Really interesting read!
I do love historical fiction and this novel definitely fuelled my love for it more. There were bits where I was not as interested in the novel as I would’ve liked to have been, but I feel as if that’s more my fault than the author’s.

A really interesting read which kept me hooked the whole way through.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

I could not put this book down, it read like a Dan Brown Novel. Fantastic story with vivid detail and a great addiction to this time period.

I liked this book, it was very interesting in a historical way. The characters were well-developed and realistic even though plenty of them were killed off here and there. I enjoyed looking up the locations that were described so that I got a better sense of place. One thing that bothered me though was how the narrative jumped from scene to scene abruptly so it didn’t flow smoothly. Also, sometimes when there was about to be tense action, there was so much description of the places or surroundings that I felt my mind wandering. It took me a long time to read this because it dragged along at spots. I liked it though and will read the next books. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

An interesting story that keeps you involved from the beginning right through until the final page. This book will keep you hooked if you enjoy this era of history.

A quick and very interesting. Book 1 is sure to delight fans of both historical fiction and of cryptic mysteries like the DaVinci code!

This book was a fantastic mixture of history and the war. A really interesting story focusing on what drove different prominent men in the war. I will definitely read more from this author.

This is one of those gripping novels where your heart is in your throat the whole time ..yes, some of the history is simplified, and it's all playing on our conventional responses to reaction to Aryans and Nazis etc, so there are inevitably derivative elements, but we are engaged anew in human dilemmas of that period .. and searching for ancient, treasured books is significant. Really adept entertainment!

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. It can be quite enjoyable to read a historical novel revolving around World War II. This genre allows an author to either be historically accurate or be able to take liberties that can sometimes be difficult for the reader to distinguish from real events. This book is the latter. Character development tries to follow the common image of historical figures while filling in with extrapolations that seem to be forced. The flow of the story is slow in the beginning and only accelerated far into the book.

I found this novel to be a good read but I had a hard time getting into it, I didn't find myself fully invested until at least 75% through and beyond that, that pivotal moment never really came for me. It moved at a slow pace for my taste, but the story (as a whole) has me interested in the other 2 upcoming installments

This was very exciting, but the characters were very clearly divided between ‘good guys’ and ‘bad guys’. Some of the descriptions of the Nazi party leadership were also quite cliched. Having said that the plot reminded me a bit of an Indiana Jones adventure.. Fans of action treasure hunting novels will enjoy this I’m sure.

The cover and summary of this Historical Fiction caught my attention immediately and the mystic aspect had me interested. Ultimately, I found this novel to be a good read but I had a hard time getting into it, I didn't find myself fully invested until at least 75% through and beyond that, that pivotal moment never really came for me. It moved at a slow pace for my taste, but the story (as a whole) has me interested in the other 2 upcoming installments

Sacred Grounds, called The Four Symbols in the copy that I have, is a spy thriller/paranormal/adventure/war story set in and around the events of early World War II in Europe. The author does a good job weaving the historical events in with the fictional creations that made this a compelling story. The story follows several sets of characters through the search for items that the Nazi regime believes is the key to their winning the war.

I had several issues with the story that distracted me from really engaging with the story. The author switches between different narratives very quickly and sometimes within the same chapter. That became confusing after a while. For me, the first half of the book was somewhat slow to develop and somewhat disconnected but, once the storyline moved past that, it did pick up significantly. The last issue that I had, and I know that this one is very specific to me, is that the ranks and titles of the Nazi officers and commanders were still in German and I had a hard time remembering who was who.

Overall, once I really engaged with the story, I did enjoy it quite a bit. There were parts of the book that gave me a [book:The Keep|62571] by [author:F. Paul Wilson|20561] vibe to it. I plan on reading more of the trilogy when I can.

I would like to thanks Eric Giacometti, Hodder & Stoughton, and NetGalley for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I loved the premise of the book. So interesting! I was super stoked that I got an ARC by Netgalley and the publishers.

Plot:
In a Europe on the verge of Collapse, the Nazi organization Ahernebe is pillaging sacred landmarks across the world. Their aim is to collect treasures with occult powers, which will help them establish the Third Reich. The organization's head, Himmler, has sent SS officers to search a Tibetan sanctuary in a forgotten valley in the Himalayas, whilst he travels to a monastery in Spain, to find a mysterious painting. Which ancient power do the Nazis believe they hold the key to?

Meanwhile, in London, Churchill has discovered that the war against Germany will also be a spiritual one: their light must the occult if they are to win. . .

This book is the first in the 'The Black Sun Trilogy' by Giaocmetti and Ravenne. It is a thriller with plenty of twists and turns but it doesn't have the nail biting excitement that I was hoping for.
While this story had a good plot line it was unfortunately really hard for me to keep engaged and interested.
The story had great potential and was very good but somehow it could not keep me hooked. I love books of this genre but unfortunately whilst reading 'The Four Symbols' I did not feel the excitement and the tension which I was expecting.

This book might work for others but it did not really work for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Started reading but found it hard to get into so had to give up reading it. Not for me this time unfortunately

I was provided with an advanced copy of “The Four Symbols” to read and write an honest review.
This book is the first in the “The Black Sun Trilogy” by Giaocmetti and Ravenne. It is a thriller with mystery and some historical facts and people, with plenty of twists and turns.
The story follows the paths and experiences of several main characters and how their own journeys and paths come together as the Nazi’s race to obtain long forgotten relics with legendary and terrifying powers that have long been hidden from the world; and for good reason it would seem. All in a bid to help the Third Reich rise to power and dominate the world with their vision.
With the English and French operatives and Spanish Commandos coming together to try and stem the Nazi’s rise to power. Can they get to the relics before they fall into the wrong hands and save the world from a reign of terror and destruction? But what will it cost them, who and what will they loose in order to save the world..
While this story had a good plot line it was unfortunately really hard for me to keep engaged and interested. Normally when stories jump from one character’s perspective to another but the way it was written in this story made it confusing and left more gaps than it should have.
The were a lot of threads in the story that were left have explained and unfinished. If these had been finished off properly and explained in full it would have been able to keep the reader engaged and invested in the outcome of the story and the characters. Which is sad as this story had real potential.
I did enjoy the book overall just left there was a lot left to be done to really make it something you couldn’t put down.

Based on historical facts about some of the Nazi elite during WWII, the authors have created a wonderfully crafted story with well developed and compelling characters, it has twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat right to the last page. It was so captivating and exciting that I simply couldn't put it down! I look forward to reading the other books in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

While the story was very good I didn't feel any excitement or tension or that "ooh, what is going to happen next!?" which I usually feel when reading books in this genre. I never wanted to stop reading, but at the same time I didn't feel any drive to pick the book up again when I wasn't reading. I did like the mix of mysticism and realism and the way that was handled. I think it was the writing rather than the story that didn't gel with me and perhaps this is down to translation, as I have struck this with other translated works. I will read the next book in the series as I am interested to know where the story goes.

I don't usually read this type of book, but I am so glad I had the privilege to review this one! I loved this book, I was intrigued from the first chapter. The characters are well crafted, they each have their own strengths and weaknesses. This book has all the elements of a great thriller, packed with suspense, mystery and intrigue and woven with both fact and fiction in the story line to create a unique and entertaining story. With the introduction of each new character I found myself being more pulled into the plot and could not put the book down. It's a true page turner with twists and surprises all the way through that you will not expect. I eagerly await the coming books in this series!

I could not put the book down. Ravenne writes in a style like Dan Brown. It's a fast paced plot with many twists and turns. The ending will leave you surprised. I can't wait for the sequel. Well written!