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Immortal Files #2
The Judgment Stone
What if praying became a curse instead of a blessing?
Former Army Ranger Jagger Baird thought he had his hands full with the Tribe—the band of immortal vigilantes fighting to regain God’s grace by killing those opposed to Him. But that was before he encountered the ruthless group of immortals called the Clan. The Clan is after a prize that would give them unimaginable power—a piece of the Ten Commandments known as the Judgment Stone.
Those who touch the Stone can see into the spiritual world: angelic warriors, treacherous demons, and the blue threads of light that signal the presence of believers in communion with God.
By following the blue beam radiating from those closest to God, the Clan plans to locate His most passionate followers and destroy them.
Jagger quickly realizes his high-tech gadgetry and training are no match for these merciless immortals. But how can he defeat an enemy who hunts believers through their prayers . . . and won’t stop until they’ve annihilated all those close to Him?
In this high-action thriller, best-selling author Robert Liparulo examines the raging battle between good and evil on earth . . . and beyond.
Former Army Ranger Jagger Baird thought he had his hands full with the Tribe—the band of immortal vigilantes fighting to regain God’s grace by killing those opposed to Him. But that was before he encountered the ruthless group of immortals called the Clan. The Clan is after a prize that would give them unimaginable power—a piece of the Ten Commandments known as the Judgment Stone.
Those who touch the Stone can see into the spiritual world: angelic warriors, treacherous demons, and the blue threads of light that signal the presence of believers in communion with God.
By following the blue beam radiating from those closest to God, the Clan plans to locate His most passionate followers and destroy them.
Jagger quickly realizes his high-tech gadgetry and training are no match for these merciless immortals. But how can he defeat an enemy who hunts believers through their prayers . . . and won’t stop until they’ve annihilated all those close to Him?
In this high-action thriller, best-selling author Robert Liparulo examines the raging battle between good and evil on earth . . . and beyond.
392 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2013
18 people are currently reading
721 people want to read
About the author
Robert Liparulo
32 books798 followersRobert Liparulo's novels, Comes a Horseman, Germ, Deadfall Deadlock, The 13th Tribe, and The Judgment Stone,have received rave reviews. His short story "Kill Zone" is included in the anthology Thriller, edited by James Patterson. He is also the author of the best-selling young adult series DREAMHOUSE KINGS: House of Dark Shadows, Watcher in the Woods, Gatekeepers, Timescape, Whirlwind, and Frenzy. Robert lives in Colorado with his family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
September 21, 2013
When I read The 13th Tribe last year, I wasn't sure what to expect, as it was my first Liparulo novel. To make a long story short, it ended up being one of my favorite reads of 2012.
Last week I FINALLY got my hands on the second book of the Immortal Files: The Judgment Stone. In the book, the Judgment Stone is a fragment of the original Ten Commandments and those who touch it are enabled to briefly see into the spiritual realm. They can see angels, demons, and the telltale blue beams of light emanating from those praying or who have an especially close relationship with God.
Because mean people like to ruin everything, a vicious group of immortals (The Clan) who make the vigilante Tribe from Book 1 look like playground bullies in comparison breaks into the monastery at the archeological dig where the Stone was found and kill several of the monks so they can get their hands on it. Jagger and his friend Owen go after them so they can prevent the Clan from murdering innocents that the Stone's powers enable them to find.
The action in this book is almost nonstop, but it does not lack the theological questions that permeated the first book in the series: If God is love, why does he let his children die and evil run rampant in the world? And how does one find favor with God?
Overall this was a fun read. I hope you all will like it, too. :)
Last week I FINALLY got my hands on the second book of the Immortal Files: The Judgment Stone. In the book, the Judgment Stone is a fragment of the original Ten Commandments and those who touch it are enabled to briefly see into the spiritual realm. They can see angels, demons, and the telltale blue beams of light emanating from those praying or who have an especially close relationship with God.
Because mean people like to ruin everything, a vicious group of immortals (The Clan) who make the vigilante Tribe from Book 1 look like playground bullies in comparison breaks into the monastery at the archeological dig where the Stone was found and kill several of the monks so they can get their hands on it. Jagger and his friend Owen go after them so they can prevent the Clan from murdering innocents that the Stone's powers enable them to find.
The action in this book is almost nonstop, but it does not lack the theological questions that permeated the first book in the series: If God is love, why does he let his children die and evil run rampant in the world? And how does one find favor with God?
Overall this was a fun read. I hope you all will like it, too. :)
May 11, 2013
Wowzers! Even better than the first book in the Immortal Files series! Can't wait for the next...
April 26, 2022
I really wanted this book to knock it out the park so that I could get another book in the series. It wasn't bad in any way but it wasn't outstanding in any way either.
I like the idea of their being another Tribe/Clan and how it performs the same deeds as the Tribe but with different motivations. I like the depiction of the angels/demons even if I didn't fully understand the rules behind when and how they can affect the real world and when they can't. I had a hard enough time juggling the members of the Tribe (even at a reduced capacity) but I had an even harder time keeping up with the Clan. Just too many individuals.
One of the criticisms I had with the first book carried over to this one and that was the descriptions of the action. There was just too much description of the compound and the movement of bodies and I just got tired of trying to create a floorpan in my head or to try to visualize the action and I just sorta skipped.
I think that this book should have been about the Clan only and should have dealt with the Tribe in the next. They could even write it out based on the Tribe needing to recover from the last books events. It is not that I didn't care about Nevaeh searching for Beth because I think that is a worthy plot but I really didn't care about it in relation to the Clan's actions. Every time the book jumped back to Beth and Tyler I would lose interest.
I thought Jagger's arc was good in that he has come to believe more but still can't shake his doubts. It is believable that he would not come around in the span of one book and I liked that. I thought Owen was really well written and very consistent in his actions. I could use more of him. I actually liked the reveal about Leo but at the same time it kinda came across as being thrown in there just for shock value. I really liked the end with the last monk to hold the stone (I forget his name). I could really see how that would play out as a movie.
