The Four Symbols

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.

This book exceeded all of my expectations! It gave me a new unique view to a part of history that has haunted millions of people for years. This book adds history, secret organizations, spies and so much more. I honestly cannot wait to read more.

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One of the best written books I have read this year! The subject matter is highly interesting, combining the intrigue of the Third Reich with the occult and I found it almost "unputdownable". I studied the Third Reich in detail at university and have always been fascinated by its sheer attrocities and mysteries. The Four Symbols adds a supernatural dimension to this historical period and also makes you feel like you are on a treasure hunt. It was well structured and factually accurate. I recommend it.

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!

The authors have come out with the first volume of a planned series telling the story of a little known aspect of the second world war. Hitler and several of his immediate staff had a firm belief in the power of the occult. So much so that according to the legend actual invasions were planned around the so called "protection" of the possession of symbols that these mysteries granted. That is, if the Nazis held one of the symbols they could continue with an invasion of another country or countries sure of a victory.
The novel portrays the unauthorized flight of Rudolf Hess, a key member of the Nazi hierarchy from Germany to the UK and being forced to land in Scotland. Hess has come up with a plan to talk cooperation with the British in dividing up the world between the two countries. A scheme not authorized by Hitler. Captured, Hess is secretly interviewed by Winston Churchill who finds out about the reliance on the occult and the belief Hitler has in possession of the symbols of this belief. Churchill than sets up his own operation to beat the Nazis in finding and possessing these symbols.
The telling of the story outlines what would probably have been the events of the race for finding and possessing these symbols. Several protagonists are introduced whose reactions and feelings are very well delineated. The authors are careful to give the same patient treatment of both the Nazis whose function is to find the symbols and the allies who are posed against them. There is an excellent picture of a Frenchman who is in reality an agent for the British and who has somehow found himself helping to locate the symbols for the Nazis as a way to stay alive. A German officer charged with obtaining these items and firmly believing in their worth as the means of establishing Hitler's third Reich. And two British agents; a man and woman posing as husband and wife sent to find the symbols first and deliver them to England.
The characters in place and the story unfolds. The writing is crisp, scenes and actions very well done and the first book leaving the reader looking for the next volume in the series. The only thing lacking is the immediate access to that book . It is sure that that novel will be picked up as soon as available.

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.

Brilliant book! I'm sure this will end up being one of my favorites of this year!
Giacometti and Ravenne's excellent storytelling kept me equal parts horrified and captivated throughout a book filled with unforseen twists and turns.

The Black Sun trilogy begins just before the outbreak of World War II and takes place during its first years.
WWII has always held a terrifying fascination for me, partly because of what people are capable - and willing - to do to others in search of power.
The Four Symbols takes us on the hunt for centuries old relics, supposedly infused with immeasurable power which will bring the world to its knees before whomever holds them - and Hitler's Germany has the upper hand, being in possession of a book which points them to the relics' hiding places.

I personally enjoyed the added touch of the authors keeping the german titels for Nazi officers and commanders, but I can see that it could possibly be confusing.
I think that Giacometti and Ravenne made an excellent decision in alternating the narratives - especially nearing the end, where the frequency between the changes increased; I think it managed to convey a sense of hurried dread.

I'm delighted and speechless! A fantastic book that you won't be able to put down!
I never liked the World War II theme. Concentration camps, tortures and persecutions have always caused me nausea and anxiety. The main reason is my grandfather who spent most of the war in an Austrian labor camp. Fortunately, he survived and was able to return home on foot.
But I did not know part of Nazi philosophy and Hitler's obsession with occultism. Thanks to this book, I learned a lot and I have to admit I was infected! I can’t wait for sequels! Giacometti and Ravenne have put together a fantastic story with lots of characters and individual stories. It's a skill that few writers have. Sometimes, I felt like I was reading GoT. Political intrigue, espionage, history, art, and all together pervasive read that makes you read "just one more chapter."
A big "Thank YOU" to Hodder And Stoughton and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of the book! I will be happy to recommend it to everyone!

Nazi treasure hunters are trying to locate four ancient relics, which are sacred symbols to the Nazis, to win World War II and establish Nazi world domination.

Nazis working for the Ahnenerbe murder a professor and steal a rare book from the Middle Ages in Berlin that guides the search for the relics and they are soon able to pillage the first of the relics. Archeologists and academics across Europe are secretly trying to protect the locations of the remaining relics, working alongside the French and Spanish resistance and the British to stop the Nazis' reign of terror from expanding further throughout Europe.

