Arthur Gibson's Blog: A Journey In Mind - Posts Tagged "adventure"
The Cestus Contract
I had the pleasure this week of reading The Cestus Contract by Mat Nastos. I had previously read The Cestus Concern and enjoyed it. I admit I had my doubts about the 2nd book. So many writers throw everything they have into the first book of a series and tend to have a long roll downhill to drudgery with the rest. I was pleasantly surprised with The Cestus Contract. There are not repeated devices, typical escapes, or predictable events. The adventure is very organic and has a surprising depth to them. There are of course other forces at work, but they take so many forms and go in so many directions you find yourself sucked in to this world and you don't want out.
It is an action novel, an adventure full of explosive surprises, but it doesn't end there. Even as you enjoy the main line of events, there are twists and turns the come out of the woodwork to surprise you. Shadowy references to even more shadowy people. Politics and the gong show that senate subcommittees have become. The strong ties of friendship. The hardships of becoming aware of operating on the wrong side of morality.
I found it a quick read because I had a hard time putting it down. My wife had to chase me to bed and I spent half the night waiting to get going again in the morning. I just didn't want to break away from these characters. I wanted to know what happened to them. I always take that as a sign of a good book. If you get invested in what they are saying, it is a good thing. Heck, I even found a character so interesting I'm craving a prequel novel so that we can find out how he got to be the way he is.
There are threads to the storyline that don't get answered. There are things still up in the air and others burning in the background. But I did not feel unfulfilled. I didn't feel cheated in any way. The way the ending is structured you feel total closure with this volume while eagerly awaiting the next. That is rarely accomplished and Mat Nastos has done it well.
I hope this book is something everyone grabs and enjoys. I also hope that the next book comes out really, really soon so I can find out what happens :) Grab a copy and join me in the World of Cestus.
It is an action novel, an adventure full of explosive surprises, but it doesn't end there. Even as you enjoy the main line of events, there are twists and turns the come out of the woodwork to surprise you. Shadowy references to even more shadowy people. Politics and the gong show that senate subcommittees have become. The strong ties of friendship. The hardships of becoming aware of operating on the wrong side of morality.
I found it a quick read because I had a hard time putting it down. My wife had to chase me to bed and I spent half the night waiting to get going again in the morning. I just didn't want to break away from these characters. I wanted to know what happened to them. I always take that as a sign of a good book. If you get invested in what they are saying, it is a good thing. Heck, I even found a character so interesting I'm craving a prequel novel so that we can find out how he got to be the way he is.
There are threads to the storyline that don't get answered. There are things still up in the air and others burning in the background. But I did not feel unfulfilled. I didn't feel cheated in any way. The way the ending is structured you feel total closure with this volume while eagerly awaiting the next. That is rarely accomplished and Mat Nastos has done it well.
I hope this book is something everyone grabs and enjoys. I also hope that the next book comes out really, really soon so I can find out what happens :) Grab a copy and join me in the World of Cestus.
A Journey In Mind
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