Despite not being blown away by this book, I am a little disappointed that there is not another book in the series. I did a little research and it does not look like one will be coming either. That is a bummer because I think there is a lot potential and because I like the world the author built I was willing to give it a lot of room to improve.
I like the idea of their being another Tribe/Clan and how it performs the same deeds as the Tribe but with different motivations. I like the depiction of the angels/demons even if I didn't fully understand the rules behind when and how they can affect the real world and when they can't. I had a hard enough time juggling the members of the Tribe (even at a reduced capacity) but I had an even harder time keeping up with the Clan. Just too many individuals.
One of the criticisms I had with the first book carried over to this one and that was the descriptions of the action. There was just too much description of the compound and the movement of bodies and I just got tired of trying to create a floorpan in my head or to try to visualize the action and I just sorta skipped.
I think that this book should have been about the Clan only and should have dealt with the Tribe in the next. They could even write it out based on the Tribe needing to recover from the last books events. It is not that I didn't care about Nevaeh searching for Beth because I think that is a worthy plot but I really didn't care about it in relation to the Clan's actions. Every time the book jumped back to Beth and Tyler I would lose interest.
I thought Jagger's arc was good in that he has come to believe more but still can't shake his doubts. It is believable that he would not come around in the span of one book and I liked that. I thought Owen was really well written and very consistent in his actions. I could use more of him. I actually liked the reveal about Leo but at the same time it kinda came across as being thrown in there just for shock value. I really liked the end with the last monk to hold the stone (I forget his name). I could really see how that would play out as a movie.
Despite not being blown away by this book, I am a little disappointed that there is not another book in the series. I did a little research and it does not look like one will be coming either. That is a bummer because I think there is a lot potential and because I like the world the author built I was willing to give it a lot of room to improve.
November 3, 2017
The Judgment Stone is the sequel to Robert Liparulo's, action packed supernatural thriller, The Thirteenth Tribe. And it is packed with even more action than the first, if you can believe that's even possible.
Jagger is still having troubles with immortals. This time the danger is coming from two fronts.
A group of Immortal baddies, known as the Clan, have their hands on the Judgment Stone, a fragment of the ten commandments that lets you see the spiritual realm. They plan on using it to find those who love God the most and kill them.
But the Tribe from the first book is back, they want Jagger's wife. They believe she holds the key to finding eternal rest.
This book is a non-stop thrill ride from page one. I loved every minute of it and while it's not a cliff hanger, I hope there's another one coming soon. These characters are just so much fun.
Jagger is still having troubles with immortals. This time the danger is coming from two fronts.
A group of Immortal baddies, known as the Clan, have their hands on the Judgment Stone, a fragment of the ten commandments that lets you see the spiritual realm. They plan on using it to find those who love God the most and kill them.
But the Tribe from the first book is back, they want Jagger's wife. They believe she holds the key to finding eternal rest.
This book is a non-stop thrill ride from page one. I loved every minute of it and while it's not a cliff hanger, I hope there's another one coming soon. These characters are just so much fun.
October 6, 2019
Christian SyFi, who knew?
I read this one not realizing it was book 2 of a trilogy. Now I want to read all oh this series and more in the genre. I loved that it made me think about my faith and what being a Christian really means to me.
I read this one not realizing it was book 2 of a trilogy. Now I want to read all oh this series and more in the genre. I loved that it made me think about my faith and what being a Christian really means to me.
February 15, 2019
Again..very good book! Though the book was about the judgment stone, I felt it was really written about Jaggers wife and the stone was just a side quest.
October 10, 2020
I liked this one more than the first in the series, definitely worth a read if you like action adventure, chase scenes, Biblical fiction, and surprises.
May 31, 2021
This was an interesting book with plenty of action and an amazing storyline.
September 24, 2021
It was a little slow.
May 29, 2013
There are some amazing authors that are releasing some incredible novels and Robert Liparulo is definitely one of them. In his latest series, The Immortal Files, he began with his novel The 13th Tribe. You will need to read this one before attempting the sequel, Judgment Stone. You need the background that you discover in the first novel to make sense of where the action picks up in the second novel.
The premise of this novel begins with the story of the Israelite's that upon waiting for Moses to come down from his meeting with God on Mt. Sinai were found worshiping a golden calf thinking that Moses had abandoned them. Those who refused to destroy their idol worship of the golden calf were destroyed from the original 12 tribes. This is where the 13th tribe originated in the first novel. The 13th tribe of men, women and children, 40 of them, were cursed by God to wander the earth as immortals for their sin and never see the face of God. These would be the people who not only worshiped the golden calf but tasted the blood of the sacrifice.
Now these immortals have split up and gone their separate ways. For some like Owen, he is trying to work out his salvation with God by doing all the good he can in the world. Others like the Clan are running with the darker side and are wrecking havoc on Earth becoming an enemy to God and everyone who is on His side. There are others like we met at the conclusion of the 13th Tribe, that want to give up their immortal life and find a way back into God's grace again but don't know how to get there. They believe that only one person can help them and that is Jagger Baird's wife, Beth. She shared the salvation story with one of the immortals before he died and he seemed a peace where he would end up in his eternity with God.
Only now, The Clan has discovered a tool that may help them with their endeavor to rid the world of God and all who believe in Him, and usher in the enemy to destroy and rule the world in complete darkness. This is where the Judgment Stone is being sought after. The Judgment Stone is a piece of the Ten Commandments created by God. He who possesses the stone can see into the unseen world of angels and demons. Once you can do that, you can target your enemy in an entirely new way. You can see those who are believers and destroy them as well as their angelic warriors away from the world. Striking back at the monastery where the Judgment Stone has been hidden, the Clan will stop at nothing to make sure they possess this valuable artifact. This is where Jagger will realize that despite all his military training and high-tech gadgetry he is completely defenseless against those who hunts believers through their prayers and with Jagger's family being believers, they will strike where at the very heart of his life.
