Customer Reviews

Shadows of Legion

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Vernon Buford is a welcomed new talent to my bookshelf. His book Shadows of Legion is fantastic. I read a lot, and it's been quite some time since I've read a book with such passion and drive as this one. Buford has the uncanny ability to rivet you to your seat as the pages fly by. Great action, visual descriptions and plot. Also, the characters are fleshed out, fully dimensional beings.

This book can best be described as a spiritual thriller as four, unrelated characters come together to solve a dark mystery: an evil demonic force that threatens us all.

The one flaw I see is that he needs a better editor. There were a few minor typos, but they hardly distract you from such a fine story and fast-paced plot. I would like like to see Buford find a larger publisher or purhaps turn SOL into a film.

If this is a series, I can't wait to see the next book. I'm so looking foward to more work from such a terrific new talent.

The verdict: Shadows of Legion is an amazing read for a first time novelist.
This is probably the fastest moving and most visually stimulating book I have ever read. Vernon spends a great deal of time developing each character, but what could be a long process is compensated by tremendous detail. The reader really feels like she knows the characters, how they feel and how they will react to some pretty interesting situations. Action packed is a mere cliché in describing how the many-layered story unfolds after Vernon establishes that there is a dark, insidious force manipulating each and every event. Did I say "Spiritual Warfare?"
Frank Peretti has a grasp on Spiritual Warfare, but I think Vernon's vision is much more captivating to people living every day life.

This is the most pleasant surprise I've had lately- a fanastic new author and a series that out-rivals "Left Behind". Absolutely breath-taking action, suspense, plot-line, and Christian theme. You will never believe this is a first novel- the writing is polished and mesmerizing. Vernon Buford is destined to be a nationally-known star author in the blink of an eye. Do yourself a huge favor and read the first of this trilogy- you'll be thrilled. 5 Stars without doubt!!

After a somewhat melancholy beginning, Vernon Buford is a welcome addition to my book shelf. Shadows of Legion is the first of a trilogy.

Join Scott Macklin, Father Los Cruzado, Douglas Prichard and Rachel Walters as they begin the quest to take on the forces of darkness. But unlike Frank Perett or Parker Hudson, Vernon Buford tackles a subject in spiritual warfare that I've never seen, Legion. They are many, yet they are one. This reveals some heart pounding suspense that will hit many between the eyes. Crisp words combine with fresh hope, and a Savior who we can trust and have faith in when things sometimes go so wrong! But then again, Jesus is there in the good times and the bad, amen?

Vernon Buford. Who can forget a name like that? It is a name, that I hope won't go away quietly. I can't wait to read more by this man!

THIS WAS A GREAT BOOK, VERNON BUFORD HAS GREAT TALENT LOOKING FORWARD TO MORE BOOKS FROM HIM

I actually was working with the author for a few months before i found out it wrote a book. I thought it was a good read.

I enjoyed the book up to a point. It was filled with twists and turns and surprises. What bothered me was, that even though Rachel and the Father confessed to be Christians, they were not proactive in what they should have known in Scripture. When the Father said the 23rd Psalm and legion reacted negatively and then when the 4 of them joined together to pray, both things any believer would know how to do. For anyone who truly believes they would know about the Armor of God, the authority of Name of Jesus, etc. I know that the story was fiction but to leave out some very key elements was disappointing. I was very disheartened in the ending. It was as if they drove away defeated and in great fear. It said he wold be writing book #2. I will read that and see if that is better.

I read hundreds of books each year and have found this to be right up there with the best. many twists and turns with an excellent theme! Thank you! I look forward to Legions Against the Temple.

With the title and subtitle in mind, I opened this book expecting a politically charged End Times thriller in the vein of the Left Behind series. To my relief, "Shadows of Legion" never focused too long on politics, and spent even less time in the muddy bogs of Biblical prophecies and interpretation. I ignored the editorial errors (such as the spelling of Henry Kissinger's name); I overlooked the continual defiance of point-of-view issues that are usually signs of an amateur writer; and I jumped into the story.

Or maybe Vernon Buford dragged me in. He's much too talented to be ignored.

Although Buford starts his thriller with a funeral, he keeps things lively, quickly shifting into high gear. I raced through the first half of the book, waiting to discover the connections between a priest in South America, a CIA operative, a female hostage negotiator, and a homeless man. Buford spins somes breathtaking scenes, mixing fresh dialogue with serious research and some supernatural undertones. I was hooked.

The story continues at a fast clip, but begins to stumble under its own weight. A mysterious government-threatening document is never fully explained; a last-second escape seems a bit sudden and hard to swallow; and some demonic activity stretches the bounds of theology (in the Bible, demons deliver violence only through human hosts).

Nevertheless, Vernon Buford proves that he can tell a compelling story full of interesting characters, spiritual insights, and creative action. I will never forget some of the wild scenes contained in "Shadows of Legion." The incident in the crane is fantastic. For those hoping to find an original and talented author, look no further. Vernon Buford has what it takes and, with a good editor, he is poised to shake the shelves of Christian fiction.

Shadows of Legion is a page-turner, full of action and emotion. Vernon really does his research when it comes to setting up a scene, describing a construction site from an architects point of view with amazing clarity; detailing the rain-soaked streets of Seattle really made me want to head over to Freeway Park with book in hand. I would almost compare Vernon to the author Dan Brown in this trait. They both set you down into a scene and you feel like you're really right there with the protagonist. Awesome.
Another nice surprise for a first-time author is how Vernon quick-cuts his scenes and bounces between the main characters when the action gets heavy. Very much like a good director on set, this keeps you riveted to the pages. It's like watching the last 20 minutes of a George Lucas movie.
If I had to critisize anything in this book, it would be how the book left off. I had so many questions... well I won't give any spoilers in this review. I'm anxiosly awaiting books 2 and 3, you can't leave us hanging this way!