Stones of Fire

Caedmon Aisquith #1

by C.M. Palov

Eight hundred years ago a Crusader in the Holy Land discovered a gold box. Under a veil of secrecy it was transported to England and hidden, the clues to its whereabouts embedded in sixteen cryptic lines of verse. For centuries it has been rumoured the treasure was none other than the Ark of the Covenant ...And now, after a brutal murder in Washington and the theft of an ancient relic known as the Stones of Fire, there's a desperate need to find out whether the rumours are true. For the Stones of Fire was Moses' breastplate, supposedly worn to protect him from the Ark of the Covenant and if - as it seems - a sinister army of mercenaries has masterminded the theft, it's only a matter of time before they use the Ark to wage war on a terrifying and devastating scale. The Ark of the Covenant must be found. The safety of the world depends upon it.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Adventure, Mystery, Historical Fiction, Action, Suspense

559 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2009

About the author

Librarian note:
Czech editions of C.M. Palov books are published as Chloe Palov

Reviews

[Kat (Ginger Bibliophile on YouTube) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started off good, ended up feeling like a theology lesson. I got about half ish then just skipped to the end honestly. I was curious, but could do without all the lectures on history poems and clues about the Ark that were just more Bible discussion but not actually going anywhere. Though nice change for redhead to be the main crush instead of the villain, and there was definitely a budding romance pretty much from the get go. All in all, good for some but definitely not for me

[Bridget · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edie has just witnessed a murder and a theft that could change the face of history. The item stolen was the breastplate that Moses wore to protect himself from the Ark of the Covenant. Edie has no idea who she can turn to. Unable to trust anyone but a historian named Caedmon, together they embark on a journey unlike anything they have experienced before. Running for their lives while playing detective searching for the truth, they find inner strength that will change them for the better.

This was an extremely fun read. I love trying to put the pieces together and figure out what is going to happen before I finish a book. This one kept me on my toes!

[Suspense Magazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A combination of “Raiders of the Lost Ark” meets The “Da Vinci Code”. “Ark of Fire” has all the action of a great thriller and an insightful look into one of the most talked about religious artifacts known to mankind. The action starts right from the beginning and doesn’t stop until the dramatic ending. All the while, the reader is never sure how our heroes will make it through. A definite must read for the holiday season.

www.suspensemagazine.com

[Mark Kaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a fun read. Not to be taken seriously, cheesy at best, inaccurate at worst which is why I didn’t give it 5 stars. The biblical inaccuracies were off the scale. The Ark of the Covenant wasn’t used as a super weapon, and no where in the bible does it say it was.
It was a representation of Gods presence, because the Israelites wanted some thing physical, something tangible to worship. So God gave them the Ark.
You can clearly read all of this in the Bible for yourself.
That aside, this was a fun read, inspired IMO by Raiders of the Lost Ark.

[Brenda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like reading quests for ancient relics but this one didn't thrill me. It was a roller coaster ride but not necessarily in a good way. Edie was a bad ass at times and incredibly stupid at others. I was also put off a little by the romance (?) between Edie and Caedmon. They are in danger and in a race to find a relic but also making goo-goo eyes at each other. I will admit that I haven't been in this situation myself but I would think that safety and solving the riddle would be more important. I won't be continuing with the series.

[Trina · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit disappointing

[Ash · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reading the blurb, I had high hopes when I randomly picked up this book from the shelf.

From the very beginning, I just couldn't get past the colourful language. I mean, other authors use swear words and derogatory terms, yeah, but here it seemed to have been inserted after each sentence simply to make the book more "appetising". It served the exact opposite purpose as the terms left a bad taste in the mouth.

Secondly, romance spices up a suspence novel, as long as its artfully inserted. Just to randomly put in excessively intimate scenes for a "hot" book, was a big turn off.

It might have been a masterpiece if the author wasn't eyeing a movie deal which is what it seems with the senseless theatrics. Sadly it falls miserably short.

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this book will never attain the popularity of The Davinci Code, in many ways it is more interesting. Our heroes are not mere quislings pushed into action by circumstance, they actually have guts and knowledge and are able to mix it up with the bad guys rather than ducking and running every 8 minutes. The female lead has a brain as well as the willingness to fight even when she is outmatched in skill and size.

Oh yeah, there's this whole race for the Ark of the Covenant thing too that really makes it fun and interesting. This is a very good book in the pseudo-archeo chase genre. I liked it and can't wait for the next one to arrive through Amazon.com. lol.

[Tracey K Flanagan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Taught me some new obscenties

I just couldn't get beyond the seriously colourful language. I'm no prude but I spent more time thinking where does a phrase such as ' he eye f****d the crowd ' come from. I can't imagine a more sick way of describing someone looking for a person in a crowd. Is this a generally used phase or has the author made it up? it made my stomach turn. Might be a good story, but I'll never know. I'm going back to LJ Ross!!!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I definitely enjoyed this book though the character Edie did bother me at times (a bit whiny and a bit annoying). I rather did like the character Caedmon. There were some unrealistic points and some things that were just glossed over and could have used more description. Still, I look forward to seeing how the characters evolve as the ending led me to believe there will be a next installment.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

In C.M. Palov's Ark of Fire, the first installment in the Caedmon Aisquith thriller series, this esoteric thriller is packed with non-stop action in every turned page. It all started, when Edie Miller, a photographer for the national art museum witnessed the murder of her boss's death. From there, everything's been covered up and swept under the rug. On the run for her life, she contacted Caedmon Aisquith, an associate from her boss, who could help her solve the puzzle on the Ark of the Covenant, a prized possession that withheld the hands of time and could start a war. From Washington D.C. to London, danger followed them by the hot of the heels from a war-crazed zealot named Stan MacFarlane along with his goons. As they began to untangle the twisted cryptic messages in the poem and later from a stained glass window, the more trouble followed them at their every doorstep. And it lead them to Malta, when they might start a world war. It's up to Edie and Caedmon to stop them in their tracks and to uncover the greatest mystery of them all, when this adventure would never end to find this lost and buried treasure.

[G. Edweird Cheese · Rating 3 out of 5]

The blurb on the back says Indiana Jones meets James Bond... and it is...if you strip away the charm, humor, romance, and wit. I'm not saying that Ark of Fire was bad, just not as good as it should have been. I can tell the writer is a fan of the Indiana Jones series, she lifted a few lines right from the movies, and even mentioned them a few times. Not the best, lots of lost potential. Even the climax at the end seemed a bit rushed.

[Jay Fusco · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave this a 3.5. It was better than I expected. I found the second book in this series of 4 in paperback several years ago but could not find the other 3 anywhere. I finally bought this one on Kindle. It had a good plot, likeable characters and was well written. Not in Clive Cussler's class, but agood read that kept my interest.

[Ben · Rating 1 out of 5]

I honestly really disliked this book. The mystery was fun at times, but the romance killed everything. It's your typical "british agent saves woman while they go on a mystery and have sex everywhere." By the end I was completely uninterested in what it was setting up and the actual solving part of said mystery.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

[Arizona Spartan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author keeps things moving along nicely in this archaeological thriller and she writes pretty good sex scenes without being too graphic. I'm going to read book 2.

[Marsha Nelson-Carr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Archeology, Spirituality and Suspense

Three of my favourite topics. This book contains all of that plus romance under siege. One of my new favorite Authors.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love all things to do with The Ark of the Covenant and this was just the right mix of legend and Indiana Jones/Dan Brown nonsense that I enjoy,

[Belter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tremendous

What a roller coaster of a story great characters and plenty of sheer adventure the ending was a superb twist thoroughly recommend it

[Patricia Beddoes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Indiana Jones style adventure

A typical religious adventure. Action packed with the obligatory romance. Quite sexual in parts. A good ending to keep the mystery intact.

[Eric Hands · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Good Read more the author

This is a very good read and the attention to detail is great. I will have to look for the next one

[Lukasz · Rating 1 out of 5]

huge disappointment

[James Irvine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping read

I was gripped from the first chapter an excellent read and I would highly recommend reading it.
I will be looking forward to start the second book

[Adrian Flude · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining read

Fun characters, plot and written well. Bad guy became too mad to be real and ending was too easy and quick.

[cheryl lang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Real page turner

Brillant book cant wait to read the next in the series 2 main characters bounce off each other and keep you on the edge of your seat

[Zoe Barraclough · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my commuter train book as I traveled to and from work. A little hokey but did the trick to pass the time.

[Annabelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars!

Very well researched and good fun, although some of the dialogue was a bit clunky and not exactly how people speak in real life.

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book because I was highly intrigued that it had been written by a woman. Generally, the thriller/action adventure/relic hunt has been the purview of men, clearly in evidence by the fact that the jacket cover has the author's initials instead of her full name. The publisher did not want to scare off male readers. I was highly curious to see how a woman author would do with this type of material. And I have to say C.M. Palov did a great job. There's plenty of action, mystery, thrills, and romance. It's a great beginning, and I am now primed to read the next book in her series.

Basically, the story follows that of every other book in this field. A holy relic, long thought lost, is hunted for by both religious fanatics bent on setting in motion a new religous armageddon & the end of the world and a dashing, intelligent pair accidentally caught up in the wake of the hunt who are desperately trying to stop the madman. It's a fun read, but I didn't care for the ending. It seemed too pat and I thought there needed to be more of a showdown/confrontation between the good guys and bad guys. The ending dispatched of them way too easily. I wanted more because the build up to a face-off had happened over 300+ pages. It just seemed to peter out, which is why the book only got 3 stars from me.

I did like the characterizations, the descriptions of the action, and the handling of the romance. I just felt let down by the ending. May be in her next book, Palov will do a bit better. Overall, it's interesting having a more diverse voice be a part of this macho genre. It brings something a bit different which is always a good thing.

[Vickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have had the book on the shelf for the longest time and finally decided that I needed to read some more thrillers and suspense since Spa Week is coming up and I need a stack of thrillers and suspense to take to my dad and sister. I've been heavy into the cozies/amateur sleuth and paranormal and my fam isn't into those as much as I. I like having something to bring out. Reached into the back of the third drawer of chest of drawers one of Mt Git'r'Read and found ARK OF FIRE. And so very glad I went a diggin'.




ARK OF FIRE is what Dan Brown wishes his books aspired to now that he's all big name and doesn't have to try anymore. My own personal opinion, but that's what reviews tend to be, so there it is.




Edie is a photographer who finds herself in a situation of flee or die, but she knows she has to do the right thing and tell the recipient of an emailed file that his life is in danger. Edie has the fleeing part down in part, but Caedmon, the recipient of the email, is ready with the rest. He is a professor now, but used to be with MI5.




The chemistry of Edie and Caedmon is fiery and interesting to watch as they find their way through the clues of the quatrains they need to decipher and keep as far ahead of the religious army that is after them.




Highly intriguing and stay-up-late-past-bedtime excellent!!! I can't wait to get the next in the series, THE TEMPLAR'S CODE and TEMPLAR'S QUEST.




Five archeological thriller rockin' beans.....

[Matt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Initial impression: There is an Ark on the cover!!! Freakin' Sweet! I'm reading this book!

What I learned from this book: All American military men murder their families and hate everybody who is not a religious zealot. But wait! There's more! I also learned that Evangelical Christians are more passionate about the prophecies of Ezekiel then Jesus. Who knew? Not me!
This book has a likable main character named Caedmon Aisquith who is an ex-scholar turned MI-5 operative. After he loses the love of his life, he goes back to trying to be a scholar and writes a main stream barely academic book about the ancient Egyptians (I pictured Riley Poole from the National Treasure movies sitting in a bookstore alone waiting for people to ask for his autograph). He was the only redeeming character in the book!
All the bad guys were ex-military who killed their families, were convicted of some horrible crime, or were run out of the military for praying in public. Yet, they are "saved" by a retired Marine COL MacFarlane (who sucks).
The only other part of this book worth reading after you figure out the main characters (I left out the female character Eddie Miller who sucks at life all the way through the book). Is the ending because unlike other action books this one ends in a much more realistic fashion then I thought it would.

Final Impression: It gets two stars simply for the ending. I may give this author another chance though depending on what picture is on the cover of her next book.