The plot is an interesting and captivating mix between a treasure hunt, a spy thriller and historical fiction, with the backdrop of Europe during the Nazi regime.
There are several narrators in different countries. It seems a bit disjointed at first, but as the plot moves along, the connections between people, places and events significant to different characters become clear. I am assuming some plot threads were intentionally left hanging and be picked up again in the next books of the series.

I definitely got to know some new and interesting facts about the Nazi regime and WWII that I did not know, such as the extent of their obsession with mysticism and the occult and other, smaller, details about some of Hitler's inner circle. Character development could have been stronger at the beginning, but it did not take away from the plot.

I look forward to reading the next instalment of the series.

The Four Symbols is a World War II thriller set against the shrouded beginnings and growth of Nazi ideology and the pursuit of ancient relics in establishing a new order - a Third Reich. Ancient swastika relics hold importance and deep meaning that foster a new religion and a supernatural potential that could garner unparalleled power.

As the Nazis exercised their ruthless and vicious intent on Jews and everyone who opposed their doctrine, Professor Otto Neumann was preparing to meet an old British friend, Malorley, and escape Germany. Before he could leave, Colonel Karl Weistort of the SS, and head of the Ahnenerbe, entered his book shop and confiscated an extremely old manuscript called the ‘Thule Borealis Kulten’ and left Neumann to die.

“Hunched over on his chair, Otto Neumann was slipping into darkness. The synagogue had become a torch before his eyes. Now he knew that the fires outside were only the beginning. Tonight, Germany was aflame. Tomorrow the world. All because of a book. A damn book.”

The Ahnenerbe is officially a cultural institute that conducts archaeological and esoteric research, but under the direct control of Himmler, there is a fixation with the occult, which sets a dark and evil tone to the already brutal activities of the SS. Commander Malorley explains to the British prime minister and golden circle, including Churchill and King George, the background of the relics and the importance of stopping Reichsführer Himmler’s supernatural quest.

“They managed to steal a book thought to be a legend—the Thule Borealis Kulten—from a bookseller in Berlin. It was written in the Middle Ages and is said to have belonged to Emperor Frederick Barbarossa before it disappeared. It tells a curious tale from a time long ago, before Ancient Greece, even before the pyramids. A mythical continent, Hyperborea, cradle of the so-called Aryan race, was faced with the onset of an ice age. Its inhabitants fled to the four corners of the earth, while their four lords hid the symbols of their power. Four swastikas symbolizing water, air, earth, and fire.”

With the first relic already discovered in Tibet by Weistort, Malorley convinces the British Government that they must race against the Germans in finding the remaining relics.

Eric Giacometti, crafts a wonderfully sinister story with tension and suspense maintained throughout. The adventure has similarities to Raiders of the Lost Ark, but a lot less focused on the all-action, all-conquering hero. The intelligent, personable and psychotic Weistort is a great antihero for the drama that unfolds and Malorley plays his counterpart extremely well. The third main character is Tristan and he is caught between the two sides delicately playing the game that will keep him alive and prevent the Germans from achieving their plans. The plot, while fascinating and packed with excitement contained a few holes that left me wondering. I’m not talking about the connection between the early Nazi party and the occult, because that was something the party actually established its roots in. The swastika in its left-facing form is an ancient religious icon from Asia, implying divinity and spirituality, which may have encouraged the Nazi party to use it with their own counter transformation. As with this story, the factions within the party claiming devotion to the occult became more marginalised.

This book is the first of a trilogy called the Black Sun Trilogy and as one relic was discovered at the beginning of this novel the three novels are likely to focus on a relic each. This is a trilogy worth following and I would rate this first book 4.5 stars. I would like to thank Exitgirl05 for recommending this book to me and to Hodder and Stoughton, and NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC in return for an honest review.

Splendid! Beautifully sculpted, this thriller will keep you hooked to your eReaders for hours. I especially liked the Nazi theme and the World War setting for the book. I could easily compare it to a Dan Brown book in term of suspense and thrill

Gripping and incredibly interesting, this was a slight diversion for the sort of novel that I usually read but it was nonetheless a thriller all the way through.
A clever plot with likeable characters.
Would recommend.

