A Divine Wind
Norman M. Jacobs MD, MS
Outskirts Press (2020)
ISBN 9781977236210
Reviewed by Ashley Hooker for Reader Views (01/2022)
“A Divine Wind” is a science fiction thriller by Norman M. Jacobs. The story is one that will create pictures and thoughts in your mind that will leave you questioning what the future holds for Mother Earth, and if love can overcome any boundaries, large or small.
The story begins with Doron Ben Avrahim in captivity. Doron is a dual citizen of the United States and Israel. After the death of his parents in the 9/11 attacks, though, he returns to Israel and becomes an Israeli Army Lieutenant focused on getting revenge. Soon after, Doron is captured by Iranian militants, Saran, and her husband, Gazzeri.
One month before Doron’s capture, an amazing weather event occurs. A storm rises and lightning strikes the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, leaving every Jew and Muslim speechless. This event brings news and television crews, and more converts than ever before into the country. Then, when a hurricane hits off the shore of the Caspian Sea, Doron escapes his captors by means of a microelectronic biological system that was implanted in his brain three years prior to these events.
The weather anomalies in Israel bring about an American investigation that will look into whether or not Israel has developed some form of technology which could actually control the weather. Like nuclear warfare, this was seen as meteorological warfare. Teams of political associations meet to discuss what has happened. Of course, with any political agenda, there are spies and confidential information being thrown about.
On the more personal side of this thriller, Doron has lost his wife and is now raising Nadina. Her mother is not happy; in fact, she’s ready to kill. She visits Nadina and tries to persuade her to leave Israel and Doron behind. Saran’s cousins have another idea, however, and the story twists and turns once again. Doron and Saran become closer over time and, without spoiling anything, Nadina grows up happy, even though the risk of another Divine wind coming looms in the near future.
The author did a wonderful job building the story of Doron, Nadina, and Saran. And while I believe the plot may be a little over-the-top, it gave me hope. Love between Iranian and Israeli people is possible, it just may need to start small, like this kind relationship between three people. The camaraderie that thrives between Doron and Saran is proof that love may not make the world perfect, but it can be a start to creating remarkable things. Humanity can care about one another and change the world.
I gave “A Divine Wind” a four-star rating as there are grammatical and printing errors that distract from the story. This is a work that I would recommend to serious science fiction thriller enthusiasts.
Reader Views Book Reviews 