THE NEPHILIM: THE FIRST VAMPIRE

The Tempting: Seducing The Nephilim, by D.M. Pratt (BroadLit, Sherman Oaks, CA, 2015, 345 pages).

Book Review by Dennis Moore

The children of the supernatural beings who had married these women became famous heroes and warriors. They were called Nephilim and lived on the earth at that time and even later.

• Genesis 6:4 – Contemporary English Version

April 8, 2015 (San Diego's East County) - This gripping and riveting work of fiction by renowned author D.M. Pratt, The Tempting: Seducing The Nephilim, has the tone and theme of this well-written book set in the dedication of the book, as the author states: “And to all the women who have been taught to want the happily-ever-after dream, but courageous enough to face reality and still be willing to fight for true love”, and in the very first paragraph in the first chapter, when she states; “That dance led to the greatest seduction she had ever experienced in her life and ended with an orgasm so intense she was told she arched back and hit her head hard enough to give herself a concussion – which left her unconscious and in coma for over a year.” Pratt actually admits jokingly and with a smile, in a YouTube video: “There is a lot of sex in this story, I guess I have to get myself a boyfriend!” The author's attached BIO says a lot about this book and the author here.

Due to this statement about “the greatest seduction leading to an orgasm and coma”, which I personally found somewhat comical, I felt compelled to inquire of Pratt in a telephone conversation and interview if any of that was part of her psyche or mental fabric separate from the story? Pratt indicated to me that we of course include some of our personal thoughts and makeup in the telling of our stories. When I indicated to her that because of this “happily-ever-after dream” and “greatest seduction”, I thought The Tempting would resonate more with women than with men, she countered by stating that she thought it would resonate with men also. Only time will tell. This had me thinking of John Gray’s bestselling book Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus. Listen to "East County Magazine Live!" interview with the author by clicking here.

Pratt shares with the reader graphic sexual details and experiences throughout the book, as well as random acts of violence, in the midst of the serene countryside of the iconic city of New Orleans, which is known for its Voodoo. Perhaps this contributes to the book and the story being a page turner. One can’t wait to read what next will happen, and the resulting fate of some of the principle characters.

Fallen angels, voodoo magic, and intense passion combine in this new paranormal romance novel from Quantum Leap co-creator and five-time Emmy nominee Pratt, who demonstrates herself in The Tempting as a master storyteller. While the author describes “The Nephilim” as the first vampire in a YouTube video, it actually has much more significance as defined in the Bible.

Eve Dowling, The Tempting’s heroine, awoke from a 13-month coma to see waiting by her hospital bed the handsome mystery man she last remembered making passionate love to in the garden of one of New Orlean’s most historic homes. Her almost too perfect Prince Charming, Beau Le Masters, desperately wanted her to marry him, become a loving mother to their son, who was born during her coma, and live in his historic mansion with all of them as a perfect family.

How could Eve possibly say no to Beau? He was offering her what every red-blooded American girl was raised to want. Wasn’t she happy, despite the sordid details of her “accident”? Of course, she would forgive Beau for sleeping with her best friend, Cora, when they both thought Eve was about to die. Why did she feel so vulnerable and tempted by Detective Blanchard whenever he was by her side? And why was he so suspicious of Beau?

Wanting the fairy tale and ignoring her gut, she moved in with Beau. Then the nightmares began. Horrifying dreams of being ravaged by a strange, erotic being tormented her. After researching the entity that haunted her, Eve realized it was a Nephilim, one of the first fallen sons of God. Eve’s visions become reality when she realizes the Nephilim may have entered both Beau and Cora to take control of them. Will Eve have the strength to vanquish the evil that surrounds her and her son, Philip? Is her true love Beau only an illusion created by ancient mythical beings to seduce her? And why is this happening to Eve? The answers are revealed in The Tempting!

In a number of ways The Tempting reads like Rosemary’s Baby with Mia Farrow and The Devil’s Advocate with Al Pacino, Keanu Reeves and Charlize Theron. As a matter of fact, there is a passage in Pratt’s book where one of the women is being ravaged by “Kirakin”, The Nephilim, that is reminiscent of Al Pacino as the Devil ravaging Reeve’s wife Theron, with brutal marks and scars all over her body as a result.

Although fictional, I found myself conflicted, particularly in regard to what may be a controversial sacrilegious reference to the Bible on page 205.  This book is about good and evil, and it is interesting to see and read how good always triumphs over evil. There is actually a passage in the Bible, the Book of Genesis, 6:4 that references The Nephilim, that contributes to my being conflicted. 

Dennis Moore is the Associate Editor of the East County Magazine in San Diego and the book review editor for SDWriteway, an online newsletter for writers in San Dieg o that has partnered with the East County  Magazine, as well as a freelance contributor to EURweb based out of Los Angeles. He can be contacted at contractsagency@gmail.com or you can follow him on Twitter at: @DennisMoore8.