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The Rook (The Checquy Files, #1)

Daniel O'Malley

Start date: July 1, 2013

Finish date: July 1, 2013

Discussion: Sci-fi & Fantasy Literature

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Sci-fi & Fantasy Literature

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Jul 29, 2013 Jim rated it liked it

Shelves: jims-reviews, gothamcitypubliclibrary-fiction

The Rook was difficult to get into. O'Malley breaks the "show, don't tell" rule with relish, and spends at least 1/2 of the book (more in the first few chapters) expositing on the background of the organization the main character belongs to - in the form of documents the main character is reading. A little tedious. Even if there was the touch of superpowers in it. It didn't help the reading when the action you're interested in is broken with yet another character's dossier.

That being said, it w ...more

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Jun 03, 2013 Cornerofmadness rated it it was amazing

Shelves: urban-fantasy, fantasy

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. It's a rare thing for me to give a book a 5 star rating but The Rook is, in my opinion, deserving of it. After all, it's half epistolary novel with no real action until about 200 pages of nearly 500 and yet all that exposition works so very well. Myfanwy Thomas opens the novel waking up with complete amnesia and surrounded by dead bodies. The only clue to her life is a letter in her pocket telling her she can go to one safety deposit box and disappear as a whole new person with a new name or ope It's a rare thing for me to give a book a 5 star rating but The Rook is, in my opinion, deserving of it. After all, it's half epistolary novel with no real action until about 200 pages of nearly 500 and yet all that exposition works so very well. Myfanwy Thomas opens the novel waking up with complete amnesia and surrounded by dead bodies. The only clue to her life is a letter in her pocket telling her she can go to one safety deposit box and disappear as a whole new person with a new name or open box B and find out who she was because who she had been had been warned by psychics her memories would be scooped out of her.

Myfanwy chooses to find out who she was, helped along by another attack on her already battered body and her ability to make things happen to other people. As she starts reading all the paperwork her former self left behind, and there is plenty, letters about herself, letters about the Checquy where she works, letters about every member of the court that Myfanwy could come into contact with. The Checquy is like the X-Men meets MI-6. Everyone there has preternatural abilities except the retainers. Anyone wearing purple is a retainer, a normal human. Myfanwy's retainer is her secretary Ingrid, her very own very capable Moneypenny.

Myfanwy's ability is to take over people's nervous system at a touch. She's already learned that she can do it without touching. As she reads on, Myfanwy realizes she was a mousy little thing that everyone used as a doormat. Her other superpower was being an administrator and that's what got her elevated to the high rank of 'rook.' The other rook is Gestalt, quadruplets, (twin boys, a fraternal brother and a sister) who excel at kicking ass and only have one mind between the four puppet bodies. It's such a great idea for a character.

Myfanwy has two challenges, the first is to find out who tried to make her a mindless body and the other is the reappearance after several centuries of the alchemist grafters from Belgian who can make chimeric monsters of themselves and others. They are the sworn enemies of the Checquy.

I had four favorite characters, Myfanwy, Ingrid, Alrich and Gestalt which means I was sure most would die or be the villain. I was luckier than most this time but not one hundred percent. Myfanwy is a fascinating character. In fact, losing her memories might actually be the best thing that ever happened to her because the new Myfanwy is tough, able and takes her coworkers by complete surprise with this newfound grit.

Myfanwy's world is a fascinating one. It's a series but happily this is a complete story in and of itself. If you like strong women and well plotted stories (that didn't seem nearly as long as it was) you'll like this one. I'm looking forward to the next one in the series.
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May 20, 2013 Jana Denardo rated it it was amazing

Shelves: mystery, paranormal

Hands down one of the best things I've read all year. Myfanwy and her whole world (especially Gestalt) is one of those things you look at and think, 'man, I wish I had thought of this.' This hit all the right notes for me as far as superhuman abilities (being a long time superhero geek) and action/adventure. I'm looking forward to the sequel. ...more

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Jan 17, 2014 Lisa Martincik rated it really liked it

Shelves: sff

A bit heavy on exposition, and possesses a couple disheartening moments of creeping sexism, but a really fun read.

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Mar 08, 2013 Barb rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: sci-fi-suspense, mystery, fiction

Great book! I was hooked the entire time. It's about a spy in a supernatural version of MI5 whose memories are erased. I highly recommend if you're into that sort of thing. ...more

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