What do you think?
Manifest Destiny
Nick Jacob's father meant the world to him. Murdered during an apparent robbery, the loss of his only mentor, friend, and idol left a crimson stain on the pure fabric of Nick's teenage life. Carrying the unimaginable burden of grief into his 30s, the haunting events of the past stir a new sensation deep inside of him. Fueled by anger and a sense of injustice, he begins a dark crusade to avenge others who have been similarly wronged.
The traumatic events of the past puppeteer Nick toward a destiny that he never chose for himself. Expecting to obtain solace, Nick begins to uncover the truth of his father's murder. He soon realizes that he isn't only in a fight with his inner demons, but with what is unearthed in the investigation. A fight that stands between him and the future he desires; which may cost him everything.
Manifest Destiny injects readers into a world filled with depth, drama, and timeless wisdom. Nick's story of a desire for justice shows the gravitational pull that the past exerts on our lives. But unfortunately, seeking vengeance for his father's murder only condemns his future.
Left unforgiven, the dark stories of our history are doomed to play on infinite repeat. But as we beseech the world seeking growth and change, we need only lay down our past as the necessary sacrifice.
The traumatic events of the past puppeteer Nick toward a destiny that he never chose for himself. Expecting to obtain solace, Nick begins to uncover the truth of his father's murder. He soon realizes that he isn't only in a fight with his inner demons, but with what is unearthed in the investigation. A fight that stands between him and the future he desires; which may cost him everything.
Manifest Destiny injects readers into a world filled with depth, drama, and timeless wisdom. Nick's story of a desire for justice shows the gravitational pull that the past exerts on our lives. But unfortunately, seeking vengeance for his father's murder only condemns his future.
Left unforgiven, the dark stories of our history are doomed to play on infinite repeat. But as we beseech the world seeking growth and change, we need only lay down our past as the necessary sacrifice.
- GenresMystery
350 pages, Hardcover
Published December 6, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 3, 2023
(Transparency: This review was commissioned by the author, however this does not at all affect my rating)
Manifest Destiny is the story of a guy, who is not a good person, but certainly *thinks* he's doing good. Which is always an interesting concept. Watching men who are charismatic in public but are doing dark stuff in private, things that they claim (to themselves) that they're doing for an altruistic reason makes for great media. Think like: Dexter, Walter White in Breaking Bad, Oliver Queen in season one of the CW's Green Arrow.
Our main character Nick dealt with the murder of his father at a young age. This was formative for him. His father was his best friend. They shared a deep love of baseball. Nick's love and loss of his father clearly made him into who he becomes as an adult.
The book starts out and Nick murders a woman. This woman is a bad person. You then see Nick commit a series of VERY questionable decisions that he thinks are righteous. This is set back in the days when DNA evidence was just starting to become used. He asks his friend Chris, a police officer, to look into the DNA evidence and submit it and see if anything could be found, as his father's murder was never solved. So we're sort of on this journey of him trying to get answers but also still watching him failing to really be who he might've been in life had this terrible and traumatic loss not happened to him. Seeing how it affects his relationships with women, friends, and especially his mom and sister was very much reminding me of watching Dexter.
The author does a great job in writing characters that are distinct, I was able to get a feel for everyone in Nick's vicinity very quickly and if I didn't know better I would say that everyone in this book is based on real people because they FELT like real people and not one dimensional caricatures just there to make a scene happen. I appreciate when authors do this because it is a skill that can be difficult to cultivate when you're literally creating whole people from scratch. I got the sense that everyone in this book was still out there somewhere after I had finished it. Besides the ones that, you know, ended up dead.
Again, this does what many other great pieces of media have done: explore the inner thoughts of a guy who is doing bad stuff, but thinks he's doing them for righteous and justifiable reasons. I love when media does this because that kind of deep self-reflection is just great storytelling. I wish, though, that this book had delved in a bit deeper on the self reflection. The writing, prose-wise, was excellent and the audiobook narrator did a great job, so I recommend it if you're looking for something kind of like Dexter. But if you're hoping for a deep exploration of the theme of "am I justified in doing these terrible things?", this book isn't going to do that. I do think it's worth the read though.
