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The Year of the Locust
If, like Kane, you're a Denied Access Area spy for the CIA, then boundaries have no meaning. Your function is to go in, do whatever is required, and get out again - by whatever means necessary. You know when to run, when to hide - and when to shoot.
But some places don't play by the rules. Some places are too dangerous, even for a man of Kane's experience. The badlands where the borders of Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan meet are such a place - a place where violence is the only way to survive.
Kane travels there to exfiltrate a man with vital information for the safety of the West - but instead he meets an adversary who will take the world to the brink of extinction. A frightening, clever, vicious man with blood on his hands and vengeance in his heart...
But some places don't play by the rules. Some places are too dangerous, even for a man of Kane's experience. The badlands where the borders of Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan meet are such a place - a place where violence is the only way to survive.
Kane travels there to exfiltrate a man with vital information for the safety of the West - but instead he meets an adversary who will take the world to the brink of extinction. A frightening, clever, vicious man with blood on his hands and vengeance in his heart...
800 pages, Paperback
First published November 9, 2023
3909 people are currently reading
32461 people want to read
About the author
Terry Hayes
30 books3,047 followersTerry Hayes began his career as a journalist for The Sydney Morning Herald, when as foreign correspondent in the US he covered Watergate and President Nixon's resignation, among many major international stories. He then went on to become a successful screenwriter, having written the screenplays for Mad Max 2, Dead Calm, Bangkok Hilton, Payback and From Hell. He lives in Sydney with his wife and four children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,343 reviews
May 29, 2024
Eurghhhhh
I so dislike writing this review but here goes……
‘I Am Pilgrim’ is one of my favourite books ever and so 10 years on, like many, couldn’t wait ( after many false dates etc ) to see this published and read it
The first 50% is goodish, it’s clunky and a bit ‘out of sorts’ with odd endings to chapters sometimes but the writing is there and it makes sense…although the nagging ‘this isen’t quite as good is it!?’ was ever present….
I am not going to write lots on the second half of the book other than it is faintly ludicrous and nonsensical,it goes off on a tangent and its so so so far fetched it cannot recover and loses any credibility ( for me anyway), it started to not make any sense and I was more than shocked at what was unfolding
Probably the most disappointing review have ever written tbh, sometimes greatness is right to be left as it is.
I so dislike writing this review but here goes……
‘I Am Pilgrim’ is one of my favourite books ever and so 10 years on, like many, couldn’t wait ( after many false dates etc ) to see this published and read it
The first 50% is goodish, it’s clunky and a bit ‘out of sorts’ with odd endings to chapters sometimes but the writing is there and it makes sense…although the nagging ‘this isen’t quite as good is it!?’ was ever present….
I am not going to write lots on the second half of the book other than it is faintly ludicrous and nonsensical,it goes off on a tangent and its so so so far fetched it cannot recover and loses any credibility ( for me anyway), it started to not make any sense and I was more than shocked at what was unfolding
Probably the most disappointing review have ever written tbh, sometimes greatness is right to be left as it is.
November 16, 2023
Very Embarrassing
Like many, I thought that Terry Hayes’s first novel, “I Am Pilgrim” was among the best thrillers I had read for long time. I joined those anticipating keenly his follow-up. “The Year of
the Locust” has now appeared, and I am (almost) lost for words.
The new book is divided (by the author) into four parts. The first three detail the adventures of a CIA agent tasked with entering Access Denied locations. It’s a rather breathless tale, not without merit, even enjoyable in parts. But it’s written in the first person, which means that tension is lost. And the protagonist is just too all-round perfect - not just fluent but perfect to native ability in many languages; superb marksman; skilled swimmer; near super-human strength and endurance; etc. This all goes just too much over the top. Scaled back, the tale could have been decent, worth three stars.
But the author loses the plot totally in Part 4. Suddenly we are in the world of malevolent spores from outer space infecting humanity. Worse: our hero travels back in time to change the future, having already travelled a generation forward to find a dire world where his descendants are embattled. Why the author chose to take this path is not clear. It was near- criminal of his editors not to dissuade him.
The result is a mish-mash of a book which is, frankly, not just embarrassing but laughable. It’s up there with the worst excesses of Dan Brown, not really worth even one star. It’s certainly not worth reading. Anyone foolish enough to waste time on it will definitely not want to wait for Mr Hayses’s next novel, other than to avoid it.
Like many, I thought that Terry Hayes’s first novel, “I Am Pilgrim” was among the best thrillers I had read for long time. I joined those anticipating keenly his follow-up. “The Year of
the Locust” has now appeared, and I am (almost) lost for words.
The new book is divided (by the author) into four parts. The first three detail the adventures of a CIA agent tasked with entering Access Denied locations. It’s a rather breathless tale, not without merit, even enjoyable in parts. But it’s written in the first person, which means that tension is lost. And the protagonist is just too all-round perfect - not just fluent but perfect to native ability in many languages; superb marksman; skilled swimmer; near super-human strength and endurance; etc. This all goes just too much over the top. Scaled back, the tale could have been decent, worth three stars.
But the author loses the plot totally in Part 4. Suddenly we are in the world of malevolent spores from outer space infecting humanity. Worse: our hero travels back in time to change the future, having already travelled a generation forward to find a dire world where his descendants are embattled. Why the author chose to take this path is not clear. It was near- criminal of his editors not to dissuade him.
The result is a mish-mash of a book which is, frankly, not just embarrassing but laughable. It’s up there with the worst excesses of Dan Brown, not really worth even one star. It’s certainly not worth reading. Anyone foolish enough to waste time on it will definitely not want to wait for Mr Hayses’s next novel, other than to avoid it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Want to read
November 8, 2023New update: Wait, what? Hardcover release 2/6/24. 800 pages 😐
UPDATE: Finally!! Only waited eight years. But still can’t wait.
Giveaway for
The Year of the Locust by Terry Hayes
#1 GLOBAL BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF
I AM PILGRIM
TERRY HAYES
THE YEAR
OFTHE
LOCUST
Format:
Print book
Availability:
100 copies available, 3027 people requesting
Giveaway dates:
Nov 01 - Nov 15, 2023
You are entered to win.
