James Byron Huggins
Nightbringer (2004)
Author: James Byron Huggins
Genre: Suspense (Christian/Hard-edged)/Thriller (Political)/
Plot Summary:
Nestled high amid the Italian Alps, the Abbey of Saint Gregory's is a formidable, ancient relic, at once an awe-inspiring basilica, filled with treasures dating as far back as the Roman Empire's golden age, and a foreboding, ominous presence eerily situated in almost complete isolation. Historically a site for unexplained occurrences, the abbey was sealed off to public access following the horrific, yet internally redacted, death of an elder monk. Now open to the public for the first time since World War II, Saint Gregory's is the destination for a tour group arriving on the cusp of a violent snow-storm. Gina Crockett and her two children, Josh and Rachel, who are on a business holiday en route to Rome, are accompanied by several other fellow travelers, including Monsignor DeMarco (on a self-described pilgrimage) and Michael Constantine, a mysterious, intriguing, yet larger-than-life tourist. As the violent disturbance bears down upon the abbey, the travelers find respite within and, after being fed and regaled with tales of Saint Gregory's incredible history, are given lodging for the night with the collective sense of a stormy entrapment. It is during that night, however, that a bestial roar awakens the inhabitants of the abbey, turning the seemingly peaceful basilica into a house of fear and confusion. Melanchthon, an elder monk known for his prophetic and oft ignored warnings, fears for both the safety of the abbey and its brotherhood as well as the lives of innocent tourists. Despite the father abbott's protestations, Melanchthon is convinced that true evil exists within the abbey walls and the presence of someone among them has caused this evil beast to emerge from hiding. As the abbey's inhabitants slowly accept the reality of a malevolent entity surrounding them, they join forces not only for self-preservation, but to rid Saint Gregory's of the ancient evil resting beneath. SPOILER: Melanchthon's prophecy proves all too real, chiefly his observation that one among them has caused the evil force within the abbey to rise from its slumber. Michael Constantine, the object of intrigue for Gina's wandering mind, is soon revealed to be someone much greater than he appears -- he is Gaius Cassius Longinus, the Roman centurion who crucified the Son of God, and who, in an effort to ward off other Roman soldiers intent on breaking Christ's bones, pierced the side of Christ with his spear, thereby proving Christ dead and, in preventing the breaking of his bones, ensured his status as Messiah. Cassius is revealed to have hidden both the Holy Cross and the Holy Lance within the abbey walls of Saint Gregory's in an effort to prevent further bloodshed over these relics (Monsignor DeMarco has, in actuality, traveled to the abbey under orders to retrieve the Holy Lance) and has wandered the Earth for the last two thousand years preventing not only their discovery but also fighting Nephilim -- Biblical giants (defined as "Sons of God," and referenced in the book's title) somewhat akin to fallen angels who caused much human oppression and massive destruction. The evil within the abbey is revealed to be that of two Nephilim, the stronger (and purer) of which is the father of Goliath, who have also shape-shifted to present themselves as two of the abbey brothers, Basil and Jaqual. Though the ultimate battle of good versus evil is seemingly fought by Cassius alone, he is aided in part by Gina, in reality an FBI agent whose learned skills prove useful in the epic struggle. The final battle's climax sees Cassius stabbing Jaqual with the spear of Christ and destroying the pillars that support the Great Hall's roof, seemingly crushing (and making lifeless) both the strongest Nephilim, Jaqual, and himself (an action of self-sacrifice intended, it would seem, for Gina, such that any semblance of a more intimate relationship between Cassius and Gina would not be possible). The epilogue, however, reveals the warrior Cassius emerging from the rubble, extracting the spear from the now dead Nephilim, and vanishing into the shadows.
