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The Age of Apollyon Trilogy #1
The Age of Apollyon
Notre-Dame Cathedral lies in ruins. The mangled corpses of the possessed are scattered in the shadows beneath the pulverized Gothic towers. This is the aftermath of the Manifestation.
Satan has revealed himself to the world, which falls trembling at his feet. Religious genocide sweeps Europe and Asia, and the world's greatest fortresses of faith are smashed to the ground. The New World and Australia become safe havens for refugees fleeing Lucifer's wrath.
Heaven remains silent. The followers of Christ cry out: Where is God?
Patric Bourdon believes in himself. He claims to be a member of the Church of Satan, but in reality, it is his own hedonism that drives him. His zealous and pregnant fiancée waits patiently for him to "man up" and take responsibility for his impending family, but the lure of drugs and debauchery proves too strong...
Until Patric receives a command that he cannot refuse.
Tourec, his self-righteous half-brother, has begun a campaign of terrorism against the forces of darkness. The Church of Satan is paralyzed with fear as Tourec and his band of rogue assassins seek vengeance for the evils that Lucifer has wrought upon the earth, and Patric is commanded to seek out and neutralize his brother by any means necessary.
Or his fiancée and unborn child shall perish.
THE AGE OF APOLLYON will shock and thrill those who enter its world...and this is just the beginning...
Satan has revealed himself to the world, which falls trembling at his feet. Religious genocide sweeps Europe and Asia, and the world's greatest fortresses of faith are smashed to the ground. The New World and Australia become safe havens for refugees fleeing Lucifer's wrath.
Heaven remains silent. The followers of Christ cry out: Where is God?
Patric Bourdon believes in himself. He claims to be a member of the Church of Satan, but in reality, it is his own hedonism that drives him. His zealous and pregnant fiancée waits patiently for him to "man up" and take responsibility for his impending family, but the lure of drugs and debauchery proves too strong...
Until Patric receives a command that he cannot refuse.
Tourec, his self-righteous half-brother, has begun a campaign of terrorism against the forces of darkness. The Church of Satan is paralyzed with fear as Tourec and his band of rogue assassins seek vengeance for the evils that Lucifer has wrought upon the earth, and Patric is commanded to seek out and neutralize his brother by any means necessary.
Or his fiancée and unborn child shall perish.
THE AGE OF APOLLYON will shock and thrill those who enter its world...and this is just the beginning...
First published January 1, 2012
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992 people want to read
About the author
Mark Carver
26 books74 followersMARK CARVER writes edgy, intense Christian fiction that illuminates the truth of the Gospel while not shying away from dark and challenging topics. He also writers lighter, more inspirational stories under a pen name to avoid confusing his readers. Mark lives with his family in north Georgia, where he enjoys art, literature, nature, and gardening.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
October 4, 2012
I wasn't even sure what speculative Christian fiction was when I started this book, but now I know...and it's scary!
This book that I thought would be more of an end of days scenario, was really the story of a great change in the world as we know it scenario. The devil returns, and the world is turned on its head. What's right is now wrong, and what was heretofore wrong is suddenly encouraged.
The Christian resistance, though small in number, are dedicated to their cause, and add to the suspense that flows throughout the book.
I had never given much of a thought to a world ruled by Satan, figuring (hopefully) that I would be gone by then. Mark Carver's story of the Appolyon, and its somewhat surprising implementation into our world kept me turning the pages long after I should have been asleep.
This book that I thought would be more of an end of days scenario, was really the story of a great change in the world as we know it scenario. The devil returns, and the world is turned on its head. What's right is now wrong, and what was heretofore wrong is suddenly encouraged.
The Christian resistance, though small in number, are dedicated to their cause, and add to the suspense that flows throughout the book.
I had never given much of a thought to a world ruled by Satan, figuring (hopefully) that I would be gone by then. Mark Carver's story of the Appolyon, and its somewhat surprising implementation into our world kept me turning the pages long after I should have been asleep.
June 9, 2012
The Age Of Apollyon is Mark Carver's debut novel. You never know what you're going to get with a debut novel. It can be a clumsy, difficult read or it can be unexpected brilliance. Fortunately, The Age of Apollyon falls closer to brilliance. Carver has fashioned a thriller that will keep you turning the pages all the way to the surprise ending.
Twelve years ago, in what was to become known as The Manifestation, Satan made an appearance on earth, ushering in a new era in the history of mankind. The Church of Satan has since created a powerful hold over nearly every major country and economy in Europe. No longer do its followers wonder if there really is a Satan. They know. They've seen him. Unlike God, who remained silent throughout The Manifestation and its aftermath, Satan's followers have no need to rely on their "faith" in his existence. And the Church of Satan has become more popular than Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, and Hinduism combined.
It's been a relatively peaceful twelve years since.
Until the moment everything changes:
“Tonight, within the span of one hour, at least a dozen temples belonging to the Church of Satan in France, Belgium, and here in Italy, were attacked during their evening services, and several presiding ministers were assassinated, along with other members of the clergy.”
Is this the beginning of a Holy War?
