The Swords of Blood and Gold

Supernatural Treasure #1

by J.C.R. Paulino

Literary Titan Golden Book Award Winner
ABR Book Excellence Award (in mystery, thriller, urban fantasy)
Readers’ Favorite International Book Award Silver Medal (in Fiction – New Adult)

“This stunning debut novel combines the historical treasure hunting atmosphere of Indiana Jones with a tense modern murder plot. […] a superb work of fantasy fiction.” —Readers’ Favorite

FIVE CHESTS SIT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN...
Deep-sea treasure hunter is the splashy job description on his LinkedIn page. Pretentious or not, Jon Sherman and his Deep Blue Marine Exploration crew are the best in the business. But a nasty disagreement with his boss suddenly leaves Jon without a job.

When his ex-teammates salvage five chests from the bottom of the ocean, a supernatural killer wielding a mysterious weapon murders the entire crew, and Jon becomes the prime suspect. Overnight, detectives are after him while a masked murderer goes on a rampage, trying to kill Jon and everyone he cares about.

Jon teams up with the daughter of his late boss, and they tumble down a path that uncovers centuries-old secrets and the nature of the killer’s deadly weapon.

To fight back, Jon must employ his treasure-hunting skills to locate the only blade capable of challenging the mighty adversary. But will that be enough to survive a deadly journey riddled with supernatural forces, unexpected romance, and surprising self-discovery?

Read this supernatural thriller today!

“A charismatic cast and peppered with edge-of-your-seat action scenes” — Lisa Howard
“This book will leave you thinking about its contents for days” — Amber Lilyquist

Grab this debut magical realism thriller today!

“A charismatic cast and peppered with edge-of-your-seat action scenes” — Lisa Howard
“This book will leave you thinking about its contents for days” — Amber Lilyquist

Genres: Fantasy, Thriller, Fiction, Thriller Suspense, Supernatural, Mystery

331 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 21, 2022

About the author

JCR Paulino is an emerging author in the fantasy and science fiction genres best known for his debut novel, The Swords of Blood and Gold. This book has garnered several accolades, including:
• The Literary Titan Golden Book Award.
• The Artisan Book Review Book Excellence Award (in Mystery, Thriller, Urban Fantasy).
• The 2022 Readers’ Favorite International Book Award Silver Medal in Fiction – New Adult.
• A B.R.A.G. Medallion listing from indieBRAG, LLC.

In January 2023, Paulino introduced readers to The Crystal Canvas. His high-fantasy series, Fragments of the Gods, was released in January 2024.

Balancing a full-time career as a Human Resources executive with his passion for writing, JCR resides in Southern California. He enjoys life’s adventures with his wife and two children.

Reviews

[Alaina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Swords of Blood and Gold took me a while to get into. The whole treasure hunting idea did seem fun, but we never really saw it happen. Then we dove into a possible mystery sword to find. As well as a guy mysterious tracking down certain people and killing them. So, yeah, this book definitely gave me other things to keep the pages flowing. I just sort of wanted more treasure hunting and Indiana Jones vibes.

After meeting Jon, he seemed to be an easy to like character. Sure, he seemed to be magically good at not being killed by the secret guy with a sword. Then there's the romance between him and a certain character that just felt fine. If I'm being honest, it also felt like it was rushed because things just moved way too quickly between them.

In the end, it was interesting to see who the big villain reveal was going to be. If you follow the clues, it will be easy to spot on before it comes. Still, it was an interesting book, and I wouldn't mind another adventure with Jon. Mostly because I want a true treasure hunt.

[N.N. Heaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

A deep-sea salvage goes horribly wrong and it’s up to Jon to track down the killer before he’s the next victim. Jon Sherman loves his job but unexpectedly his boss fires him. What happens next propels Jon into a race against time and resources. A supernatural killer murders all of Jon’s co-workers including his ex-boss. The police suspect Jon but he didn’t do it. In order to prove his innocence and seek revenge for his crew, he teams up with his ex-boss's daughter to discover the truth. The more they unearth, the darker the secrets, and the greater the risk for her and Jon. What power is behind the masked killer with its weapon? Why are they after Jon? How can he possibly take down an enemy with supernatural abilities? It’ll take all of Jon’s treasure-hunting skills and knowledge to acquire the only weapon forged to defeat his blood-thirsty enemy. But can he pull it off, especially when the woman he loves is in the clutches of his nemesis?