I received The Judgment Stone by Robert Liparulo compliments of Thomas Nelson Publishers and Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for a favorable review. The best thing I enjoy about Robert's series is his ability to tap into the latest in military gadgets like Unmanned Ground Combat Units and exoskeltons that offer the military an edge up on the enemy. I found myself toggling back and forth between this novel to see just how these devices worked and was surprised at just how in the dark I was at where we are at using high tech gadgets in our military. I am impressed by his research into this which greatly enhances this series. Not only do you have Immortals walking the earth that are almost impossible to kill but now some of them are using these high tech gadgets and weapons. Truly scary and unbelievable but make this an exciting page turner til the end. For those of you that love futuristic military combined with spiritual warfare, you will LOVE this entire series. I'd rate this one a perfect 5 out of 5 stars. Now I can't wait for next novel in this series to see how it will all play out in the end.
The premise of this novel begins with the story of the Israelite's that upon waiting for Moses to come down from his meeting with God on Mt. Sinai were found worshiping a golden calf thinking that Moses had abandoned them. Those who refused to destroy their idol worship of the golden calf were destroyed from the original 12 tribes. This is where the 13th tribe originated in the first novel. The 13th tribe of men, women and children, 40 of them, were cursed by God to wander the earth as immortals for their sin and never see the face of God. These would be the people who not only worshiped the golden calf but tasted the blood of the sacrifice.
Now these immortals have split up and gone their separate ways. For some like Owen, he is trying to work out his salvation with God by doing all the good he can in the world. Others like the Clan are running with the darker side and are wrecking havoc on Earth becoming an enemy to God and everyone who is on His side. There are others like we met at the conclusion of the 13th Tribe, that want to give up their immortal life and find a way back into God's grace again but don't know how to get there. They believe that only one person can help them and that is Jagger Baird's wife, Beth. She shared the salvation story with one of the immortals before he died and he seemed a peace where he would end up in his eternity with God.
Only now, The Clan has discovered a tool that may help them with their endeavor to rid the world of God and all who believe in Him, and usher in the enemy to destroy and rule the world in complete darkness. This is where the Judgment Stone is being sought after. The Judgment Stone is a piece of the Ten Commandments created by God. He who possesses the stone can see into the unseen world of angels and demons. Once you can do that, you can target your enemy in an entirely new way. You can see those who are believers and destroy them as well as their angelic warriors away from the world. Striking back at the monastery where the Judgment Stone has been hidden, the Clan will stop at nothing to make sure they possess this valuable artifact. This is where Jagger will realize that despite all his military training and high-tech gadgetry he is completely defenseless against those who hunts believers through their prayers and with Jagger's family being believers, they will strike where at the very heart of his life.
I received The Judgment Stone by Robert Liparulo compliments of Thomas Nelson Publishers and Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for a favorable review. The best thing I enjoy about Robert's series is his ability to tap into the latest in military gadgets like Unmanned Ground Combat Units and exoskeltons that offer the military an edge up on the enemy. I found myself toggling back and forth between this novel to see just how these devices worked and was surprised at just how in the dark I was at where we are at using high tech gadgets in our military. I am impressed by his research into this which greatly enhances this series. Not only do you have Immortals walking the earth that are almost impossible to kill but now some of them are using these high tech gadgets and weapons. Truly scary and unbelievable but make this an exciting page turner til the end. For those of you that love futuristic military combined with spiritual warfare, you will LOVE this entire series. I'd rate this one a perfect 5 out of 5 stars. Now I can't wait for next novel in this series to see how it will all play out in the end.
March 10, 2017
Amazing story-telling. Rollercoaster action and emotion! This book has it all! God reveals His power and presence throughout the pages of this "can't put it down, thrills a minute" novel!
June 25, 2013
Robert Liparulo in his new book, “The Judgment Stone” Book Two in The Immortal Files series gives us another adventure with Jagger Baird
From the back cover: What if praying became a curse instead of a blessing?
Former Army Ranger Jagger Baird thought he had his hands full with the Tribe—the band of immortal vigilantes fighting to regain God’s grace by killing those opposed to Him. But that was before he encountered the ruthless group of immortals called the Clan. The Clan is after a prize that would give them unimaginable power—a piece of the Ten Commandments known as the Judgment Stone.
Those who touch the Stone can see into the spiritual world: angelic warriors, treacherous demons, and the blue threads of light that signal the presence of believers in communion with God.
By following the blue beam radiating from those closest to God, the Clan plans to locate His most passionate followers and destroy them.
Jagger quickly realizes his high-tech gadgetry and training are no match for these merciless immortals. But how can he defeat an enemy who hunts believers through their prayers . . . and won’t stop until they’ve annihilated all those close to Him?
In this high-action thriller, best-selling author Robert Liparulo examines the raging battle between good and evil on earth . . . and beyond.
The 13th Tribe is back and this time they are gunning for blood! Jacob, also called Israel, grandson of Abraham, had twelve sons who founded the twelve tribes of Israel. Mr. Liparulo has conceived a 13th tribe of men, women and children, 40 of them, that were cursed by God to wander the earth as immortals and never see the face of God. These would be the people who not only worshiped the golden calf but tasted the blood of the sacrifice. Somehow this punishment has driven them insane and they believe that if they punish sinners God will find favor with them and reverse His punishment, which, of course, is not going to happen. In the previous book Baird went up against The Tribe, now he faces The Clan and they are even more insane and hate filled. The Clan launch an attack on St. Catherine’s Monastery and steal a fragment of the original Ten Commandments, The Judgment Stone. With this Stone The Clan can identify believers and destroy them as well as the angels who protect them. The battle continues and this time is even more deadly than the last! “The Judgment Stone” is a thriller, which simply means that everyone is in grave danger from, practically, the beginning. Mr. Liparulo has given us a really clever story with even better villains. “The Judgment Stone” is full of twists and turns that will keep you flipping pages to find out more. I do not recommend starting this book late at night as you will have to sacrifice sleep in order to finish it. This is an exciting book, extremely well paced and suspenseful. This series is just terrific. I never want it to end and I am so looking forward to the next book.
If you would like to listen to interviews with other authors and professionals please go to www.kingdomhighlights.org where they are available On Demand.
