Lane Heymont

Heymont has written an imaginative tale with an unusual blend of history, voodooism, and time travel that takes the protagonist, Jeb, and his brother-in-law, Crispus, on a haphazard journey from the Louisiana bayou to the hustle and bustle of New York in the post-Civil War era where they must battle with threats from the past, present, and future in their quest to create a peaceful world.

Jeb is a classic archetypal hero who reluctantly separates from his family to embark upon a perilous journey where he will risk his own life for the greater good of humanity. Jeb has experienced much hardship in his life. He grew up as a slave until he joined the Union army during the Civil War to fight for freedom. He still carries the physical and emotional scars from his battles that continue to haunt him throughout much of the book. As a free man, Jeb just wants to live a peaceful, quiet life with his family in Louisiana, and he has managed to do so until Crispus’ life becomes jeopardized by the Ku Klux Klan. Crispus has a reputation for getting himself in trouble with the law, but this time Crispus’ situation is dire because he has stolen an ancient artifact from Verdiss, the Grand Dragon of the Klan, to thwart the leader’s malevolent plans to create a “pure” race.

Jeb and Crispus flee their home to find an Egyptian relic, a Pharaoh’s staff that is supposedly imbued with magic giving the one who has possession of it the power of domination over all others. Hot on their trail is the Ku Klux Klan, a violent and cruel group of men who bring a reign of terror upon all the citizens of Jeb’s hometown in their search for the two fugitives. Fueled by rage and prejudice, their brutalization of innocent black and whites is hard to witness.

The Klan’s leader, Verdiss, relies upon occult practices in his quest for power and has formed a tenuous alliance with a mysterious dictator from the future also seeking the staff. Allusions to Hitler and his Nazi regime are obvious based on the sketchy description readers are given about this power-hungry futuristic leader who has the ability to create time travel to accomplish his mission.

The author effectively integrates American historical detail into this fantastical story of good versus evil. Dark magic and voodoo practices are an integral part of the plot, but the macabre descriptions may make readers uncomfortable. Reading about some of these gruesome rituals was difficult for me at times.

The story is filled with danger and suspenseful scenes that kept me engaged throughout the book, and I really enjoyed seeing the overall change in the main characters by the story’s end. The novel involves numerous characters, and their perspectives are often included to lend depth to the story. However, sometimes it was hard for me to keep track of all these characters and their connections to one another and personal motivations.

Overall, I enjoyed reading the book and can’t help but wonder, based upon the conclusion, whether a sequel may be planned. If you are looking for a book that breaks genre stereotypes and has a creative plot, consider checking out The Freedman and the Pharaoh’s Staff.

I received a copy of this book from the author for an honest review.… (lisätietoja)