Just know this: Nick isn't a good person and sometimes can be fatphobic and xenophobic. He's our main character, but he is not the hero. But I figured I'd warn fellow readers about his shittiness before you dive in. He certainly is an interesting character study.
I honestly think my aunt would like this book so I'm going to recommend it to her!
December 20, 2022
Zach is a very talented writer! I enjoyed this book and storyline. Very excited to read his next book!
January 4, 2023
A fantastic novel. I was able to pick up this book and it kept my interest the entire book. I am not the biggest reader and this was a book I looked forward to reading after work every day. The writing was well-done and engaging, the plot was intriguing and captivating, and there was just the right amount of humor and quirks to bring on a chuckle now and then. I hope this is not the last novel from this talented writer and I look forward to seeing what else he has up his sleeve.
February 17, 2023
Dark and dramatic events live within the pages of Manifest Destiny by Zachary Daniel. We follow our protagonist, Nick Jacob, as he navigates through the murky waters of the justice system and his own battle within himself. Nick suffered a terrible and life-altering event at a tender age. As a teenager, when one is forming their own identity, his father was murdered during a home invasion. Nick had an incredibly close bond with his father and to have that abruptly severed at such a influential age has shifted Nick’s perspective on the world. Never properly addressing his grief and the immense amount of pain and confusion he experiences in the aftermath of his father’s death, our protagonist carries this burden further into his life. We meet Nick in his 30s and are privy to his transformation into a vigilante of sorts: if no one else will deal with the refuse of humanity, he will.
This book is a fantastic example of how to write an origin story for an antihero. Nick is far from a perfect human being and displays a multitude of problematic personality traits such as xenophobia and fatphobia. In fact, Nick is a walking example of when the pursuit of personal justice takes a warped turn of events. Nick fully believes he is murdering people in an effort to create a better place as he investigates the truth behind his father’s death. He is far from morally gray: nearly morally black. His character can be likened to media examples such as Dexter and Walter White.
For a debut novel, Daniel has honestly shown that he has the writing chops to make an impact on the literary world. Not only is it difficult to write such a morally twisted and corrupt character, but it is equally difficult to have that very character be your protagonist and get your readers to identify with him. The book may not go as deep into the argument of justified corruption, however the writing skills displayed within will hook readers with ease.
For readers who are interested in a book where the protagonist is far from perfect and is morally gray, you absolutely must pick up a copy of Manifest Destiny by Zachary Daniel. A perfect example of a vigilante origin story we follow protagonist Daniel Jacobs as he takes justice into his own hands while searching for the truth behind his father’s death. With fantastically written characters and an intriguing story, you won’t be able to stop turning the pages.
This book is a fantastic example of how to write an origin story for an antihero. Nick is far from a perfect human being and displays a multitude of problematic personality traits such as xenophobia and fatphobia. In fact, Nick is a walking example of when the pursuit of personal justice takes a warped turn of events. Nick fully believes he is murdering people in an effort to create a better place as he investigates the truth behind his father’s death. He is far from morally gray: nearly morally black. His character can be likened to media examples such as Dexter and Walter White.
For a debut novel, Daniel has honestly shown that he has the writing chops to make an impact on the literary world. Not only is it difficult to write such a morally twisted and corrupt character, but it is equally difficult to have that very character be your protagonist and get your readers to identify with him. The book may not go as deep into the argument of justified corruption, however the writing skills displayed within will hook readers with ease.
For readers who are interested in a book where the protagonist is far from perfect and is morally gray, you absolutely must pick up a copy of Manifest Destiny by Zachary Daniel. A perfect example of a vigilante origin story we follow protagonist Daniel Jacobs as he takes justice into his own hands while searching for the truth behind his father’s death. With fantastically written characters and an intriguing story, you won’t be able to stop turning the pages.
February 7, 2023
Manifest Destiny by Zach Daniel will instantly hook you into this story from the first page. This story is about Nick and how he struggles with the murder of his father. With no answers as to who killed his father, each year around the anniversary of his death, he decides to become a vigil anti and hurt those who have hurt others. He will do extensive research on the person and find a way for his plan to work. Throughout the rest of the year, Nick is an uncle, works for a firm and tries to let his past fade away. As much as he tries, the thought of what happened to his dad still haunts him. When he finds out who killed his dad, his world spirals even more than he imagined.
Zach Daniel’s writing immerses the reader into the story with an engaging storyline that kept me on the edge of my seat. In a way, it kind of reminds me of the tv show Dexter, with how Nick plans revenge on those who are bad people and he believes he is killing for a good reason. Nick’s character is a complicated one and there are times where you wonder if he really is a good guy. I really enjoyed this book and there were many times I gasped, or my jaw dropped at what had happened. Overall rating is a 5/5. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good thriller, crime, or psychological thriller.
Zach Daniel’s writing immerses the reader into the story with an engaging storyline that kept me on the edge of my seat. In a way, it kind of reminds me of the tv show Dexter, with how Nick plans revenge on those who are bad people and he believes he is killing for a good reason. Nick’s character is a complicated one and there are times where you wonder if he really is a good guy. I really enjoyed this book and there were many times I gasped, or my jaw dropped at what had happened. Overall rating is a 5/5. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good thriller, crime, or psychological thriller.
April 12, 2023
Very interesting story with a twist at the end I didn't see coming. The writer set up the ending well, where it made sense but it wasn't too obvious. Overall a great read with some unexpected twists and turns, makes you wonder a bit more about revenge and what it may make someone do.
February 19, 2023
Manifest Destiny is a murderer mystery thriller written by Zachary Daniel. It follows the character of Nick Jacob who has a dark and hidden secret. Nick is on a journey for the truth. He has a traumatic past he cannot seem to work through. It is through this past he lives and justifies his actions. His dark secret and his traumatic past interweave to tell the story of his life. The story is told in part in present day and in part in flashbacks, giving the reader a fragmented point of view of Nick, ultimately coming together to make sense.
The beginning of this book had me hooked right away. I had a hard time putting it down. The way we were inside Nick's head, and the way we could see and tell the way he feels was intimate and uncomfortable. I think this shows the great way Daniel is with storytelling from first person point of view. It is truly well done. I also greatly enjoyed the way the author did flashbacks. It was done in a way we know it's a flashback without stating the obvious. It is definitely a unique way of showing something is a flashback and I enjoyed it.
It was the middle of the book where it started to fall flat for me. It wasn't the writing but my expectations of where I thought the story was going to go. It got a bit slower as well for me. However, toward the end it picked right back up and it seemed more information about the truth he is seeking as well as some very serious and messed up events. Overall, it was definitely a fun experience read. I think anyone who enjoys this genre would greatly enjoy this book. The middle parts did go in a different direction than anticipated, but it all makes sense in story and the end wraps it up wonderfully. Give it a read!
The beginning of this book had me hooked right away. I had a hard time putting it down. The way we were inside Nick's head, and the way we could see and tell the way he feels was intimate and uncomfortable. I think this shows the great way Daniel is with storytelling from first person point of view. It is truly well done. I also greatly enjoyed the way the author did flashbacks. It was done in a way we know it's a flashback without stating the obvious. It is definitely a unique way of showing something is a flashback and I enjoyed it.
It was the middle of the book where it started to fall flat for me. It wasn't the writing but my expectations of where I thought the story was going to go. It got a bit slower as well for me. However, toward the end it picked right back up and it seemed more information about the truth he is seeking as well as some very serious and messed up events. Overall, it was definitely a fun experience read. I think anyone who enjoys this genre would greatly enjoy this book. The middle parts did go in a different direction than anticipated, but it all makes sense in story and the end wraps it up wonderfully. Give it a read!
February 28, 2023
In Manifest Destiny, we follow the story of Nick Jacobs, a young man whose future is somehow ruined thanks to the events of the past. Nick lost his father to robbery when he was a teenager. Naturally, losing a parent would mess with the physical and mental state of a child. The experience was distressing and left a huge void in his heart. As he grew into a young man, Nick sought to do the unthinkable, seek vengeance for people that have been through traumatic experiences like he has been in the past. While this may have appeared like a good idea at first, the man was set to face the craziest battles ahead of him.
