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A review by krisglomb
Beneath the Keep by Erika Johansen
4.0
If you like the trilogy, you’ll like the prequel. It has the same pitfalls and strengths as the books. The characters are strong. You could tell how much the author liked her Mace character in the trilogy and this book is all about his becoming.
However, much like in the trilogy, there is a huge emphasis in the “dark side” of society. Because this book goes to an even “darker” place, some of the imagery and situations she creates feel more gratuitous and for shock value than they do to instill any thoughtful reflection/compassion/genuine horror. (Lots and lots of child/baby prostitution and images of it).
Further, her female relationships in this are…bad. Some of the characters feel a little ret-conned and then some that we get to meet have abilities/powers we don’t see at all later. I liked some of the added world building with the Almont and the Blue Horizon, and I also felt like there was genuine tension between characters and in various situations which can be hard to do in prequels.
Overall, definitely only for people who LOVED the series. (And it doesn’t end at all like the trilogy does…if you’re worried or scared).
However, much like in the trilogy, there is a huge emphasis in the “dark side” of society. Because this book goes to an even “darker” place, some of the imagery and situations she creates feel more gratuitous and for shock value than they do to instill any thoughtful reflection/compassion/genuine horror. (Lots and lots of child/baby prostitution and images of it).
Further, her female relationships in this are…bad. Some of the characters feel a little ret-conned and then some that we get to meet have abilities/powers we don’t see at all later. I liked some of the added world building with the Almont and the Blue Horizon, and I also felt like there was genuine tension between characters and in various situations which can be hard to do in prequels.
Overall, definitely only for people who LOVED the series. (And it doesn’t end at all like the trilogy does…if you’re worried or scared).