The Age Of Apollyon is an ambitious novel, and Carver creates a broad landscape for his story. But he wisely chooses to tell the thrust of the story through the eyes of two key characters. There is Patric Bourdon, a Church of Satan follower who likes the idea of doing what he wants when he wants without answering to a higher deity. And then there's Tourec, a devoted Christian zealot (often referred to as a Delusional by the Satanists) who believes he knows the will of God and is willing to do whatever is asked of him in the name of God.
We follow these two characters throughout the novel until the very end, with several surprises along the way that I won't divulge here because I don't want to rob you of the unexpected revelations.
The Age Of Apollyon is fast-paced, visual, intelligent, and well-researched.
It's what a thriller should be.
Twelve years ago, in what was to become known as The Manifestation, Satan made an appearance on earth, ushering in a new era in the history of mankind. The Church of Satan has since created a powerful hold over nearly every major country and economy in Europe. No longer do its followers wonder if there really is a Satan. They know. They've seen him. Unlike God, who remained silent throughout The Manifestation and its aftermath, Satan's followers have no need to rely on their "faith" in his existence. And the Church of Satan has become more popular than Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, and Hinduism combined.
It's been a relatively peaceful twelve years since.
Until the moment everything changes:
“Tonight, within the span of one hour, at least a dozen temples belonging to the Church of Satan in France, Belgium, and here in Italy, were attacked during their evening services, and several presiding ministers were assassinated, along with other members of the clergy.”
Is this the beginning of a Holy War?
The Age Of Apollyon is an ambitious novel, and Carver creates a broad landscape for his story. But he wisely chooses to tell the thrust of the story through the eyes of two key characters. There is Patric Bourdon, a Church of Satan follower who likes the idea of doing what he wants when he wants without answering to a higher deity. And then there's Tourec, a devoted Christian zealot (often referred to as a Delusional by the Satanists) who believes he knows the will of God and is willing to do whatever is asked of him in the name of God.
We follow these two characters throughout the novel until the very end, with several surprises along the way that I won't divulge here because I don't want to rob you of the unexpected revelations.
The Age Of Apollyon is fast-paced, visual, intelligent, and well-researched.
It's what a thriller should be.
January 11, 2013
I find it difficult to give a rating to Age of Apollyon that will be meaningful to others. The pieces I found well done in the novel were stunningly good, and the pieces that fell short missed by quite a bit.
In this novel, categorized as Christian speculative fiction, author Mark Carver has created an interesting character in the protagonist, Patric – a man who, although he belongs to the Church of Satan, neither believes nor disbelieves in the deities in whose names a dark religious war has erupted around him. Patric credibly vacillates in his views as he is played as a pawn by an unknown force. Carver is masterful in his use of setting and description to create at times chilling and at time ominous tones for the novel.
On the other hand, the story stops short of a complete and satisfying plot. It is unclear at the end whether the protagonist has changed over the course of the story or remains nothing but a pawn. I was also disappointed that the twist at the conclusion of the novel was predictable as the only outcome that made sense of the world Carver had created.
The craft that shines through in this first novel, however, is promising for future tense and riveting works from this author.
In this novel, categorized as Christian speculative fiction, author Mark Carver has created an interesting character in the protagonist, Patric – a man who, although he belongs to the Church of Satan, neither believes nor disbelieves in the deities in whose names a dark religious war has erupted around him. Patric credibly vacillates in his views as he is played as a pawn by an unknown force. Carver is masterful in his use of setting and description to create at times chilling and at time ominous tones for the novel.
On the other hand, the story stops short of a complete and satisfying plot. It is unclear at the end whether the protagonist has changed over the course of the story or remains nothing but a pawn. I was also disappointed that the twist at the conclusion of the novel was predictable as the only outcome that made sense of the world Carver had created.
The craft that shines through in this first novel, however, is promising for future tense and riveting works from this author.
November 24, 2012
Better than I expected. It's strength isn't in the action and and adventure parts, but in an edgy and subversive take on standard end times novels.
It's the near future. A spiritual manifestation of Satan in Israel has changed the world, making Satanism the dominant religion in Europe, and the lives of two brothers are changed dramatically. Patric is a typical person existing in this new world; a nominal believer in Satanism, he is dealing with juggling hedonism and his fiancee at the same time. His brother Tourec however, is a pious young man who believes that Christians need to resist the rise of Satanism with force. One day a demon demands of Patric to find his brother or lose Natasha forever, and it's a race against time as Tourec has a holy mission of his own.
The action is good on its own, and Mark's book moves a long at a brisk clip. But what really sticks out is how Mark adds a twist to a genre- ends times novels- that too easily falls into cliche. When the Manifestation happens, people react realistically: a religious panic turns into a massive bloodbath where many Christians fight to protect the holy places, and everyone fights everyone. This creates fallout in Tourec's life, as well as others. While Satanism is as bad as you'd expect, people also deal with it realistically. Patric is a Satanist as much as many nominal Christians are Christian, and the Christians themselves war with the proper response against them. Some embrace violence, other turn the other cheek. It's an interesting take on it, because in a way it reverses the old "Christians versus Satanist terrorists" trope, and it also feels like how people would react to a new spiritual manifestation. It suffers a little from being underexplored, but it adds a lot to the novel.
