Nine stars
First and foremost, a large thank you to Reedsy Discovery and Gary McAvoy for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
I am always excited when Gary McAvoy reaches out with another of his novels, full of action and a number of teachable moments. While usually steeped in religious and Catholic history, McAvoy pushes into a more scientific domain, while tackling modern issues of astrophysics, Church doctrine, and international safety. There are still the core characters that series fans have come to enjoy, with some great development, both personal and story arc related. McAvoy does not disappoint in yet another thrilling novel within this stellar series.
While completing his daily tasks in the Vaticans Secret Archives, Father Michael Dominic stumbles upon documentation related to one of Leonardo da Vinci's most complex projects—the Celestial Guardian. Once deemed a highly advanced instrument that could predict celestial objects that might enter the Earth's atmosphere and cause massive damage, further exploration by Father Dominic and those closest to him reveal another and more powerful aspect to the instrument. Keeping this under wraps is essential, but there are many with ears pressed against doors and who have spies in all corners of the Vatican.
As the Holy See is without a leader, a Conclave to elect a new pope is held, which leads to two diametrically opposed candidates vying for the position. When the white smoke exits the Sistene Chapel, Clement XV emerges and a new era on pontifical rule begins. This new direction could shape the future quite drastically, but also allow many to seek to influence the pontiff's views. One such cardinal strikes as soon as possible, with knowledge of the Celestial Guardian to grease the wheels.
When news of the Celestial Guardian leaks outside the walls of the Vatican, as well as its power, many seek to have it for themselves. A plot to steal and utilise the Guardian takes place, putting one country ahead of the others as they try to manipulate the skies as well as defend the world from an ongoing asteroid that it hurtling towards Earth. As Father Dominic and his closest friends begin trying to decipher what's happening, they learn that the sanctity of the Celestial Guardian has turned from being a piece of scientific knowledge into a weapon that could be used in the years to come. With his beloved journalist friend, Hana Sinclair, at his side, Father Dominic will have to fend off others and ensure the Vatican is not turned into a place for looting and creating new weapons of massive destruction. McAvoy does a masterful job its this piece to keep the reader wondering until the very end.
While I have always enjoyed Gary McAvoy's writing about the Catholic Church in historical and modern times, I have also come to really enjoy his branching out into the impact of science on the Church and its policies. McAvoy does so here with da Vinci's Celestial Guardian, illustrating the complexities of the device, its use, and the power struggle to possess its abilities. The narrative moves along at a fast pace and keeps the reader enthralled as events occur, posing a number of questions about ethical, political, and religious rights. The story's momentum builds effectively and climaxes with a wonderful revelation that McAvoy surely hoped to ensure the reader ponders. With his great characters always evolving, the reader is permitted a generous glimpse into their intertwining, none greater than the Father Dominic/Hana Sinclair situation that has plagued series fans.
McAvoy has never struggled to create great plot points and developments to advance to story effectively. This is no exception, with a number of issues to tackle and resolve, McAvoy keeps the action high and the predictability low at times, juggling the concerns of many entities to develop a final solution for the main plot point, as well as hinting how one of the ongoing sub-plots might resolve itself. I have thoroughly enjoyed this series to date and am always eager to see what's next, as things on the Holy See never seem to remain stagnant.
Kudos, Mr. McAvoy, for keeping things on edge until the final page turn.
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