Rob Donovan's Blog, page 5
August 15, 2014
Book Review - Warrior
Warrior – Jennifer Fallon
I freely admit I purchased this series based on two things: The cheap price and the amazing covers. The covers might not be everyone’s cup of tea but I love scenes that show off fantastical worlds. The first book Wolfblade pleasantly surprised me. It was very character orientated which to me is always a bonus. I was looking forward to the second in the series a lot.
The blurb:
It is eight years since Marla Wolfblade buried her second husband. In that time, she has become the power behind Hythria's throne -- as much from a desire to control her own destiny in any way she can, as to protect her son, young Damin.
But while Marla plays the games of politics and diplomacy, the High Arrion of the Sorcerers' Collective is plotting to destroy her -- and the entire Wolfblade line.
And while Marla's power and fortune are great, they may yet not be enough to protect herself and her family from the High Arrion's wrath -- and her only ally and confidant, Elezaar the Fool, is toying with the idea of betrayal.
For he has discovered that the infamous Rules of Gaining and Wielding Power are not so useful when his own family is involved...
The timeline jumps forward a number of years in this book and although a lot of the characters are still present, we are treated to several new POV characters as well. Marla is present of course but she is almost unrecognisable. She is now a ruler, who can’t afford to let her guard down at any point and is constantly scheming. She has adopted an identity where she projects an inexperienced and naïve exterior so that others underestimate her. This serves her well and is fun to watch as the reader is treated to her true dealings in her inner monologues.
Marla also has a terrific trick of leading others to believe she wants something and so when they think they are defying her, they are actually behaving precisely how she wants them to behave. It is a good plot device as not only does it highlight how intelligent Marla is, it also leaves the reader guessing as to what her actual plans are.
Of the new POV characters I enjoyed Marla’s son Damin. Like his mother, Damin has adopted the tactic of letting others perceive him in a certain way. To others, he is the brash, youth who is mischievous and never takes anything seriously. Whilst this view may be true initially, it is good to watch Damin grow and his character change as events in the plot affect him.
Brayan Lightfinger remains my favourite character of the series. Always unwittingly involved in events in the palace and despite his positive outlook, he cuts a fairly tragic character. Once again he is tormented by the love he cannot obtain. It is his strong moral code and grounded outlook that make him pleasant to read.As strong as the characters are and as engrossing as the political scheming is, the plot is not as cohesive as it might be. This could be due to the large cast of characters. Whilst the POV characters are great, the nephews, nieces and adopted children serve to confuse the narrative and a lot of the time I struggled to keep a handle on them all.
The ending is very satisfying, with one particular element resolved in a very realistic way. Marla had continued to ignore an issue and so I was pleased when the incident blew up and had to be dealt with. There is also a very random event that you can’t help think was used as a plot device. Although this was shocking, I couldn’t help but feel Fallon may regret her decision.
Overall, this was a strong continuation of the series and sets things up extremely nicely for the concluding volume in the series.
My rating: 8.6
I freely admit I purchased this series based on two things: The cheap price and the amazing covers. The covers might not be everyone’s cup of tea but I love scenes that show off fantastical worlds. The first book Wolfblade pleasantly surprised me. It was very character orientated which to me is always a bonus. I was looking forward to the second in the series a lot.
The blurb:
It is eight years since Marla Wolfblade buried her second husband. In that time, she has become the power behind Hythria's throne -- as much from a desire to control her own destiny in any way she can, as to protect her son, young Damin.
But while Marla plays the games of politics and diplomacy, the High Arrion of the Sorcerers' Collective is plotting to destroy her -- and the entire Wolfblade line.
And while Marla's power and fortune are great, they may yet not be enough to protect herself and her family from the High Arrion's wrath -- and her only ally and confidant, Elezaar the Fool, is toying with the idea of betrayal.
For he has discovered that the infamous Rules of Gaining and Wielding Power are not so useful when his own family is involved...
The timeline jumps forward a number of years in this book and although a lot of the characters are still present, we are treated to several new POV characters as well. Marla is present of course but she is almost unrecognisable. She is now a ruler, who can’t afford to let her guard down at any point and is constantly scheming. She has adopted an identity where she projects an inexperienced and naïve exterior so that others underestimate her. This serves her well and is fun to watch as the reader is treated to her true dealings in her inner monologues.
Marla also has a terrific trick of leading others to believe she wants something and so when they think they are defying her, they are actually behaving precisely how she wants them to behave. It is a good plot device as not only does it highlight how intelligent Marla is, it also leaves the reader guessing as to what her actual plans are.
Of the new POV characters I enjoyed Marla’s son Damin. Like his mother, Damin has adopted the tactic of letting others perceive him in a certain way. To others, he is the brash, youth who is mischievous and never takes anything seriously. Whilst this view may be true initially, it is good to watch Damin grow and his character change as events in the plot affect him.
Brayan Lightfinger remains my favourite character of the series. Always unwittingly involved in events in the palace and despite his positive outlook, he cuts a fairly tragic character. Once again he is tormented by the love he cannot obtain. It is his strong moral code and grounded outlook that make him pleasant to read.As strong as the characters are and as engrossing as the political scheming is, the plot is not as cohesive as it might be. This could be due to the large cast of characters. Whilst the POV characters are great, the nephews, nieces and adopted children serve to confuse the narrative and a lot of the time I struggled to keep a handle on them all.
The ending is very satisfying, with one particular element resolved in a very realistic way. Marla had continued to ignore an issue and so I was pleased when the incident blew up and had to be dealt with. There is also a very random event that you can’t help think was used as a plot device. Although this was shocking, I couldn’t help but feel Fallon may regret her decision.
Overall, this was a strong continuation of the series and sets things up extremely nicely for the concluding volume in the series.
My rating: 8.6
August 13, 2014
Book Review - Happy Hour in Hell (JS)
Happy Hour in Hell by Tad Williams
Review by Jacqui Slaney
It had been a while since I had read book one, The Dirty Streets of Heaven but I recently remembered how much I enjoyed it, gave in and bumped this book up my to read pile.
I have always liked this author, with the Memory, Sorrow and Thorn books being very much one of my favourite series of all time and though I had only read the first book, I was optimistic that this series would be as good.
This is the description:
Bobby Dollar has a problem or four of epic proportions.Problem one: his best friend Sam has given him an angel's feather that also happens to be evidence of an unholy pact between Bobby's employers and those who dwell in the infernal depths. Problem two: Eligor, Grand Duke of Hell, wants to get his claws on the feather at all costs, but particularly at all cost to Bobby. Problem three: Bobby has fallen in love with Casimira, Countess of Cold Hands, who just happens to be Eligor's girlfriend. Problem four: Eligor, aware of Problem three, has whisked Casimira off to the Bottomless Pit itself, telling Bobby he will never see her again unless he hands over the feather. But Bobby, long-time veteran of the endless war between above and below, is not the type of guy who finds Hell intimidating. All he has to do is toss on a demon's body, sneak through the infernal gates, solve the mystery of the angel's feather, and rescue the girl. Saving the day should just be a matter of an eon or two of anguish, mutilation and horror. If only it were that easy.