(edit entry info) (withdraw)
LOVED Pilgrim! Looking forward to this book. Update:Four years later: I DON’T think this book will EVER be published. Does anyone else agree with me on this? I mean it’s been four years. 🙄
7/3/19: So now it’s pushed back to 2020???? I’m losing interest by the second. If a book has to undergo this much editing, reworking, etc., it most likely will be a 3⭐️ at best. Just a thought.
UPDATE: Finally!! Only waited eight years. But still can’t wait.
Giveaway for
The Year of the Locust by Terry Hayes
#1 GLOBAL BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF
I AM PILGRIM
TERRY HAYES
THE YEAR
OFTHE
LOCUST
Format:
Print book
Availability:
100 copies available, 3027 people requesting
Giveaway dates:
Nov 01 - Nov 15, 2023
You are entered to win.
(edit entry info) (withdraw)
LOVED Pilgrim! Looking forward to this book. Update:Four years later: I DON’T think this book will EVER be published. Does anyone else agree with me on this? I mean it’s been four years. 🙄
7/3/19: So now it’s pushed back to 2020???? I’m losing interest by the second. If a book has to undergo this much editing, reworking, etc., it most likely will be a 3⭐️ at best. Just a thought.
November 20, 2023
I was looking forward to this book. I really was. Oh what a disappointment. Imagine a literary rollercoaster, except it's missing half its tracks and there's a sign that says, "Please suspend your disbelief". However, suspending it does not even begin to cover the feat you need to achieve to enjoy this book. You'll need to shoot disbelief in the head and bury it deep in the woods to get through this one.
Hayes seems to have thrown every implausible plot device into a blender, hoping for a smoothie but ending up with chunky, narrative soup. The first two-thirds of the book teeter on the edge of believability, like a cat on a windowsill in a hurricane. But it's the final third where Hayes really cranks up the 'implausibility-o-meter' to a level that would make even sci-fi aficionados raise an eyebrow.
At this point, you half expect a unicorn to trot in, offering everyone a ride to Narnia. The plot twists are less 'twists' and more akin to narrative gymnastics. The characters, once somewhat grounded, now leap across time and battle zombies with a casualness that makes you wonder if they're all just in a particularly vivid fever dream.
In a desperate need for an editor, or perhaps a team of them, armed with red pens and a strong pot of coffee, "Year of the Locust" is a testament to the fact that sometimes less is indeed more. More editing, less... well, everything else. The book is a wild ride, but not in the way one hopes. It's like being on a bike with square wheels – sure, it's a unique experience, but you can't help but think a regular bike would have been a better choice.
In summary, if you're looking for a book that respects the laws of physics, common sense, or just plain old good storytelling, perhaps look elsewhere. If, however, you're in the mood for a narrative equivalent of a fever dream featuring time-traveling zombies, then "Year of the Locust" might just be your cup of bizarre, over-steeped tea.
Hayes seems to have thrown every implausible plot device into a blender, hoping for a smoothie but ending up with chunky, narrative soup. The first two-thirds of the book teeter on the edge of believability, like a cat on a windowsill in a hurricane. But it's the final third where Hayes really cranks up the 'implausibility-o-meter' to a level that would make even sci-fi aficionados raise an eyebrow.
At this point, you half expect a unicorn to trot in, offering everyone a ride to Narnia. The plot twists are less 'twists' and more akin to narrative gymnastics. The characters, once somewhat grounded, now leap across time and battle zombies with a casualness that makes you wonder if they're all just in a particularly vivid fever dream.
In a desperate need for an editor, or perhaps a team of them, armed with red pens and a strong pot of coffee, "Year of the Locust" is a testament to the fact that sometimes less is indeed more. More editing, less... well, everything else. The book is a wild ride, but not in the way one hopes. It's like being on a bike with square wheels – sure, it's a unique experience, but you can't help but think a regular bike would have been a better choice.
In summary, if you're looking for a book that respects the laws of physics, common sense, or just plain old good storytelling, perhaps look elsewhere. If, however, you're in the mood for a narrative equivalent of a fever dream featuring time-traveling zombies, then "Year of the Locust" might just be your cup of bizarre, over-steeped tea.
December 12, 2023
4.5 Stars. I wish to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of the 'Year of the Locust.' I was delighted and regarded it as a Christmas present! 'I Am Pilgrim' became a favourite thriller when I read it ten years ago. I preordered The Year of the Locust many times, which was frustrating. The release date was delayed and changed so many times that I felt it might never be released, especially when Amazon put its publication date as 2045. The much-anticipated book is finally arriving!
This is a very long book and is divided into four sections. The first three are spy exploits with detailed secret information about futuristic technology and weapons. It was apparent that the author did intensive research into this area. I found it challenging to understand what had already been developed, what was in the development stage, and what the author was imagining and making up. There was information about espionage, how a spy works in secrecy under assumed identities and survival tactics.
We learn about the Denied Access Area department that focuses on areas almost impossible for a spy to penetrate and survive. Kane is a man of many names and identities sent to the perilous area on the border where Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran meet. He speaks flawless Russian and Arabic and had a former job that will serve him well in the future. There are strong rumours that a fanatical terrorist group, the Arms of the Pure, has planned a deadly attack on America. A brutal terrorist thought to have been killed has resurfaced. Known as Al-Tundra, real name Kazinski, he is alive and believed to be leading a new destructive attack on America. Kane is sent to obtain information on the attack from an asset within the area, but the man is brutally killed before Kane can contact him. Well-founded speculation arises that Kazinski's attack will not only lay waste to most of the world but also transform the human survivors into something radically different. Kane returns on a mission to find and kill the terrorist deep in Russian territory before he can launch his treacherous, deadly attack.
The first three sections are thrilling action-packed, with well-developed characters. There is a vivid sense of place in far-flung parts of the world. The author is a master storyteller with parts of the spy story that seem incredible and parts that seem to be fillers. The story is exciting, and the tension never lets up.