The Swords of Blood and Gold is a treasure-hunting edge-of-your-seat supernatural thriller, unlike anything I’ve read before. This book has everything you want in a thriller: a gruesome murder, a hero frame-up, a quest to uncover the truth, a believable premise, treasure hunting, nonstop action, and an exhilarating conclusion. Add in a supernatural/magical realism subplot and you’ve got an unputdownable read. Confession time: I love anything to do with treasure hunting or looking for treasure or treasure maps. It stems from my childhood days. Jon is a smart treasure hunter who can sniff out treasure fact from fiction. Pairing him with a no-nonsense woman who’s knowledgeable about the salvage business is brilliant. The plot is brilliantly conceived and well-executed. The writing takes the reader deep into the story with descriptive narration and precise pacing. A thriller not to be missed, The Swords of Blood and Gold should be read by the masses. I can’t wait to read more by this debut author. Highly recommend!

Disclaimer: I read this on Kindle Unlimited.

My Rating: 5++ stars

Reviewed by: Mrs. N

This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...

[Ashlyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was not written for me. I honestly should have not gone in blind with this one, and I regret it because I probably would have never picked it up if I would have known what it was about. I'm not a huge mystery/thriller/mass killing type of person, so that aspect really didn't interest me at all, and I honestly felt like that's all this had going for it. I thought the romance was a little strange and rushed. The word choice is not one I would ever use to describe a sex scene, and maybe should have just been omitted from the book. The ending was a little rushed; however, overall the book was an easy read. As soon as I found out it was more of a modern day fantasy thriller mystery book rather than a different type of fantasy book, I honestly should have just decided to not read it, but I pushed through and read it. Again, this book was not for me, so don't use my rating as a way to determine whether you should read this book or not.

[Shelly Neinast · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Bitter Curse for Redeeming Unconditional Love

A bitter sweet story of greed, betrayal, redemption, forgiveness and unconditional love. The storyline was unlike any adventure or fantasy I have ever read. It had great action, adventure, suspense, mystery, and romance.
I loved reading the story as the pace was just right and just enough exiting action to keep your interest going to continue reading to the end. Characters were presented realistically.

[Lauryn Pearl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall Rating: 5 ⭐️

**This is my spoiler free review of JCR Polermo's The Swords of Blood and Gold. Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for my honest review. My thoughts are completely my own and have not been swayed by any outside forces**

28 year old Jon Sherman is a devilishly handsome coffee fanatic with a propensity for sitting down in the shower. What he is not, is a cold blooded murderer. When Jon suddenly finds himself thrust into the mess of his boss and colleagues’ murders, he takes it upon himself pair up with his former boss’s daughter, find the killer, and bring him to justice. The pair travel between Miami and various Chinese provinces in their quest to uncover the nature behind the murders. Through their travels, Nathalie and Jon uncover deadly secrets, forge new relationships, and uncover new truths about themselves.

JCR Paulino’s debut magical realism thriller, The Swords of Blood and Gold will leave readers on the edge of their seats as they travel alongside Jon and Nathalie in their hunt for vengeance.

Content warning: This novel contains scenes of graphic violence and mature language. I would not recommend it for those under 18.

When I read the description of The Swords of Blood and Gold, I was immediately intrigued. The idea of a murder-mystery mixed with treasure hunting and supernatural forces was an immediate pull for me. This book was very well written. Paulino offers readers vivid descriptions of the setting and characters, allowing you to create a clear picture in your mind. The characters were funny, sarcastic, and had enough flaws to make them feel human. The story is gripping, and genuinely held my interest the whole way through. I found myself coming up with my own theories regarding the killer and their motive… I was wildly incorrect. The writing style was mature, offering multiple POVs as the book progressed, allowing readers to gain insight into the minds of both Jonathan and Nathalie. I found the descriptive style reminded me of a mix between TJ Klune and J.R.R. Tolkein. It is descriptive, witty, and also humorously dry (in the best way).

My only critiques were in two particular areas. First, the descriptions of Nathalie are very clearly written by a man. The focus on her figure and good looks is reminiscent of the way Stephen King sometimes describes the women in his books, but in a lesser way. It is somewhat over-the-top and diminishes other aspects of the character's personality, when the description continuously returns to her “assets.” Second, the conversations between characters Jon and Ivan contained a few more uses of “dude” and “bro” than is appropriate for a 28 or 29 year old. Some would be fine, but I found it to be a bit distracting as I continued my reading.