Zachary Daniel has written a captivating book. The reader is able to smoothly follow the story from the beginning. As a reader, you get immersed in the tales, and even get to relate with some of the things that the main character goes through. Speaking of characters, Zachary Daniel has a way of picking his characters. No characters played a similar role to the other. Everyone, including the minor characters were distinct in their parts. I like that the author even made the villains interesting. I enjoyed the book mostly because of how different Zachary Daniel’s characters were and how unique the plot was.
Manifest Destiny is a great book for readers that enjoy action, drama, and absorbing conversations. This book was intriguing from the start to finish. Each chapter is more interesting than the next and each character introduced brings more sauce to the storyline.
Zachary Daniel has written a captivating book. The reader is able to smoothly follow the story from the beginning. As a reader, you get immersed in the tales, and even get to relate with some of the things that the main character goes through. Speaking of characters, Zachary Daniel has a way of picking his characters. No characters played a similar role to the other. Everyone, including the minor characters were distinct in their parts. I like that the author even made the villains interesting. I enjoyed the book mostly because of how different Zachary Daniel’s characters were and how unique the plot was.
Manifest Destiny is a great book for readers that enjoy action, drama, and absorbing conversations. This book was intriguing from the start to finish. Each chapter is more interesting than the next and each character introduced brings more sauce to the storyline.
December 26, 2022
Really good fast read. A man had his Daddy murdered. They were real close, and it changed the sons perspective.
As time went on, the son was basically a loner, except for his best friend Chris. Chris is a detective for the NYPD. He decided to help his buddy try to find out who was the killer of his Dad was. DNA was in its infancy stage then. So it takes a long time for the results to come. Nick, also has good relationships with his Mom, sister, brother in law and nephew.
Hangs out at bars, drinks and picks up women, when he is not at his job.
Meanwhile, Nick, the son, takes on a new, devious role. This is due, to his anger and depression over his Dad's murder. He decides to avenge people who are treated badly.
As time went on, the son was basically a loner, except for his best friend Chris. Chris is a detective for the NYPD. He decided to help his buddy try to find out who was the killer of his Dad was. DNA was in its infancy stage then. So it takes a long time for the results to come. Nick, also has good relationships with his Mom, sister, brother in law and nephew.
Hangs out at bars, drinks and picks up women, when he is not at his job.
Meanwhile, Nick, the son, takes on a new, devious role. This is due, to his anger and depression over his Dad's murder. He decides to avenge people who are treated badly.
December 7, 2022
Manifest Destiny
Nick Jacobs lives with a horror that happened when he was little.
His dad was killed during a robbery.
Now, every anniversary of his death, Nick turns into a minor vigilante,
Trying to right a wrong done by someone who seems to have gotten away with it.
This was overall a good story with developed characters.
The story is slow paced throughout but does pick up in places starting around the midway point.
Overall, I’d recommend the story.
Nick Jacobs lives with a horror that happened when he was little.
His dad was killed during a robbery.
Now, every anniversary of his death, Nick turns into a minor vigilante,
Trying to right a wrong done by someone who seems to have gotten away with it.
This was overall a good story with developed characters.
The story is slow paced throughout but does pick up in places starting around the midway point.
Overall, I’d recommend the story.
March 25, 2023
So, honestly, I don’t exactly know what to make of this book. I finished the whole thing, so it kept my attention. The concept was intriguing and the ending a bit unexpected. That said, there was meandering and parts of the story dropped in ways that if they had been more developed, would have served the plot so much better.
April 26, 2023
I only read this because he's a local author but I struggled to get through it and was thoroughly disappointed overall with the lazy editing and basic disconnects of reality. Hated the outcome.
December 7, 2022
Was sent an advanced read. Deeply character driven and a gripping story. The main character Nick is complex and had me interested the whole time. I wanted just a little more from the other characters, which is credence to the writing. Had an ending I won't soon forget, highly recommend.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews