Customer Reviews

Nightbringer

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Imagine: You are a woman with two children, traveling to Rome, with a stopover at an old abbey in the Italian Alps. What you do not know is that ancient evils--and an ancient hero--are about to clash in a cataclysmic way within the abbey's storm-battered walls.

Huggins knows how to tell a fast-paced tale. He's proven that in books such as "Cain" and "Leviathan." In his best book, "Rora," he mixed history, spirituality, and suspense seamlessly. Along the way, though, his increasingly gritty style has alienated some of his readers of faith.

"Nightbringer" is a return to Huggins' earlier, cleaner style, while bringing with it all the great storytelling he has honed. Although the childrens' personalities are never explored, and the mother's career is conveniently apropos and unexplained, the book is a wonderful thriller based on a spiritual battle. Huggins throws in his military tactics and knowledge. But he also leads up to a satisfying exploration of faith in the face of overwhelming odds.

If you like atmospheric stories and bone-crunching verbs, you'll love "Nightbringer." It's Huggins at his best.

Ever been afraid of that sound you heard at night when you were alone? Have you ever been certain someone was watching you from the shadows? Remember the way your gut feels at those moments? James Byron Huggins does, and he can capture those moments on paper to make them last forever.

If you like thriller-based fiction, you're going to be hard pressed to find someone more suited for it than James Byron Huggins. He's put out more consistently top-quality novels than any other Christian fiction author in recent years. As a matter of fact, his short trip into mainstream fiction with the novels Cain and Hunter found their movie rights purchased by Bruce Willis and Sylvester Stallone respectively.

After a two-year hiatus, Huggins is back with Nightbringer, and the story is worth the wait. A group of tourists are visiting a monastery in Europe inhabited by a small number of rather suspicious-looking monks. While there, a snow storm sets in, trapping them for several days. Then something goes terribly wrong, and they realize that they are not alone. Something is stalking them...something evil patiently waiting to kill them all. As the story progresses, we find that even the monastery itself hides a terrible secret.

Borrowing heavily from his earlier novels Cain and Hunter, Huggins works beautifully in creating a no-win scenario for his characters by pitting them against an apparently unstoppable foe in a hostile environment. This time around it's one of the Nephilim mentioned briefly in Genesis, having survived for centuries with a thirst for blood and death. There are several characters in the monastery, all with their own secrets and hidden pasts. One of the monks mentions the story of Cassius, the centurion who according to legend found grace at the foot of the cross and protected Christ's body until it could be taken down. Because of that, he was given by God the task of protecting His children until Christ returns, becoming the Wandering Jew of legend-and a warrior at heart who stalks the surviving Nephilim through the centuries. When a mysterious member of the group named Michael fearlessly takes on the creature and puts it on the run, the others are faced with a new question: Is this Cassius himself?

I love the way James can take an intriguing creature mentioned in the Bible (as he did so beautifully in his novel, Leviathan) and weave an entire story around it by creating a seemingly valid explanation for its existence. I have to admit I thought at the beginning of this story that James was beginning to lose his touch by telegraphing something a little too much and seeming to drag out an obvious fact. I should have known better. The "I know where you're going with this" mindset will do you no good here, as James pulls a great plot twist out of this one (and I'm not going to explain any further about that...I don't want to spoil anything for you). Stories like this are the reason he remains my favorite Christian author. There is no slow point in this tale, and once the creature reaches the monastery, just go ahead and clear your schedule as there's no place to put the book down.

My only complaint is the story's length. It's the shortest book he's written in years (easily less than half the size of his previous book, Rora). I wasn't robbed of anything in the story because of it; I was just having so much fun reading it I hated to see it end! Maybe this means he'll start cranking out more stories now since they're shorter (which is fine by me!).

All in all, this novel stands easily beside anything out there today. Huggins has a gift for storytelling, and this book has a permanent place on my bookshelf beside his other novels. I rank this as the best novel I've read this year and can't wait for his next.

Please write faster, James!

An awesome epic from a master of mythic storytelling! This story has it all...heroism, action, mystery, faith, love, courage, and even a little horror. I've read all of Huggins' other books (with several readings of many of them), and this is BY FAR HIS BEST. I can't wait for him to come out with his next release, but, for now, I'm happy to recommend this title to anyone who wants to read one heck of a book.

James Byron Huggins is one of, if not my top, favorite authors. His stories are masterfully told with a prose that challenges the reader to think and maintain an educational thought of the story in the reader's minds- eye. His writing is beautifully done to weave an intricate story, captivating the imagination of any reader.

This book deals with Nephilim, one of my favorite topics, and ties in biblical characters and stories to form a modern-day adventure.

Even if you have never read any work by Mr. Huggins, (which, if that is the case, you are missing out!) but you like action/adventure/science fiction stories about monsters and demons, this book is for you.

I anxiously anticipate any more great work that comes from this author!

I was on the way to check out at a small book store when the cover art caught my eye. The book had been left on a table by another customer or I'd never have discovered it. I don't think I have EVER browsed "religious fiction" in my life! But what a find! The book is a quick read - much because of the unusually large font, but mainly because it is action packed!
The author tells a tale weaving together the stuff of legend, history, nightmares and the Christian religion in a very entertaining plot line. I was not thrilled with the character of Gina(female FBI agent) but did like the way he softened her character by adding her two young children to the mix of innocent people trapped through a snow storm in an ancient monestary with an evil force more ancient than the abbey itself. I found the story so intriguing, that I plan to dig into the notion of the Nephilim (half human half demon figures who supposedly are the legend behind Goliath and things that go bump in the night). Cassius was a familiar character - the centurion who speared Christ on the cross to prove his death thus healed of coming blindness when Christ's blood spilled onto his face. He appears here as a Christian himself - a believer who suffers through the guilt of his participaption in the crucifixtion and wages an eternal battle against the evil Nephilim.

While I didn't find the author's writing to have the same polish that would earn it 5 stars -I enjoyed it enough to finally locate the religious fiction section and to pick up another of his books!

I absolutely loved this book. Huggin's is an incredible writer and his characters and plot twists kept me riveted the entire time. I can't wait for his next release!

Huggins takes the reader on a breathtaking adventure right from the get-go. All the elements are there for great suspense: Victims trapped in an ancient monastery, threatened by a mysterious and powerful creature that isn't supposed to exist. Each confrontation ratchets up the tension until the final showdown.

Block out some time to read this one. You may not be able to put it down before the final page.

Another great book by James Byron Huggins, i personally think Rora is his best book yet but this would be in the running for his second best. Not a huge book so it doesn't take long to read, good action and interesting characters.

I really liked this book. Takes place in a monastery, which is always a good setting for a creepy book. It captures your interest quickly. I would recommend this book for sure.

I wish the storyline had went a different way in expanding on the action and wrap up of the main characters redemption. Did not like the woman as one of the main character either. If a woman is included in storylines that are every action filled then it should have been a very minor role.
The ending was sad.
The main character was strong,fearless and committed but just made you very sad for his plight.I don't think our GOD will be that unmerciful to have him go through all that he has gone through for soo many years of righting a wrong.
Really all in all his charcter just made me feel sad for him because he seemed sooo alone in the world.