Overall, I highly enjoyed this book, and am very impressed that this is Paulino’s debut novel. It is an excellent combination of humour, romance, action and adventure. I would recommend this novel to those over the age of 18 who enjoy magic with a dash of mystery - think Atlantis meets Pirates of the Caribbean with a dash of The DaVinci Code.

5 ⭐️

[Lisa Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

If Indiana Jones were an undersea explorer who had to solve a murder, then he might have also searched for the Swords of Blood and Gold! I'm a big fan of urban fantasy, especially when the plotline involves hunting for treasure and the characters journeying abroad. In his novel, Paulino combines an intriguing mystical mystery with real-life cultural details as his characters travel into the depths of China to track down clues. Peopled with a realistic and charismatic cast and peppered with edge-of-your-seat action scenes (who doesn't like a swordfight?), fans of urban fantasy/magical realism will find plenty of page-turning fun in this tightly plotted debut novel.

[Kevin Fahy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

A book that weaves ancient Chinese legends, A parable and a fable. A modern serial killer vs a young treasure hunter in sword play. Jon Sherman a young respected treasure hunter is having no the second worst day of his life. Working for a deep sea treasure hunter as the first job. After his parents death. Jon is fired by his mentor, he walks out the door and keeps walking. He goes home wakes the next morning to find the workplace was the scene of a mass murder. All 47 employees are dead and 2 ships destroyed , he is the lone survivor. The police think he's A person of interest. Jon has no alibi. Then it gets interesting.
Richly descriptive scenes, interesting settings, complex characters fill the pages of this wonderfully written book. I highly recommend this!

[Nicole Lopez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutly LOVED this book!! It was rich with history and had wonderful background scenery. The main character was described as a man that had many talents and good traits, but wasn't infallible or without faults. This story draws you in and makes you feel happy when things go right for the characters and makes you want to cry when things go horribly wrong. I loved the details put into the background myth that surrounds these two swords. Finally, here is a book that tells a story of good and evil, but beyond that, tells the.WHY of this particular one. I highly reco!mend this book!!

[Elle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was like Librarians and Cussler’s Dirk Pitt novels all mixed together and I loved every minute of it! The character were wonderful and I was at the edge of my seat the entire time.

This is an ARC review

[Erik Ziller · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compelling first novel

I really enjoyed this novel, I read a lot and this was a very refreshing story. My dislikes are very few - some trade offs on character development to keep the speed of the story up (seems impossible to get both) and some reactions to plot milestones that seemed strange to me. My likes: attractive visual narrative- you can see landscape, detail in clothing, items, etc. from the authors prose, very poetic style of writing in several sections, very creative fantasy plot line in a contemporary setting, main characters are strong and everything mesh’s well for reading flow. I’m interested in the next novel from this author, great job!

[Lois Strachan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fast paced urban fantasy action thriller with elements of fable and the supernatural well interwoven. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to readers of urban fantasy.

[K.J. Simmill · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Swords of Blood and Gold went from a genre I don’t read often, straight to my recommended reading list, and I never recommend a book lightly. I loved the immersive storytelling, you’re not only whisked away on a terrifying ride of justice, love, loss, and hardship, but on an epic and mystical adventure that keeps you glued to the page.

[Ex Aberporth · Rating 5 out of 5]

great read

I just wish this book was longer I loved it and wanted more but don’t let it bother you this is a great 5***** read great work mr Paulinho

[Josie Baron · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a huge fan of magical realism, I found myself turning the pages of this book non-stop. I was really impressed by the quality of the plot and the universe that the author created. Traveling to China was also a great hook, and I found myself diving into the legends about swords.
A real must-read!

