Benjamin J. Denen's Blog: ThatReviewGuy.com

Writing Style – 4.8/5

The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson is a delightfully surprising melting pot of genres.  For those who have not read Mistborn and are unfamiliar with The Alloy of Law, Sanderson made a bold (and brilliant) move to write an entirely new trilogy following the riveting Mistborn series.  Instead of setting it in the immediate aftermath of its conclusion, he chose to create a story several hundred years into the future.  The world is drastically different (thanks the climax of the Mistborn series).  As much as I enjoyed the Mistborn series, I was that much more enraptured by this book.  Sanderson’s wit and ingenuity shined.

The Characters – 5/5

I enjoyed the ensemble cast of the Mistborn series, but I loved the characters in The Alloy of Law.  The protagonists are incredibly well-rounded, but perhaps the greatest surprise for me was in the depth of the antagonist.  Some may disagree with me on this one, but I felt that Sanderson created one of the better antagonists that I have read in a long time.

The Plot – 4.9/5

Sanderson managed to take the incredibly unique magic system from the previous trilogy and perfect it in The Alloy of Law.  He chose to “limit” the characters to at most two Allomantic powers, a brilliant move that created a more even playing field for the battle between opposing forces in the story.  In many ways, it made Wax—the primary protagonist—that much more believable.  Aside from the magic system, Sanderson brought his usual “A” game to the plot.  It stands very much apart from the Mistborn series, but still feels comfortable to fans of the Final Empire.

Overall – 4.9

If you haven’t been able to tell already, The Alloy of Law is one of my favorite books I’ve read in a very long time.  Sanderson strikes a wonderful balance between humor and depth of storytelling.  The characters are relatable, and the plot is intriguing without getting bogged down with backstory.  If you enjoy fantasy, magic, and a touch of the Wild West, this is a book you absolutely must read.

Magic.  The Wild West. A grizzled lawman and a goofy deputy. The Mistborn universe. What else could anyone possibly ask for in a novel?

The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson is a delightfully surprising melting pot of genres.  I originally read this novel immediately after finishing the Mistborn trilogy.  Before completing this review, I decided to re-read the book which proved to be a good idea.  Originally, I had enjoyed the book, but because I had been fully immersed in the Mistborn world, I had a somewhat difficult time adjusting to the changes brought about in this new trilogy.  For those who have not read Mistborn and are unfamiliar with The Alloy of Law, Sanderson made a bold (and brilliant) move to write an entirely new trilogy following the riveting Mistborn series.  Instead of setting it in the immediate aftermath of its conclusion, he chose to create a story several hundred years into the future.  The world is drastically different (thanks the climax of the Mistborn series.).  In many ways, it is an entirely different world that is a second cousin to the one populated by Vin and the Survivor.  Coming at the book fresh, I found myself enjoying The Alloy of Law to the point that I may have a new top 10 favorite novel.

Writing Style – 4.8/5

I’ve enjoyed Brandon Sanderson’s writing in the past.  His books are usually witty and full of intrigue.  In my humble opinion, he has elevated his writing to new heights with this series.  His writing in The Alloy of Law is some of the best I have come across in a long time regardless of genre.

One of the things I have always appreciated about his writing is that he is not afraid to be conversational.  Other writers such as Patrick Rothfuss—who is well deserved of the praise often heaped upon him—can write on lofty levels that sometimes verge on distracting from the story.  In Alloy of Law, Sanderson was brilliantly silent, allowing his characters to shine.

The Mistborn series had a far more serious tone to it.  The humor that he mixed in well usually came from a secondary character.  In Alloy of Law, the whit and humor originate with the central characters.  That’s not to say that the book is overly lighthearted.  There is still a serious tone to the series that keeps the plot exciting, but reading this book took me back to some of my favorite Clint Eastwood or John Wayne westerns.  No matter what the plot was, Eastwood and Wayne always had just enough spunk and debonair to bring a laugh from time to time.  Sanderson captures this brilliantly in this book.

Don’t get me wrong, Sanderson’s writing style is not just about humor.  He manages to bring depth to the characters that help the reader feel their insecurities, the weight of their failures, and the joy of their successes.  He moved the story along without ever letting the story get bogged down with backstory, particularly that involving the age of the “Final Empire” (Mistborn).  It’s hard for me to say with authority whether a fan could pick up and follow this story without having read the Mistborn trilogy because I have, but my gut says that it should mostly make sense.  You would want to read the full story of the events that formed the world populated by Wax and his trusty—and somewhat unscrupulous—deputy.

The Characters – 5/5

I enjoyed the ensemble cast of the Mistborn series, but I loved the characters in The Alloy of Law.  The two primary protagonists—Wax and his deputy, Wayne—are incredibly well-rounded.  They are flawed deeply, but there is no denying their dedication to justice and helping those who need and rely on them.  Where I really felt this book stood apart from previous Sanderson works was in the antagonist.  For much of the Mistborn series—his only other works that I have read—the antagonist was absent from the primary story.  This was a necessary plot tool, but I never felt like I fully understood them.  The opposite is true of The Alloy of Law.  The primary antagonist is very believable, even somewhat likable at times.  He is the perfect counterbalance to Wax in many ways.

I did love the “ensemble” feel to the previous series.  The cast is definitely smaller in Alloy, but it serves the story perfectly.  Instead of spreading out the development among a host of characters, Sanderson was able to focus on a few in great detail.  Again, this allowed his writing and the story to truly shine.

The Plot – 4.9/5

It’s worth mentioning before I dive into this section that I have never been a reader that is overly drawn to stories involving magic.  Many would find this very strange for an author of fantasy!  It’s not that I dislike the use of magic in storytelling.  The problem is that it can often create an unbalanced playing field.  The magic-infused protagonist inevitably becomes far more powerful than the majority of his/her enemies creating the Superman effect. I’ve never loved Superman because he is invincible except for one flaw.  This means that nearly every movie will at some point reach the same point regardless of story.  Plus, where’s the intrigue when the hero is invulnerable? In the Mistborn series, I enjoyed the magic system, but Sanderson utilized “mistborn” allomancers that had—you guessed it—every superpower making them nearly invincible.  In Alloy of Law, I feel like Sanderson perfected this system.  He limited each character to at most two “powers.”  This completely changes the game and in a very good way.

Outside of the magic system employed, I felt that The Alloy of Law really lived up to the depth shown in the previous series.  While Mistborn has a far more epic tone to it, the plot in this book might be even more intriguing.  Perhaps I feel this way because I felt like I related to the characters better in this one, but I definitely felt more engaged by The Alloy of Law and I very much enjoyed Mistborn!

The Writing Style – 4.5/5

After reading Assassin’s Apprentice, it’s easy for me to understand why modern best-selling authors such as George R.R. Martin consider Robin Hobb to be a genre-defining author. Her writing style and world-creation have been copied over and over again in modern best-sellers. Perhaps my favorite aspect of her writing was that she trusts her readers to follow her without over-explaining every detail a she writes. It creates a more gradual reveal of her created world that kept me fully engaged.

The Characters – 4/5

Because I read this book twenty years after it was released, it is easy to see the characters (and plot) as unoriginal, but the opposite is true. Many authors that followed her have used the roles created by Hobb in this story as a template. I enjoyed the characters she created. In fact, I found myself more intrigued by the characters themselves than the story that was unfolding around them.

The Plot – 3.5/5

The plot was engaging though a bit predictable. Compared to other fantasy novels dwelling on “court intrigue,” I found it a little too linear, but it still kept me interested.

Overall – 4/5

Assassin’s Apprentice is a very fun read. It contains many of the elements that are almost prerequisites for a modern best-seller. It is a coming-of-age story. It contains memorable and relatable characters. The “magic” system is unique and intriguing. Most importantly, it is a gripping story that is hard to put down.

Overview

For whatever reason, I’ve had a hard time of late finding a fantasy series that grabs me. Earlier this year I eagerly devoured the Mistborn series, and since then, I haven’t had much luck. For whatever reason, I haven’t been able to get into the Game of Thrones series. That’s not to say it isn’t fantastically written; it just isn’t for me (yet… this wouldn’t be the first time it’s taken a few tries for a series to click with me). I will admit that I am not the most well-read fantasy fan. This genre is a relatively new passion for me. Because of this, there are a number of great works from years past that I have missed. Thankfully, I was rescued from my “rut” when I stumbled upon Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb. Published roughly when Michael Jordan was leading the Bulls to the greatest season in NBA history (1995), this is a gem. Now that I have read it, I can see how many contemporary fantasy authors such as George R.R. Martin consider this to be a genre-defining work.

Assassin’s Apprentice contains many of the elements that are almost prerequisites for a modern best-seller. It is a coming-of-age story. It contains memorable and relatable characters. The “magic” system is unique and intriguing. Most importantly, it is a gripping story that is hard to put down.

Writing Style – 4.5/5

There is something special in Hobb’s writing. Often, I find that fantasy stories tend to lag a little in the first book of a series. There is just so much information that has to be conveyed, especially early on. What is the world? Is there magic? What is it/how is it controlled? What is the backstory? Etc. Hobb manages to skip over the usual speed bumps and draws the reader in from the first page.

One of the things I enjoyed most about Hobb’s writing was that she seemed to respect the reading comprehension abilities of her readers. Many authors in this genre seem to think that the reader will need everything laid out for him/her in obvious detail. As a fantasy author myself, I know the temptation very well. Hobb does not seem to worry about this. Without giving away the “secrets”, I will give one vague example. The primary protagonist possesses a certain ability that is rather unique (and perhaps forbidden). Many novels would have utilized an “aha” moment where the character discovers and begins experimenting with it. Instead, the protagonist in Assassin’s Apprentice uses the ability from nearly page one and it is several chapters in before he even discovers that is, in fact, a special power. It is an “ingrained” magic that the reader becomes comfortable with even before he/she realizes it is magic (much like the protagonist… intentional??).

This was just one example. There are numerous times throughout the novel where things weren’t explained in detail, instead leaving it up to the reader to take part in solving a mystery or puzzle. I found this to be quite refreshing.

The Characters – 4/5

In standard “coming-of-age” fashion, there is a primary protagonist upon whom the story centers. There is, of course, the “mentor” as well. In many ways, the characters, though well developed, didn’t feel particularly original to me. Considering the date it was published, I realize that the opposite is most likely true. In many ways, Hobbs created the template upon which the coming-of-age, assassin/wizard apprentice type of story is developed today. Had I read this story before many of the contemporary best-sellers, I probably would have seen this as a far more original cast.

In this story, there is a nice blend of the clear protagonists/antagonists along with a few characters that dwell somewhere in the middle. It is a story of political intrigue, so the characters well-reflect the duality commonly found in these tales. The more I dwell on this review, the more I am led to wonder if Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn series was influenced by this book. There are a number of similarities, especially in the protagonists.

The Plot – 3.5/5

Again, it is worth noting that had I read this book a few years earlier, I might have found it a bit more “original” feeling. Instead, after reading more recent fantasy novels, the plot feels a little predictable. I was able to guess from the second chapter what one of the major plot twists at the end of the book was going to be. Still, it was very entertaining. The plot made sense as I was drawn into the story, but I will admit that it was the characters themselves—not the developing storyline—that kept me intrigued.

One minor complaint about the plot was that I often had a difficult time understanding the passage of time. There were, at times, large jumps (as many as five years) that would occur between chapters and even paragraphs. In some ways, this might be a reflection of Hobb’s writing style that I highlighted earlier. She is not afraid to expect her readers to keep up with her. Still, a bit more clarification could have saved me from having to duck back and re-read a few sections to understand where/when I was.

Writing Style – 4.5/5

Jenkins brilliant wove together humor, suspense, and heart-pounding action. The Feral is a book that doesn’t take itself too seriously, yet isn’t afraid to explore some deeper truths. Though the book is rather violent, the author used the violence well.

The Characters – 4.5/5

Jenkins created an ensemble cast that is relatable and well-rounded. Even the antagonists are likable at times. Though the genre and choice of an “ensemble cast” left me wanting to know a few of the characters a little better, Jenkins kept me engaged throughout to the point that I found myself growing attached to the characters.

The Plot – 4.5/5

The plot of The Feral is somewhat relentless. This pacing is mostly a good thing as it makes for a book that is difficult to put down. A few more breaks scattered throughout the story might have allowed for more character development, but it was an excellent read regardless.

Overall – 4.5/5

I thoroughly enjoyed The Feral by David Elias Jenkins. It’s non-stop action was fun and thrilling, yet it didn’t shy away from some heavy moments. To me, the mark of a solid book one in a series is that it has to leave me anxious to start book two. The Feral certainly accomplished that. If you like contemporary urban fantasy/sci-fi, then you need to read this book.

Overview

When I made the decision to open up this review blog to independent authors, I knew that I was potentially opening the door to gratuitously bad material. Despite the extra work of wading through poor writing to find the gems that this decision would bring, I felt that as an independent author myself, it was something that was well worth the effort. Independent authors rarely are given the credit they deserve. Self-publishing is hard work. In fact, the self-publishing process is far more difficult than the writing phase in my opinion. The reason I say it is worth it is because sometimes this blog gives me the opportunity to “discover” a gem that I might not have otherwise. The Feral by David Elias Jenkins perfectly fits that description.

Set in contemporary times, The Feral is an action-packed thriller that deals with a supernatural form of terrorism. The “Special Threats Group” is the “newest and least disclosed regiment in the United Kingdom’s Special Forces.” Their mission? To protect the world from the things that go bump in the night. Suspension of disbelief is certainly a prerequisite for any fan of this contemporary urban fantasy, but don’t let that turn you off. It is well thought out brilliantly written. The wit combined with the adrenaline pumping action make this a very fun read.

Writing Style – 4.5/5

There’s no question, The Feral is a very fun read. Jenkins does a brilliant job of weaving humor, suspense, and action together in this thrill ride. One of the things I enjoyed was that the book didn’t take itself too seriously. What do I mean by that? Sometimes when reading fantasy in any style, I get the impression that the author wants so desperately to impart some form of “deep message” or “underlying truth” that it gets in the way of the sheer fun of the book. This is a book about monsters and the hunters that track and bag them. Jenkins’s writing style includes just enough tongue-in-cheek-wit to remind the reader that it’s okay just to sit back and enjoy the ride. That’s not to say the there aren’t some deeper messages in the book. It just means that it doesn’t stop the 80’s action movie thrill ride.

It is worth mentioning that the book is violent. It is violently violent. There was one scene in particular that turned my stomach as I read it, but it was an intentional device of the author. He doesn’t just use violence for violence’s sake. Referring to my point earlier, the darkness presented through the violence is expertly crafted as a carrier for the deeper message in the story (one I won’t give away here). Though some may find the violence to be a bit gratuitous, I found that it served the story well.

If I had one beef (and it’s minor), it has to do with the strange sexual relationship between one of the characters and an otherworldly being. It served a purpose, but it was a little odd. This relationship the only aspect that took me out of the story, but it is short and little more than a footnote in the grander story. Overall, I found Jenkins’s writing style to be quite enjoyable.

The Characters – 4.5/5

The Feral follows the men and women of the Special Threats Group. As such, it is a bit of an “ensemble” cast, though it does pay closer attention to a few characters. Overall, I really enjoyed the cast, though as is usually the case with ensemble setups, there were a couple of characters I would have liked to have visited in more depth. The Feral is book one in the “Last Line” series, so it is quite possible that my wish has already been granted in subsequent works. The antagonists were well rounded as were the protagonists.

The Plot – 4/5

The Feral is one of those books that doesn’t really let up after page one. In many ways, this is a good thing. I found the book very hard to put down. The only downside is that sometimes the action felt like it ran together a little. I’m being somewhat picky here (as is the purpose of this blog). The story was very enjoyable, but a couple more strategic breaks throughout the book to allow for more character development could have helped make the pacing excel even more. That said, I thoroughly enjoyed the plot. There were a number of surprises including a tragedy I didn’t see coming. It was one of those “throw the book across the room (if it wasn’t a Kindle)” types of moments that I both love and hate. I hate them because I don’t like seeing it happen, but I love it because it meant that I was caught off guard. It also meant that I had grown attached to the characters affected.

Writing Style – 5/5

Brooks so expertly drew me into his “historical” account that at times I found myself almost losing my sense of reality. I have no doubts that if he were to put his mind to it, Brooks could write quite compelling accounts of real historical events. Not many authors can dabble in both worlds. I really think he could.

The Characters – 4.5/5

The nature of the “non-fiction” fictional approach eliminates the possibility of a narrative featuring the same characters throughout. It isn’t a biography. It is the retelling of the world’s greatest conflict. The brief glimpses of each character—while still revealing somewhat well-rounded characters—prevents the reader from knowing each one well. Some of the characters possessed more personality. Others were briefly introduced only to vanish before much was said about their story.

The Plot – 5/5

By choosing to write this book in the way that he did, Brooks stepped outside of many of the more standard ways of telling a fictional story. Still, he manages to lead the reader through a gripping tale from cover to cover. It tells the story of the human race staring down its potential extinction event in masterful fashion.

Overall – 4.8/5

Written as a work of fiction masquerading as a “non-fiction,” Brook absolutely nails the voice of a historian. This fascinating and supremely unique work is among the most entertaining, well written books that I have read. The characters and story are immensely riveting.

Overview

Though this book review blog is focused solely on works of fiction, I do enjoy reading non-fiction from time-to-time, especially books written about specific periods or events in history. I am not ashamed to admit that I’m a bit of a history geek, particularly WWII. D-Day and Band of Brothers by Stephen E. Ambrose and Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand are among my favorite books I’ve ever read. If you haven’t yet read World War Z by Max Brooks you might be wondering where I’m going with this. Your confusion would only be heightened if you have seen the movie by the same name. Though I actually somewhat enjoyed the movie, it has very little in common with the book. I don’t see how it could have. The book is, after all, written as if it were a non-fiction history book retelling the events of the greatest war in the history of the world—the war to save our species from extinction. Now, those readers of my blog that do not typically enjoy such historical books might take this to mean that World War Z is boring. This fascinating and supremely unique work is among the most entertaining, well written books that I have read. The characters and story are immensely riveting.