The only issue I had is that the ending is a bit off theologically. It's actually different than you'd expect, in a good way, but the idea I don't think can work. I don't want to put it in spoilers, though. Also, while it sets up the next book very nicely, it's a bit abrupt, and a certain character remaining alive might have been better instead.
So definitely give this a chance if you don't mind different novels that take risks with standard genres. I was pleasantly surprised with how good the ideas were, and look forwards to the next book.
It's the near future. A spiritual manifestation of Satan in Israel has changed the world, making Satanism the dominant religion in Europe, and the lives of two brothers are changed dramatically. Patric is a typical person existing in this new world; a nominal believer in Satanism, he is dealing with juggling hedonism and his fiancee at the same time. His brother Tourec however, is a pious young man who believes that Christians need to resist the rise of Satanism with force. One day a demon demands of Patric to find his brother or lose Natasha forever, and it's a race against time as Tourec has a holy mission of his own.
The action is good on its own, and Mark's book moves a long at a brisk clip. But what really sticks out is how Mark adds a twist to a genre- ends times novels- that too easily falls into cliche. When the Manifestation happens, people react realistically: a religious panic turns into a massive bloodbath where many Christians fight to protect the holy places, and everyone fights everyone. This creates fallout in Tourec's life, as well as others. While Satanism is as bad as you'd expect, people also deal with it realistically. Patric is a Satanist as much as many nominal Christians are Christian, and the Christians themselves war with the proper response against them. Some embrace violence, other turn the other cheek. It's an interesting take on it, because in a way it reverses the old "Christians versus Satanist terrorists" trope, and it also feels like how people would react to a new spiritual manifestation. It suffers a little from being underexplored, but it adds a lot to the novel.
The only issue I had is that the ending is a bit off theologically. It's actually different than you'd expect, in a good way, but the idea I don't think can work. I don't want to put it in spoilers, though. Also, while it sets up the next book very nicely, it's a bit abrupt, and a certain character remaining alive might have been better instead.
So definitely give this a chance if you don't mind different novels that take risks with standard genres. I was pleasantly surprised with how good the ideas were, and look forwards to the next book.
July 11, 2014
The realm of Christian speculative fiction is a relatively small one, and populated by authors who tend to play it safe, but Mark Carver is not one of those authors, and the result is one of the best Christian horror/thrillers you'll read this side of Dekker or Peretti. In this age of sanitized Christian fiction, Carver dares to go for dark and edgy with violence (though rarely explicit), profanity (mild stuff), and sex (suggested, never graphic). In other words, this ain't Grace Livingston Hill, and the Christian fiction market is better for it. The world is not a nice place and it would be even nastier if Satan himself manifested here and his infernal church ruled supreme, which is the major plot point of this novel.
Being an action writer, I would have liked to have seen a bit more guns-ablazin' and bullets-blasting, but that is not a negative, merely a preference. Carver was clearly aiming for more of a thriller scenario than a pure action story, and he pretty much nailed it with extra helpings of Gothic atmosphere and plenty of twists and turns. If you're looking for something fresh, daring, and different in the Christian thriller genre, carve out some time to read this debut novel.
Being an action writer, I would have liked to have seen a bit more guns-ablazin' and bullets-blasting, but that is not a negative, merely a preference. Carver was clearly aiming for more of a thriller scenario than a pure action story, and he pretty much nailed it with extra helpings of Gothic atmosphere and plenty of twists and turns. If you're looking for something fresh, daring, and different in the Christian thriller genre, carve out some time to read this debut novel.
December 7, 2015
I don't think the things I said were quite spoilers, but marked it just in case.
This wasn't quite what I thought it was going to be! I thought I'd love this, but only ended up with that "eh" *shrugs shoulders* kind of feeling.
WRITING
The writing was all right. It wasn't great and it wasn't bad. Just kind of... me for me. Easily readible, though, so that was good.
PLOT
So I thought this was going to be some all out chaotic war between the Satanists and the Christians. Turns out there wasn't much action, just talk of terrorist attacks and what actions they were going to take through different viewpoints. There was some good action towards the end, and kind of a twist that made me interested in continuing the series. The story of how Satan/The Great Dragon came down and how he was real while the Christian God was silent was very interesting. Now looking back, I realize this book was more about faith than anything. There was no specific side to take, which I thought was cool. It made me think of what I would do in those kinds of situations. I wish it wasn't so... vague, though. Like, the moments where the characters reflected on their lives and faith were brilliant, but most of the novel was kind of meh, and I kind of got bored with it, to the point where I skimmed a bit.