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review
Book: The Swords of Blood and Gold
Author: JCR Paulino
Genre: Magical Realism Thriller
Rating: 5 stars
My Review:
Thank you Netgalley for sending me the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I sank my teeth into this incredibly enjoyable novel without knowing anything about the story line. I requested this book at Netgalley solely on the basis of its intriguing title and beautiful cover. But let me tell you what? The story of this book is so gripping that I could not put it down at all.
The story revolves around Jon Sharman who works for an undersea treasure hunting company, but due to some curious reasons his boss fired him from the job. One day, a mysterious supernatural murderer enters the company and kills all of Jon’s colleagues including his boss within 3 minutes and sets the building on fire. This unrealistic incident had the police on edge and everyone suspects Jon for the mass murder. Natalie, his former boss’s daughter, comes to his doorstep one day seeking for his help in discovering the real reason behind the massacre of 47 people. After some digging, they come to know that the crew had actually retrieved some 5 chests from sea which were lost a century ago and contract was given by a Chinese millionaire, Mo Huang, who further confirms that the crew was supposed to retrieve some traditional swords. The story related to swords seems quite bullshit to Jon and Natalie, but the course of events suggest some hint of reality in bullshit story. Would Jon be able to uncover the truth behind the suspicious murder of his entire crew?
I really loved this fantasy novel mixed with a fair amount of adventure and mystery. The author has actually done a great job in providing with vivid descriptions of Chinese ancient cultural background, modern day Wuhan and Shanghai, and then back to Miami. The mixture of modernity with the ancient Chinese tradition was spectacular to read about. The story, although, was a bit confusing at the beginning and a bit hard to get into, but everything starts making sense as the story progresses. The characters in the book are very close to real human beings. They are terrified of the murderer at loose, but they are brave enough to protect ad stand for what they love. I’m not a big fan of action-based books, but the way Paulino has gone through every action scene, it did not bore me and I actually had fun reading about it. The writing style was very lucid and poetic. One would not feel difficulty in comprehending the course of action and entire story.
The main reason I gave this book 5 stars is that the fair amount of this book is set in Wuhan, China. As I have done my ph.D from Wuhan University and stayed there for five years, Wuhan is very close to my heart. It felt very nostalgic and refreshing to read about all the locations I have been to, like Wuhan University, East Lake, Yellow Crane Tower, and Yangtze River.
On the whole, it is a very adventurous, captivating, and refreshing story. I highly enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it to everyone who enjoys adventurous thriller novels.

[Book Reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Jon Sherman, who is part of the Deep Blue Marine Exploration Crew, has a disagreement with his boss he finds himself left without a job. Jon’s teammates find five chests at the bottom of the ocean that prompts a supernatural killer to murders the entire crew. Jon becomes the prime suspect and he must team up with his boss’s daughter to find and defeat this supernatural killer and prove his innocence.

Author JCR Paulino has created an exciting story with likable characters which make this a book that is hard to put down. The characters are well developed and I enjoyed the evolution of their characters. I was always interested in seeing how the characters would react to certain situations. Natalie’s character is a pleasant addition to the story because she is smart, sharp and a no-nonsense type of woman. She is a stand out character for me personally, but in this ensemble story it’s easy to find characters you’ll relate to.

This is a riveting adventure story, as well as a paranormal thriller, and you can really tell that the author has done his research when it comes to deep-sea diving and treasure hunting. The details are what really make this story feel real, even with the supernatural elements the gritty details keep this story grounded.

The author’s writing is sharp and effortlessly keeps this suspenseful novel moving forward. I had a hard time finding a place to put the book down, especially when Jon and Natalie embark on their deep-sea adventure. As the story progresses we get to see Jon and Natalie’s relationship blossom into something that is heartwarming and sweet.

A story like this has an inherent sense of adventure, but the author is able to draw you into a world that feels like that sense of adventure is just a foundation for a more compelling character driven story; which makes me think ‘what if Michal Crichton had written an India Jones book’?

While this is a fast-paced thriller I enjoyed the emotional moments in the story because I felt like that is what gave this story heart, where otherwise it would have just been an action adventure novel. Couple this with vivid scenes that immerse readers in the story and you have a book that will keep you consistently entertained and guessing; I was constantly wondering if Jon was going to be able to win, or at least what the cost would be?

The Swords of Blood and Gold is an enthralling novel with an entertaining mix of action and romance. If you’re a fan of paranormal thrillers with a deep sense of adventure than you will certainly want to embark on this deep-sea expedition.

