Stone of Fire by J. F. Penn (ARKANE #1)
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:
Dr. Morgan Sierra, an Oxford psychologist with a complex past, is thrust into a perilous quest when her sister and niece are kidnapped. The abductors demand the Pentecost stones—ancient relics believed to hold immense power. Teaming up with Jake Timber, an agent from the secretive ARKANE agency, Morgan races across the globe to retrieve the stones before a fanatical group, Thanatos, can unleash chaos upon the world.
Main Characters:
Morgan Sierra is an Oxford psychologist with a background in religion. She's an ex-Israeli military officer who has experienced severe loss in her life.
Jake Timber: an ARKANE agent, and former military. He's South African, and has is own sad and complicated past.
Joseph Everett: an American fanatic who believes the 12 Pentecost stones will restore his twin brother's health.
Thanatos: a secret society, a religious group with hidden agenda.
Faye and Gemma: Faye is Morgan's twin sister and Gemma is her Faye's daughter. They are kidnapped by mr. Everett.
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
- Ticking Clock
- Powerful artifacts (Pentecost Stones)
- Exotic Locations
- Ancient Secrets
- Religious Themes
- Human Sacrifices
- Secret Agency
- Second Chance Romance Elements
- Religious Conspiracy
Entertainment Value:
The book is very fast-paced, yet I didn't find it too fast-paced. It made for an easy and fun read. I got sucked into the story!
Morgan Sierra is a compelling, and badass character, I only wish I could've gotten to know her more. Due to the fast-pacing of the story, there was little breathing room to just get to know her
As a fan of Dan Brown, I was happy to find an indie author with 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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