To listen to 24 hours non-stop, commercial free Christian music please visit our internet radio station www.kingdomairwaves.org
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for free from The Suspense Zone. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
From the back cover: What if praying became a curse instead of a blessing?
Former Army Ranger Jagger Baird thought he had his hands full with the Tribe—the band of immortal vigilantes fighting to regain God’s grace by killing those opposed to Him. But that was before he encountered the ruthless group of immortals called the Clan. The Clan is after a prize that would give them unimaginable power—a piece of the Ten Commandments known as the Judgment Stone.
Those who touch the Stone can see into the spiritual world: angelic warriors, treacherous demons, and the blue threads of light that signal the presence of believers in communion with God.
By following the blue beam radiating from those closest to God, the Clan plans to locate His most passionate followers and destroy them.
Jagger quickly realizes his high-tech gadgetry and training are no match for these merciless immortals. But how can he defeat an enemy who hunts believers through their prayers . . . and won’t stop until they’ve annihilated all those close to Him?
In this high-action thriller, best-selling author Robert Liparulo examines the raging battle between good and evil on earth . . . and beyond.
The 13th Tribe is back and this time they are gunning for blood! Jacob, also called Israel, grandson of Abraham, had twelve sons who founded the twelve tribes of Israel. Mr. Liparulo has conceived a 13th tribe of men, women and children, 40 of them, that were cursed by God to wander the earth as immortals and never see the face of God. These would be the people who not only worshiped the golden calf but tasted the blood of the sacrifice. Somehow this punishment has driven them insane and they believe that if they punish sinners God will find favor with them and reverse His punishment, which, of course, is not going to happen. In the previous book Baird went up against The Tribe, now he faces The Clan and they are even more insane and hate filled. The Clan launch an attack on St. Catherine’s Monastery and steal a fragment of the original Ten Commandments, The Judgment Stone. With this Stone The Clan can identify believers and destroy them as well as the angels who protect them. The battle continues and this time is even more deadly than the last! “The Judgment Stone” is a thriller, which simply means that everyone is in grave danger from, practically, the beginning. Mr. Liparulo has given us a really clever story with even better villains. “The Judgment Stone” is full of twists and turns that will keep you flipping pages to find out more. I do not recommend starting this book late at night as you will have to sacrifice sleep in order to finish it. This is an exciting book, extremely well paced and suspenseful. This series is just terrific. I never want it to end and I am so looking forward to the next book.
If you would like to listen to interviews with other authors and professionals please go to www.kingdomhighlights.org where they are available On Demand.
To listen to 24 hours non-stop, commercial free Christian music please visit our internet radio station www.kingdomairwaves.org
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for free from The Suspense Zone. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
August 3, 2013
It was bad enough having to fight The Tribe, but now Jagger must contend with The Clan, a separate group of immortals who are ruthless killers. While the Tribe kills because they believe they are doing God's will, the Clan kills and maims for fun. After the Judgment Stone is discovered at the monastery, they are determined to have it and will kill to get it. The Stone, a remnant of the stone on which the Ten Commandments were inscribed, gives the holder the ability to see the spiritual warfare going on around them. With the ability to see the blue thread of light that signals believers who are communicating with God, the Clan formulates a plan to locate those with the closest relationship with God and kill them. Jagger must keep the Stone from the Clan while protecting his family from the Tribe.
The Judgment Stone is the sequel to The 13th Tribe, in which we met Jagger, Beth, and Tyler. Jagger is an immortal from The Tribe, although he has no memory of the centuries before he met and married Beth. This sequel is not a stand-alone novel. The back story is referred to only briefly, and not in detail. The premise of seeing angels and demons is not a new one, but the author has used a fresh approach. It was particularly interesting that the believers found the demons to be frightening and repulsive, while the Clan saw them as attractive.
One negative: In my opinion, the novel could have been shortened by approximately a third. The first third of the book was very good, but the middle of the book seemed to drag. But suddenly the plot picked up once more, and my attention was caught again. In fact, I hated to see it end. I'm guessing by the ending that there will be a future installment in this series.
Anyone who enjoys the works of Frank Peretti and/or Ted Dekker should enjoy this series.
4 stars
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com® book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
The Judgment Stone is the sequel to The 13th Tribe, in which we met Jagger, Beth, and Tyler. Jagger is an immortal from The Tribe, although he has no memory of the centuries before he met and married Beth. This sequel is not a stand-alone novel. The back story is referred to only briefly, and not in detail. The premise of seeing angels and demons is not a new one, but the author has used a fresh approach. It was particularly interesting that the believers found the demons to be frightening and repulsive, while the Clan saw them as attractive.
One negative: In my opinion, the novel could have been shortened by approximately a third. The first third of the book was very good, but the middle of the book seemed to drag. But suddenly the plot picked up once more, and my attention was caught again. In fact, I hated to see it end. I'm guessing by the ending that there will be a future installment in this series.
Anyone who enjoys the works of Frank Peretti and/or Ted Dekker should enjoy this series.
4 stars
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com® book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
March 5, 2016
What would happen if you could see the spiritual realm? Angels, demons, all of it? Would it change how you viewed God? Would your faith grow? Or your fear increase? Jagger Baird, a former Army Ranger, faces just such a miracle in Robert Liparulo's fast paced, action-packed thriller, The Judgement Stone.
Met with the challenge to recover the Judgement Stone, a fragment left over from the Ten Commandments, he sets out on an impossible mission: stop The Clan, a murder-hungry group of immortals, before they use the stone to their own advantage, seeking to destroy the most devout followers of Christ.
One part Indianan Jones, one part The Screwtape Letters, and one part Frank Peretti, the in-your-face action of The Judgement Stone will have you turning pages late into the night.
For those of you (like me) who haven't read book one, The 13th Tribe, I would highly recommend reading it first. I came into this book like I do most - without reading the back cover copy. I'll admit to being wide-eyed and slightly disbelieving for the first few chapters as parts from book one were reintroduced in a typical 'catch up' fashion. Some things come out sounding slightly ridiculous and highly improbable when recounted in an off-hand way. Of course, I chalked that up to coming in late to the game with book two and pushed passed.
