His marriage in tatters and his career ruined by lies, Diplomatic Security Service agent Brian Mullaney is at the end of his rope. Banished to Israel as punishment by his agency, he’s assigned to guard a US ambassador and an insignificant box. Little does he know that this new job will propel him straight into a crisis of global proportions.Inside the box is a messianic prophecy about the fate of … the fate of the world. And a dark enemy known as The Turk and the forces of evil at his command are determined to destroy the box, the prophecy, and the Middle East as we know it. When Ambassador Cleveland gets in the way, his life and his daughter’s life are threatened–and Mullaney must act fast.
Now agents of three ancient empires have launched covert operations to secure nuclear weapons, in direct defiance of the startling peace treaty Israel and its Arab neighbors have signed. And a traitor in the US State Department is leaking critical information to a foreign power. It’s up to Mullaney–still struggling with his own broken future–to protect the embassy staff, thwart the clandestine conspiracies, and unmask a traitor–before the desert is turned into a radioactive wasteland.
Fans of Joel C. Rosenberg, Steven James, and Ted Dekker will relish the deadly whirlpool of international intrigue and end-times prophecy in Ishmael Covenant–and will eagerly await the rest of this new trilogy.
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A fascinating story!
My rating is 4.5 stars
Combining current events with Biblical prophecy and Jewish mysticism, Ishmael Covenant is a fascinating beginning to the Empires of Armageddon series.
Brian Mullaney is a broken man. One who loves the Lord but doesn’t understand why his life is falling apart. When he is thrust into a cauldron of turmoil in his new post in Israel, his past failures begin to plague him. I loved seeing his inner struggles and the many ways the Lord reached out to him to give him just what he needed right when he needed it. And I loved the way that Brian continued to do the right thing and persevered through his doubts and his fears.
Brian came from a heritage of peace officers. He was dedicated to serving – with his life if necessary. I almost came to tears as I read where he explains why soldiers are willing to give their lives for others. And I am again reminded of how grateful I am for the men and women who daily risk their very lives to ensure the safety of others.
The story is gripping from the very start! And how amazing to find out through the author’s notes that the rabbi known as Vilna Gaon actually lived in the eighteenth century and did indeed leave behind a prophecy about Crimea being taken by the Russians which happened in 2014.
Ishmael Covenant is filled with explosions, abductions, intrigue, and treachery. And faith. The violence and violent acts are not overly gory or gratuitous. Due to the political intrigue, there are several places where history is explained to set the stage for the events taking place. This is well done – I’m grateful for the reminder of these events which gave the necessary context and background. Though many facts were given, it never really felt like an information dump.
The depictions of the action and the surrounding areas were so clear I could picture them. I often have difficulty following action sequences and just assumed the problem was mine. Yet I had no trouble imagining the events as they played out here, so perhaps it isn’t just me!
While Empires of Armageddon is a last-days series, this story was much more political thriller than a tale of the vials and bowls and plagues of Revelation – for which I’m grateful. I’m not sure what to expect in the rest of the trilogy but imagine they will be the same – after all, they can’t talk about the Wrath of God if the Christians are still in the picture. Right?
Being the first book in the series, the ending was a cliffhanger, as is to be expected. The middle book, Persian Betrayal, released July 28, 2020, and the conclusion will release summer of 2021.
Come back Friday (August 14, 2020) for my review of Persian Betrayal as part of a blog tour complete with a giveaway!
Read my review of Ishmael Covenant by Terry Brennan at AmongTheReads.net
I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.
Ishmael Covenant begins Terry Brennan’s Empires of Armageddon series. What a fabulous beginning it is. It was full of action, danger, adventure, mystery and suspense. It was not that easy to put down. I had no problem having it read in one day. It was so good.
I am giving Ishmael Covenant four and a half stars. I can not wait to read the next book from the Empires of Armageddon series. I recommend this one for readers who enjoy clean suspense filled novels. It is most definitely worth a read.
I was intrigued by the premise of this book and thought that it would be along the lines of books like “The DaVinci Code”. Instead, it was more of a spy thriller than I expected.
It took me a long time to really get into this book. I think part of the reason was all of the different characters. Then, not knowing that much about the history of the Middle East and all of the religious factions also made it hard to follow at times.
There was plenty of action, but there was also a lot of tedious explanations. The author obviously is well-versed in the Middle East, Jewish history and Scripture and I learned a lot from the book.
The idea of a mysterious box holding a hidden message from the past was what originally drew me to this book. But, since the book ended on a cliffhanger, I never truly found out what all the mystery was about.
The faith and strength of some of the main characters was truly inspiring and I found myself wondering if I would ever be able to have that kind of faith.
All in all, I would recommend this book for those that really enjoy intricate plot lines involving numerous religious and political groups. Otherwise, I would say that it takes a lot of effort to read this book. If you are looking for information, history, and/or religious background, give it a try. If you are looking for entertainment, I would say this would be better as a movie.
This book was provided courtesy of Kregel Publications, through Interviews & Reviews, for my honest opinion.
3.5 stars
“I feel like a failure in so many ways. . . . . But I know you are there. . .. . And I know I can trust you. No matter what the outcome, I can trust you, that your plan is good. Better than any ideas I may have.”
Diplomatic Security Service Agent Brian Mullaney’s confidence is at an all time low; struggling to accept an overseas assignment to Israel, he is certain that extended time away from his family will cause irreparable damage to his marriage. He loves his wife. He loves his daughters. He loves his country.
It’s soon evident that protecting U. S. Ambassador Atticus Cleveland and his daughter is unlike any challenge that Brian has faced during his extensive career. Not only is the Ambassador navigating through an unprecidented, and quite unexpected Middle East peace treaty; referred to as the Ishmael Covenant, but Cleveland has also been entrusted with an ancient treasure; a prophecy of sorts, which must be guarded at all costs. Lives are at stake and the enemy is formidable.
The author of this book demonstrates an astounding knowledge of the Middle East; past, present, and possibly even its future. That knowledge, when paired with Jewish history and the promises of Scripture, makes this story’s blending of political versus spiritual forces extremely fascinating, but also highly complicated. It was those complexities that seemed to weight down its astounding core. However, to write it any other way would have compromised its integrity and made the book much less memorable. Because its readers will tell you, the “Ismael Covenant” is quite a memorable read!
I received a copy of this book from “More Than a Review”. The opinions stated above are entirely my own.
Captivating and action packed drama:
This is an emotionally gripping and action filled depiction of the days leading up to Christ’s second coming. It felt highly plausible that events could transpire as depicted and the author clearly has a solid understanding of both world politics and biblical knowledge. There were many moving parts yet the different subplots fit well together.
At times however it got bogged down by too many facts and details, yet the information provided was interesting and relevant. I found the behind the scenes maneuverings of political and evil forces frightening as I am sure it happens more than we know. This book provides a good reminder that there are unseen forces at work between good and evil and that we ought to pray that the Lord’s will be done and His kingdom come.
Only problem is that now I have to try to be patient whilst I wait for book 2 of the trilogy which is due July 2020!
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
Happy Sunday, my Fellow Book Dragons! I hope you are having a day of rest if possible, I realize that with times being what they are, some of you are working and some are not allowed..I hope somewhere in there you are able to find a moment of peace and joy. Today’s Gem is unique, it is actually a small box, silver, hammered to show 5 emblems, the middle on being a Star of David. The box is a replica of one made by the Vilna Gaon, according to Gem Maker Terry Brennan and this is his “Ishmael Covenant”.
Brennan’s Gem moves a bit slowly at first but it is well worth keeping on with the tale. He is introducing us to a world of characters who are well worth knowing. His storytelling is masterful, he writes of spiritual matters in fiction rivaling my favorite Frank Peretti. This is no fluffy, weak warfare. This is warfare that is worthy of our time, our money and our era.
Brennan’s angels look ready for battle, they are not golden haired weaklings, clinging to harps to do the bidding of the latest psychic fraud with a website, these are battle hardened, girded, anointed beings of great strength who know the One they serve. They do not fear, they take their duties seriously, they understand the Enemy for he was once one of them.
Brennan’s rabbis, politicians, bad guys, etc are realistic. They speak in voices we would expect. The present day world around them is one we live in. I loved this book! We see into a world that is very possible. Do any of us know what the coming of Messiah will look like, no, but do many of us daydream, yes. Brennan has done a bang of job of doing it for us and putting it on paper. This is the first in the Empires of Armageddon and I do so look forward to the second one.
It is available wherever great books are sold and I would strongly encourage you to get it for your library. Please make sure you join me in The Cave on Facebook. Right now I have many authors joining us daily for giveaways, interviews and a daily question to answer for my March Giveaway! Until tomorrow, I remain, your humble Book Dragon,
Drakon T. Longwitten
I received a copy of this book as part of the Ishmael Covenant Book Tour. Thanks to #audrajennings #terrybrennan #kregelpublications
This book read like I’m watching the news, maybe a movie? Or this could be real life, and yes this is fiction, but be sure to read the author’s notes. You should also know that there are two more books, and that will complete the story.
There is danger here around every corner, the book begins and end that way.
Will there ever be peace for Israel? Or is this the end times, and prophecies are coming true? The Evil one sure believes that the parchment in that box is worth taking, and many give their lives.
Will the mole be found? Will these nations get nuclear weapons? These and more questions still need to be answered.
I received this book through Read With Audra and the Publisher Kregel, and was not required to give a positive review.
A rabbi from the 1790s receives two prophecies from God. He writes them down and secures them. One prophecy has been decoded sometime in the past and has come to pass as truth. Now, the other prophecy that has been guarded by rabbis for over 200 years is in danger of being destroyed. The time has come for this second prophecy to be decoded, and its message will change the world. The current holder of the prophecy, a rabbi, is good friends with the American ambassador of Turkey who has just been reassigned to the American Embassy in Israel. The rabbi asks Atticus Cleveland, a man of strong Christian faith, if he would be willing to transport the prophecy from Turkey to the rabbi council in Israel for them to decode. Atticus agrees, and his life will never be the same.
Brian Mullaney is on the protective service for Ambassador Cleveland. Brian has been newly assigned to the American Embassy in Israel to keep him from asking questions about an incident in the U.S. The moment Cleveland takes possession of the prophecy, danger ensues. There is an evil man and his underlings who will stop at nothing to destroy the prophecy. Cleveland, Mullaney and others face many attempts on their lives and many chances to put their faith in to action.
This is a good beginning to an entertaining and intriguing political suspense series. There were many instances where I thought to myself that what was happening in the story could have been taken from current news. The was exciting action, political manipulations, faith in action and compelling relationships. The plot is complex with many characters to keep track of and regional/geographical know-how to keep straight, making me have to slow down or re-read some sections to remember who was who and what side he/she was on. There is some time spent in the first half of the book giving the political, historical, cultural and geographical overview of the relationships between Middle Eastern countries. The story leaves readers on the edge of their seat, wondering where the dust will fall after an explosive situation. Anyone with an interest in the current events in the Middle East will definitely want to read this, as well as others like me who just enjoy a good story!
I read The Jerusalem Prophecies trilogy by Brennan, and I really enjoyed that series. It has been five years since that series ended, so I was happy to see the author coming out with a new series.
I had a little difficulty getting into this book, but that only lasted through the prologue. Once I got to the main part of the book, I got pulled into the story.
Though this book is fictional, this book could be taken from today’s headlines. Unrest in the Middle East, fighting among Muslim factions, threats against our freedoms, etc. There is a lot that happens in this book. Fortunately, the author indicates the setting, date, and time each time he switches locations, which makes it easier to keep up with what is going on and where.
Brian Mullaney is the main character in the book, and he is a likable one you can’t help feeling sorry for and cheering on. Through his eyes, the reader gets a good look at what all is involved with ambassadors, the state department, and foreign relations in regards to those.
I found the book a fascinating and exciting read, and learned a lot through this great fictional novel. The author knows his stuff, and it is evident that he did a lot of research for the book. I am definitely looking forward to reading more in this series.
I was provided a copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions in this review are my own.
This book was like a movie to me. I watched how men, empires, kings tried to change the Bible or how the things God said was going to happen at the end of time. I pitied them for trying because no matter how fierce the battle, God won. He always wins.
To do this the Turk backed by forces of evil tried disrupt life as it is known with several unimaginable events in Israel, the Arab world, the West to ensure the rise of the Ottoman Empire.
When King Abdullahi proposed a peace treaty with Israel and other Arab nations I saw scriptures being fulfilled and God’s people once again going against His instructions.
The suspense, mystery and intrigue in this book will keep your heart beating wildly throughout the pages. Educative is mild a word to use for the information I gleaned from this book; from religious matters to diplomatic hurdles to life in the desert of the middle East to the corridor of power in the highest forms of government, the author kept me informed.
With immense and extensively deep research Bennan brings us series of events tied together telling of the Conflicts of the 3 empires and the Holy land of Israel.
The characters of this book we’re divided into 3; those who stood for God, those who opposed God and Israel and those who stood aloof.
I received a copy of this book and this is my honest opinion.
This is a very good political thriller. I especially enjoyed the last half of the book. The first half seemed to be going in to what was happening in these middle eastern countries. I look forward to reading the next book in the series so I can find out if there might be peace and what the prophecy really says. I received a copy of this book from I Read with Audra for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.