Customer Reviews

Silver (An OgmiosTeam Adventure)

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Since this probably isn't the first review for SILVER that you've read, you will by now very likely have the impression that Steven Savile is encroaching on Dan Brown territory. I hope that characterization helps people discover this novel, but it's hardly accurate. Silver is more like Ludlum at his best. It's the story of a deniably secret agency, of dangerously flawed agents facing their worst nightmares, of villains who use money and faith to manipulate innocents like puppets, and of a plot to bring the world to its knees. Comparisons to Brown no doubt arise from the fact that Savile challenges the accepted history of Christianity, but unlike Brown, where the presentation of these unconventional theories is often didactic--where the faith-shaking quasi-history IS the story--in Silver these radical ideas are just the foundation for what most of us really want: a page turning thrill ride.

I was given this book to review.

Silver is a tome, one hell of a book, in scope, complexity and power. Twinning a secret religious cult made up of the descendants of the misunderstood Judas and a handful of highly organized acts of terrorism that begins with 13 people burning themselves alive at the same moment in time across the world, Silver pits a team of secretive investigators against a worldwide religious-political threat.
Move over Dan Brown, Saville threads in more flavor, texture and dimension into a story than most authors dream of. Moving from the U.S. to Israel, Rome and Germany and including a vast cast that will make other international thrillers appear pale in comparison, Silver is a hefty read.
The pace is even, but not always speedy and the layered details might not be intriguing to all readers. The emphasis here is strongly on large scope character and world building. Silver would appeal to readers who enjoy more of a mainstream slant to genre fiction, such as those who find Stephen King and Michael Crichton's detail and character-oriented styles to their taste. Even readers who might find this storytelling method slow will have to admit that Saville backs it up with a lot of plot interest and intrigue and a twist on the Christian theological mythos that's edgy and new.

In a single moment 13 people across European cities martyr themselves. The only clue accompanying the burnings are cryptic messages in the form of a prophesy by Michel de Nostredame and an excerpt from the third secret of Fatima. The world is promised 40 days and nights of terror that will shatter faith. This is the powerful opening of Steve Savile's thriller Silver.

Sir Charles Wyndham's team of brilliant warriors and technicians, codenamed Ogmios, puzzle together the truth through a journey that takes them to London, Berlin, and the Vatican itself. Behind the bloodshed they discover a plot to kill the Pope.

As they fight to prevent this, the team must take on a fanatical group called the Disciples of Judas, which has risen in the Middle East. The Disciples want the true story of Judas proclaimed to the world. They believe Judas was in a highly volatile relationship with Mary and Jesus that twined love and betrayal. We see Judas mourn the man he could have been, the life he may have had, if he'd not loved so well the man destined to die on the cross.

Love, power, fear, treachery are woven together for the faithful in this novel. Jesus spread a message of religion based on love without fear. He took them out of the temples and back to the earth. But there have always been those who would use religion to control others and spread dread.

Savile expertly composes a tale of how terrorism has changed and now strikes where average citizens expect to feel safe. For the terrorists understand that fear can break even strong people. Fear can take a person to the point where death is a mercy. These terrorists understand that there is power in tragedy on a mass scale. How do even the best of mankind fight against the misdirection, subterfuge and bloodshed of war -- when even the most beautiful things are cloaking betrayal in their finery? The members of the Ogmios must find a way.

Since this is a European religious thriller, it is easy to compare it to The DaVinci Code. But that seriously negates the originality and intelligence of Savile's work. His work demands to to be read on its own terms. This is his first action thriller steeped in history and religion, and he has created a novel worthy of being considered among the best.

Savile weaves complex action throughout Silver involving many characters and time periods. His imagery is vivid, specific, and original. Berlin, Rome, and London come alive on the page. We feel the terror of the public, cook under the sun's heat, and see the grimy buildings. His characters are 3-dimensional, flawed, and entertaining to follow. As with all of us, their imperfections and uniqueness make them stronger. He is able to reveal many character traits through very organic, realistic dialogue and the way the characters experience their surroundings.

Silver deserves to be on everyone's must read list. Savile has written an entertaining, intelligent, enthralling work that leaves readers longing for the next book in Ogmios series titled Gold.

For anyone who liked THE DA VINCI CODE, read that book again, then read SILVER and gell the two together inside your head. SILVER is the book that DA VINCI CODE could have been, although SILVER isn't without its own weaknesses. In this book, one hero in particular makes an extremely stupid and unlikely decision in order for her to be captured by the bad guys, which was helpful to the plot, but unlike CODE, which was full of bad writing and easy coincidences, SILVER is gritty, intelligent, and fast-paced. The historical and religious twists were interesting and well-researched. Most of the characters were smart and interesting as well. Four stars.

Silver is best thing since Forsythe's Day of the Jackal. Better than Dan Brown in every respect, Steven Savile's SILVER is not a DaVinci Code imitator in any sense of the word; rather it is a fantastic plot twisting about on a brilliant premise and a story wonderfully woven with no missteps, no gaffs, no holes or crazy leaps. The astonishing historical theme is interspersed perfectly as a foil for the modern day story of a dangerous cult as horrifying as any terrorist cell one can imagine--a secret society among us that makes the Knights Templars pale by comparison. After capturing the reader up with a powerful opening scene that plays out so vividly and visually as to read like a film script, Savile's deft writing carries the reader along a plotline that has the feel of fate at every step. Part of that feeling of fate is the fact of an author completely and wholly in control of his craft.
Vivid characterizations of an international team of heroes with a plethora of flaws and Savile's smart dialogue and well-wrought inner monologue held together by action at every turn provides the reader with every pleasure a reading experience should have (but so often lacks). Savile's premise is uniquely tied to the history not of Jesus and Mary so much as Judas and Mary, and it is cleverly and efficiently weaved into one of the most well-crafted international thrillers I have read since Forsythe's The Day of the Jackal.
I hope it is OK for this veteran professor of English, this lifelong reader, this author of some fifty novels to say I loved Silver...loved, loved, loved it and could not put it aside. Without giving away the plot or the surprises, let me add that no book has left me as surprised at its ending as has Silver. In closing, I will add one more caveat: "If you love international thrillers replete with theological puzzles and a team pitted against true evil that mirrors our world today, you won't beat SILVER. Steven Savile is in complete control of his material and not afraid of a complex plot. He beats Dan Brown hands down anyway you dice it. Silver is Masterfully Accomplished Work and should win awards if there is a God in charge of awards."

--Robert Walker, author of Dead On & Children of Salem, and City for Ransom

I was really getting into Silver, the story was racing towards an exciting ending and then the story just ended. What happened? Nothing in any of the other reviews I have read even gave that hint that this book has no real ending and is basically an incomplete book. I have read other books that were parts of a trilogy or such, but I knew that going in (case in point: Ghost Road Blues by Jonathan Maberry or the last 3 books by Matt Reilly).

I enjoyed the action, the characters, and the plot of Silver, it's just the ending that I am not fond of. Thank goodness I only paid $2.99 (Kindle) for this story, down in Kindle price from $9.99. I will probably get Gold when it comes out, but only after reading reviews and even then I'll probably wait until the price comes down.

Good story overall, and I like the idea of the Ogmios Team.

Please note this abbreviated review comes from our Un:Bound book review site.

I love Steve Savile's writing, his love of language and writing style draw me in as much as his characters and stories. He hits just the right balance for me. Silver has been on my mind since I first saw the cover. By page ten I was caught as usual in the web of words and intrigue that Steve does so well.

We are playing with conspiracies, secret agencies, spies, betrayal, mystery, terrorism and religious intrigue and yes it moves along at a fair pace, travels around the world and everyone has more secrets than is at first apparent. I am especially delighted by some of the scenes taking place in Newcastle wondering if I did know the locations or my memory was playing tricks again.

The cover quotes make reference to Dan Brown and yes it would seem that Steve used the same basic lego box as Dan Brown, Colin Forbes and Clive Cussler in writing Silver, but if you have ever played with lego you know, the art is in the construction not the bricks and Steve did one hell of a job on the construction.

It's complex and full of twists and tension, no way of knowing how it will end and Steve never delivers typical so I knew the ending would be a bit special. And then some. The characters are solid, there is not time in this book to explain them all but there is at least one more coming and I look forward to learning more about the team, in the mean time they were easy to buy into and I I have a girl crush on Orla.

I want to tell you all about it in detail, give you examples of the humor and horror of the book but it's impossible without giving away it's secrets. I can tell you I read with the book in one hand while I chewed the nails on the other out of existence and then swapped. A habit I thought I'd beaten years ago.

If you liked The Da Vinci Code this will blow your socks off, if you thought the Da Vinci Code was rubbish then this is the perfect antidote and yeah, it's probably blasphemy if you are of a remotely Catholic persuasion. Silver, to borrow from Koni, wakes you up at four am and drags you out of bed naked and screaming.

A part in the beginning gave me pause as a Christian, but after thinking about it I decided to give the book a chance. After all, the book is fiction and the author never claimed otherwise. I am so glad I continued! The book is well written with an excellent storyline and the characters are well developed. Mr. Savile has a new fan!!!

it has been a very long time since i have read a book that is full of excitementand nonstop thrilling action. intriging storyline very much looking forward to the next book in series

I bought this book on a recommendation and the comparisons to The Da Vinci Code are correct, except this book is better! It's leaner, faster, and full of even crazier ideas. The idea that Jesus Christ had sex and was a father (Da Vince Code) is great commercial fun, but the idea that the well-known betrayal of Judas Iscariot was in fact secretly planned by Jesus himself in order to cement his matyrdom and that Judas, not Jesus, made the greater sacrifice (Silver) really blew my mind. What a twist! From there, Silver takes off like a rocket ship banging through a maze of high speed action, mind games, politics, and other revelations based in historical fact. Someone make this book into a blockbuster movie, please!