Once I'd gotten a hang of Liparulo's style and grasped what I could from the back story, I was immediately hooked! Great detail, action sequences, and an extremely clever plot that kept me guessing. His descriptions of the spiritual realm were by far my favorite though. The vivid pictures of angles and prayer I take away from this book will forever be imprinted into my mind.
This is a must read novel for fans of action, adventure, and spiritual warfare - but again, read book one first!
Originally posted on my blog: http://eahendryx.blogspot.com/2014/06...
_______________
I received a free copy of this book for review purposes, but was under no obligation to read the book or post a review. I do so under my own motivation and the opinions I have expressed in this review are honest and entirely my own.
Met with the challenge to recover the Judgement Stone, a fragment left over from the Ten Commandments, he sets out on an impossible mission: stop The Clan, a murder-hungry group of immortals, before they use the stone to their own advantage, seeking to destroy the most devout followers of Christ.
One part Indianan Jones, one part The Screwtape Letters, and one part Frank Peretti, the in-your-face action of The Judgement Stone will have you turning pages late into the night.
For those of you (like me) who haven't read book one, The 13th Tribe, I would highly recommend reading it first. I came into this book like I do most - without reading the back cover copy. I'll admit to being wide-eyed and slightly disbelieving for the first few chapters as parts from book one were reintroduced in a typical 'catch up' fashion. Some things come out sounding slightly ridiculous and highly improbable when recounted in an off-hand way. Of course, I chalked that up to coming in late to the game with book two and pushed passed.
Once I'd gotten a hang of Liparulo's style and grasped what I could from the back story, I was immediately hooked! Great detail, action sequences, and an extremely clever plot that kept me guessing. His descriptions of the spiritual realm were by far my favorite though. The vivid pictures of angles and prayer I take away from this book will forever be imprinted into my mind.
This is a must read novel for fans of action, adventure, and spiritual warfare - but again, read book one first!
Originally posted on my blog: http://eahendryx.blogspot.com/2014/06...
_______________
I received a free copy of this book for review purposes, but was under no obligation to read the book or post a review. I do so under my own motivation and the opinions I have expressed in this review are honest and entirely my own.
May 15, 2013
Review posted on http://sherisalatin.com on May 15.
What if praying became a curse instead of a blessing?
Jagger Baird thought his family was safe. Finally. They now reside in the monastery on Mount Sinai. The very mountain where Moses met God at the burning bush.
When one of the archeologists finds a special stone, trouble begins. A group of immortals, known as the clan, steals the stone and uses its power to grieve the heart of God. The stone, when touched, reveals the spiritual realm. Angels and demons are seen clearly, along with a crystal blue light that reveals a Christian's communion with God.
The clan uses these "prayer beams" to track down the believers and snuff out their lights by killing them.
Jagger and Owen set out to stop them. Finding them and stopping them proves to be the biggest challenge yet. Especially since leaving his family to hunt down evil, leaves them vulnerable and open for attack.
***
My Thoughts
From the description, I'm sure this book sounds really weird and far out there. I guess in some ways it is. However, the truths found in this book are right on.
This book shows the power of prayer and the fight raging against evil.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. ~ Ephesians 6:12
I found this book very encouraging. It made me more aware of the spiritual realm in life and has encouraged me to step up my prayer life. Pray without ceasing became a living, breathing action rather than simply a Bible verse. The story gives this verse a picture.
The first several chapters of this book left me in complete confusion, trying to figure out what was going on. Please don't give up reading. Keep going. The storyline and goal soon become clear and you will have a hard time putting it down.
Many thanks to Thomas Nelson and Booksneeze for my review copy of this book. All of the opinions expressed are mine and I was not paid to give a positive or negative review.
What if praying became a curse instead of a blessing?
Jagger Baird thought his family was safe. Finally. They now reside in the monastery on Mount Sinai. The very mountain where Moses met God at the burning bush.
When one of the archeologists finds a special stone, trouble begins. A group of immortals, known as the clan, steals the stone and uses its power to grieve the heart of God. The stone, when touched, reveals the spiritual realm. Angels and demons are seen clearly, along with a crystal blue light that reveals a Christian's communion with God.
The clan uses these "prayer beams" to track down the believers and snuff out their lights by killing them.
Jagger and Owen set out to stop them. Finding them and stopping them proves to be the biggest challenge yet. Especially since leaving his family to hunt down evil, leaves them vulnerable and open for attack.
***
My Thoughts
From the description, I'm sure this book sounds really weird and far out there. I guess in some ways it is. However, the truths found in this book are right on.
This book shows the power of prayer and the fight raging against evil.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. ~ Ephesians 6:12
I found this book very encouraging. It made me more aware of the spiritual realm in life and has encouraged me to step up my prayer life. Pray without ceasing became a living, breathing action rather than simply a Bible verse. The story gives this verse a picture.
The first several chapters of this book left me in complete confusion, trying to figure out what was going on. Please don't give up reading. Keep going. The storyline and goal soon become clear and you will have a hard time putting it down.
Many thanks to Thomas Nelson and Booksneeze for my review copy of this book. All of the opinions expressed are mine and I was not paid to give a positive or negative review.
May 15, 2013
Angels, Demons, Futuristic Weapons and Redemption
A battle is raging at St. Catherine's Monastery. Jagger and the monks are surprised by a troop dressed in outlandish costumes and armed with advanced weapons like Cobras that follow the defenders into the tunnels under the monastery firing like machine guns. The Clan is another group of immortals, but unlike the Tribe, they are bent on destruction. They have invaded St. Catherine's because the archaeological expedition has uncovered a relic they want, the Judgement Stone, a fragment of the first tablets containing the ten commandments that Moses destroyed. This fragment of stone lets the person touching it see demons and angels and the blue threads that indicate a believer in contact with God.