As soon as I started reading, I knew I was in for a good time. The hero as in the first is Bobby Dollar an angel, whose day job is to argue for souls to enter Heaven before a sort of afterlife judge.
Here though he is much more concerned with saving his love Caz from the clutches of her ex boyfriend who just happens to be a grand Duke of Hell.To do this he has to go through Hell itself disguised as a Demon in this he is helped by his supervisor who has a mission of his own it turns out and so uses Bobby to help in this.
The pace and humour of the story is what you have come to expect from this series. I started it one night saying I will just read a couple of chapters, a couple of hours later I realised I was still reading!
There are some great characters as well apart from Bobby; you have Riprash Gop, and Marmora- the drowned girl, whose description will make you feel for her to name a few.There are loads of brilliant baddies not least Eligor who are all out to get Bobby, the description of the hell hounds are excellent, and you would definitely not want them anywhere near you.
There are complaints that the violence and horror that is described in Bobby’s journey through Hell is not handled well with some saying that it is over the top. But I would say, This is supposed to be ‘Hell ‘people, not a walk in a park, and Bobby’s occasional comments where he says things like, ‘ be grateful that I don’t describe this’ I do not find annoying if anything they add to description and feeling of the place.
Without giving away too much of the plot, Bobby is captured at one point, and yes there are descriptions of torture and suffering, but again these are written well and are what you would expect, he also runs into a woman who has a rather nasty trick if she decides that she doesn’t like you.
People complain about the ending, saying it is a let down, this surprises me, as the ending if I anything I predicted to myself, well before it happened. So do not see why it was a let down, as if anything it just leads you on to the book three which you that is coming.
People seem to have been expecting a different style of book, something that led straight on from Book one, with no silly romance stuff.But the way Bobby’s feelings for Caz are described and having made him lose her, the writer was always going to make Bobby make this trip, and to be honest this book throws up loads of different clues about events, and starts to point Bobby to the answers he has been looking.
I really liked this book, ok I found the ending a little predictable, but that is no complaint really, I would encourage anyone to read this series and would definitely recommend reading the books in order as that is the best way to enjoy them.
8 out of 10
Review by Jacqui Slaney
It had been a while since I had read book one, The Dirty Streets of Heaven but I recently remembered how much I enjoyed it, gave in and bumped this book up my to read pile.
I have always liked this author, with the Memory, Sorrow and Thorn books being very much one of my favourite series of all time and though I had only read the first book, I was optimistic that this series would be as good.
This is the description:
Bobby Dollar has a problem or four of epic proportions.Problem one: his best friend Sam has given him an angel's feather that also happens to be evidence of an unholy pact between Bobby's employers and those who dwell in the infernal depths. Problem two: Eligor, Grand Duke of Hell, wants to get his claws on the feather at all costs, but particularly at all cost to Bobby. Problem three: Bobby has fallen in love with Casimira, Countess of Cold Hands, who just happens to be Eligor's girlfriend. Problem four: Eligor, aware of Problem three, has whisked Casimira off to the Bottomless Pit itself, telling Bobby he will never see her again unless he hands over the feather. But Bobby, long-time veteran of the endless war between above and below, is not the type of guy who finds Hell intimidating. All he has to do is toss on a demon's body, sneak through the infernal gates, solve the mystery of the angel's feather, and rescue the girl. Saving the day should just be a matter of an eon or two of anguish, mutilation and horror. If only it were that easy.
As soon as I started reading, I knew I was in for a good time. The hero as in the first is Bobby Dollar an angel, whose day job is to argue for souls to enter Heaven before a sort of afterlife judge.
Here though he is much more concerned with saving his love Caz from the clutches of her ex boyfriend who just happens to be a grand Duke of Hell.To do this he has to go through Hell itself disguised as a Demon in this he is helped by his supervisor who has a mission of his own it turns out and so uses Bobby to help in this.
The pace and humour of the story is what you have come to expect from this series. I started it one night saying I will just read a couple of chapters, a couple of hours later I realised I was still reading!
There are some great characters as well apart from Bobby; you have Riprash Gop, and Marmora- the drowned girl, whose description will make you feel for her to name a few.There are loads of brilliant baddies not least Eligor who are all out to get Bobby, the description of the hell hounds are excellent, and you would definitely not want them anywhere near you.
There are complaints that the violence and horror that is described in Bobby’s journey through Hell is not handled well with some saying that it is over the top. But I would say, This is supposed to be ‘Hell ‘people, not a walk in a park, and Bobby’s occasional comments where he says things like, ‘ be grateful that I don’t describe this’ I do not find annoying if anything they add to description and feeling of the place.
Without giving away too much of the plot, Bobby is captured at one point, and yes there are descriptions of torture and suffering, but again these are written well and are what you would expect, he also runs into a woman who has a rather nasty trick if she decides that she doesn’t like you.
People complain about the ending, saying it is a let down, this surprises me, as the ending if I anything I predicted to myself, well before it happened. So do not see why it was a let down, as if anything it just leads you on to the book three which you that is coming.
People seem to have been expecting a different style of book, something that led straight on from Book one, with no silly romance stuff.But the way Bobby’s feelings for Caz are described and having made him lose her, the writer was always going to make Bobby make this trip, and to be honest this book throws up loads of different clues about events, and starts to point Bobby to the answers he has been looking.
I really liked this book, ok I found the ending a little predictable, but that is no complaint really, I would encourage anyone to read this series and would definitely recommend reading the books in order as that is the best way to enjoy them.
8 out of 10
August 10, 2014
Book Review - The secret life of bees
The secret life of bees – Sue Monk Kidd
It seems every summer I make the unconscious decision to read a wildly popular book away from my usual preferred genres. In the past it has led me to gems such as Water for elephants, the Help or the kite runner. I hope this year’s offering will be every bit as good as those books.
The blurb:
Lily has grown up believing she accidentally killed her mother when she was four. She not only has her own memory of holding the gun, but her father's account of the event. Now fourteen, she yearns for her mother, and for forgiveness. Living on a peach farm in South Carolina with her father, she has only one friend: Rosaleen, a black servant whose sharp exterior hides a tender heart. South Carolina in the sixties is a place where segregation is still considered a cause worth fighting for. When racial tension explodes one summer afternoon, and Rosaleen is arrested and beaten, Lily is compelled to act. Fugitives from justice and from Lily's harsh and unyielding father, they follow a trail left by the woman who died ten years before. Finding sanctuary in the home of three beekeeping sisters, Lily starts a journey as much about her understanding of the world, as about the mystery surrounding her mother.
From the opening chapter I was captivated by the secret life of bees. The story is told from the perspective of a young girl called Lily, who has lost her sense of identity in the world. One of her earliest memories is one of great tragedy and her life since has been a struggle to endure an overpowering and uncaring father.
Lily’s voice is fantastic. She speaks with sincerity and an innocence that is intoxicating. My heart immediately went out to her as she recalls her childhood and her views on the world.
