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Liked It ““The Judging” is an awesome roller coaster ride type of book. It twist, it turns, gets you on the edge of your seat as your heart pumps out adrenaline and you scream out for more. Ellen just has that skill which keeps you reading cause you just got to know what is going to happen next but, at...” see full review » see other reviews » |
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““The Judging” is an awesome roller coaster ride type of book. It twist, it turns, gets you on the edge of your seat as your heart pumps out adrenaline and you scream out for more. Ellen just has that skill which keeps you reading cause you just got to know what is going to happen next but, at the same time, has you afraid of what is going to happen next. This is definitely one of the all time best vampire stories of all time, an instant classic. If you don't read this book you are really doing yourself a disservice.”
Jason C wrote this review Wednesday, September 19, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“"THE JUDGING" & "DAMASCUS ROAD" BY ELLEN C. MAZE
Great Minds Think Aloud Book Club wrote this review Sunday, October 23, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
My intention with this dual review is not to give away one iota of detail about either book. What I do intend to do is praise the genius that is Ellen C. Maze's writing finesse. These books are the first I have ever read that put a quite successful Christian twist on an ages old horror theme.
So maybe we have seen books with vampires in them that intend to do good by ridding the world of the evil of mankind. Ellen takes it to another level by having created a truly tortured soul that is on one hand trying to do what he deems, God has created him to do, while being plagued by the voice of the devil that tries so hard to push him in the other direction.
Both books are written with this general theme in mind but with a depth that makes you feel the main character's anguish.
I give the books 5 Ravens each!
Kitty Bullard / Great Minds Think Aloud / http://www.greatmindsliterarycommunity.moonfruit.com/
Read more: http://www.greatmindsthinkaloud.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=supernatural&thread=752#ixzz1bdJeTedV”
“In Rabbit: Chasing Beth Rider, a novelist is targeted by an ancient race, known as the Rakum, for unknowingly writing some truths about vampires and, more dangerous still, for suggesting that they, too, can be saved. The Judging is the first of “Beth Rider’s” vampire-provoking novels. It is also the first written, though subsequently released, of author Ellen C. Maze’s equally provocative novels. In this case, however, what’s provoked is not reflection and a sense of hope for vampires, so much as self-reflection and a sense of hope within the reader, and a call to re-examine the way one views the judging of others and what God really asks us to do in the face of evil in the world.
Krisi Keley wrote this review Tuesday, September 13, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
While I loved Rabbit for its parable-like style, where a simpler, more down-to-earth story on the surface offered many layers of meaning underneath, I loved The Judging for completely different reasons.
This novel begins the story of Dr. Mark (Markus) Corescu, a 17th century village priest made vampire, who has all but fully repressed memories of his human lifetime and has remade himself as a type of angel of wrath, lethally judging those human beings whose heinous crimes – murder, abuse, rape – call to him with ghastly images. But, when he meets Hope Brannen, the woman he believes God has destined to be his partner in immortality, those repressed memories begin to surface and Mark is forced to question his assumed calling as judge – whether it is truly a fulfillment of God’s will or only a way he has been able to justify his bloodlust and find some degree of peace with what he’s become.
Unlike Rabbit, The Judging is a dark and much less simple, even on the surface, novel. It’s every bit as action-packed and exciting as Rabbit, though with even deeper character development and more atmospheric imagery, but this novel’s tone, from the outset in its haunting prologue, is notably different, as perfectly befits both the main character’s medieval origins and the book’s terrifying premise. Many of the story’s characters, while either sympathetic or at least identifiable with in their human frailty, are sometimes not altogether likable, as their behavior is selfish or self-serving, no matter their intentions. And the comparison some readers will find between Mark’s self-justification and the human tendency to judge others much more harshly than oneself, even judging to the point of death, might make some uncomfortable, albeit in a beneficial, thought-provoking way. Nonetheless, the light in this story – the promise that God is willing to and does offer forgiveness and redemption, no matter how grievous the sin – is a light that shines that much brighter for the darkness it must pierce. As that light, that hope, only just begins to pierce the darkness of Mark’s existence in The Judging, I’m eagerly awaiting Damascus Road, the next book in the series, to see how Mark continues on the long and often arduous path back to God. Another amazing novel by an extremely gifted storyteller and highly recommended reading!
”
“Scripted previously, though subsequently released, The Judging, by Ellen C. Maze, is the prequel to the Rabbit: Chasing Beth Rider series. This is the very book, penned from fictitious author, Beth Rider, which prompts the nefarious Rakum to begin a blood-thirsty search for her, as it unleashes a ravaging, spiritual maelstrom within their species. And though the book ties in with the Rabbit/Beth Rider series, The Judging stands on its own merit... stands, and stands tall.
Teric Darken wrote this review Thursday, May 5, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
In this author's opinion, The Judging serves as a poignant reminder: The more humanity plays "God"- attempting to spiritually condemn others for eternity, by hanging them in our biased measuring scales, the more monstrous one becomes- as but blood-thirsty vampires, hell-bent on sucking the life right out of our fellow man. Much as the characters in The Judging: as humanity continues down that mentally-murderous path, we wind up being hung from our personal scales, measured by our very measures. Which side will outweigh the other: The nurture, grace, and love portion that every human was meant to know? Or the murderous monster aspect- as but roaming creatures of the night filled with bloodlust for our fellow man? Or do we choose to ride the fence? A "vampire" must be careful not to slip and fall- or that fence's stake may just pierce through one's heart. Our very lives hang in the balance.
Kudos to author Ellen C. Maze for a rich, fully developed, and uniquely delivered storyline, prompting one's mind to pause and consider important aspects of life. ”
“This book is definitely outside the typical paranormal romance/urban fantasy vampire book I usually am drawn to read. This book is a horror novel in the old style, more reminiscent of Anne Rice than Stephanie Meyer, which is interesting since it is a Christian novel. Maze is obviously not afraid to tackle the scary and give Christian readers something different. The pace of the story was excellent and I found I often couldn't put it down. It also brings up some interesting theological issues on salvation and works.
Kim S wrote this review Wednesday, April 27, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Some criticisms were that there were too many characters and the perspective flipped around too rapidly. Hope and Tony felt very two dimensional, while Mark was much more dynamic. Mark as a character was sympathetic and antogonistic, her ability to create these two competing emotions about this character is brilliant. But it felt at the expense of the other characters.
Overall, as far as vampire fiction goes, this is an excellent addition to any library. It is overtly Christian but may possibly still be enjoyed by non-believers since so much of vampire lore is overtly Christian to begin with.”
“"What happens when you want to do the will of God, but are cursed for all eternity?" This tagline sums it up perfectly. There are those who commit evil in the name of God. And what happens when it's a vampire who was forcibly turned as a priest?... Great stuff!”
Kevin R. Maze wrote this review Monday, April 4, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“In Ellen C. Maze’s novel, The Judging: The Corescu Chronicles Book One, the author provides her readers with a compelling story of a centuries old vampire, Dr. Mark Corescu, a former priest from Hungary, dating back to 1640, who now lives in present-day Atlanta, Georgia. There, he judges and executes evildoers; those who have sinned against God. He soon becomes fascinated with a beautiful, young woman named Hope Brennan, who becomes equally fascinated with him. In the course of their relationship, she helps him to resurrect his memory of once being a priest, but along with the priest comes The Other, a demon who owns and corrupts the vampire's soul. Hope's dear friend, Anthony Agricola, a part-time seminarian, considers the good, or should I say, "bad" Dr. to be more of a vigilante. Agricola tries to mend his errant ways by attempting to return Corescu, the long-time-ago priest, back to God.
Ed Rambeau wrote this review Tuesday, March 22, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Dr. Corescu's prodigy, Paul Black, who has been his manservant throughout the ages ends up committing a crime which displeases his master, and even though all is forgiven, Paul goes on to become more like his master as the story progresses.
For lovers of the vampire genre, this book is highly recommended and should be right up your alley.
by Ed Rambeau (author of FORBIDDEN STEPS)”
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