**Thank you to Hodder and Stoughton for giving me copy of this book for an honest review!**
3.5* This book, set during World War II, combines fiction with real historical figures as characters. This includes Churchill, Hitler, Hess, Himmler, and the rest of Hitler's inner circle. The Nazi's Ahnenerbe, a group composed of scientists and soldiers, formed to prove Aryan superiority, has dispatched teams all over the world. They even sent a team to Tibet. They are looking for Four Symbols of power. We also have a British agent, Malorley, who convinced Churchill and his government to let him go into occupied France to disrupt a Nazi archaeological dig looking for one of these symbols. There's also another character, a Frenchman, Tristan, who finds himself with a group of Spanish resistance fighters at first, then being a prisoner of the SS, then in the centre of the Ahnenerbe search.
If there's a criticism, it's the portrayal of the whole dynamic among Hitler's inner circle - the backstabbing and the power-mongering - all interesting, but does not add too much into the plot. Reading through those tended to slow the pace down. I would have preferred just focusing on the search for the mythical symbols. This book is also very clearly the first one of a trilogy. The premise is introduced to us, but not everything is explained. Presumably, the loose ends will be tied up in books 2 and 3.

This brilliant book had me hooked from the first chapter, and the more I read, the more intrigued I became. We are dealing with Nazis, the Third Reich and Hitlers passion for the occult which has been well documented, but then, we have the Cathars, ruined castles, hidden chambers and dungeons, torture, death and betrayal, and then the book stops.....and you realise you want parts two and three, NOW!!
Hitler and his team of art specialists are looking for four swastikas, that have been hidden around the world. These previous symbols of peace, if all four are found, will confer power of such an extreme nature, that Hitler and Germany will not be defeated. British spies are sent abroad to frustrate these efforts, and find these four symbols are bring them back home to safety. Colonel Karl Weistort leads a team to the monastery at Montserrat, where the first symbol is hidden . Tristan is an art historian and hunter , who is reluctantly helping in this search, whilst spying for the British. I liked his character very much and hope his role will continue in the next books.
This book concludes in 1941, Rudolph Hess has flown to England to persuade Churchill to surrender, and we are learning some surprising facts about the Masonic lodges in England, and what Hugo Boss did for the Nazi party. So many twists and turns in a throughly addictive read!,
I loved this story, and rate it as a five star read. I will leave a review on Goodreads.

iven that I am a huge history nerd, World War II and Nazi Germany are not really a field I'm super familiar with, but I wanted to give The Four Symbols a try. I am so glad that I requested this book! I am a sucker for political intrigue and I love a good YA fantasy novel centered around magic. This book has intrigue by the tons and the magic is more occult-y, but I still found it really interesting reading about the ancient mythology in this book!


I threw on some Wagner (Ride of the Valkyries) and could not put this book down! Set in the very early days of World War II (the prologue is set during Kristallnacht), the narrative navigates through several different plot lines that showcase a cast of characters from many different sides. The reader is taken on a journey with SS officers in search of ancient artifacts. Winston Churchill and the British make an appearance as they attempt to foil the scheming of the Nazi government. We see French espionage, along with other characters who float in and out of the narrative as the authors masterfully weave the entire story together. I really enjoyed the semi-vignette style of the writing. A chapter can have more than one storyline playing out, though the jumps seem jarring, I would argue that this is intentional. It simulates the fluidity of war and geopolitics.


This is the first book in a trilogy that promises to span the entire war, and what an opening salvo it is! This book contains some graphic violence as it tackles literal war and figurative war via undercover operations and spy games.


Other reviews have noted that this book reads like a Dan Brown novel, which I wholeheartedly agree that it does! I would also recommend this book to fans of Tom Clancy, Stephen Ambrose, Dan Brown (obviously), and Robert Ludlum. Great read for someone who enjoys war games books, international espionage, complex plots/subplots, and an overall engaging read about World War II!


You can find the book on goodreads to add to your to be read list! Publication date is September 3rd, 2020! A perfect pre Labor Day weekend purchase!


I received a galley copy of this novel courtesy of NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton in exchange for an honest review!

This is the first book in The Black Sun Trilogy. It is no secret that Hitler was fascinated by the occult and did everything in his power to find various relics that he thought would help his cause. While the book was slow in some parts the twists and turns makes the book worth reading. I am greatly looking forward to the next book.

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

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

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.

I love a good Alt History story so this book was right up my street. Very engaging narrative and characters throughout and a solid fantasy aspect.

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!

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.

The Four Symbols is a thrilling, captivating work of historical fiction that also pulls you into the world of the occult. In The Four Symbols, Ravenne does an incredible job of providing an accurate, historical backdrop for this story to take place. You feel like you have truly been dropped into Europe in the middle of WWII where Nazi Germany seems to be utterly unstoppable. As you read you get hints as to what might be behind Hitler's meteoric rise to power and dominance over all of Europe.