In troublesome times, her pure thoughts on complex situations are refreshing and put the adults in her life to shame. Despite her youthful age, her outlook is often eminently more sensible and wiser than her peers.
Lily is driven to find out more about her mother. A woman she barely knew, but one whose personality she has created through wishful thinking more than anything else. When her nanny Rosaleen finds herself a victim of racist abuse and gets in trouble with the police, Lily seizes her opportunity to escape her turgid life and go on her own personal request.
This leads her to a house of three black women who are happy to accept her spurious story as she finds her feet. The characters Sue Monk Kidd portrays are brilliantly realised. In August Boatwright, Monk has created a figure who rivals Harper Lee’s Calpulnia. Her interaction with Lily and stand-offish but firm guidance make you want to have her in your life.
However, it is the others that truly bring this story to life, June, May and of course Rosaleen all have their nuances and foibles that help to enrich this tale, whilst Lily’s father T-Ray, serves as the perfect complex antagonist.
It is hard to believe that this was a debut novel. The prose is so polished and Lily’s “voice” so assured that I would have said this is a book from someone who is at the peak.
The racial tension is well handed and Monk does well to limit it to more of a background element to the plot whilst still acknowledging its impact. This is the correct decision as the strength of the novel is undoubtedly Lily.
The secret life of bees is a heart-warming tale of growing up and understanding the world around you. Lily searches for a life and answers that will always be beyond her but at the same time learns through experience all she needs to ever know.
My rating: 9.2
It seems every summer I make the unconscious decision to read a wildly popular book away from my usual preferred genres. In the past it has led me to gems such as Water for elephants, the Help or the kite runner. I hope this year’s offering will be every bit as good as those books.
The blurb:
Lily has grown up believing she accidentally killed her mother when she was four. She not only has her own memory of holding the gun, but her father's account of the event. Now fourteen, she yearns for her mother, and for forgiveness. Living on a peach farm in South Carolina with her father, she has only one friend: Rosaleen, a black servant whose sharp exterior hides a tender heart. South Carolina in the sixties is a place where segregation is still considered a cause worth fighting for. When racial tension explodes one summer afternoon, and Rosaleen is arrested and beaten, Lily is compelled to act. Fugitives from justice and from Lily's harsh and unyielding father, they follow a trail left by the woman who died ten years before. Finding sanctuary in the home of three beekeeping sisters, Lily starts a journey as much about her understanding of the world, as about the mystery surrounding her mother.
From the opening chapter I was captivated by the secret life of bees. The story is told from the perspective of a young girl called Lily, who has lost her sense of identity in the world. One of her earliest memories is one of great tragedy and her life since has been a struggle to endure an overpowering and uncaring father.
Lily’s voice is fantastic. She speaks with sincerity and an innocence that is intoxicating. My heart immediately went out to her as she recalls her childhood and her views on the world.
In troublesome times, her pure thoughts on complex situations are refreshing and put the adults in her life to shame. Despite her youthful age, her outlook is often eminently more sensible and wiser than her peers.
Lily is driven to find out more about her mother. A woman she barely knew, but one whose personality she has created through wishful thinking more than anything else. When her nanny Rosaleen finds herself a victim of racist abuse and gets in trouble with the police, Lily seizes her opportunity to escape her turgid life and go on her own personal request.
This leads her to a house of three black women who are happy to accept her spurious story as she finds her feet. The characters Sue Monk Kidd portrays are brilliantly realised. In August Boatwright, Monk has created a figure who rivals Harper Lee’s Calpulnia. Her interaction with Lily and stand-offish but firm guidance make you want to have her in your life.
However, it is the others that truly bring this story to life, June, May and of course Rosaleen all have their nuances and foibles that help to enrich this tale, whilst Lily’s father T-Ray, serves as the perfect complex antagonist.
It is hard to believe that this was a debut novel. The prose is so polished and Lily’s “voice” so assured that I would have said this is a book from someone who is at the peak.
The racial tension is well handed and Monk does well to limit it to more of a background element to the plot whilst still acknowledging its impact. This is the correct decision as the strength of the novel is undoubtedly Lily.
The secret life of bees is a heart-warming tale of growing up and understanding the world around you. Lily searches for a life and answers that will always be beyond her but at the same time learns through experience all she needs to ever know.
My rating: 9.2
August 7, 2014
Book Review - Half a King
Half a King – Joe Abercrombie
When Joe Abercrombie announced his next book would be a young adult series there were several cries of alarm in the fantasy community. Many expressed concern that the master of Grimdark would lose much of what made him such a great author.
Personally, I was not so worried. Abercrombie would still be the same writer and young adult just means less profanity and possibly less violence. Neither of these traits are what attracted me to Joe’s work. His young adult novels could still contain his great characterisation and humour.
The blurb:
Prince Yarvi has vowed to regain a throne he never wanted. But first he must survive cruelty, chains and the bitter waters of the Shattered Sea itself. And he must do it all with only one good hand.Born a weakling in the eyes of his father, Yarvi is alone in a world where a strong arm and a cold heart rule. He cannot grip a shield or swing an axe, so he must sharpen his mind to a deadly edge.Gathering a strange fellowship of the outcast and the lost, he finds they can do more to help him become the man he needs to be than any court of nobles could.But even with loyal friends at his side, Yarvi’s path may end as it began – in twists, and traps and tragedy…
Sometimes you just know you have something special in your hands. Half a King is such a book. Some fantasy novels can take several scores of pages to ingratiate themselves to the reader. The world building can be highly complex and the vast cast of characters can leave you feeling overwhelmed until you hit that moment where it all clicks and falls into place.
From the opening pages, Half a King works. The world building is subtle and effortless. Yarvi is a character you can’t help but instantly like. Born with only one good hand, he is persistently derided by his peers and shunned by his subjects, to the extent that he is preparing to shy away from the public life and become a Minister.
The great thing about Yarvi is not that he is a cripple and therefore an underdog, nor that he is witty (we have seen that type of character before in Tyrion), it is his humanity. He genuinely feels remorse when others suffer and always searches for an alternative to violence.
His story arc is a joy to read as he organically matures and learns through some very harsh experiences how to cope in the world. Although he is betrayed and swears an oath of vengeance, Abercrombie is careful not to make this the only focal point of his story.
The supporting cast is exemplary. From the noble Nothing who has his own unique code of honour, the loyal Sumael and her love of the shattered sea, Mother Gundring who acts as a substitute parent to Yarvi and Shadikshirram, the drunk and deluded captain.
I could list countless others who entertain but perhaps the most complex of these is the storekeeper Ankran. Abercrombie creates characters you want to spend time with. Yarvi’s friends are your friends, his enemies become people you want to hunt down and kill yourself.
The plot is fantastic. Abercrombie weaves a tale of retribution, the hero’s journey, coming of age and friendship all within a short space. Yet at no point did I feel cheated or felt that the book needed to be fleshed out.
In fact it is very hard to think of any negative things to say about Half a King. If I was being really nit-picky, occasionally the battle scenes were a little confusing. Some of the actions such as Yarvi putting his stump under an enemies armpit but at the same time pinning the arm I found a little hard to picture, but this in no way detracts from my enjoyment of the novel.
