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The Black Museum #2
The Children of the Lightning
‘The death toll will make the Blitz seem like the popping of a champagne cork.’
DCI Judas Iscariot of Scotland Yard’s occult division, the Black Museum, is heading into harm’s way – again. The Order of the Black Sun, a secret Nazi society of evil magical practitioners has stolen a book so powerful that it once resided in the Library of the Heavens, guarded by angels and far from the meddling hand of man. The Order plans to use its arcane power to unleash a terrifying weapon on the world, starting with London.
Judas is on for the fight of his long, long life and he’s going to need a very special team to help him win through. Old friends and new – warrior angels, werewolves, a 17th-century highwayman and his trusty steed, ghostly mariners and an enigmatic Atlantean warrior – will stand by him until the end. Or at least he hopes they will.
If he fails, the enemy will destroy everything he has been ordered to protect. Even if he defeats the enemy, will it truly be enough to earn history’s most famous betrayer the redemption he so desperately craves?
Everything is at stake and nothing is what it seems. Will it be glory, death or something far worse?
DCI Judas Iscariot of Scotland Yard’s occult division, the Black Museum, is heading into harm’s way – again. The Order of the Black Sun, a secret Nazi society of evil magical practitioners has stolen a book so powerful that it once resided in the Library of the Heavens, guarded by angels and far from the meddling hand of man. The Order plans to use its arcane power to unleash a terrifying weapon on the world, starting with London.
Judas is on for the fight of his long, long life and he’s going to need a very special team to help him win through. Old friends and new – warrior angels, werewolves, a 17th-century highwayman and his trusty steed, ghostly mariners and an enigmatic Atlantean warrior – will stand by him until the end. Or at least he hopes they will.
If he fails, the enemy will destroy everything he has been ordered to protect. Even if he defeats the enemy, will it truly be enough to earn history’s most famous betrayer the redemption he so desperately craves?
Everything is at stake and nothing is what it seems. Will it be glory, death or something far worse?
- GenresFantasySupernatural
276 pages, Paperback
Published September 17, 2020
59 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
About the author
Martin Davey
30 books38 followersMartin has had a varied career to date. He joined the Royal Marines at 16; then, he studied art at the prestigious Central Saint Martins School of Art. He has been a copywriter and a creative director at some of London's most famous advertising agencies and also worked in some smaller boutique agencies in Amsterdam and Barcelona.
He has driven a speedboat on the Costa Del Crime, peeled onions, erected scaffolding, and now writes full-time.
He lives in Kent with his wife and two children, and Bobba, their English Bulldog.
He has driven a speedboat on the Costa Del Crime, peeled onions, erected scaffolding, and now writes full-time.
He lives in Kent with his wife and two children, and Bobba, their English Bulldog.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
February 4, 2022
Another fun little read. Good action, interesting story and the characters were not bad. I didnt really see any character progression from the first book but then that doesn't bother me too much as I like reading these as a stand alone rather than another book in yet another series.
July 17, 2022
Another in the Judas Iscariot series with much the same strengths and weaknesses as the first. The ideas are great, and the narrative has a good structure. But the writing is flabby and desperately needs a good editor. For example, at one point a character is combing the grass with the flat of his hand, - the metaphor makes no sense. The fingers might resemble a comb - but the flat of the hand???
The story is littered with enormous information dumps, often retelling the previous novel but sometimes things that happened only a few chapters earlier: evil of inmates from escaping. Jack the Ripper was that inmate. He’d found a means to unleash centuries of evil on present day London, and he would have succeeded had it not been for Judas and Malzo. The angel had been grievously wounded by Jack, but he had redeemed himself through his actions and had been allowed to return the City of the Heavens. Malzo isn't even in this book.
He refers to two males as "men", when one of them has been repeatedly described as a child before and after this point. Or how about this for confused writing: He wanted to perform the spell that would unchain this leviathan and take it up into the sky, but that could not happen until he had performed the spell.?
I want to like these books. I really do. But a few constructively critical beta readers would make a heck of a difference.
The story is littered with enormous information dumps, often retelling the previous novel but sometimes things that happened only a few chapters earlier: evil of inmates from escaping. Jack the Ripper was that inmate. He’d found a means to unleash centuries of evil on present day London, and he would have succeeded had it not been for Judas and Malzo. The angel had been grievously wounded by Jack, but he had redeemed himself through his actions and had been allowed to return the City of the Heavens. Malzo isn't even in this book.
He refers to two males as "men", when one of them has been repeatedly described as a child before and after this point. Or how about this for confused writing: He wanted to perform the spell that would unchain this leviathan and take it up into the sky, but that could not happen until he had performed the spell.?
I want to like these books. I really do. But a few constructively critical beta readers would make a heck of a difference.
October 17, 2020
Excellent Series However Very Dark Storyline
This second book takes up where the first abruptly stops, the plot becomes very dark very quickly and stays there for the duration which can be quite heavy going. The characters and world building are brilliant however drawing in the reader and providing just enough narrative at all times to enable the reader to remain immersed in the story without wondering what is going on. I look forward to the next installment of this series with great anticipation.
This second book takes up where the first abruptly stops, the plot becomes very dark very quickly and stays there for the duration which can be quite heavy going. The characters and world building are brilliant however drawing in the reader and providing just enough narrative at all times to enable the reader to remain immersed in the story without wondering what is going on. I look forward to the next installment of this series with great anticipation.
March 4, 2021
Unique an enjoyable.
This review covers books 1 & 2.
Took a chance on reading these after seeing the brief resume. I was not disappointed at all.
A completely different hero (or anti hero?). Allowed to live (immortality isn't all it's cracked up to be!) in order to achieve redemption. However he has to deal with angry impatient angels and power hungry enemies. Luckily for him he has some useful allies.
Action and humour aplenty. I'll certainly read some more of Martin's work.
This review covers books 1 & 2.
Took a chance on reading these after seeing the brief resume. I was not disappointed at all.
A completely different hero (or anti hero?). Allowed to live (immortality isn't all it's cracked up to be!) in order to achieve redemption. However he has to deal with angry impatient angels and power hungry enemies. Luckily for him he has some useful allies.
Action and humour aplenty. I'll certainly read some more of Martin's work.
October 13, 2020
If I had not read the first book I would have enjoyed it more. Lots of the first third was taken up by explanations of what had happened previously and became a little tedious. The rest of the book was good. I look forward to another story - perhaps with a synopsis, and a character list at the front . 😉
July 15, 2024
The concept for this book is reat - and it links cleanly to the first in the series very cleanly. It is clear the author's writing has improved between the first and second novels, however there are still parts which are cluncky and not well-refined which involuntarily slowed the reading pace.
The continuity of some characters and the introduction of new ones was greatly appreciated. However, the explanation for Thornton's origin felt premature and it would have maintained more intrigue if that had been steched across a few more books.
Overall, an enjoyable read based on a novel situationa nd characters. Definitely worth giving a shot!
The continuity of some characters and the introduction of new ones was greatly appreciated. However, the explanation for Thornton's origin felt premature and it would have maintained more intrigue if that had been steched across a few more books.
Overall, an enjoyable read based on a novel situationa nd characters. Definitely worth giving a shot!
December 18, 2024
This is the second of the series, poor Judas has work cut out.
The black book got taken by the little man and there are a lot of ghost children who are about to be sacrificed, but one of them knows that all is not well and right.
Judas gathers friends and allies, but there are deaths and while the black museum helps him and so does Williams, his desire to die is not granted and won't be.
So he continues on and makes the best of it. It's quite a sad tale, the poor ghosts, those who do the right thing and those who don't. Still Judas is there to help right the wrongs and it's a brillant story.
The black book got taken by the little man and there are a lot of ghost children who are about to be sacrificed, but one of them knows that all is not well and right.
Judas gathers friends and allies, but there are deaths and while the black museum helps him and so does Williams, his desire to die is not granted and won't be.
So he continues on and makes the best of it. It's quite a sad tale, the poor ghosts, those who do the right thing and those who don't. Still Judas is there to help right the wrongs and it's a brillant story.
April 1, 2022
Second in the series and we meet more characters who could be on-going allies, or just one-off characters there to drive the story forward.