The race is on between Hitler's Nazi artifact hunters and archaeologists and what remains of the unconquered people of Europe to find what might be the only hope to stop the Nazi forces from rolling through the rest of Europe, and the world.

The Four Symbols is the first in a WW2 thriller focussing on the Nazi search for mythological mystical artifacts (specifically swastikas) that were hidden in various parts of the world.

I love these type of mysteries that are part history, part fantasy and The Four Symbols did not disappoint. One one side you have the Nazis, ruthless in pursuit of the artifacts for the glory of the Reich; on the other, the British Secret Service trying to prevent them achieving their goal of world domination by esoteric or supernatural means.

Overall, an enjoyable thriller, with plenty of action, strong characters, and enough loose ends to leave me wants no more.

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.

A thriller set during the early part of the war, with a background in some of the stranger occult beliefs of senior Nazis. This would be suitable for fans of such books and films as 'The Da Vinci Code', 'Raiders of the Lost Ark'. There are twists aplenty, to keep the reader guessing, and I don't want to say too much, because any comment could be a spoiler.

It is the first of a trilogy, and I'm looking forward to Books 2 and 3.

Thank you, NetGalley for an advance copy.

This book was a lot of fun to read and I loved how it mixes paranormal with history.
It's well plotted, full of twists and turns, with a cast of interesting characters and a vivid historical background.
It was a gripping and entertaining read, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This WWII thriller explores the importance of mysticism and the occult as the SS and an SOE officer race to find four symbols that the Germans believe will ensure their victory. Based on an ancient book, the Thule Borealis Kulten, Colonel Weistort has already retrieved the first symbol from Tibet. A clue to the second symbol is in a painting hidden in Spain that was stolen during the civil war. Finding the thief and deciphering the painting with his help leads to a former Cathar fortress in France. SOE officer Malorley has crossed paths with Weistort once before and with Churchill’s reluctant approval he heads a mission to stop him.

Giacometti and Ravenna take you into the heart of Germany, witnessing the suspicions and machinations of Hitler’s inner circle. Hess’ flight to the UK and the debate to open a second front against Russia are woven into their story. The action is fast paced, making this book hard to put down. This is the first book in the Black Sun Trilogy and it will have readers eagerly anticipating the next volume. I would like to thank NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for making this book available for my review.

Recently I joined the community of NetGalley users. I thank them for the advanced reading copy of THE FOUR SYMBOLS written by ERIC GIACOMETTI and JACQUES RAVENNE. This is my first NetGalley experience.
This is the first of three books in a series entitled “The Black Sun”. That is good news and bad news. The good news is that this is an excellent spy thriller with a WWII setting. The bad news is that I may have to wait for books 2 and 3.

The story opens in 1938 when Otto Neumann, a Jewish bookseller in Berlin and former university professor, is murdered in his bookshop by SS Colonel Karl Weistort. Weistort wants a book that Neumann has in his shop. The book is THULE BOREALIS KULTEN, a book supposedly containing occult secrets from the Middle Ages. Weistort is the head of Ahnenerbe, an SS unit looking for proof of the superiority of Aryans. In the THULE BOREALIS KULTEN four symbols are mentioned that if found together will give the owners unlimited power. The four symbols had been dispersed to locations around the world. Weistort needs to find them.

He first travels to Tibet where the first symbol, a Swastika, is hidden in a mountain cave. Unlike the Nazi symbol, this one is reversed and can actually be found in folklore all around the world, predating the corrupted Nazi version by hundreds if not thousands of years. True. Joining him is blond haired, blue-eyed Erika Von Essling an archaeologist of some repute. A prototype Aryan. After obtaining the symbol and killing a few guides, Weistort returns to Berlin. And Germany successfully launches WWII.

The story shifts to Spain where art historian Tristan Marcas is introduced. He is working during the Spanish Civil War. Through a series of unfortunate experiences, Tristan ends up being forced to join Weistort in his quest. From a painting Tristan finds in Montserrat Monastery near Barcelona, the hunt moves to Montsegur in southwestern France near Carcassonne. This mountaintop castle was the site of the last stand of the Cathars in the 13th century. The second symbol is found there. However, not without a fight.

