Review by Stalantilaz -- The Hand Bringer

Stalantilaz · Post by **Stalantilaz** » 31 May 2020, 09:53

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Hand Bringer" by Christopher J. Penington.]

4 out of 4 stars

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Have you ever wished there was a way you could go back to the past and correct a wrong that was done? Ever wished that you were given one chance to save a loved one and change the course of history? That is the main theme that I picked from The Hand Bringer, a novel by Christopher J. Pennington.

The book is set at a time when vampires, originally called strigoi are wrecking havoc in the lives of ordinary people. There is killing and infecting taking place, and the only way possible to change the devastating turn of events is by going back in time to eliminate the original vampire, who goes by the name Vlad Dracula. The person called upon, and the only one strong enough to accomplish the mission is Peter Hadrian. He has to go back in time to the 1400's.

Pennington tells the story of Peter Hadrian, a police officer whose life is turned upside down after the tragic loss of his son and ex wife. The action filled science fiction thriller starts at a high note, with Peter being bitten by a human like creature with animalistic characteristics in the line of duty, which leads to him being infected. He is taken by people from ASA, (Apocalypse Suppression Administration). Luckily for him, he has an upper hand since he had been given an antidote as a young boy by a strange woman. Together with the genetic manipulation while at ASA, the bite only works to his advantage, and instead of turning him into a vampire, it gives him the mighty strength of at least five men combined.

When given the mission, Peter only has one request, to be given a chance to go back in time to save his son, whom he still believes is not gone forever since his body was never recovered. Will he manage to kill Dracula? Will the alteration of history have an effect in the present life? Is Dracula really as guilty as they suppose or is it just conspiracy theory that only seeks to serve the selfish interests of a certain group in the high places? Why does each encounter with the creatures and people from the past lead to Peter being called The Hand Bringer? All these include just a bit of the mysteries that will keep you turning the pages.

The author incorporates the aspect of humor through Luke who is a close friend and ally to Peter. His no-nonsense and 'don’t care' attitude showed autonomy of thought. He finds a way to take out tension in the seriousness of the issues they face and finds humor through the way he chooses to see everything that surrounds him. He is loyal and chooses to disregard authority when it seems like it is oppressing his rights as an individual. I loved this most about the book and found his character so fitting. Other notable characters include Boriana who brings out the aspect of Romance, and Bat, the uneducated ex-convict who goes with them to the mission.

This book was exceptionally edited and I could barely find an error. I therefore give it 4 out of 4 stars for a perfect book that is totally worth reading. There was great flow of the story in an easy and interesting way. I recommend the book to anyone who believes that there is more than it catches the eye in the world we live in. (For instance, are vampires and aliens real? Is time travel real? Did someone go back in time and eliminate them, maybe the reason why they don’t exist?) However, due to the amount of profanities in the book, I recommend that young adults read the book under moderation and parental guidance. But that is just a minor issue to me that did not deter enjoyment of the book. Great read!

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The Hand Bringer
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