The Tribe watches the encounter. They aren't after the Judgement Stone, Nevaeh has a different objective. She wants to capture Beth, Jagger's wife, to find out the secret that would lead them to salvation. Nevaeh believes that Ben, the former leader of the tribe, was able to die because he got the secret from Beth and she wants it.
This fast paced, high-tech, thriller presents a battle between good evil. The Clan are determined to do as much damage to earth as they can. Jagger and Owen must decide how to deceive them and recover the Judgment Stone. At the same time, Jagger worries about Beth's safety and the Nevaeh's obsessive desire to find the secret of salvation.
This is an excellent sequel to “The Thirteenth Tribe.” Jagger, Beth, Tyler and Owen are characters you'll love and identify with. That combined with the fast moving plot makes this a must read. If you enjoy action and adventure with a Biblical background, this is not one to miss. I loved the Thirteenth Tribe, and I think The Judgment Stone is even better.
I reviewed this book for the Thomas Nelson Booksneeze Program.
A battle is raging at St. Catherine's Monastery. Jagger and the monks are surprised by a troop dressed in outlandish costumes and armed with advanced weapons like Cobras that follow the defenders into the tunnels under the monastery firing like machine guns. The Clan is another group of immortals, but unlike the Tribe, they are bent on destruction. They have invaded St. Catherine's because the archaeological expedition has uncovered a relic they want, the Judgement Stone, a fragment of the first tablets containing the ten commandments that Moses destroyed. This fragment of stone lets the person touching it see demons and angels and the blue threads that indicate a believer in contact with God.
The Tribe watches the encounter. They aren't after the Judgement Stone, Nevaeh has a different objective. She wants to capture Beth, Jagger's wife, to find out the secret that would lead them to salvation. Nevaeh believes that Ben, the former leader of the tribe, was able to die because he got the secret from Beth and she wants it.
This fast paced, high-tech, thriller presents a battle between good evil. The Clan are determined to do as much damage to earth as they can. Jagger and Owen must decide how to deceive them and recover the Judgment Stone. At the same time, Jagger worries about Beth's safety and the Nevaeh's obsessive desire to find the secret of salvation.
This is an excellent sequel to “The Thirteenth Tribe.” Jagger, Beth, Tyler and Owen are characters you'll love and identify with. That combined with the fast moving plot makes this a must read. If you enjoy action and adventure with a Biblical background, this is not one to miss. I loved the Thirteenth Tribe, and I think The Judgment Stone is even better.
I reviewed this book for the Thomas Nelson Booksneeze Program.
May 16, 2013
The Judgment Stone
By Robert Liparulo
The Judgment Stone is the second book in The Immortal Files and it is just as heart-pounding as book 1 The 13th Tribe. Jagger Baird is still head of security for a dig in Egypt, though now he knows who and what he is.
The Tribe, now under Nevaeh, is interested in Beth and how she changed Ben allowing him to die. But while they keep St. Catherine's under surveillance they observe a new threat to the monastery that they can't understand.
After the attack (that killed several of the monks) Gheronda reveals the attackers id to Jagger. The Clan, whom Gheronda viewed as worse than the Tribe, had attacked them for a shard of stone!
What the significance is is unknown to the monks so they call Owen, who has tracked the Clan over the years. The dig that Jagger is at has unearthed a portion of the Judgment Stone - a piece of the first Ten Commandments. Touching this stone will allow one to see into the Spiritual world and the Clan plans to use the stone to destroy those who follow God.
Owen and Jagger set off to get back what Owen refers to as the God Stone before the Clan corrupts it by using it for evil. The Tribe makes its move while Jagger is gone. What follows is a battle that is Spiritual. When the evil that is the Clan is confronted the battle must be fought through faith and prayer.
The Judgment Stone is a Spiritual journey, a journey to discover the power of faith and a journey to find redemption. If you read The 13th Tribe you won't want to miss The Judgment Stone!
I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher through the BookSneeze program in exchange for my honest opinion.
By Robert Liparulo
The Judgment Stone is the second book in The Immortal Files and it is just as heart-pounding as book 1 The 13th Tribe. Jagger Baird is still head of security for a dig in Egypt, though now he knows who and what he is.
The Tribe, now under Nevaeh, is interested in Beth and how she changed Ben allowing him to die. But while they keep St. Catherine's under surveillance they observe a new threat to the monastery that they can't understand.
After the attack (that killed several of the monks) Gheronda reveals the attackers id to Jagger. The Clan, whom Gheronda viewed as worse than the Tribe, had attacked them for a shard of stone!
What the significance is is unknown to the monks so they call Owen, who has tracked the Clan over the years. The dig that Jagger is at has unearthed a portion of the Judgment Stone - a piece of the first Ten Commandments. Touching this stone will allow one to see into the Spiritual world and the Clan plans to use the stone to destroy those who follow God.
Owen and Jagger set off to get back what Owen refers to as the God Stone before the Clan corrupts it by using it for evil. The Tribe makes its move while Jagger is gone. What follows is a battle that is Spiritual. When the evil that is the Clan is confronted the battle must be fought through faith and prayer.
The Judgment Stone is a Spiritual journey, a journey to discover the power of faith and a journey to find redemption. If you read The 13th Tribe you won't want to miss The Judgment Stone!
I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher through the BookSneeze program in exchange for my honest opinion.
September 19, 2013
Robert Liparulo is a master of suspense, intrigue, and adventure – this tale is no exception. There were, once again, moments when I had to stop reading just to catch my breath. As delighted as I was with the first book, (The Thirteenth Tribe – see my review here.) I can say that this one did not disappoint. In fact, as hard as it was for me to imagine, Liparulo managed to up the ante and bring this to a whole new level of suspense and intrigue.
These characters resonated once again and though I admit that there are moments in the story where the dangerous focus on Jagger’s family felt a little heavy handed, I still felt emotionally drawn to each of them in an incredible way. The questions Jagger has, the wavering faith of his wife and the concern of his son all hit home in some powerful way. With these characters, he addresses all of the levels of faith, doubt and fear that we have as we consider God and our lives in conjunction with His plan. I love that.