The ending is superb. Plot threads are resolved, no character is left hanging and there are twists a plenty. The twists are the kind that make you slap your forehead for not seeing them and make complete sense.
Overall, Half a King is fantastic. It might even be my favourite Abercrombie book to date and that is saying something. The best part is we also don’t have long to wait for the sequel.
My rating 9.3
When Joe Abercrombie announced his next book would be a young adult series there were several cries of alarm in the fantasy community. Many expressed concern that the master of Grimdark would lose much of what made him such a great author.
Personally, I was not so worried. Abercrombie would still be the same writer and young adult just means less profanity and possibly less violence. Neither of these traits are what attracted me to Joe’s work. His young adult novels could still contain his great characterisation and humour.
The blurb:
Prince Yarvi has vowed to regain a throne he never wanted. But first he must survive cruelty, chains and the bitter waters of the Shattered Sea itself. And he must do it all with only one good hand.Born a weakling in the eyes of his father, Yarvi is alone in a world where a strong arm and a cold heart rule. He cannot grip a shield or swing an axe, so he must sharpen his mind to a deadly edge.Gathering a strange fellowship of the outcast and the lost, he finds they can do more to help him become the man he needs to be than any court of nobles could.But even with loyal friends at his side, Yarvi’s path may end as it began – in twists, and traps and tragedy…
Sometimes you just know you have something special in your hands. Half a King is such a book. Some fantasy novels can take several scores of pages to ingratiate themselves to the reader. The world building can be highly complex and the vast cast of characters can leave you feeling overwhelmed until you hit that moment where it all clicks and falls into place.
From the opening pages, Half a King works. The world building is subtle and effortless. Yarvi is a character you can’t help but instantly like. Born with only one good hand, he is persistently derided by his peers and shunned by his subjects, to the extent that he is preparing to shy away from the public life and become a Minister.
The great thing about Yarvi is not that he is a cripple and therefore an underdog, nor that he is witty (we have seen that type of character before in Tyrion), it is his humanity. He genuinely feels remorse when others suffer and always searches for an alternative to violence.
His story arc is a joy to read as he organically matures and learns through some very harsh experiences how to cope in the world. Although he is betrayed and swears an oath of vengeance, Abercrombie is careful not to make this the only focal point of his story.
The supporting cast is exemplary. From the noble Nothing who has his own unique code of honour, the loyal Sumael and her love of the shattered sea, Mother Gundring who acts as a substitute parent to Yarvi and Shadikshirram, the drunk and deluded captain.
I could list countless others who entertain but perhaps the most complex of these is the storekeeper Ankran. Abercrombie creates characters you want to spend time with. Yarvi’s friends are your friends, his enemies become people you want to hunt down and kill yourself.
The plot is fantastic. Abercrombie weaves a tale of retribution, the hero’s journey, coming of age and friendship all within a short space. Yet at no point did I feel cheated or felt that the book needed to be fleshed out.
In fact it is very hard to think of any negative things to say about Half a King. If I was being really nit-picky, occasionally the battle scenes were a little confusing. Some of the actions such as Yarvi putting his stump under an enemies armpit but at the same time pinning the arm I found a little hard to picture, but this in no way detracts from my enjoyment of the novel.
The ending is superb. Plot threads are resolved, no character is left hanging and there are twists a plenty. The twists are the kind that make you slap your forehead for not seeing them and make complete sense.
Overall, Half a King is fantastic. It might even be my favourite Abercrombie book to date and that is saying something. The best part is we also don’t have long to wait for the sequel.
My rating 9.3
August 3, 2014
Book Review - The Templars Paradox
The Templar Paradox – Jon Champs
This is a first for me. I discovered this book after the author followed me on Twitter. Their short blurb and polite request to check out their book intrigued me enough to delve into the reviews. Being a sucker for lost ancient artefacts that are rumoured to contain immense power I decided to take the plunge.
The Blurb:
Seven hundred years ago a group of Templar Knights flee, on secret orders to carry a rediscovered holy relic of vast power and hide it. They escape and create a new home, secretly creating a vast monument to the relic nobody but they know exists.
In the present Jake Sheridan a partly disgraced history lecturer runs away from his own problems by moving to France. Before he knows it his life is turned upside down as he finds himself embroiled in a struggle to understand a string of murders going back 70 years, a deeply personal challenge he never envisioned and a host of gossip hungry British Ex-Pats who'll make his life a misery for their own amusement.
Torn and driven at the same time, his sense of justice, reality and what’s right catapults him into a complex web of living history, avarice and naked ambition. As the body count mounts and the plot thickens, can Jake find the answers before the devastating consequences play out?
To be honest, this book does not start well. Now please bear with me, because although I might be very negative at the start of the review, my opinion does change.
The opening chapter involves the main protagonist Jake Sheridan having a rather mundane conversation with his wife over moving to France. Jake sees this as a new start and a chance to put his sketchy past behind him where he has been broadly discredited as a historian and author.
I am not too sure what this chapter hopes to achieve as there is no conflict between Jake and his wife. She agrees to the move and does not develop a personality in the process.
We then wade through some very disjointed chapters where the wife’s new flat is broken into and Jake suddenly through a series of random erections around men, decides he is gay.
The break-in just feels out of place. I assume the whole purpose is to establish that Jake no longer loves his wife anymore, but his lack of concern for her wellbeing is baffling. Even if I no longer wanted to be with my wife, I am not sure I would feel comfortable leaving her in a city all by herself, when I knew it had been broken into more than once.
Even stranger, when Jake first visits his wife, she is distraught that the flat her employer has provided, is worse than a pig sty. However, when they enter the apartment together, the place has been scrubbed from top to bottom, with new paint, carpets and furniture – definitely a mystery, but not as much of a mystery as the fact that whoever cleaned the apartment accidentally forgot to take a video with gay porn on it from the VCR and a bunch of cassettes that were extremely valuable.
However, interspersed within the opening chapters is a flashback of three Knights fleeing across Europe and in possession of something of immense value. This chapter is so superior to the modern day chapters it sticks out by a mile and made me wish the whole novel was set in this time period.
Once Jake gets to his new home in France, things improve. The book flows more evenly as he introduces himself to the community and begins to settle in. Events occur more organically and we finally get a sense (around 20% in the novel) of what the story might be about). If I was editing the novel this is where I would begin itJake is so-so protagonist. He is a bit too bland to be likeable and his refusals to acknowledge his sudden gay inclinations soon become irksome.
There are only so many times you can read about him getting turned on by men and dismissing what it might mean before it begins to grate. Once this particularly facet of his personality is resolved, the plot settles down into a steady pace.
There are still annoying inconsistencies for example, Jake’s partner wakes up every morning as spritely as can be, performing several press-ups, but when they get up early to go to an airport he suddenly has “zero energy.”
The Templar’s Paradox swings between a romance novel and a thriller. As a result the “thriller” aspect of the plot suffers. Events randomly happen to Jake such as being shot at but he does not seem too bothered by it. There is never a sense of continual danger, instead the plot falls into the pattern of something dangerous happening to Jake and then the next minute he shrugs his shoulders and hops into bed. This danger, shag, danger, shag approach dilutes any tension that has built up.
