While Crouch touches on some really interesting questions and crafts an emotional, fulfilling ending, if you’re the type of reader who loves exploring the weird and wild limits that Sci-Fi can take you to, you might be left a little underwhelmed.
When the opportunity to do a podcast with two awesome authors who I already knew and got along well with came along I couldn’t turn it down. So now it seems like I will be adding podcaster to my long and eclectic list of titles.
My debut novel has officially gone wide!
This book has some serious things to say about life, love, belief, redemption and the weight of humanity, and it says them without stuttering. Full of heavy themes, visceral worldbuilding and some truly dark and intense scenes, Acts is the type of story that is not for the faint of heart.
An unflinching odyssey into the depths of depravity that will surely entertain those of strong stomachs and a worthy entry into the illustrious ranks of gonzo journalism style narratives.
Perhaps it is a sign of the times that I as a reader found myself bored with reading about our central characters pillaging innocent villages and scalping people, but the fact remains the same. Violence in a story is only useful in what it accomplishes for the narrative, and in this case, it felt like it accomplished very little beyond the shock value.
The story moves at a quick pace, throwing you into a world that is both alien yet easily accessible. The Asian inspired, “arcane punk” setting is fun and feels different than most other fantasy. Between the setting, the magic system and the characters, I found myself reminded of some of the classic anime shows movies I remember watching as a teenager, but with a more mature edge.
The plot of King Sorrow is something of a Frankenstein’s monster of horror, thriller, fantasy and a decade’s spanning morality tale. The story begins with a group of hapless college students who get more than they bargained for in a classic Faustian bargain, playing heavily to the book’s horror thriller billing.
I went into this book with no info but what was on the blurb and I can confidently say it was one of the most unexpected reading experiences I’ve had in a long while.
As an author in the modern age, the internet is more than just another tool. Learning to navigate its complex waters is an intrinsic part of what it means to be an author.
