It's the beginning of an adventure that will see them fight the last magical creatures of the Old Testament, cross paths with biblical figures like Pontius Pilate and John the Baptist, and finally deliver them to Egypt. It may just be the greatest story never told. More books by this author. Category: Fiction. ISBN: Reading Groups It's a great time to be in a reading group! Smith's story is balls-to-the-walls serious action. There is nothing truly sacrilegious about "Unholy Night", but be forewarned: it is not for the squeamish.
Smith takes great pleasure in describing in graphic detail how Roman swords slice through skin, sinew, muscle and bone, and he does it frequently. The blood flows quite liberally in this story of the Nativity, so Merry Bloody Christmas! The story of the birth of Jesus Christ may be one familiar to many, but on the other hand very little is known about the three wise men that brought him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. This is why this book is so entertaining.
Unholy Night pretty much asks, what if these Three Kings were actually a bunch of thieves and killers? I was all prepared to give this book a high rating just for the unique and hilarious premise alone. And I would have, if only I wasn't so disappointed with the writ The story of the birth of Jesus Christ may be one familiar to many, but on the other hand very little is known about the three wise men that brought him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And I would have, if only I wasn't so disappointed with the writing.
Maybe it's just me, but I found the writing in this novel to be horrifically bad. I was actually shocked to see that it was Seth Grahame-Smith's most recently released novel, because I loved his work in Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and quite frankly what I saw in Unholy Night felt like a step backward.
The prose and some of the phrases and metaphors he used in it just seemed downright amateurish. Descriptions felt lazy and sloppy. Also, while this book is supposedly about the so-called Three Wise Men, we only really get to know about Balthazar. In fact, beyond Balthazar there's hardly any development of the other characters at all. What characterization there was felt very flat and shallow, and completely squandered. For instance, I felt Mary and Joseph came across as nothing more than a couple of naive religious nuts, when this otherwise would have been a fantastic opportunity to explore the thoughts, personalities and motivations of these two extraordinary figures.
I was also not very impressed as how Herod was portrayed as a villain -- a crazy mad man who is a violent egomaniac, who rapes women and kills people for sport? He was basically a caricature of someone "really, really evil TM " and not much more. I was entertained by the story, I will give it that. However, I was really disappointed overall, given how much I was looking forward to reading this. A great idea, but wasted on an unimaginative plot and poor character development. Mar 21, BookGuys rated it really liked it.
I remember writing that this would be a great book to help introduce the historical figure of Abraham Lincoln, one of America's most beloved Presidents to a youthful audience.
If you stripped away the vampire hunting, you still had a pretty decent tale of the life of Abraham Lincoln, and with some guidance from a teacher to let the students know When I reviewed Seth Grahame-Smith's Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, I was pleasantly surprised to find that it wasn't just another throwaway mash-up. If you stripped away the vampire hunting, you still had a pretty decent tale of the life of Abraham Lincoln, and with some guidance from a teacher to let the students know what parts of the novel were historical fact and which were not That said, when I heard about Seth's upcoming novel "Unholy Night" and read the synopsis, I doubted this was a topic anyone could "mash-up" without offending people.
When you bring religious holy texts into the realm of fiction, you are usually asking for trouble. Just ask Salman Rushdie, who probably still has a price on his head to this day. Seth Grahame-Smith surprised me yet again with not only his tactful handling of the mash-up, but with his story telling ability. We begin the tale learning a bit about Balthezar, a. The Antioch Ghost, the greatest thief in all the land and a thorn in King Herod's side.
Early on, Balthezar is captured and put in a dungeon to await his execution the next morning, there he meets two other "Wise Men" and much like the A-Team when presented with a maximum security facility, they "promptly escape".
The chase is underway, as Herod and Ceasar send out the soldiers to find not only the three wise men, but a problem child, a newborn who some claim is the Messiah, the Prophet foretold in the holy books.
Balthezar and company meet up with a 15 year old girl who has just given birth and her husband, Joseph sound familiar? Balthezar, being no man's fool laughs this off and tells Joseph he is a fool for believing her. As the story progresses, Balthezar quickly realizes that God is indeed protecting the little child. But will it be enough to save them all?
