Scales and Modern, Streamlined Storytelling Quick thoughts If you’re a big reader of the genre, you’ll know what I’m talking about when I say that modern fantasy just has a certain feeling. That sense of fantasy with the character focus dialed up to eleven, with action and dialogue that feels snappy and well honed. The […]
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.
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.
