Title: The Popes’ Book
Author: C.F. Gayetty
Publisher: C.F. Gayetty
ISBN: 978-1736038512
Pages: 495
Genre: Literature & Fiction/Action & Adventure
Reviewed by: Anthony Avina
Pacific Book Review
There is nothing in this world quite like the path to power. Power is coveted so often by people around the world, and yet that power can either lead one to do great things, or can lead to ultimate corruption – as absolute power corrupts absolutely. Even organizations who have made it their goal to present themselves as selfless and compassionate philanthropists have felt the sting of power and the control that comes with it. As Victor Hugo once said, “All the forces in the world are not so powerful as an idea whose time has come.”
In author C.F. Gayetty’s The Popes’ Book, the author explores the concept of power and hypocrisy through a thought-provoking historical fiction, in which the Popes throughout history have been visited by Satan once a century. Flipping the script on organized religion and the role those omnipresent beings like God and Satan have played, the narrative follows one man who finds immortality, and visions of the disasters which will befall humanity if a pope does not restore paganism into the world.
Rarely does a fictional book come along which not only entertains, but flips the script so wholly and completely on classic religious backgrounds. C.F. Gayetty has accomplished this in a fantastic way. The author did a great job of crafting a unique twist on iconic mythology and cultures from around the world, and balancing that out with memorable character growth and development which will keep the readers invested in the story. Yet it was the history and mythos the author delved into that really sold this narrative to me. The book is split into two very distinct sections, focusing first on the main narrative and the journey this immortal man goes on as he sees the future that will befall mankind if they continue on the path they are on. Then there is the second half, which takes readers throughout the history of Satan’s involvement with the Popes throughout history, since the age of the Roman Empire. The author even explores the rise and development of humanity’s ideas of God and Satan, and their true origins, which is such a unique and interesting idea that showcases just how much of our own viewpoints have influenced the development of humanity’s religions.
This is the perfect read for those who enjoy historical fiction stories which incorporate supernatural, mythological, and cultural themes and plot points that flip the script completely on what people know about those themes. As a fan of this genre, it was so interesting to see how these powerful supernatural storylines tied into more metaphysical ideas and explored the concept of religious figures not being immune to power, corruption, and the detrimental way that religions fighting over who is right and who is wrong is damaging to our society as a whole.
A lengthy, entertaining, and hypnotizing new historical fiction novel, author C.F. Gayetty’s The Popes’ Book is a must-read novel. Such a different and creative new approach not only to the genre but to the themes this novel explores; the author brilliantly brings new ideas into historical discussions and shines a light on the hypocrisy and damage that intolerance and power within an organization, even a religious one, can have on the world as a whole.
