5++ stars for The Swords of Blood and Gold by @JcrPaulino #magicalrealism #thriller #bookreview
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5++ stars for The Swords of Blood and Gold by @JcrPaulino #magicalrealism #thriller #bookreview



Title: The Swords of Blood and Gold

Author: JCR Paulino

Genre: Magical Realism, Supernatural Thriller


Book Blurb:


“This stunning debut novel combines the historical treasure hunting atmosphere of Indiana Jones with a tense modern murder plot. […] a superb work of fantasy fiction.” —Readers’ Favorite FIVE CHESTS SIT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN...

Deep-sea treasure hunter is the splashy job description on his LinkedIn page. Pretentious or not, Jon Sherman and his Deep Blue Marine Exploration crew are the best in the business. But a nasty disagreement with his boss suddenly leaves Jon without a job. When his ex-teammates salvage five chests from the bottom of the ocean, a supernatural killer wielding a mysterious weapon murders the entire crew, and Jon becomes the prime suspect. Overnight, detectives are after him while a masked murderer goes on a rampage, trying to kill Jon and everyone he cares about. Jon teams up with the daughter of his late boss, and they tumble down a path that uncovers centuries-old secrets and the nature of the killer’s deadly weapon. To fight back, Jon must employ his treasure-hunting skills to locate the only blade capable of challenging the mighty adversary. But will that be enough to survive a deadly journey riddled with supernatural forces, unexpected romance, and surprising self-discovery? Grab this debut magical realism thriller today!


My Review:


A deep-sea salvage goes horribly wrong and it’s up to Jon to track down the killer before he’s the next victim. Jon Sherman loves his job but unexpectedly his boss fires him. What happens next propels Jon into a race against time and resources. A supernatural killer murders all of Jon’s co-workers including his ex-boss. The police suspect Jon but he didn’t do it. In order to prove his innocence and seek revenge for his crew, he teams up with his ex-boss's daughter to discover the truth. The more they unearth, the darker the secrets, and the greater the risk for her and Jon. What power is behind the masked killer with its weapon? Why are they after Jon? How can he possibly take down an enemy with supernatural abilities? It’ll take all of Jon’s treasure-hunting skills and knowledge to acquire the only weapon forged to defeat his blood-thirsty enemy. But can he pull it off, especially when the woman he loves is in the clutches of his nemesis?


The Swords of Blood and Gold is a treasure-hunting edge-of-your-seat supernatural thriller, unlike anything I’ve read before. This book has everything you want in a thriller: a gruesome murder, a hero frame-up, a quest to uncover the truth, a believable premise, treasure hunting, nonstop action, and an exhilarating conclusion. Add in a supernatural/magical realism subplot and you’ve got an unputdownable read. Confession time: I love anything to do with treasure hunting or looking for treasure or treasure maps. It stems from my childhood days. Jon is a smart treasure hunter who can sniff out treasure fact from fiction. Pairing him with a no-nonsense woman who’s knowledgeable about the salvage business is brilliant. The plot is brilliantly conceived and well-executed. The writing takes the reader deep into the story with descriptive narration and precise pacing. A thriller not to be missed, The Swords of Blood and Gold should be read by the masses. I can’t wait to read more by this debut author. Highly recommend!


My Rating: 5++ stars


Buy it Now:







Author Biography:


JCR Paulino is an emerging author of magical realism, fantasy, and science fiction. He lives in Southern California with his wife and two children. The Swords of Blood and Gold is JCR’s debut novel.


Social Media Links:



Reviewed by: Mrs. N

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