Sorcerers' Prayer

by Luigi N. Spring

A Hawaiian judge is in the throes of manic depression due to the tragic loss of his pregnant wife and supposed unborn child. He tries anything to get over his despondency-even opium. The judge then finds out about a fountain of youth located in a church basement on the Big Island of Hawaii. Once he drinks of the precious blood, he becomes seemingly immortal. However, one drink of eternity is insufficient-periodic boosters are required for the immortality to be permanent. The judge will do anything to protect his font of eternal existence, even by coercing his pastoral flock-who call him the Prophet-to bludgeon law officers that attempt to interfere with their perpetual salvation. Years later, after a successful prison break, the judge makes fast friends with the King of Hawaii. They smoke opium while sitting in the royal thrones, tour the catacombs and tunnel systems below the palace-containing treasures and amazing historical artifacts-and then sail over to the island of Molokai where the judge is conferred into the realm of Hawaiian sorcery. He acquires numerous magical powers, which include the ability to slay his adversaries by the power of prayer alone. The judge later attends a Hawaiian secret society meeting-at the royal palace-which is sanctioned by the Freemasons. Later that evening, while taking part in an adult parlor game-which incorporates a ball of Hawaiian twine-a vivacious lady in red nearly debilitates the judge for all eternity. About one hundred and fifty years later, the man-who is now known as The Judge-is exacting revenge on the jezebel's great-grandchildren. He employs the aid of a computer hacker to stalk the woman's present day descendants; The Judge then conducts their eternal souls-via ancient ceremonies-up river to the home of the Hawaiian gods. A homicide detective calls in a professor of Hawaiian anthropology in an attempt to decipher the ritualistic clues at the murder scene; soon afterwards, the expert and his family become the hunted. As they perish, one by one, the professor is goaded into facing The Judge in a midnight showdown at the vacant royal palace.

540 pages, Paperback

Published January 10, 2017

About the author

Luigi N. Spring has ridden the waves of academia and sustainability on the island of Oahu for over twenty-five years. He was a cancer research scientist, university professor, and the president of a startup aquaponic garden company. He is a science nerd through and through. He is passionate about his family, long-distance ocean swimming, and accommodating his chai addiction while being immersed in therapeutic literary undertakings. Sorcerersʻ Prayer is his first novel series.

Reviews

[Linda Steighner · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I first started reading "Sorcerers' Prayer" by Luigi N. Spring I did not think that I would ever finish, it is very long and the beginning jumps around so much that it was confusing to keep track of all the characters and try to figure out how they related to the story and where it was going. I did not like all the Hawaiian vocabulary, as looking in the back of the book got to be annoying. When an author wants to use foreign words I much prefer when the the word is often defined within the book ("you're an 'okole" "I'm not an ass, you're an ass.") or where it is so easily defined by context. Of course after seeing the words a few times it was no longer an issue, but at times I stopped reading because it was so irritating. Luckily the font was easy to read and the writing itself clear and concise so I kept reading, and eventually got to a point where I had a story and characters that I could understand and follow. I never spend over two weeks on a book, but I am glad that I stuck it out as by the time I got 3/4 of the way thru I was really enjoying the story. Just enough adventure, Hawaiian lore and fantasy to make for a very good book.

[Christian · Rating 2 out of 5]

***WARNING*** Haven't finished book so review is not comprehensive. I am only writing a review now because I am not sure if I will ever finish it.***

I won this book through the giveaways section and was excited to read it because of the premise. When I received it I started to read and just could not get into it. The writing was decent and the imagery was good but the constant use of Hawaiian words, even in places where the story did not warrant using it, pulled me completely out of the experience. I found myself referring to the glossary sometimes as often as once per page. I understand wanting to include Hawaiian words as the setting is in Hawaii and the people in the story use the language all the time but when a reader has to refer to the glossary just to translate a word that means "meal" or "porch", you're overusing the language. If you are trying to make the book accessible to anyone who does not have a rudimentary understanding of the language you have to use terms sparingly in places that make sense or that have meaning. Throwing them in constantly, for completely unneeded reasons, irritates and pulls the reader out of the story's world. Anyway, I finally got tired of basically having a finger in the glossary and checking back and forth that I moved on to a different book. I will continue to attempt to finish reading this but I can make no promises.

[Jackie Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing-

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book in a goodreads giveaway thanks to the author. This was an intriguing tale and I enjoyed the setting of Hawaii. It makes me want to visit.
I can't wait to read more from Luigi Spring.

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was fairly slow going in terms of the plot. It starts off like a big steam engine, struggling to gain momentum with the character and time changes. Soon, it begins to build speed towards the end.
The Hawaiian language used sometimes impeded on the enjoyment, and the glossary is in an inconvenient location. I'd recommend having footnotes at the bottom of pages to help speed things up.

[Daniel Smith]

Won in the Goodreads Giveaways - not read passed on.

[Lisa Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unable to put book down. The Professor is a wonderfully quirky character that loves his family very much. The only book I've ever read that takes place in Hawaii. Can't wait to see if this very talented author writes a sequel!