A lot of the action also takes place off camera so to speak. There are multiple murders, but they are almost always told in retrospect. However, despite the shaky start, I can honestly say that at no point did I want to give up on the book. Jon Champs writing style is easy going and intelligent. Jon clearly knows his subject matter well and this translates well into the prose. Occasionally, there are info dumps and Jon has a rather humorous in ability to talk about a car without describing the exact make and model number.
The last third of the novel are without doubt the strongest. The writing is more assured and more important effortless. The plot flows as the lose threads come together nicely and the mystery is revealed.
The ending (apart from one revelation that is a little too hard to accept) is actually quite clever and rounds things up nicely. There is a reason why the mediocre start of the book is essential to the start and the inconsistencies do start to make sense. I still feel it would have been better without the opening chapters and would have liked to have had more flashbacks (there is only one more chapter and again this is very strong).
Overall, I am pleased I gave this novel a try. It improved with every page I read and for a debut is commendable. I feel compelled to mention that there are quite a few errors within the text, not enough to ruin the book, but way above the average amount. Some of them are so glaring that a proof reader would pick up instantly.
My rating 6.2
July 30, 2014
Book Review - Dorothy and the wizard of Oz
Dorothy and the wizard of Oz
Considering how much of a classic the Wizard of Oz is and how much the film was a big influence on my childhood, I thought it was criminal that I had never read the stories the film was based on. A year ago I decided to rectify that and discovered a series of enchanting books full of imagination. This is the 4th entry in the series.
The blurb:During a California earthquake Dorothy falls into the underground Land of the Manaboos where she again meets the Wizard of Oz.
It is fascinating to see what device Frank L Baum uses with each book to transport Dorothy to Oz. The first book used a tornado, the next used a shipwreck etc. In this entry Dorothy falls down a hole in an earthquake.
Absurd? Of course but it also doesn't matter. This book see Baum explore his more whimsical side. The explanation for the earthquake is actually quite comical. In fact throughout, the prose sometimes reads very much like a Pratchett or a Douglas Adams novel. I wouldn't be surprised if either of those authors cited Baum as an influence on their writing.
For example, Dorothy's encounter with the Dragonlettes. These potentially dangerous animals are actually quite funny as they are torn between not helping Dorothy because they want to eat her and being scared of not helping her as that would be naughty and they'll be punished.
This book is unique as Dorothy does not immediately arrive in Oz. Instead we meet a variety of new characters such as the delightful Mangaboos to the marginally terrifying Gurgles.
Dorothy is also reunited with old friends as well as a plethora of new ones such as Zeb and the cart horse. There is also the rather unpleasant Eureka, who is Dorothy's cat (Toto's temporary replacement).
Baum keeps things light hearted but at the same time gives more weight to his world building. In this novel we get to know more about the wonderful wizard of Oz and his past. We learn what made him come to Oz in the first place.
The highlight of the novel though is the humorous trial of Eureka at the end. This brings all of the characters together and allows them to showcase their personalities. The scarecrow’s constant questioning of the Woggle-Bug in particular is very amusing.
All in all this is perhaps my favourite entry into the Oz series so far. The plot may be disjointed but you can really feel the fun Frank L Baum has writing the book and temporarily living the lives of his creations.
My rating: 8.2
Considering how much of a classic the Wizard of Oz is and how much the film was a big influence on my childhood, I thought it was criminal that I had never read the stories the film was based on. A year ago I decided to rectify that and discovered a series of enchanting books full of imagination. This is the 4th entry in the series.
The blurb:During a California earthquake Dorothy falls into the underground Land of the Manaboos where she again meets the Wizard of Oz.
It is fascinating to see what device Frank L Baum uses with each book to transport Dorothy to Oz. The first book used a tornado, the next used a shipwreck etc. In this entry Dorothy falls down a hole in an earthquake.
Absurd? Of course but it also doesn't matter. This book see Baum explore his more whimsical side. The explanation for the earthquake is actually quite comical. In fact throughout, the prose sometimes reads very much like a Pratchett or a Douglas Adams novel. I wouldn't be surprised if either of those authors cited Baum as an influence on their writing.
For example, Dorothy's encounter with the Dragonlettes. These potentially dangerous animals are actually quite funny as they are torn between not helping Dorothy because they want to eat her and being scared of not helping her as that would be naughty and they'll be punished.
This book is unique as Dorothy does not immediately arrive in Oz. Instead we meet a variety of new characters such as the delightful Mangaboos to the marginally terrifying Gurgles.
Dorothy is also reunited with old friends as well as a plethora of new ones such as Zeb and the cart horse. There is also the rather unpleasant Eureka, who is Dorothy's cat (Toto's temporary replacement).
Baum keeps things light hearted but at the same time gives more weight to his world building. In this novel we get to know more about the wonderful wizard of Oz and his past. We learn what made him come to Oz in the first place.
The highlight of the novel though is the humorous trial of Eureka at the end. This brings all of the characters together and allows them to showcase their personalities. The scarecrow’s constant questioning of the Woggle-Bug in particular is very amusing.
All in all this is perhaps my favourite entry into the Oz series so far. The plot may be disjointed but you can really feel the fun Frank L Baum has writing the book and temporarily living the lives of his creations.
My rating: 8.2
July 27, 2014
Book Review - Hold Tight
Hold Tight – Harlan Coben
For an author I thoroughly enjoy, it has been long time since I have read a Harlan Coben novel. His standalone novels, tend to be mind boggling awesome in terms of the amount of twists and turns Coben puts the reader through. The plot starts off in one direction and then goes off in several different tangents. In short, they are generally awesome.
The Blurb:
Tia and Mike Baye never imagined they'd become spying, overprotective parents. But their sixteen-year-old son Adam has been unusually distant and aloof lately, and after the recent suicide of his classmate, Spencer Hill, they can't help but worry. They install a spy program on Adam's computer and within days they are jolted by a strange message to their son from an unknown correspondent: "Just stay quiet and all safe." Meanwhile, browsing through an online memorial for her son, Betsy Hill is struck by one photo in particular - it appears to have been taken on the night of Spencer's death...and he wasn't alone. She thinks it's Adam Baye standing just outside the camera's range, and when Adam goes missing, it soon becomes clear that something deep and sinister has infected their community. Uncovering the secrets and lies at the heart of Spencer's death may be the only thing that can help Betsy move on - and perhaps save Adam's life.
Hold Tight is a little different from Coben’s other novels in that although the twists and turns are present, the plot focuses on a few mysteries and sticks with them. This is refreshing and you spend more time with consistent characters and they behaviours remain constant.
Although the blurb suggests the main characters in the book are Tia and Mike, this novel focuses on the lives of dozens of characters. Being part of the same community they all interact with each other at certain points but a lot of the plot threads are seemingly unrelated. The theme running through each thread is undoubtedly that of parenthood. With different characters protecting their children in different ways, or seeming to not give a damn about their responsibilities.