CHARACTERS
Literally cared for none of them, except maybe Father DeMarco. They were just characters to move the story along. Natasha made no sense. She was a Satanist, and in the story knew that Satanic and demonic influence were real, but found it odd that her husband had Satanic visions? GTFO. Patric was boring. Like I mentioned before, parts where he stopped and thought about his faith and his life were fantastic like the scene on the train with the priest, but as a character, he had no great qualities or flaws that made him a three-dimensional character. Tourec was a little bit better. I actually kind of liked him because I could very well understand the things he did. I was there shortly a few years ago, though not as extreme as terrorism. Everyone else? Forgettable.
CONCLUSION
I liked it. It piqued my interest and I connected with it immediately. The concept of this book was fascinating. However, the characters and the writing weren't memorable (which isn't bad). I just thought those two aspects could be done better. Definitely will stay for the story though. I hope the next book is a little bit better. 3 stars.
This wasn't quite what I thought it was going to be! I thought I'd love this, but only ended up with that "eh" *shrugs shoulders* kind of feeling.
WRITING
The writing was all right. It wasn't great and it wasn't bad. Just kind of... me for me. Easily readible, though, so that was good.
PLOT
So I thought this was going to be some all out chaotic war between the Satanists and the Christians. Turns out there wasn't much action, just talk of terrorist attacks and what actions they were going to take through different viewpoints. There was some good action towards the end, and kind of a twist that made me interested in continuing the series. The story of how Satan/The Great Dragon came down and how he was real while the Christian God was silent was very interesting. Now looking back, I realize this book was more about faith than anything. There was no specific side to take, which I thought was cool. It made me think of what I would do in those kinds of situations. I wish it wasn't so... vague, though. Like, the moments where the characters reflected on their lives and faith were brilliant, but most of the novel was kind of meh, and I kind of got bored with it, to the point where I skimmed a bit.
CHARACTERS
Literally cared for none of them, except maybe Father DeMarco. They were just characters to move the story along. Natasha made no sense. She was a Satanist, and in the story knew that Satanic and demonic influence were real, but found it odd that her husband had Satanic visions? GTFO. Patric was boring. Like I mentioned before, parts where he stopped and thought about his faith and his life were fantastic like the scene on the train with the priest, but as a character, he had no great qualities or flaws that made him a three-dimensional character. Tourec was a little bit better. I actually kind of liked him because I could very well understand the things he did. I was there shortly a few years ago, though not as extreme as terrorism. Everyone else? Forgettable.
CONCLUSION
I liked it. It piqued my interest and I connected with it immediately. The concept of this book was fascinating. However, the characters and the writing weren't memorable (which isn't bad). I just thought those two aspects could be done better. Definitely will stay for the story though. I hope the next book is a little bit better. 3 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 17, 2016
Y'all, I just don't know about this one. My expectations, going in, were pretty low and deliberately so. Four words: self, published, Christian, fiction. How many times does that work out as a tour de force? So with that in mind, I was surprised to find this both entertaining and readable. Carver's pace is fast; his overall style is uneven, but it's enough to keep you turning the pages.
But turning the pages presents problems. First, Carver lays out his premise with just enough details to move a plot forward: Satan busts up through the ground at Notre Dame cathedral as a giant dragon and declares himself in charge. Satanism incorporates (not the best word but I can't think of a better one) itself as a new version of Catholicism and takes over. There are pentagrams and black masses none of it is described in detail, but the reader is left to understand that there has been a total inversion of the Christian order and that God is completely, utterly silent.
Set up complete, Carver introduces brothers: Tourec, a monk turned Christian terrorist who decides that, if the church must go underground, he'll go down shooting. And Patric, a Satanist who's just in it for the whore and coke. The brothers are estranged, but that changes when Patric is contacted by demons--or so he believes-- that tell him to find his brother and get him to Paris by the full moon or someone or something will kill his girlfriend and the child she's carrying.
The book ends on that very note: Patric finds Tourec and gets him to Paris where Tourec, despite claiming he will no longer crusade via murder, does just that. It opens the door for the girlfriend to betray Patric and... read the sequel!
So with very low expectations in place, this book wasn't bad. Reviewing it with a somewhat gimlet eye, it also wasn't very good. Carver seems to have a big enough following as an independent author that he keeps churning this stuff out. I may or may not follow up. We'll see.
But turning the pages presents problems. First, Carver lays out his premise with just enough details to move a plot forward: Satan busts up through the ground at Notre Dame cathedral as a giant dragon and declares himself in charge. Satanism incorporates (not the best word but I can't think of a better one) itself as a new version of Catholicism and takes over. There are pentagrams and black masses none of it is described in detail, but the reader is left to understand that there has been a total inversion of the Christian order and that God is completely, utterly silent.
Set up complete, Carver introduces brothers: Tourec, a monk turned Christian terrorist who decides that, if the church must go underground, he'll go down shooting. And Patric, a Satanist who's just in it for the whore and coke. The brothers are estranged, but that changes when Patric is contacted by demons--or so he believes-- that tell him to find his brother and get him to Paris by the full moon or someone or something will kill his girlfriend and the child she's carrying.
The book ends on that very note: Patric finds Tourec and gets him to Paris where Tourec, despite claiming he will no longer crusade via murder, does just that. It opens the door for the girlfriend to betray Patric and... read the sequel!