The supernatural forces of evil are also in play. You'll have to read the book to find out how it all plays out, I won't spoil it. If you've read the Bible, you may have some idea as to the fates of Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus but the wisemen are never mentioned after their initial encounter with Jesus and His Earthly parents, and their tale and the times between Biblical scripture's continuity are Seth Grahame-Smith's blank page to fill.
From beginning to end, this is an action-adventure. Seth Grahame-Smith does this all without offending Christians, without challenging, correcting or disputing a single word of scripture. It's sheer genius.
Any Religious zealot who would denounce this book has either never read it or hasn't read the scripture that is part of it's source material. None of it is offensive, the dialogue of even such sensitive "characters" as Joseph and Mary is believable and stays true to the canon of the New Testament.
This was almost like having a street-level view of the first few days of the life of Christ, and being let in on a little unknown secret. This book has been picked up by Warner Brothers for movie rights to the tune of 2 million dollars, a month or more before it's release, and it's definitely a movie I would watch, and a book I enjoyed reading.
Let me know what you think about it when you read it, as for me I was surprised by the respect shown to the New Testament and the crafty way Seth wrapped this action adventure around the birth of Jesus Christ without offending anyone. I can't wait to see what he has in store for us next. Unholy Night comes out in April Pre-order it now. Jul 21, Ana rated it it was amazing. As a Catholic, I was really wanting to see how Seth Grahame-Smith would incorporate a Biblical event and give it his own twist.
The Three Wise Men were really greedy, sword-wielding bandits that just happened to fall into King Herod's bad graces and stumble upon our Lord, Jesus Christ as a baby?!? What the hell? The book was harder to get into simply because it seemed to jump around from character to character, yet as I allowed myself to get pulled into the storyline, I found this to be the best As a Catholic, I was really wanting to see how Seth Grahame-Smith would incorporate a Biblical event and give it his own twist.
The book was harder to get into simply because it seemed to jump around from character to character, yet as I allowed myself to get pulled into the storyline, I found this to be the best Grahame-Smith book I read, by far.
The Antioch Ghost, one of the "wise men" of the book and the lead character, really goes from being someone you hate to someone you root for. The ending is what gets to me, though, and I won't say why, but let me just say, I nearly did that ugly-face cry.
I will definitely read this again. Feb 24, Jason rated it it was amazing Shelves: owned. I had higher expectations for this book, in comparison to Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter, because Abraham Lincoln was so much better than I expected.
It's safe to say that Seth Grahame-Smith exceeded my expectations. Grahame-Smith is a fantastic writer. I am torn because on one hand I want to see what Mr.
Grahame-Smith can do if he gets away from the gimmick of retelling well-known stories. On the other hand, he is so good at retelling well-known stories that I want him to continue.
I can't w I had higher expectations for this book, in comparison to Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter, because Abraham Lincoln was so much better than I expected.
I can't wait to see what he tackles next. Nice interesting telling of the events surrounding the birth of Jesus that reveal the truth behind the 3 wise men. While not as good to me as the Abraham Lincoln novel he wrote this is still a good entertaining read.
Dec 08, Jeri rated it really liked it. Gave a bit of an action twist to the biblical story of Jesus being born and the three wise men that visited him. I enjoyed it. First, I thought it was going to be a purely humorous book, but although there were definitely some very funny parts, there was a lot more substance to the book than I expected.
But also, I thought it was going to be full of supernatural monsters, but that turned out to be only a very tiny part of the book, lol. I have no idea what the author's religious views are but irreverent is definitely one of This was my first Seth Grahame-Smith work and I have to say that I was surprised on a few fronts.
I have no idea what the author's religious views are but irreverent is definitely one of his traits, ha! I am a Christian, but I was both amused and interested in how he wove this story of Balthazar into the story of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph's escape into Egypt shortly after the birth. We obviously find out more about Balthazar than about any of the characters, but you do get glimpses into other characters.
Herod was absolutely the guy you love to hate, and while some of his predilections were over the top pedophilia, necrophilia, torture, murder But don't get me wrong--this is not a religious book--it's a yarn about a master thief and his back story and how he realizes what is truly important in life, at least to him and the ones he cares for. The ending is VERY satisfying and I love the epilogue and the little twist of alternative history that the author adds, heh heh.
