till now I didnt felt this quote to be true.But this book 'No shadow without light' made me travel.
This was a not an easy read for me though,the historical fiction genre is quite a new one for me.I haven't read historical fiction genre so it took a time to get a grip on this one.
This book is a part of series but I didnt knew that and as usual picked this.But because of this I can ensure you people that this book can be read as a standalone too.
Author has done a beautiful job in writing this one.Though this is a series it didnt felt like one.The incidents are clearly distinctive.
The first major thing which I loved while reading was the pictures which were put above while the start of the chapter.I loved seeing those pictures.And I would say those pictures made a serious impact on me while reading the chapters.
The language of the book is not complex but I feel beginners should not go for this.This may kinda seem heavy for them.
The story is based on a very different plot which I immensely liked.The bible pages!
The narration by the author is done in a very good manner. The pace of the story is also very good.The character development is something which I liked about this book.It is also done in a good way.
The cover of the book is designed in a very different manner yet it is very attractive.The title of the book is also intriguing.And both-cover and the title are complementing each other.
Author has done a great job while writing this book.It was very different read altogether.
Also,I am eagerly waiting to read the previous parts and the next part in the series.
April 11, 2022
This second book was a long time coming but was worth the wait. It has been a while since I read the first book, so I loved that it started out with a recap from the first book which brought everything back to mind.
I loved Siobhan's character in this book. I loved the way it bounces across the world and I loved the pictures.
This story was heavy in religion and historical facts however this does not take away from the story.
The concept of The Devil's Game was quite interesting. I enjoyed how pages of this ge are "released" throught out the story.
This story was very interesting for me. It really hones in on how we are using up the resources in the world and how this needs to become a focus for us to ensure future generations. Of course, COVID is tied into the story and I felt the author did it in a interesting way.
Overall I would definately recommend this series!
Thank you Netgalley for my gifted copy!
I loved Siobhan's character in this book. I loved the way it bounces across the world and I loved the pictures.
This story was heavy in religion and historical facts however this does not take away from the story.
The concept of The Devil's Game was quite interesting. I enjoyed how pages of this ge are "released" throught out the story.
This story was very interesting for me. It really hones in on how we are using up the resources in the world and how this needs to become a focus for us to ensure future generations. Of course, COVID is tied into the story and I felt the author did it in a interesting way.
Overall I would definately recommend this series!
Thank you Netgalley for my gifted copy!
October 30, 2021
This was a very slow read, not because it was boring, but because I had to “digest” it. It is basically the story if Siobhan, the Nun’s oldest daughter. Her sister, Jess, is the Devil’s daughter. But it is also the search for the twelve pages of The Devil’s Prayer. It is filled with adventure, but also filled with history, descriptions that take you into the story and also takes place over six years. Definitely fascinating reading with a heck of a plot. Thanks to Net Galley and the Publisher for an ARC for an honest review.
August 5, 2022
The formatting of the ARC I received was really strange which was a bit distracting during the read.
Having not read book 1 first or realized this was a book 2 until I had already began reading, it was a bit confusing without knowing some of the back story.
I would suggest readers start with Book 1 first!
Having not read book 1 first or realized this was a book 2 until I had already began reading, it was a bit confusing without knowing some of the back story.
I would suggest readers start with Book 1 first!
April 11, 2022
Loved the first instalment, and the follow up of the story is quite interesting. I would recommend to read the first one before this to get the whole twisting diabolical plot.
It really makes you reflect on life itself and how one can get entangled and manipulated without knowing.
Note that I received an Arc for review purposes and an honest and unbiased opinion.
It really makes you reflect on life itself and how one can get entangled and manipulated without knowing.
Note that I received an Arc for review purposes and an honest and unbiased opinion.
April 9, 2022
Wow, no wonder this sequel took 5 years to complete there is so much research in it and Luke Gracias has done a fantastic job at using history and today’s environmental concerns to tie up the devils prayer. It was all very cleverly done & quite convincing and maybe it should be a book we all read to highlight the damage we are doing to our planet.
April 6, 2022
This book is the follow-up to Luke Gracias' excellent "The Devil's Prayer". It is an absolute rip-roaring rollercoaster ride from beginning to end, akin to the best Indiana Jones movies. But, while the twist and turns make it impossible to put the book down, it's a sobering message of the book that will stick with you once you've turned over the last page.
April 5, 2022
Wonderful read,it’s no surprise Luke is a pro photographer as he can capture a scene with words as well.Both his books would make great viewing…Netflix you listening.
March 13, 2022
No Shadow Without Light by Luke Gracias
Rating 5/5
At last the follow up to the excellent The Devil’s Prayer by the multi talented Luke Gracias. Siobhan is still trying to find the solution to saving mankind before her sister Jess Russo, the Devil’s daughter. She follows up the clues assisted by a number of good people and hindered by many who would stop her and even kill her without a second thought. Sometimes there is a very fine line between good and evil. Many lives are lost.
No Shadow Without Light covers a number of years and cleverly melds present day history with the past. A well thought out plot with with lots of details, it takes the reader all over the world and includes excellent descriptions of ancient buildings etc with fantastic photographs. It is apparent that a lot of work and thought has gone into both novels and clearly very precious to Luke Gracias.
As the letters are discovered, so are their ever increasingly worrying contents and what they portend. I will be thinking of this book for a very, very long time. I particularly won’t forget the Golden Lancehead Viper, very thought provoking. Wake up humanity!!
A must read novel.
My many thanks to Luke Gracias, his team, Authors Upfront and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read No Shadow Without Light. In return I have written an honest and unbiased review.
Rating 5/5
At last the follow up to the excellent The Devil’s Prayer by the multi talented Luke Gracias. Siobhan is still trying to find the solution to saving mankind before her sister Jess Russo, the Devil’s daughter. She follows up the clues assisted by a number of good people and hindered by many who would stop her and even kill her without a second thought. Sometimes there is a very fine line between good and evil. Many lives are lost.
No Shadow Without Light covers a number of years and cleverly melds present day history with the past. A well thought out plot with with lots of details, it takes the reader all over the world and includes excellent descriptions of ancient buildings etc with fantastic photographs. It is apparent that a lot of work and thought has gone into both novels and clearly very precious to Luke Gracias.
As the letters are discovered, so are their ever increasingly worrying contents and what they portend. I will be thinking of this book for a very, very long time. I particularly won’t forget the Golden Lancehead Viper, very thought provoking. Wake up humanity!!
A must read novel.
My many thanks to Luke Gracias, his team, Authors Upfront and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read No Shadow Without Light. In return I have written an honest and unbiased review.
March 12, 2022
Siobhan Russo takes a journey of danger, and hope as she faces deception and evil. Her goal is to unite twelve pages from The Devil’s Prayer in order to prevent a world overrun with greed, death and great destruction.
With her own sister as her greatest adversary, Siobhan is thrown into a world she has never known. She is the innocent facing the devil and his disciples, including her beloved sister. Filled with intrigue, nothing seeming as it is, fear and betrayal, Siobhan perseveres. Failure means the end of humanity and Mother Earth.
The devil’s plan is the destruction of earth produced by man’s own greed. The race to obtain the pages of the devil’s prayer goes beyond gathering pages of parchment written as a challenge. The effect the entire earth. Can she recover the hidden page? Can she save earth and mankind?
A fascinating tale intertwined with the problems we are facing today in a world where greed and survival walk hand in hand. This book is not just a story, it is a challenge to humanity.
With her own sister as her greatest adversary, Siobhan is thrown into a world she has never known. She is the innocent facing the devil and his disciples, including her beloved sister. Filled with intrigue, nothing seeming as it is, fear and betrayal, Siobhan perseveres. Failure means the end of humanity and Mother Earth.
The devil’s plan is the destruction of earth produced by man’s own greed. The race to obtain the pages of the devil’s prayer goes beyond gathering pages of parchment written as a challenge. The effect the entire earth. Can she recover the hidden page? Can she save earth and mankind?
A fascinating tale intertwined with the problems we are facing today in a world where greed and survival walk hand in hand. This book is not just a story, it is a challenge to humanity.
March 12, 2022
I strongly recommend this book, for three reasons:
1. It is the concluding part of my favourite thriller of the last decade, if not more, The Devil’s Prayer. And what a conclusion. Seemed impossible after the first book that the writer would be able to tie all the loose ends even in two more books. Credit to him for having done so with such aplomb in one book which has a soul of it’s own too. AND BY THE WAY, IF YOU HAVE NOT READ “THE DEVIL’S PRAYER” YET, I STRONGLY SUGGEST YOU DROP EVERYTHING AND READ IT NOW!!
2. Like the earlier book, this one too weaves a beautiful tapestry of historical fact and fiction (embellished by spectacular descriptions) - something that makes one unwilling to return to the humdrum present.
3. The book does not provide answers to the questions plaguing our times, but does raise some pertinent, critical questions, and helps put things in perspective
1. It is the concluding part of my favourite thriller of the last decade, if not more, The Devil’s Prayer. And what a conclusion. Seemed impossible after the first book that the writer would be able to tie all the loose ends even in two more books. Credit to him for having done so with such aplomb in one book which has a soul of it’s own too. AND BY THE WAY, IF YOU HAVE NOT READ “THE DEVIL’S PRAYER” YET, I STRONGLY SUGGEST YOU DROP EVERYTHING AND READ IT NOW!!
2. Like the earlier book, this one too weaves a beautiful tapestry of historical fact and fiction (embellished by spectacular descriptions) - something that makes one unwilling to return to the humdrum present.
3. The book does not provide answers to the questions plaguing our times, but does raise some pertinent, critical questions, and helps put things in perspective
March 7, 2022
Luke Gracias does another incredible job of merging fact with fiction in his follow up to the incredible “The Devil’s Prayer”.
We are treated to some incredible settings and intriguing history as good and evil battle it out for the salvation of mankind. My only gripe, unfortunately, is that it all feels a little rushed. It seems like Luke has enough material to write an entire series (yes I know it is already a series, but I mean a much longer series) and has had to make do with cramming this amazing sequel into a single volume. Once you accept (or rather embrace) this style of writing there is a lot more enjoyment that can be realised.
And as for eye-opening, wow, consider this a success. I almost wish the Devil or God could make a rash decision on behalf of mankind and at least set us back to a position where the earth (and its entirety) will survive. Alas, the power is in our hands, hands that are currently fumbling the ball (picture the earth being the ball) and are on the brink of dropping it.
“No Shadow Without Light” is a great book, I just wish more time could be spent on certain aspects of it in order for it to make more sense.
Thank you NetGalley and Authors Upfront for a Review Copy
We are treated to some incredible settings and intriguing history as good and evil battle it out for the salvation of mankind. My only gripe, unfortunately, is that it all feels a little rushed. It seems like Luke has enough material to write an entire series (yes I know it is already a series, but I mean a much longer series) and has had to make do with cramming this amazing sequel into a single volume. Once you accept (or rather embrace) this style of writing there is a lot more enjoyment that can be realised.
And as for eye-opening, wow, consider this a success. I almost wish the Devil or God could make a rash decision on behalf of mankind and at least set us back to a position where the earth (and its entirety) will survive. Alas, the power is in our hands, hands that are currently fumbling the ball (picture the earth being the ball) and are on the brink of dropping it.
“No Shadow Without Light” is a great book, I just wish more time could be spent on certain aspects of it in order for it to make more sense.
Thank you NetGalley and Authors Upfront for a Review Copy
December 30, 2021
378 pages
5 stars
This book is a philosophical journey through history. It is a “thinking” book, as I call them. Not only does the reader learn a great deal of fascinating history, it gets one to thinking about things outside oneself. The fate of humankind, the environment and how long do we really have? Mr. Gracias made some very good points about population and natural resources. I often say that I have more compassion for the animals of the world than I do for most people. (I have a tough past history.) Thinking about the loss of wildlife just devastates me.
There are several key players who act in this novel. Some good, some bad. Australians Siobhan and her sister Jess and Italian Inspector Luca Reginalli are the key players. Father Zachary also plays a big part, and so many others.
