Spear of Destiny, ARKANE Thriller #13, Ebook

Spear of Destiny (ARKANE Book 13), my twenty-third read from author J.F. Penn. Captivating, with well-developed characters coupled with an outstanding suspense storyline with intricately woven twists & turns. Penn, as always, does a good job with her character development; you can like and/or hate these characters. I'll be reading more by this author as I get more of her books. "I received a Kindle copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review."(RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).

I have only lately discovered J.F Penn books and got caught up in them.I have ordered all in the ARKANE series.A really great read. On to the next in order now .

A compelling read that resolves one mystery only to begin another. Whether in novel or short story form, J.F. Penn is a master at writing a story that sucks you in until you feel like you are a part of it. Description of places help in that regard, making it easy to visualize places and things.
Morgan thought that her curse would only affect herself, but she finds out differently when she learns that her niece is sick, and she remembers the words that were said to her previously. Will the artifact she is looking for help both of them, or will she be too late. Awesome story.

Very good love these books

Spear of Destiny is a gripping and fast-paced thriller that integrates historical intrigue with supernatural mystery.

The exploration of themes like power, history, and the battle between light and darkness adds layers of meaning to the story, making it a standout in the ARKANE series.

J.F. Penn’s vivid writing style brings the settings to life. From the ancient archives of Vienna to high-stake chases across Europe, the reader feels immersed in the story’s rich atmosphere.

The novel’s rich characters drive a narrative that is both thrilling and thought-provoking.

Penn’s ability to weave historical detail with fast-paced action keeps the tension high and the pages turning.

Spear of Destiny is an enjoyable read.

With its blend of history, action, and supernatural elements, this book is a must-read for those who enjoy intelligent, gripping thrillers.

Wow JF, I loved reading your book as I’ve enjoyed all the others. It’s the mixture of history, faith & determination which runs through your books. I look forward to reading what comes next. Happy travels.

Having already read more than a dozen of Mr. Penn’s books, I am always eagerly awaiting her next book. She obviously spends a lot of time and effort researching the subject matter and visiting as many of the local environments as she can, then paints a vivid picture that presents itself as if the reader were watching a movie. She has a knack for blending religion, history, literature, art, science and creative license with current events in an easy-to-read style that pulls you in and keeps you interested. Each episode, while part of a series following ARKANE investigators Morgan Sierra and Jake Timber, reads like a stand-alone adventure, each one better than the rest! I heartily recommend this book, but I also suggest you read the series, to get the full effect.

I've been reading ARKANE since the very beginning. I read the first three books when they still had their old, Biblical titles and covers, before J.F. Penn redid them.

I have mad respect for this author, and mad respect for the series. I've been following her journey since before she left her day job to pursue writing full time, and I feel like she and I have a lot of common... okay, now I sound like this creepy stalker dude, but I promise I'm not. I just think many of her experiences mirror my own, is all.

Something I really enjoy about the series is the fact that one of the main characters is South African, and even though the author isn't South African, this character's experiences are so authentic. He emigrated to the UK to escape the crime here, after experiencing a deeply traumatic event. And honestly, that it such a common story; I think every South African knows at least one other person who can relate. I know I can. So yeah, I like Jake.

I like Morgan too. Morgan's a scholar. She doesn't necessarily believe in any particular god, but she's witnessed enough of the supernatural to know that there are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio.

This story's been a long time coming, but like all ARKANE thrillers, it's worth the wait because it's exquisitely researched. All (well, most) of the places the characters visit are real places which the author herself has visited, and it shows. Likewise, most of the backstory is real too, and resarched in great depth (there's even a full bibliography in the back matter), and then the author takes inspiration from that and runs with it to create the fiction.

Honestly, if you like this sort of thing, you'll love this series. Fair warning, though: although most of these books can probably be read as standalones, I would say you probably need to have at least read Book 12 before enjoying this one. But, I mean, they're not going anywhere, so why not start all the way from the beginning, at Book One?

Fascinating story. Love the solid research that makes it very interesting. Well worth reading and would recommend it as well as all J. F. Penn books

I enjoyed the various archives filled with books of every kind from various time periods. Gabriel was an interesting character, even if the circumstances of his conception are vile (as are all things Nazi-related). The various locations Morgan and Jake travel to are vivid in their descriptions, making one feel like one is there – as it is with all books in this series. The political unrest and zealotry felt genuine for our time. And there’s lots of action and adventure. Yet, something felt missing. I can’t put my finger on it, though. Maybe, despite all the great visuals (I mean, Morgan and Gabriel see demon hordes ready to possess the angry mob rallying in D.C. and spill blood) and Morgan’s niece in peril, the depth of emotion wasn’t there, pulling one fiercely along.

A fast-paced action adventure with a hint of the supernatural at the core, with parallels between Nazi Germany and modern-day USA.

*I received an ARC from the author and this is my honest opinion.

