Terminus

Review
Book Title: TerminusBook Author: Joshua Graham

From the back cover:

How far can an angel fall to find his destiny?

Having witnessed one too many senseless deaths, Nikolai, a disillusioned Reaper 3^rd Class, resigns his commission with the Angel Forces after a tedious century of gathering souls.

Immediately, another division recruits him with the promise of a more rewarding career, and issues his initial assignments: To bring down a few very dangerous threats to the human race. In the process, Nikolai falls in love with one of his targets – Hope Matheson, a woman who will lead thousands astray.

Caught between conflicting agendas, Nikolai chooses to “fall” from his celestial state and become mortal in order to circumvent angel law and be with her. But for angels and humans alike, things are not always as they appear. Still a target, the threat against Hope's life intensifies.

Now, in order to save her, Nikolai must rally the last remnants of his failing supernatural abilities to prevent her assassination, as well as the destruction of an entire city by a nuclear terrorist strike.

But his time and power are running out.

Terminus is a perspective-altering saga that delves into ageless themes of redemption, destiny and the eternal power of love.

(Any quotations from the book or cover are used for review purposes only, no intent of making money from this work should be considered)

Off the cuff, while the book had a slow start and some bits were a little confusing. However, once I got the characters sorted out and what some terms meant, I found it an enjoyable read.

The book starts with angel named Nikolai (who prefers to be called simply Nick) doing his daily duty; escorting a recently deceased girl to the Terminus, which is a way station of sorts where the departed go. Some to be taken up to Heaven, others maybe to be taken to Hades.

We find out that this job had been a demotion. Nick had previously been a Guardian, one of the highest forms of angels. But, he had followed his heart rather than his orders and had fallen in love with a human woman. Such relationships are forbidden, so Nikolai the Guardian Angel is demoted to Nick, Reaper (3^rd class). For over 100 years – which mind you is a twinkling in the eye of ANY angel – Nick has been shuttling back and forth between the Terminus and various points around the globe.

He is approached by a member of another division … does Nick want the chance to get out of his rat race job and have adventures and excitement? He's given a chance. All he has to do is make sure something happens that otherwise might be stopped. A woman, distraught over the loss of a child is pondering ending her life. Nick is told that if this woman lives, thousands of lives will be forever changed. But things aren't always what they seem.

There's also the story of the pastor of a very large ministry, Pastor Jonathan Hartwell. Pastor Hartwell is followed by millions. Thousands flock to his services. One evening, a young woman came to his office seeking counseling. It was late, so Pastor Hartwell had sent his secretary home. Maria Guzman was running from her family. Temptation rears its head when Pastor Hartwell offers to put Maria up in a hotel so that she can be away from some of bad people in her life. He'd walked her to her room, he unwisely went inside her room. When Maria kissed him, he turned and left. But security cameras see everything, even when things aren't always what they seem.

Carlito Guzman is head of a crime syndicate. His father, whom he knew as Papi, has left control of the family business to him even though he doesn't think his son is hard enough to make the decisions needed. With Papi dead, Carlito finds out that some of his lieutenants are not what they seem.

Each of these skeins of the story culminate in a final confrontation. Things that are not as they seem are brought into the light of Truth in a way that I thought was rather explosive!

If you have a chance to read Terminus, I have every confidence you shall enjoy it as I did.