Book : The Devil’s Prayer
Author : Luke Gracias
Pages : 369
Price : 350/-
Publication : Bee Books
A Horror fictional that give a lot about 13th century history and facts.
Story
Story starts with a nun(Denise) committing suicide after a chace of long period while Semana santa(Eastern week) procession took place in Spain.
What are her reasons to commit suicide ?
The news reaches Denise family, 23-year-old Siobhan, 17-year-old Jess and Nanna Edith. All took news in their personal manner, Siobham who was the most closest to her mother even after Denise abandoned them both 8 years ago cried and missed her. Jess who was very little when Denise left them, felt hatred towards her mother and Nanna was in tears for losing her only daughter after everything she has gone through.
On the day of service, when all left Siobham meets a priest whom she doesn’t remember but he knows her. Father Jackub as he introduces himself to Siobham tells her that he knew her mother as Sister Benedictine. Siobham had lots of questions on her mind, but Father Jackub told he knew nothing and gave her bible which belonged to her mother. And said in secret, you mother wanted no one to know about this.
Arriving back from service, Siobham left to her room and opened the bible. A handwritten notes awaits her on front page, that called her to visit Zamora and tell nobody.
Will Siobham leave her Nanna and her 17 years old baby Sister ?
What is it Denise wants to tell Siobham ?
Was Father Jackub a trustworthy person ?
Writing
After completion of book, I sat in AMAZEMENT of what just finished, why it finished.. Well where is second part ???
Because, I didn’t knew it had a part. Else I would have never read it, because I HATE CLIFFHANGERS !!!! And this was craziest!!!!
I appreciate author Luke Gracias’s writing skills, that made me think of Dan Brown a LOT. The movement of places, the history behind things, well that’s what Dan brown does right ? But Luke Gracias did a better Dan Brown, because story is SO CAPTIVATED.
I have to agree, that first few pages, totally lost me and I had no interest in beginning. But the more Siobham came to know about her mother, the more it intrigued me.. What WAS IT ??
Book is written in 3 parts
> Unfinished Business
It talks about Siobham journey to know her mother past as nun, Sister Benedictine. With different revelations on the way, she gets to know about what her mother did for those 8 years when she abandoned them all.
> Like A Bull To The Slaughter
This part is the BEST of all three, I mean this had kept me on my toes. To know what will happen next ? What now ? It’s the part where a DEAL is made (well you need to read book to know about WHAT deal I am talking about 😉 )
> The Quest
This was another interesting part, which started with a good story narrations. But then the facts and history drew me in my cocoon. I don’t know much about God or Devil, but this part had all those Catholic faith, discussing saints, secrets, devil’s manuscripts, prophecies. I was overwhelmed by so much information, which definitely author had done a quiet research of.
Things that worked out for me :
> Character building is done AMAZINGLY. The book is length and it is the exact thing that needs characters to get the depth.
> How the story written has from first person and sometimes in third person format is what I loved next. Because there are very few writers that can do that amazingly and Luke achieved it nicely.
> The parts of books are very well divided.
> The way author has done the research and wrote about history is GREAT.
> The cover and blurb gave me creep and I wanted to read it asap.
Things that didn’t worked for me :
> The VIOLENCE was a bit more, even thought I haven’t written about it in my review. But *spoiler* there are some highly violent scene including a rape. That made me sad, and frightened at the same time.
> I wish there was NOT THAT much of historical discussions and catholic faith talks. Coming from an Indian background, it just made me a loser while I was reading because I knew NOTHING about it.
> The title could have been a little more not so creepy, because it looks like a worshipers of Devil’s book. Well it is *in a kind* about that, but then you never can relate to it until you REACH THERE. 😛
Final Note :
GO GRAB IT if you horror & supernatural things are your thing ! Just don’t give up while you read details of history, prophecies, catholic faith. The book is much more than that.
** Also I AM WAITING FOR ITS 2nd PART TO RELEASE**
Cover: 4/5
Title: 3/5
Blurb: 3.5/5
Theme: 3/5
Story: 3/5
Characters: 4/5
Overall: 3.4/5
**Won this book in a giveaway by readercosmos.**
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