This is the first publication by Paul J. Cavilla (https://paulcavilla.com/). Ascender’s Prophecy was published in 2024. It is the 86th book I completed reading in 2024.

Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! Due to scenes of violence and mature situations, I categorize this novel as R.

The plot of this story centers on a mythical artifact known as the Cube of Compostela. The myth associated with the Cube says it houses knowledge capable of freeing humanity from the cycle of death and rebirth. As the world seems to be spiraling downward into anarchy and chaos, evidence of where the Cube can be located makes its way to Dr. Gabriel Parker.

32-year-old Parker specializes in finding or retrieving artifacts. Some are easy, but most he goes after are difficult, and he has the scars to prove it. In the case of the Cube, Parker traces it to the villa of a North African drug lord. He devises a dangerous plan to break into the villa and extract the Cube. He is successful but barely makes it out alive.

In Florence, Italy, 32-year-old Dr. Natasha Rossi restores artifacts. A dark storm had blown in, filling her with dread just before she heard the awful news that Professor Agardi Metrovich and Father Franco Rossi had died in a plane crash in the mountains of Spain. She had been orphaned while very young, and the Father had become her guardian.

Isaac Rodchenko is in his sixties. His son has been in a vegetative state for thirty-three years. He has finally awakened and is deemed possessed. Priests attempt an exorcism, but the young man dies.

Parker, Rossi, and Rodchenko are unknowingly part of an Egyptian prophecy. As the Earth approaches crossing the galactic plane, an impending crisis looms. Passing through it will affect changes on both the physical and metaphysical levels. Human minds will be cast into darkness. To save the planet and humanity, Parker, Rossi, and Rodchenko must return the Cube of Compostela to its original resting place. Powers, both physical and metaphysical, will attempt to block their path.

I enjoyed the 20 hours reading this 730-page modern fantasy. I like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a rating of 3.7 (rounded to 4) out of 5.

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A race is on to recover a cube that holds the key to humanity's spiritual evolution or the dominion by evil. This is a combination of thriller, different spiritual paths and science. It is definitely exciting in lots of places and reminds me of a bit of Dan Brown book or Indiana Jones. There are a lot of characters and they can be hard to keep separate. Some definitely need a bit more depth. The author packs a lot into the book and I think it would be better if some of it was cut and sharpened up. Saying that, the writer has created a story that flows very well. The very end is a little bit heavy on the Christian belief system and I would have liked it a little bit more encompassing because that is what the author is trying to achieve in many other places. Overall, though, interesting and a thrill ride.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

Loved the book! Fast paced and keeps you engaged until the last page. It's well worth the read. I am looking forward the Paul Cavilla's next novel.

I really enjoyed reading this book, it had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed about the use of archaeological element to this. It had that feel that I was looking for and enjoyed the overall plot going on. Paul J. Cavilla has a strong writing style and was glad everything was so well done. It had that technothriller element that I was looking for and glad I read this.