Part Four makes a dramatic, unexpected and fantastical swerve from the spy story and changes it to something else entirely. Spoilers omitted. Many readers were disappointed, annoyed, or angry at the change. Some quit the book. In hindsight, there were a few subtle clues about where the story might be heading. I found it a strange switch, but not in a bad way. I did enjoy Part Four and the epilogue. There was an attempt at a scientific explanation. It was action-packed, preposterous, and filled with emotion. Some loose ends were nicely tied up in the finale. I found this section to be an entertaining, suspenseful and fun read. There were huge, alarming and vicious creatures hunting Kane and his colleagues and they are hard to destroy.
Highly recommended for readers who enjoy the intricacies of spy stories and who don't mind straying into the realm of the fantastic and sci-fi.
This is a very long book and is divided into four sections. The first three are spy exploits with detailed secret information about futuristic technology and weapons. It was apparent that the author did intensive research into this area. I found it challenging to understand what had already been developed, what was in the development stage, and what the author was imagining and making up. There was information about espionage, how a spy works in secrecy under assumed identities and survival tactics.
We learn about the Denied Access Area department that focuses on areas almost impossible for a spy to penetrate and survive. Kane is a man of many names and identities sent to the perilous area on the border where Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran meet. He speaks flawless Russian and Arabic and had a former job that will serve him well in the future. There are strong rumours that a fanatical terrorist group, the Arms of the Pure, has planned a deadly attack on America. A brutal terrorist thought to have been killed has resurfaced. Known as Al-Tundra, real name Kazinski, he is alive and believed to be leading a new destructive attack on America. Kane is sent to obtain information on the attack from an asset within the area, but the man is brutally killed before Kane can contact him. Well-founded speculation arises that Kazinski's attack will not only lay waste to most of the world but also transform the human survivors into something radically different. Kane returns on a mission to find and kill the terrorist deep in Russian territory before he can launch his treacherous, deadly attack.
The first three sections are thrilling action-packed, with well-developed characters. There is a vivid sense of place in far-flung parts of the world. The author is a master storyteller with parts of the spy story that seem incredible and parts that seem to be fillers. The story is exciting, and the tension never lets up.
Part Four makes a dramatic, unexpected and fantastical swerve from the spy story and changes it to something else entirely. Spoilers omitted. Many readers were disappointed, annoyed, or angry at the change. Some quit the book. In hindsight, there were a few subtle clues about where the story might be heading. I found it a strange switch, but not in a bad way. I did enjoy Part Four and the epilogue. There was an attempt at a scientific explanation. It was action-packed, preposterous, and filled with emotion. Some loose ends were nicely tied up in the finale. I found this section to be an entertaining, suspenseful and fun read. There were huge, alarming and vicious creatures hunting Kane and his colleagues and they are hard to destroy.
Highly recommended for readers who enjoy the intricacies of spy stories and who don't mind straying into the realm of the fantastic and sci-fi.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 21, 2023
Loved Pilgrim. Hated this.
For anyone wanting to scratch their 10-year I Am Pilgrim itch: buy this book and read to page 204 (Part 2, Chapter 18). That is a fairly self-contained, solid Pilgrim-esq ‘short’ story. I would give that 4 stars and if the rest of the book had been like it I’d have been satisfied.
Pretty soon after that both the writing and the narrative take a nosedive that gets exponentially worse as the book goes on. A lack of reality is introduced to try to sew together the fragments of the story, and simply getting to the end becomes the key goal for both writer and reader. I strongly suspect towards the end Hayes had next to no input and the publishing house took over with a ghost writer simply to get something out there.
Go past page 204 at your peril. If you do, expect sci-fi to the extreme that bears no relation to what comes before - invisibility, time travel and alien genetic mutation - and not pulled off in a smart way.
Personally, I’m going to re-re-re-read Pilgrim, and accept it for the fantastic one-off book that it is.
For anyone wanting to scratch their 10-year I Am Pilgrim itch: buy this book and read to page 204 (Part 2, Chapter 18). That is a fairly self-contained, solid Pilgrim-esq ‘short’ story. I would give that 4 stars and if the rest of the book had been like it I’d have been satisfied.
Pretty soon after that both the writing and the narrative take a nosedive that gets exponentially worse as the book goes on. A lack of reality is introduced to try to sew together the fragments of the story, and simply getting to the end becomes the key goal for both writer and reader. I strongly suspect towards the end Hayes had next to no input and the publishing house took over with a ghost writer simply to get something out there.
Go past page 204 at your peril. If you do, expect sci-fi to the extreme that bears no relation to what comes before - invisibility, time travel and alien genetic mutation - and not pulled off in a smart way.
Personally, I’m going to re-re-re-read Pilgrim, and accept it for the fantastic one-off book that it is.
Want to read
March 18, 2015OH LORD, A NEW TERRY HAYES THRILLER. JESUS CHRIST I JUST CAN'T WAIT
December 8, 2023
Oh boy, what a ride. I was lucky enough to meet Terry Hayes last week when he was in Dublin to promote this book. He told me that when I got to Part IV, I’d think “what the fuck is he doing?”, but to trust him and stick with it. Now I know what he meant, and I was right to trust him.
This is a meticulously constructed, immaculately paced spy thriller that scratched an itch for sprawling, epic, macro-politically driven crime stories. It is also a bold, genre-defying epic written by someone who really knows what he’s doing. Surprisingly tender and emotional at times. Brutal and action-packed. Edge-of-your-seat stuff. Some people will hate it, I’d say. I happened to love it. I have never read anything like it.
I reviewed it on my booktube channel, if you’re interested in more (non-spoiler) thoughts: https://youtu.be/PoLKWJm9ClY?si=5gh6d...
This is a meticulously constructed, immaculately paced spy thriller that scratched an itch for sprawling, epic, macro-politically driven crime stories. It is also a bold, genre-defying epic written by someone who really knows what he’s doing. Surprisingly tender and emotional at times. Brutal and action-packed. Edge-of-your-seat stuff. Some people will hate it, I’d say. I happened to love it. I have never read anything like it.
