What do you think?
Rate this book
Nightbringer
An ancient evil has darkened the halls of Saint Gregory's Abbey in the Italian Alps. The monastery becomes a murderous battleground as a group of monks and tourists are forced to combat an unstoppable force. Cut off from rescue by a snowstorm, the defenders must fight for survival and their very souls.But from among the defenders arises an ageless holy warrior who alone wields the power to stem the tide of evil. The warrior must not only struggle against a foe of mythic might but also rediscover the faith and love that have carried him through a thousand battles.
302 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2004
9 people are currently reading
235 people want to read
About the author
James Byron Huggins
24 books222 followersA veteran novelist and best-selling author, James Byron Huggins' life story reads more like fiction than fact. His career as a writer began normally enough. He received a bachelor's degree in journalism and English from Troy State University, and then worked as a reporter for the Hartselle Enquirer in Hartselle, Alabama.
Huggins won seven awards while with the newspaper before leaving journalism in 1985. With a desire to help persecuted Christians in eastern Europe, Huggins moved to Texas to work in conjunction with members of the Christian underground in that region.
From the Texas base, Huggins helped set up a system used to smuggle information in and out of Iron Curtain countries.
In 1987, Huggins was finally able to leave the United States to offer hands-on assistance in Romania. As a jack of all trades, Huggins photographed a secret police installation, took photos of people active in the Christian underground, and also continued his work as an orchestrator of smuggling routes.
Huggins was instrumental in smuggling out film and documentation that showed the plight of Christians in Romania. He even found time to create a code that allowed communication with the United States. As in Texas, Huggins' life had few creature comforts. To survive, he would often remain hidden in the woods or in secure basements for days at a time.
After his time in Romania, Huggins returned to the United States and took up journalism once more. He again worked for a small newspaper and won several awards as a reporter. Later on, he worked at a nonprofit Christian magazine before becoming a patrolman with the Huntsville Police Department in Huntsville, Alabama.
After distinguished service as a decorated field officer, Huggins left the force to pursue writing novels. His first three novels--A Wolf Story, The Reckoning, and Leviathan--achieved best-seller status in the Christian marketplace.
From there, Huggins broke into mainstream science fiction with Cain and Hunter, both of which were optioned for film rights. Huggins then released Rora, a historical novel depicting the harrowing life of a European martyr. His following book, Nightbringer, was met with critical acclaim and is in production for a movie.
Huggins won seven awards while with the newspaper before leaving journalism in 1985. With a desire to help persecuted Christians in eastern Europe, Huggins moved to Texas to work in conjunction with members of the Christian underground in that region.
From the Texas base, Huggins helped set up a system used to smuggle information in and out of Iron Curtain countries.
In 1987, Huggins was finally able to leave the United States to offer hands-on assistance in Romania. As a jack of all trades, Huggins photographed a secret police installation, took photos of people active in the Christian underground, and also continued his work as an orchestrator of smuggling routes.
Huggins was instrumental in smuggling out film and documentation that showed the plight of Christians in Romania. He even found time to create a code that allowed communication with the United States. As in Texas, Huggins' life had few creature comforts. To survive, he would often remain hidden in the woods or in secure basements for days at a time.
After his time in Romania, Huggins returned to the United States and took up journalism once more. He again worked for a small newspaper and won several awards as a reporter. Later on, he worked at a nonprofit Christian magazine before becoming a patrolman with the Huntsville Police Department in Huntsville, Alabama.
After distinguished service as a decorated field officer, Huggins left the force to pursue writing novels. His first three novels--A Wolf Story, The Reckoning, and Leviathan--achieved best-seller status in the Christian marketplace.
From there, Huggins broke into mainstream science fiction with Cain and Hunter, both of which were optioned for film rights. Huggins then released Rora, a historical novel depicting the harrowing life of a European martyr. His following book, Nightbringer, was met with critical acclaim and is in production for a movie.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
July 22, 2010
OK, I will preface this by saying that I did not want to read this in the first place. I've read a few of his other books and was thoroughly unimpressed. However, a friend of mine wanted to include nephilim in a game we are playing, so he wanted me to read it.
I realize as a christian author there is not a whole lot of competition, but that does not excuse a writer from finding a good editor, or self editing better. I have to admit I lay a lot of the blame on the editor, or lack thereof. There are huge sections of pure exposition. No action, no showing, just telling. At one point in the middle of an action scene the POV goes on and on about one move he could possibly make, and then goes on a tangent comparing the pain of that move to the pain that you deliver when you use a different move that he isn't even considering using. A good editor should have caught that and made him fix it before it reached print. The author also would do well to check for overused and poorly used words. It was a "titanic" effort to plow through this piece of work. I wanted to vomit "volcanically" every time he used the words I just put in quotes.
The mother, Gina, was not believable. If she was as concerned and caring about them as the author tells us perhaps he should show it somewhere. After each battle especially after rescuing them one would expect her to be hugging them and reassuring instead of just handing them off to someone else to deal with.
I think Huggins has some very interesting ideas and I could see how he could become a great author, but he will never reach that potential if no one (editors) point out what needs serious work.
The action was both dry and predicable. The characters are 2 dimensional at best. I would not recommend this book
I realize as a christian author there is not a whole lot of competition, but that does not excuse a writer from finding a good editor, or self editing better. I have to admit I lay a lot of the blame on the editor, or lack thereof. There are huge sections of pure exposition. No action, no showing, just telling. At one point in the middle of an action scene the POV goes on and on about one move he could possibly make, and then goes on a tangent comparing the pain of that move to the pain that you deliver when you use a different move that he isn't even considering using. A good editor should have caught that and made him fix it before it reached print. The author also would do well to check for overused and poorly used words. It was a "titanic" effort to plow through this piece of work. I wanted to vomit "volcanically" every time he used the words I just put in quotes.
The mother, Gina, was not believable. If she was as concerned and caring about them as the author tells us perhaps he should show it somewhere. After each battle especially after rescuing them one would expect her to be hugging them and reassuring instead of just handing them off to someone else to deal with.
I think Huggins has some very interesting ideas and I could see how he could become a great author, but he will never reach that potential if no one (editors) point out what needs serious work.
The action was both dry and predicable. The characters are 2 dimensional at best. I would not recommend this book
December 7, 2012
My guilty pleasure. When I first read this, I wasn't even aware of the Christian/Biblical undertones (just became aware of them when trying to find a copy to read again and read some reviews). And it honestly doesn't matter either way to me, all I saw then was a badass book about a badass hero fighting badass villains. EXTREMELY BADASS. The story of how the hero came to be only made it more authentic and believable and the depictions of the fights were more visceral than I have seen in any other book...and I have read a lot of them.
I only hesitate to give it a full 5-stars because even at a young age I noticed that the literal style was clearly not of the highest quality and the author's only real strength was the fight depictions. Still right up there in the list of books I had the most fun reading.
I only hesitate to give it a full 5-stars because even at a young age I noticed that the literal style was clearly not of the highest quality and the author's only real strength was the fight depictions. Still right up there in the list of books I had the most fun reading.
January 8, 2025
This book had a lot of revolving genres to it that kept it fresh and making me want to read more.
It’s setting starts as a classic beginning of a horror movie, but mid way through it turns into an absurd amount of gun-play and sword combat. It reads how all the Post-Matrix action movies with a supernatural flair felt like in the 2000s (Underworld, Blade,Van Helsing, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, etc, etc.). This is not a critique. This is high praise. This book had style that’s hard to replicate in written words.
On a big side note, you get Biblical accounts that are so intricately written, you forget your reading a book. Also, a ton of banger one-liners that stand out so profoundly, you feel like you need to break out a highlighter to take notes.
The characters of the story are mad compelling and made me care more about them then I planned too. This caught me off guard in the best way.
My only small critiques is that some, not all, of the scene changes are so jarring, you don’t know where you are for the next couple of paragraphs. Also, the gun lingo was a little much. You don’t need to describe the firearm by its Pronoun Name every time a new paragraph starts. I don’t know why this took me out of the story so much, but it reads like someone new to writing gun-centric action scenes. (This is such a minor complaint that I really don’t care about, I just found it a little funny.)
This is a book I would recommend to anyone. Straight up.
It’s setting starts as a classic beginning of a horror movie, but mid way through it turns into an absurd amount of gun-play and sword combat. It reads how all the Post-Matrix action movies with a supernatural flair felt like in the 2000s (Underworld, Blade,Van Helsing, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, etc, etc.). This is not a critique. This is high praise. This book had style that’s hard to replicate in written words.
On a big side note, you get Biblical accounts that are so intricately written, you forget your reading a book. Also, a ton of banger one-liners that stand out so profoundly, you feel like you need to break out a highlighter to take notes.
The characters of the story are mad compelling and made me care more about them then I planned too. This caught me off guard in the best way.
My only small critiques is that some, not all, of the scene changes are so jarring, you don’t know where you are for the next couple of paragraphs. Also, the gun lingo was a little much. You don’t need to describe the firearm by its Pronoun Name every time a new paragraph starts. I don’t know why this took me out of the story so much, but it reads like someone new to writing gun-centric action scenes. (This is such a minor complaint that I really don’t care about, I just found it a little funny.)
This is a book I would recommend to anyone. Straight up.
January 9, 2022
This book had a really great premise and setting. There was a lot of potential for it to be an engaging story, but it missed the mark, primarily because of point of view (POV) issues.
If the author had chosen to delve more deeply into the characters points of view and use it to create realistic and engaging characters that the reader could relate to, it would have made from much more engaging story.
There were some places where certain information was withheld and you expected a big reveal, but when the thing was revealed, it really wasn't that engaging or important to the story and basically something the reader already expected.
The dialogue in conversations seemed to go in circles and were quite repetitive to where when characters were discussing a matter, as a reader I felt like I had already read the same or a similar conversation.
The scenes of conflicts were probably the best written part of the book, but they happened so frequently and never seemed to be progressing the story. It was just another fight, to where reading it became tedious as the story felt like a conversation and then a fight and not really much of a progression with the overarching storyline.
Again because the point of view wasn't written deeply enough for me to really care about the characters, I found it hard to be engaged. For the last hundred pages or so I just read it so that I could be done with the book.
The storyline had a lot of potential and could have been very engaging, I feel, if the other had focused more on the characters and developing them by writing more deeply from their point of view rather than crafting well-written combat scenes.
If the author had chosen to delve more deeply into the characters points of view and use it to create realistic and engaging characters that the reader could relate to, it would have made from much more engaging story.
There were some places where certain information was withheld and you expected a big reveal, but when the thing was revealed, it really wasn't that engaging or important to the story and basically something the reader already expected.
The dialogue in conversations seemed to go in circles and were quite repetitive to where when characters were discussing a matter, as a reader I felt like I had already read the same or a similar conversation.
The scenes of conflicts were probably the best written part of the book, but they happened so frequently and never seemed to be progressing the story. It was just another fight, to where reading it became tedious as the story felt like a conversation and then a fight and not really much of a progression with the overarching storyline.
Again because the point of view wasn't written deeply enough for me to really care about the characters, I found it hard to be engaged. For the last hundred pages or so I just read it so that I could be done with the book.
The storyline had a lot of potential and could have been very engaging, I feel, if the other had focused more on the characters and developing them by writing more deeply from their point of view rather than crafting well-written combat scenes.
December 28, 2017
WOW! Nephilim, the Spear of Destiny, Longinus, this book was more than your typical Haunted Keep genre book like The Keep or The Howling IV. This book took that genre, ate it for breakfast, spit out the mangled bones, and used them to pick its' teeth! Basic plotline, ancient Nephilim killer Gias Cassius Longinus--the Roman Centurian who pierced the side of Christ with his spear has one more battle ahead of him. This book will keep you going until the last page.
I became a HUGE Huggins fan after reading Hunter, but didn't have the opportunity get my hands on any of his other works. I have, he is the master, and he now owns my fanboy soul. lol.
