Today I want to introduce you to a brand-new author you probably don’t know yet: Shad Brooks. Shadow of the Conqueror I his firs book, published only last July, and although self-published, it is indeed a promising debut.
First, let me tell you what makes this book something truly special. Shad introduces us to a new world, original even in its geography, with an innovative way to understand magic and who its very existence affects the world and its traditions, toped by an engineering and industrialization framework based on those same principles. I don’t want to get into details, because I would rather have you discover it by the hand of the author itself, but if you have any questions, comments section is down there. What is undoubtful is that there are months -if not years- of planning behind this book, because everything, absolutely everything is well though out and clearly justified.
The main issue is that there may be too much justification for its own good and I sincerely believe that the book would have greatly benefit from the eyes of a content editor. Attempting to stay away from tropes and creating its own unique universe, the book has a lot to tell and even more to explain, and that translates in a slow pace, burdened with long exposition and info-dumps.
I can understand the reason for this though: Shad has everything though out and wants to demonstrate that nothing is just because, that everything happens has a reason in his world, and I have to admit that every small bit is perfectly justified, but some sections should have stayed in the draft. For instance, when he tows the ship, I don’t need a whole chapter explaining how every lever and crank works, it is enough for me to know that the character knows engineering and can tweak the ship to do what he needs: two sentences.
I’ve heard several people say they did not make it trough the first pages, and I get that. The beginning is tough, because barely nothing happens and it’s all explanations, flashbacks and more exposition; but if you are able to sit tight and enjoy the introduction to this new world, you are in for a treat.
The story, albeit slow at times, it is really good, with a perfect narrative arc that takes you to an epic finale where all the pieces come together in the most satisfying way, dropping you jaws to the ground. Throughout the story, brutal and intense action scenes alternate with more casual and I dare say funny moments, so that you never know what awaits around the next page.
There are not many characters, but the four that move the plot forward are very well written and they all have that hero-with-flaws profile I like so much, each carrying his or her emotional baggage along. The relationship between these characters, particularly that of Daylen and Ahrek, is probably the best the book has to offer, and I sincerely love the hero-antihero role of Daylen.
As I’ve said, a content editor would have worked wonders for this book, but that does not detract from the creative ingenuity of this new world, where light itself is magic, nor does it overshadow a great story with fantastic characters where, in the end, everything comes together in the most satisfying way possible.
Comentarios
Publicar un comentario