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The Judas Reflections #2
Curse of Stigmata
BY James, Aiden ( Author ) [{ The Judas Curse of Stigmata By James, Aiden ( Author ) Jun - 21- 2013 ( Paperback ) } ]
178 pages, Paperback
Published June 21, 2013
27 people are currently reading
280 people want to read
About the author
Aiden James
84 books311 followersedit biographydelete
Biography
Aiden James is the bestselling author of "Cades Cove: the curse of Allie Mae", "The Judas Chronicles", and the "Nick Caine Adventures" (with J.R. Rain). The author has published over forty books and a new series is set to begin in the fall of 2022 (The BloodStar Chronicles). At present, he resides in Nashville, Tennessee with his wife, Fiona, and an ornery little dog named Pepper.
To learn more about Aiden James and his latest books, please visit AidenJamesNovelist.com, or look for him on Facebook (Aiden James, Paranormal Adventure Author) and Twitter (@AidenJames3).
You can also learn more about Aiden and Fiona, and their interests, at the links below:
FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/ManorHousePu...
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 28, 2013
Judas Iscariot is an immortal known as Emmanuel Ortiz and must walk the Earth as his punishment for have betrayed Jesus Christ for thirty pieces of silver. His quest takes him all over the world trying to recover all of the coins. In this story he travels to mountain tops and across seas by pirate ship hoping to recover two of them. The adventures he comes across are very entertaining and kept my interest as he traveled from the Pyrenees Mountains to Madagascar and the characters we meet along the way are colorful and very interesting as we find out how each plays a part in the course of this story. Some are likeable...some are a mystery and some are immortals just as Emmanuel is. I loved this story and couldn't put it down until it was finished. I definitely recommend this and "The Judas Reflections Murder In Whitechapel" to anyone who likes a well written story that they will lose themselves in and enjoy. Both stories were written by the magnificent writing duo of Michelle Wright and Aiden James both of which are outstanding authors.
January 1, 2017
I have to say that I did not like this as much as I did the first book in the series and it is the first time I didn’t like a book that Aiden James wrote or co-authored. Thankfully, it was short and I was able to finish it, but f it had been longer I would have probably just skimmed through it so I could finish and read the next book in the series. I do not like skipping a book in a series or reading them out of order even though this one isn’t in chronological; order like most series. The writing was good and the characters well-drawn I just found the whole story to be a little too much. I also don’t understand Judas’ reasoning that if he can retrieve all thirty coins then he will be forgiven and allowed to die when since even before he was cursed he knowingly and repeatedly broke so many other commandments and has no intention of changing his ways.
It is filled with not just one, two or even three immortals but six, including John Dee who wants Emmanuel/Judas to help create a New Atlantis under the Rosicrucian’s in the new world of America. While one of the early followers of this esoteric belief, Heinrich Khunrath was influenced by one of Dee’s works there is no evidence that he believed in a New Atlantis even though he did believe in magic, astrology and Hermetic philosophy. I do remember two of the immortals in this book appearing in another series written my Aiden James so I wouldn’t be surprised to see other characters crossing over to other series.
Judas has information that a shepherd has two of the coins that he seeks and Judas sets out with his friend, Juan, another immortal to see if he can het the coins back. The journey is hard, it is the beginning of winter and the shepherd resides high in the Pyrenees Mountains in France close to the border with Spain. It was his friend who heard of the coins owners through Dario a man who knows the area and knows the shepherd who supposedly has the coins. Believing that Emmanuel/Judas wants to buy the old coins because of their antiquity Dario has agreed to act as their guide and introduce them to the shepherd Isaac Caillouet. Upon meeting Isaac, Judas immediately realizes that retrieving the coins will not be as easy as he had hoped; Isaac is a sadistic, despicable man and when Judas intervenes when he starts beating his daughter Rachel he is forced to kill him when he tries to cut off his head with an axe. As a winter storms begins they are forced to flee with Rachel who Judas realizes is just as bad if not worse than her father when Dario discovers that Isaac has been killed.
I liked how the character of the Dutch pirate captain, Dirk Chivers was written; unlike so many books featuring we do not find him falling in love with a fair maiden who fights him before they both admit their eternal love. Instead we have Rachel, who manages to contrive a way on board his board after Judas has paid her passage of a different vessel and had her delivered there and he only becomes aware of her presence when it is too late to get her off the ship unless he throws her overboard and there are several times over the ensuing months that he is tempted to do so. The authors did an excellent job making her character so nasty, it’s hard to understand why Juan is able to tolerate her; it’s easier with Dees’ he hasn’t been around her as long and while he “knows” all about her knowing and experiencing are two different things.
