- Noah Primeval (Chronicles of the Nephilim) (Volume 1)

EASILY ONE OF THE BEST NOVELS I’VE READ IN YEARS. AND NOT JUST IN A GENERAL SENSE, BUT ALSO AMONGST THE BEST BIBLICALLY-INSPIRED PIECES OF WORK. WHETHER YOU VIEW IT AS A CREATIVE INTERPRETATION OF THE OG STORY, OR A WHOLE NEW FANTASY ACTION ADVENTURE, INSPIRED BY THE SCRIPTURE, ONE THING IS CERTAIN, IT IS A SUPER CAPTIVATING READ, CAPABLE OF WINNING YOUR ATTENTION INSTANTLY. WITH THERE BEING 8 NOVELS IN THIS SERIES, AND EACH - FOCUSED ON A SPECIFIC CHARACTER THAT HAD ENCOUNTERED THE INFAMOUS NEPHILIM GIANTS, MENTIONED IN GENESIS (AS WELL AS ALL AROUND THE BIBLE), THIS ONE SERVED AS A SOLID FOUNDATION, INTRODUCING THE READER TO THAT FASCINATING ANTEDILUVIAN WORLD OF WHICH SO LITTLE IS KNOWN. THE WORLD BUILDING IS ASTONISHING IN “NOAH PRIMEVAL”, AND COULD EASILY RIVAL ANY MORE FAMOUS COUNTERPARTS OF THE GENRE. AND THE COOLEST THING OF IT ALL IS, THE MAJORITY OF THE CONTENTS AND EVENTS DEPICTED IN THIS NOVEL ARE EXTREMELY EASY TO GRASP. ONE COULD CALL THIS NOVEL A RATHER SPECULATIVE TAKE, AND WOULD BE MOSTLY RIGHT. BUT THE FORM OF THIS BOOK IS NONETHELESS A THRILLING ONE. THE ORIGINAL BIBLICAL TEXT’S INTENT WAS NEVER ALTERED OR ADJUSTED. AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THOSE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE SOURCE MATERIAL WOULD DEFINITELY BE INVESTED IN THIS MORE THOROUGH REINTRODUCTION OF IT, ALBEIT WITH MASSIVE EXPANSIONS. ANOTHER THING WORTH POINTING OUT IS THE OVERALL THOUGHTFULNESS OF THIS BOOK. THE AUTHOR SURELY KNOWS A THING OR TWO ABOUT THE STUFF HE USES, TO CRAFT SUCH EXCITING STORY. HIS ERUDITION IN THE SUBJECT MATTER IMPRESSES TO SAY THE LEAST. HIS UNDERSTANDING OF NOT JUST THE BIBLICAL TEXT, BUT MOST OF OTHER, LOOSELY-RELATED TOPICS MAKE THIS A VERY FULFILLING PIECE OF LITERATURE. HE PUTS A CORE OF THE ORIGINAL NARRATIVE FROM THE BIBLE - ONTO HIS CANVASSES AND STARTS DECORATING IT WITH FULLY JUSTIFIABLE “GAP FILLERS”. IN OTHER WORDS, THERE’S PRETTY MUCH NOTHING LEFT TO ADD OR SUBTRACT FROM WHAT WE’RE HAVING HERE. THE PRECISION WITH DETAILS TURNS IT INTO A GOURMET’S TYPE OF READING MATERIAL. AND THE AUTHOR SEEMS TO BE FULLY INTO HIS WRITING, AS YOU CAN ALMOST READ THE GUY’S OWN ENTHUSIASM BETWEEN THE LINES. AND WHEN SUCH OCCURS, THE BOOK BECOMES HUNDRED TIMES MORE COMPELLING, FOR ITS TRUE PURPOSE WASN’T SIMPLY FOR MONEY GRABBING, BUT RATHER ONE’S ARTISTIC EXPRESSION. AND MIXING SUCH COMPLEX THEMES UNDER “ONE ROOF” SO SMOOTHLY IS SIMPLY NATURAL TALENT. ITS ALL IN LOGICAL ORDER AND DOESN’T HAVE ANY STRIKING CONTRADICTIONS OR LOOSE ENDS. WHETHER YOU ACTUALLY KNOW THE NOAH STORY OR NOT, THIS HERE IS THE RARE CASE WHEN YOU’LL STILL BE INTRIGUED AT HOW IT ALL TURNS OUT. THERE IS ONLY ONE MINOR ODDITY WITHIN THE PLOT IN ITS LAST CHAPTERS, THAT I FIND RATHER QUESTIONABLE, ALMOST UNDERDEVELOPED (IN A LAZY WAY), BUT THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE A MATTER OF PERCEPTION. TUBAL-CAIN AND METHUSELAH WERE BY FAR THE COOLEST AND MY FAVOURITE CHARACTERS IN THE WHOLE BOOK. ESPECIALLY GIVEN TUBAL-CAIN’S ANCESTRY. INDEED NOT ALL OF CAIN’S DESCENDANTS WERE SHITBAGS, AND THAT’S A VERY HUMANE TAKE, WHICH I GOT TONS OF RESPECT FOR. THE NEPHILIM THEMSELVES, THEIR ORIGINS AND PRACTICAL PRESENCE THROUGHOUT THE STORY IS WHAT I CALL INTELLIGENT WRITING. THAT WHOLE ASPECT IS CREEPY, YET CRUCIALLY IMPORTANT, AND COVERED IN A VERY SMART MANNER. LAST, BUT NOT LEAST, NOAH HIMSELF HERE IS ONE OF THE BEST PROTAGONISTS EVER WRITTEN WITHIN ANY BIBLICALLY INSPIRED FICTION. HE ISN’T A SAINT, BUT HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS IS DEMONSTRATED IN THE MOST RELATABLE, REALISTIC WAYS IMAGINABLE. HE HAS DOUBTS, PERSONALITY, HONOUR AND FAITH, AND IT ALL FORMS HIS CHARACTER INTO A HERO, APPOINTED BY GOD. HE IS NOWHERE NEAR A SAINT, BUT IS SOMEONE FOR WHOM YOU’LL EFFORTLESSLY ROOT FOR FROM START TO FINISH. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS 9.5/10 BOOK TO ALL. BRIAN GODAWA, THANKS FOR MAKING SUCH BOOK POSSIBLE.

