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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
This book was difficult to rate for me. It took me a long time to read. I enjoyed the story and I enjoyed the twists and turns throughout the book but the constantly switching pov and the occasional short chapter that gave no context made me lower my rating. Caine/hari was a great character and I really enjoyed his inner monologue but there needed to be more from him and less chapters with the others for me. I will give this book between 3.5 * and 4 * the violence and the action scenes kept the story going. I will read the next book and see if the problems continue but all in all I did enjoy the book.
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
Linda, listen. Listen, Linda. Forget the pulpy cover.
This book is a fantastic gem in the scifi/fantasy world!!!!
It was FABULOUS!! It shocked me and slapped me in the face multiple times and demanded to know why I've ignored it consistently for so long!!!
Because of the pulpy cover.
No one is going to deny that. You've overlooked this book because of the cover. Do NOT. Consume immediately, especially if you like scifi/fantasy crossovers!! Especially if you like fantasy worlds colliding with the real world settings. Especially if you like bad asses! Especially if you like.... LIKABLE villains! Especially if you like people who deserve it getting their just desserts!!
This book is a fantastic gem in the scifi/fantasy world!!!!
It was FABULOUS!! It shocked me and slapped me in the face multiple times and demanded to know why I've ignored it consistently for so long!!!
Because of the pulpy cover.
No one is going to deny that. You've overlooked this book because of the cover. Do NOT. Consume immediately, especially if you like scifi/fantasy crossovers!! Especially if you like fantasy worlds colliding with the real world settings. Especially if you like bad asses! Especially if you like.... LIKABLE villains! Especially if you like people who deserve it getting their just desserts!!
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I wasn't sure what to expect from this series. All I really knew is it was on a few recommended lists, and that it was a sci-fi series. I'm not really a bit sci-fi fan, but I have been wanting to give the genre a little more attention, so I decided to pick this up.
Wow!
This is such a great book. Even though I don't complete understand how the technology behind going from Earth to Ankhana, I completely love the idea and the story that's told here. The characters are really awesome and well developed, especially Caine and Ma'elKoth. While Caine is all testosterone and badassery, Ma'elKoth is imposing and complex...more complex than I expected from a story like this. I hope there is more of him in future books. He is probably my favorite character so far.
I'm glad I decided to pick this up as one of the few sci-fi series I plan on reading. I'm very much looking forward to the rest.
Wow!
This is such a great book. Even though I don't complete understand how the technology behind going from Earth to Ankhana, I completely love the idea and the story that's told here. The characters are really awesome and well developed, especially Caine and Ma'elKoth. While Caine is all testosterone and badassery, Ma'elKoth is imposing and complex...more complex than I expected from a story like this. I hope there is more of him in future books. He is probably my favorite character so far.
I'm glad I decided to pick this up as one of the few sci-fi series I plan on reading. I'm very much looking forward to the rest.
I swear that I read this and [b: Blade of Tyshalle|304123|Blade of Tyshalle (The Acts of Caine, #2)|Matthew Woodring Stover|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388371761l/304123._SY75_.jpg|812258] about a dozen times in junior high and high school. I can't say for sure how many times because after the second or third read I'd just pick them and start on whatever page the book opened to.
For the most part, it reads like an above average thriller with genuine depth of character, set in a far richer world than your average high fantasy/fake-medieval realm, but then there's this bit near the end where the narrator-protagonist, Caine, and it blew my mind.
It's a mix of Tolkien, dystopian literature, and Philip K. Dick, the whole gamut of American SF/F. At the time it felt very important. Hell, it still does. A piece of violent entertainment that had a lot to say about why we enjoy violent entertainment.
For the most part, it reads like an above average thriller with genuine depth of character, set in a far richer world than your average high fantasy/fake-medieval realm, but then there's this bit near the end where the narrator-protagonist, Caine,
Spoiler
sort of, but not quite, breaks the fourth wall, and points out that his in-universe audience (and by extension, we, the readers) are so addicted to violence that his pain only exists because we can't put the book down and walk away.It's a mix of Tolkien, dystopian literature, and Philip K. Dick, the whole gamut of American SF/F. At the time it felt very important. Hell, it still does. A piece of violent entertainment that had a lot to say about why we enjoy violent entertainment.
I have to say that I struggled a bit with the first half of the book, but it grew on me and I enjoyed the ending. The premise is really interesting, but not particularly well explored. I also didn't find the main character as awesome as other readers. However, the fast pace and unusual world won me over.
