Hammer of Thor

Book Review
Avatar of Fran LewisBy Fran Lewis
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Two men are talking in a bar in Miami. The President of the United States has been assassinated and no one present seems to be upset. One ordinary man named Michael Vaughn is one of the men in the bar and second a drunk named Gomez. Talking over the state of what happened to the President they are not really careful about letting anyone overhear them.

Michael is no ordinary man. He is an adept with certain powers that make him dangerous and able to deal with situations the FBI and CIA could not. Special powers that allow him to be protected from danger harm and create spells that would take down the enemy and protect him. From the author of the bestselling novel, Hammer of Thor comes another blockbuster Agent of Artifice by author S. Evan Townsend. Imagine being able to infiltrate enemy camps and not be seen. Magic is a great thing to have and the power it yields will definitely make the reader wish you were an adept too.

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Michael Vaughn has signed orders from the late President. Gomez, also working for the CIA as he does needs a favor. In return for getting certain documents he requires back he promises to get him into the North American Guild. Understanding that this guild might be his only choice for protection he agrees. Using several truth spells and persuasion spells he’s able to glean the information from Gomez that he wants and get the assistant that he desires. Wouldn’t it be great to use a persuasion spell to get what you want without the other person ever knowing why? The country forlorn as Joe Kennedy has been killed and his assassin taken out before he would come to trial. Michael Vaughn was sent to Cuba for only one reason: Assassinate Fidel Castro and his brother too. But, will he able to do this one last thing for the late president? Will anything or anyone try to stop him? Magic is great. Starting off with an invisibility spell in order to travel and fly without being seen.
Michael Vaughan looks like an ordinary guy who’s living it up in Havana, having the time of his life. He’s got money, women, practically anything he could ever ask for. Yet appearances can be deceiving, for underneath it all he’s a rogue adept sent to Cuba to assassinate Castro. Magic allows him to infiltrate enemy bases in hopes of gaining the needed Intel to achieve a means to his goals, but sometimes it proves to hinder his plans in more ways than one.

His current task is far from easy. There are those who are watching his every step, intent on thwarting his attempts. Dodging bullets and barely escaping with his life, at times, Michael wonders if there’s someone out to get him and begins to suspect that it could be an inside job within one of the guilds. Someone wants to silence him and he refuses to give whoever it is the satisfaction of ending his life forever.

Author S. Evan Townsend takes the reader back in time to where it all began as you hear the voice of Michael Vaughn as he narrate the story in the first person allowing you to experience, along with him, how he became an adept, his father’s reaction to his decision, the problems he encountered, his escapades and how he manages to live on the edge. Dealing the mob, using his many spells to create diversions, changing the mind of others using persuasion spells and making sure he had his way with those he desired, Michael Vaughn is one powerful character determined to get what he wants at all costs.

Wanting to belong to a guild he needed to show his loyalty and allegiance to its members and leaders. As the author allows the reader to get to know this man you begin to realize his primary objective is his own life, welfare and personal survival. Needing the guild, at first for protection, welfare, money and support he pledged his loyalty. When the man who created the AMA and decentralized the guilds hoping to stop the fighting between the guilds was being attacked and challenged, Michael’s help was asked. But, as he stated before he is loyal to the guild but not really concerned with internal politics or the running of it. Kidnapped, tortured, beaten, shot at and injured he manages to prevail. It is too bad that we all don’t have healing spell. Think of all the illnesses and diseases we could eliminate.

As we come back to what the author would consider the present we find our man character has been kidnapped and placed in shackles in a Cuban prison. But, that did not stop him from his amazing escape. Its fortunate prisoners can’t pull off the feat that he did. As he convinced the guards that he was one of them and then required some help you know that Michael Vaughn was a man of many faces. Asking for help of the Cuban Guild, needing a talisman and hoping to find protection Michael Vaughn once again rises to the top convincing the man he referred to as Teacher, a sign of respect to not only help him but hope that his one mission for the late President would be carried out.

Need quick cash and having no other opportunities our Michael Vaughn forms an alliance with the mob and is now working for them. The revolution in Cuba was front and center in their conversation explaining how an adept functioned and his powers intrigued the head of the mob and definitely endeared him to Michael. Ordered by the mob to kill Castro. In order to kill someone you need to know his or her whole name. He did not. Flashing back to 1959 when he was without a guild and the American Meta Association was his only protection and the most powerful guild. Being a rogue adept was not a plus. Then, flash from the past arrives and his connections return as one woman would change everything and he would now risk it all. Returning to his hotel what he finds surprised him and would put him in danger as a fire broke out and many lives were lost. The head of the guild created this problem and now that he knows his whereabouts and he’s on the move again. What will finally happen to this rogue adept?

Imagine living off your winnings at poker, cheating and not really getting caught. I think that many owners of casinos are glad that Michael Vaughn does not visit very often. Private poker games, living on the edge and never really having one destination Michael Vaughn keeps the reader on a never ending roller coaster ride. With the help of his CIA friend Gomez he escapes Houser the new head of the guild. What is next for him?

Forced to go to a CIA training camp, given the name Jack and taking classes that sound really interesting and intriguing to this reviewer.  Agent of Artifice meaning clever, deceptive, manipulative and cunning. Then the author moves to the Bay of Pigs, Castro’s regime, how that plays out you need to read for yourself. Problems in the Kennedy cabinet, controversy over putting Robert as part of his administration. CIA, mob, infiltrating governments, working alone and much more this man is totally elusive, can disappear and become invisible and definitely a heart throb for women. Covert action taken against Cuba and working with Kennedy finding out what the Russians are up to. Captured, injured, members of his team hurt and someone close to him pays the ultimate price. Betrayed, hurt, and much more.

Will he carry out his mission or will something or someone stand in his way? How this all plays out you will never believe. What is the end result and who will remain alive and who will pay with much more? One lone meeting. One dangerous pterodactyl that is out for Michael and anyone that stands in its way. On ending filled with plenty of suspense, twists, wild turns and definitely tons of the unexpected and exciting. What will be the fate of the AMA? What will happen to our rogue agent, Liesel and the rest? This is classified since he is CIA and I promised never to divulge their secrets, the power of their talisman and of course just how their spells work. Very fast passed and filled with action, drama and a great read. Let’s see what our author has in store for the world next.

This book gets: FIVE MORE GOLD HAMMERS

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Avatar of Fran Lewis
Fran Lewis

Born in the South Bronx, I grew up with people from many ethnic backgrounds. I learned to play and work with children in my school that came from other countries and different places.
I was always over weight as a child and got picked on a lot by the other children in my class and even my teachers. I found it hard to do many of the sporting activities that my sister and cousins could do. I learned at an early age that kids can be mean and I promised myself that I would never retaliate or do mean things to other kids in return.

When I decided to write my short stories I realized that I had a lot to say about my youth and in both of my books I tell about a ten year old girl named Bertha who learns to deal with real life issues kids face today at home and in school.

As an educator I the New York City Public Schools for over 36 years, I realized just how unique and precious our children are. I was the reading and writing staff developer in my school and the dean. I loved the children and had the respect of my fellow teachers and parents. Teaching children to read was really very rewarding and introducing them to writing and creating their own stories was exciting for the students. I love reading different kinds of books in many different genres. I have started reviewing books of new authors and those that are more established. I love giving them great reviews and saying wonderful things about their writing. I have three Masters Degrees and PD in Supervision and Administration. Currently I am a member of Who’s Who is America’s Teachers and Who’s Who of America’s Executives from Cambridge. In addition, she is the author of three children’s books and a fourth that has just been published on Alzheimer's Disease in order to honor her mom and help create more awareness for a Cure. The title of my new Alzheimer’s book is Memories are Precious: Alzheimer’s Journey; Ruth’s story. My second Alzheimer’s Book is called Sharp As A Tack or Scrambled Eggs Which Describes Your Brain. This book should be out in June 2010. I was the musical director for shows in her school and ran the School’s newspaper. I write reviews for authors upon request and for several other sites. You can read some of my reviews on Ezine.com and on ijustfinished.com under the name Gabina.

Other accomplishments:
Book reviewer
Radio show talk host: book discussion with Fran Lewis and authors all over the US and the world- how cool is that I get authors that even request a review.
Would love to become an interviewer.
Caregiver and expert on Medicaid and medicare Author of five books and writing number six
The sixth book is based on a true story but will be written as a fictional memoir.
Worked in the same school for 36 years as the reading and writing staff developer I was the dean of discipline and assisted the Principal and AP when needed I was the test coordinator for the school and instructed teachers in testing procedures –administrated the tests and oversaw the reading, math and other tests to make sure that everything ran smoothly.

I am an expert in the ELA or any test prep for reading and writing
I can take an author’s book and even if it is not five stars write a five star review for them by looking for the soul of the book and for something positive. I am a member of Who’s Who of America’s executives, teachers and professionals and belong the Cambridge’s Connect and Pen with Sword
I would like to take my three children’s book plus the fourth one and put them together in one book. I played the piano as a kid and the violin.
I was in the Bronx Borough Orchestra. I played the piano in Carnegie Hall –that was scary. I do consulting for some of the teachers in my school when they need help with lesson plans. I love writing for Robins Falls Magazine.

I love writing reviews in my own style. I even find time to help my nieces and nephews with their homework over the phone.
Email: riffyone@optonline.net

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