I reviewed it on my booktube channel, if you’re interested in more (non-spoiler) thoughts: https://youtu.be/PoLKWJm9ClY?si=5gh6d...
January 23, 2024
Techno-Thriller on Steroids
Review of the upcoming Simon & Schuster Canada hardcover/audiobook/eBook (February 6, 2024) read via a NetGalley Kindle ARC (downloaded January 15, 2024).
It has been 10 years since Terry Hayes previous novel I Am Pilgrim (2013) and the long promised follow-up of The Year of the Locust is here at last. Many thriller writers would have issued several books in that time. Terry Hayes instead packs the material for 3 or 4 novels into one huge epic techno-thriller which even jumps genres into science-fiction before the conclusion is reached.
It would be a huge spoiler to provide many details. Suffice it to say that like I Am Pilgrim, the new novel also involves a hunt by an elite espionage agent for a wanted international terrorist. The CIA’s Ripley Kane is a Denied Access Area agent whose missions take him into various no-go zones throughout the world. There are several subplots to the book, but the main arc becomes his search for a mysterious figure with a tattoo of a locust across his back. It becomes evident that “the locust” is planning what in terrorist circles is described as “a spectacular”.
The first 3/4s of the book does touch on various high-end technologies of surveillance and cloaking. Some of these are likely beyond current science, but not out of the realm of possibility. The final quarter makes a leap into the world of Einsteinian physics and into possible apocalyptic events. Readers of standard espionage thrillers may not be prepared for this and will likely even be shocked by it. But Terry Hayes is a master storyteller and you just have to let yourself go along for the ride.
I described I Am Pilgrim as surpassing Frederick Forsyth’s classic The Day of the Jackal (1971) in the ‘hunt & evade’ thriller genre. With The Year of the Locust, this time Terry Hayes outdoes even himself.
My thanks to publishers Simon & Schuster Canada / Atria Emily Bestler Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this preview ARC, in exchange for which I provide this honest review.
Author Terry Hayes is interviewed about The Year of the Locust at Good Reading Magazine.
Review of the upcoming Simon & Schuster Canada hardcover/audiobook/eBook (February 6, 2024) read via a NetGalley Kindle ARC (downloaded January 15, 2024).
It has been 10 years since Terry Hayes previous novel I Am Pilgrim (2013) and the long promised follow-up of The Year of the Locust is here at last. Many thriller writers would have issued several books in that time. Terry Hayes instead packs the material for 3 or 4 novels into one huge epic techno-thriller which even jumps genres into science-fiction before the conclusion is reached.
It would be a huge spoiler to provide many details. Suffice it to say that like I Am Pilgrim, the new novel also involves a hunt by an elite espionage agent for a wanted international terrorist. The CIA’s Ripley Kane is a Denied Access Area agent whose missions take him into various no-go zones throughout the world. There are several subplots to the book, but the main arc becomes his search for a mysterious figure with a tattoo of a locust across his back. It becomes evident that “the locust” is planning what in terrorist circles is described as “a spectacular”.
The first 3/4s of the book does touch on various high-end technologies of surveillance and cloaking. Some of these are likely beyond current science, but not out of the realm of possibility. The final quarter makes a leap into the world of Einsteinian physics and into possible apocalyptic events. Readers of standard espionage thrillers may not be prepared for this and will likely even be shocked by it. But Terry Hayes is a master storyteller and you just have to let yourself go along for the ride.
I described I Am Pilgrim as surpassing Frederick Forsyth’s classic The Day of the Jackal (1971) in the ‘hunt & evade’ thriller genre. With The Year of the Locust, this time Terry Hayes outdoes even himself.
My thanks to publishers Simon & Schuster Canada / Atria Emily Bestler Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this preview ARC, in exchange for which I provide this honest review.
Author Terry Hayes is interviewed about The Year of the Locust at Good Reading Magazine.
August 28, 2024
Una decepción. 😐
La novela es sobre la vida de un espía de la CIA en la época actual, narrada por él mismo. Aunque sobran muchas páginas, la primera mitad está bien. Ridley es un espía especializado en "Zonas de Acceso Restringido", es decir, agente de campo en zonas peligrosas, como Rusia, Irán, Afganistán, etc. Es de gran valor para la CIA y en esta parte se narran varias misiones, una de ellas bastante interesante.
En la segunda mitad de la novela, Ridley participa en una misión muy secreta y delicada. Esta parte deriva en ciencia ficción. El cambio de registro no me ha gustado. Es como ponerse a leer otra novela distinta.
Las últimas cien páginas las he leído en diagonal.
El autor escribe bien y el personaje de Ridley está muy bien desarrollado. Hay muchas anécdotas y procedimientos de espías que me han gustado. Pero sobran muchas páginas y el giro a ciencia ficción es de lo más fantasioso y fuera de lugar.
La novela es sobre la vida de un espía de la CIA en la época actual, narrada por él mismo. Aunque sobran muchas páginas, la primera mitad está bien. Ridley es un espía especializado en "Zonas de Acceso Restringido", es decir, agente de campo en zonas peligrosas, como Rusia, Irán, Afganistán, etc. Es de gran valor para la CIA y en esta parte se narran varias misiones, una de ellas bastante interesante.
En la segunda mitad de la novela, Ridley participa en una misión muy secreta y delicada. Esta parte deriva en ciencia ficción. El cambio de registro no me ha gustado. Es como ponerse a leer otra novela distinta.
Las últimas cien páginas las he leído en diagonal.
El autor escribe bien y el personaje de Ridley está muy bien desarrollado. Hay muchas anécdotas y procedimientos de espías que me han gustado. Pero sobran muchas páginas y el giro a ciencia ficción es de lo más fantasioso y fuera de lugar.
Want to read
November 13, 2023Release Date: June 1st 2045
George R. R. Martin - "Finally! A worthy opponent!"
