Title: The Unholy
Author: Paul DeBlassie III
Pages: 202
Date Published: August 1st, 2013
Publisher: Sunstone Press
Format: Kindle
Genre: Thriller
Synopsis:Claire Sanchez, a young medicine woman, is intent on discovering the closely-guarded secrets of her past. Forced into a life-and-death battle against an evil Archbishop, William Anarch, she confronts the dark side of religion and the horror of one man's will to power.
~My Thoughts!~
The Unholy is an interesting, thoughtful, fantasy adventure with lots of moments that make you think and reflect on how religion can be both an integral and detrimental part of society.
The horror of the religious persecution in this book is neither for the faint of heart, nor for those who are unable to take a reflective look upon our current society. However, while this is obviously fiction, it makes you thankful for the time in which we live where we are (relatively) free to practice our own religion and do not face the kind of persecution seen here. When Claire watches what happens to her mother, gosh, I was so horrified and scared for her. It was certainly a memorable start to the story.
The herbal medicine was interesting, and Paul did a great job (either with instinctive knowledge or heavy research into the subject!) in painting a picture about a somewhat primitive yet powerful way of healing. Claire goes on quite the journey of self discovery in connecting to her mother's herbal healing roots and figuring out how to proceed in a life forever changed by misery and violence. This is definitely a book to take to a quiet place. I was trying to read while being harangued by an insistent 14-month-old and had a somewhat difficult time finding my place and the story thread once I got back into things, so I would suggest a quiet nook to keep your head on straight while reading. Enjoy friends!
~Try an Excerpt!~
As she ran forward, out of nowhere the two crows flew at her, scraping the air near her face with their sharp talons. Fists clenched, she struck out at one and grabbed at the other. They flew up, circled overhead, then dove, talons flaring. Unmoving, Claire placed her hands by her side and held their gaze.
They fluttered above her head for a minute, then left. Claire turned and saw an eagle soaring—a healer’s spirit manifestation. Medicine women said it came only when needed, when danger lurked.
Frantically tugging away bush, bramble, and cacti, she uncovered the mouth of the seventh cave and stepped in. She had the feeling somebody was watching.
Her eyes adjusted and she made out the contour of something. Squinting, she stooped and touched what seemed to be a circle of stones and charred, cold logs. She stood up and pulled back. A bat flew at her. She waved it away.
She stopped, waited for her breathing to slow, and, stepping sideways, touched the walls of the cave. They were damp and the stink of blood and guts was everywhere. Using the hard surfaces as a guide, her fingertips suddenly brushed through a hollow space roughly the size of a human body.
~Meet Paul!~
Paul DeBlassie III, Ph.D. is a depth psychologist and award-winning writer living in his native New Mexico. He specializes in treating individuals in emotional and spiritual crisis. His novels, visionary thrillers, delve deep into archetypal realities as they play out dramatically in the lives of everyday people. Memberships include the Author’s Guild, Visionary Fiction Alliance, Depth Psychology Alliance, International Association for Relational Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy, and the International Association for Jungian Studies.
Paul will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. a Rafflecopter giveaway
I appreciate getting to read about your book. With sisters and daughters who love to read, this helps so thank you.
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteI do like this cover.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great book.
ReplyDeleteWhat I like most about today's post is the book cover. It's sharp. Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a very good book.
ReplyDeleteWhat I like most about today's post is the title. It's intriguing. Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteGreat post - thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for taking time to review The Unholy - parenting is a challenging and wonderful time - Kate and I raised four fantastic creative ones - stay safe and be well!
ReplyDeleteWhat I like best about today's post is that the book is a thriller, my favorite genre. Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteHappy Friday! Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this story and the book and author details, it sounds like an interesting read.
ReplyDeleteWhat I like most about today's post..."Claire Sanchez, a young medicine woman, is intent on discovering the closely-guarded secrets of her past."
ReplyDeleteA mysterious past is a great plot. Thanks for the giveaway!
What I like most about today's post..."Forced into a life-and-death battle against an evil Archbishop, William Anarch, she confronts the dark side of religion and the horror of one man's will to power."
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing worse than an evil archbishop, lol. Thanks for the giveaway!
Thanks so much for joining me Paul!
ReplyDelete"The Unholy is an interesting, thoughtful, fantasy adventure with lots of moments that make you think and reflect on how religion can be both an integral and detrimental part of society."
ReplyDeleteYes, it certainly can be. Thanks for the giveaway!
"The horror of the religious persecution in this book is neither for the faint of heart, nor for those who are unable to take a reflective look upon our current society."
ReplyDeleteSounds intriguing. Thanks for the giveaway!
"However, while this is obviously fiction, it makes you thankful for the time in which we live where we are (relatively) free to practice our own religion and do not face the kind of persecution seen here."
ReplyDeleteYes, humans are ever-evolving.
"When Claire watches what happens to her mother, gosh, I was so horrified and scared for her. It was certainly a memorable start to the story."
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I can read a book like this.
"The herbal medicine was interesting, and Paul did a great job (either with instinctive knowledge or heavy research into the subject!) in painting a picture about a somewhat primitive yet powerful way of healing."
ReplyDeleteI'd like to read the book just for this aspect!
"Claire goes on quite the journey of self discovery in connecting to her mother's herbal healing roots and figuring out how to proceed in a life forever changed by misery and violence."
ReplyDeleteSounds dystopian.