Trigger warnings: ritual rape hinted at, demonic possession, Nazis, grooming, blood curses, torture.

ARKANE is a secret society that investigates mysterious phenomena associated with religion artifacts. Morgan, the main character in this series, is one of their investigators. In this case, they are hot on the trail of a relic said to hold tremendous power, either for good or evil, depending on who controls it. The spear in question was allegedly use to impale Jesus in the side while he was hanging from the cross. The rumor, passed down through the centuries, is that the blood of Christ imbued the spear with these fantastical powers. So far, so good. The problem is, a bad guy wants the spear to do bad things. He is a general, but also a politician running for president. Think of a cross between Donald Trump and Alexander Haig. His secret plan is to get the spear, then utilize these powers to make the U.S. Army invincible and literally take over the world, united under one religion, under his sole control. Not good. Well, it turns out that many years ago the spear was divided into four pieces. So now the race is on between the good guys and the bad guys to gather the pieces together. Who will win? For that you will have to read the book. What I like about this series is the depths of the research the author goes to to describe the history and places that are featured in the book.

Penn admitted it had been a while since the last ARKANE novel. It seems she waits patiently until inspiration comes; she explains how the different facts were made known over time and finally, a plot develops. As a US citizen, I giggled as I recognized that she failed to nod at how our sad political situation here on this side of the Atlantic fit into her plot. I got a kick out of General Ezekiel Stronghold pontificating his rallying speeches, dividing the world between himself and his red banner-waving crowd and the evil adversaries clamoring at the gates. 'Our country must be strong again....' I also noted how I was ignorant of the way our leaders let the doctors and scientists be acquitted of their war crimes at Nuremberg to continue their biological warfare under the supervision of the US Army! Although Morgan and Jake are the heroes, I was pulling for the paranormal Gabriel as he chose to use his power over the supernatural relic for life, healing Morgan and her 5-year-old niece Gemma. This is another great ARKANE book deserving five stars!

JF Penn has nailed it again. Morgan and Jake are chasing the parts of the alleged spear that pierced the side of Christ and has great power. Others are also searching for the same relic pieces and have already taken one piece from them. The historical facts and descriptions of the various places in Vienna, Lhasa, and other places are well researched. A great fictional story interwoven with historical events and places.

Nothing is ever simple for Morgan Sierra and Jake Timber. After their last mission where they faced a horrible demon which attacked Morgan, leaving her with a horrible curse, even though the demon was destroyed, Morgan has felt since that time like she is carrying the curse within her. Just when Morgan begins to research the curse, she is informed that her niece Gemma is dying from a malady with no known cause or cure. When Morgan realizes that her niece’s condition may be caused by the curse, she and Jake are sent on a mission to recover the Spear of Destiny stolen from a museum in Vienna. This relic has a very mysterious history, and is considered to garner incredible powers for both incredible curative uses or for extreme evil. As they begin their hunt, they find they are competing with a very elite military squad which appears to be after the same relic. Once again they find they are running for their lives, staying just ahead of an army which serves a power mad wanna-be dictator. What’s even more peculiar, the military squad leader seems to have very extraordinary capabilities that seem to connect with Morgan. It is again the mystery of the curse? As Morgan and Jake travel the work chasing clues, from a museum basement full of Nazi memorabilia, to a magnificent castle in Nuremberg, to a secret library in a Tibetian temple, to the underground in the Library of Congress in Washington, DC, time is running out for Gemma and to keep the power of the Spear from being unleashed, and not for good. As with all the other stories written by this author, the stories are extremely well researched and excellently written. At the end of each story is a explanation of the author’s research and how it is applied to the story. As usually, these stories are highly recommended, either individually or the entire series.

I received an advance ARC, from J.F. Penn, for my honest review and I also ordered it from amazon. Something I like to do to support my favorite authors and especially when I read advance copies from them. No spoilers! Absolutely addictive, J.F. Penn's writing style just sucks you in, your right their in the action, on the edge of the seat cheering that Morgan, Jake, Martin and the rest of the Arkane crew to defeat evil and it's a read that you don't want to see end. This is so well researched, like all the historic sites included in her reads, even if she adds extra elements to it, what an amazing imagination and it's always done right. Penn has mastered the ability to stay the straight and narrow keeping everything realistic, believable even with a supernatural element add to it, and the cool thing is she puts the reader right their into the pages, your right their for all the heart pounding action. Did like the Gabriel character in this one, just adds so much to the storyline, his doubts of his dad, the elements of the Nazi SS, with Hitler and the Spear of Destiny. the evil twist with General Stongbow's quest for all the pieces, to put the four pieces together and return the third Reich to glory in the US. Morgan was right to invite him to join the Arkane team. Guess just J.F. knows what in story for him in the future, he'd make a great character for a new series, short stories or the Arkane series. I don't read a lot of books in the supernatural genre, but absolutely love how J.F. Penn mixes historical religious sites into her Arkane Series books, that alone makes it worth while to read, you always learn something new and highly recommend.

