When Adam is saved from monsters by a strange man in a coat he is shown a secret world, a world full of gods and monsters, angels and demons, a world at war.
He is given an ultimatum, head to another dimension and gain power, or never be safe again. Guided by a soldier, a lunatic in a magic hat, and a spider (by adoption) he is taken to meet the Laughing One, a strange creature who seeks to teach him to reach his potential.
But beset by the emotionless Legate, the violent Ursas, the mysterious Kings Man and their army of monsters, and without even a clear idea of what's going on how can he hope to survive in this strange new world?
And even if he does reach the end of his path, will he recognise himself in the Laughing Man he is becoming?
The first time I sat down to read this I couldn't quite get into it, but the second time I'm really glad I persisted. It is to start with confusing, as Adam experiences so many things and so many new people in short space of time. And while it doesn't ever quite slow down, it gets really blood good and you learn to keep up. I'm astonished at how thoroughly this big, complex, alien world is introduced in a short space of time, without sacrificing the plot or the characters who are so much a part of it. And it leaves you with many intriguing things to think about, which I look forward to learning more (and having new questions raised) in the following books.
A bit slow and slightly incoherent in the beginning, but it picked midway through. Trying to follow which character is speaking is sometimes difficult. Still don't have a proper grasp on the motivations of the characters, and the explanation of the "other" world is a bit cumbersome. There are a number of formatting issues in the paperback edition; paragraphs not indented, quotation marks and commas missing, etc.
Excellent read. A great story with well-constructed plot and interesting characters. Very well-written too with great use of language and an interesting turn of phrase. Fantastic effort for a first published novel. Can't wait for the second instalment. It will be a must read. Hurry up!