Indiana Jones meets the Da Vinci Code in an international relic hunt with a good amount of adventure and theology mixed with some archeology as time ticks to find the hidden relics. A fun weekend read for those into the trope.

I appreciate the publisher allowing me to read this book. I enjoyed this mystery and really enjoyed getting to know the characters.

This was a fast moving story a la Dan Brown. Yael is drawn into what appears to be a ransom request for two items connected to Mary Magdalene that the Church would like to keep under wraps. As she digs deeper, she realizes this is not a recent ransom but one that the trail has gone cold years ago. As she investigates, she begins to wonder of some of her clues are true and runs into many secrets. A great story that I can't wait to read the sequel.

I really did enjoy this book and found the characters were very well developed; however, the first couple chapters were populated by endearing characters, then the entire book shifted to someone from a clandestine organization, a killer. Not a spoiler since you learn all this at the beginning of the book.

The story felt unfinished and there were many loose ends. They may all be tied up in book two and three, but I'm not sure I love the characters enough to continue reading. The killer does redeem herself to a degree, but I didn't love her enough to proceed with further books in the series.

i really enjoyed reading this book, it was a great sequel and a great mystery. the characters were great and I enjoyed the plotline going on in this book.

The Book Maven’s Journal Reviews for Word Connoisseurs

REVIEWER: J.Hunt
STAR RATING ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sincere Thanks to NetGalley and Shams-Tabriz for Providing this Review Copy

The Magdalene Prophecy, The Quickening
By Shams-Tabriz

Shams-Tabriz has a vivid imagination and a terrific sense for action. In "The Magdalene Prophecy, The Quickening," fan's of Dan Brown's highly successful "Da Vinci Code" will get a twist on the theme.

In this iteration, the hunt is on for mysterious ancient artifacts stolen from the Vatican. One particular relic, a golden orb, is said to foretell Christ’s Return to Earth or either the Earth’s Destruction.

The Vatican is quasi-central to the puzzle surrounding the “heavenly orb” that is curiously found almost immediately at the beginning of the novel with help from whom? A little birdie or heavenly voice whispered...

At this point, Author Shams-Tabriz mixes metaphors somewhat by referencing the second verse of the ancient Hermetical text, "The Emerald Tablet of Hermes Trismegistis," a very early document of indeterminate age and origin. According to most documentation, it's always been extremely popular among occultists, philosophers, Kabbalists and alchemists--not so much theologians. However, as mentioned above, in this novel, it is the whisper of an unknown voice, presumed heavenly quoting the text …”As above, so below..."

Furthermore, the “whodunit” of the missing items seemed to be just a tad obvious. However, perhaps that's just me.. Consequently, it wasn't much of a puzzle, just a lot of “who saids?” or “did whats?”. Also, completely out-of-the blue, the author pulls a little trickery to help further his riddle and sleuthing that I did not find compelling. But, again, perhaps it is I that missed something, so again dear reader and fellow detective, you must read for yourself. This is an engaging novel and has a very interesting premise.

Also, you're going to want to meet Yael, Shams-Tabriz's answer to Lizbeth--the Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. Yael is the only character that is truly developed and has any real depth.. She is written as central to the story as it's protagonist. Yael, is a complex woman with a troubled and lethal past. She's a combination enforcer, hit-woman and detective. Yael is very well done, and I would like to read more about her in an entirely separate book and storyline. She's kick-xss!

https://www.goodreads.com/joyreadergirl1
(Check-out some of my other favorite Books and their Reviews that I've posted on Goodreads at the above link. I’ve written and posted more than 300 book reviews with an average of 3.98 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Star Rating Average on Goodreads.)

The enigma of Mary Magdalen. Who was she, really? What was her significance? Her legacy? The vacuum left by these unanswered (and unanswerable) questions leaves room for speculation, for tales of prophec and sacred artefacts. This story is one of those. It is a many-layered mystery involving the Vatican and all of its secretiveness. We have a strong female protagonist with an interesting back story and what seems to be building into a better future. The story is fast-paced and interesting - kept me hooked all the way through. The only disappointment was that I was left puzzled by the ending. I am aware that the book is part of a trilogy, but I'm not sure if I'm right assuming that the story is unfinished? I'm trying to say this without giving too much away but what was clearly in existence at the beginning of the book, seemed not to be at the end. I went back and re-read to see if I had missed anything. Were these two different timelines? Did the beginning of the story take place in 1973? I still don't know and probably won't unless I read the next book. This is my voluntary review of a free copy of the book.

I wanted to love this book but it never really drew me in. I''m still not sure what the main event, the Quickening, was supposed to be or why it was happening, so I feel like I missed the main point of the book. I'll give it a few months and read it again to see if it becomes clearer.

This is a good read for anyone interested in the catholic church and the myths of their hiding the truth about Christ and his teachings. Yael is a lethal fixer-turned-sleuth investigating a curious ransom demand received at the Vatican. The problem no one will disclose what has been stolen. Yael starts investigating and discovers clues to the Magdalene Prophecy. He hopes that whoever stole the treasure will use it for good. This is book 1 and I'm looking forward to book 2, I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This starts a little slow but really picks up. I read it in one evening because by the time I was half way through I had to know what happened! I'll have to read the second one because I'm intrigued by the ending.

I really enjoyed the last 25% the most, and it was the mystery with the twists and turns that kept me reading from the start. Well, that and my interest in anything Mary Magdalene!

Maybe I just wasn't totally in the mood for this one, because it really was a well written and well researched book, and there really wasn't anything I didn't like. I did enjoy it though. Think I'll be revisiting this one at some point!

I really enjoyed this book. It reads great and there is action and good character development. The Biblical references were spot on. Getting a fast paced novel complete with Bible history is a real treat. I will definitely recommend this book, and look forward to the next book. I was given a copy of this book from Net Galley for my honest review.

A good mystery, thriller with good character development. Thoroughly a delight to read, and one that kept my interest to the end. Looking forward to book 2 in the series to see where the Prophesy leads.

Shams-Tabriz has authored an edge of your seat book filled with intrigue and mystery. As the divine feminine moves throughout the history of Christianity, Mary Magdalene life, prophecy and teachings have grabbed the attention of authors and readers like myself and this is a welcomed read.
Yael ( the novels sleuth) is investigating a ransom demand received at the Vatican. With few clues to go by and time running out we enter into a fast paced mystery. Complex characters, twists and turns jump off the pages which makes this an exciting read.
Many thanks to. NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This reads too much (to me) like every other book that paints Mary Magdalene as a confident and disciple of Jesus. I truly felt like the author took a direction for every o author before them and made it their own. The addition of Yael made it the it the only difference to me. I was really excited and pulled in and then my interest faded and I found myself looking for reasons to put the book down. The blurb and other reviews gave me such high hopes. I really wanted to like the story.

A thought provoking thriller that kept me turning the pages. Intricate plot twists that made me question what this life is all about. Perhaps Shams is a fortune teller? He is certainly a skilled story teller!

I enjoyed the mystery and suspense of The Magdalene Prophecy. The descriptions of Rome were accurate and brought me back to the Eternal City.

Unashamedly written in the tradition of now classic books such as the “Da Vinci Code” and “The Celestine Prophecy”, the Author Shams Tabriz has produced a more than worthy new entry into the genre.

“Quickening” is a breathless, heart-stopping Tour de Force - spiritual action/thriller/spy novel - a curtain raiser I assume, to a much larger story to unfold.

The events gather momentum right from the off and had me glued for page after page. Chapters are short and the storyline is tight, although characters have been given enough space to come alive. Only minutes into my first read, I was immediately struck by the Author's elegant and sophisticated use of the English language, which
came as a pleasant surprise and was indeed very much appreciated

As I was quickly progressing through the pages and chapters, the expectedly dramatic events culminated in a worthy crescendo, leaving me scampering for a copy of Part 2, which I knew would lead to a tie up of several loose ends.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed “Quickening”, Part 1 of “The Magdalene Prophecy” Trilogy and would strongly recommend this book to anyone, who has an interest in
spirituality-based suspense stories.

It took me a bit to get my bearings, but once I got that it is was great read. Some great insights in what would be if Mary Magdalene was viewed differently, an apostle, and confidant of Jesus, and in that aspect it made me think. The character of Yael really comes to life in this book, you start with a non-feeling, stone faced warrior, and through her investigation you learn about her and she learns about herself, a crack in façade is opening and she is learning to feel and care.
Just when you think the mystery of The Magdalene Prophecy is solved, nope … looking forward to the next book. And yes, I want to see how Yael evolves as I feel like she has so much to give, and I want to find out more about the Thomas, there has to be more to that part of the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for a copy of this book for my honest opinion.

A great, enjoyable read.

An enjoyable read for everyone who likes page-turning, breathtaking, thrilling reads. It will keep you on the needle from the first letter to the last.

It’s a strong, tightly woven story with very convincing -and frequently under threat- protagonists, mixing religion and science, that makes you want to find out what is going to happen next. And with a fair amount of research put into the story -the description of the symbols and history is amazing.

The author knows how to intertwine history, thrill and treasure hunt so perfectly that one cannot let his eyes let off the book!

An extraordinary, compelling thriller for our times

Through the investigation of the theft of the most precious Magdalene Prophecy the author brilliantly tests the limits of what we can know for certain about the institutional powers that lead us, about those we are closest to, and by extension, about ourselves.

I felt the story to be radiant and visionary, giving a perfect balance of dynamic characterization with the historical and social realities of the subject. The different characters were presented in such a way as to make me think about what it means to be human. I found it interesting that when led into dangerous territory, the characters were all faced with a difficult moral choice. I also noticed that by the journey’s end, I was enriched and enlightened by the lives I had witnessed.

At first sight, the protagonist Yael seemed to be detached from her own emotions from having suffered a traumatic childhood and decides to gradually transform herself into a perfect warrior. This single decision blazed her own trail, on which she encountered compromise, ambivalence and exhilaration. How many of us are in similar shoes without looking into the details of the very life choices we’ve made that speak volumes?

Amid a host of other hidden messages, the book seemed to carry key information about the captivating exploration of divine female power. This seems to serve as a tribute to the million-petalled flower of pure, heartfelt love which points the way towards hope and a new understanding of our human identity. Needless to say, Quickening graces us with its many insights and will surely often get a second reading.