I also love the fast-paced action in these books. If you’re a lover of Tom Clancy or Clive Cussler, these books will become fast favorites. Epic battles with a variety of weapons, hand-to-hand combat and realistic survival moments will keep you on the edge of your seat. (Warning: Seriously do not attempt to read this book to settle yourself down for bed. I have at least one night’s lack of sleep that was sponsored by the letters L, I, P, A, R, U, L and O) With twists and turns that you’d never imagine coming, this book will keep you entertained, breathless and most of all, wanting more.
Review copy provided by the publisher - thank you!
These characters resonated once again and though I admit that there are moments in the story where the dangerous focus on Jagger’s family felt a little heavy handed, I still felt emotionally drawn to each of them in an incredible way. The questions Jagger has, the wavering faith of his wife and the concern of his son all hit home in some powerful way. With these characters, he addresses all of the levels of faith, doubt and fear that we have as we consider God and our lives in conjunction with His plan. I love that.
I also love the fast-paced action in these books. If you’re a lover of Tom Clancy or Clive Cussler, these books will become fast favorites. Epic battles with a variety of weapons, hand-to-hand combat and realistic survival moments will keep you on the edge of your seat. (Warning: Seriously do not attempt to read this book to settle yourself down for bed. I have at least one night’s lack of sleep that was sponsored by the letters L, I, P, A, R, U, L and O) With twists and turns that you’d never imagine coming, this book will keep you entertained, breathless and most of all, wanting more.
Review copy provided by the publisher - thank you!
April 11, 2014
Here is another winner from Liparulo. I have so much enjoyed the last two books from him. The wild imagination of Liparulo is unmatched in today's Christian fiction. The Judgment Stone is one of Liparulo's best efforts. I love every one of his novels. All are exciting and riveting. However, I really love these last two that are more in tune with faith in action.
The storyline is developed very well with a little more background for the characters. I do not like jumping among three story lines: Owen/Jagger; The Tribe; and The Clan. Although, Liparulo does an excellent job with the transitions. It does keep the pages turning. However, head jumping is an easy tool to use to keep the plot churning. I believe Liparulo is a better writer than that, and can keep the action with a minimum of viewpoints.
You should read the first in this series because The Judgment Stone starts almost where The 13th Tribe closes (click the link and you can read my review of that book.)
The Judgment Stone has a fascinating premise with an object being an open door to see into the spiritual world. I like how Liparulo describes the spiritual warfare, and how angels foil demons interference with humans. I love the way he describes angels ministering and succoring humans, with the spiritual direct connect with God. It is fascinating reading.
Bob, great job! I want more!
The storyline is developed very well with a little more background for the characters. I do not like jumping among three story lines: Owen/Jagger; The Tribe; and The Clan. Although, Liparulo does an excellent job with the transitions. It does keep the pages turning. However, head jumping is an easy tool to use to keep the plot churning. I believe Liparulo is a better writer than that, and can keep the action with a minimum of viewpoints.
You should read the first in this series because The Judgment Stone starts almost where The 13th Tribe closes (click the link and you can read my review of that book.)
The Judgment Stone has a fascinating premise with an object being an open door to see into the spiritual world. I like how Liparulo describes the spiritual warfare, and how angels foil demons interference with humans. I love the way he describes angels ministering and succoring humans, with the spiritual direct connect with God. It is fascinating reading.
Bob, great job! I want more!
August 5, 2014
This one started off with a bang and moved along quite nicely from there. The Immortal series started with The 13th Tribe and that one held a lot of suspense and surprises. That one introduced the Tribe, which is a group of immortals that strive to rid the world of evil by killing those that sin. This one introduces the Clan. They are much more malevolent and kill people for sport, and to rid the world of those that are holy. The Clan finds the God Stone which lets them see into the spiritual realm and see how devout a person truly is. This leads to the savage killing of many innocent people. Jagger Baird and his ally Owen, must stop the Clan and get the God Stone back. I wasn't sold on this one as much as the first, and I think it was due to its lacking of the surprises the other one so flawlessly held. Jagger's wife and son were being chased throughout the entire book, and I didn't feel the threat as much as in the first. I liked the parts written about Jagger's chase of the Clan much better. The ending was good as well, bringing everyone together for one last battle. I am looking forward to seeing where this series goes next.
June 27, 2015
I received this novel through a Goodreads giveaway contest and it is book 2 in the series. In the first book, the reader was introduced to the "tribe" as a group of vigilante immortals from the time of Moses seeking to redeem themselves in the eyes of God by killing sinners. The Judgment Stone introduces the reader to a group made immortal at the same time as the tribe called the "clan" who have embraced their dark side. Rather than seek redemption, they prefer to show God how they feel about immortality as punishment by seeking out those closest to Him with the aid of the Judgment Stone. The Judgment Stone is a fragment of the broken Ten Commandment tablets which help the holder of the stone fragment to see the paranormal beings (angels and demons) surrounding us as well as blue beams of light from those in close communion with God. Through these beams of light the clan seeks out believers and tortures and murders them. The more they can kill at a time, the better. Our heroes from the first book seek out the clan members to bring their destruction to an end. This episode re-emphasizes that you seek God not through your head, but through your heart.
December 24, 2014
*goodreads first reads advanced copy*
I enjoyed reading the Judgment Stone. The storyline was brilliantly thought out. The action was non-stop. Most of the characters were well rounded, feeling real to me; even the ones who are 'immortal'.
The only slight drawback I found was that some of the story seemed a bit too preachy, though going in I was aware of the religious aspects to the story. Maybe it is just pulling from my memory of earlier Liparulo books that I have read (Germ and Comes a Horseman), but the characters were a bit more overtly religious than I remember them being. Those two books are amongst my favorites. I would rank these characters as somewhere between those from the Left Behind series by Tim LeHaye and those in books written by Ted Dekker; probably a bit closer to Dekker's characters.
Overall the book had great action and nice suspense. I would recommend it to all fans of Liparulo's writing as well as fans of religious based thrillers.
