Scan barcode
painterbek's review
3.0
It started out really good, then a little over halfway through, the style of writing changed. I'm not sure if the author was in a hurry to finish, or what, but it didn't contribute much enjoyment to the read. Not a bad book, just not the greatest.
tiffanytcole's review
4.0
*Giveaway Bonus*
If you enjoy the review below and would like the opportunity to win a signed, print copy of 33 A.D., all you have to do is comment at Reader's Den by March 3rd, 2012 (http://www.readers-den.com/2012/02/33-ad-bachyir-book-1-by-david-mcafee.html).
************************
When former Enforcer Ephraim breaks the laws of his people to follow another, the Council sends Theron after him - not only to kill Ephraim, since the Bachyir don't believe in mercy when it comes to betrayals, but to figure out who could have made an Enforcer as loyal as Ephraim stop working for them.
After a fairly quick massacre, Theron reports back to the Council that Jesus of Nazareth was the one who Ephraim betrayed them for. Just as Theron expected, the Council orders him to take Jesus out. However, when Theron goes to the Garden of Gethsemane, he learns the task won't be as easy as he thought. The glow of faith around Jesus is so strong that he can't even get close to him. Plus, Jesus has hundreds of followers. To fully satisfy the Council, he'll have to put a lot more thought into how he'll murder Jesus.
Meanwhile, the bodies of the two guards Theron recklessly murdered on his way to report back to the Council about Ephraim has the city in a stir. The guard he beheaded, Didius, turns out to be the beloved brother of Marcus, the intelligent and powerful centurion who works right under Pontius Pilate. Pilate's order to take out the murderer who killed the guards becomes much more personal.
33 A.D. has multiple sub-plots and POV switches. Taras, Marcus's best friend and a secret assassin who is just a regular legionary (soldier) as far as everyone else knows, is determined to marry Mary, even though a Jewish woman is not allowed to marry a Roman man and her father hates him. But, before Taras can really consider starting a new life with Mary, he wants to show his loyalty to Rome one last time by helping Marcus uncover and hunt down the murderer of Didius. Taras was probably my most favorite character of this story with Marcus following closely behind.
Marcus and Taras are convinced that Theron is a follower of Jesus and that Jesus played a part in the murders, so, just like that, Jesus ends up being hunted by both Theron and Marcus. Theron's purpose is to brutally take out Jesus for the Council and make it look like zealots did it, as well as take out anyone that Jesus may have revealed the vampire secret to.
Basically, there is a lot going on.
There are four parts. At the beginning of part four, I was a bit nervous that all of the sub-plots would become too much, but I don't think they overwhelmed the author and they didn't overwhelm me. I feel like everything was tied up and handled as they should have been. For a story dealing with something as intense as the massacre of Jesus (albeit before they knew just how powerful Jesus could be), I liked the feeling of the plot also being large and intense to compensate.
If anything, Theron has a knack for killing the wrong character at the wrong time, and this story is definitely a tragedy with a large death count. Theron was perhaps my least favorite character - not so much because he is a bad guy who is ruthless about killing, but because, in spite of how intelligent and powerful he seemed, he was also rather reckless. Like in most tragedy stories, most of his undoing was unknowingly at his own hands.
Overall, I liked the story and would recommend it to anyone who has grown tired of flowery vampires. Plus, it has vampires trying to take out Jesus. I mean, come on, something that crazy and unexpected is too interesting to pass up.
If you enjoy the review below and would like the opportunity to win a signed, print copy of 33 A.D., all you have to do is comment at Reader's Den by March 3rd, 2012 (http://www.readers-den.com/2012/02/33-ad-bachyir-book-1-by-david-mcafee.html).
************************
When former Enforcer Ephraim breaks the laws of his people to follow another, the Council sends Theron after him - not only to kill Ephraim, since the Bachyir don't believe in mercy when it comes to betrayals, but to figure out who could have made an Enforcer as loyal as Ephraim stop working for them.
After a fairly quick massacre, Theron reports back to the Council that Jesus of Nazareth was the one who Ephraim betrayed them for. Just as Theron expected, the Council orders him to take Jesus out. However, when Theron goes to the Garden of Gethsemane, he learns the task won't be as easy as he thought. The glow of faith around Jesus is so strong that he can't even get close to him. Plus, Jesus has hundreds of followers. To fully satisfy the Council, he'll have to put a lot more thought into how he'll murder Jesus.
Meanwhile, the bodies of the two guards Theron recklessly murdered on his way to report back to the Council about Ephraim has the city in a stir. The guard he beheaded, Didius, turns out to be the beloved brother of Marcus, the intelligent and powerful centurion who works right under Pontius Pilate. Pilate's order to take out the murderer who killed the guards becomes much more personal.
33 A.D. has multiple sub-plots and POV switches. Taras, Marcus's best friend and a secret assassin who is just a regular legionary (soldier) as far as everyone else knows, is determined to marry Mary, even though a Jewish woman is not allowed to marry a Roman man and her father hates him. But, before Taras can really consider starting a new life with Mary, he wants to show his loyalty to Rome one last time by helping Marcus uncover and hunt down the murderer of Didius. Taras was probably my most favorite character of this story with Marcus following closely behind.
Marcus and Taras are convinced that Theron is a follower of Jesus and that Jesus played a part in the murders, so, just like that, Jesus ends up being hunted by both Theron and Marcus. Theron's purpose is to brutally take out Jesus for the Council and make it look like zealots did it, as well as take out anyone that Jesus may have revealed the vampire secret to.
Basically, there is a lot going on.
There are four parts. At the beginning of part four, I was a bit nervous that all of the sub-plots would become too much, but I don't think they overwhelmed the author and they didn't overwhelm me. I feel like everything was tied up and handled as they should have been. For a story dealing with something as intense as the massacre of Jesus (albeit before they knew just how powerful Jesus could be), I liked the feeling of the plot also being large and intense to compensate.
If anything, Theron has a knack for killing the wrong character at the wrong time, and this story is definitely a tragedy with a large death count. Theron was perhaps my least favorite character - not so much because he is a bad guy who is ruthless about killing, but because, in spite of how intelligent and powerful he seemed, he was also rather reckless. Like in most tragedy stories, most of his undoing was unknowingly at his own hands.
Overall, I liked the story and would recommend it to anyone who has grown tired of flowery vampires. Plus, it has vampires trying to take out Jesus. I mean, come on, something that crazy and unexpected is too interesting to pass up.
isabelisalright's review
5.0
David McAfee took the standard vampire idea and made it his own. It was a great book to read and didn't bore me at all. It was amazing to see how the characters all mixed together by the end. The history and bible references just made the story seem all the more real. I hope he releases a sequel to this book so we can see the characters again.
Overall it was an enthralling read and i would recommend it to anyone who likes the original Dracula and the not so sparkly vampires.
Overall it was an enthralling read and i would recommend it to anyone who likes the original Dracula and the not so sparkly vampires.
battykat's review against another edition
3.0
I liked it, but wasn't riveted. It took me a month to read it, where a story that really grabs me will only take a week or less.
I did like the story and the concept, and how it didn't have a happy ending. For anybody, really.
I did like the story and the concept, and how it didn't have a happy ending. For anybody, really.
myeverskye's review
3.0
This was a pretty good read. I was a little leery of it at first bc I was worried about it being sacrilegious but other than the fact that the bad guys hated Jesus & called him bad things (which is what they were supposed to do), it was respectful. But even though it was easy enough to read & wasn't boring I just kept waiting for that moment where I'd be like oh wow that was intense, or something? And I'm sure some won't agree with me but I think that if this would've been written by a Christian author as a Christian book it would've been cooler b/c I think there would've been that oh wow moment. I think Jesus would've been portrayed a little more powerful & a worthy adversary that the vampires would really fear. Those who aren't Christians probably Wong agree & that's ok, that's just what I felt. But I thought while edgy & controversial, the concept for this book was interesting.
acknud's review
3.0
OK...religion and vamps...that is a strange mix. It wasn't a bad book, just ok. I was interested in the book up until the ending. I hate books that are so obviously the beginning of a series. I'll probably read more but it will be further down the line.
tbthewriter's review
4.0
33 A.D. is a story about vampires. Real evil, violent and unfeeling vampires from back when Dracula was the real deal. It follows the lives of Threon, who is the lead enforcer of "Bachiyr". He is sent on a mission to kill a traitor in their mist, who has allied himself with a rabbi. This rabbi is not just any rabbi, though, this rabbi is Jesus. Yeah, this was the part that really intrigued me! I was pulled into this story and didn't let go until the final page.
But be warned, this story is violent and for the most part there are no happy endings.
I would recommend this story to anyone is into the bad ass vampires from an Anne Rice novel.
But be warned, this story is violent and for the most part there are no happy endings.
I would recommend this story to anyone is into the bad ass vampires from an Anne Rice novel.
milinkalap's review
4.0
Another good read from this author. I enjoyed the concept behind this book and the characters. I would have liked to see some more dialogue but that's because I am a dialogue kind of girl. The details were great and the Roman details were amazing. Good story.
crabtrew's review
4.0
Vampires. Romans. Jesus. Really really liked this one. Writing was a lot tighter and more concise than I was expecting in a a debut. The plot was original and engrossing while at the same time following the Bible. Would definitely reccomend to anyone.
asphaltcowgrrl's review
4.0
A fascinating and new look at vampires in a very different age. Loved the story and the very interesting characters.
More...