The Whole Series is Great Story telling, every Book is a page turner. I went and read the Prequel Enoch Primeval first to get it in order but you can do it either way. Godawa takes the Biblical account, with Extra Biblical accounts and also accounts from accent History and he weaves a wonderful mythical story that leads us to many truths of scripture. This series is filled with theology, Philosophy,and is very entertaining. While the book is basically myth it is filled with much truth and I highly recommend it. Chronicles of the Nephilim Series by Brian Godawa is a Wonderful, Amazing Adventure series based on the Bible. The Series contains 8 books which are; Noah Primeval (Chronicles of the Nephilim Book 1) Enoch Primordial (Chronicles of the Nephilim Book 2) A Prequel to Book 1. (I read this one first to stay in time order, But you can do it which ever way your prefer). Gilgamesh Immortal (Chronicles of the Nephilim Book 3) Abraham Allegiant (Chronicles of the Nephilim Book 4) Joshua Valiant (Chronicles of the Nephilim Book 5) Caleb Vigilant (Chronicles of the Nephilim Book 6) David Ascendant (Chronicles of the Nephilim Book 7) and the soon Coming Jesus Ascendant (Chronicles of the Nephilim Book 8) Brian Godawa is an author who entertains and educates. We get the Biblical Narrative as well as many ancient beliefs and myths (Babylonian, Assyrian, Philistine, etc.,) all put together in a wonderful coherent story that stays true to Biblical narrative and at the same time is a fast paced action packed adventure drama with superheros and super villains deluxe. In a way this is like Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit, but instead of taking biblical truths and setting them to a myth it takes the Biblical stories and fills in the blanks with "myths". Godawa takes mythical concepts and makes them real in the books such as Leviathan and Rahab. But he has done his research and this fictional story may be closer to the truth then many expect. Godawa deals with Angels, Fallen Angels, Nephilim, The Giants in Scriptures, Demons, Giant Slayers, etc., There are additional pages of special appendixes that provide an explanation of Biblical concepts all 7 novel's such as the Divine Council, the Nephilim, Leviathan, and the ancient Mesopotamian Cosmography in the Bible, Number of Israelites who left Egypt, Styers, Dragons, etc., IF you like Lord of the Rings, the Hobbit, Harry Potter, really any fantasy writings you will like this as well. This is an adult series though. Not for the very young. I really hope they make the whole series into movies.

