This book is a perfect example of the worst violent, macho pulp fiction of the old-fashioned sort. Except it’s a Sci-Fi/Fantasy blend. As with the originals, it has a predictable plot stereotypical characters, and every third word starts with an “f,” often directed at a friend. The social setting is a horrendous theocracy in which violence is the only way of life.
There is also a fascinating magical/scientific/metaphysical/system that is so complex the author can pretty well have anybody do anything and the reader will accept it. This plays hob with suspense because after a while we don’t worry about the effects of anyone’s actions; we know the author’s going to do whatever he wants anyway.
The early part of the story involves the buildup of the resistance movement and the takedown of the old order. This is done in the most violent way possible, with almost every positive character being killed in creatively horrible ways.
The author does a whole lot better describing these fights than he does describing the politics, iintrigue and social interaction that follows the successful overthrow of the government. This section is full of people have long, convoluted conversations where nobody says what they really mean, and the reader is left in the dark. The conflict dies and the suspense lags.
This all ends in the required blood-soaked battle, mostly described in the one-on-one fights between the main characters. The plotline takes on several interesting hitches, which keeps the reader’s interest up for what would be a happily-ever-after ending if anyone could be happy in such a place.
There is a market for this sort of pornography of violence. Unfortunately the target readers have already been warped by the effects of the toxic, misogynistic male society they have been brought up in, and reading more of the same just makes them worse. As a reviewer, I am forced to compliment this writer on his skill at the art. As a human being, I could wish that he would use his abilities on projects with a bit more redeeming social value.
A reluctant three stars. Do not encourage your teenager to read this book.