[Sam II · Rating 5 out of 5]

Justice or Love

The Swords of Blood and Gold by JCR Paulino, is the tale of what happens when a 2,800 year-old search for vengeance (or a good opponent) brings a whirlwind of death to those in the way of the Blood Sword and its swordsman. The hero (although he doesn’t know it) is Jon Sherman, a deep-sea hunter of sunken treasure. Selected, without his knowledge, early in life, Jon is slowly introduced to a maze of factual and emotional twists and turns that eventually lead to his realization that the Sword of Blood is pointed at him. And he is a Westerner with no contact with the Chinese people who have guarded the secrets of the Blood Sword and its counterpart, the Sword of Gold.

A myriad of characters help Jon to recognize his true calling and meet the challenge he is destined to face. Natalie, a strong-willed and smart woman. Ivan, his Asian friend, with access to information. Mo Huang, a mysterious benefactor. Police detective Mark Otello, who investigates Jon as a suspect in multiple murders. And the list goes on.

The story has nearly continuous action with abbreviated periods dedicated to rest, eating, travel and of course, love-making. The action-based writing style of author, Paulino, is striking similar to my own style. Dialogue between the characters is good and feels natural. There is not a lot of fluff in this story. The novel is well-edited. I found no obvious errors. The book doesn’t seem to hint at a sequel. The only negative I have about the story is a blatant use of curse words salted throughout the novel. I understand the Author may have thought the words brought more realism to the story, but too much is too much.

I rate the book, The Swords of Blood and Gold, as an overall 5 out of 5.

[Delene · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jon is heartbroken after a vicious attack on the company he used to work for. While battling his own grief, he is also fending off the police, who are convinced that he is involved in the tragedy. At last Jon decides to investigate for himself and embarks on a wild quest with his former boss' daughter and one of his best friends. It soon turns out that the last treasure hunt his company went on, holds the key to this extraordinary mystery.

While this story has all the elements for an exciting adventure story, it missed the mark for me in a couple of places. Although the blurb focusses on Jon's treasure hunting skills and the idea of underwater treasure hunting, very little actual treasure hunting took place. Most of the book read like a detective story instead. I kept waiting for the ocean adventure and was disappointed when almost all the action stayed on land. I also did not quite expect the amount of gore and found myself skipping a few of those scenes. I liked the way that the ancient legend came into play but in parts it did not blend well with the rest of the story and felt a little forced.

I did enjoy the characters and thought that the way their emotions and journey through their grieving process was really well-written and touching. I also liked the fact that I could never quite guess what was going to happen next.

All in all, while the book was not for me, it is still a fun adventure story, full of action and plot twists and suspense.

[Ola Adamska · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ehhh... I'm not too fond of writing reviews like that, but I have to stay true to my motto for my reviews - always be truthful and sincere in what I feel about stories I read. "The Swords of Blood and Gold" is a debut novel of J.C.R. Paulino that had an excellent premise for adventure sty with treasure hunting and so on.
Our main character, Jon, is in her place - his company was attacked and now he's a suspect for ding this massacre on his colleagues... it's always like that when you unexpectedly survive right? Right now he's on his own to prove that he did not participate in killing anyone... To do so he will have to go on a quest with his former boss's daughter and his best friend. Until now premise sounds excellent to me... but this book was not about looking for treasures in the sea, which confused me and definitely did not put it in favor of my side.
I was really looking forward to this story as I had not re something like that in a long time, but in this story not only did the story not match, but the characters as well - I did not feel any connection with them at all, they were there, but nothing more...
Have some ingredients that I would like in themselves, but the style of the author - it was really clean, like, in the surgery room, no emotions in it, the same goes for the feelings in the book. I was not invested in this story - maybe it was not a story for me in the end?

[Kathryn Wuerker · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was given this eBook title on my Kindle in return for an honest review.

DNF. 1.5 stars based on the plot might be really cool. (Stopped at 29%)

I really tried to like it and the plot seems like it could be very interesting. Mystery, death, treasure, and the supernatural. What's not to like?

I just didn't find the swearing (for just the sake of swearing) and the constant sexualization of the main female character in anyway helpful to the story. I am no prude, but the throw-away swearing/ "locker room talk" makes the cops look so stereotypical it's annoying as it's been done in tons of 80's and 90's films. If anyone mentioned tits again for the sake of saying someone is pretty, I would have had to throw my Kindle across the room.

Hence, I did not finish, which might be the first time I have not truly finished a book. I am curious about the title mentions - the swords and the gold mystery - but this isn't my cup of tea so I'll just skim other reviews of the book to get myself some spoilers. I wish other readers the best.