So with very low expectations in place, this book wasn't bad. Reviewing it with a somewhat gimlet eye, it also wasn't very good. Carver seems to have a big enough following as an independent author that he keeps churning this stuff out. I may or may not follow up. We'll see.
March 30, 2013
Following an event called the 'Manifestation', where Satan made an appearance in the world, the Church of Satan rises to dominance in mainland Europe. Whereas Gods followers must still rely on faith, Satans have witnessed the proof of his existence. The Vatican is now in the hands of the Church of Satan and Christians find themselves a persecuted minority in disagreement of how to react. The story follows two half brothers; Tourec, a radical Christian determined to take the fight to the Satanists and Patric, a 'casual' Satanist, who just wants to enjoy his life but finds himself in a race to protect those he loves.
This was a well written debut and i really enjoyed the fresh ideas it contained. The Satanists are not all portrayed as evil, but fairly 'normal,' albeit selfish, people who are disillusioned with the Christian church. I enjoyed the 'shades of grey' aspect to the story and the questions it asked. Is is ever acceptable to turn to terrorism? Fight back or turn the other cheek? These problems are what made the book so interesting for me. I didn't find Tourec or Patric to be particularly sympathetic characters but they felt real and weren't completely unlikeable either.
Reading the book it felt obvious that it was going to be the first in a series. I think this is a good thing and am happy there will be more books, although the ending was perhaps not as satisfying as it could have been as a result. It does set things up nicely for the next book though. I worry that as the series progresses it may lose the shades of grey aspect and become a more predictable 'black and white', 'good vs evil' story and i think that would be a shame. But i would definitely recommend this novel and intend to read more in this series.
This was a well written debut and i really enjoyed the fresh ideas it contained. The Satanists are not all portrayed as evil, but fairly 'normal,' albeit selfish, people who are disillusioned with the Christian church. I enjoyed the 'shades of grey' aspect to the story and the questions it asked. Is is ever acceptable to turn to terrorism? Fight back or turn the other cheek? These problems are what made the book so interesting for me. I didn't find Tourec or Patric to be particularly sympathetic characters but they felt real and weren't completely unlikeable either.
Reading the book it felt obvious that it was going to be the first in a series. I think this is a good thing and am happy there will be more books, although the ending was perhaps not as satisfying as it could have been as a result. It does set things up nicely for the next book though. I worry that as the series progresses it may lose the shades of grey aspect and become a more predictable 'black and white', 'good vs evil' story and i think that would be a shame. But i would definitely recommend this novel and intend to read more in this series.
December 29, 2012
Age of Apollyon by Mark Carver brings two brothers together during the time of Satan on Earth. Tourec has been told to find his half-brother Patric. They each have a plan, and each is following a different ruler. With the return of Satan the world has changed drastically. Christians and religions other than those who follow Satan are no longer safe. It has been many years since his return and things are changing.
An edge of the seat novel that keeps you guessing right to the last page. I give it a wholehearted 5 stars and can't wait for another novel from Mr. Carver.
Disclaimer: This novel was received as a LibraryThing giveaway.
An edge of the seat novel that keeps you guessing right to the last page. I give it a wholehearted 5 stars and can't wait for another novel from Mr. Carver.
Disclaimer: This novel was received as a LibraryThing giveaway.
September 23, 2013
Mark Carvers debut novels is a riveting tale of Satan's manifestation on earth. Two brothers who have chosen very different paths in life, one is a devout Christian while the other is a self absorbed, pleasure seeking Satanist find their paths crossed in this dark thrill ride. Looking forward to Mr. Carver's next book.
November 5, 2021
Reading Christian fiction can feel a lot like listening to Christian Contemporary Music: it’s comforting, wholesome, and solidly faith-based, but can often feel sanitized, derivative, or even, to be brutally honest, a little boring. Reading Mark Carver’s fiction is the literary equivalent of blasting Christian death metal (think Mortification or Extol): a brutal sonic assault that is still firmly rooted in Biblical truth, leaving the reader seriously shaken but left with a solid spiritual message of redemption in the midst of terrible darkness.
Age of Apollyon opens to a dark scenario indeed. What if Satan had manifested himself and God remained silent? Ten years before our story begins, Satan, the Destroyer Apollyon, appeared in in the flesh and wrecked Notre Dame. Now validated with solid evidence, Satanism has become the dominant world religion and Christians and other religious groups have fled Europe for the relatively tolerant U.S. Depravity flourishes. The broader world of Age of Apollyon is a nightmare of candlelit black sabbaths, inverted crucifixes and pentagrams, orgies (not in any detail, mind you!) and sinister schemes involving beings that might be more infernal than human. It’s like something out of Aleister Crowley’s wildest dreams, or, conversely, JT Chick’s worst nightmares. Carver has done his research, and this world, though completely over the top, feels frighteningly convincing.