I enjoyed reading the Judgment Stone. The storyline was brilliantly thought out. The action was non-stop. Most of the characters were well rounded, feeling real to me; even the ones who are 'immortal'.
The only slight drawback I found was that some of the story seemed a bit too preachy, though going in I was aware of the religious aspects to the story. Maybe it is just pulling from my memory of earlier Liparulo books that I have read (Germ and Comes a Horseman), but the characters were a bit more overtly religious than I remember them being. Those two books are amongst my favorites. I would rank these characters as somewhere between those from the Left Behind series by Tim LeHaye and those in books written by Ted Dekker; probably a bit closer to Dekker's characters.
Overall the book had great action and nice suspense. I would recommend it to all fans of Liparulo's writing as well as fans of religious based thrillers.
June 17, 2013
Okay heres the skinny, beware of spoilers!
There is a contingent of people that were present at the Golden Calf in the Old Testament when Moses came down from the mountain. They were punished with immortality and are now trying to do whatever it takes for God to forgive them so they can die.
This is the second book and you could read it alone, but I would certainly recommend reading it after book number one.
Most of the characters in this book were present in the first book except for a whole gang of bad guys that actually like being immortal and have no intention of asking God forgiveness for anything. They set out to wreck havoc on the world when the Judgement Stone is discovered.
The stone reveals to anyone that holds it, what is going on in the spiritual world around you. To some this is good, this can be a bad thing as well it can be used as a ticket to find those close to God and destroy them.
There is a contingent of people that were present at the Golden Calf in the Old Testament when Moses came down from the mountain. They were punished with immortality and are now trying to do whatever it takes for God to forgive them so they can die.
This is the second book and you could read it alone, but I would certainly recommend reading it after book number one.
Most of the characters in this book were present in the first book except for a whole gang of bad guys that actually like being immortal and have no intention of asking God forgiveness for anything. They set out to wreck havoc on the world when the Judgement Stone is discovered.
The stone reveals to anyone that holds it, what is going on in the spiritual world around you. To some this is good, this can be a bad thing as well it can be used as a ticket to find those close to God and destroy them.
June 6, 2013
The heart pounding adventures of the 13th Tribe continues as Jaggar has to deal with both the tribe and an even worse group of immortals called The Clan. He has to leave his wife Beth and son Tyler at the monestary while him and Owen set off to stop the worse evil of the Clan. The Clan has only one goal: to grieve God by killing His people which makes them hard to track down since their acts of violence are random. In this book the supernatural clashes with the natural with heart-pounding intensity. While Jaggar sets of to stop evil, The Tribe attacks the monestary in hopes to kidnap Beth since they are under the impression that she holds the secret on how to be forgiven by God and thus end their immortality (and enter into heaven). There are interesting twists and turns and I trully hope there is more because the ending was spectacular!
September 21, 2013
A great sequel to The 13th Tribe.
After reading the first book, I was at a loss for how Liparulo would be able to continue the series and not have the characters become one dimensional but He was able to. In this novel, a new group of Immortals in introduced, but the best piece of writing comes as he describes the spiritual realm.
Liparulo has a great imagination and helped me to see angels in a new, bolder way - I loved his descriptions of these beings.
The only drawback that I have with this book is that it could have been a good deal shorter. The beginning of the story spends too much time getting very descriptive about things that aren't the focus of the story. Fortunately, the last 30 chapters fly by (yes, it's 99 chapters).
After reading the first book, I was at a loss for how Liparulo would be able to continue the series and not have the characters become one dimensional but He was able to. In this novel, a new group of Immortals in introduced, but the best piece of writing comes as he describes the spiritual realm.
Liparulo has a great imagination and helped me to see angels in a new, bolder way - I loved his descriptions of these beings.
The only drawback that I have with this book is that it could have been a good deal shorter. The beginning of the story spends too much time getting very descriptive about things that aren't the focus of the story. Fortunately, the last 30 chapters fly by (yes, it's 99 chapters).
June 16, 2015
I have mixed thoughts about this book. The Immortals give a possibility to a Christian superhero, but I have to admit that I didn't quite buy into the portrayal of 3,500 people. I had this problem with book 1, The 13th Tribe, but more so in this book. Secondly, Luparulo seems to do a lot of telling in this book. Especially of the weapons and how they work. It felt like there was a lot of filler. And half of the conflict was based on an excuse to have a fight, it felt to me.
That being said, I Liparulo illustrates some great points about faith and the reality of a spiritual realm. The illustrations of faith and the struggle to believe redeem this book for me. I imagine this will not be the last in this series and I hope for a stronger story next time.
That being said, I Liparulo illustrates some great points about faith and the reality of a spiritual realm. The illustrations of faith and the struggle to believe redeem this book for me. I imagine this will not be the last in this series and I hope for a stronger story next time.
May 16, 2013
I really liked this story. A nice sequel to THE 13th TRIBE. I'm not usually into books that rely a lot on religion stuff, but in this book (as its predecessor) the author was able to mix the religion stuff and the plot together in a way that i really liked.
Great book and I hope Robert Liparulo writes more books in this series.
Great book and I hope Robert Liparulo writes more books in this series.
January 27, 2015
Not since Frank Peretti's Darkness novels have I read a book that brought the spiritual world to light like The Judgment Stone. I got such an awesome glimpse at the power of prayer, plus a kick butt storyline to boot. This novel is a can't miss thriller! Highly recommended. Read The 13th Tribe too as you'll get a clearer understanding of the characters.
August 25, 2013
I loved this book. It was an excellent continuation of the characters built in the 13th tribe book. It was really crazy to have "The Tribe" and the "The Clan" in one place together. Although not a particularly spiritual/religious person myself, these books make see things in a different light.
January 27, 2014
I've yet to be disappointed in anything written by Liparulo. It's an action-filled speculative work rooted in some firm biblical principles, with enough mystery and suspense to keep you guessing. Ready for the next one. If you have younger readers, say pre-teen, I'd direct them to the Dreamhouse Kings series, this one might be a bit intense in parts.
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