The Last Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko is the sequel to the brilliant Night Watch Trilogy and that is really what is being reviewed here.
A confession, I am not a fan of Dark Fantasy- vampires, etc, leave me cold (no pun intended) but the Night Watch Trilogy is something different and when this book came I was pleased. The books are set now but there is a battle going on between forces of light and dark, starting in Moscow. The interesting point for me in the books is that these forces are essentially a difference of philosophy about how power can be used acceptably. The books are inventive and refreshing in there spin on Good and Evil; and the scarily neutral officials of the Twilight Watch who the overseers who maintain the balance. The Night Watch are the forces of Light who prosecute the forces of the Dark for infringements of the mutually agree code of conducts for each side; the Day Watch is the dark forces equivalent.
If you are looking for a good read, these are worth reading but start with the Night Watch. Do they appeal to Twilight Fans?... I don't know, but they are worth a try.
To read other reviews:
Showing posts with label fantasy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fantasy. Show all posts
Sunday, 13 January 2013
Sunday, 2 September 2012
Control Point
Control Point by Myke Cole is an interesting fantasy spin of a military adventure story. Oscar Britton, the main character is a lieutenant in the US Army who develops a prohibited magical ability - to open gates between any two points and goes on the run. He gets captured and is sent to a 'black ops' place where he is forced to join the army as a civilian contractor and learn to control his ability to become a weapon.
Some interesting questions are raised. Is it right to force people to join the military is they have a special ability? Is it right to persecute people because they have an ability that is not on an list of acceptable abilities? Should society have some controls built into to protect society from those with powerful abilities? In these contexts it reminds me a bit of Amped (expect the military bit).
The book is a fast paced adventure story with a fantasy twist. I think the book has a wide appeal. If you like fantasy stories set in the modern world; or military adventures of government agencies fighting secret/illegal wars; or stories about 'mutant' abilities appearing in a modern context this book might be for you.
Some interesting questions are raised. Is it right to force people to join the military is they have a special ability? Is it right to persecute people because they have an ability that is not on an list of acceptable abilities? Should society have some controls built into to protect society from those with powerful abilities? In these contexts it reminds me a bit of Amped (expect the military bit).
The book is a fast paced adventure story with a fantasy twist. I think the book has a wide appeal. If you like fantasy stories set in the modern world; or military adventures of government agencies fighting secret/illegal wars; or stories about 'mutant' abilities appearing in a modern context this book might be for you.
Sunday, 5 August 2012
The Left Hand of God
This book by Paul Hoffman is interesting and very dark book, Thomas Cale is the central character, a teenager raised by a violent and harsh religious sect the Redeemers, it appears to be a skilled killer. The story revolves around him and two other boys, plus a girl escaping their 'home' the Sanctuary, being chased, ending up in another city with Cale (no one calls him Thomas) falling in-love, killing quite a few people and... well I won't spoil the ending. What the Redeemers' plans for Cale are is not clear, but intriguing.
It is a good book that is a bit hard to categorise is it fantasy or alternative history? Some names of places are borrowed from real places and there is an Agincourt-style battle. I didn't think I was going to enjoy this book, but by the end I did and wanted to know what happens to Cale.
It is a good book that is a bit hard to categorise is it fantasy or alternative history? Some names of places are borrowed from real places and there is an Agincourt-style battle. I didn't think I was going to enjoy this book, but by the end I did and wanted to know what happens to Cale.
Wednesday, 13 June 2012
The Curious Case of the Clockwork Man
The Curious Case of the Clockwork Man by Mark Hodder is an interesting book. Richard Burton the explorer as a Sherlock Holmes-style private detective is an great idea, giving the character a reason to be an action hero. What genre to put this book is curious steam-punk or alternative history (a time-traveller had previously changed history), with well-known scientific heroes revealing a darker side or alternative side.
Little touches are good here like good like the foul-mouthed parakeets who pass on messages but add their own insults to the message.I really enjoyed this book, but it is hard (so perhaps best not) to pigeon-hole this book. There are elements of steam-punk, detective story (I keep thinking Sherlock Holmes as this not helped by one of the characters being a Doyle); but also areas traditionally associated with fantasy such as jewels with power.
Well worth a look. I would be interest to know what others think.#
Little touches are good here like good like the foul-mouthed parakeets who pass on messages but add their own insults to the message.I really enjoyed this book, but it is hard (so perhaps best not) to pigeon-hole this book. There are elements of steam-punk, detective story (I keep thinking Sherlock Holmes as this not helped by one of the characters being a Doyle); but also areas traditionally associated with fantasy such as jewels with power.
Well worth a look. I would be interest to know what others think.#
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