The story has an epic scope, jumping all over Europe from a Satanic Vatican (yes, really) to a struggling outpost church and everywhere in between, but the story is largely told through the eyes of Patric Bourdon and Tourec Beauchamp, two estranged brothers on opposite sides of the conflict. We open the novel with Tourec, a monk gone rogue, breaking into a black sabbath with guns ablaze to destroy the heathens. Meanwhile Patric enjoys the hedonistic Satanic life of promiscuous sex, drugs, and barely-present religious belief while struggling to be a present fiance and father-to-be for his devoutly Catholically Satanist, and pregnant, partner Natasha. But Patric's tenuous peace won’t last: soon, people around him seem to be becoming demonically possessed, and all bear the same message: find your brother. If he doesn’t, Natasha and her unborn child will die. Thus begins an epic, dark journey of twists and turns where one never knows what will happen next—or who to trust.
Carver avoids the easy tropes of perfect Christian soldiers and pure evil Satanist terrorists, and, in so doing, puts his work light years beyond other Christian end-times tales in moral complexity (sorry, Left Behind). Christians have agonizing, and realistic, debates about how far to go with violence and self-defense. There are terrorist attacks and counter-attacks on both sides. None of the characters are perfect, but while some are irredeemably vile, some maintain a faith in God’s goodness that sees them through the bleakness of the world around them. If there is a moral center to the story, it is surely the gentle Father DeMarco, who serves as a mentor to both brothers at varying points in the story. He also seems to be the closest thing to a direct voice from the author, imparting his moral vision to the story. A side note: I always appreciate when a Protestant author can accurately and compassionately portray a Catholic. Carver does this here.
This moral complexity extends to individual characters, too. Both protagonists are deeply flawed men, but Carver makes them easy to root for all the same. The Christian terrorist brother Tourec’s sincere faith and occasional moments of self-questioning convince the reader of some fundamental decency beneath the self-righteous extremism. Meanwhile the Satanist brother Patric, despite his initially terrible morals, displays many endearing qualities: his fresh thoughts on faith and doubt, his devotion to his pregnant fiancée, and the kind of good old fashioned put-upon-ness that makes us like any protagonist. The few scenes between the two are quite touching, and both brothers grow over the course of the novel, with Patric’s growth particularly satisfying and his lapses particularly frustrating. If Carver has a gift as an author, it is surely in bringing to life such deeply flawed characters and making them convincingly struggle with questions of faith and purpose, and such work is, in my opinion, sorely needed in the world of Christian literature.
A word of warning. This novel, as I mentioned, depicts a Satanic world, and while Carver doesn’t titillate with excessive or prolonged details, he doesn’t spare the reader either. There are moments of depravity and gore and violence throughout (one particularly memorable scene involves a satanic priest crucified on a pentagram!). It’s definitely an R-rated book for the disturbing imagery. Which is cool by me. Just not for the sensitive.
Despite my glowing praise thus far, it’s not a perfect novel. The premise could have been more thoroughly fleshed out than what Carver gives it. My favorite character dies (***CRIES***) when the story would almost certainly have benefited from his presence. And Carver’s prose is not dreadful by any means, but not brilliant or memorable, either. Maybe this novel deserves a 3 or 4 stars, like other reviewers have been giving it.
But, you know what? This novel made me FEEL things. I stayed up until 2 a.m. each night just to learn what happened next to these fascinating characters and couldn’t get Patric, Tourec, Natasha, and Father DeMarco out of my head all day. And honestly, I am all over the gothicky goodness of it (not sure what this says about me, but I must be honest here). So, heck. I’m giving this a five stars with no apologies.
The vengeance, blasphemy, and redemption continue in the next review. Stay tuned.
Naomi Neriah’s out.
****
So, you like your Christian music hardcore too? Here are some great albums to pair with Age of Apollyon:
Undeceived, Extol [progressive/death metal] : intricate and atmospheric, like the Norwegian landscape or perhaps a gothic cathedral, of which this novel is full.
Hellig Usvart, Horde [(un)black metal]: In the first ever Christian Black Metal album, Jayson Sherlock of Mortification turns satanic imagery on its head to glorify God. Dark themes, creepy images, and an ultimately hopeful message, just like AoA.
Son of the Morning and Children of Fire, Oh, Sleeper [metalcore]: This duology of albums features evocative storytelling and brutally honest character studies and is a fine work of Christian speculative fiction in its own right. Its themes are similar to those of AoA: in a world on fire, to have faith or not to have faith? That is the question.
Age of Apollyon opens to a dark scenario indeed. What if Satan had manifested himself and God remained silent? Ten years before our story begins, Satan, the Destroyer Apollyon, appeared in in the flesh and wrecked Notre Dame. Now validated with solid evidence, Satanism has become the dominant world religion and Christians and other religious groups have fled Europe for the relatively tolerant U.S. Depravity flourishes. The broader world of Age of Apollyon is a nightmare of candlelit black sabbaths, inverted crucifixes and pentagrams, orgies (not in any detail, mind you!) and sinister schemes involving beings that might be more infernal than human. It’s like something out of Aleister Crowley’s wildest dreams, or, conversely, JT Chick’s worst nightmares. Carver has done his research, and this world, though completely over the top, feels frighteningly convincing.
The story has an epic scope, jumping all over Europe from a Satanic Vatican (yes, really) to a struggling outpost church and everywhere in between, but the story is largely told through the eyes of Patric Bourdon and Tourec Beauchamp, two estranged brothers on opposite sides of the conflict. We open the novel with Tourec, a monk gone rogue, breaking into a black sabbath with guns ablaze to destroy the heathens. Meanwhile Patric enjoys the hedonistic Satanic life of promiscuous sex, drugs, and barely-present religious belief while struggling to be a present fiance and father-to-be for his devoutly Catholically Satanist, and pregnant, partner Natasha. But Patric's tenuous peace won’t last: soon, people around him seem to be becoming demonically possessed, and all bear the same message: find your brother. If he doesn’t, Natasha and her unborn child will die. Thus begins an epic, dark journey of twists and turns where one never knows what will happen next—or who to trust.
Carver avoids the easy tropes of perfect Christian soldiers and pure evil Satanist terrorists, and, in so doing, puts his work light years beyond other Christian end-times tales in moral complexity (sorry, Left Behind). Christians have agonizing, and realistic, debates about how far to go with violence and self-defense. There are terrorist attacks and counter-attacks on both sides. None of the characters are perfect, but while some are irredeemably vile, some maintain a faith in God’s goodness that sees them through the bleakness of the world around them. If there is a moral center to the story, it is surely the gentle Father DeMarco, who serves as a mentor to both brothers at varying points in the story. He also seems to be the closest thing to a direct voice from the author, imparting his moral vision to the story. A side note: I always appreciate when a Protestant author can accurately and compassionately portray a Catholic. Carver does this here.
This moral complexity extends to individual characters, too. Both protagonists are deeply flawed men, but Carver makes them easy to root for all the same. The Christian terrorist brother Tourec’s sincere faith and occasional moments of self-questioning convince the reader of some fundamental decency beneath the self-righteous extremism. Meanwhile the Satanist brother Patric, despite his initially terrible morals, displays many endearing qualities: his fresh thoughts on faith and doubt, his devotion to his pregnant fiancée, and the kind of good old fashioned put-upon-ness that makes us like any protagonist. The few scenes between the two are quite touching, and both brothers grow over the course of the novel, with Patric’s growth particularly satisfying and his lapses particularly frustrating. If Carver has a gift as an author, it is surely in bringing to life such deeply flawed characters and making them convincingly struggle with questions of faith and purpose, and such work is, in my opinion, sorely needed in the world of Christian literature.
A word of warning. This novel, as I mentioned, depicts a Satanic world, and while Carver doesn’t titillate with excessive or prolonged details, he doesn’t spare the reader either. There are moments of depravity and gore and violence throughout (one particularly memorable scene involves a satanic priest crucified on a pentagram!). It’s definitely an R-rated book for the disturbing imagery. Which is cool by me. Just not for the sensitive.
Despite my glowing praise thus far, it’s not a perfect novel. The premise could have been more thoroughly fleshed out than what Carver gives it. My favorite character dies (***CRIES***) when the story would almost certainly have benefited from his presence. And Carver’s prose is not dreadful by any means, but not brilliant or memorable, either. Maybe this novel deserves a 3 or 4 stars, like other reviewers have been giving it.
But, you know what? This novel made me FEEL things. I stayed up until 2 a.m. each night just to learn what happened next to these fascinating characters and couldn’t get Patric, Tourec, Natasha, and Father DeMarco out of my head all day. And honestly, I am all over the gothicky goodness of it (not sure what this says about me, but I must be honest here). So, heck. I’m giving this a five stars with no apologies.
The vengeance, blasphemy, and redemption continue in the next review. Stay tuned.
Naomi Neriah’s out.
****
So, you like your Christian music hardcore too? Here are some great albums to pair with Age of Apollyon:
Undeceived, Extol [progressive/death metal] : intricate and atmospheric, like the Norwegian landscape or perhaps a gothic cathedral, of which this novel is full.
Hellig Usvart, Horde [(un)black metal]: In the first ever Christian Black Metal album, Jayson Sherlock of Mortification turns satanic imagery on its head to glorify God. Dark themes, creepy images, and an ultimately hopeful message, just like AoA.
Son of the Morning and Children of Fire, Oh, Sleeper [metalcore]: This duology of albums features evocative storytelling and brutally honest character studies and is a fine work of Christian speculative fiction in its own right. Its themes are similar to those of AoA: in a world on fire, to have faith or not to have faith? That is the question.
April 13, 2015
here aren't words to describe this extremely unique story line. I was on the edge of my seat, biting my nails to see what would happen next. There is such a spectacular desecration of the world as Satan manifests Himself. Carver's book is probably edgy Christian fiction at it's best -- when God seems silent and not doing a thing. Satan is making Himself Prince of the World and God says nothing. For some Christians, this would be an extremely hard read, especially toward the end when Satan's true plan unfolds.
