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editorsansserif's review
2.0
Soul Thief can be best summed up as a conspiracy theory theme park, full of at least a dozen common motifs related to government, religion, and the supernatural. The novel is so thick with obvious plot devices that it puts a Hollywood summer blockbuster to shame - making it too indigestible, even as 'mind candy' diversion.
The novel suffers from three major problems: plot, characterization, and editing. Soul Thief's plot - while I aim to avoid spoilers - is action-packed but thin. The early portion of the novel is spent with exposition and revealing many of the secrets that could have maintained suspense throughout much of the novel; instead, the novel relies on action-scenes seeming to be cut straight from a movie to keep the 'thriller' definition maintained. Meanwhile the main character, Doug - and to a lesser extent, his wife Annie - are gratingly insincere characters, who spend the majority of the plot denying any of the events happening to them despite insurmountable evidence to overcome doubts of their experience. Finally, a wide berth of editing problems from typographical errors to clunky syntax make it an exercise in patience to finish Soul Thief.
I found little to love about Soul Thief, even when I tried to take a less critical approach. I can at least offer praise, however, for the author tying the plot together without leaving gaping plotholes, and for offering some interesting characters (even if they weren't the protagonists). With some editing, and less cliches thrown at the plot, the story laid out in Soul Thief may have been far more digestible.
Note: I read this book 'out of order' from the series, having received a free copy. The author indicates that these books are meant to stand alone, and I did not feel 'lost' reading this book out of series; however I imagine this book remains essential to understanding the remaining in the series.
The novel suffers from three major problems: plot, characterization, and editing. Soul Thief's plot - while I aim to avoid spoilers - is action-packed but thin. The early portion of the novel is spent with exposition and revealing many of the secrets that could have maintained suspense throughout much of the novel; instead, the novel relies on action-scenes seeming to be cut straight from a movie to keep the 'thriller' definition maintained. Meanwhile the main character, Doug - and to a lesser extent, his wife Annie - are gratingly insincere characters, who spend the majority of the plot denying any of the events happening to them despite insurmountable evidence to overcome doubts of their experience. Finally, a wide berth of editing problems from typographical errors to clunky syntax make it an exercise in patience to finish Soul Thief.
I found little to love about Soul Thief, even when I tried to take a less critical approach. I can at least offer praise, however, for the author tying the plot together without leaving gaping plotholes, and for offering some interesting characters (even if they weren't the protagonists). With some editing, and less cliches thrown at the plot, the story laid out in Soul Thief may have been far more digestible.
Note: I read this book 'out of order' from the series, having received a free copy. The author indicates that these books are meant to stand alone, and I did not feel 'lost' reading this book out of series; however I imagine this book remains essential to understanding the remaining in the series.
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