15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Answer Dies Within, August 1, 2009
This review is from: Haunt of Jackals (Jerusalem's Undead Trilogy) (Paperback)
When I finished Field of Blood last year, I took a couple of weeks off from reading. It was a book to savor, not one to read and quickly move on to the next one. It was my favorite novel from 2008 and deserved the praise it received.
Since finishing Field of Blood, I've looked forward to the next part of Gina's story. When we last left her, she was bleeding profusely and separated from her allies. Though able to eliminate Ariston, she was still pursed. Escaping was first on her agenda and finding her friends was second. Haunt of Jackals picked up where Field of Blood ended. Hunted by the collector, Shalom, Gina begins her trek to Bukarest. Unsure who to trust, she turns to her childhood friend Teo. Meanwhile, Cal and Dov are pursued by another collector, Erota. Risking their lives, they decide to turn the tables on Erota and try to banish her to the dessert. With fast paced action, deep suspense, and mystery, the next part of Gina's story unfolds.
A review for Haunt of Jackals is pretty tough. It's not a simple book by any means. If it was just a vampire story, it'd be easy to talk about. If it was a typical supernatural suspense, there might not be a lot to say. However, Haunt of Jackals is anything but typical and it's certainly a far cry from simple. It's deep, complex, thought provoking, and difficult to capture in a short review. I'll in no way be able to do this book the justice it deserves, but here's my best attempt.
It's always fun to read an author when it seems like the words and ideas are just pouring onto the page. There are parts of Haunt of Jackals that are some of the best I've read. Words that grab and leave an impact. Thoughts shared that keep you wanting more. I have loved Wilson's prior books, but the first 180 pages of Haunt of Jackals are the best he's ever written. They're not only riveting on a purely entertaining level, they're full of meaning and symbolism. The whole book is excellent, but those pages are masterful.
The characters thus far have been superb, but Wilson did an exceptional job of molding Gina into a more likable, loving individual. No longer is she the abrasive, sarcastic, self-pitying, somewhat selfish child. After her battle at the cave, she's a humble, seeking young woman, aware of her thorns and attempting to counter them. There are some awesome scenes involving Gina and her struggles to cope with her past as well as some spectacular dialogue between her and Cal. Anyone who's fought psychological battles, inner turmoil and grief can easily identify with her journey. Wilson did a particularly good job of working Gina's feelings toward Jed into the story. At the end of Field of Blood, she seemed so consumed by her own grief, her love for Jed seemed to be lost. It was nice to see the tenderness in her towards him.
Cal was probably my favorite character in Field of Blood. The overall mystery surrounding him really pulled me to his character. He was obviously hurt/hurting, but the reasons were not clear. Haunt of Jackals filled in a lot of his past, however, I didn't care for his character as much. He seemed to lack the energy and attitude of the first book. He's still a great character, but he didn't seem to fit into his expanded role easily.
It's been awhile since Field of Blood, so if struggling to remember exactly who all the collectors are and where they stand, page 67 gives the list and their present status. While the information isn't needed earlier in the story, it was a nice addition. Given the number of characters, it can be hard remembering who all is left and what they are doing.
Wilson once again includes some great historical background. Not having much knowledge of vampire lore, I thoroughly enjoyed the information regarding Vlad Tepes/ Dracula. It helped liven the story for someone who knew little about the area or the legends. The additional background for Rasputin was helpful and answered some questions left open in a previous book. As with Field of Blood, Wilson makes great use of Jewish myths and true Biblical accounts. An absolutely superb job of weaving them in and making them part of the overall story.
Several commented on Field of Blood having a slow start. That is definitely not a problem with Haunt of Jackals. From page 1 to page 180, there is no slowing down. The action switches between Cal and Dov, Gina, and collectors. It moves fast and the changing of location and stories works great. There were times when I was disappointed to leave a character, just to realize I was moving to another part of the story I wanted to read as well. The suspense is divine in the opening chapters. It does lull for a few chapters here and there, but never for too long.
Around page 90, I was amazed (not surprised) at all the Christian symbolism and ideas Wilson had neatly tucked into Haunt of Jackals. At least 40 unique Christian ideas or biblical accounts, were subtly mentioned and worked flawlessly into the story. I've read close to 200 Christian fiction novels in the last five years, no other author does as good a job infusing a book with Christian ideas, without preaching, and without repetition. Wilson knows his Bible and has a deep grasp of Christian life, which enriches his novels and contrasts the light of Christ with the darkness of sin. Not once did I feel lectured to and not once did I feel as though he was annoyingly overt in his Christian themes--both features which irritate me about many Christian novels. However, given that some actually questioned the spiritual nature of Field of Blood, here's an idea of what's in Haunt of Jackals. Page numbers available upon request.
--Strength in numbers
--Free will/our choice to choose Him and our daily decisions
--The fallacy of purity before salvation
--Dying daily to self
--Proverbs 6:16 What Wilson creates with this passage is a masterpiece.
--Jesus' death and resurrection
--Christians are living temples
--Jesus is the only way.
--The Bronze serpent in the dessert and connecting it Jesus
--Bitterness and thorns
--Fall of man
--Others before self
--All have sinned and the wages of sin
--Jesus is the Messiah
--God's love for us
--Our sin nature
--The true church
That's some of the highlights. There are more than these and they blend into the story with breath taking results.
While Field of Blood and Haunt of Jackals are the first two books in the Jerusalem Undead series, they also tie into Wilson's earlier books, in particularly Expiration Date. If you haven't read Expiration Date, it's not a problem, since it fills in events not specifically mentioned.
At some point I have to wrap this up. There's much more to say, but then again this isn't an easy book to write a short review for. Couple of more thoughts. I missed Niki in this book. She was there, but I keep hoping for her and Gina to really patch things up. She's an intriguing character and my heart breaks for her. Lastly, Wilson did a wonderful job of working Gina and Jed through their grief. It's handled in a beautiful and tactful manner with just the right emotions at just the right time. No trite words of encouragement--simply open wounds healed the only way they can be.
Haunt of Jackals is loaded with some awesome dialog. Here's a sample of what's in store, taken from a conversation between Cal and Gina.
Cal--"When you're young you imagine giving your life for a cause, or maybe throwing yourself into the path of a bullet to save the one you love...We need those kinds of people. The real heroes...are those willing to die over the long haul--twenty years, fifty, a hundred. When it comes down to it...it's a lot harder to give your life not just one time, but every single day....and that's what it means to have the Nazarene Blood flowing through your veins. It means letting go of your own selfish desires and giving into the desires of your Maker. It's self-sacrifice. Day by day by day."
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"Jackals" powerful sequel to growing trilogy, August 21, 2009
This review is from: Haunt of Jackals (Jerusalem's Undead Trilogy) (Paperback)
Last year's book one, Field of Blood of the Jerusalem Undead Series, was ground-breaking and a defining move in author Eric Wilson's career. Now, with Haunt of Jackals, Wilson tightens his craft and returns us to a world that lives on the edge.
Jackals drops us off immediately after where Blood left and the pace doesn't lighten up. Gina's on the run while Cal and Dov run into trouble with Erota and other collectors. The story carries on revealing secrets, but also mixing in new mysteries and histories to keep us on the edge of our seat. More so, Gina, Cal, and Dov's characters become so rich and vibrant revealing the growth they have seen and the trials they have overcome.
This second installment has greatly increased Wilson's style and enormous gift for storytelling. The vocabulary and language are on a level that most writers dream about. This is not mention Wilson's robust historic descriptions of foreign places and world travel.Haunt of Jackals fixes most of Field of Blood's problems, but looking back I don't see them as problems any longer. The series thus far has grown into its own and I believe that is what Wilson had longed to do since the beginning. Here he has upped the action, suspense, and drama. The relationships between characters, especially Gina and Jed, having been worked with such care and love; you can understand how beloved these creations have become with the author.
I have a great love for continuing stories and in my opinion the second ones have always been the most entertaining. For example look at Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, The Matrix, Jason Bourne Series, etc. Yes, the first is most memorable, but the sequel leaves the characters on a cliffhanger, readying fans for the next part in their story.
Lastly, Wilson incorporates storylines and events from his first published work Dark to Mortal Eyes. Although I have not read that book (neither does a new reader need in order to enjoy this series) I feel attracted to it more so now having learned its secret involvement. Fans of The Jerusalem Undead Trilogy will suck up this second book and eagerly await Wilson's next Valley of Bones...pun intended.
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