Siobhan is the daughter of a nun who very recently committed suicide. Jess is the Devil’s daughter. Always close and very good friends, the young women find themselves in a deadly duel. Each is desperately searching for the twelve pages of the Devil’s Bible. The future of humankind hangs in the balance. Jess wants people to turn to acquisitiveness and selfishness To hoard the world’s goods just for the sake of having stuff. While Siobhan wants to wake people up to the coming catastrophe. They must stop being so selfish. She must acquire more pages before Jess does.
Siobhan meets up with Inspector Reginalli. He agrees to help her as much as she can. Father Zachary is also helping her. They begin to search the world over and travel to different ancient places in their search. Along the way, the reader is treated to brief history lessons. I love when books include this kind of historical background.
They get into some terrible fixes with the evil people trying to stop them from finding pages. They are in grave danger.
But, they can’t stop…
This book has some absolutely amazing pictures of very old and historical places. It is well written and plotted. Mr. Gracias really did his research before he set pen to paper, so to speak. I got frustrated that I couldn’t just sit and read the whole book. Real life kept intruding. I would have liked to hear more about Inspector Reginalli’s background though. I had a firm handle on Siobhan’s personality, but not so much on Luca’s.
I want to thank Luke Gracias and NetGalley for forwarding to me a copy of this remarkable book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed here are solely my own.
5 stars
This book is a philosophical journey through history. It is a “thinking” book, as I call them. Not only does the reader learn a great deal of fascinating history, it gets one to thinking about things outside oneself. The fate of humankind, the environment and how long do we really have? Mr. Gracias made some very good points about population and natural resources. I often say that I have more compassion for the animals of the world than I do for most people. (I have a tough past history.) Thinking about the loss of wildlife just devastates me.
There are several key players who act in this novel. Some good, some bad. Australians Siobhan and her sister Jess and Italian Inspector Luca Reginalli are the key players. Father Zachary also plays a big part, and so many others.
Siobhan is the daughter of a nun who very recently committed suicide. Jess is the Devil’s daughter. Always close and very good friends, the young women find themselves in a deadly duel. Each is desperately searching for the twelve pages of the Devil’s Bible. The future of humankind hangs in the balance. Jess wants people to turn to acquisitiveness and selfishness To hoard the world’s goods just for the sake of having stuff. While Siobhan wants to wake people up to the coming catastrophe. They must stop being so selfish. She must acquire more pages before Jess does.
Siobhan meets up with Inspector Reginalli. He agrees to help her as much as she can. Father Zachary is also helping her. They begin to search the world over and travel to different ancient places in their search. Along the way, the reader is treated to brief history lessons. I love when books include this kind of historical background.
They get into some terrible fixes with the evil people trying to stop them from finding pages. They are in grave danger.
But, they can’t stop…
This book has some absolutely amazing pictures of very old and historical places. It is well written and plotted. Mr. Gracias really did his research before he set pen to paper, so to speak. I got frustrated that I couldn’t just sit and read the whole book. Real life kept intruding. I would have liked to hear more about Inspector Reginalli’s background though. I had a firm handle on Siobhan’s personality, but not so much on Luca’s.
I want to thank Luke Gracias and NetGalley for forwarding to me a copy of this remarkable book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed here are solely my own.
February 28, 2022
This is the second book written by Luke Gracias featuring these characters. I would recommend reading the first book "The Devil's Prayer" prior to this book.
Siobhan Russo and her sister Jess have always been close. Since their mother disappeared, they have given each other unconditional support. Now the sisters will be opponents. Jess is the daughter of the Devil. Siobhan
has the task of saving mankind. On 06/06/06 the world population exceeded 6.66 billion. (Notice all the sixes?) This increase in population has triggered an event called Devil's game. To save mankind, Siobhan must find the hidden pages of the Devil's Prayer before her sister does or Armageddon will happen.
Obviously, neither Siobhan nor her sister can find these pages without help. They each have various associates helping them as they search worldwide. Often crossing paths, these groups have different motives and tactics as they attempt to be the ones finding the pages. What do these pages contain? Who will find them all?
Lucas Gracias takes the reader on a whirlwind tour of Europe and Australia, highlighting the beauty of each country visited. The pictures of each location are a great addition and validate his fabulous descriptive abilities. This story is multifaceted. Each recovered page serves as a cautionary tale. Mankind cannot continue to be oblivious to the impact that overpopulation causes. Resources are limited. If we choose to bury our heads in the sand, we face extinction.
Using this story is a great way to remind people of the future mankind could be facing. However, reminding people does not solve the problem What steps can we take today to make a difference? How do we spread the message? Lucas Gracias gives us much to think about.
Siobhan Russo and her sister Jess have always been close. Since their mother disappeared, they have given each other unconditional support. Now the sisters will be opponents. Jess is the daughter of the Devil. Siobhan
has the task of saving mankind. On 06/06/06 the world population exceeded 6.66 billion. (Notice all the sixes?) This increase in population has triggered an event called Devil's game. To save mankind, Siobhan must find the hidden pages of the Devil's Prayer before her sister does or Armageddon will happen.
Obviously, neither Siobhan nor her sister can find these pages without help. They each have various associates helping them as they search worldwide. Often crossing paths, these groups have different motives and tactics as they attempt to be the ones finding the pages. What do these pages contain? Who will find them all?
Lucas Gracias takes the reader on a whirlwind tour of Europe and Australia, highlighting the beauty of each country visited. The pictures of each location are a great addition and validate his fabulous descriptive abilities. This story is multifaceted. Each recovered page serves as a cautionary tale. Mankind cannot continue to be oblivious to the impact that overpopulation causes. Resources are limited. If we choose to bury our heads in the sand, we face extinction.
Using this story is a great way to remind people of the future mankind could be facing. However, reminding people does not solve the problem What steps can we take today to make a difference? How do we spread the message? Lucas Gracias gives us much to think about.
January 9, 2022
#NoShadowWithoutLight is the second instalment of #TheDevilsPrayer by @author_luke_gracias
Here is my review (in a raw form):
Siobhan escapes to Australia from KL
Jess - Sister
Conversing with a man in the Brisbane airport.
Siobgan starts narrating her ordeal in Europe to her granny Edith.
The novel begins with a shocking revelation that “The Treasury of Constantinople” which once held the quarter of all the world, had vanished without a trace.
Who took the control of it?
What were the consequences?
Each chapter begins with a beautiful pic(wish it was in colour) that is corresponding to that place. If you do not know, Luke(the author) is also a professional photographer.
Detailed description about Amalfi cathedral.
Reginalli notices an announcement pasted which wanted the Elder Daughter of the nun, Alive. The reward was 250,000 silver marks along with 12th page of Devil’s Prayer by The Black Darkhads. Who are they?
Reginalli is pressed by The Vatican to help them find Nun’s elder daughter.
What was Jess talking to Peter & Talitha Perry?
How did the handwriting not change over a period of 30 years, if Devil’s Bible was written by a person? Was it written overnight? Is that possible?
Barbano gets brutally murdered when he was in a highly guarded prison. By whom?
The treachery done to Siobhan’s mom & what happens in Melbourne when Shioban goes to meet Inspector Jones.
She gets abducted. By whom and for what?
Bad intentions of Inspector Jones comes into limelight. Why did he do that?
Peter Perry & Father Jakub’s betrayal to Siobhan
What I appreciate from the author is not to post the pics random but taking due permission before putting it up. Example: Saint Monica’s Church, Tugun
I am not going in any detail as I had given almost 1/3rd of interesting events from the book.
What happens in the end is a perfect ending which is realistic as well.
This novel is such a captivating one that you wouldn’t realise that you have a spent a good few hours in finishing it.
Do not miss the author’s note in the end
Here is my review (in a raw form):
Siobhan escapes to Australia from KL
Jess - Sister
Conversing with a man in the Brisbane airport.
Siobgan starts narrating her ordeal in Europe to her granny Edith.
The novel begins with a shocking revelation that “The Treasury of Constantinople” which once held the quarter of all the world, had vanished without a trace.
Who took the control of it?
What were the consequences?
Each chapter begins with a beautiful pic(wish it was in colour) that is corresponding to that place. If you do not know, Luke(the author) is also a professional photographer.