I became a HUGE Huggins fan after reading Hunter, but didn't have the opportunity get my hands on any of his other works. I have, he is the master, and he now owns my fanboy soul. lol.
January 1, 2018
I really wanted to like this book. But I had to skip about a third in the middle, because it was just more and more of the same thing. So, meh. Read the end.
October 30, 2022
I've read several novels by James Byron Huggins and this one, while being good is near the bottom of an excellent pile. It starts out great, a stormed in ancient, monastery high in the Alps with an epic hero and an ancient villian. What more could you ask for? The suspense is ramped up in the first 90 pages, while there's development of some of the secondary characters. When the action hits it is fast and intense. As a reader I was fully invested at this point.
It is in the last half that the this novel loses some momentum. Those secondary characters were mostly wasted and had potential for so much more especially as examples of faith and redemption of ordinary men. The fight scenes become redundant, the Christian aspects are too wordy and long, and I am a Christian. The less is better lesson Huggins seemed to learn in one of my favorite stories, "Cain" is not applied here. In that book the Christian apects are short, but powerful. This novel is definitely worth reading, and I'll continue to be an avid reader of Mr. Huggins. I was probably just a little disappointed as I was saving this for just the right time and it was quite up to par with the other five books I've read by this author. I guess I was expecting 5 stars.
It is in the last half that the this novel loses some momentum. Those secondary characters were mostly wasted and had potential for so much more especially as examples of faith and redemption of ordinary men. The fight scenes become redundant, the Christian aspects are too wordy and long, and I am a Christian. The less is better lesson Huggins seemed to learn in one of my favorite stories, "Cain" is not applied here. In that book the Christian apects are short, but powerful. This novel is definitely worth reading, and I'll continue to be an avid reader of Mr. Huggins. I was probably just a little disappointed as I was saving this for just the right time and it was quite up to par with the other five books I've read by this author. I guess I was expecting 5 stars.
August 23, 2020
I'm not big on fantasy themed books, and this is sort of in that category, so perhaps I am biased.
The plot of the story has so much potential, and there are parts that are very interesting and well-written. But the consistency throughout made it difficult for me to keep interest. I kept feeling like I had skipped a chapter or so...like it was a tv series and I missed a few episodes. It seemed like a "self-published" book that had been submitted without an editor. It was interesting enough for me to read until the end, but I was relieved to finish the task. This would be better as a 'beach read'--when you have time to read the entire book in 1-2 settings. Reading a bit each day was not enough to maintain my interest. I would like to see more from this author--there were some really good moments! But get a good editor to help.
Storyline: Good
Character development: Inconsistent at times--some were great, others not so great.
Writing style: 'meh' at times
The plot of the story has so much potential, and there are parts that are very interesting and well-written. But the consistency throughout made it difficult for me to keep interest. I kept feeling like I had skipped a chapter or so...like it was a tv series and I missed a few episodes. It seemed like a "self-published" book that had been submitted without an editor. It was interesting enough for me to read until the end, but I was relieved to finish the task. This would be better as a 'beach read'--when you have time to read the entire book in 1-2 settings. Reading a bit each day was not enough to maintain my interest. I would like to see more from this author--there were some really good moments! But get a good editor to help.
Storyline: Good
Character development: Inconsistent at times--some were great, others not so great.
Writing style: 'meh' at times
September 19, 2018
This book was hard to put down, but I am not always after a constant action. It is the first book I have read by this author. It had plenty of action but much of it was repetitive. I thought maybe this book was more along the lines of spiritual warfare like Frank Peretti's tales but there was little similarity. There were no actual demons (the Nephilim took that role) or angels getting involved. The main antagonists here were the Nephilim who still survived since Old Testament days and the centurion who was in charge of the crucifixion of Jesus and also drove his spear into Jesus' side as well as proclaiming that this was indeed the Son of God. He had been rendered immune from aging and had lived to the current day. While this work was fiction, the whole scenario seemed to be implausible to me. It just seemed like there was some depth missing as the fantasy unfolded.