Opposing the Nazis is SOE operative Malorley and his team. They are parachuted into Free France near Bordeaux and make their way to Montsegur with the help of the French Resistance. There they meet up with Jean d’Estillac the current owner of the Montsegur castle ruins and his feisty daughter Laure. They team up with the Brits to try to stop the German team led by Weistort, Tristan and Von Essling.

Although this is a novel, there are some real people and events in the story. For example, Rudolf Hess’ escape to England, the Cathars’ last stand and the division of France into Free and Occupied sections. There is plenty of action and some romantic undertones. This book really surprised me on how well it is written. In addition, there is a surprise ending I did not see coming. If you are a reader of WWII fiction or history, you will really enjoy this book. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

GO! BUY! READ!

Brilliant and fascinating book that reveals Hitler’s belief in historical legends that could give him more power as he tries to take over Europe and beyond.
People put their lives at risk to stop the Nazis gaining possession of relics. This book left me wanting to know much more. Thank you.

Really enjoyed this book
Difficult to put down, it's fast paced and has plenty of twists and turns
with great characters and a good plot
I want to know what happens next so
Looking forward to reading the follow up
Good & Evil

Thank you netgalley, Giaconetti & Ravenne and Hodder & Stoughton for allowing me to read and review this book

Well this was good! I was hooked right from the start, and the Nazi/occult topic combined with relic hunting makes for a really good read.
Super fast paced and a great story line, plus intriguing characters kept me interested right to the end. Perfect for fans of Dan Brown. I’ll certainly be recommending this.

Exciting World War 2 story mixing occult forces and actual events. The main part of the tale centres on the search for an ancient swastika hidden in a Cathar castle in southern France and the race to claim it between the SS and SOE. Full of great twists and turns with a surprise ending that neatly sets the scene for the next episode!

Hats off to Giacometti and Ravenne on this brilliant book! I was hooked from the first chapter!
Set in World War II, this thriller managed to add a mystical and occult dimension to the historical period I was never really interested in and make me feel like I was on a quest similar to the Raiders of the Lost Ark.
The story follows the Nazis in their pursuit of the ancient swastika relics they believe to have an unparalleled supernatural power that could ensure their victory, and the allies who are trying to stop them.
Giacometti and Ravenne marvelously alternate the narratives between several protagonists and locations always keeping you at the edge of your seat. The heroes and antiheroes are so well written that at times I didn't know whether to root for the Nazis or the allies.
I cannot wait to read parts 2 and 3!
Thank you to Hodder and Stoughton and NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

From the second I opened this book, I could not put it down. It's an interesting story-line and if you're a fan of holocaust literature, definitely gives you a perspective of the time in history. and some of the goings on behind the scenes of the 3rd Reich. Well researched, there's a lot of good history in this story as well as a good storyline. I'm waiting with baited breath for the next in the series.

I loved this very much! The characters, the actions and even the plot itself! Very inspiring for my own book too!

I always love a WW2 Historical Fiction and this one did not disappoint, especially because it included a type of magic treasure hunt.

The characters of this book were very well written and I did not expect the reveal about two of them at the end, which has me very intrigued about the next book and where they will end up going. I just found all of the characters so interesting and deep, they were all so complex and I just loved that about this book because it really had me very confused about who was going to do what next and why. My personal favourite was Tristan and I cannot wait to see what happens to him in the next book because he holds a whole load of promise, him and Erika because she is a strong female archaeologist who seems absolutely awesome.

The plot, as I said was based on a magical treasure hunt after four mystical objects (hence the name of the book) and I loved it. Of course, we had all the cool historical parts too with the SOE agents and the French resistance, and less nice we had the Nazis. However, I found that the parts to do with the Germans and the Nazis were super well written and very well handled which was something that I found super great about this book. Parts of it were more graphic than I anticipated but that didn't put me off the book in any way at all. I loved how we got to see so many different parts of the story at once as well because it allowed the reader to get a real sense of what was happening in several places at once.

The writing, as I've said was really good because not only was everything handled incredibly well but also the characters were created in such depth that they felt like real people. I cannot wait to read the next book, as I keep saying, because not only can I not wait to see what happens next but I also really want to keep reading these author's work.

I received a copy of this novel from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The moment I began reading The Four Symbols I was instantly hooked. From the depth of the characters to the details of the scenes taking place it sucked me in. This is a great novel for anyone who knows anything about WWII, and who knows things about the Nazis and the occult, who would like a fun and fast paced story about these things set in a more fictional setting.

The characters were well written and gave heart to the resistance fighters that were trying to break free from Nazi hold.

Absolutely loved it and look forward to reading the next ones in the series.