Helpful Score: 2
In my eyes, Seth Grahame-Smith will not see lightning strike twice...Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter was AMAZING...However, I am disappointed in his latest opus...It was a good story I admit...The characters were well developed and likeable...Even old Herod...However, I found myself struggling to finish it...I was so excited when I bought it and I had just finished Christopher Moore's "Lamb The Gospel According to Biff Christ's Childhood Pal" and I have to say...If you want a really great story stick with Moore...There are parts of the book that will make some cringe but in all honesty, that's the way the world was back in Joseph and Mary's day...Beware if you are not a fan of blood, gore, and the occasional slaying of infants...Necrophilia also has a small part in the book...If you are looking for a quick read then don't let my review dissuade you from picking up this book...There are a couple of chuckles and a lot of nail biting moments...But all in all I am not as impressed as I thought I would be...This could have been a much better book but I felt as if his publishers were rushing him to compose another hit and quickly...
I really enjoyed this book almost as much as Abe Lincoln Vampire Hunter. Seth Grahame Green tells a dark but slightly humorous tale of the three wise men from biblical times. The story focuses around Balthazar, one of the "wise men". It then shifts to the constant conflict between him and King Herod. I felt the book really started to take off after the "wise men" run into Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus in Bethlahem. This is not the biblical story with angels, singing and bright lights. This is a darker tale with violence and grit.
Wow, what a tale! If you were disappointed with the author's "Abraham Lincoln: The Vampire Hunter," as I was, don't use that as an excuse to avoid reading this book.
Of course, you have to suspend your belief a few times, but when a book is based on the premise the "Three Wise Men" were actually "three wise guys," as in criminals, then you've already stepped away from reality. And you've probably never read a book before in which the main character never says a word, he just smiles.
Of course, you have to suspend your belief a few times, but when a book is based on the premise the "Three Wise Men" were actually "three wise guys," as in criminals, then you've already stepped away from reality. And you've probably never read a book before in which the main character never says a word, he just smiles.
Although this book was nothing like I thought it would be (I assumed, based on the title, it would lean into the horror genre - it didn't), it was a really great read.
The story follows Balthazar, known to the world as The Antioch Ghost, who is introduced as one of the greatest thieves who ever lived. A bungled collection of circumstances place him and two other criminals in the manager just after the birth of Jesus (the three of them in the story are the Wise Men). While the criminals are on the run from the authorities, Mary and Joseph are running from Roman soldiers who have been ordered by King Herod to kill every male child in fear of a prophecy of the fall of Rome. Their coincidental meeting causes an unlikely team-up and leads to a great series of fantastic events.
While biblical events do play out in the story, the shining light (no pun intended) of the book is Balthazar. Eventually we see into his tragic past, and the last chapter wonderfully caps off his incredibly interesting life. Mary, Joseph, and their child are important characters to be sure, but Balthazar is the star of this tale.
More an adventure story than anything else, and just enough gore to keep me shocked and wanting to read more.
The story follows Balthazar, known to the world as The Antioch Ghost, who is introduced as one of the greatest thieves who ever lived. A bungled collection of circumstances place him and two other criminals in the manager just after the birth of Jesus (the three of them in the story are the Wise Men). While the criminals are on the run from the authorities, Mary and Joseph are running from Roman soldiers who have been ordered by King Herod to kill every male child in fear of a prophecy of the fall of Rome. Their coincidental meeting causes an unlikely team-up and leads to a great series of fantastic events.
While biblical events do play out in the story, the shining light (no pun intended) of the book is Balthazar. Eventually we see into his tragic past, and the last chapter wonderfully caps off his incredibly interesting life. Mary, Joseph, and their child are important characters to be sure, but Balthazar is the star of this tale.
More an adventure story than anything else, and just enough gore to keep me shocked and wanting to read more.