So even though this didn't turn out to be the humorous book I thought it would be, I'm very much glad I read it. I definitely want to check out his Lincoln book, as well as his Pride and Prejudice books although he didn't write the second one.
Most powerful part: when Sela shares the story of how the Antioch Ghost came to be. OMG, the tears! Sometimes a straight story hits the spot; one that reaches in and grabs your guts to let them remember the meat and gore you're made of. Along the way there are tests of love and death, talks of faith and epic camel chases. There's also a healthy spin on biblical tales most Sometimes a straight story hits the spot; one that reaches in and grabs your guts to let them remember the meat and gore you're made of.
There's also a healthy spin on biblical tales most Americans are pretty familiar with, adding depth to the infamous cast of characters sprinkled in to "keep it real" -- Julius and Augustus Caesar for example, Pontius Pilate, and swarming, man-eating locusts. For those who need more: there's an army of undead re-animated by dark magic, infant genocide, lots and lots of bloody swordplay. Love the Bible, hate the Bible, it doesn't matter.
There's something for everyone. And I almost forgot to mention the disease-addled, bloodthirsty villain, Herod, with his pre-teen concubines and milky, oozing, stink-infested lesions! The whole thing reads like an unrelenting bedtime story sure to invoke ominous dreams, and parched lips. Jun 19, William rated it it was amazing. Deviously clever, and not at all the sacrilege you might expect, given that this is the same author who so brilliantly twisted literature and history.
The book plays around with the Nativity story, particularly the place of the Wise Men. In this tale, the Wise Men aren't kings or philosophers but petty thieves on the run from Herod who come across Mary, Joseph, and the infant Jesus. The primary character Balthazar, known as the Antioch Ghost, is a formidable protagonist who believes in little bu Deviously clever, and not at all the sacrilege you might expect, given that this is the same author who so brilliantly twisted literature and history.
The primary character Balthazar, known as the Antioch Ghost, is a formidable protagonist who believes in little but himself, a hard man who gradually becomes sympathetic to the reader. By the end you'll really like him. And the novel has good villains and quasi-villains, in the form of a despicable Herod the Great, a silent and mysterious wild card, and a surprising young Pontius Pilate.
Grahame-Smith does a good job moving the story forward as the fugitives evade Herod's army and the Roman army, as well as a supernatural force of old working against them.
The book has the modern sensibility of the writer, but at the same time still feels grounded in the past. Funny at times, and well paced action filled at others, it's a good read.
Just as long as you don't mind the tweaking of the story Wayyy to long. The writer also talks everything through until every last little detail. It's exhausting! If you ask me, the story should have started at the execution about pages in : it's gets interesting there and it's a much stronger opening. This book is a perfect example of why I love good short stories so much: it gets rid of all the clutter.
I was just bored throughout most of this book, but it had some strong story points. It could have been so much more.
Windows … in a dungeon. What a world this is. The counterfactual extends only to the identities of the three kings, and the introduction of some spooky magicians from pre-Christian days. Anyone looking for a swingeing rationalist treatment of the early days of Jesus will be very disappointed, because the tone is entirely respectful to the religion. The book could in fact be handily racked with all those weird Christian Right post-Rapture novels without anyone feeling the need to pull a gun.
And these three kings have more in common with the light-fingered soldiers of the George Clooney film than any local royalty. They are, in fact, three thieves locked up in a dungeon together by Herod: Gaspar, Melchyor and the protagonist of the book, Balthazar. Just a tea party long ago, and long ears, and blood. By: Christina Henry.
But when he meets the hauntingly pale, steely-eyed Joshua York, he is certain. York has his own reasons for wanting to traverse the powerful Mississippi. By: George R. Ignatius Perrish spent the night drunk and doing terrible things. He woke up the next morning with a thunderous hangover, a raging headache, and a pair of horns growing from his temples.
At first Ig thought the horns were a hallucination, the product of a mind damaged by rage and grief. He had spent the last year in a lonely, private purgatory, following the death of his beloved, Merrin Williams, who was raped and murdered under inexplicable circumstances.
By: Joe Hill. The award-winning artist Brom takes us on a haunting look at the true world of Peter Pan, in his first full-length novel. A beautiful, ambitious angel stands on a mountaintop, surveying the world and its little inhabitants below.
He smiles because soon, the last of humanity who survived the great flood will meet its end, too. And he should know. He's going to play a big part in it. Our angel usually doesn't get to do fieldwork, and if he does well, he's certain he'll get a big promotion. By: Richard Kadrey. In this fast-paced sequel to The Everything Box - the second entry in New York Times best-selling author Richard Kadrey's comedic supernatural series - chaos ensues when Coop and the team at DOPS steal a not-quite-dead and very lovesick ancient Egyptian mummy wielding some terrifying magic.
Coop, a master thief sort of gone legit, saved the world from an ancient doomsday device - heroism that earned him a gig working for the Department of Peculiar Science.
In Ghostwalkers , a gun-for-hire, literally haunted by his bloody past, comes to the struggling town of Paradise Falls, where he becomes embroiled in a deadly conflict between the besieged community and a diabolically brilliant alchemist who is building terrible new weapons of mass destruction By: Jonathan Maberry. When Greta Helsing, doctor to the undead, is unexpectedly called to Paris to present at a medical conference, she expects nothing more exciting than professional discourse on zombie reconstructive surgery and skin disease in bogeymen - and hopefully at least one uneventful night at the Opera.
Unfortunately for Greta, Paris happens to be infested with a coven of vampires - and not the civilized kind. If she hopes to survive, Greta must navigate the darkest corners of the City of Lights, the maze of ancient catacombs and mine-tunnels underneath the streets. By: Vivian Shaw. They're an iconic part of history's most celebrated birth. But what do we really know about the Three Kings of the Nativity, besides the fact that they followed a star to Bethlehem bearing strange gifts?
The Bible has little to say about this enigmatic trio. But leave it to Seth Grahame-Smith, the brilliant and twisted mind behind Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies to take a little mystery, bend a little history, and weave an epic tale. In Grahame-Smith's telling, the so-called "Three Wise Men" are infamous thieves, led by the dark, murderous Balthazar.
After a daring escape from Herod's prison, they stumble upon the famous manger and its newborn king. The last thing Balthazar needs is to be slowed down by young Joseph, Mary, and their infant. But when Herod's men begin to slaughter the first born in Judea, he has no choice but to help them escape to Egypt.
It's the beginning of an adventure that will see them fight the last magical creatures of the Old Testament; cross paths with biblical figures like Pontius Pilate and John the Baptist; and finally deliver them to Egypt. It may just be the greatest story never told. This was not a book I expected to like. I bought it because I really liked Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter and was looking for something else by the same author. My choices were Pride and Prejudice and Zombies I thought I was picking the lesser of two evils when I chose this one.
At first, I thought I probably would not listen past the first chapter or two; I wasn't enthusiastic about the subject matter or the narrator's voice - but before I realized it, I was captivated by the story and grateful for the choice of narrator. Both author and narrator have done a great job. There's nothing here to offend the especially religious or the especially unreligious. It's a very different story than Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter - but having now listened to both, it is Unholy Night that I will replay firrst.
I recommend this book. What did you like best about this story? I don't know how much of the historical background of the Roman Empire and the Roman characters Grahame-Smith took from actual facts, but I felt that this book really helped me get a perspective on how evil and corrupt the government of the time period was.
If half of what he wrote about Herod is true he is one of the most evil men to ever live. As a Christian and a fan of Grahame-Smith I was excited to read this story. I was worried that it would either be a poor read or offensive to my beliefs. I am happy to say I was wrong on both counts. The book is not my favorite of the author's, but I did really enjoy it.
As a follower of Christ I am happy to say that nothing that Smith wrote contradicted the character or divinity of Jesus. I don't know if Smith is a Christian or not, but he took a potentially explosive topic and handled it very well. The book gave me more of an appreciation of the hardships Joseph and Marry went through in this time period. For those who choose to read this book based on my recommendation I feel that I should give you two warnings.
First, some nonessentials to the story have been changed some of the facts about the life of Jesus are wrong.
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