3/5 STARS: **I read this novel using a selection from my Amazon Unlimited subscription; the review reflects my honest opinions.**
It is filled with not just one, two or even three immortals but six, including John Dee who wants Emmanuel/Judas to help create a New Atlantis under the Rosicrucian’s in the new world of America. While one of the early followers of this esoteric belief, Heinrich Khunrath was influenced by one of Dee’s works there is no evidence that he believed in a New Atlantis even though he did believe in magic, astrology and Hermetic philosophy. I do remember two of the immortals in this book appearing in another series written my Aiden James so I wouldn’t be surprised to see other characters crossing over to other series.
Judas has information that a shepherd has two of the coins that he seeks and Judas sets out with his friend, Juan, another immortal to see if he can het the coins back. The journey is hard, it is the beginning of winter and the shepherd resides high in the Pyrenees Mountains in France close to the border with Spain. It was his friend who heard of the coins owners through Dario a man who knows the area and knows the shepherd who supposedly has the coins. Believing that Emmanuel/Judas wants to buy the old coins because of their antiquity Dario has agreed to act as their guide and introduce them to the shepherd Isaac Caillouet. Upon meeting Isaac, Judas immediately realizes that retrieving the coins will not be as easy as he had hoped; Isaac is a sadistic, despicable man and when Judas intervenes when he starts beating his daughter Rachel he is forced to kill him when he tries to cut off his head with an axe. As a winter storms begins they are forced to flee with Rachel who Judas realizes is just as bad if not worse than her father when Dario discovers that Isaac has been killed.
I liked how the character of the Dutch pirate captain, Dirk Chivers was written; unlike so many books featuring we do not find him falling in love with a fair maiden who fights him before they both admit their eternal love. Instead we have Rachel, who manages to contrive a way on board his board after Judas has paid her passage of a different vessel and had her delivered there and he only becomes aware of her presence when it is too late to get her off the ship unless he throws her overboard and there are several times over the ensuing months that he is tempted to do so. The authors did an excellent job making her character so nasty, it’s hard to understand why Juan is able to tolerate her; it’s easier with Dees’ he hasn’t been around her as long and while he “knows” all about her knowing and experiencing are two different things.
3/5 STARS: **I read this novel using a selection from my Amazon Unlimited subscription; the review reflects my honest opinions.**
July 17, 2013
Aiden James And Michelle Wright collaborate again In The Curse Of the Stigmata The Judas Reflections to give us a Frightening, Violent, Spiritual and sometimes just FRUSTRATING story of our Judas Iscariot , who in this 17th century goes by the name Emmanuel Ortiz. This Novel has Judas following TWO blood coins (the shekels he received when he Betrayed Jesus Christ) To the Mountains of France where a Goat Shepard Isaac and His daughter Rachel are believed to have the coins. Along with his Immortal friend Juan and Guide Dario, they climb the mountain terrain to find Isaac who is NOT a respectable man and his daughter Rachel is an evil 18 yr old who bears the Stigmata. Leave it to Aiden and Michelle to then take us on a journey, where we encounter Crazy Pirates, Long ocean voyages an Island where we discover secrets that really threw me..We get to see Racco in this book with a twist and we meet more Immortals...Does Rachel REALLY carry the Stigmata, Does Judas Find these two coins ? Whats Happened to Racco? I will tell you this Book does Stand Alone HOWEVER it will entice you into wanting to read EVERY Judas Book ;) I HIGHLY recommend this Book and give it 5 Shekels .. Again Aiden and Michelle EXCELLENT!!!
July 22, 2013
In this incarnation, Judas Iscariot, under the name Emmanuel Ortiz, must travel in search of two of the silver shekels he received for betraying Jesus Christ. Believing the collection of all 30 pieces of silver will redeem him, he's determined to retrieve them at any cost- to himself, to others. But he didn't bargain on the difficulties of a genuine stigmatic, and the chase for what he believes is rightfully his. Slave trading, harsh travel by sea and by horseback, and genuine pirates make this a truly captivating read.
I've followed the current life cycle of Judas, as written by Aiden James. This tale, told in reverse, by Michelle Wright and Aiden James shows Judas as he once was- his story told in reverse. I look forward to seeing how much further he'll regress as he collects his blood coins in future installments. Definitely a fascinating read, and a marvelous glimpse into the past. Well done!
I've followed the current life cycle of Judas, as written by Aiden James. This tale, told in reverse, by Michelle Wright and Aiden James shows Judas as he once was- his story told in reverse. I look forward to seeing how much further he'll regress as he collects his blood coins in future installments. Definitely a fascinating read, and a marvelous glimpse into the past. Well done!
June 23, 2013
Read this as soon as it was published, great story and the ending Michelle and Aiden, I never saw that coming ! If you only buy one book this summer make it this one.