Rather than be frustrating, in Coben’s capable hands, the loose plot threads add to the mystery. It is akin to doing a puzzle where you look at a piece and wonder what on earth it could be and then suddenly it slots in and makes the whole scene come to life.
Tia and Mike are strong characters who are concerned about their son (Adam) to the point where they install Spyware on his computer to monitor his behaviour. It is not a question of trust, but precaution as their son has become so withdrawn and is behaving in a way very different from normal. It turns out their fears were correct, when Adam goes missing.
The installation of the software gives rise to a number of ethical dilemmas and Mia’s and Mike’s conflict over whether they are doing the right thing is well handled. Mike is a devout father obsessed with doing everything possible to find his son, whilst Mia is the same but has to juggle a demanding boss at the same time.
The other character’s encounter issues equally daunting from dealing with the loss of a child and not knowing how they failed him, to discovering the best way to cope with a daughter that has gone mental torment.
The result of these scenarios is a slower paced Coben novel, but still just as thrilling. Everyone is a suspect even though you don’t want them to be and Coben as usual does not give away any clues, providing just enough information to develop character and plot and no more.
There are some minor points. The sheer volume of characters means that sometimes you initially lose track of who is who. Although Coben quickly reminds the reader, it is a shame to feel lost for a bit. There is also one weak character that is clearly unhinged. His reasoning for committing the crimes he does are not completely convincing, which is a shame as all the other characters feel realistic.
When the revelations start to happen, they do not disappoint. All plot elements are satisfactorily resolved and culminate in exciting set pieces to boot.
Overall, Hold Tight marks a departure from a set of standalones that were in danger of becoming a little too formulaic. I think the new direction works extremely well and Coben has added another strong book to his bibliography.
My rating: 8.5
For an author I thoroughly enjoy, it has been long time since I have read a Harlan Coben novel. His standalone novels, tend to be mind boggling awesome in terms of the amount of twists and turns Coben puts the reader through. The plot starts off in one direction and then goes off in several different tangents. In short, they are generally awesome.
The Blurb:
Tia and Mike Baye never imagined they'd become spying, overprotective parents. But their sixteen-year-old son Adam has been unusually distant and aloof lately, and after the recent suicide of his classmate, Spencer Hill, they can't help but worry. They install a spy program on Adam's computer and within days they are jolted by a strange message to their son from an unknown correspondent: "Just stay quiet and all safe." Meanwhile, browsing through an online memorial for her son, Betsy Hill is struck by one photo in particular - it appears to have been taken on the night of Spencer's death...and he wasn't alone. She thinks it's Adam Baye standing just outside the camera's range, and when Adam goes missing, it soon becomes clear that something deep and sinister has infected their community. Uncovering the secrets and lies at the heart of Spencer's death may be the only thing that can help Betsy move on - and perhaps save Adam's life.
Hold Tight is a little different from Coben’s other novels in that although the twists and turns are present, the plot focuses on a few mysteries and sticks with them. This is refreshing and you spend more time with consistent characters and they behaviours remain constant.
Although the blurb suggests the main characters in the book are Tia and Mike, this novel focuses on the lives of dozens of characters. Being part of the same community they all interact with each other at certain points but a lot of the plot threads are seemingly unrelated. The theme running through each thread is undoubtedly that of parenthood. With different characters protecting their children in different ways, or seeming to not give a damn about their responsibilities.
Rather than be frustrating, in Coben’s capable hands, the loose plot threads add to the mystery. It is akin to doing a puzzle where you look at a piece and wonder what on earth it could be and then suddenly it slots in and makes the whole scene come to life.
Tia and Mike are strong characters who are concerned about their son (Adam) to the point where they install Spyware on his computer to monitor his behaviour. It is not a question of trust, but precaution as their son has become so withdrawn and is behaving in a way very different from normal. It turns out their fears were correct, when Adam goes missing.
The installation of the software gives rise to a number of ethical dilemmas and Mia’s and Mike’s conflict over whether they are doing the right thing is well handled. Mike is a devout father obsessed with doing everything possible to find his son, whilst Mia is the same but has to juggle a demanding boss at the same time.
The other character’s encounter issues equally daunting from dealing with the loss of a child and not knowing how they failed him, to discovering the best way to cope with a daughter that has gone mental torment.
The result of these scenarios is a slower paced Coben novel, but still just as thrilling. Everyone is a suspect even though you don’t want them to be and Coben as usual does not give away any clues, providing just enough information to develop character and plot and no more.
There are some minor points. The sheer volume of characters means that sometimes you initially lose track of who is who. Although Coben quickly reminds the reader, it is a shame to feel lost for a bit. There is also one weak character that is clearly unhinged. His reasoning for committing the crimes he does are not completely convincing, which is a shame as all the other characters feel realistic.
When the revelations start to happen, they do not disappoint. All plot elements are satisfactorily resolved and culminate in exciting set pieces to boot.
Overall, Hold Tight marks a departure from a set of standalones that were in danger of becoming a little too formulaic. I think the new direction works extremely well and Coben has added another strong book to his bibliography.
My rating: 8.5
July 9, 2014
Book Review - River of Souls
River of Souls – Robert McCammon
In the space of three months the majority of my favourite authors have all or will have released new books. John Connolly's book was excellent, Stephen King's didn't disappoint and hopefully Joe Abercrombie's will meet expectations. None of these were as eagerly anticipated as Robert McCammon's new Matthew Corbett book.
The blurb:
The year is 1703. The place: the Carolina settlement of Charles Town. Matthew Corbett, professional 'problem solver,' has accepted a lucrative, if unusual, commission: escorting a beautiful woman to a fancy dress ball.
What should be a pleasant assignment takes a darker turn when Matthew becomes involved in a murder investigation. A sixteen-year-old girl has been stabbed to death on the grounds of a local plantation. The suspected killer is a slave who has escaped, with two family members, into the dubious protection of a nearby swamp. Troubled by certain discrepancies and determined to see some sort of justice done, Matthew joins the hunt for the runaway slaves. He embarks on a treacherous journey up the Solstice River, also known as the River of Souls. He discovers that something born of the swamp has joined the hunt...and is stalking the hunters with more than murder in mind.
What follows is a shattering ordeal encompassing snakes, alligators, exiled savages, mythical beasts, and ordinary human treachery. The journey up the River of Souls will test Matthew's courage, commitment, and powers of endurance. It will also lead him to a confrontation with a figure from his recent past, which will alter Matthew's life, setting the stage for the next installment in this compulsively readable series.
I read some reviews that mentioned they were disappointed with the short length of this entry in the series (it is roughly half the size of the normal length of the other books), this never bothers me. A story should be as long as it needs to be. In McCammon's capable hands you know you are getting quality. Having said that, when the writing is this good you do greedily hunger for more.
River of souls sees a rather bruised and battered Matthew Corbett recovering from his rather harrowing encounter with the nefarious Professor Fell. There are job opportunities available for him to solve but none of them provide any interest for our young problem solver. In the end, he is forced to take a mission to Charlestown to accompany a young lady to a ball and inevitably this seemingly mundane mission turns out to be more complicated and introduces him to Magnus Muldoon in the process.
