The God Jar by Author Phill Featherstone is a fascinating spin on the traditional genie in a bottle tale, and tells the story of a mystical jar, that was used in the 1500s by astrologer and magician, Dr John Dee, to save the nation in its hour of need. 400 years later a couple honeymooning in Cornwall stumble upon the jar, and events soon take a dramatic turn when it’s discovery is revealed in a local news broadcast.
The God Jar is an interesting story that keeps the reader invested, and moves along at a satisfactory pace, although some may find it a little slow in places. The writing is cleverly done, transporting the reader between past and present events with ease, as we learn more about the mystical jar and why everyone is so eager to get their hands on it. The jar does elicit a strong emotional response and reaction from its bearer, which reminds me of Tolkien’s character, ‘Gollum,’ and his ‘my precious.’ I enjoyed reading these interactions between the jar and its keeper, although on occasion I felt the author could have gone further in his story telling.
The characters are believable and the dialogue is appropriate for both periods in time. There are some minor editing issues but these do not detract from the readers enjoyment of the story and can easily be addressed by the author.
Overall I enjoyed reading the God Jar, and was captivated by the events of the past. I award a solid 4 stars.