Detailed description about Amalfi cathedral.
Reginalli notices an announcement pasted which wanted the Elder Daughter of the nun, Alive. The reward was 250,000 silver marks along with 12th page of Devil’s Prayer by The Black Darkhads. Who are they?
Reginalli is pressed by The Vatican to help them find Nun’s elder daughter.
What was Jess talking to Peter & Talitha Perry?
How did the handwriting not change over a period of 30 years, if Devil’s Bible was written by a person? Was it written overnight? Is that possible?
Barbano gets brutally murdered when he was in a highly guarded prison. By whom?
The treachery done to Siobhan’s mom & what happens in Melbourne when Shioban goes to meet Inspector Jones.
She gets abducted. By whom and for what?
Bad intentions of Inspector Jones comes into limelight. Why did he do that?
Peter Perry & Father Jakub’s betrayal to Siobhan
What I appreciate from the author is not to post the pics random but taking due permission before putting it up. Example: Saint Monica’s Church, Tugun
I am not going in any detail as I had given almost 1/3rd of interesting events from the book.
What happens in the end is a perfect ending which is realistic as well.
This novel is such a captivating one that you wouldn’t realise that you have a spent a good few hours in finishing it.
Do not miss the author’s note in the end
March 6, 2022
This is a book of our times! The long awaited sequel to ‘The Devil’s prayer and what a sequel it is . The author melds environmental issues , religion and fiction seamlessly in a spellbinding story that you cannot put down. The message is though provoking and he uses the struggle between good and evil to relay it. The photographs are a wonderful addition to the storyline . I will be recommending both these books to everyone who wants a good read.
January 25, 2022
I would give NO SHADOW WITHOUT LIGHT a solid 4.8. Like several of Dan Brown's (THE DAVINCI CODE etc), the story is about avoiding Armageddon through a race to control of the 12 pages of The Devil's Prayer.
In a story that seems part travelogue, part National Geographic, part Philosophy 101, part Lifestyles Of The Rich And Famous, and part tabloid, in sorting out the true nature of many of our biggest current crises; a girl with family problems of truly unique proportions is caught in a struggle reminiscent of James Bond and Indiana Jones to save the world. The photographs add a nice touch to a well written and well paced suspense packed story.
Disclosure, I was asked to review this book, receiving only the use of the book for this purpose. When I started the book (with Red Monks in a race to affect a potential Armageddon) I thought I had read the book before. However my inability to find a prior review, the presence of the photos, a lot of the story seeming entirely new,and a totally different impression of the ending has convinced me that this is not the case.
I can think of very few readers you would have to worry about giving or sharing this book with. A very enjoyable read.
In a story that seems part travelogue, part National Geographic, part Philosophy 101, part Lifestyles Of The Rich And Famous, and part tabloid, in sorting out the true nature of many of our biggest current crises; a girl with family problems of truly unique proportions is caught in a struggle reminiscent of James Bond and Indiana Jones to save the world. The photographs add a nice touch to a well written and well paced suspense packed story.
Disclosure, I was asked to review this book, receiving only the use of the book for this purpose. When I started the book (with Red Monks in a race to affect a potential Armageddon) I thought I had read the book before. However my inability to find a prior review, the presence of the photos, a lot of the story seeming entirely new,and a totally different impression of the ending has convinced me that this is not the case.
I can think of very few readers you would have to worry about giving or sharing this book with. A very enjoyable read.
December 22, 2021
Sooooo gooood!!
Sequel to Devils Prayer and before the hard copies were released they had an snook ready, literally bought a kindle just to read it sooner haha.
Really enjoyed this read, one of those ones that puts you on the edge of your seat and makes you ‘binge’ read. The main character goes through a lot in this one so be prepared for that!
Thanks for a great book Luke!
Sequel to Devils Prayer and before the hard copies were released they had an snook ready, literally bought a kindle just to read it sooner haha.
Really enjoyed this read, one of those ones that puts you on the edge of your seat and makes you ‘binge’ read. The main character goes through a lot in this one so be prepared for that!
Thanks for a great book Luke!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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