July 23, 2018
The overall plot was rather interesting. One of the centurions at Jesus' crucifixion spending two thousand years to battle demons throughout history. Unfortunately the execution was not great. The writing was very choppy, repetitive, and lacked any depth of character.
Lots of fights and then the Nephilim runs off into a cave. Repeat over and over until finally he is killed.
I don't usually read action books so maybe it is the genre, but I was disappointed.
Lots of fights and then the Nephilim runs off into a cave. Repeat over and over until finally he is killed.
I don't usually read action books so maybe it is the genre, but I was disappointed.
September 29, 2019
A group on a tour bus breaks down in the mountains so they all take shelter at a near by monastery. Soon after a big snowstorm hits stranding the group with the monks at the monastery. Eventually they find there is an evil lurking in the shadows of the depths of the monastery. One of the group is not who he says he is. Could he possibly fight this evil and win thus keeping the monastery safe? Find out when you read this book.
June 27, 2023
Slower paced story with some not very well explained characters. I did finish it and I wanted to know how it wrapped up but I had to force it a bit. If I had another book in front of me that I couldn’t wait to read I would have dnf’d it.
March 7, 2019
How you built a fictional masterpiece on biblical history is phenomenal. Can’t wait to read more of your work!
March 27, 2020
This is a super read. Is about spiritual warfare at its rawest. Is a fantasy. Couldn't put it down. Remember it's fiction. You will love this book.
April 7, 2020
I could read JBH's stories all day long. Nightbringer is another titanic, volcanic struggle between good and evil
August 17, 2020
Ok
I loved these when I was younger. There are glimpses of good but a lot of cheese. I might read Leviathan again.
I loved these when I was younger. There are glimpses of good but a lot of cheese. I might read Leviathan again.
February 3, 2009
James Byron Huggins is very good in taking obscure references in the Bible and crafting exciting tales that keeps anyone enthralled to the end of the story.
According to him, the Nephilim are a race of monsters, descendants of fallen angels by mortal women, possessing immortality, great strength, power and wisdom acquired through the centuries. They can change their physical appearance to look like ordinary men. Then to oppose the Nephilim, he fleshes out the Roman centurion who guarded Jesus during his crucifixion, gives him a name and makes him immortal also. Although both opposing forces are immortal, they are still flesh and blood, and can be killed with the ordinary weapons of the day. Through the centuries, the Roman centurion has been hunting and killing the Nephilim wherever he can find them. This was the task given him when he was made immortal during the crucifixion. At the beginning of the novel, there are short incidents where he was using swords and later on, guns, against the Nephilim.
Fast forward to the present time. A group of tourists were riding a bus and came up to an isolated abbey in the Italian Alps. The abbey has been closed for some time and was only opened recently to tourists. Among the tourists were a lady detective and her children; a Monsignor, a delegate from the Pope; a "gentle giant of a man" with great strength who has been entertaining the kids during the journey; a quiet man who calls himself, Michael Constantine; and, an old professor accompanied by his daughter. When the weather worsened and they can no longer continue on their journey, they were made welcome by the abbot and the priests who has been living there.
Among the first to die was the "gentle giant" when he was killed in a particularly gruesome manner. Also, one of the priests was killed. As the story progresses, it would be revealed that loose in the abbey are a group of Nephilims, exact number unknown, but one of them has the ability to command the weather and all of them can change forms to look like ordinary men; that Michael is actually the Roman centurion, Cassius. Helping Cassius/Michael is Gina, armed only with a pistol. But no problem, Cassius pulls out high powered guns and weapons from his duffle bag. It is also implied that Gina and Cassius are becoming close to each other. Also, the Monsignor wil reveal that high officials in the church are aware of the existence of the Nephilim and of Cassius. During lulls in the fighting, we learn that hidden in the abbey are Christian relics - the Cross, and the spear used by Cassius to pierce Jesus's side to show that he was already dead. There are also flashbacks when Cassius remembers his fight with a Moslem ruler who wanted to acquire some of the artifacts.
