The Last Quarrel
(Arbalester 1 of 3)
by Duncan Lay
fantasy
copyright 2015
read in October 2018
rated 6/10: read to pass the time
My first comment is: DO NOT READ THIS BOOK.
Okay, rated at 6/10 which is not bad. But it is the first of a trilogy -- and I can find no mention of that fact anywhere in the book. Which really annoys me. Do you already have the complete trilogy ? Fine, read it. If you only have book one -- be warned: nothing actually happens.
There is a host of characters. Four with some depth, the rest are 2D stereotypes. Of the four: one is an inspiring hero who falls for every trick and trap set by the baddies. This hero is an idiot.
His wife has issues, realistic issues. Which she puts aside in order to make promises; she has no idea how to make good on those promises. Their son is a wimp who has -- apparently -- potential. Everyone ignores that potential in order to teach him how to kill.
The fourth interesting character is another idiot, constantly shouting, Look at me ! look at me ! I've found the baddies ! Which causes no end of embarrassment.
I rather like these four. Despite their inherent idiocies.
The story itself is enjoyable -- but slow. With plenty of plot threads which -- I guess -- will eventually all join up.
The blurb says that the author "writes on the train", to and from his day job. I could easily believe that he gets on the train, forgets what he has previously written, so starts a new thread.
Now we get to the real problem with this book: absolutely nothing is finished.
There is no attempt to make this a standalone book. Major characters are guilty of murder, imprisoned, dead, at sea, out of sight for several chapters. Some cliffhangers but mostly just, to be continued. A real book has beginning, middle and end. This book just has a lot of beginnings.
Okay, it's easy to read and quite enjoyable. Yet the final impression is, What the hell ?!
If you have the complete trilogy, fine. Otherwise, read a book which has an actual ending.
Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper
... Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved
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"It's a funny kind of month, October. For the really keen footy fan it's when you discover that your wife left you, months ago." … Denis Norden had it as "cricket"
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