Geographical Setting: Italian Alps (specifically, the Alpine crest joining Italy and France, near Lausanne, Switzerland)
Time Period: Contemporary (2004)
Appeal Characteristics:
Bestselling Christian author Huggins has created a sweeping, cinematic epic in this spiritually-minded work, at once part suspense and part apocalyptic thriller. With a breakneck pace, the reader is immediately plunged into the story line, and Huggins's penchant for brutal, climactic battles is unrelenting. Extensive details about Cassius's past, as well as that of the abbey and the evil within, are effectively used (and, in fact, vital to the story line itself) without sacrificing the relentless, compelling pace. Though the author may have taken some liberty with historical vagaries and perhaps embellished occasional Biblical references, he has framed Nightbringer such that details are sufficiently profuse so as to disguise any implausibility in the plot itself (for example, Cassius has come to the abbey with an almost unending arsenal of modern weaponry, with no shortage of Colt 45s, Uzis and other automatic rifles, hand grenades, etc.). Clearly, the story line is vital to the appeal of Nightbringer. It is at times complicated (the slow but consistent revealing of Cassius's past (despite the page turning pace) combined with that of the Nephilim's origins can be somewhat confusing), providing a few plot twists along the way (for instance, at first both the characters and the reader believe that there is only one Nephilim, not two. Further, as it is revealed that they are shape-shifters, there are a few twists in uncovering their actual identities). However, any confusion that the reader might encounter is overcome by the underlying premise inherent here and in most thrillers: that of a power struggle elemental to the core of the story line's action. Clearly, the hero warrior Cassius has set out to destroy the ultimate antagonist in the Nephilim. The emphasis is on action, with Cassius triumphing over evil, saving not only the abbey's inhabitants (or rather, those characters still alive at the end of the brutal series of battles) but the human race in general. As such, story line and frame play much more of a forward role than characterization, though this is not to say that Huggins has generated a bevy of flat, uninteresting characters. Rather, pivotal characters are much more developed than secondary characters. Although it could be argued that the plot revolves around Gina Crockett and her two children (Cassius repeatedly promises their ultimate safety, a promise that he does not make with such fervor to other characters), and to be certain the reader learns more about these characters than many others, the story line clearly follows that of its Centurion hero. Cassius's characterization is clearly more fleshed out and introspective. The reader finds a man at great odds with his given situation and many flashbacks provide historical insights to his plight as well as offering psychological and philosophical ruminations of both his place in this world and the great sacrifices he has endured as the slayer of Christ. Gina is drawn as a strong, though flawed character, with the reader gaining some (although insignificant) knowledge of her background and thoughts. Similar treatment is given to some of the more important characters such as Melanchthon and the elder Barnabas, but the overall effect is much flatter than that of the hero protagonist. Furthermore, some secondary characters are seemingly forgotten about by mid-story when the epic battle itself is raging (one might wonder what exactly has happened to Professor Halder and his daughter). Huggins's writing could be considered simplistic (and at times unintentionally humorous -- one need only read closing lines to many of the chapters to find one-liners omnipresent in big budget action movies) and concise, and certainly he has spared density for the sake of pacing; however, his style is decidedly conversational, direct, and nothing short of colorful. Despite the overall message of hope that resoundingly resonates with the book's climax as good triumphs over evil, the tone throughout is unrelentingly bleak and dark (a tool used effectively with the frequent reminders of the raging snow-storm, effectively painting an ancient, evil ridden abbey, seemingly isolated from all of humanity). Despite the bleak overtones and frequently graphic violence, which Huggins unabashedly uses to describe the battle scenes and is arguably necessary for the overall effect, Nightbringer creates a candid and compelling quest for the rise of good over evil.
Read-alikes: Readers who enjoyed the breakneck pace, larger-than-life protagonist, epic battles, and profusity of historical detail in Nightbringer would do well to pursue Huggins's other works. While works such as Cain and Leviathan are proven bestsellers and favorably reviewed, new readers may wish to start with Rora, which finds the hero-protagonist Gianavel fighting to save a group of people (the Waldenses) from the horrors of the Inquisition in the 17th century. For readers looking for a suspenseful plot, compelling and page turning pace with spiritual overtones, and a direct yet dramatic style, Frank Peretti's Monster would prove an engaging read. This book follows a search party seeking a lost husband and wife in the Pacific Northwest believed to have been attacked by a bear, or perhaps even worse, a monster unimaginable to most. With profuse historic Biblical detail, a hero protagonist straight out of Hollywood, and non-stop action at a breathless pace, readers would likely find The Edge of Darkness, by Tim LaHaye and Bob Phillips, to be a gripping read. Archaeologist Michael Murphy follows clues in his quest for the Lost Temple of Dagon, once a Philistine site of worship, and uncovers a Biblical prophecy greater than even he would have imagined possible. Readers who enjoy the build-up of suspense, a rushed yet deliberate pace, and a conversational yet detailed style, would be engaged with Ted Dekker's Black. Protagonist Thomas Hunter is shot while being pursued by mysterious characters and is suddenly the recipient of strange, new powers that find his dreams too realistic to ignore and soon finds himself trying to separate reality from fiction. For readers more interested in plot than characterization, a fast paced and action packed story line, and ample historical references, James Rollins's Excavation should prove to be a real delight. In Rollins's book, a group of adventurers and archaelogists search for Incan lost treasure buried high in the Andes mountains, but find much more than they anticipated. Those readers who reveled in Huggins's dark, bleak overtones, the suspenseful build-up, and historical detail, but would like greater characterization with a more literary approach, would find Bram Stoker's seminal classic Dracula a worthy challenge, and one they would likely not put down. Jonathan Harker travels from England to Count Dracula's castle to assist with a real estate transaction, only he finds himself at once charmed by his gracious host and then seemingly imprisoned by the vampire, thus beginning the tale of perhaps the most famous vampire in literary history.
Red Flags: Graphic violence
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