This is an awesome book.
The right mixture of sci-fi and fantasy which seriously made me tear up and punch my fist in the air at moments.
Caine is the hero to root for, and watching things from his point of view is simply amazing.
And, watch out for the part where the fourth wall is broken.
Expertly done. A must read for anyone who likes good books.
On to book 2!
The right mixture of sci-fi and fantasy which seriously made me tear up and punch my fist in the air at moments.
Caine is the hero to root for, and watching things from his point of view is simply amazing.
And, watch out for the part where the fourth wall is broken.
Expertly done. A must read for anyone who likes good books.
On to book 2!
I read this book simply to fulfill a reading challenge requirement for one of the Goodreads groups to which I belong. Needless to say, I had zero expectations going in and found myself pretty quickly engrossed in the plot. I'm not even sure quite how to classify this book as it is, in my estimation, equal parts fantasy and science fiction. It's set on Earth albeit many, many, many years in the future when society has evolved (or devolved, depending on the POV) into a caste system and the ideas of Abraham Lincoln, John Locke, John Kennedy and others of their ilk are considered grounds for sedition. But it's also set on Overworld, a kingdom closer to a medieval level society that's polpulated by humans and "subs", the substandard species like elves, dwarves, ogres, etc. It's a high octane, action-adventure tale full of violence and greed that nevertheless speaks to the deeper issues of self-identity, what it means to be truly free, and what sorts of evils can arise when society is only willing to consider its own desires. It's a mash-up of The Running Man, The Warriors, Escape From New York, The Truman Show, reality TV, and any sword and sorcery movie you can name. And if all of that sounds crazy that's because it is...and yet, it works. It's an example of old school writing where information and meaning has to be gleaned from the context as there is no spoon feeding done here. But if you pay attention, you'll be rewarded with a fascinating concept and larger than life characters who nevertheless play to motivations that anyone can relate to and recognize. My only quibble? I'm not sure the book needed the epilogue.
I wanted to like this book more than I did. It was a good book, and I would have given it 3.75 stars if I could, but it just doesn't quite deserve the 4th star. The premise is interesting, and the author touches on some complex ideas about class, government, and freedom, but somehow I was left wanting a little more than I got. While he tried to do something a little different with some stock character types, who in factor knew they were characters in their jobs as Actors, it fell just a little short.
Mini-Review:
I am so glad that this book came across my GR feed! Yay for GR friends!
If you're looking for a clean cut story of good guys vs bad guys, this is not it. The author pulls no punches. Each scene was very much the epitome of what it should be. There's doubt, politics, grandstanding, threats, violence, conflicts of love, horrible acts and the varied fruits of pride.
Entertainment has reached new heights of popularity and people all over the world are willing to pay money to be a part of the latest adventure. Actors are transported to another world and live out various roles that fuel the entertainment industry. People pay to get a first hand account of the adventure. They pay to be the actor and experience everything the actor does during the 'adventure'. An immersive experience unlike any other. One can be the hero or the villain for a price.
Hari is one of the most popular actors in the industry. He's alter ego is Caine. A renown warrior. His estranged wife, also an actress, is in danger. Her sync has gone offline and she will die if she doesn't come back to Earth. Hari can have a chance to save her. He just has to agree to assassinate the ruler of Ankhana.
Great book!
Yes, there are moments when I think the grandstanding was overdone but overall, I loved Hari/Caine and the wild adventure both in and off Earth.
I am so glad that this book came across my GR feed! Yay for GR friends!
If you're looking for a clean cut story of good guys vs bad guys, this is not it. The author pulls no punches. Each scene was very much the epitome of what it should be. There's doubt, politics, grandstanding, threats, violence, conflicts of love, horrible acts and the varied fruits of pride.
Entertainment has reached new heights of popularity and people all over the world are willing to pay money to be a part of the latest adventure. Actors are transported to another world and live out various roles that fuel the entertainment industry. People pay to get a first hand account of the adventure. They pay to be the actor and experience everything the actor does during the 'adventure'. An immersive experience unlike any other. One can be the hero or the villain for a price.
Hari is one of the most popular actors in the industry. He's alter ego is Caine. A renown warrior. His estranged wife, also an actress, is in danger. Her sync has gone offline and she will die if she doesn't come back to Earth. Hari can have a chance to save her. He just has to agree to assassinate the ruler of Ankhana.
Great book!
Yes, there are moments when I think the grandstanding was overdone but overall, I loved Hari/Caine and the wild adventure both in and off Earth.