Child of a Mad God
(The Coven #1)
by R.A. Salvatore
fantasy
copyright 2018
read in August 2018
rated 6/10: read to pass the time
Warning: book #2 is not due to be published until 2019.
A really nasty tribe. Regular extreme violence. Yet not as bad as it sounds: the violence is cartoonish and usually happens to people for whom the reader has developed very little sympathy.
Meanwhile, outside the tribe, one man travels the land, battling villains and his own (not literal) demons. Which is interesting... the story covers the growth and development of the heroine from toddler to young adult. Then -- in the final chapters -- the man appears and plays a key role. How does the author deal with this -- without having the man appear suddenly, via deus ex machina ? Very cleverly ! We are given enough of the man's story to be interesting -- even though he seems to be well outside the story. Then his appearance at the crucial moment is completely logical. Well done :-)
For such a violent story, both man and woman are remarkably sympathetic. Other characters, however, are more confusing than conflicted. Though some of the confusion does eventually sort itself out. Often, again, in a surprisingly sympathetic -- if unbelievable -- manner.
That one man... Is he an escapee from previous books ? He certainly seems to have sufficient backstory. Not that it matters, this book reads well on its own. Almost...
The ending is satisfactory -- but with too many unresolved issues. Yes, it makes sense to end where it does. But will any of the loose ends ever be tied up ? Or is this the first book of an intended never-ending saga... Unfortunately, we will need to wait till at least 2019... waiting for a second Coven book to be published.
Hmmm... Re-reading the various cover blurbs: "she dreams of escaping to the world beyond"... I suspect that it will take several books for her to come anywhere near escape. And, "So begins a new saga". Yes, bother, a new saga.
Expect myriad loose ends and a failure to conclude. Oh well.
This book is fine to read by itself. What I'm left with, however, is not a feeling that I would like to read more. I'm left feeling slightly disappointed. Disappointed that there are so many loose ends -- admittedly, not ridiculous cliffhangers.
Enjoyable but feeling incomplete.
Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper
... Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved
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"When it comes to ideas, some people will stop at nothing." … per Ginger Meggs
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