Reviews

Fearless by M.W. Craven

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yvo_about_books's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense fast-paced

3.75

Finished reading: May 28th 2024

“So, what do you do when the rules of the game don't allow you to win? You cheat, of course.”

I became an instant fan of M.W. Craven's writing when I read The Puppet Show a couple years back, and that series is on my list of all time favorites. I can't deny that I would have loved to have the new Tilly and Poe instead, but while I wait I thought it was about time I finally met Ben Koenig. And boy, is this series completely different. I'm serious, Fearless is BRUTAL. And then I mean gore galore, fighting scenes everywhere, bullets spaying and bodies piling up faster than you can blink. Think Jack Reacher on steroids, and definitely only for those with a stomach made out of steel. It was definitely a bit too over the top, graphic and gory even for me. Don't get me wrong, I love a good fighting scene and impossible situations our main character has to fight himself out of, but this was getting a bit too ridiculous especially the the final part. That said, if you like high octane, gory and tense thrillers packed with constant action, Fearless will definitely deliver for you. Ben does make for an interesting character with his background, and I liked the Texas desert setting. Do I prefer Tilly and Poe? Most definitely. But I also wouldn't say no to another meeting with Ben either.

Content Warnings

rcars10's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging medium-paced

4.5

fantasyfairy's review against another edition

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adventurous funny mysterious tense fast-paced

Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

charlihammond's review against another edition

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4.0

Firstly I need to preface this review that I'm an absolutely massive fan of MW Craven and his Washington Poe series. #bemoretilly

This book is nothing like Craven's other work.

What is a man without fear truly capable of?

I adore the premise of the character which poses interesting questions personally of what life would be like without fear.

There is no denying Craven is an extremely talented writer, his characters are always full of funny one lines and the research that goes into the story is evident from all the details.

I enjoyed this book but sadly I didn't love it. I think that says more about me and my genre preferences than Craven's writing.

If you are after a fast paced, Jack Reacheresque novel then this is for you. This would absolutely make for a great film. It's full of SAS knowledge and procedures.

Personally it wasn't a favourite for me but I still adore Craven, glad to have read it and will continue to support his work even if it's writing menus for a food establishment.

karlyo83's review against another edition

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4.0

My Rating: 4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for entertainment factor and the writing… I love this author!!!

GoodReads Synopsis
Ben Koenig is nobody’s hero… because he doesn’t exist. Six years back Ben headed up the US Marshal’s Special Ops Group. They were the unit who hunted the bad guys. The really bad guys. They did this so no one else had to. And then one day Ben sold his house, liquidated his assets and disappeared off the face of the earth. He told no one why he left no forwarding address.

For six years he became a grey man. Someone you didn’t remember. He drifted from town to town, state to state, never visiting the same place twice. He was untraceable - officially, he no longer existed. But now his face is plastered across every television screen in the country. Someone from Ben’s past has gone to extraordinary lengths to find him. They have a job for him, a revenge mission, one Ben won’t be able to refuse. Because in the hellish heat of the Chihauhuan desert lies a town called Gauntlet. Some people in Guantlet have a secret and they’ll do anything to protect it.

An they know Ben is coming. They’ve killed before and they will kill again. It’s easy to dismiss Ben Koenig as just another drifter, someone you don’t need to concern yourself with. But that would be a mistake. Because Ben has a condition, a unique disorder that means he’s incapable of experiencing fear. And that makes Ben Koenig a different kind of animal…

Ok, up front, this is not going to be everyone’s cup of tea. I wasn’t entirely sure it would be mine, but I love this author and I love the Washington Poe series so I said to hell with it I am reading it no matter what. Also after that last book… anything had to be better.

This is an ACTION book… it is also by the authors own admission a personal project. Something he didn’t expect to see the light of day. He was working on something wildly different and over the top to help pass time and get away from his usual books and the landscape of Britain. This one is set in America. There are many many references to all types of Army, Special Forces and types of fighting… so Craven has done his research. HOWEVER… having said that this is a book about a dude, that feels no fear, who fights to the death and basically doesn’t give a rats ass about going in and being a hardass… that is just not going to be for everyone.

There is a Russian Mob, there is literally all types of guns, ammo and explosives, there is far fetched shit going on all over the place… BUT if you know that going in… and you love this author and you don’t mind the OTT then dive in. It was a wild, fun and comical ride.

Craven’s usual humour shines though in this one and I really appreciated it. It never ever took itself too seriously and that is what made it less John Wick and more Die Hard (which by the way is my favourite Christmas movie of all time… and if you want to fight me about it then go for it I will never waiver