Matthew decides to stay on in Charlestown to recuperate but whilst he is there a murder occurs and Matthew is unable to resist investigating. After some initial probing Matthew is unable to accept that the man accused of murdering the girl's life is really to blame. The residents of Charlestown are offered a reward if they hunt down the slave incorrectly accused of the murder and so Matthew faces a race against time to find the slave and his family before they are murdered.
The pursuit takes Matthew and Magnus Muldoon up the River of Souls which permits Robert McCammon to flex his imagination and create an eerie atmosphere that only he can produce. Deadly encounters with wildlife, feral tribes and even a mysterious supernatural entity are all encountered, topped off with some excellent characters.
Matthew is as resourceful, yet vulnerable as ever. He takes an absolute battering in this novel and despite displaying unwavering determination, you never get the sense he is in control or that he will prevail.
Magnus Muldoon is an excellent character even if he resembles a more primitive Hudson Greathouse. After such a despicable introduction McCammon makes you root for his character as if he had been an ever present favourite. Considering the short length of the book this is certainly no mean feat and exemplifies McCammon’s skill with characters.
There are weaknesses: The story arc actually ends quite a bit before the end of the book making the plot even shorter; the last few chapters are quite obvious and seem a bit too contrived in a series that never relies on such tropes and the appearance of one character is so coincidental it is almost comical.
Having said that, the result of these coincidences is one hell of a good cliff-hanger. This all sets the next book up perfectly.
Overall, when River of Souls is good, it is some of the best writing in the series to date. The short length (I know I sound hypocritical) do tarnish the novel slightly and the coincidences at the end are a little far-fetched.
My rating: 8.8
In the space of three months the majority of my favourite authors have all or will have released new books. John Connolly's book was excellent, Stephen King's didn't disappoint and hopefully Joe Abercrombie's will meet expectations. None of these were as eagerly anticipated as Robert McCammon's new Matthew Corbett book.
The blurb:
The year is 1703. The place: the Carolina settlement of Charles Town. Matthew Corbett, professional 'problem solver,' has accepted a lucrative, if unusual, commission: escorting a beautiful woman to a fancy dress ball.
What should be a pleasant assignment takes a darker turn when Matthew becomes involved in a murder investigation. A sixteen-year-old girl has been stabbed to death on the grounds of a local plantation. The suspected killer is a slave who has escaped, with two family members, into the dubious protection of a nearby swamp. Troubled by certain discrepancies and determined to see some sort of justice done, Matthew joins the hunt for the runaway slaves. He embarks on a treacherous journey up the Solstice River, also known as the River of Souls. He discovers that something born of the swamp has joined the hunt...and is stalking the hunters with more than murder in mind.
What follows is a shattering ordeal encompassing snakes, alligators, exiled savages, mythical beasts, and ordinary human treachery. The journey up the River of Souls will test Matthew's courage, commitment, and powers of endurance. It will also lead him to a confrontation with a figure from his recent past, which will alter Matthew's life, setting the stage for the next installment in this compulsively readable series.
I read some reviews that mentioned they were disappointed with the short length of this entry in the series (it is roughly half the size of the normal length of the other books), this never bothers me. A story should be as long as it needs to be. In McCammon's capable hands you know you are getting quality. Having said that, when the writing is this good you do greedily hunger for more.
River of souls sees a rather bruised and battered Matthew Corbett recovering from his rather harrowing encounter with the nefarious Professor Fell. There are job opportunities available for him to solve but none of them provide any interest for our young problem solver. In the end, he is forced to take a mission to Charlestown to accompany a young lady to a ball and inevitably this seemingly mundane mission turns out to be more complicated and introduces him to Magnus Muldoon in the process.
Matthew decides to stay on in Charlestown to recuperate but whilst he is there a murder occurs and Matthew is unable to resist investigating. After some initial probing Matthew is unable to accept that the man accused of murdering the girl's life is really to blame. The residents of Charlestown are offered a reward if they hunt down the slave incorrectly accused of the murder and so Matthew faces a race against time to find the slave and his family before they are murdered.
The pursuit takes Matthew and Magnus Muldoon up the River of Souls which permits Robert McCammon to flex his imagination and create an eerie atmosphere that only he can produce. Deadly encounters with wildlife, feral tribes and even a mysterious supernatural entity are all encountered, topped off with some excellent characters.
Matthew is as resourceful, yet vulnerable as ever. He takes an absolute battering in this novel and despite displaying unwavering determination, you never get the sense he is in control or that he will prevail.
Magnus Muldoon is an excellent character even if he resembles a more primitive Hudson Greathouse. After such a despicable introduction McCammon makes you root for his character as if he had been an ever present favourite. Considering the short length of the book this is certainly no mean feat and exemplifies McCammon’s skill with characters.
There are weaknesses: The story arc actually ends quite a bit before the end of the book making the plot even shorter; the last few chapters are quite obvious and seem a bit too contrived in a series that never relies on such tropes and the appearance of one character is so coincidental it is almost comical.
Having said that, the result of these coincidences is one hell of a good cliff-hanger. This all sets the next book up perfectly.
Overall, when River of Souls is good, it is some of the best writing in the series to date. The short length (I know I sound hypocritical) do tarnish the novel slightly and the coincidences at the end are a little far-fetched.
My rating: 8.8
July 6, 2014
Book Review - Bullets and Fire
Bullets and Fire – Joe R Lansdale
Every now and then I read a short story compilation. They all have one thing in common: the Joe Lansdale story is always one of the stronger stories. In England, Joe is quite hard to get hold of without paying a hefty amount of cash in comparison to other books. This is the only reason I have not snapped up his books. I saw Bullets and Fire on the Kindle for under a pound and snapped it up even though it is a short story.
The Blurb:
Dad told me once, that if people don't care about where they live, the way they act, people they associate with, they get lost in the dark, can't find their way back cause there's no light left. I had taken a pretty good step into the shadows tonight." It's payback time.
Bullets and Fire is about revenge. The opening pages introduce you to a number of unsavoury characters; none more so than the protagonist who has just violently beaten up a little girl.
Although it becomes clear that there is a reason behind this heinous act, you are left under no illusion that the protagonist is not in a good place and is not a nice guy. The act he committed was an initiation into becoming a gang member of thugs, peddling drugs. The gang think nothing of hurting innocent members of the public and regard themselves of a law unto their own.
At only 38 pages the story is too short for any real character development. You get the sense that the main character is in way over his head and does not overly belong in the criminal world. The gang members he meets are thinly sketched villains with no real sense of purpose or background. They are also unbelievable stupid. The main character clearly makes a mistake in his concocted story but they accept his rather harried and implausible explanation without too much scrutiny. I thought this might come into play later on, but sadly it didn’t.
After the initial opening scenes, the story skims over some material in order to get to the conclusion. I didn’t mind this. Sometimes in a short story you only need to read what is relevant.
