Jonathan L. Ferrara is joining us today with his novel The Guardians of Sin. Here’s the publisher’s description.
Seven deadly sins have been unleashed, and the only one who can defeat them is the boy who set them free.
Nicholas Blackwell has no idea he is supposed to fulfill a destiny. All he knows is that he draws trouble like a magnet. Orphaned at seven when two demonic men killed his parents, he copes with the strict rules of his new home, St. Christopher’s academy, unaware that he has been the real target for the killers and that his guardian angel has saved him in the nick of time. And now, his problems are only beginning when a mysterious serpent lures him into the woods and tricks him into a demonic ritual that will unleash the Seven Deadly Sins to destroy the humankind. Nicholas has no choice but to correct his mistake–or die trying.
Aided by Amy, a shy but determined girl who seems to know more about his task than she should, Nicholas’s quest is to travel into the City of Demonio and defeat the Seven Guardians of Sin. To succeed, he must confront demons, monsters, and lost souls, learn the mysteries of the Chapel of Dreams, discover the true meaning of friendship and love, and face the darkest secret of all: the Blackwell Family Secret.
What’s Jonathan’s favorite bit?
JONATHAN L. FERRARA
Sixteen-year-old Nicholas Blackwell knows plenty about the Seven Deadly Sins, After all, he lives in a world renowned Catholic boarding school: St. Christopher’s Academy. With nuns for teachers, and a grumpy priest for a principal, Nicholas is forced to learn about a religion he cares nothing about.
I’ve always found the Seven Deadly Sins to be a morbid, but fascinating subject. As a human, in one time or another, we have had these infamous sins clouding our better judgement. These seven powerful words have the ability to darken our morals, and stray us from what makes us good. My character, Nicholas Blackwell finds himself literally facing each of the Deadly Sins, but they are far from what he had been taught at school.
Growing up in a Catholic family, I was taught the Seven Deadly Sins at a young age. Quite frankly, they terrified me, which to me meant I was intrigued. I needed more. I craved to know their beginning. Why were Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy, and Pride so connected to evil? Who picked these sins, and how did they originate? With a strong love of fantasy and the supernatural, I discovered the secret of sin and thus began this story.
With one bite from the forbidden fruit, Nicholas, alongside his new friend Amy, is swallowed into the City of Demons; a dark, whimsical world filled with mayhem. The only way for them to find their way back home is to defeat the Guardians of the Seven Deadly Sins. They follow an old serpent through the city, finding first a lustful vampire, a starving troll, and a greedy little leprechaun hoarding all demon gold. One by one the sins are revealed, leading Nicholas closer to his family’s dark secret found by none other than the King of Demons himself — Lucifer.
My favorite passage from the book is between the archangel Gabriel and his fallen brother Lucifer: the old serpent.
A man appeared out of nowhere, walking along the school building, making his way through the wet grass. The new moon sat above him like a smile in the sky, as though someone in the Heavens thought the night a curious one. Fog rolled toward the gate, stopping at its bars as if aware that the gargoyle statues at the gate entrance would not allow passage. The cool night air brushed gently across Gabriel’s face as he started toward the gate, picking his way through the dark forest. His purpose was much too important to delay any longer. There was no time even to change out of his janitor uniform. He waited. An old serpent pushed its way through the fog, slithering across the grass. Only the gate stood between Gabriel and the snake. The serpent rose out of the fog, its body twisted in the grass as its huge head swung toward Gabriel, hissing.
“You are not welcome here,” Gabriel said with more power in his voice than he normally cared to use. “Leave this place and never come back!”
“Do not mistake it, Gabriel, whether it be tonight, or years from now, I will taste his blood.” A forked tongue slid out from the serpent’s thin mouth.
“It is the will of our Father.”
“I have no Father!” the serpent hissed. “And you, my brother, are nothing more than His puppet.”
“As long as I stay within these gates, my light becomes this school’s haven, which means you are not allowed to cross here, understood?”
The serpent smirked. “Every light goes out, even yours, brother. Our epic battle might have been fought eons ago, but I will have my revenge, and my vengeance starts with that boy. You can’t stay there forever. I will not rest until the Guardians have reawakened.” The serpent’s head hit the grass and it slithered on into the woods.
Thank you Mary for allowing me to be a part of your Blog. That is my Favorite Bit!
LINKS:
BIO:
Jonathan L. Ferrara was born in San Pedro, California to an Italian fisherman and a mother from New York. Growing up with one older brother, Jonathan had several hobbies: finding the best hiding spots to jump out and scare his mother, discovering new fantasy book series, and imagining outrageous, whimsical worlds full of magic. He is now happily married, residing in California in the City of Angels. He has two wonderful children—his dog Koda and cat Merlin.
His author’s website is www.JonathanLFerrara.com
