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| The Testament | 
 enlarge | Author: Eric Van Lustbader
Publisher: Tor Books
Category: Book
List Price: $7.99
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You Save: $7.98 (100%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  23 reviews
Sales Rank: 614870
Media: Mass Market Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 480
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 6.7 x 4.2 x 1.5
ISBN: 0765353431
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780765353436
ASIN: 0765353431
Publication Date: July 31, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Help save a tree. Buy all your used books from Green Earth Books. Read -> Recycle -> Reuse!
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Product Description
For centuries, a secret splinter sect of the Franciscans, the Gnostic Observatines, has guarded secrets that could transform the world. Now the safety of those secrets depends on one man--and a woman he barely knows. Braverman “Bravo” Shaw always knew his father had secrets. But not until Dexter Shaw dies mysteriously does Bravo discover the enormity of his father’s hidden life as a high-ranking member of the Order of Gnostic Observatines. For more than eight hundred years, the Order has preserved an ancient cache of documents that could shake Christianity to its foundations. Another secret society, the Knights of St. Clement, will stop at nothing to obtain the treasure, and now Bravo must follow his father’s esoteric clues to find the hidden documents before the Knights. Bravo is now a target and a pawn in an ongoing war far larger and more deadly than any he could have imagined. His companion in this quest is Jenny Logan, a Guardian assigned to Bravo by the Order. But Bravo soon learns that he can trust no one where the Testament is concerned, perhaps not even Jenny. . . . From New York City to Washington, D.C., to Paris, to Venice, and beyond, the race is on for the quintessential prize . . . the Testament.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 18 more reviews...
 I hate writing bad reviews September 8, 2006
22 out of 26 found this review helpful
I am a fan of Mr. Van Lustbader and I hate writing a bad review for this book, but I just was so surprised at how much I didn't like it, I thought it only fair to other book buyers to share my opinion.
The story felt forced, the characters were cardboard cutouts, I actually found myself laughing out loud at some of the conversations, scenes and instances as they unfolded. I am not sure if Mr. Van Lustbader felt the need to jump into the mass of "Da Vinci Code" books or really felt like he had a story he wanted to tell, but this book is awful. The premise seemed so interesting, and if done well, maybe would have been a good book.
I gave it two instead of one, just for the fact that, well, I don't know why, I just gave an extra star for effort I guess, after all it is Eric Van Lustbader, but if you have to read it, wait for paper. My apologies to the author.
 highly sophisticated fresh religious conspiracy thriller September 9, 2006
11 out of 14 found this review helpful
Dexter Shaw dies in an explosion that injures his son Bravo and his daughter Emma. When Bravo awakens and recovers somewhat, Jenny visits him to inform him she is his Guardian assigned by his father to watch over him as he seeks a secret cache of documents. Bravo is shocked to learn that his dad lived a double life as a member of the ruling cabal, the Order of Gnostic Observatines, an organization that has influenced world events for centuries.
The group's enemy The Knights of St. Clement want that cache too because it contains something that will heal the dying Pope, enhancing their secret behind the scenes power in the shadows of the Vatican. Another item the group wants in the cache is the Testament of Jesus Christ that contains explosive information that could destroy Christianity if revealed. Bravo realizes a traitor amidst the order is providing information to the Knights. He trusts no one especially friends, family, or his guardian.
Readers who enjoyed the Da Vinci Code and the Brethren will defiantly want to read THE TESTAMENT, a highly sophisticated fresh religious conspiracy thriller whose fast-paced storyline will leave the audience breathless. The protagonist is an interesting person who does not quite grasp how or why his father was involved like he was or why he puts his life on the line to keep the cache out of the hands of the wrong people. Still like a true hero he does what he believes is right and if nothing else has the audience rooting for him.
Harriet Klausner
Setting the record straight February 20, 2007
8 out of 13 found this review helpful
Since there seems to be a lot of misinformation about my writing "The Testament," I thought I'd set the record straight. I've never read a word of what Dan Brown has written, and that includes "The Da Vinci Code." Anyone who has read my books knows that I specialize in writing about the past as it impacts the present.
I was in fact moved to write "The Testament" because of the death of my father. When I was little, he used to read stories to me about King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. When he ran out of stories to read, he made them up. So I wanted to write a novel that centered around a medieval mystery. I also wanted to write about a son and his recently deceased father. To me, that is the essence of "The Testament." Bravo learns who he is in the world through the help of his father.
I chose to write about the Quintessence -- the alchemical Holy Grail -- not only because my father made up stories about it, but because its use as a substance to resurreect people from the dead gave me the feeling that as I was writing the novel I was bringing my father back to be with me once again.
And, by the way, to any and all reviewers who still ignorantly refer to me as Van Lustbader, they have paid as little attention to my name as they have to reading my novels. My name is Lustbader. The Van is a middle name and comes from my Dutch forbears, the Vanblurkhems.
Jason Bourne Saves Gnostic Revelation - NOPE! September 21, 2006
5 out of 11 found this review helpful
I'm a sucker for theologically based thrillers. The Judas Gospel by Peter Van Greenaway, for example.
So the publication of The Testament seemed promising.
I don't want to give away the ending, but Mr. Lustbader has kept his eye on the cash register of the future with an obvious positioning.
Suffice to say that bodies are descending into hell throughout the pages - a la The Bourne Legacy. Don't turn your back on the women protagonists either!
To his credit however, Mr. Lustbader presents a well argued case for the historicity of his novel, in an afterword.
Now, if he can channel Robert Ludlum completely out of subsequent further theological fiction, I would buy said book!
 Bad DaVinci Code Ripoff February 2, 2007
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
First of all, I like Eric Van Lustbader's Ninja novels. They have a historic sense as well as fully fleshed out characters. It seems with The Testament the author felt compelled to make some money off the DaVinci Code phenomenon. I never once believed that this Braverman is a Scholar and a martial arts expert. Same goes for Jenny. She seemed too much of a girl next door to be a guardian. Then there is Camille, typical type cast hollywood villainess. Boy! the catholic church sure has been lying about many things, haven't they? What next? Jesus was really not crucified? It was a stunt double on the cross? He happily lived in south of france with Mary and his brood of children? It is tiresome. I am about 3/4 of the way through and I find it hard to believe how bad the writing is and how contrived the plot. I normally finish the books that I start, but this book is making it very tough to do so. Thank god I borrowed it from the library. It would be a waste of money to pay for it. I give it 1 star because 0 is not an option.
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