Harpazo: Book One of the Trib Trilogy

By: Nathalie Bujold Ryan
Publisher: Big Blue Sky Internet Marketing, Inc.
Publication Date: January 15, 2025
ISBN: 978-1-7381061-5-8
Reviewed by: Diana Coyle
Review Date: December 9, 2024

In Harpazo by Nathalie Bujold Ryan, we are introduced to a wide cast of characters that tell the story through each one of their eyes. One day life is normal for each of them, and the next day everyone’s world spins off its axis. The odd thing is that people instantly just start disappearing out of thin air, literally. All that remains of the individuals is their pile of clothes. It seems that only certain men and women, along with all children, are snatched out of their lives with no notice as to where they are going and why they were one of the chosen ones.

With a mix of different characters, men and women must try to find some rational explanation as to why their family members, coworkers and neighbors were taken and they weren’t allowed to go with them. The rumor has it that this could be the time of “The Rapture,” which is found in the Book of Revelations. The Rapture is the sudden instant vanishing of all true-believing Christians on the earth. These people were chosen because they all are true believers of God. If you weren’t one of the chosen, the remaining people are presumed to be in serious trouble with their lives. Is this the time of The Rapture?

The reviewer found this book very intriguing with the entire concept of The Rapture. Ms. Bujold Ryan did a remarkable job entertaining her readers with this concept from start to finish. There was a large ensemble of characters and each gave their own perspective of how they saw things and how they were trying to adapt to their new world of missing their friends and family members. It was a bit puzzling, however, that there never was a definitive answer to where all the “innocents” went.

Since there was such a diverse cast of characters, it was easy to find a few that you could fall in love with and feel as if they could be real people in your life. The author did a great job of making these characters vulnerable and some naive enough to have them continually question why they weren’t one of the chosen ones as their friends and family members were. Some on the other hand, were obnoxious, and certainly readers will grow to dislike their rudeness to others as the remaining people who weren’t chosen had to learn to navigate their new world.

This is book one in the Trib Trilogy and it’s uncertain if book one will flow into book two’s storyline or not. It did seem that the ending of book one was left too open ended for readers to feel satisfied enough with the ending being conclusive. There were many questions left unanswered, and one can only hope book two will pick up where this one left off in order to fill in more of the blanks.

Quill says: Harpazo by Nathalie Bujold Ryan is one story which will intrigue readers with the concept of the Rapture and entice them to seek their own answers while reading this unique storyline.

For more information about Harpazo, please visit the author’s website at: nathaliebujoldryan.com.