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A review by barb4ry1
Master Assassins by Robert V.S. Redick
4.0
All the cool kids on the block (Mark, Pat et al.) rave about Master Assassins. As an aspiring kid, I had no choice but to grab a copy. I received one from Netgalley; it didn't influence my review in any way.
The title may suggest that we'll deal with true masters of the art of assassination. Unstoppable and uncanny killers who defy the laws of physics in order to get the job done. This is not the case. The title is ironic and you'll understand why when you'll read the book.
The story follows two brothers - Kandri and Mektu - who serve in the Army of Revelation ruled by a prophet-madwoman whose favorite management tools are terror and force. When one of the brothers commits, "by accident", an unspeakable crime, the brothers must run as fast as they can from the rage of the prophet. They're chased by elite forces and bloodthirsty monsters through barren fields of devastation, towards the great desert called “The Land That Eats Men.”
Oh, one more thing. Cataclysm approaches. Armageddon is an option.
I'm not surprised that readers enjoy this book as it has plenty to offer. I'll start where everyone starts.
Prose. It's fantastic and literary. Redick's writing is very immersive. His vocabulary is rich and he's not afraid to use it in creative ways to convey all sorts of feelings that characters experience. Descriptions are simply stunning; it's easy to see harsh landscapes or terrifying creatures pictured by the author. The story is told mostly in third-person present tense and it's not something you see often in fantasy. As a result, the reader gets the sensation of being right there, following the characters in their adventure. As it's done well it's easy to care deeply and fear for the character's lives as the story unveils. Flashbacks and elements similar to the stream of consciousness are used to good results as well.
Characters are real. All of them. Kandri Hinjuman was never meant to be a soldier. His brother Mektu was never meant for this world. Kandri is good at blending in, but Mektu is impulsive, erratic and certain that a demon is stalking him.
The book focuses strongly on brothers relationship - not an easy one given their past. Kandri and Mektu are actually half-brothers, and they share a complex bond of rivalry and love. Their brotherly love is tainted by mistrust, contempt and old wounds linked to their mutual fascination with a woman who suddenly disappeared. It was fascinating to observe them teeter on the edge of disaster in a harsh world constricted by religious fears, with imminent menace always snapping at their heels. They struggle to survive and in order to do so, they cling to memories of love.
Secondary characters were colorful and intriguing as well. Brothers flee with three outcasts (some by choice, others by necessity). Uncle Chindilan, the Master Smith, is on the run because in time of need he decided to help the brothers. Now he's wanted. Eshett was captured by human traffickers, all she wants to do is to return home. There's also Talupeke - a mad young warrior who's prone to bursts of berserk fury. She's skilled with knives. Their dynamics is great and touching at times.
The worldbuilding is quite rich. The story happens in the non-European setting reminiscent a bit of Asya. We learn about the world through scattered bits. There's a bit of info-dumping but not too much. Enough to learn more about the lore without killing the momentum.
Pacing is uneven. At times I felt glued to the pages but at times I was tired and slightly bored with the story and some repetitiveness. Especially the middle chunk of the story felt too slow for me. I had to push through parts of the book and it decreased my enjoyment of the story as a whole.
We can argue that the book's uneven pace forces the reader to readjust our attention on every page and isn't that bad. Perhaps. But my preference is different. I like strong and consistent pacing.
Overall, it's a good book. It's not perfect. It won't become my favorite book of the month but it's undeniably well structured and memorable. I'm definitely interested in reading the sequel once it's published .
The title may suggest that we'll deal with true masters of the art of assassination. Unstoppable and uncanny killers who defy the laws of physics in order to get the job done. This is not the case. The title is ironic and you'll understand why when you'll read the book.
The story follows two brothers - Kandri and Mektu - who serve in the Army of Revelation ruled by a prophet-madwoman whose favorite management tools are terror and force. When one of the brothers commits, "by accident", an unspeakable crime, the brothers must run as fast as they can from the rage of the prophet. They're chased by elite forces and bloodthirsty monsters through barren fields of devastation, towards the great desert called “The Land That Eats Men.”
Oh, one more thing. Cataclysm approaches. Armageddon is an option.
I'm not surprised that readers enjoy this book as it has plenty to offer. I'll start where everyone starts.
Prose. It's fantastic and literary. Redick's writing is very immersive. His vocabulary is rich and he's not afraid to use it in creative ways to convey all sorts of feelings that characters experience. Descriptions are simply stunning; it's easy to see harsh landscapes or terrifying creatures pictured by the author. The story is told mostly in third-person present tense and it's not something you see often in fantasy. As a result, the reader gets the sensation of being right there, following the characters in their adventure. As it's done well it's easy to care deeply and fear for the character's lives as the story unveils. Flashbacks and elements similar to the stream of consciousness are used to good results as well.
Characters are real. All of them. Kandri Hinjuman was never meant to be a soldier. His brother Mektu was never meant for this world. Kandri is good at blending in, but Mektu is impulsive, erratic and certain that a demon is stalking him.
The book focuses strongly on brothers relationship - not an easy one given their past. Kandri and Mektu are actually half-brothers, and they share a complex bond of rivalry and love. Their brotherly love is tainted by mistrust, contempt and old wounds linked to their mutual fascination with a woman who suddenly disappeared. It was fascinating to observe them teeter on the edge of disaster in a harsh world constricted by religious fears, with imminent menace always snapping at their heels. They struggle to survive and in order to do so, they cling to memories of love.
Secondary characters were colorful and intriguing as well. Brothers flee with three outcasts (some by choice, others by necessity). Uncle Chindilan, the Master Smith, is on the run because in time of need he decided to help the brothers. Now he's wanted. Eshett was captured by human traffickers, all she wants to do is to return home. There's also Talupeke - a mad young warrior who's prone to bursts of berserk fury. She's skilled with knives. Their dynamics is great and touching at times.
The worldbuilding is quite rich. The story happens in the non-European setting reminiscent a bit of Asya. We learn about the world through scattered bits. There's a bit of info-dumping but not too much. Enough to learn more about the lore without killing the momentum.
Pacing is uneven. At times I felt glued to the pages but at times I was tired and slightly bored with the story and some repetitiveness. Especially the middle chunk of the story felt too slow for me. I had to push through parts of the book and it decreased my enjoyment of the story as a whole.
We can argue that the book's uneven pace forces the reader to readjust our attention on every page and isn't that bad. Perhaps. But my preference is different. I like strong and consistent pacing.
Overall, it's a good book. It's not perfect. It won't become my favorite book of the month but it's undeniably well structured and memorable. I'm definitely interested in reading the sequel once it's published .