After killing the less powerful Nephilims, but believing that he will not be able to defeat the last and most powerful one, Cassius orders the others to flee while he stays behind to fight him one last time. During their flight, the survivors look back to see the abbey destroyed and believed that Cassius died in the wreckage. Actually he did not.
There are some minor inconsistencies in the story but they in no way detracts from my enjoyment. I would still recommend the novel.
According to him, the Nephilim are a race of monsters, descendants of fallen angels by mortal women, possessing immortality, great strength, power and wisdom acquired through the centuries. They can change their physical appearance to look like ordinary men. Then to oppose the Nephilim, he fleshes out the Roman centurion who guarded Jesus during his crucifixion, gives him a name and makes him immortal also. Although both opposing forces are immortal, they are still flesh and blood, and can be killed with the ordinary weapons of the day. Through the centuries, the Roman centurion has been hunting and killing the Nephilim wherever he can find them. This was the task given him when he was made immortal during the crucifixion. At the beginning of the novel, there are short incidents where he was using swords and later on, guns, against the Nephilim.
Fast forward to the present time. A group of tourists were riding a bus and came up to an isolated abbey in the Italian Alps. The abbey has been closed for some time and was only opened recently to tourists. Among the tourists were a lady detective and her children; a Monsignor, a delegate from the Pope; a "gentle giant of a man" with great strength who has been entertaining the kids during the journey; a quiet man who calls himself, Michael Constantine; and, an old professor accompanied by his daughter. When the weather worsened and they can no longer continue on their journey, they were made welcome by the abbot and the priests who has been living there.
Among the first to die was the "gentle giant" when he was killed in a particularly gruesome manner. Also, one of the priests was killed. As the story progresses, it would be revealed that loose in the abbey are a group of Nephilims, exact number unknown, but one of them has the ability to command the weather and all of them can change forms to look like ordinary men; that Michael is actually the Roman centurion, Cassius. Helping Cassius/Michael is Gina, armed only with a pistol. But no problem, Cassius pulls out high powered guns and weapons from his duffle bag. It is also implied that Gina and Cassius are becoming close to each other. Also, the Monsignor wil reveal that high officials in the church are aware of the existence of the Nephilim and of Cassius. During lulls in the fighting, we learn that hidden in the abbey are Christian relics - the Cross, and the spear used by Cassius to pierce Jesus's side to show that he was already dead. There are also flashbacks when Cassius remembers his fight with a Moslem ruler who wanted to acquire some of the artifacts.
After killing the less powerful Nephilims, but believing that he will not be able to defeat the last and most powerful one, Cassius orders the others to flee while he stays behind to fight him one last time. During their flight, the survivors look back to see the abbey destroyed and believed that Cassius died in the wreckage. Actually he did not.
There are some minor inconsistencies in the story but they in no way detracts from my enjoyment. I would still recommend the novel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 19, 2017
I became interested in reading another book by author James Byron Huggins after I finished his novel, “Rora". I hunkered down with this adventure in the winter and prepared to be entertained.
This was an easier read than Rora. The latter dealt with the hard historical account of the Calvinist martyrs in Italy, while Nightbringer was more in the fantasy/supernatural genre. Although this isn’t the first or the last Christian novel to deal with the subject of the Nephilim, it was the first I’ve read, and I was entertained with the ‘what if’ of what would happen if the descendants of Anak were still on earth. Of course, if this were truly the case it would very unsettling, but in fiction it makes for great adventure!
The first third of the story was the most interesting to me, as it was able to keep my interest with it’s mystery. But once that mystery was revealed (too early on), the suspense was dropped. Unfortunately, I felt the author got himself into a rut in the middle of his story. I was quickly bored reading about one battle after another with the Nephilim beasts and the descriptions that went on page after page. In every episode, it seemed Cassius (our hero) was severely wounded worse than he ever had before, then quickly recovered and preparing for his next battle, where he was wounded worse than ever before that… and the cycle would go on chapter after chapter.
I can see guys liking this story perhaps more than I did. It has the action, the battles, the hero that may appeal to them. But it is not a serious work of fiction, and definitely not literary. If you are looking for something exciting and light, this is for you.
This was an easier read than Rora. The latter dealt with the hard historical account of the Calvinist martyrs in Italy, while Nightbringer was more in the fantasy/supernatural genre. Although this isn’t the first or the last Christian novel to deal with the subject of the Nephilim, it was the first I’ve read, and I was entertained with the ‘what if’ of what would happen if the descendants of Anak were still on earth. Of course, if this were truly the case it would very unsettling, but in fiction it makes for great adventure!
The first third of the story was the most interesting to me, as it was able to keep my interest with it’s mystery. But once that mystery was revealed (too early on), the suspense was dropped. Unfortunately, I felt the author got himself into a rut in the middle of his story. I was quickly bored reading about one battle after another with the Nephilim beasts and the descriptions that went on page after page. In every episode, it seemed Cassius (our hero) was severely wounded worse than he ever had before, then quickly recovered and preparing for his next battle, where he was wounded worse than ever before that… and the cycle would go on chapter after chapter.
I can see guys liking this story perhaps more than I did. It has the action, the battles, the hero that may appeal to them. But it is not a serious work of fiction, and definitely not literary. If you are looking for something exciting and light, this is for you.
April 26, 2020
I was ecstatic the day Nightbringer arrived at my doorstep. All the way from the US of A. My James Byron Huggins library is now complete.
Nightbringer is classic Huggins but somewhat stripped down to just 300 pages. I really, really wanted to love this book, but alas, it fell short of Huggins greatness.
I've read raving reviews of Nightbringer, many declaring Nightbringer Huggins' best work. To that statement I say a resounding "meh". In a nutshell...
The Negatives:
- Nightbringer is a short read at just 300 pages.
- The action doesn't really kick in until half way through the book.
- Character development could have been better.
- This is Huggins' most far-fetched book to date.
- The climax is anti-climactic.
The positives:
- Nightbringer is a short read at just 300 pages.
- The last half (although slow in coming) is almost continuous action.
- This is by far Huggin's most 'Christian' story, if I can put it that way.
- The crucifixion scene is described brilliantly, and originally.
- The book brings a new spin on the 'Nephilim' theory.
In conclusion, if you are a die-hard Huggins fan, you'll get your familiar kicks out of Nightbringer, but don't expect another Reckoning or Cain. If you are unfamiliar with Huggins I suggest you don't start with this one. Although still work the read, Nightbringer failed to give me my Huggins injection of action-packed-literary awesomeness.
Nightbringer is classic Huggins but somewhat stripped down to just 300 pages. I really, really wanted to love this book, but alas, it fell short of Huggins greatness.
I've read raving reviews of Nightbringer, many declaring Nightbringer Huggins' best work. To that statement I say a resounding "meh". In a nutshell...
The Negatives:
- Nightbringer is a short read at just 300 pages.
- The action doesn't really kick in until half way through the book.
- Character development could have been better.
- This is Huggins' most far-fetched book to date.
- The climax is anti-climactic.
The positives:
- Nightbringer is a short read at just 300 pages.
- The last half (although slow in coming) is almost continuous action.
- This is by far Huggin's most 'Christian' story, if I can put it that way.
- The crucifixion scene is described brilliantly, and originally.
- The book brings a new spin on the 'Nephilim' theory.
In conclusion, if you are a die-hard Huggins fan, you'll get your familiar kicks out of Nightbringer, but don't expect another Reckoning or Cain. If you are unfamiliar with Huggins I suggest you don't start with this one. Although still work the read, Nightbringer failed to give me my Huggins injection of action-packed-literary awesomeness.