Writing Style -5/5

Prior to the first time that I read World War Z, I had very little interest in zombies. In fact, I was rather put off by the idea. Due to the success of shows like The Walking Dead (a show I later came to love), I was suffering from media overload. There were simply too many shows, movies, video games, and books focused on the subject for me to have a desire to dive in. Then, at the insistence of a friend, I picked up World War Z, and I was hooked.

What truly makes this work by Max Brooks truly stand out is that it is an incredibly believable story masquerading as non-fiction. At times I found myself almost losing my sense of reality. I have no doubts that if he were to put his mind to it, Brooks could write quite compelling accounts of real historical events. Not many authors can dabble in both worlds. I really think he could. Now, onto a few things I really enjoyed about his writing approach.

Non-Fiction Authenticity

The mark of a quality non-fiction book, particularly one of an historical variety, is the inclusion of in-text citation. A good historian cites his/her sources. Without this, the reader has no way of knowing if the author is playing fast and loose with the facts. World War Z is, of course, not a true story, but Brooks did an excellent job of bringing this “credible” feel to his book by taking the time to “cite” a large number of “sources.” This was no small effort on his part. In essence, he had to write a fictional account while also creating a large number of “additional” sources. This doesn’t mean that these sources actually exist, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a time consuming process.

“Silent” Narrator

Another trait of a good historian is the ability to tell the story without inserting “himself” into it. In other words, the writer must be “invisible.” Every writer has personal views of the historical events they are describing, but it is his job to leave that interpretation as much in the reader’s hands as possible. Brooks emulates this brilliantly. As I will describe more in the next section, this story is told through the eyes of the various survivors of the Zombie War (hence the whole “Oral History” thing in the subtitle). The fact that he is able to “get out of the way” as the narrator and allow the “survivors” to tell their story is a major factor in his ability to draw the reader into his created world.

Dialog

This story is told in the first person. Each chapter is told from a different character’s perspective. That means that there isn’t a true “dialog,” but the reader still is able to catch moments where the author—the “interviewer”—asks questions to guide the conversation, sometimes prodding the interviewee to dig deeper. These little interactions help the reader really gain insight into the individual characters. They also provide the authentic elements of the “historian” sometimes bleeding through. Obviously, since it is a work of fiction, Brooks could have completely eliminated the “narrator” voice of the writer, but that would have seemed too stiff, unrealistic. Instead, it’s these little glimpses that help the book come to life.

The Characters – 4.5/5

I really struggled internally over how to rate this category. The truth is, there weren’t any true flaws with the characters in the book. The “historian” was appropriately silent for the most part. The interviewees contained unique aspects to their character that fit well with their country of origin and unique dialect. Still, I couldn’t bring myself to quite give it a 5/5—this, primarily due to the fact that the time with each character is so brief that I never fully felt I “knew” them.

Some readers of this review will find this unfair. The nature of the “non-fiction” fictional approach eliminates the possibility of a narrative featuring the same characters throughout. It isn’t a biography. It is the retelling of the world’s greatest conflict. Still, this is a blog about fictional works. I find it important to use the same standards throughout my reviews. This consistency cannot deny that the brief glimpses of each character—while still revealing somewhat well-rounded characters—prevents the reader from knowing each one well. Some of the characters possessed more personality. Others were briefly introduced only to vanish before much was said about their story.

All that said, I don’t want to give the impression that the character creation was poor. Quite the contrary, but when compared to the development in book such as The Fault in Our Stars—another book reviewed on this blog—there is no question that the arch is much greater in the latter than the former.

Plot – 5/5

Rating this category also gave me pause. Due to the unconventional style employed by Brooks, World War Z does not follow anything resembling a traditional story arch. Again, a reader of this review will point to my inconsistency with my rating of the Characters and the Plot. Why give The Plot a 5/5 and not the Characters? Well, I did this because, in my opinion, there is a lot more leeway with a book’s plot than there is with characters. There are certain aspects most readers look for in a good character. When these are not present, the reader doesn’t connect quite as well. Plot, on the other hand, is by its very nature very fluid and malleable. If a book were to follow a certain set “guide” for plot creation it would seem rather unoriginal. Because of this, I allow for flexibility when reviewing this category.

There’s no question that there is a story that the reader will be able trace from beginning to conclusion, but it does not employ some of the typical storytelling techniques. I’m sure my readers are sick of hearing me say this, but I am very careful not to spoil the plot. This is a “history” book. It tells the story of the human race staring down its potential extinction event, and Brooks tells that story masterfully.

Writing Style – 3.8/5

Ivy League was a very entertaining read that didn’t shy away from the cautionary tale naturally found in a story such as this one. Waltz creates a world not unlike many mid-sized Midwestern towns. His characters represent many qualities typically found in the countless high schools scattered around the US, adding to their believability. His writing style was easy to follow, clean without being boring. He excelled at using metaphor to illustrate his story in often powerful ways. Other than formatting issues with the Kindle version and some minor hiccups with POV, I found the book to be very well written.

The Characters – 2.7/5

The book hangs on the well-rounded characters of Jaime—the primary protagonist through whom the story is told, and Gabe—Jaime’s “business” partner. They are, after all, the two primary focal points of the story. Still, the book could have really excelled if a bit more depth and time would have been focused on the rest of the cast, especially Riley—the love interest, and Kip—the younger brother.

The Plot – 3.7/5

In a sense, this is one of those books that is like watching a car wreck unfold (meant as a compliment). You know something terrible will happen, but try as you might you can’t tear your eyes away from it. There were some minor errors or inconsistencies, particularly in the way time progressed that left me confused at times, but overall it was a very good read. No doubt about it, this is an intense read.

Overall – 3.4/5

The book has a few rough spots, but overall I found it to be a rather interesting read and an eye opener to just how far a kid might be willing to go to achieve his dreams.

Overview

Before diving headfirst into my career as an author I spent the previous 8 years in full-time ministry working with teenagers . I thoroughly enjoyed these years, eventually finishing a graduate degree in youth ministry leadership (I apparently like to collect degrees that I no longer use). During this time, I often found myself helping students through one of the most stressful, fear-inducing times of their lives. No, I’m not talking about the questioning of their faith, the loss of a loved one, or even their numerous heartbreaks due to failed romantic relationships (which tended to end in rather spectacular fashion). This trying period that often led to weeping and the gnashing of teeth was the time between the filling out of college and scholarship applications and the happy (hopefully) day when all grants and loans were settled and they were raiding Ikea for cheap, impossible-to-assemble furniture for their dorm rooms. It is in this very difficult span of weeks that author Christopher Waltz situates his novel, Ivy League.

Waltz was among the first authors to submit his book for me to review. His description hooked me.

Ivy League is a YA/contemporary novel about a high school student who begins selling drugs to pay for his first year of college

I, myself, often found the challenge of paying for college keeping me up at night. Though I never resorted to selling illicit substances I will admit that a couple of times I found myself tempted to participate in one of the numerous voluntary studies that are often advertised around college campuses. Ultimately, the fear of what could happen to me were I to submit to being a lab rat discouraged me. It is the memory of these temptations and fears that attracted me to this story and helped me relate to its primary character. The book has a few rough spots, but overall I found it to be a rather interesting read and an eye opener to just how far a kid might be willing to go to achieve his dreams.

Writing Style – 3.8/5

Ivy League was a very entertaining read that didn’t shy away from the cautionary tale naturally found in a story such as this one. Waltz creates a world not unlike many mid-sized Midwestern towns. His characters represent many qualities typically found in the countless high schools scattered around the US, adding to their believability. His writing style was easy to follow, clean without being boring. He excelled at using metaphor to illustrate his story in often powerful ways. Other than formatting issues with the Kindle version and some minor hiccups with POV, I found the book to be very well written.

Formatting

I try not to pay too much attention to formatting, especially when I am reading a book by a self-published author. Having both worked with a traditional publisher—giving me editors and design teams—and self-published books I know the challenges that come with working alone. There is a certain amount of technical expertise required for book layout and the formatting of ebooks. The cost to have this done professionally is often too exorbitant for a self-published author. Still, formatting is important, especially if issues in the layout can get in the way of the flow of the book. I found this to be the case at times with Ivy League.

The indents and spacings were very inconsistent which made it hard sometimes to tell who was talking or when a new paragraph or thought was beginning. I highly recommend that if an author does not possess the skills (0r software) for properly formatting an ebook, that they do whatever they can to acquire them. Authoring software such as Scrivener can be a really great aid. YouTube is full of videos that can teach you the bare necessities of what you need to know to edit HTML. Believe me, I know that world can be daunting, but a smoothly edited ebook creates a much cleaner reading experience.

POV

As a reviewer, I tend to really take note of POV issues. There are a number of great articles out there to help self-publishers with this. It is very important for authors to remain consistent in their voice. For the most part, Waltz did a good job with this. On a few occasions I found him slipping into the “mind” of his supporting characters which created a little confusion. I have no doubts that the right editor would have caught these. They were a little distracting, but they didn’t take me out of the story (which was incredibly intense!).

Metaphor

Before closing this section, I wanted to highlight one of Waltz’s strengths. I found myself highlighting numerous sections as I often do with my favorite authors. They stood out for the way they described the character and scene in powerful ways with very creative word pictures.

The following is an example. Moments before the quoted text, a character is smoking a cigarette before being attacked by the protaganists’ business partner. Upon seeing this attack, the protganist remarks,

“I was jealous of the cigarette; it was long gone, yet here I was, watching someone I knew beat another person…”

The text goes on. Though this quote might not stand out as much to someone who hasn’t read the book, I really liked his simple way of describing the protagonist’s internal turmoil in terms of tangible physical object. It wasn’t the most profound statement ever, but as I read the book it really grabbed me. Ivy League filled with many similar passages.

The Characters – 2.7/5

It was in the “characters” that I felt that Ivy League struggled the most. Before writing this review, I perused the number of comments on the book’s Amazon and Goodreads pages. I found it very interesting that the characters were often listed as the reason the book received high ratings. This, more than anything, illustrates the subjective nature of any reading experience. I do not claim to be the ultimate authority on character development. As always, the following is simply my impression as a fan of this book.

Protaganist

This story is told from the first-person perspective of Jamie, a high school senior who finds himself dealing with the sudden announcement of his parents’ impending divorce and his acceptance into a dream college that he has no hope of paying for through legal means. His life devolves quickly after he comes to the decision that his only option is to finance his education through the drug trade.

As is common with a first person perspective, Jaime is one of the most well-developed characters. For the most part, I found him to be very believable and often likable. There were several cringe-inducing moments where he made horrible choices that were as hard to read as they were believable. Having worked with many boy emerging into adulthood, I can definitely say that the snowball effect that his poor decisions created was very believable. At times, the reader may wonder how on earth things could go so bad so fast, but unfortunately that is the way these things tend to work out—hence, the cautionary tale.

My only issues with this character had to do with some minor inconsistency when it came to some of his thought processes and one scene in particular. First, I found that some of his thoughts tended to venture beyond that of a boy at his age and experience. A couple of times he makes internal comments about socio-economic status that made he turn my head a little. Such thoughts usually wouldn’t occur to a young man until a year or two later when social activism becomes a more centric thought (i.e. college activism).

Second, there was one very important sequence where he is meeting with an authority figure. Jamie kept waffling between extreme confidence and arrogance, to fear and trembling, and back again. Little exchanges like this left me unsure of what his real personality was. It wasn’t a huge issue, but it drew me out of my reading at times.

Airic, Riley, and Kip

These three characters were the primary supporting cast (other than Gabe who I will get to in a minute). Airic—the best friend, Riley—the love interest, and Kip—the younger brother, each had their strengths and weaknesses. Airic was the strongest in my opinion. He was pretty well rounded, mostly consistent in his dealings with Jamie, and appropriately inconsistent as one would expect a teenager to be. Riley, on the other hand, was a bit too stereotypical for my liking. There wasn’t a lot of depth to her. Though she wasn’t a primary character, I felt that her development could have been more involved.

Kip was one of the strangest characters for me. He is in middle school, yet he often seems to talk and act like someone at least the same age as Jamie. Divorce in a family can force a kid to grow up too fast, but his personality didn’t seem to fit that profile. Overall, I felt that either changing his age or spending more time trying to craft his personality to emulate a middle school boy would have benefited the author greatly.

Gabe

Without a question, I felt that Gabe was the best character in the book. Without giving too much away, I will say that he is a very multi-dimensional character. It was through watching how he developed as the story progressed that I felt I truly understood the depth of the story. He is a deeply flawed character, but Waltz did an incredible job of avoiding the trap of making him the one-dimensional “bad guy” that YA novels tend to do. Gabe was a great character, one that I would enjoy reading more about.

The Characters Conclusion

The book hangs on the well-rounded characters of Jaime and Gabe. They are, after all, the two primary focal points of the story. Still, the book could have really excelled if a bit more depth and time would have been focused on the rest of the cast, especially Riley and Kip. Despite this, Gabe was a very memorable character that left me wanting to read further installments.

The Plot – 3.7/5

The description of the plot in that first submission email is what drew me to the book in the first place. For the most part, it didn’t disappoint. In a sense, this is one of those books that is like watching a car wreck unfold. You know something terrible will happen, but try as you might you can’t tear your eyes away from it. There were some minor errors or inconsistencies, particularly in the way time progressed that left me confused at times, but overall it was a very good read. No doubt about it, this is an intense read.

Writing Style – 4.5/5

Butcher’s writing is deliciously sardonic. Right away, the reader is greeted by his often self-deprecating wit. Through the eyes of a down-on-his-luck 20th century professional wizard (yes, you read that right) named Harry Dresden, the reader enters the world of urban fantasy told in rather humorous ways. I can’t imagine someone picking up Storm Front and not being entertained.

The Characters – 5/5

It is books like Storm Front that make me wish I would have given myself more stars with which to award quality writing like this. The characters, in all honesty, are unbelievably good. Even the seemingly minor characters stand out for their excellence.

The Plot – 3/5

As much as I have tried, I can’t entirely eliminate my bias against spells and sorcery. If that is your thing, you might rate this category higher. For me, too much time is bogged down by Butcher having to explain the process behind the variety of spells and potions. Also, there are a few too many “I saw that coming” moments for me.

Overall – 4.2/5

Storm Front, while not my favorite book in the Dresden Files is still an outrageously good time. Butcher’s writing style kept me laughing throughout, yet he stilled managed to create well-rounded characters. Even the “villains” were somewhat likable. If you like humor mixed with action/adventure and urban fantasy then you will love this book.

Overview

Jim Butcher. What is there to say about Jim Butcher and his Dresden Files? Well, they are singly the most unique and bizarre books I’ve ever read. They’ve also made me laugh the loudest. They are incredibly ridiculous, loads of fun, and infinitely better than what little of the TV series I have seen.

Butcher’s writing is deliciously sardonic. His characters are wonderfully constructed. Though the plots are not typically anything to rave about, I have never really cared. I don’t read The Dresden Files for the plots. I read them to experience Jim Butcher’s writing.

Writing Style – 4.3/5

For this review, I intentionally chose the first book in the Dresden Files, Storm Front. This will be my modus operandi when it comes to reviewing books in a trilogy or series. In truth, I have yet to read the entire series, but it is fair to say that Storm Front is not my favorite of the series. Take note of that when you look at the final review scores which shall be fairly high. This says a lot about the quality of the series as a whole.

Later books in the series would receive a slightly higher rating in this category. Storm Front is book one and it shows. It should be expected that his writing voice would take time to develop, especially since the book is written in first person. I’ve found that books written in this perspective, not unlike characters in a TV show, tend to take time to develop and mature into who they are going to be. All that said, his voice is pretty darn awesome from page one.

The Dresden Perspective

Right away, the reader is greeted by Butcher’s often self-deprecating wit. Through the eyes of a down-on-his-luck 20th-century professional wizard (yes, you read that right) named Harry Dresden the reader enters the world of urban fantasy told in rather humorous ways. Though I would normally leave this thought for the characters section, I find it impossible to separate the writing style from the character of Dresden. His first person perspective is the author in ways that I don’t typically find in a first person book. Though I’m guessing that Jim Butcher is not an actual wizard, I can certainly see his personality being very similar to Dresden’s. I don’t know how else he would have been able to make this character come to life so vividly.

Beyond Humor

Butcher masterfully takes the reader beyond snarky humor and over-the-top “realistic” magic, however. There is a lot of depth to this book. Dresden is a multi-faceted character struggling with his own personal demons (both literally and figuratively) which allows the author to explore more serious topic matter.

Writing Style Conclusion

I can’t imagine someone picking up Storm Front and not being entertained. I will be the first to admit that I am not a huge fan of “spells and sorcery” magic, not even in a 20th century context. This is definitely outside of my normal tastes, but Butcher’s writing style is so engaging that I had no problems getting past it.

The Characters – 5/5

It is books like Storm Front that make me wish I would have given myself more stars with which to award quality writing like this. The characters, in all honesty, are unbelievably good. Even the seemingly minor characters stand out for their excellence.

Harry Dresden

I have already written about him above so I will sum up my opinion of this character by saying you are going to be hard pressed to find a better protagonist in genre fiction. He’s likable, he’s appropriately whiny, he makes plenty of mistakes, and he is chivalrous without being a stereotype. I could go on, but alas I don’t have the space.

Supporting Cast – the Women

There are two women in Harry’s life: his contact at the Chicago Police Department—Karrin Murphy, and a tabloid reporter named Susan Rodriguez. Both are incredibly unique and fun. Karrin is probably my favorite because of her stereotype-defying personality and abilities, but Susan develops into a great character, especially in later books.

Supporting Cast – Bob

What’s not to like about a disembodied entity that lives in a human skull and goes by the name of Bob? He is very, very strange, but he is a wonderful sometimes-side-kick for Dresden.

Supporting Cast – Mister

Yes, I am adding a review of a pet cat to the book. This cat is no ordinary cat. Butcher manages to give it wonderful personality while using him in important ways to cue major plot moments. Bravo.

Supporting Cast – Antagonists

Butcher features a large variety of antagonists in Storm Front. I can’t say too much without giving major plot points away, but all but one were exceptional. Gentlemen Johnny Marcone was a fun, fresh take on the “mobster.” Even the fact that there are vampires in this book couldn’t dissuade me from enjoying it!

The Characters Conclusion

The book is about Harry Dresden. He is so well-written that this category might have received a 5/5 even if the rest of the cast had been uninspiring. Instead, Butcher had enough magic (see what I did there?) left over to create one of the more compelling ensembles I’ve read in a while. Even from the first few chapters the chemistry is fantastic.

The Plot – 3/5

I wrestled with this one before deciding on a rating. As much as I have tried, I can’t entirely eliminate my bias against spells and sorcery. If that is your thing, you might rate this category higher. For me, too much time is bogged down by Butcher having to explain the process behind the variety of spells and potions.

Spells and sorcery, however, are not the only reasons this plot received a lower rating than the other categories. The over-arching plot line in Storm Front is far inferior to later books. There are a few too many “I saw that coming” moments for me. The pacing wasn’t quite as smooth as I would have liked either.

The Plot Conclusion

There were some elements in the plot that were less than stellar, but don’t let that dissuade you from picking up Storm Front. The Dresden Files are a serialized collection of novels (each book builds upon the previous) so you do need to start here. Regardless of how you feel about the plot, the quality of the writing and characters is so strong that he could have ripped off the plot from Twilight and I still probably would have enjoyed it (if you know my feelings on Twilight then you know what a big statement that is).

If you like humor mixed with action/adventure/ and urban fantasy then you will love this book.

Writing Style – 2.5/5

After reading this story, I believe that Riddle has the potential to be a really excellent writer. Unfortunately, this title was fraught with grammatical and formatting errors that distracted from the story.  Riddle does a solid job of describing settings and characters without losing my attention.  I would like to see this story after another round of editing.

The Characters – 3/5

There were two primary characters (three if you include the house).  Eric was solid, interesting, and easy to identify with.  Marie left a lot to be desired, often feeling like a Hollywood stereotype.

The Plot – 3.5/5

In many ways, this story reminded me of the quirky and very bizarre 14 by Peter Clines.  I see this as a good thing since I enjoyed that book. There were a few holes and unoriginal moments in Domataphobia, but overall it was an enjoyable read.

Overall – 3/5

The grammatical and formatting errors were distracting.  If Riddle were to edit and resubmit a 2nd edition the reading experience would be greatly improved. I don’t often read short stories, but I found this one to be enjoyable.  It was a unique take on paranormal horror.

Overview

This week I began advertising this blog to other authors with the hopes that I could start reviewing fresh, independent material. As an indie author myself, I know how helpful it is for people to review your book.  Granted, this is a brand new blog with a small following (at the moment).  Still, I hope that it can prove helpful.

The winner of “first indie review” goes to Nate Riddle.  He’s a Texas native who’s fascinated with the paranormal.  He’s published two non-fiction titles, Lone Star Saucers: Searching for UFOs in Texas and Lone Star Spooks: Searching for Ghosts in Texas.  Recently, he’s started branching out into the world of fiction, writing and publishing two short stories.

Today, I will be looking at Domataphobia, a very interesting read about a paranormal experience both within and perpetuated by a couple’s home.  It isn’t perfect, possessing a few flaws particularly in the editing department, but overall I found it to be a very entertaining read.

Writing Style – 2.5/5

Domataphobia by Nate Riddle was a very interesting take on the paranormal genre. I haven’t read many short stories in my life so this was a fresh experience. There are, no doubt, many challenges unique to this art form. Last Christmas I wrote a novella that was around 27,000 words, and I found that a bit trying at times as I tried to develop a story and characters with so “few” words. Riddle used roughly 8,000 words to tell his story. For that, I say well done!

In this section, I critique the author’s writing style. This is sort of a catch-all category that looks at my general impressions of style as well as overall structure and grammatical issues. In addition, I am looking for consistency with the “voice” and perspective of the characters telling the story.

Grammatical/Formatting Issues

Domataphobia suffered from a fair share of errors that a solid round of editing and perhaps a focus group (some call them beta groups) would have solved. There were numerous formatting issues, comma splices, and other mistakes. That’s not to say that Riddle is not a good writer. Actually, I really enjoyed his writing style. When the errors weren’t present, he had a nice flow, balancing simple and complex sentence structures. This story, interesting and unique as it is, could serve as a much better example of Nate Riddle’s abilities if he were to attack the editing phase and resubmit a 2nd edition.

Character Voice/Perspective

This was another issue I had with the story. There are two primary characters—Eric and Marie—that I will look at more in the next section. Domataphobia was written in the 3rd person, told mostly from the perspective of Eric. I say “mostly” because sometimes the author inadvertently slipped into Marie’s perspective. Now, I been married long enough to realize that sometimes a married couple can read each other’s minds (almost always just the woman reading the man’s. What men can really understand a woman’s mind?!), but when writing a novel, it is important to stick inside one character’s thoughts unless intentionally switching. If that is the case, then the author needs to help the reader see that the change is happening to avoid confusion. Sometimes as I read Domataphobia I found myself struggling to follow who was thinking what.

Attention to Detail

As I mentioned earlier, I don’t want to give the impression that Nate Riddle is a bad writer. I think he has the potential to write excellent stories. One of his strengths is his attention the details of the character’s surroundings. I have to admit that one of my weaknesses as an author is describing surroundings, particularly when it comes to rooms and buildings. This is probably due to the fact that I am mostly oblivious to real-world decorations and stylings. Riddle does an excellent job of describing the house around which this story is focused. One could argue that that the house on Crane Street is the third primary character. If that is the case, then it might be the best developed character in the story!

Just a few pages in I felt I had a very solid mental picture of the house’s layout. One of things I like about his approach is that he detailed the house without losing my interest. Some authors go to such lengths to describe their settings that I find myself skipping ahead in the chapter to find something that actually interested me. That was not the case with Domataphobia.

Writing Style Conclusion

Domataphobia was plagued by a number of grammatical and formatting errors which, unfortunately, often got in the way of showing Riddle’s true talents.  A solid round of editing would raise the score of this section to at least a 3/5, if not higher. Riddle’s attention to detail and entertaining use of humor show the potential for an excellent writer.

The Characters – 3/5

As stated earlier, there are two primary characters in Domataphobia.  We will be looking at these individually in a second.  One of the things that needs to be mentioned again is that this was an 8,000 word short story.  Because of this, I wasn’t looking for an incredible development arch in Riddle’s characters.  They showed mostly well-rounded personalities, though Marie left a little to be desired.

Eric

Eric was Domataphobia’s hero and primary protagonist.  I found him to be a humorous and well-written character.  Riddle portrayed him well as your typical guy, full of bravado but when the crap hits the fan he’s screaming and running while firing a gun blindly behind him.  That’s a compliment!  I found myself really able to identify with him.  Obviously, the short story format limited my ability to truly know him, leaving me with questions, but again, that’s not a bad thing.  I would be interested in reading more about this Eric guy.

Marie

Unfortunately, I thought Marie didn’t quite live up to Eric’s promise.  As a secondary protagonist in a short story, she was obviously more limited, but I found her to be a rather stereotypical Hollywood portrayal of a woman in a horror movie.  She was the type that I could imagine shaking and screaming a lot.  I’ve enjoyed the recent trend in literature that portrays female characters with much more backbone.  The women in my life such as my mother and wife are certainly a lot stronger than most books would give them credit for.  Heck, if my wife and I were in a horror movie she’d probably be the strong one firing a gun at the darkness while I shook, screamed, and ran!  If I were to read a sequel to this story, I’d like to see a little more originality and depth behind Marie.

The Characters Conclusion

Overall, I found the characters in Domataphobia to be mostly well written.  Eric was solid.  Marie wasn’t quite so much.  She probably kept the score from being a 3.5/5 or higher.  Still, Riddle did a good job of helping me identify with the story, though if I were Eric, I would have definitely lost it after Marie told me to the call the cops for like the 1,000,000,000th time!

The Plot – 3.5/5

The title and cover of this story were very interesting.  In prepping for this post I jumped on dictionary.com to find out what Domatophobia (according to dicionary.com the title is misspelled). means.  It is:

a fear of houses, homes, or being stuck in a house

One can only imagine the horror of being afflicted with the deadly combination of domataphobia and agoraphobia!

Domataphobia was a solid title choice.  The storyline was unique and refreshing.  It greatly reminded me of the quirky and incredibly bizarre 14 by Peter Clines. Again, I see that as a good thing.  There’s no question that this was very unique story.  I found myself over halfway through and still wondering what the heck was going on.  It grabbed me and the ending left me sad there wasn’t more.

Because it was a short story, there wasn’t the complexity to the plot that longer art forms typically have.  Still, I didn’t feel like I was being led slowly from point A to point B without twists and unanswered questions.  Riddle did a solid job of leaving some aspects up to my imagination without losing me along the way. There were some plot aspects that did seem a little hollow or unoriginal, but overall I found it to be a very enjoyable read.

Writing Style – 2.5/5

After reading this story, I believe that Riddle has the potential to be a really excellent writer. Unfortunately, this title was fraught with grammatical and formatting errors that distracted from the story.  Riddle does a solid job of describing settings and characters without losing my attention.  I would like to see this story after another round of editing.

The Characters – 3/5

There were two primary characters (three if you include the house).  Eric was solid, interesting, and easy to identify with.  Marie left a lot to be desired, often feeling like a Hollywood stereotype.

The Plot – 3.5/5

In many ways, this story reminded me of the quirky and very bizarre 14 by Peter Clines.  I see this as a good thing since I enjoyed that book. There were a few holes and unoriginal moments in Domataphobia, but overall it was an enjoyable read.

Overall – 3/5

The grammatical and formatting errors were distracting.  If Riddle were to edit and resubmit a 2nd edition the reading experience would be greatly improved. I don’t often read short stories, but I found this one to be enjoyable.  It was a unique take on paranormal horror.

Overview

This week I began advertising this blog to other authors with the hopes that I could start reviewing fresh, independent material. As an indie author myself, I know how helpful it is for people to review your book.  Granted, this is a brand new blog with a small following (at the moment).  Still, I hope that it can prove helpful.

The winner of “first indie review” goes to Nate Riddle.  He’s a Texas native who’s fascinated with the paranormal.  He’s published two non-fiction titles, Lone Star Saucers: Searching for UFOs in Texas and Lone Star Spooks: Searching for Ghosts in Texas.  Recently, he’s started branching out into the world of fiction, writing and publishing two short stories.

Today, I will be looking at Domataphobia, a very interesting read about a paranormal experience both within and perpetuated by a couple’s home.  It isn’t perfect, possessing a few flaws particularly in the editing department, but overall I found it to be a very entertaining read.

Writing Style – 2.5/5

Domataphobia by Nate Riddle was a very interesting take on the paranormal genre. I haven’t read many short stories in my life so this was a fresh experience. There are, no doubt, many challenges unique to this art form. Last Christmas I wrote a novella that was around 27,000 words, and I found that a bit trying at times as I tried to develop a story and characters with so “few” words. Riddle used roughly 8,000 words to tell his story. For that, I say well done!

In this section, I critique the author’s writing style. This is sort of a catch-all category that looks at my general impressions of style as well as overall structure and grammatical issues. In addition, I am looking for consistency with the “voice” and perspective of the characters telling the story.

Grammatical/Formatting Issues

Domataphobia suffered from a fair share of errors that a solid round of editing and perhaps a focus group (some call them beta groups) would have solved. There were numerous formatting issues, comma splices, and other mistakes. That’s not to say that Riddle is not a good writer. Actually, I really enjoyed his writing style. When the errors weren’t present, he had a nice flow, balancing simple and complex sentence structures. This story, interesting and unique as it is, could serve as a much better example of Nate Riddle’s abilities if he were to attack the editing phase and resubmit a 2nd edition.

Character Voice/Perspective

This was another issue I had with the story. There are two primary characters—Eric and Marie—that I will look at more in the next section. Domataphobia was written in the 3rd person, told mostly from the perspective of Eric. I say “mostly” because sometimes the author inadvertently slipped into Marie’s perspective. Now, I been married long enough to realize that sometimes a married couple can read each other’s minds (almost always just the woman reading the man’s. What men can really understand a woman’s mind?!), but when writing a novel, it is important to stick inside one character’s thoughts unless intentionally switching. If that is the case, then the author needs to help the reader see that the change is happening to avoid confusion. Sometimes as I read Domataphobia I found myself struggling to follow who was thinking what.

Attention to Detail

As I mentioned earlier, I don’t want to give the impression that Nate Riddle is a bad writer. I think he has the potential to write excellent stories. One of his strengths is his attention the details of the character’s surroundings. I have to admit that one of my weaknesses as an author is describing surroundings, particularly when it comes to rooms and buildings. This is probably due to the fact that I am mostly oblivious to real-world decorations and stylings. Riddle does an excellent job of describing the house around which this story is focused. One could argue that that the house on Crane Street is the third primary character. If that is the case, then it might be the best developed character in the story!

Just a few pages in I felt I had a very solid mental picture of the house’s layout. One of things I like about his approach is that he detailed the house without losing my interest. Some authors go to such lengths to describe their settings that I find myself skipping ahead in the chapter to find something that actually interested me. That was not the case with Domataphobia.

Writing Style Conclusion

Domataphobia was plagued by a number of grammatical and formatting errors which, unfortunately, often got in the way of showing Riddle’s true talents.  A solid round of editing would raise the score of this section to at least a 3/5, if not higher. Riddle’s attention to detail and entertaining use of humor show the potential for an excellent writer.

The Characters – 3/5

As stated earlier, there are two primary characters in Domataphobia.  We will be looking at these individually in a second.  One of the things that needs to be mentioned again is that this was an 8,000 word short story.  Because of this, I wasn’t looking for an incredible development arch in Riddle’s characters.  They showed mostly well-rounded personalities, though Marie left a little to be desired.

Eric

Eric was Domataphobia’s hero and primary protagonist.  I found him to be a humorous and well-written character.  Riddle portrayed him well as your typical guy, full of bravado but when the crap hits the fan he’s screaming and running while firing a gun blindly behind him.  That’s a compliment!  I found myself really able to identify with him.  Obviously, the short story format limited my ability to truly know him, leaving me with questions, but again, that’s not a bad thing.  I would be interested in reading more about this Eric guy.

Marie

Unfortunately, I thought Marie didn’t quite live up to Eric’s promise.  As a secondary protagonist in a short story, she was obviously more limited, but I found her to be a rather stereotypical Hollywood portrayal of a woman in a horror movie.  She was the type that I could imagine shaking and screaming a lot.  I’ve enjoyed the recent trend in literature that portrays female characters with much more backbone.  The women in my life such as my mother and wife are certainly a lot stronger than most books would give them credit for.  Heck, if my wife and I were in a horror movie she’d probably be the strong one firing a gun at the darkness while I shook, screamed, and ran!  If I were to read a sequel to this story, I’d like to see a little more originality and depth behind Marie.

The Characters Conclusion

Overall, I found the characters in Domataphobia to be mostly well written.  Eric was solid.  Marie wasn’t quite so much.  She probably kept the score from being a 3.5/5 or higher.  Still, Riddle did a good job of helping me identify with the story, though if I were Eric, I would have definitely lost it after Marie told me to the call the cops for like the 1,000,000,000th time!

The Plot – 3.5/5

The title and cover of this story were very interesting.  In prepping for this post I jumped on dictionary.com to find out what Domatophobia (according to dicionary.com the title is misspelled). means.  It is:

a fear of houses, homes, or being stuck in a house

One can only imagine the horror of being afflicted with the deadly combination of domataphobia and agoraphobia!

Domataphobia was a solid title choice.  The storyline was unique and refreshing.  It greatly reminded me of the quirky and incredibly bizarre 14 by Peter Clines. Again, I see that as a good thing.  There’s no question that this was very unique story.  I found myself over halfway through and still wondering what the heck was going on.  It grabbed me and the ending left me sad there wasn’t more.

Because it was a short story, there wasn’t the complexity to the plot that longer art forms typically have.  Still, I didn’t feel like I was being led slowly from point A to point B without twists and unanswered questions.  Riddle did a solid job of leaving some aspects up to my imagination without losing me along the way. There were some plot aspects that did seem a little hollow or unoriginal, but overall I found it to be a very enjoyable read.

Writing Style – 5/5

The subject matter that is explored in The Fault in Our Stars is incredibly heavy. In writing about a girl with terminal cancer, John Green is stepping into a world that is very personal to far too many people. This is risky, but where other authors, even really good ones, might have failed, he absolutely hits a home run. Employing just the right amount of humor and wit, Green strikes a perfect balance between love, grief, and the most important and daunting questions in life. This is easily one of the most well-written books I have ever read.

The Characters – 5/5

The story is told through the eyes of Hazel Grace, a teenage girl with terminal cancer. Green’s depiction of her is, quite frankly, masterful. In more ways than I have space to elucidate here, Hazel Grace provides an incredible role model for adolescent girls. The rest of the cast is varied, interesting, and expertly crafted.

The Plot – 5/5

At the core of the plot is Hazel Grace’s battle with cancer. It is something that affects everyone around her, the source of her greatest fears and heartaches. Still, this more than just a story about the fight against a deadly disease. There is love, grief, laughter, tears, and a full gambit of life questions. I loved every minute of this book even while I “hated” several parts of it (read the book and you’ll understand).

Overall – 5/5

I will be the first to admit that typical teenage romance stories make me want to slam my head repeatedly into a large, solid object. I’m usually drawn to stories with more action, suspense, and adventure. Despite this, The Fault in Our Stars is one of the best books I have ever read. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

In my review of Mistborn I made the assertion that I didn’t believe the classification of “young adult” should preclude a novel from being considered a truly great work. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green is my case in point. I can honestly say that this is one of my “desert island” books, perhaps one of the top five I have ever read.

I recently completed my graduate degree in Youth Ministry Leadership. The culmination of this program required me to conduct a year-long study of a topic relating to the field of adolescent research. Because I have moved out of a ministry career, I chose a topic that closely related to my career as an author. The study, titled The Twilight Effect, set out to examine the expectations of love and behaviors in the romantic relationships of adolescent girls and how they correlate with the influence of romantic themes in young adult fiction. This study resulted in a 200 page thesis, the vast majority of which I’m sure very few people would ever care to read. The plus side of this study was that I was tasked with studying popular young adult fiction, a genre I both enjoy reading and writing for.

One of the works of young adult fiction I chose to study was The Fault in Our Stars. Having never read anything by John Green I had no idea what to expect. Honestly, I was anticipating a sappy, bubblegum book filled with cheesy romantic gestures, boy-crazed girls, and most likely a love triangle. Instead, I encountered a gripping story of pain, romance, and the struggle with imminent mortality. In short, I found myself reading one of the most honest, enriching books I have ever read.

Writing Style – 5/5

John Green chose to write this book from the perspective of its female protagonist, Hazel Grace Lancaster. Before I review his writing style, let me first admit to one of my rather irrational biases. I have always had a difficult time connecting with a book written primarily about a female protagonist. This is only increased when the book is written in first-person as The Fault in Our Stars was. Now, before you start filling up the comments section with accusations of sexism, please understand that this is not because I have anything against female heroines. I think the fairer gender is capable of pretty much anything that men are. My primary reason for this bias is that when I read a book I like to completely lose myself in it, identifying as much as possible with the protagonist. Books featuring a primary female lead are just more of a challenge because I am… well… a guy, which means I don’t always identify 100% with said character. (I don’t think it’s that unreasonable.) That said, I have truly enjoyed a great number of books driven by a female protagonist, but when I start one I always recognize that it may be an uphill battle for me to truly relate to what I’m reading. The reason I included this information in this review is to illustrate that The Fault in Our Stars already presented an obstacle for me—one that John Green absolutely obliterated within the first few pages.

Humor and Wit

The reader will discover on the first few pages (if he/she hasn’t already heard through social media) that Hazel Grace has terminal cancer. Right off the bat I realized that I was in for a rather heavy subject matter. I can’t imagine being John Green, sitting down to write this book knowing that he is going to be touching on raw nerves in his readers. It seems that you are hard pressed to find someone who has not been affected by cancer, if not personally then in someone they care about. Because of this, he is not only telling a fictional story about characters created in his head, he is also telling the story of so many people who have suffered at the hand of this terrible affliction. In fact, elements in this book are somewhat based on a real young woman who John Green had the privilege to meet. This is a heavy responsibility for an author to bear, and bear it he does quite well.

One of Green’s methods of holding back the heaviness of the story is in his use of wit, sarcasm, and humor. Hazel Grace, as I will talk about more in the next section, is an amazing character. The story, told from her first-person perspective, masterfully captures the inner-workings of a teenage girls… more on that in a bit. It is through her voice that Green weaves in the much-needed lighthearted elements.

Use of Metaphor

I don’t know John Green. We happen to both live in the same area (Indianapolis, IN), but it’s not exactly a small town. One thing I feel I do know about him now that I have read The Fault in Our Stars is that he is a deep thinker. Because I want potential readers to truly appreciate and experience his writing for the first time, I will not give specifics, but throughout the story he skillfully employs the use of metaphor in ways that enrich the story without distracting from it at the same time. Believe me, I’ve read my share of authors who are overly fond of this literary tool and use it carelessly to the point that I just wish they’d get back to the plot. Though I haven’t had the chance to reread The Fault in Our Stars yet, I fully plan to so that I can dedicate more of my focus on understanding his hidden themes and metaphors.

Writing Style Conclusion

I could write for hours about John Green’s writing style in The Fault in Our Stars. He seems to have found the perfect balance of mixing humor in to lighten the mood while remaining respectful to the material he is writing about. Tackling something as universal and heavy as cancer is no small task. He nails it. The added bonus for the reader is that he did not stop with just writing a good story. Deep within the space between the lines he teaches even deeper truths with his use of metaphor and symbolism.

The Characters – 5/5

What makes a character great? When you really get down to it, what is the difference between a good character and a great character? Obviously, this depends on the character’s role in the story. For example, one shouldn’t expect a supporting character to have the same depth and development arch as a primary one. In my opinion, it often comes down to a gut test. Did I relate to this person? Would I be able reasonably expect to meet someone like this in real life (minus magical abilities in some cases)? I don’t think you have to “like” the character. A well-rounded, intricately developed character can be entirely unlikable, but I want realism without predictability. Real humans contain certain personality traits and quirks that have some commonality with others, yet humans are particularly (and notoriously) random beings. Even the most boring, simple-minded person goes about his/her day making a decent number of decisions that could have gone either way. Great characters from a novel must posses this trait. If you are writing a young adult book about a teenage girl then this is even that much more important.

Now, you might be thinking, “what does this guy know about teenage girls?” A lot, actually, and 100% not in a creepy way. As I stated earlier, I spent eight years of my life working daily with teenagers. Several of those years were also dedicated to the academic study of this demographic. When I chose to read The Fault in Our Stars I was doing so for the purpose of furthering my research. Having spent countless hours studying the developmental processes and stages of adolescence, I can tell you that John Green absolutely hit a home run with his creation of Hazel Grace.

Hazel Grace

This story is primarily about Hazel Grace. It is told through her eyes. The reader experiences her emotional struggles, her joys, the depths of her sadness. She is a flawed character as all humans are. There are times when she reacts poorly to her parents. She is moody, not just because she has cancer. Yes, she is mature beyond her years as one would expect from someone who has been facing down her own death for many years. Still, she is distinctly a teenager. In my humble opinion, she is one of the most complete, well-rounded characters I have ever read in a book.

There is one other incredibly important aspect of Hazel Grace. She is an incredibly positive role model for adolescent girls to aspire to be. Let’s put aside her struggle with cancer for a moment (this book is plenty good enough to stand alone without it). When I conducted the above-mentioned study, my findings all pointed to the incredible positives that adolescent girls are pulling from the character of Hazel Grace. She is strong but weak when she needs to be. She is flawed… too often girls are given an unrealistic picture of what they should be. Throughout her relationship with her love interest, she maintains an equal balance of control in their partnership. He does not dominate. She has a real voice, something that female protagonists often do not have in similar books. She stood apart from her love interest even while standing with him. In a dating environment in America where abuse in teen relationships is all too common, a Hazel Grace is exactly what young girls need to see.

The Rest of the Cast

There is Augustus. There’s her amazingly supportive and equally struggling parents. There’s a recluse author (a guy you love to hate and find yourself loving all the same), a well-meaning counselor, and a number of fascinating side characters.

This isn’t the sort of book that has a standard “antagonist” in character form, but there is still plenty of tension created by the character interactions. The relationships are fantastic. The love story is cute, appropriate for their age, and tears your heart out (in good and bad ways) without completely dominating the narrative. In all honesty, I have a difficult time finding any flaws with this category.

The Characters Conclusion

Not enough good things can be said about Hazel Grace. Even if I hadn’t spent literally hundreds upon hundreds of hours studying the impact of the novel on adolescent readers, I could have guessed that it would be positive. The rest of the cast is distinct, memorable, and well written.

The Plot – 5/5

I will give just one minor spoiler alert for this book. If you plan to pick this up, be prepared to cry. Okay, with that out of the way I can move on. Just a few pages in I knew enough about the plot to be able to expect a gripping story that would leave me both heartbroken and uplifted when I finished it. He did not disappoint. There are multiple branching storylines (something that, if you haven’t picked up already, I am a BIG fan of). As a 33-year-old male, I am not overly drawn to teen romance stories. In fact, they tend to make me want to slam my head repeatedly into a large solid object. There’s no denying it, The Fault in Our Stars is full of this literary theme, but the story is so much bigger than just that. Green courageously asks some of the most difficult questions life can present. He does so in ways that have left me still chewing on some of the nuggets this story possesses.

In closing, I’d like you to take a long look at the rating I gave the plot. This book does not contain epic adventure sequences. There are no weapons wielded in combat. There are no daring rescues, heists, magical powers, or anything else that would be found in a Hollywood action blockbuster. Why is this important? I would say that 99% of the books I read contain at least one of these elements. The Fault in Our Stars is the first dramatic work of fiction that I have loved. It is truly saying something that the overall score that I have given this book is a perfect 5 out of 5. It is that good. It is that perfect.

Writing Style – 5/5

The subject matter that is explored in The Fault in Our Stars is incredibly heavy. In writing about a girl with terminal cancer, John Green is stepping into a world that is very personal to far too many people. This is risky, but where other authors, even really good ones, might have failed, he absolutely hits a home run. Employing just the right amount of humor and wit, Green strikes a perfect balance between love, grief, and the most important and daunting questions in life. This is easily one of the most well-written books I have ever read.

The Characters – 5/5

The story is told through the eyes of Hazel Grace, a teenage girl with terminal cancer. Green’s depiction of her is, quite frankly, masterful. In more ways than I have space to elucidate here, Hazel Grace provides an incredible role model for adolescent girls. The rest of the cast is varied, interesting, and expertly crafted.

The Plot – 5/5

At the core of the plot is Hazel Grace’s battle with cancer. It is something that affects everyone around her, the source of her greatest fears and heartaches. Still, this more than just a story about the fight against a deadly disease. There is love, grief, laughter, tears, and a full gambit of life questions. I loved every minute of this book even while I “hated” several parts of it (read the book and you’ll understand).

Overall – 5/5

I will be the first to admit that typical teenage romance stories make me want to slam my head repeatedly into a large, solid object. I’m usually drawn to stories with more action, suspense, and adventure. Despite this, The Fault in Our Stars is one of the best books I have ever read. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

In my review of Mistborn I made the assertion that I didn’t believe the classification of “young adult” should preclude a novel from being considered a truly great work. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green is my case in point. I can honestly say that this is one of my “desert island” books, perhaps one of the top five I have ever read.

I recently completed my graduate degree in Youth Ministry Leadership. The culmination of this program required me to conduct a year-long study of a topic relating to the field of adolescent research. Because I have moved out of a ministry career, I chose a topic that closely related to my career as an author. The study, titled The Twilight Effect, set out to examine the expectations of love and behaviors in the romantic relationships of adolescent girls and how they correlate with the influence of romantic themes in young adult fiction. This study resulted in a 200 page thesis, the vast majority of which I’m sure very few people would ever care to read. The plus side of this study was that I was tasked with studying popular young adult fiction, a genre I both enjoy reading and writing for.

One of the works of young adult fiction I chose to study was The Fault in Our Stars. Having never read anything by John Green I had no idea what to expect. Honestly, I was anticipating a sappy, bubblegum book filled with cheesy romantic gestures, boy-crazed girls, and most likely a love triangle. Instead, I encountered a gripping story of pain, romance, and the struggle with imminent mortality. In short, I found myself reading one of the most honest, enriching books I have ever read.

Writing Style – 5/5

John Green chose to write this book from the perspective of its female protagonist, Hazel Grace Lancaster. Before I review his writing style, let me first admit to one of my rather irrational biases. I have always had a difficult time connecting with a book written primarily about a female protagonist. This is only increased when the book is written in first-person as The Fault in Our Stars was. Now, before you start filling up the comments section with accusations of sexism, please understand that this is not because I have anything against female heroines. I think the fairer gender is capable of pretty much anything that men are. My primary reason for this bias is that when I read a book I like to completely lose myself in it, identifying as much as possible with the protagonist. Books featuring a primary female lead are just more of a challenge because I am… well… a guy, which means I don’t always identify 100% with said character. (I don’t think it’s that unreasonable.) That said, I have truly enjoyed a great number of books driven by a female protagonist, but when I start one I always recognize that it may be an uphill battle for me to truly relate to what I’m reading. The reason I included this information in this review is to illustrate that The Fault in Our Stars already presented an obstacle for me—one that John Green absolutely obliterated within the first few pages.

Humor and Wit

The reader will discover on the first few pages (if he/she hasn’t already heard through social media) that Hazel Grace has terminal cancer. Right off the bat I realized that I was in for a rather heavy subject matter. I can’t imagine being John Green, sitting down to write this book knowing that he is going to be touching on raw nerves in his readers. It seems that you are hard pressed to find someone who has not been affected by cancer, if not personally then in someone they care about. Because of this, he is not only telling a fictional story about characters created in his head, he is also telling the story of so many people who have suffered at the hand of this terrible affliction. In fact, elements in this book are somewhat based on a real young woman who John Green had the privilege to meet. This is a heavy responsibility for an author to bear, and bear it he does quite well.

One of Green’s methods of holding back the heaviness of the story is in his use of wit, sarcasm, and humor. Hazel Grace, as I will talk about more in the next section, is an amazing character. The story, told from her first-person perspective, masterfully captures the inner-workings of a teenage girls… more on that in a bit. It is through her voice that Green weaves in the much-needed lighthearted elements.

Use of Metaphor

I don’t know John Green. We happen to both live in the same area (Indianapolis, IN), but it’s not exactly a small town. One thing I feel I do know about him now that I have read The Fault in Our Stars is that he is a deep thinker. Because I want potential readers to truly appreciate and experience his writing for the first time, I will not give specifics, but throughout the story he skillfully employs the use of metaphor in ways that enrich the story without distracting from it at the same time. Believe me, I’ve read my share of authors who are overly fond of this literary tool and use it carelessly to the point that I just wish they’d get back to the plot. Though I haven’t had the chance to reread The Fault in Our Stars yet, I fully plan to so that I can dedicate more of my focus on understanding his hidden themes and metaphors.

Writing Style Conclusion

I could write for hours about John Green’s writing style in The Fault in Our Stars. He seems to have found the perfect balance of mixing humor in to lighten the mood while remaining respectful to the material he is writing about. Tackling something as universal and heavy as cancer is no small task. He nails it. The added bonus for the reader is that he did not stop with just writing a good story. Deep within the space between the lines he teaches even deeper truths with his use of metaphor and symbolism.

The Characters – 5/5

What makes a character great? When you really get down to it, what is the difference between a good character and a great character? Obviously, this depends on the character’s role in the story. For example, one shouldn’t expect a supporting character to have the same depth and development arch as a primary one. In my opinion, it often comes down to a gut test. Did I relate to this person? Would I be able reasonably expect to meet someone like this in real life (minus magical abilities in some cases)? I don’t think you have to “like” the character. A well-rounded, intricately developed character can be entirely unlikable, but I want realism without predictability. Real humans contain certain personality traits and quirks that have some commonality with others, yet humans are particularly (and notoriously) random beings. Even the most boring, simple-minded person goes about his/her day making a decent number of decisions that could have gone either way. Great characters from a novel must posses this trait. If you are writing a young adult book about a teenage girl then this is even that much more important.

Now, you might be thinking, “what does this guy know about teenage girls?” A lot, actually, and 100% not in a creepy way. As I stated earlier, I spent eight years of my life working daily with teenagers. Several of those years were also dedicated to the academic study of this demographic. When I chose to read The Fault in Our Stars I was doing so for the purpose of furthering my research. Having spent countless hours studying the developmental processes and stages of adolescence, I can tell you that John Green absolutely hit a home run with his creation of Hazel Grace.

Hazel Grace

This story is primarily about Hazel Grace. It is told through her eyes. The reader experiences her emotional struggles, her joys, the depths of her sadness. She is a flawed character as all humans are. There are times when she reacts poorly to her parents. She is moody, not just because she has cancer. Yes, she is mature beyond her years as one would expect from someone who has been facing down her own death for many years. Still, she is distinctly a teenager. In my humble opinion, she is one of the most complete, well-rounded characters I have ever read in a book.

There is one other incredibly important aspect of Hazel Grace. She is an incredibly positive role model for adolescent girls to aspire to be. Let’s put aside her struggle with cancer for a moment (this book is plenty good enough to stand alone without it). When I conducted the above-mentioned study, my findings all pointed to the incredible positives that adolescent girls are pulling from the character of Hazel Grace. She is strong but weak when she needs to be. She is flawed… too often girls are given an unrealistic picture of what they should be. Throughout her relationship with her love interest, she maintains an equal balance of control in their partnership. He does not dominate. She has a real voice, something that female protagonists often do not have in similar books. She stood apart from her love interest even while standing with him. In a dating environment in America where abuse in teen relationships is all too common, a Hazel Grace is exactly what young girls need to see.

The Rest of the Cast

There is Augustus. There’s her amazingly supportive and equally struggling parents. There’s a recluse author (a guy you love to hate and find yourself loving all the same), a well-meaning counselor, and a number of fascinating side characters.

This isn’t the sort of book that has a standard “antagonist” in character form, but there is still plenty of tension created by the character interactions. The relationships are fantastic. The love story is cute, appropriate for their age, and tears your heart out (in good and bad ways) without completely dominating the narrative. In all honesty, I have a difficult time finding any flaws with this category.

The Characters Conclusion

Not enough good things can be said about Hazel Grace. Even if I hadn’t spent literally hundreds upon hundreds of hours studying the impact of the novel on adolescent readers, I could have guessed that it would be positive. The rest of the cast is distinct, memorable, and well written.

The Plot – 5/5

I will give just one minor spoiler alert for this book. If you plan to pick this up, be prepared to cry. Okay, with that out of the way I can move on. Just a few pages in I knew enough about the plot to be able to expect a gripping story that would leave me both heartbroken and uplifted when I finished it. He did not disappoint. There are multiple branching storylines (something that, if you haven’t picked up already, I am a BIG fan of). As a 33-year-old male, I am not overly drawn to teen romance stories. In fact, they tend to make me want to slam my head repeatedly into a large solid object. There’s no denying it, The Fault in Our Stars is full of this literary theme, but the story is so much bigger than just that. Green courageously asks some of the most difficult questions life can present. He does so in ways that have left me still chewing on some of the nuggets this story possesses.

In closing, I’d like you to take a long look at the rating I gave the plot. This book does not contain epic adventure sequences. There are no weapons wielded in combat. There are no daring rescues, heists, magical powers, or anything else that would be found in a Hollywood action blockbuster. Why is this important? I would say that 99% of the books I read contain at least one of these elements. The Fault in Our Stars is the first dramatic work of fiction that I have loved. It is truly saying something that the overall score that I have given this book is a perfect 5 out of 5. It is that good. It is that perfect.