[Daniele Kasper · Rating 3 out of 5]

As an avid fan of Indians Jones and all things treasure hunting, this book caught my attention. Unfortunately, and perhaps because main character Jon had such big shoes to fill, it didn’t quite shine with the luster I was hoping it would have. Don’t get me wrong, it was a solid book. It just didn’t totally wow me. The plot was pretty straightforward. Coveted lost treasure with some fantastical elements, very similar to Indiana Jones, and a mysterious murderer to catch. Some of the fantasy elements came off a little outlandish at times, but then again it is fantasy so anything goes.

The plot itself was fine, some of the writing techniques were where I got a little hung up. Some of the wording and dialogue was a little clunky making it hard for me to stay totally engaged with the characters. I got through it in a few days because I wasn’t so captivated I had to finish it in one sitting, but for all the treasure hunting aficionados out there. Give this one a try. You might enjoy it.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book TW/CW: Death, Gore, Mention of rape

This book was right up my alley and was an excellent debut novel for the author. The story focuses on Jon Sherman, a deep sea treasure hunter who is yanked out of his normal life and is forced to fight for his life and the lives of those that he holds dearest against an evil entity that stalks their every move.

I truly enjoyed this book! It was very refreshing to see the "chosen one" trope applied to adults rather than kids and teenagers. The writing was very well done, especially in the action scenes, and the characters were very interesting and engaging.

All in all I really enjoyed this book and hope that the author makes this into a series.

I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This in no way impacted my review.

[Ana Hantt · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a satisfying story! This book's plot and the characters’ arc are very well-rounded and everything comes at the right time and falls right into place. I loved traveling to China and discovering more about this mother-son ancient story. Jon and Natalia are perfect leads too—they are strong, brave, loyal, and honorable—and of course, their romance left warmth in my heart.
Fang of Hubei certainly stole my heart. She’s such a moving and powerful figure. Even if we see her just in a few scenes, she left a great impression on me and I was really mopping after her reunion with her son.
And of course, let’s talk about that plot twist: I never saw that coming!
Surely, a book that brings everything we want when the idea is escaping day-to-day life to dive into a new universe. Recommended!

[Prof. Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much needed twist to the paranormal genre

I won this book from a giveaway contest on Goodreads. The author is a really great at providing detail. I've read several paranormal books and this one is unique both culturally and villain-wise. It was refreshing to read. The attention to the storyline and forewarning throughout added to the suspense of the book. Nice read overall.

[KerryO · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the hunt for treasure aspect of this story, but not so much the fantasy aspects. Great characters that I would be interested in reading more about, without the so far-fetched fantasy. I received an ARC from NetGalley, and the opinions expressed are my own.

[gj indieBRAG · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are proud to announce that THE SWORDS OF BLOOD AND GOLD by J.C.R. Paulino has been honored with the B.R.A.G.Medallion (Book Readers Appreciation Group). It now joins the very select award-winning, reader-recommended books at indieBRAG.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible urban fantasy thriller read!!

[Randall Snyder · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good book, with supernatural themes set in a Cussler-esque character set. The detailing about the history was very well done and the action kept me interested and involved.

[Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought that this book had an interesting plot and was really excited about sea exploration for treasure but felt that this book really missed the mark and didn’t go to much into it the book I felt was slow to get into and just hard to follow felt like everything just happened so fast. I finished it but just wasn’t what I expected

[Candice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid 3.5/5 star rating for me.
Deep sea treasure hunter, John Sherman, disagrees with his boss over business. He gets fired. A few weeks later, his boss and whole team fall victim to a massed murderer. John becomes a main suspect, but teams up with his ex-boss’ daughter, Natalie, to unveil the murder. Through a series of twists and turns, it is uncovered that the treasure hunter team found chests that related to a Chinese legend right before their deaths. John and Natalie must dive into the past to learn a Chinese history about the swords of blood and gold to save their lives.
I really enjoyed this book! It immediately caught my interest with treasure hunting and the suspense of the masked murderer. However, I found the romance between Natalie and John to be a bit forced. I think that the romance took away from main plot and did not add anything of significance. Overall, very enjoyable! I would recommend to anyone who enjoyed National Treasure movies or Outer Banks series.