Brian Godawa does a masterful job creating a world, cast of characters and dramatic storyline creatively filling in the narrative gaps between the hard facts the Bible gives us. While I differ with the author's take at the end on why there were post-deluvian Nephilim (Tim Chaffey's book Fallen makes a very good argument on this) it does not detract from my enjoyment of this story. I particularly love the characters, their personalities and the way they relate to one another. If you enjoyed the banter and teasing between main characters in classic action buddy movies, you'll enjoy it here as well! Finally the author presents the human characters' relationship with God, Yahweh Elohim, in a way all of us can relate to and draw inspiration from. Brian's approach and style combine to give the reader a thoroughly enjoyable and, I think edifying, experience!

Ich habe mir drei Bände des Autor gekauft (Noah Primeval,Enoch Primordial,Gilgamesh Immortal) und bin enttäuscht. Mangels an Fachbüchern mit dem Grundtext inklusive Interpretation griff ich auf diese Romane zurück, damit ich mir endlich merken kann, was in den Geschichten im groben steht. Der Autor ist der Meinung Hollywoodfilme sind wertvoll, daraus lässt sich schliessen, dass der Autor nicht sehr tiefgründig sein kann. Die Vermutung bestätigt sich, wenn man die schiere Anzahl seiner Bücher vor Augen hat. Er weiss einfach, wie man mit einem simplen Grundgerüst Story strickt. Die Bücher die ich mir gekauft habe, haben kaum einen Mehrwert in Bezug auf das Leben heute, amüsant war allerdings der Vergleich unserer heutigen Welt mit der Welt der verrückten "Götter". Geschichtenkonstrukteure beleben ihre Figuren mit nervigen Persönlichkeiten und Marotten. Das wirkt auf mich hölzern und unseriös. Die Figuren haben seltsame Vorlieben und geben sich gegenseitig dusselige Kosenamen. Man kann ehrwürdige Personen nicht so behandeln! Dabei verwischt die Grenze und man weiß nicht mehr, welcher Teil der Story belegt ist und welcher Teil Fiction ist. Normalerweise lese ich 400-600 Seiten an einem Tag, hier quäle ich mich schon seit Wochen durch. Ich weiss nicht viel über die historischen Texte, aber ich habe stark das Gefühl, dass eine Menge fehlt. Die Möglichket aus der Kabbala Informationen einzubauen, hat der Autor nicht genutzt. Die Bücher haben sehr schöne Cover, aber es fehlen Abbildungen innen. Es gibt zwar eine grobe Karte, die sieht aber nicht gut aus. Karten wie man sie in alten Bibeln findet, sucht man in seinen Büchern vergeblich. Zur Not hätte man auch selbst eine zeichnen können, nicht mal das wurde dem Leser gegeben. Der Druck selbst ist ein ausgedrucktes PDF mit, am Ende des Buches sieht man noch die Links zum anklicken. Das Papier taugt nichts, es wellt sich ab einer bestimmten Feuchtigkeit. Fazit: Der Bestsellerautor und Gewinner hat in Massenproduktion PDFs erstellt und in Polen drucken lassen und verkauft es über Amazon. Die Storys sind nett, mir aber zu flach und viel zu weit weg vom belegten Text.

Noah and his family partake in a truly godly adventure. The thread of this book seems so real. I do not normally do reviews but the book is really worth reading.

I am still reading this book but am enjoying it so far. Looking forward to reading all of Brian Godawa's works.

This is a very creative work, weaving of biblical truth with ancient near eastern traditions and testimony. It is a very unique read and worthwhile looking at his other books, which I intend doing.