May 21, 2024
Curse of Stigmata: A Judas Reflections Novel (Cursed Immortals Book 9)
This book tell how Judas, at this time known as Emmanuel, meets Rachel. Emmanuel think only of his self. Patriots Who treats women with total disrespect. When he and Juan met Rachel, she is having a stigmata attack. Will Judas learn to respect women and become a man of honor? Great story.
This book tell how Judas, at this time known as Emmanuel, meets Rachel. Emmanuel think only of his self. Patriots Who treats women with total disrespect. When he and Juan met Rachel, she is having a stigmata attack. Will Judas learn to respect women and become a man of honor? Great story.
February 10, 2019
I liked this book better than the first one. Rachel really kept me on my toes
December 4, 2016
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
In this book, Immanuel Ortiz (Judas Iscariot) travels through Europe and to Madagascar via a pirate ship.
In the beginning, he's with one woman he's desperately glad to get rid of, but since he's heading for her home area, that's pretty easy. In the end, he's desperately trying to get rid of another woman who keeps popping up in the strangest places, even when he's sure he's gotten rid of her.
This is where we meet Rachel, another immortal who is also in THE COMPLETE JUDAS CHRONICLES. We find out here why he disliked her so, and the book ends where they've still had a dislike for each other but at least weren't trying to kill each other.
When you first start this series, you know you're reading back in time. In THE COMPLETE JUDAS CHRONICLES, his character has transformed into a much likable person. He's more compassionate as he works towards his own goal, but Immanuel has no such compassion. It's all about business for him, what's in it for him, and anyone can be bought for a price to do whatever he wants. In THE COMPLETE JUDAS CHRONICLES, I found I quite liked William (Judas). I disliked Immanuel almost from the beginning, and the farther I read, the more I disliked him.
The book itself is great though, and it does exactly what it sets out to do. As you read, you get a picture of how much Judas truly did develop into the character he became towards the end. If you read the Chronicles first, you can really see the difference between who he became and what he must have been like all those years before. Another good book in a great series.
In this book, Immanuel Ortiz (Judas Iscariot) travels through Europe and to Madagascar via a pirate ship.
In the beginning, he's with one woman he's desperately glad to get rid of, but since he's heading for her home area, that's pretty easy. In the end, he's desperately trying to get rid of another woman who keeps popping up in the strangest places, even when he's sure he's gotten rid of her.
This is where we meet Rachel, another immortal who is also in THE COMPLETE JUDAS CHRONICLES. We find out here why he disliked her so, and the book ends where they've still had a dislike for each other but at least weren't trying to kill each other.
When you first start this series, you know you're reading back in time. In THE COMPLETE JUDAS CHRONICLES, his character has transformed into a much likable person. He's more compassionate as he works towards his own goal, but Immanuel has no such compassion. It's all about business for him, what's in it for him, and anyone can be bought for a price to do whatever he wants. In THE COMPLETE JUDAS CHRONICLES, I found I quite liked William (Judas). I disliked Immanuel almost from the beginning, and the farther I read, the more I disliked him.
The book itself is great though, and it does exactly what it sets out to do. As you read, you get a picture of how much Judas truly did develop into the character he became towards the end. If you read the Chronicles first, you can really see the difference between who he became and what he must have been like all those years before. Another good book in a great series.
December 3, 2015
After reading the first in this series I was so excited for the second book and I am very pleased to say I wasn't disappointed! I feel like we get to see a little more of Judas's personality in this story and perhaps understand more the fight he is having to go through. i enjoyed reading this book so much I couldn't put it down for a minute, the story was very intense and well written. This story can be read as a standalone novel or as a series, I would recommend starting with book 1 as it is a brilliant set so far!! Another wonderfully well written story by two very talented authors!!
August 11, 2019
The story idea is good. The execution of it is flawed. I found the story horribly patterned. The biggest problem is that the Judas character is not consistent. The authors seem to be moving backward along Judas' life. They need to do better framing the time period so the reader knows when they are. I really hope they do better on the novel due out in Dec.
July 26, 2015
Great Read
As is usual with Aiden James another great book written with MIchelle Wright. What a great story of mystery and mayhem. Keeps your interest from beginning to the end. Can't wait for the next book in The Judas series.
As is usual with Aiden James another great book written with MIchelle Wright. What a great story of mystery and mayhem. Keeps your interest from beginning to the end. Can't wait for the next book in The Judas series.
September 23, 2015
Idea behind the book had some merit. First book in series much more interesting. Almost too many twists - found I had to back track quite often. I did finish the entire book, Which is a positive. Did have some good possibilities.
August 7, 2013
This book was different the character were interesting.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews