Antediluvian

by R. M. Huffman

Book, 2013

Status

Available

Publication

2013. Book 0 of Antediluvian Legacy series. Cf. Leviathan (Book 1 of series; 2015, Lampion Press)

Description

More than a thousand years have passed since the fall of man and the exile from Eden. The earth has been cursed, humans scrape meager livings from the soil, and legendary beasts roam the wilderness. The Grigori, angels charged with watching over mankind, have abandoned their appointed angelic stations to take human wives. Their offspring are the Nephilim, giant warriors with birthrights both in heaven and on earth.When a leviathan attacks his lands, Noah, a hardworking farmer, must find a way to defeat it. He enlists Nephilim aid to protect his family from the monstrous foe. Bonds between the humans and the giants are forged in the heat of battle; however, harmony won by a hard-fought victory is short-lived. The Grigori have seized sovereignty of the ancient city of Enoch. What is more, their irresistible leader has become obsessed with Noah's enchanting bride-to-be. Friendships and faith are soon tested, as a devastating act of betrayal by the woman he loves thrusts Noah into the middle of a revolution against the fallen angels.Meanwhile, his Nephilim comrades must decide, once and for all, whether they will fight on the side of the humans or the angels, and their choice may mean the difference between the earth's salvation...or its damnation.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member SheilaDeeth
There are lots of fantasy novels (and series) out there, set in an imaginary pre-flood earth with angelic powers and dominions, giants, monsters, and human beings. R. M. Huffman’s Antediluvian offers the same sense of mystery, power and fantasy as the rest, while anchoring its characters in those
Show More
long “gaps” of the Biblical account. Where others offer a frisson of surprise when a Biblical character appears, this tale offers the joy of history and mythology hinted behind the exploits of Canonical friends.

If Methuselah lived over nine-hundred years, are we allowed to ask what happened in between? Antediluvian’s author imagines battles, monsters and intrigue, adding high fantasy to the Bible’s lists of births and death. The result is well-drawn, well-written and well-told, convincingly creating a culture where leviathans threaten villages, giant sons of angels seek truth, dinosaurs roam, and the fallen deny their God.

If you’re a creationist, you’ll delight in the young earth feel of this novel. If you’re not, the fantasy should draw you in as surely as it does in any other pre-deluge fiction. And if you’re just looking for a fun new series of monsters, myth and men, this looks like a good place to start.

Well-told fantasy with a surprisingly different and well-polished feel, this novel’s pleasingly complete and well worth the read. And if the final passage does indeed hint at sequels to come, they’ll be well worth looking out for too.

Disclosure: I won a free copy of this novel and I offer my honest review.
Show Less

Local notes

"More than a thousand years have passed since the fall of man and the exile from Eden. The earth has been cursed, humans scrape meager livings from the soil, and legendary beasts roam the wilderness. The Grigori, angels charged with watching over mankind, have abandoned their appointed angelic stations to take human wives. Their offspring are the Nephilim, giant warriors with birthrights both in heaven and on earth. When a leviathan attacks his lands, Noah, a hardworking farmer, must find a way to defeat it. He enlists Nephilim aid to protect his family from the monstrous foe. Bonds between the humans and the giants are forged in the heat of battle; however, harmony won by a hard-fought victory is short-lived. The Grigori have seized sovereignty of the ancient city of Enoch. What is more, their irresistible leader has become obsessed with Noah's enchanting bride-to-be. Friendships and faith are soon tested, as a devastating act of betrayal by the woman he loves thrusts Noah into the middle of a revolution against the fallen angels. Meanwhile, his Nephilim comrades must decide, once and for all, whether they will fight on the side of the humans or the angels, and their choice may mean the difference between the earth's salvation...or its damnation."
Page: 0.4397 seconds