The Mark of Abel

title: The Mark of Abel
author: Viola Ryan
series: The Mark of Abel #1
published: 11 January 2013
publisher: MuseItUp Publishing
genre(s): fantasy, romance
pages: 348
source: author, book tour
format: eBook
buy/shelve it: Amazon | B&N | BookBub | BookHype | Goodreads

rating: | series rating:

the blurb

Lucifer is fed up with humanity. He created hell to deter evil, but man’s inhumanity is only escalating. He just wants to return home to heaven, but ever since that little problem in the Garden of Eden, the Pearly Gates remain firmly shut to him. It doesn’t help that he’s the first vampire, an abomination in God’s sight.

Fortunately, two thousand years ago Lucifer’s estranged brother, Jesus, gave him a prophecy. To fulfill it, all Lucifer has to do is find the right artist, study her artwork and the path back to heaven will be revealed. The artist even bears a symbol so he knows who she is. Too bad she is murdered every time he finds her.

Janie’s a frustrated artist and college art teacher who wants two things—a guy she can show her paintings to and a night without nightmares. Each nightmare plagues her until she paints it. She doesn’t realize these paintings are key to unlocking her destiny, one that could redeem the original fallen angel.

my review

This is a completely different take on Lucifer, one that I really loved.  I love paranormal/urban fantasy and have read a number that blend religious themes with the genre.  The way the author chose to blend them in this book was totally unique and thoroughly interesting.  In this world, Lucifer truly isn’t the bad guy he is made out to be.  Hell, the epitome of evil in lore, was his creation in order to avoid evil.  His fall from grace was less about power and evil, but because of a forbidden love.

The book used a lot of traditional Christian religious mythology, but turned it on its ear!  The Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve, the forbidden fruit… all traditional parts of the story.  But not only does Lucifer get kicked out of Heaven, but he becomes the very abomination of God… a vampire.  This is just the first twist from tradition mythology in the book.  And like all good, religious mythology stories, there is a quest for Lucifer, to find his way back to Heaven.

Janie is a fabulous character, too, a truly tortured artist who has no idea of the role she is to play, and has played.  A talented artist, she is haunted by the dark art that seems to be all she can create.  Nightmares and the ever present feeling that she is losing her mind plague her, too.  And she has no idea just how important her paintings truly are.

Things to love…

• Lucifer.  I loved the author’s view of him.  Totally different, and very engaging.
• Janie.  She was so tortured and written so well that I, as a reader, felt like I was living her life with her.
• The twist on tradition.  I love, love, LOVE the flip on traditional mythology.  It made this book stand out because it blended tradition with the paranormal so well!

I definitely recommend this book!  There were bits and pieces in the beginning that kind of went over my head, but that is simply because I am not well-versed in Christian religious mythology outside of the basics.  But my lack of knowledge aside, this was a really refreshing and exciting book!