The ending is great. The protagonist’s actions become apparent and I felt generally sympathetic towards him. It was clear early on, what was going to happen and that the protagonist was always going to cut a tragic figure. Without ruining the ending, I expected some sort of recompense at the end but the fact it was so meagre really illustrated how desperate the main character was.
Overall, as I mentioned in the introduction Lansdale has been a favourite short story writer of mine. Bullets and Fire strengthens my opinion.
My rating: 7.9
Every now and then I read a short story compilation. They all have one thing in common: the Joe Lansdale story is always one of the stronger stories. In England, Joe is quite hard to get hold of without paying a hefty amount of cash in comparison to other books. This is the only reason I have not snapped up his books. I saw Bullets and Fire on the Kindle for under a pound and snapped it up even though it is a short story.
The Blurb:
Dad told me once, that if people don't care about where they live, the way they act, people they associate with, they get lost in the dark, can't find their way back cause there's no light left. I had taken a pretty good step into the shadows tonight." It's payback time.
Bullets and Fire is about revenge. The opening pages introduce you to a number of unsavoury characters; none more so than the protagonist who has just violently beaten up a little girl.
Although it becomes clear that there is a reason behind this heinous act, you are left under no illusion that the protagonist is not in a good place and is not a nice guy. The act he committed was an initiation into becoming a gang member of thugs, peddling drugs. The gang think nothing of hurting innocent members of the public and regard themselves of a law unto their own.
At only 38 pages the story is too short for any real character development. You get the sense that the main character is in way over his head and does not overly belong in the criminal world. The gang members he meets are thinly sketched villains with no real sense of purpose or background. They are also unbelievable stupid. The main character clearly makes a mistake in his concocted story but they accept his rather harried and implausible explanation without too much scrutiny. I thought this might come into play later on, but sadly it didn’t.
After the initial opening scenes, the story skims over some material in order to get to the conclusion. I didn’t mind this. Sometimes in a short story you only need to read what is relevant.
The ending is great. The protagonist’s actions become apparent and I felt generally sympathetic towards him. It was clear early on, what was going to happen and that the protagonist was always going to cut a tragic figure. Without ruining the ending, I expected some sort of recompense at the end but the fact it was so meagre really illustrated how desperate the main character was.
Overall, as I mentioned in the introduction Lansdale has been a favourite short story writer of mine. Bullets and Fire strengthens my opinion.
My rating: 7.9
July 2, 2014
Book Review - The Sound of Thunder
The sound of thunder – Wilbur Smith
Although I had read two books by Wilbur Smith and enjoyed them immensely, the first Sean Courtney novel, When the lion feeds completely blew me away. I loved how it was a family drama with a western feel to it. I eagerly anticipated the follow up.
The blurb:
Sean Courtney, the impulsive adventurer, returns from the wilderness a rich man, until he is robbed by the Boers. A grim homecoming finds his country in the grip of war, but conflicts within the family will prove far more bitter than any fought on the veld.
The sound of thunder begins with the same level of quality as the first novel. Sean is older now and his son is now a teenager. Within the first chapter he has lost the fortune he amassed and has to start over.
It sets the premise for the rest of the book and once again makes him the underdog and a character to root for. However, Smith takes care to evolve his protagonist’s character. Whilst Sean is still the same loveable, enthusiastic man full of risk and adventure he is also a lousy father. He turns a blind eye to the bully of a man his son is developing into, choosing to ignore his responsibility as a father in the hope the situation will resolve itself.A chance encounter provides Sean with a new love interest. This is a little unrealistic in that it is virtually love at first sight. What is more the woman is married and this leads to an inevitable plot twist that you could see a mile off. But when the story is so engrossing as this story is, this really doesn’t matter.
Set against the backdrop of the Boer war, Sean’s life cannot avoid the war and he soon finds himself embroiled in the conflict. Whilst this is intriguing in part and the description of the battles detailed, I have to admit, I found my interest waning in parts. The sound of thunder is at its strongest when it involves the drama of the Courtney family. The scenes depicting the war remove the emotional attachment I experienced with the characters, mainly because the secondary characters in these scenes weren’t so well rounded with one obvious exception.
The real plot is centred on Sean’s family and the history and turmoil that come with everyday living. All of the characters are well fleshed out. Sean’s sons in particular are great characters in both their likability and their despicableness, whilst his brother develops nicely. The villains in the story with the exception of Sean’s sister in law are not cartoonish. All have sound reasoning for their actions and invoke a degree of pity at least for their actions.
The ending is very good. It is not exactly epic but brings a satisfying conclusion to all of the character’s story arcs whilst setting up some nice cliff hangers for the concluding volume in the series.
All in all, The sound of thunder is an excellent, if uneven read. It suffers from a middle section that focuses a little too much on the Boer war, which whilst interesting is not of the same quality of the excellent opening and concluding sections.
My rating 8.6
Although I had read two books by Wilbur Smith and enjoyed them immensely, the first Sean Courtney novel, When the lion feeds completely blew me away. I loved how it was a family drama with a western feel to it. I eagerly anticipated the follow up.
The blurb:
Sean Courtney, the impulsive adventurer, returns from the wilderness a rich man, until he is robbed by the Boers. A grim homecoming finds his country in the grip of war, but conflicts within the family will prove far more bitter than any fought on the veld.
The sound of thunder begins with the same level of quality as the first novel. Sean is older now and his son is now a teenager. Within the first chapter he has lost the fortune he amassed and has to start over.
It sets the premise for the rest of the book and once again makes him the underdog and a character to root for. However, Smith takes care to evolve his protagonist’s character. Whilst Sean is still the same loveable, enthusiastic man full of risk and adventure he is also a lousy father. He turns a blind eye to the bully of a man his son is developing into, choosing to ignore his responsibility as a father in the hope the situation will resolve itself.A chance encounter provides Sean with a new love interest. This is a little unrealistic in that it is virtually love at first sight. What is more the woman is married and this leads to an inevitable plot twist that you could see a mile off. But when the story is so engrossing as this story is, this really doesn’t matter.
Set against the backdrop of the Boer war, Sean’s life cannot avoid the war and he soon finds himself embroiled in the conflict. Whilst this is intriguing in part and the description of the battles detailed, I have to admit, I found my interest waning in parts. The sound of thunder is at its strongest when it involves the drama of the Courtney family. The scenes depicting the war remove the emotional attachment I experienced with the characters, mainly because the secondary characters in these scenes weren’t so well rounded with one obvious exception.
The real plot is centred on Sean’s family and the history and turmoil that come with everyday living. All of the characters are well fleshed out. Sean’s sons in particular are great characters in both their likability and their despicableness, whilst his brother develops nicely. The villains in the story with the exception of Sean’s sister in law are not cartoonish. All have sound reasoning for their actions and invoke a degree of pity at least for their actions.
The ending is very good. It is not exactly epic but brings a satisfying conclusion to all of the character’s story arcs whilst setting up some nice cliff hangers for the concluding volume in the series.
All in all, The sound of thunder is an excellent, if uneven read. It suffers from a middle section that focuses a little too much on the Boer war, which whilst interesting is not of the same quality of the excellent opening and concluding sections.
My rating 8.6
