Gates of Hell by J. F. Penn (ARKANE #6)
Read in January 2025
The ARKANE series by J.F. Penn follows Dr. Morgan Sierra and Jake Timber as they confront supernatural threats rooted in religious artifacts and historical mysteries.
Summary:
In this installment, ARKANE agents Morgan Sierra and Jake Timber confront a nefarious plot involving the gates of hell. As they race against time, they uncover secrets that could unleash unspeakable horrors upon the world. Their journey takes them across various locations, delving into ancient myths and confronting malevolent forces.
Main Characters:
Morgan Sierra is an Oxford psychologist with a background in religion, and ARKANE agent. She's an ex-Israeli military officer who has experienced severe loss in her life.
Jake Timber is a seasoned ARKANE agent and Morgan's partner. He's South African and an ex-military officer who has experienced the loss of his entire family.
Adam Caedmon: a religious fanatic and former member of the Revenant, a secret brotherhood that Morgan's father belonged to as well.
There are many others.
World-Building:
Since this is a thriller set in the modern world, there isn't much world-building. However, J. F. Penn does a fantastic job of describing the locations and setting the scene. She includes many historical details and information that make the world, and places come alive on the page.
Themes/Tropes:
- Secret Society
- Religious Artifacts
- The Gates of Hell
- Exotic Locations
- Ancient Secrets
- Religious Themes
- High Stakes
- Secret Agency
- Dark Rituals
- Supernatural
- Revenge
- Family Secrets
- Troubled Protagonist
Entertainment Value:
The book is fast-paced and full of historical facts. It sometimes slows the pace down a bit, but I quite enjoyed the information in this book.
I loved getting to know Morgan Sierra's family and her past more. I also loved having Jake Timber back in this book. Their evolving relationship and Jake's wit was enjoyable.
The secondary characters in this book were better than in book #3. I loved how twisted Adam Caedmon was.
As a fan of Dan Brown, I was happy to find an indie author with a similar writing style and plot. I devoured this book in less than a day!
Cover Art:
I think the cover art is cool and befitting a thriller.
Would I read this book again?
Yes, I would. I'm already working my way through this series!
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