Throughout the story I was aware of the how diabolical Carver is -- the churches and holy relics we find so dear are destroyed or misused for Satanic glory. Carver's portrayal of this is brilliant which is why I jokingly say 'diabolical'. I winced at the Vatican being used in such a way. The Sistine Chapel, the wonderful churches of ancient times decimated. The images Carver used blew me away.
Of particular interest was the realism of how things were changed -- Christian terrorists who fought against Satan. What a delightful spin. Although the main character of this story, Patric, is highly intriguing and you can relate to him (yes, I say a Christian could relate to a Satanic character) I was more intrigued by the dichotomy of his brother Tourec. I think Carver did this guy wrong as I agreed with Tourec's stance even as I cringed at his methods. I kept screaming with every one else in the book, "Lord, do something!" Ah, the human heart -- only God can understand it.
All in all, a wonderful, thought-provoking, edge of your seat thriller. I've already bought the second book and can't wait to see what happens next.
Throughout the story I was aware of the how diabolical Carver is -- the churches and holy relics we find so dear are destroyed or misused for Satanic glory. Carver's portrayal of this is brilliant which is why I jokingly say 'diabolical'. I winced at the Vatican being used in such a way. The Sistine Chapel, the wonderful churches of ancient times decimated. The images Carver used blew me away.
Of particular interest was the realism of how things were changed -- Christian terrorists who fought against Satan. What a delightful spin. Although the main character of this story, Patric, is highly intriguing and you can relate to him (yes, I say a Christian could relate to a Satanic character) I was more intrigued by the dichotomy of his brother Tourec. I think Carver did this guy wrong as I agreed with Tourec's stance even as I cringed at his methods. I kept screaming with every one else in the book, "Lord, do something!" Ah, the human heart -- only God can understand it.
All in all, a wonderful, thought-provoking, edge of your seat thriller. I've already bought the second book and can't wait to see what happens next.
January 11, 2017
This was a fascinating read!! The imagery that Mr. Carver gives is fantastic. You feel as if you are in the world that has had a demon rise and start destroying churches and all forms of faith.
There is no winged demon flying around breathing fire or ripping apart buildings. What there is,is an excellent description of how a little crack in faith can lead a world into chaos.
This story is of two brothers that yes,you guessed it, are on opposite sides. You are taken through each of their lives and while you migh have certain religious views, you are still drawn to each character.
The story seems a bit slow in some points but its when you are being given a wonderful description of the surroundings. Since it is the first in a series....I wasn't sure how it would end. I knew that it would leave me wanting more, and it did.
There is no winged demon flying around breathing fire or ripping apart buildings. What there is,is an excellent description of how a little crack in faith can lead a world into chaos.
This story is of two brothers that yes,you guessed it, are on opposite sides. You are taken through each of their lives and while you migh have certain religious views, you are still drawn to each character.
The story seems a bit slow in some points but its when you are being given a wonderful description of the surroundings. Since it is the first in a series....I wasn't sure how it would end. I knew that it would leave me wanting more, and it did.
September 4, 2013
I’ve wanted to read this for a while and wasn’t disappointed. The Age of Appollyon is a fascinating story that starts after Satan manifests himself on earth and Satanism becomes THE mainstream religion. There is an uneasy truce between Christianity and Satanism until . . . This is well written in a old school, plenty of narrative sort of way that only adds to the goth feel of the work. Mark rejects un-Biblical pacifism, but illustrates the spiritual and moral danger self-defense poses for the Christian. I’ll be reading the sequel.
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September 10, 2015A believable story. Well done!
Mr. Carver created a believable story that was immersive. Loved the ending. Looking forward to read book 2. Well worth the read.
Mr. Carver created a believable story that was immersive. Loved the ending. Looking forward to read book 2. Well worth the read.
May 1, 2018
Ten years after the Manifestation, the day Satan came calling in western Europe, the people of Europe and Asia have come to terms with the Church of Satan. Most of the non-believers, Christian, Jews, and Muslims, have fled for the more tolerant countries of America and Australia. There are still a few Christians left behind, called delusionals, who secretly holding church services and administering to the faithful. Patric Bourdan is not a Christian, but he doesn’t care for the Satanic faith either. He is more of the ‘if it feels good, do it’ type of mentality. Soon, he encounters visions and instructions he can’t ignore. For the first time in his life, he is required to do something for someone other than himself.
Tourec is Patric’s older half-brother and was brought up in service to the Christian Church. He takes his chosen vocation very seriously and begins a movement against the Church of Satan. The lines between good and evil become blurred and fade away as we follow along with the brothers in their separate quests. This is a dark tale and doesn’t give out much hope for any sort of bright future. The question remains: Where is God? Great premise for an engaging story. Can’t wait to see where it leads.
Tourec is Patric’s older half-brother and was brought up in service to the Christian Church. He takes his chosen vocation very seriously and begins a movement against the Church of Satan. The lines between good and evil become blurred and fade away as we follow along with the brothers in their separate quests. This is a dark tale and doesn’t give out much hope for any sort of bright future. The question remains: Where is God? Great premise for an engaging story. Can’t wait to see where it leads.
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September 30, 2014YMMV. Just didn't click with me.
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