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jaceive's review
4.0
As I was sitting on reddit one day, I stumbled upon a post by a contributor I'd never seen before, talking about how he needed readers to join his Advanced Reader team for a series of books I'd never heard of before. Being a reasonable and rational man, I immediately signed up for the opportunity. Free books! I thought, with due consideration and much contemplation. And so begins my journey into the Guildmaster Thief, by Jake Kerr.
First, I'll explain a little about the book. The Guildmaster Thief is a short story, though probably more of a novella (I'm no English major nor a publisher, but I know it's shorter than a full novel). Priced at a mere 99 cents, it's a cheap book to pick up, and a quick read. This makes it perfect for people who can only read in snippets, or who want a diversion during a bus commute. For a more dedicated reader, the story can almost certainly be completed in a single sitting.
The main character of the story, Ralan, is a teenager with a bad attitude and a penchant for mischief. He's not exactly the most likeable character for most of the story, though given some time to develop he begins to show more redeeming characteristics. What first seems like a spoiled brat who isn't smart enough to see the consequences of his actions eventually grows into a character who has been rebelling against the coddling of his older brother, and who really does have a heart under his prankster mask.
Without going into too much detail (the story is short as-is, I'd hate to spoil any of what is there) My chief complaints are thus: Ralan is quite unlikable as a protagonist for at least half of the story, perhaps a bit longer. Secondly, the main antagonist of the story, Ralan's older brother Larsen, seems to be nothing more than greedy and prone to outbursts of violence. He seems easily manipulated, and there's no clear reason for Larsen to have risen to the position he has found himself in.
To counteract these grievances, which are really minor as the first is (partially) resolved through the story and the second will hopefully be expanded upon in future stories, you are introduced to a small slice of a world that holds great promise. The city/state/nation the story is set in is controlled by powerful Guilds, and the Guildmasters who run them. We're given a peek into the complex political landscape of the country, and hear whispers of its ancient histories. The potential for excellent depth is there, but not much of it is explored in this instalment. I'm looking forward to learning more in future novels, which I will be reviewing here in the near future.
First, I'll explain a little about the book. The Guildmaster Thief is a short story, though probably more of a novella (I'm no English major nor a publisher, but I know it's shorter than a full novel). Priced at a mere 99 cents, it's a cheap book to pick up, and a quick read. This makes it perfect for people who can only read in snippets, or who want a diversion during a bus commute. For a more dedicated reader, the story can almost certainly be completed in a single sitting.
The main character of the story, Ralan, is a teenager with a bad attitude and a penchant for mischief. He's not exactly the most likeable character for most of the story, though given some time to develop he begins to show more redeeming characteristics. What first seems like a spoiled brat who isn't smart enough to see the consequences of his actions eventually grows into a character who has been rebelling against the coddling of his older brother, and who really does have a heart under his prankster mask.
Without going into too much detail (the story is short as-is, I'd hate to spoil any of what is there) My chief complaints are thus: Ralan is quite unlikable as a protagonist for at least half of the story, perhaps a bit longer. Secondly, the main antagonist of the story, Ralan's older brother Larsen, seems to be nothing more than greedy and prone to outbursts of violence. He seems easily manipulated, and there's no clear reason for Larsen to have risen to the position he has found himself in.
To counteract these grievances, which are really minor as the first is (partially) resolved through the story and the second will hopefully be expanded upon in future stories, you are introduced to a small slice of a world that holds great promise. The city/state/nation the story is set in is controlled by powerful Guilds, and the Guildmasters who run them. We're given a peek into the complex political landscape of the country, and hear whispers of its ancient histories. The potential for excellent depth is there, but not much of it is explored in this instalment. I'm looking forward to learning more in future novels, which I will be reviewing here in the near future.
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