Weekly Reader: The Doomsday Medallion (A Van Ops Thriller) by Avanti Centrae; Van Ops Takes On Nostradamus In Another Thrilling Adventure

 

Weekly Reader: The Doomsday Medallion (A Van Ops Thriller) by Avanti Centrae; Van Ops Takes On Nostradamus In Another Thrilling Adventure

By Julie Sara Porter

Bookworm Reviews

Spoilers: If you are as fascinated as I am with Michel de Nostradamus and his famous prophecies then you should enjoy Avanti Centrae's third Van Ops Thriller, The Doomsday Medallion. Even if you are not and just enjoy a good adventurous treasure hunt sprinkled with plenty of suspense and character development then you still should read The Doomsday Medallion.

Centrae's third go round follows the same pattern as the previous volumes The Lost Power and Solstice Shadows in that it involved three Van Ops agents: Maddy Marshall, a psychic and Aikido instructor, Will Argones, Maddy's twin brother an engineer and expert knife fighter, and Bear Thorenson, Will's friend and Maddy's boyfriend, a seasoned agent with an interest in the humanities particularly history, art, and literature.

In the first volume, The Lost Power,  the trio found themselves searching for the Aragon Chasse while on the run from Russian assassins who killed their father and Will's wife. The second volume, Solstice Shadows, found them recovering a stolen star chart that would lead to a great power while encountering treacherous relatives and a looming war.

This time the trio's adventures take them right on the path of Avril, a 16 year old social media sensation who has impressed and frightened many with her spot on predictions. Her latest one involves a military takeover in the South China Sea. This accurate foretelling makes her the target of some suspicious characters who attempt to kidnap Avril and her guardian, Monique. Will, Maddy, and Bear are assigned to watch over the girl who is more powerful and more important than your average psychic. She is a direct descendant of Nostradamus and possesses knowledge on where some of the famed seer's missing quatrains are and what they foretell.

The book doesn't jump around as much as the previous books. Mostly Doomsday Medallion is set in France and Italy. While the settings don't give the Readers their "Imagination Frequent Flier Miles" that the previous books do, French and Italian art and history are explored more frequently. Key scenes are set near cave paintings and Renaissance art to reveal that strong connection to the past.

The adventure sequences are as exciting as those that can be found in many blockbuster films. There are some pretty tense moments such as when the twins infiltrate a kidnapping attempt on Avril. Many times  they are followed by enemies that want to make short work of them. Centrae makes her books extended chase scenes and leaves the Reader with breathless anticipation with every close call that her characters get.

While the adventure is tight, Centrae never loses sight of characterization. In The Lost Power both Maddy and Will share the spotlight. In Solstice Shadows, Maddy gets more attention while this one evens the score by having Will be the main focus. While the twins live active lives full of adventure, Maddy has been able to form a family with Bear and her adopted son, A.J. Will has not been so lucky.

He still feels the loss of what might have been after his wife, Maria's death. Here he feels a paternal protective connection with Avril wanting to be the father figure in her life that fate so far has deprived him. Their chapters together are sweet and humorous with the world weary adult and the bright sassy kid arguing with and supporting each other through this adventure.

In fact Avril herself is also a very well written character who easily stands out in this book. She is gifted with this phenomenal inherited power that she doesn't fully understand but still wants to share in her own right.

Like her famous ancestor, she is uncertain and vague about what she sees and shares her information with others for them to interpret. With Nostradamus it was through writing poetic quatrains. With Avril it's creating TikTok videos. Whatever reaches the masses, am I rite?

 However, Avril is also a regular kid who loves her pet gecko, worries about her guardians, sasses authority figures, and makes social media her second home. It would be interesting if the series continues to see her equally involved in future adventures. The ending resolutions seem to foretell this.

The Doomsday Medallion is another great Van Ops adventure. I predict Book Four will be just as good.