December 31, 2016
I was initially reluctant to read Huggins' Nightbringer because so many reviewers wrote that this was not Huggins best work. If this isn't his best then his other books must all be five stars! A part horror part action adventure novel with strong Christian themes, Nightbringer has the perfect balance of well-written action sequences with biblical "history". Some call it edgy Christian fiction, I'll just call it an excellent read. Huggins does a nice job of strong character development, provides powerful vision to his biblical history passages, and leaves the reader guessing how the plot will unfold. Don't shy away from this novel because of the Christian themes a Huggins does not preach as much as he involves the reader in understanding his passion for Christianity. An ancient evil has darkened the halls of Saint Gregory's Abbey in the Italian Alps. The monastery becomes a murderous battleground as a group of monks and tourists are forced to combat an unstoppable force. Cut off from rescue by a snowstorm, the defenders must fight for survival and their very souls.But from among the defenders arises an ageless holy warrior who alone wields the power to stem the tide of evil. The warrior must not only struggle against a foe of mythic might but also rediscover the faith and love that have carried him through a thousand battles. Just short of a five star effort but anyone who enjoys horror tinged action adventure novels will gobble up this book. Highly recommended!
July 10, 2010
Maybe this just wasn't my kind of book because it left me with more questions than answers. The setting was good and the story could have been excellent; I don't know what went wrong, except that I really didn't get to know the characters very well. A group of tourists stop at an ancient Abbey in the northern Italian Alps. The secluded Abbey has not been open to visitors since World War two. A terrible and abnormal snowstorm strands visitors and monks alike inside the abbey where something evil is attacking the humans. The inhabitants come to realize that the evil is someone within and that someone must be exterminated but it is an ancient inhuman evil. Without adding spoilers I'll just say that one of the group is more than equal to the fight.
February 19, 2010
I had read Huggins' book, The Reckoning and had some problems. The passages in which someone (good guy or bad guy) philosophized were long to the point of pain.
I was hoping Nightbringer would be different. It was.
The action is only punctuated by brief spaces that allow the reader to breathe. Huggins has taken the Biblical story of the nephilim and brought it into the present world. The soldier who comes to save the travelers trapped in the abbey... is a major revelation in the story.
Action and Biblical-based fiction. A good read.
I was hoping Nightbringer would be different. It was.
The action is only punctuated by brief spaces that allow the reader to breathe. Huggins has taken the Biblical story of the nephilim and brought it into the present world. The soldier who comes to save the travelers trapped in the abbey... is a major revelation in the story.
Action and Biblical-based fiction. A good read.
December 19, 2007
A group of tourists are trapped in a monastery with the resident monks while a trio of Biblical monsters stalk them. One of the tourists is not as he appears, however, and his confrontation with the monsters provides the majority of the plot. I was pretty surprised, during all the fighting and killing, that this book is targeted to a Christian audience, with several references to Christ as the savior, etc. Overall, a lot of action, but not very well written.
May 15, 2013
First off, the author is James Byron Huggins, NOT Jas Byron Huggings.
Ohh, this would make a great action movie. An isolated location, a seemingly unstoppable killing creature, captive audience, and tons of action. And oh yeah, the main hero has been around since Jesus lived. In fact, he has taken a vow to defeat these creatures.
Die Hard with Demons? Maybe, but a fun action tale!
Ohh, this would make a great action movie. An isolated location, a seemingly unstoppable killing creature, captive audience, and tons of action. And oh yeah, the main hero has been around since Jesus lived. In fact, he has taken a vow to defeat these creatures.
Die Hard with Demons? Maybe, but a fun action tale!
February 23, 2022
To stand in the rain, and thunder, and lightning, as the earth convulses, gazing into the eyes of God as you thrust a spear into His side, sealing the covenant of blood and water between man and God, and stepping then into an eternal battle, is this book.
January 25, 2011
Seemed like it was pitched to a young adult audience.
5/10
5/10
September 2, 2012
A powerful story about living with the choices we make. Full of fascinating characters, brutal battles, courage and triumph.
June 7, 2013
One of my favorites! Great book.
July 27, 2013
I think this is one of my favorite books.
I plan to go back and read it again so I can give a an accurate review.
I plan to go back and read it again so I can give a an accurate review.
July 11, 2014
This guy writes very elegantly. I really enjoy his way with words and the story was great. I don't know that I would call this horror, but definitely suspenseful.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews