Field of Blood (Jerusalem's Undead Trilogy, Book 1) Eric Wilson
Thomas Nelson (October 7, 2008)
Thomas Nelson (October 7, 2008)
In short: This tale of vampires, blood and mysticism is too derivative of vampire mythology to be truly effective as a redemptive story.
Working in the Field of Blood, identified in Acts as the place where Judas Iscariot killed himself, an excavation crew in Jerusalem unearths a tomb. The Collectors, who possess living beings and live on human blood, are released from this tomb to begin their mischief. These "vampires" are in a supernatural battle with the Nistarim, those resurrected with Jesus to protect mankind.
The story revolves around Gina Lazarescu, a Romanian girl with a past she doesn't understand. The collectors are out to destroy her as they believe she, potentially, could birth another Nistarim.
Were it not for the Book Review Bloggers at Thomas Nelson I would have never picked this book up. The concept was intriguing but the blending of Jewish mysticism, Biblical truth and modern day suspense does not appeal to me.
The idea of sin pictured as a vine was effective.
"The thick, crusted cord of netherworld brambles inched about his waist, down both legs...Yet he seemed oblivious to the pernicious vine that now encircled his chest. He seemed unaware - or maybe just didn't care in this moment of mounting lust - that the dry, withered vine was rooted in a part of himself that he seemed to enshrine."
There was also some good insight about human nature from the perspective of the Collectors.
"Erota still found it remarkable what could be done with the aid of Collector-hosting humans. Though armed with the Power of Choice, some seemed willing and even eager to sell their souls for any semblance of significance. Such hosts were particularly easy to come by in bureaucratic circles - busy little bees, swarming to the sticky sweetness of money and power."
However, it took me some time to catch on to the shifting plot. The pacing seemed just a bit off as we moved between characters. I also found myself not interested at all in any character except Gina. The characterization details were sufficient for the other characters but there was nothing there that I found worth latching on to.
Ultimately, it was probably the disturbing tone and sexual undercurrents that ruined any of the redemptive elements of the book. The bloodletting of Gina by her mother to release the sin was always in the back of my mind and more than a little creepy. I understand that this leads to a discussion of life through Christ's blood, and I appreciate the "works oriented - trying to do it yourself" perspective, but it was too reminiscent of an old vampire tale for me.
"By drinking from the Nazarene, you identify yourself with His life, His memories, His suffering...But you don't have to live with these scars, not forever. Yeshua, when He came outta that tomb, He left His blood to cover all the evil that your mother thought she had to cut away."
In the final analysis, this tale of vampires, blood and mysticism is too derivative of vampire mythology to be truly effective as a redemptive story.
The story revolves around Gina Lazarescu, a Romanian girl with a past she doesn't understand. The collectors are out to destroy her as they believe she, potentially, could birth another Nistarim.
Were it not for the Book Review Bloggers at Thomas Nelson I would have never picked this book up. The concept was intriguing but the blending of Jewish mysticism, Biblical truth and modern day suspense does not appeal to me.
The idea of sin pictured as a vine was effective.
"The thick, crusted cord of netherworld brambles inched about his waist, down both legs...Yet he seemed oblivious to the pernicious vine that now encircled his chest. He seemed unaware - or maybe just didn't care in this moment of mounting lust - that the dry, withered vine was rooted in a part of himself that he seemed to enshrine."
There was also some good insight about human nature from the perspective of the Collectors.
"Erota still found it remarkable what could be done with the aid of Collector-hosting humans. Though armed with the Power of Choice, some seemed willing and even eager to sell their souls for any semblance of significance. Such hosts were particularly easy to come by in bureaucratic circles - busy little bees, swarming to the sticky sweetness of money and power."
However, it took me some time to catch on to the shifting plot. The pacing seemed just a bit off as we moved between characters. I also found myself not interested at all in any character except Gina. The characterization details were sufficient for the other characters but there was nothing there that I found worth latching on to.
Ultimately, it was probably the disturbing tone and sexual undercurrents that ruined any of the redemptive elements of the book. The bloodletting of Gina by her mother to release the sin was always in the back of my mind and more than a little creepy. I understand that this leads to a discussion of life through Christ's blood, and I appreciate the "works oriented - trying to do it yourself" perspective, but it was too reminiscent of an old vampire tale for me.
"By drinking from the Nazarene, you identify yourself with His life, His memories, His suffering...But you don't have to live with these scars, not forever. Yeshua, when He came outta that tomb, He left His blood to cover all the evil that your mother thought she had to cut away."
In the final analysis, this tale of vampires, blood and mysticism is too derivative of vampire mythology to be truly effective as a redemptive story.
Rating: Borrow
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