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phronk's review
4.0
I really enjoyed Balec, but I’ll get the negatives out of the way first to explain the missing star.
The novel is a sort of mashup between noir, urban fantasy, and Lovecraftian horror. The combination is fresh, but the writing and plot borrow stale cliches from each genre. The whole “suddenly a character gains psychic powers to reveal a plot point” trope needs to go. Also, the advance copy I received (free, in exchange for a review) had some errors here and there, especially toward the end. Speaking of the end, the climax makes an odd leap in point of view that somewhat lessens its impact.
Will all that said, Balec is instantly compelling, and keeps its grip throughout. The writing is fast-paced and unobtrusive, with cheesy but amusing dialogue. The plot stays tight, never meandering into subplots or losing sight of where it’s going. It reminded me of a climactic episode of a good TV show. I enjoy the hell out of quick reads like this, and look forward to seeing what McCormick does next.
The novel is a sort of mashup between noir, urban fantasy, and Lovecraftian horror. The combination is fresh, but the writing and plot borrow stale cliches from each genre. The whole “suddenly a character gains psychic powers to reveal a plot point” trope needs to go. Also, the advance copy I received (free, in exchange for a review) had some errors here and there, especially toward the end. Speaking of the end, the climax makes an odd leap in point of view that somewhat lessens its impact.
Will all that said, Balec is instantly compelling, and keeps its grip throughout. The writing is fast-paced and unobtrusive, with cheesy but amusing dialogue. The plot stays tight, never meandering into subplots or losing sight of where it’s going. It reminded me of a climactic episode of a good TV show. I enjoy the hell out of quick reads like this, and look forward to seeing what McCormick does next.
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