The Sum of All Shadows

May 1, 2019
Heaven and hell duke it out once again in this fourth religious fantasy thriller in the author's Testament series (Four Dominions, 2018, etc.). Lucifer, the Principal Resident of hell and the Sum of All Shadows, is fed up with God. So after eons--or at least after three previous Testament installments--he decides to organize the Fallen to "begin their final assault on Heaven." Of all possible places in the universe, this plot involves climbing out a hole in the Syrian island of Arwad. Their biggest obstacle is not the creator himself but "the accursed Shaw family...the only humans with the knowledge and power to defeat his purpose." They are the siblings Emma and Bravo Shaw, who are Gnostic Observatines. The Principal Resident wants to drive a wedge between brother and sister, who may not be wholly human. Their great-great grandmother Chynna Sikar had mated with the Fallen Seraph of "Unparalleled Glamour," Leviathan. He is "something out of a lunatic's nightmare: a six-winged beast with red and gold eyes, a bestial snout, and ears like a bat's wings." Adding to the charm, he likes chowing down on human bones and surrounds himself with an armada of buzzing flies. So what's not to like? And there's Oq Ajdar, a chimera that changes from a dragon to a sea serpent to an eagle in a few blinks of the eye. Even good guys take strange form, as Emma is rescued from certain death by a big frog wearing a waistcoat, formal jacket, trousers with a satin stripe, and "jaunty silk ascot." At least he wasn't holding a martini glass. The premise is a highly imaginative take on the eternal conflict between good and evil, and just because this novel has a satisfying conclusion doesn't mean that Lucifer, like Schwarzenegger, won't be back. Readers able to suspend great gobs of disbelief will enjoy this yarn, but they might do well to read the books in order.

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June 3, 2019
In bestseller Lustbader’s dense, complex fourth Testament novel (after 2018’s Four Dominions), artifacts expert Emma Shaw and her scholar brother, Bravo, must stop Lucifer (aka the Sum of All Shadows) from destroying the very fabric of heaven. With the help of new allies Ayla, who’s equipped with psychic powers, and Molly, who possesses powers of a vaguer sort, the Shaw siblings dive deep into the Hollow Lands to seek the secrets that will defeat Lucifer’s infernal army. Early on, Emma separates from the others and heads for the caverns beneath Lebanon to seek King Solomon’s mines, knowing that the treasure there might provide the group’s only means to conquer the Sum of All Shadows. Meanwhile, Bravo, Molly, and Ayla continue their quest after the unsettling experience of watching a painting of the Last Supper bleed human blood. Readers not already invested in this overwrought saga will struggle to keep track of the large cast. Those who like their apocalyptic thrillers unencumbered with character development will best appreciate this one. Agent: Henry Morrison, Henry Morrison Inc.

June 7, 2019

Bravo and Emma Shaw are heads of the Order of Gnostic Observatines, an ancient and secret organization that keeps holy relics and documents hidden from the rest of the world, as much to protect Christianity as the artifacts themselves. Lucifer and his minions, the Fallen, led by Leviathan, are closer than ever to breaching humanity and starting the End of Days. The Gnostic Obervatines and their supernatural relics are required to stop them, as well as sacrifices and trials from the Shaw siblings. Searching for allies in the fight against the Fallen, Bravo and Emma change in powerful ways that will help steel them for the battle to come. VERDICT Van Lustbader (The Testament) concludes his "Testament" series with this fast-paced supernatural thriller that is equal parts Indiana Jones, Robert Langdon, and Old Testament. Recommended for fans of Dan Brown and Clive Cussler.--Jennifer Funk, McKendree Univ. Lib., Lebanon, IL

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