Author: David Keck
Cover Artist: Jane Adele Regina
Publisher: Tor
Binding: Hardcover
Publication Date: April 4, 2006
Tabula Rasa…It is always nice to be able to experience a new author. No preconceptions or longing for other characters or other series they have written, no falling into being able to guess where the story will go because you know the authors works. This is how I felt when I found out there was a new author writing some epic fantasy, David Keck.
The World and History
World building is interesting discussion with this book. I personally Keck’s world gave me that overall gritty real life medieval times feel with a little bit of Duskwood from World of Warcraft mixed into it. It has that dark feel where you never know what is right around the corner (sorry for the WoW reference I mean 6 million people play so I figured most of you would have an understanding). I could get a feel of what it was like for a knight during medieval times with a pseudo feudal system, minus the magic that randomly crops up in the book.
Here starts part of the issues with this book though; we have no understanding of magic in the world. There are supernatural creatures but they are very sporadic and jump in and out of the plot (some don’t even seem to have a place in the plot as we know it). The reader needs to know more about the world and the magic to make these events have an impact on the plot and allow us to follow along.
Plot
This is where things get interesting, well ok more like confusing. I remember these same feelings while watching the first season of Lost. You are reading and all of a sudden you are like WTF? Did I switch books? It seems like they are the same characters though, what happened. A lot of things just happen and as the reader I don’t believe you really get to know why? If I had to take a guess I am going to say magic maybe is re-awakening in the world? I shouldn’t really have to guess though when I am done with book 1. I’m sure things will come together as the other books come out, which is the reason I would continue to read the series.
The lack of given information that is focal to the plot makes the read a bit frustrating. What I am saying is that a lot of the action goes on around the plot while we are left to still feel confused and distant from the actual story itself. While complex and confusing are close in the dictionary it doesn’t make them good bed partners.
Characters
There is a medley of characters in this book, but as the reader I really don’t care too much about the characters other then Durand and a nagging need to read about Lamoric. A book of this nature we need to really care about the characters and the struggles they are going through. This does pick up a bit at the end of the book where things start to come together a bit more and you can understand both what Lamoric has given up as well as Durand to continue the journey, but it seems like a bit too little too late in the first book. We need to be grabbed by the main characters, not just strung along until the plot picks up.
Overall the book was very middle of the road, but it had enough glimpses of a good story that I will still read the next book from Mr. Keck. Even though I have a lot to say about the book that I didn’t enjoy, the ride was still good in the long run. After putting it down after reading the last page I could say the book grew on me a bit. I think as Keck continues in his writing we are in for some real treats from him as an author. I would like if the series comes together and explains a little bit more of the world and magic and supernatural things that happen. Unfortunately the back cover explains more about the magic in a blurb then I think even the characters in the book know.
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.