It does have more "occult/magical/mythical" elements than the first book, but they are integral to the story.
Not an earth-shattering story but neither does it make the reader feel cheated by unfulfilled expectations. I will be giving the next book in the series a go.
It does have more "occult/magical/mythical" elements than the first book, but they are integral to the story.
Not an earth-shattering story but neither does it make the reader feel cheated by unfulfilled expectations. I will be giving the next book in the series a go.
December 11, 2020
Thoroughly Enjoyable
I found this an entertaining story, different and new enough to keep my interest to the end and I'm hoping for a third instalment in the life of DI Judas Iscariot of Scotland yard.
I found this an entertaining story, different and new enough to keep my interest to the end and I'm hoping for a third instalment in the life of DI Judas Iscariot of Scotland yard.
March 10, 2021
Excellent writing but needs better editing
I really enjoyed the book and I am a fan of the author now. My only complaint is that it reads like a series of short stories or episodes combined into a novel,with far too much time wasted by restating the "story so far" again and again
I really enjoyed the book and I am a fan of the author now. My only complaint is that it reads like a series of short stories or episodes combined into a novel,with far too much time wasted by restating the "story so far" again and again
February 13, 2024
For some reason I found this the hardest of Martin's books to get through, which is odd as I loved the rest of them. It is still a worthy read though and gives more insights into the life of Judas Iscariot.
October 4, 2020
Part2
Continues where part 1 left off a brief catch up and then the main storyline ,a good read, awaiting part3
Continues where part 1 left off a brief catch up and then the main storyline ,a good read, awaiting part3
August 14, 2021
I rather enjoy the whole premise of Judas as the hero of this book. Following on from the first this completes the act nicely. I do so hope for more.
October 2, 2021
Surprisingly good
Angels, the Hitler Youth, Dick Turpin and a giant airship - what's not to like??
A clever idea and a well-written book
Angels, the Hitler Youth, Dick Turpin and a giant airship - what's not to like??
A clever idea and a well-written book
November 9, 2021
Being an atheist, I really enjoyed this
April 15, 2022
brilliant
Absolutely loved these books, great story kept me hooked. One bug bear is the spelling mistakes, kindle do better please
Absolutely loved these books, great story kept me hooked. One bug bear is the spelling mistakes, kindle do better please
April 24, 2023
Great series so far. Enjoying every minute of it.
January 1, 2024
Great second instalment. Really well written creating a very interesting universe of characters.
April 22, 2025
Superb
2nd book doesn’t disappoint. I couldn’t put it down and would highly recommend it. I can’t wait to start the third of the series.
2nd book doesn’t disappoint. I couldn’t put it down and would highly recommend it. I can’t wait to start the third of the series.
July 27, 2025
This is the second book by this author I have read and it did not disappoint. Looking forward to the next instalment of Judas.
January 15, 2022
Another instalment with DCI Judas Iscariot and the Black Museum. This story takes a darker turn and finds him in Jersey dealing with the ghosts of hitler youth, werewolf submariners, a very cross Archangel and a plethora of characters.. a great story and an enjoyable read.
July 28, 2024
Solid 3.5 Love the world building, expansion and everything else. The lack of resolution of 1 key plotline left the story a bit incomplete. Hence the 3.5.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 2, 2025
Rip roaring yarn
Fast paced and fun. Loved the nazi slant, always good to bring their brand of evil in. The writer is genius truly.. This world he has created blows me away.
Only niggle was too much recap of book one. It's a series.. Read the first one first (well don't because it's all in book 2) but it took up a lot of space and was rather dull. It's not like you can forget what's what... You pick up book one and number 2 just had to be read instantly. Hoping this doesn't happen in book 3.
Fast paced and fun. Loved the nazi slant, always good to bring their brand of evil in. The writer is genius truly.. This world he has created blows me away.
Only niggle was too much recap of book one. It's a series.. Read the first one first (well don't because it's all in book 2) but it took up a lot of space and was rather dull. It's not like you can forget what's what... You pick up book one and number 2 just had to be read instantly. Hoping this doesn't happen in book 3.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews