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5.0 AVERAGE
5.0 AVERAGE
McKay can write a scene well. Where many might have difficulty avoiding superfluousness, McKay fills his scenes with details that sharpen the setting without being grossly overwrought. The language is likewise economical and well chosen, moving the story forward without drawing attention to itself.
Where I found the story difficult (not to be confused with “bad”) was the sense of a very slow burn as we worked ourselves into a scene. Identifying a location often took precedence over what we were doing in that location. There’s nothing wrong with this approach, and I’m sure I’m being borderline over critical, but many times I found myself skipping ahead through internal dialogue to determine the location and the stakes.
Interestingly, the main plot follows a path similar to this slow-burn setup. The first few chapters are themselves a setup for the main plot. Rather than beginning with the Revenge in action, with the purpose interspersed as flashbacks or explained outright, we get the whole thing, chronologically. There is nothing fundamentally wrong with this approach, though it is an atypical style these days because it puts the brakes on the action.
Still, I found the book oddly compelling. Not enthralling, but it was a pretty easy read for me. Interestingly enough when I looked back at the book after reading I found myself strangely satisfied, not unlike eating a meal and feeling neither gorged nor hungry, but sated. I liked this story. I suspect others will, too.
Where I found the story difficult (not to be confused with “bad”) was the sense of a very slow burn as we worked ourselves into a scene. Identifying a location often took precedence over what we were doing in that location. There’s nothing wrong with this approach, and I’m sure I’m being borderline over critical, but many times I found myself skipping ahead through internal dialogue to determine the location and the stakes.
Interestingly, the main plot follows a path similar to this slow-burn setup. The first few chapters are themselves a setup for the main plot. Rather than beginning with the Revenge in action, with the purpose interspersed as flashbacks or explained outright, we get the whole thing, chronologically. There is nothing fundamentally wrong with this approach, though it is an atypical style these days because it puts the brakes on the action.
Still, I found the book oddly compelling. Not enthralling, but it was a pretty easy read for me. Interestingly enough when I looked back at the book after reading I found myself strangely satisfied, not unlike eating a meal and feeling neither gorged nor hungry, but sated. I liked this story. I suspect others will, too.