Nothing is ever simple for Morgan Sierra and Jake Timber. After their last mission where they faced a horrible demon which attacked Morgan, leaving her with a horrible curse, even though the demon was destroyed, Morgan has felt since that time like she is carrying the curse within her. Just when Morgan begins to research the curse, she is informed that her niece Gemma is dying from a malady with no known cause or cure. When Morgan realizes that her niece’s condition may be caused by the curse, she and Jake are sent on a mission to recover the Spear of Destiny stolen from a museum in Vienna. This relic has a very mysterious history, and is considered to garner incredible powers for both incredible curative uses or for extreme evil. As they begin their hunt, they find they are competing with a very elite military squad which appears to be after the same relic. Once again they find they are running for their lives, staying just ahead of an army which serves a power mad wanna-be dictator. What’s even more peculiar, the military squad leader seems to have very extraordinary capabilities that seem to connect with Morgan. It is again the mystery of the curse? As Morgan and Jake travel the work chasing clues, from a museum basement full of Nazi memorabilia, to a magnificent castle in Nuremberg, to a secret library in a Tibetian temple, to the underground in the Library of Congress in Washington, DC, time is running out for Gemma and to keep the power of the Spear from being unleashed, and not for good. As with all the other stories written by this author, the stories are extremely well researched and excellently written. At the end of each story is a explanation of the author’s research and how it is applied to the story. As usually, these stories are highly recommended, either individually or the entire series.

Morgan and Jake are pulled into a new quest to piece together a powerful spear and save the world. Plenty of twists and turns make this a great adventure.

The story follows ARKANE agents Morgan Sierra and Jake Timber as they race against time to recover the legendary Spear of Destiny, the holy lance that pierced the side of Christ. Their journey takes them from Nazi ruins to Tibetan temples and Washington, D.C., uncovering a sinister plot that threatens to unleash an unstoppable darkness upon the world. Morgan’s personal stakes are high as she seeks the spear’s healing powers to save her niece. Morgan will encounter Gabrial who is more than he seems. It is very intense at times and will hold the reader's attention till the end.

A thoroughly enjoyable adventure from the mighty pen of JF Penn.

I find reading this author's work so easy and believable. It feels real because of the research carried out. Ms Penn tells you all about it in the back of the book itself. You can go deeper into the story of you wish.

This is a fabulous tale about the Spear of Destiny, the lance that the centurion, Longinus, used to pierce the side of Jesus Christ on the cross, and how its power can be used for good or evil. It depends whose hands it falls into...

Heaps of mystery, great world building, and lots of edge of the seat excursions. I love the ARKANE books!

Wow, this is an excellent series. Every book knocks it out of the park. I really loved this one, engrossed from the first word to the last. I loved it. Cannot wait for the next one. This is another series i fever want to end. Highly recommended.

Full disclosure: I received a free copy of this book, but the comments are my own. A wonderful historical thriller, based on real places, with a few additions added by the author as to the inside of some of the buildings. A fantastical story, pure entertainment and it is easy to get transported into the story.

Another great Arkane story. Jake and Morgan are sent to search for the spear of destiny. Searching in Vienna, Germany Tibet and the U.S. Finding it may take a lot of searching. Action and mystery! I enjoyed the story.

Ezekiel Stronghold is running for the White House. With the help of Gabriel Blackthorn, he seeks to gather all the fragments of the Spear of Destiny—the lance that pierced Christ's side—in order to make his power absolute. When Gabriel leads a special commando to retrieve a piece of the lance from a Viennese museum, he encounters Morgan Sierra. Though Gabriel manages to wrest the relic from her, he finds himself strangely drawn to her. The feeling is mutual. Their paths are destined to cross again on their quest to find the remaining pieces of the lance. But will they remain enemies or become allies? J.F. Penn weaves another masterful tale of suspense, adventure, and the supernatural. From Vienna to Tibet to Washington, D.C., Spear of Destiny delivers yet another thrilling rollercoaster ride in the ARKANE series. With its intriguing characters, engaging plot, and rich descriptions, Spear of Destiny is a joy to read.

It is an unfortunate truth that megalomaniacs often appear in the strangest of places. As happened here in the form of a general aspiring to become president and re-introduce the tenets of Nazi Germany. But for this he needs the Spear of Destiny. Except Morgan and Jake are also on the trail of the famous ( infamous?) Spear of Destiny that can destroy or heal. And perhaps cure the curse Morgan carries? Or heal her sister's young daughter? Too bad that a soldier by the name of Gabriel is hot on Morgan's heels to gain this spear for the said general. More so because Gabriel is an incredibly able soldier with skills that, quite frankly, are verging on the unnatural. This book, Spear of Destiny, really grabs one's attention from start to finish and it is no surprise to find yourself trying to finish this book in one sitting. It is good. Enjoy