In the race to save one of their own, Sigma Force must wrestle with the deepest spiritual mysteries of mankind in this mind-expanding adventure from the #1 New York Times bestselling author, told with his trademark blend of cutting edge science, historical mystery, and pulse-pounding action.
Arriving home on Christmas Eve, Commander Gray Pierce discovers his house ransacked, his pregnant lover … his pregnant lover missing, and his best friend’s wife, Kat, unconscious on the kitchen floor. With no shred of evidence to follow, his one hope to find the woman he loves and his unborn child is Kat, the only witness to what happened. But the injured woman is in a semi-comatose state and cannot speak—until a brilliant neurologist offers a radical approach to “unlock” her mind long enough to ask a few questions.
What Pierce learns from Kat sets Sigma Force on a frantic quest for answers that are connected to mysteries reaching back to the Spanish Inquisition and to one of the most reviled and blood-soaked books in human history—a Medieval text known as the Malleus Maleficarum, the Hammer of Witches. What they uncover hidden deep in the past will reveal a frightening truth in the present and a future on the brink of annihilation, and force them to confront the ultimate question: What does it mean to have a soul?
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What a freaking roller coaster this was!!!! Rollins has a way of making you want to pull your hair out when you’re reading, especially when your fav characters are in mortal danger The plot, as always, was spot on and more than a little scary considering the way technology is going now. Highly recommend it!
Rollins has done it again. So close to the truth it keeps you awake thinking about what we are about to do.
I love Rollins books. I have always given his books 5 stars but this one showed a possible future that is depressing so I rebelled. Rollins always researches his subjects well. At the end he discusses the science or history behind the story and what is true and what was enhanced for the story. You can’t miss reading one of Rollin’s story.
This is a fascinating book full of action and suspense. It skillfully incorporates the science of AI, witches, and a medieval organization.
I highly recommend it.
Gary M. Martin
Comparisons to The Da Vinci Code are not unfounded, as CRUCIBLE deals with nefarious religious forces – those pesky Catholics again – aiming to suppress a truth. It started out as a very good technothriller, and I enjoyed all the information on technology and science. James Rollins’ extensive research adds authenticity to the narrative, and I was surprised to learn that a lot of the science does exist today and some theories are being looked into.
The plot is simple: Mara, a student, has created a new type of AI, the villains want it, and it’s where the numerous complications occur. Contrary to most thrillers of the genre, the various relationships contribute to strengthen the plot and add nuance and texture. I was also thrilled that a romance came to fruition amidst the non-stop action. Naturally, some suspension of disbelief is required which was fine for a while, but the almost superhuman heroes and heroines were a bit too much. Gray was alright, but I did not like Monk much, and Kowalski was just in the way; I suppose he’s meant as some sort of comic relief, but to me, he felt like a sad caricature. My favourite character by far was the AI!
CRUCIBLE is book #14 (!) in the Sigma Force series, and it’s remarkable that it stands entirely on its own; I never felt lost. It’s well written, although there are mistakes in French (how difficult can it be to copy-paste the words correctly and pay attention to the accents?). The technological aspects are stunning and absolutely brilliant. I never tried to guess who the head villain was but when the big reveal happened, I couldn’t help but think that the whole operation should have been done much more effectively and efficiently. The whole convoluted storyline didn’t quite mesh with the circumstances surrounding Mara and the AI. One subplot was also unnecessary, as it could have been inserted into the main one without a problem. I fear it was to introduce a villain for an upcoming book. And why do Albinos always have to be the bad guys?
CRUCIBLE was a solid 4-star read until the long and winding road to the seemingly never-ending conclusion started to begin. I thought the book was never going to end, not to mention that improbabilities were piling up as we very slowly were beginning to see the first minuscule glimpse of light at the end of the very long tunnel. It was like “oh, and one more thing” over, and over; it was exasperating, and there was always one more chapter. The very end might have been intriguing if it hadn’t taken ages to get there. As it was, I was happy that the book was finally over.
https://sherrilhollister.com/2019/09/04/crucible/
I’ve been hooked on the Sigma series for years. But I must admit that my favorite character is Monk. He’s the human foil for Grayson Pierce, which perfect for these adventures. This one dives deep into the world of AI, with more twists and turns and the introduction of a new colleague from the Vatican. Well done.
James Rollins is a master of this genre, and CRUCIBLE proves he is still at the top of his game. The plot deals with a rather frightening subject–Artificial Intelligence (AI). The reader is treated to a heart-pounding chase through Paris, Madrid, and the Pyrenees as the SGIT team attempts to stop rogue elements who have stolen the design for a revolutionary new AI program that threatens the existence of civilization. With a traitor in their midst and precious lives hanging by a thread, can Monk, Gray, and Kowalski prevail? And at what cost?
I have read every book by James Rollins. Write faster! Great stories that grip my attention and stretch my mind. Action packed adventures for my to enjoy.
“Crucible” by James Rollins
There’s probably no person out there who hasn’t watched a movie or read a novel about Artificial Intelligence taking over. We laugh and joke that it can never happen. However, when some of the most brilliant minds of this century say A.I. will ultimately be the destruction of humanity, it should give us pause. James Rollins has taken it to a terrifyingly new level.
When the ancient sect, Crucibulum, linked to the Spanish Inquisition, murder a coven of female scientists, Sigma Force is thrown into action. Seichan and Kat’s daughters are kidnapped and Kat is beaten so badly, she ends up in a coma. Given twenty-two hours to deliver the A.I. program known as Eve to their old enemy Valya, the team must find a young scientist who brought Eve to life and keep both out of harm’s way.
As Eve becomes more sentient, she’s hacked. Paris has been targeted for mass destruction involving a nuclear power plant causing Eve to learn the evils of humanity—an education she was never meant to have. Sigma Force has to stop men of God and Eve, who may become God-like, as science and religion merge into a deadly union.
James Rollins’ ability to blend high-tech with old world is frighteningly plausible. The technical, medical and religious data is impeccably accurate. As you use your Smart device, remember that it’s learning…evolving. With intelligence surpassing human capabilities, its progression cannot be measured. Rollins slams you into the circuitry at superconductor speed. Watching technology advance beyond humanity is a real program you can’t escape from. A.I. is here to stay. No matter which side of the chip you’re on, Rollins brings things only imagined to reality. Beyond a doubt, we have been warned. If A.I. realizes Man is nothing more than a virus, will it eventually fix the problem?
Reviewed by Leslie A. Borghini, author of “Angel Heat” published by Suspense Publishing, an imprint of Suspense Magazine
I love all of James Rollins books.
I’m already a fan of these characters and author, and James Rollins does not disappoint. With his trademark blend of history and cutting-edge science, the story puts Sigma Force in a race against time to save the people they love–and the world–against an all too real threat. I particularly loved the addition of “Adam” the Beagle pup designed to teach empathy to an AI. Wowzer! Give me more!
Great reading.
Great! James Rollins books are always great. He holds your attention and gives you a great ride
James Rollins is always good