November 17, 2023
The most disappointing book of my life. It is difficult to believe that this ridiculous mess of writing is from the same author as I am Pilgrim. It is no surprise it took so long to be published…. It showed promise but then…..
November 17, 2023
Ridiculous. I loved the first section of the book - well paced CIA thriller but it weirdly descends from there. So 4 stars for first bit, 0 for the rest. Last chapters from the end I had to start to skim read as hated it.
January 15, 2024
I Am Pilgrim was and still is not only one of my favourite books but also a book that still plays on my mind nearly a couple of years after reading it……
This book is no different. It is intricately woven, it has detail after detail, all of which add something to the story. It plays on your mind, it messes with your emotions….. it’s a hard read, it’s emotive, it’s full and it’s complicated. But it’s worth it. Some people will hate his books, but those who love them will absolutely love them.
It takes a truly talented and skilled writer to make you feel completely emerged in the story; so emerged you can smell the same smells, hear the same sounds and see the same sights as the main character but once again Terry Hayes manages this with ease (and probably more commitment and planning than I can imagine).
Another Terry Hayes book added to my favourite books of all time!
December 18, 2023
Warning: there are some spoilers in this short review, but since I read a lot of reviews (I always do this after reading the book) where whole parts of the story were given away (even with some wrong conclusions - made me wonder whether the reviewer actually read the book) I don't think it's necessary to hide the whole review.
Picked this up early November; I was only buying Christmas cards... but of course couldn't resist to buy this book. I'm going to wait with reading it till my holidays though, so my usual busy schedule doesn't get in the way.
Finally, I started reading it on 14 December and I just couldn't stop reading the first part. It's fiction but parts of it feel very real. That's mainly, I must admit, because I'm following someone on YouTube who's travelling on an electric motorbike. For the past few weeks, I've seen him travelling through Iran and Pakistan. For who's interested, look up Marc Travels. Anyway, reading about Kane's travels I can almost see the desolate landscapes, having seen them on YouTube.
But now, it's 17 December and I'm sitting here, utterly disappointed.
What comes after the first parts of the book is an utterly strange and badly executed twist. I love SF, I love good time travel stories - but this is ridiculous beyond words. If you want to write about time travel, then please take the time to try and explain how its done. And if you want to write about alien spores that change humans into something different, please take the time and try and explain where the spores may have come from or what they want.
Besides that, while Kane is sort of a superhuman himself, the other characters stay one dimensional - except maybe for the ultimate villain. Maybe no surprise after reading I am Pilgrim, which is a superb book because of the insight we get in the mind of the terrorist.
While I am Pilgrim was the sort of story that touched hearts and minds, this one feels as if Dan Brown had some time left and decided to try his hand at espionage.
I cannot see into the future as Kane apparently can, but I think we'll see scores of this book turning up at second hand bookshops pretty soon.
And Marc travelling on an electric motorbike through those dangerous countries (where he in fact meets many nice people) is all the SF I need for now.
Picked this up early November; I was only buying Christmas cards... but of course couldn't resist to buy this book. I'm going to wait with reading it till my holidays though, so my usual busy schedule doesn't get in the way.
Finally, I started reading it on 14 December and I just couldn't stop reading the first part. It's fiction but parts of it feel very real. That's mainly, I must admit, because I'm following someone on YouTube who's travelling on an electric motorbike. For the past few weeks, I've seen him travelling through Iran and Pakistan. For who's interested, look up Marc Travels. Anyway, reading about Kane's travels I can almost see the desolate landscapes, having seen them on YouTube.
But now, it's 17 December and I'm sitting here, utterly disappointed.
What comes after the first parts of the book is an utterly strange and badly executed twist. I love SF, I love good time travel stories - but this is ridiculous beyond words. If you want to write about time travel, then please take the time to try and explain how its done. And if you want to write about alien spores that change humans into something different, please take the time and try and explain where the spores may have come from or what they want.
Besides that, while Kane is sort of a superhuman himself, the other characters stay one dimensional - except maybe for the ultimate villain. Maybe no surprise after reading I am Pilgrim, which is a superb book because of the insight we get in the mind of the terrorist.
While I am Pilgrim was the sort of story that touched hearts and minds, this one feels as if Dan Brown had some time left and decided to try his hand at espionage.
I cannot see into the future as Kane apparently can, but I think we'll see scores of this book turning up at second hand bookshops pretty soon.
And Marc travelling on an electric motorbike through those dangerous countries (where he in fact meets many nice people) is all the SF I need for now.
March 7, 2025
An absolute bin fire of a novel. 10 years after 'I Am Pilgrim', Terry Hayes returns. For 3/4 of 'Locust', we're on familiar ground - exceptional US secret agent good, Middle East mission full of bad guys. Hayes takes the nagging red flags that hindered the hugely successful 'Pilgrim' and doubles down on them: the book is far too long, it could easily be half the 660 pages; there is far too much backstory - every bit part character gets chapters of character history that are just not needed (do we care that the side character psychiatrist was a boy in Vietnam? No, it has nothing to do woth anything else in the book); it hints at xenophobia; Hayes develops a terrible habit of stopping paragraphs and chapters-
With a dash-
When a full stop would be perfectly fine-;
And our main character Kane, like Pilgrim before him, is an exceptional spy who makes constant dumb decisions, bad plans and relies on sheer coincidence and luck.
Another problem is the decision to write in the 1st person, then write endless scenes where Kane is not present, so can't possibly know what was said or what happened - Hayes knows this, so tries to get round it with clunky lines of 'as she described to me later/as I read in the report later/as the CCTV footage I watched showed me later'.
But then comes the final 1/4 of the book. What the hell happened? Suddenly, from nowhere, Russia is mining asteroids in deep space, an alien 'spore' is released and mutates humans and destroys the world, our hero ends up on an invisible submarine that TIME TRAVELS into the future - to the exact moment and place needed for no other reason than its needed for the story to work - then returns to the past without knowing anything about how the technology works. The spy story is jettisoned for sci-fi dystopia. Worse than the shift in tone is that it renders the first 3/4 that we've trawled through almost completely irrelevant. The plot is so dumb beyond belief and has holes you could drive an invisible submarine through.
I could go on. I've never been so angry with a book before. Not only is this an embarrassment to Hayes but to all involved - editors and publishers should be ashamed that this has been allowed to be published. It's a damning indictment of the corporate publishing world and the standard of literature that is published today.
I have no idea how anyone has seen fit to give this positive reviews, and those critics and publications that provide the blurb quotes need to have a serious look at their standards.
Its been over 18 months since my last 1 star review, and I rarely give them out, I always try to see the positive, but this is probably the worst book I've ever had the mispleasure to read. Just awful, awful, awful.
With a dash-
When a full stop would be perfectly fine-;
And our main character Kane, like Pilgrim before him, is an exceptional spy who makes constant dumb decisions, bad plans and relies on sheer coincidence and luck.
Another problem is the decision to write in the 1st person, then write endless scenes where Kane is not present, so can't possibly know what was said or what happened - Hayes knows this, so tries to get round it with clunky lines of 'as she described to me later/as I read in the report later/as the CCTV footage I watched showed me later'.
But then comes the final 1/4 of the book. What the hell happened? Suddenly, from nowhere, Russia is mining asteroids in deep space, an alien 'spore' is released and mutates humans and destroys the world, our hero ends up on an invisible submarine that TIME TRAVELS into the future - to the exact moment and place needed for no other reason than its needed for the story to work - then returns to the past without knowing anything about how the technology works. The spy story is jettisoned for sci-fi dystopia. Worse than the shift in tone is that it renders the first 3/4 that we've trawled through almost completely irrelevant. The plot is so dumb beyond belief and has holes you could drive an invisible submarine through.
I could go on. I've never been so angry with a book before. Not only is this an embarrassment to Hayes but to all involved - editors and publishers should be ashamed that this has been allowed to be published. It's a damning indictment of the corporate publishing world and the standard of literature that is published today.
I have no idea how anyone has seen fit to give this positive reviews, and those critics and publications that provide the blurb quotes need to have a serious look at their standards.
Its been over 18 months since my last 1 star review, and I rarely give them out, I always try to see the positive, but this is probably the worst book I've ever had the mispleasure to read. Just awful, awful, awful.
Want to read
January 16, 2018I Am Pilgrim was my favourite read this year (so far...but it most likely will be). So am I anticipating this release? YES.
Update Jan 15 2018: Soooo. 3 years later and where are we at with this book? Well according to Amazon it will be coming out June 1st, 2020. Bit of a wait. But according to my eBook hold at the library it will be coming out on May 1st, 2018. I'm more inclined to believe that date. We shall wait and see!
Update Jan 15 2018: Soooo. 3 years later and where are we at with this book? Well according to Amazon it will be coming out June 1st, 2020. Bit of a wait. But according to my eBook hold at the library it will be coming out on May 1st, 2018. I'm more inclined to believe that date. We shall wait and see!
April 12, 2024
After leaving espionage thriller fans of I Am Pilgrim panting for more and promising, promising, promising another, Terry Hayes’ The Year of the Locust has delivered another spellbinding spy thriller that covers vast territory. But there’s a very big caveat that must be issued before embarking on the book and it has to do with a dramatic right turn that’s made three quarters of the way through, a turn that’s so unorthodox it will split opinion right down the middle.
This is a spy thriller told (mainly) from the first person perspective of CIA Denied Access Area spy codenamed Kane. It gets off to a good start by providing us with a thorough introduction to Kane by taking us through a series of stories from his career that describes the many close calls and lessons learned as he served in some of the most inhospitable countries on earth. As well as kicking off with some of the most unfailingingly interesting action sequences we’re also given intimate insight into the character of Kane.
The CIA have picked up chatter that suggests there’s a planned terrorist attack that is large enough to carry the moniker A Spectacular. The details of the Spectacular must be confirmed so it’s up to Kane to secretly enter Iran to meet up with the ISIS courier who first revealed the details.
Along the way we begin to learn about an ISIS leader who has managed to remain almost completely unknown even though he’s responsible for some of the worst terrorist attacks around the world. The man was thought to have been killed but has shown up again and is simply known as Al-Tundra. There’s no reliable photo of the man’s face, nor has anyone heard his voice. Part of Kane’s mission is to try to find out more about this mysterious killer.
Despite the daunting length of the novel, the plot itself is remarkably straightforward and easy to follow. While some spy novels can get bogged down with incredibly complex motives that almost requires a manual to decode, The Year of the Locust essentially comes down to three things: identify Al-Tundra; find Al-Tundra; kill Al-Tundra.
The first three quarters of the book is your standard modern day espionage thriller detailing a mission through Pakistan and Afghanistan as Kane, the story’s narrator, travels undercover to meet an informant.
The last quarter of the book morphs into the strangest science fiction story that appears to involve time travel and body regeneration similar to the type of stuff found in DC or Marvel Comics storylines. That being said, one might argue that the CIA hides so many barely believable events and this is just one more. And if you accept that then Kane’s “jump the tracks” experience is perfectly acceptable.
When Kane is in the field plying his spycraft trade the story zips along at a solid pace. There’s sustained tension as he works under threat of imminent discovery and this commands your undivided attention. But outside of those moments there’s a tendency to belabour the process of setting up the next high action sequence with long, tortuous descriptions of what’s going to happen next.
There’s no doubt that Terry Hayes is a highly competent storyteller who absolutely nails the huge burden of the spy and the spy’s loved ones. The off-piste turn is not going to appeal to everyone but it certainly ensures that The Year of the Locust is a thriller that will be vividly remembered.
This is a spy thriller told (mainly) from the first person perspective of CIA Denied Access Area spy codenamed Kane. It gets off to a good start by providing us with a thorough introduction to Kane by taking us through a series of stories from his career that describes the many close calls and lessons learned as he served in some of the most inhospitable countries on earth. As well as kicking off with some of the most unfailingingly interesting action sequences we’re also given intimate insight into the character of Kane.
The CIA have picked up chatter that suggests there’s a planned terrorist attack that is large enough to carry the moniker A Spectacular. The details of the Spectacular must be confirmed so it’s up to Kane to secretly enter Iran to meet up with the ISIS courier who first revealed the details.
Along the way we begin to learn about an ISIS leader who has managed to remain almost completely unknown even though he’s responsible for some of the worst terrorist attacks around the world. The man was thought to have been killed but has shown up again and is simply known as Al-Tundra. There’s no reliable photo of the man’s face, nor has anyone heard his voice. Part of Kane’s mission is to try to find out more about this mysterious killer.
Despite the daunting length of the novel, the plot itself is remarkably straightforward and easy to follow. While some spy novels can get bogged down with incredibly complex motives that almost requires a manual to decode, The Year of the Locust essentially comes down to three things: identify Al-Tundra; find Al-Tundra; kill Al-Tundra.
The first three quarters of the book is your standard modern day espionage thriller detailing a mission through Pakistan and Afghanistan as Kane, the story’s narrator, travels undercover to meet an informant.
The last quarter of the book morphs into the strangest science fiction story that appears to involve time travel and body regeneration similar to the type of stuff found in DC or Marvel Comics storylines. That being said, one might argue that the CIA hides so many barely believable events and this is just one more. And if you accept that then Kane’s “jump the tracks” experience is perfectly acceptable.
When Kane is in the field plying his spycraft trade the story zips along at a solid pace. There’s sustained tension as he works under threat of imminent discovery and this commands your undivided attention. But outside of those moments there’s a tendency to belabour the process of setting up the next high action sequence with long, tortuous descriptions of what’s going to happen next.
There’s no doubt that Terry Hayes is a highly competent storyteller who absolutely nails the huge burden of the spy and the spy’s loved ones. The off-piste turn is not going to appeal to everyone but it certainly ensures that The Year of the Locust is a thriller that will be vividly remembered.
September 20, 2024
Dawno powinnam to zrobić i opisać moje odczucia po przeczytaniu „Roku Szarańczy” Terryego Hayesa. Nie będę ukrywała, że tak duże opóźnienie jest spowodowane ogromem różnego rodzaju emocji, których doświadczyłam, w czasie jej czytania - dlatego postanowiłam odwlec to w czasie. Powodem jest moja chęć jak najbardziej rzetelnej oceny i nie uleganiu emocjom.
„Rok szarańczy” z pozoru przypomina „Pielgrzyma” i cechami wspólnymi tych pozycji jest:
✅ główny bohater, który jest szpiegiem/tajnym agentem;
✅ niebezpieczna misja, która może zagrozić ludzkości;
✅ wrogowie, których trudno zidentyfikować;
✅ wielowątkowość;
Nie ukrywam, że na początku, książki czułam się jakbym wróciła do domu - jednak z tyłu głowy bałam się, że obie książki będą zbyt podobne. Bo przecież najłatwiej jest napisać coś podobnego, coś sprawdzonego, coś co wiemy, że się spodoba.
Na szczęście Terry Hayes nie boi się ryzyka i jak widać lubi zaskakiwać. Bowiem lekko za połową książki postanowił zmienić jej gatunek - totalny obrót o 180. Nie będę ukrywała - na początku byłam tak zaskoczona, że wściekłość wyciekała mi uszami. To było tak inne, ryzykowne, że chyba wszystkim bliski o tym mówiłam - bo tak książka okazała się całkiem czymś innym.
Po chwili ochłonięcia zaczęłam dostrzegać plusy tego zabiegu - wręcz przejaw geniuszu. Było to tak zaskakujące i inne, że zaczęłam coraz bardziej to doceniać i szanować autora. Cały czas myślałam o tej książce - i nadal myślę. Coraz bardziej doceniam i rozkładam na kawałki - nie ukrywam, że kiedyś na pewno przeczytam ją ponownie i jestem ciekawa, czy emocje będą takie same.
„Rok szarańczy” to książka na którą czekała najdłużej w życiu.
Czy mnie zawiodła? Zdecydowanie nie.
Czy mnie zaskoczyła? Zdecydowanie tak.
Czy jest lepsza od „Pielgrzyma”? Moim zdaniem prawie mu dorównuje, ale trudno porównać tak inne książki.
„Rok szarańczy” dostał ode mnie 4,5/5 i zalicza się do moich ulubionych książek. Możliwe, że ta ocena jeszcze wzrośnie - tak jak mówiłam, stale o niej myślę.
Czekam z niecierpliwością na kolejne książki Terryego Hayesa, który jest wspaniałym pisarzem i człowiekiem.
Więc.. CZYTAJCIE ROK SZARAŃCZY ❤️❤️
„Rok szarańczy” z pozoru przypomina „Pielgrzyma” i cechami wspólnymi tych pozycji jest:
✅ główny bohater, który jest szpiegiem/tajnym agentem;
✅ niebezpieczna misja, która może zagrozić ludzkości;
✅ wrogowie, których trudno zidentyfikować;
✅ wielowątkowość;
Nie ukrywam, że na początku, książki czułam się jakbym wróciła do domu - jednak z tyłu głowy bałam się, że obie książki będą zbyt podobne. Bo przecież najłatwiej jest napisać coś podobnego, coś sprawdzonego, coś co wiemy, że się spodoba.
Na szczęście Terry Hayes nie boi się ryzyka i jak widać lubi zaskakiwać. Bowiem lekko za połową książki postanowił zmienić jej gatunek - totalny obrót o 180. Nie będę ukrywała - na początku byłam tak zaskoczona, że wściekłość wyciekała mi uszami. To było tak inne, ryzykowne, że chyba wszystkim bliski o tym mówiłam - bo tak książka okazała się całkiem czymś innym.
Po chwili ochłonięcia zaczęłam dostrzegać plusy tego zabiegu - wręcz przejaw geniuszu. Było to tak zaskakujące i inne, że zaczęłam coraz bardziej to doceniać i szanować autora. Cały czas myślałam o tej książce - i nadal myślę. Coraz bardziej doceniam i rozkładam na kawałki - nie ukrywam, że kiedyś na pewno przeczytam ją ponownie i jestem ciekawa, czy emocje będą takie same.
„Rok szarańczy” to książka na którą czekała najdłużej w życiu.
Czy mnie zawiodła? Zdecydowanie nie.
Czy mnie zaskoczyła? Zdecydowanie tak.
Czy jest lepsza od „Pielgrzyma”? Moim zdaniem prawie mu dorównuje, ale trudno porównać tak inne książki.
„Rok szarańczy” dostał ode mnie 4,5/5 i zalicza się do moich ulubionych książek. Możliwe, że ta ocena jeszcze wzrośnie - tak jak mówiłam, stale o niej myślę.
Czekam z niecierpliwością na kolejne książki Terryego Hayesa, który jest wspaniałym pisarzem i człowiekiem.
Więc.. CZYTAJCIE ROK SZARAŃCZY ❤️❤️
November 21, 2023
One of the best and worst books I’ve ever read. First third, brilliant, second third, exhilarating and staggeringly brilliant, the final third is just…just….not recognisable as being the same book.
So much love for 410 pages and then dammit that was awful.
I’m guessing the 10 year delay was the publishers begging him to change where the book goes.
So much love for 410 pages and then dammit that was awful.
I’m guessing the 10 year delay was the publishers begging him to change where the book goes.
November 3, 2024
It's not where you start that counts... or even when you finish. It's the length of the journey that matters."
After having an outstanding experience with Terry Hayes's previous book, I Am Pilgrim, I was very excited to read the author's next book. I was pleading and begging the workers from my local library to buy the book so I could read it and when I finally saw it on the library's website as available, I immediately jumped on my bike to get there and borrow it (I might've teared up a little when I picked it up).
The book was a huge surprise. My journey with it was like an enormous rollercoaster where it brought me high to the sky, just to drop me down and then make me go high again, even higher than before. When I was reading the first three parts, I thought that I will give it a strong 4.5 or 4.0 rating. Then I got to part four of the book (if you read my update then you know what I complained about) and my enthusiasm had been brought down a little. I thought that I will end up giving the book the 3.5 rating and move on. But then I got tangled up in a mix of emotions so big that I was like 'A FIVE STAR IS A MUST' so here I am ;)
What's the book is about
Meet our protagonist known as Kane, who's CIA's super spy specialized in the Denied Access Area. His special mission starts when one of the New Islamic's Army of the Pure loyal soldiers decides not to be so loyal anymore. He wants to give Americans all the informations he was able to gather about the organization he works for in exchange for freedom, safety and overall a better life for him and his family. Kane is send in a journey through the most dangerous countries (like Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan) to meet the traitor, and, if the fate lets him, find informations about one of the most dangerous terrorists the world only knows as Abu Muslim Al-Tundra. Kane is well aware that he might lose his life in the process. But he's also aware that the stakes of the mission are high: it's the matter of the national security. Either he will succeed or the world is doomed.
The characters.
Kane is such an easy person to like and to root for. He isn't a robot. He isn't a nameless person without any background and without anyone that he could go home to. He's a real person, with hopes and dreams and plans for the future. He was supposed to be a submarine captain, but his incredibly impressive knowledge of languages and a brilliant mind would be wasted, so "fate" decided for him to work for CIA instead. He's a well-trained spy, but sometimes makes calls that a well-trained spy wouldn't do. He has a heart of gold and makes friends quite easily - no matter if he does it on purpose or not. He loves his wife, Rebecca, deeply, and he loves his work. He knows what needs to be done and does it, regardless of complications. He trusts his instincts, no matter if other people tell him that he's wrong (or crazy).
The book has a quite small cast of characters, but I liked everyone who worked with Kane. The bonds that developed through the story between him and his co-workers warmed my heart (especially the ones with his boss and his doctor). Everyone have their role to play, but weren't just standing there like props to make Kane to shine. They all had interesting personalities and backgrounds that you could not help, but be happy wherever they shown up on a page. And I have to give applause to the author for making a great cast of female characters. Rebecca, Lelah, Margaret and Madeleine are all remarkable and strong women. So brilliant and tough, but all kind-hearted. I cheered up for them deeply (especially for Rebecca and Lelah, please trust me when I say that they are incredible).
The bad guy.
I cannot say much about Abu Muslim Al-Tundra without getting into a spoiler section. CIA knows basically nothing about him. The Al-Tundra name is obviously a fake one, but CIA cannot confirm either deny it. He's an Islamic soldier who worked for all the most dangerous terrorist organizations (like Al-Qaeda and ISIS) and, despite it, is still free. Imperceptible. More like a ghost than a human being. The common knowledge is that he died in an American attack, but it's quickly obvious to everyone that he's actually alive and well, and definitely plotting something horrifying. He lives through convinced that he's on earth from the order of the God and that he is fulfilling the God's will. He's powerful, well-trained, well-prepared, with a big authority among people - he's someone that will convince you to stand by his side either with words of by force. He's a guy that will either rule the world - or destroy it.
What you also need to know
What you need to know is that it's NOT just a thriller/suspense story with the vibe that 'it might happen in the real life'. There are a fantasy elements put into it. I probably shouldn't talk about it, because spoilers, BUT I think it's crucial to the reader's final perception of the book. If you know about it, there is a higher chance that you might enjoy it more. If you don't have this knowledge, you will end up either be pleasantly or negatively surprised. I was quite shocked while getting into part four of the book (it's written in five parts) - this is where the fantasy elements starts. I will be honest here, I did felt let down and disappointed. What I expected was a thriller/suspence story similar to I Am Pilgrim. But it's not that. Do NOT go into this book expecting that. I mean, it IS a thriller/suspence story with a spy and danger and high stakes and tough journey with the everyday fight for survival, with a great cast of characters, bonds and twists and turns in every corner. BUT there is a fantasy mixed into it. Please, be aware of it while picking this book up.
You might think that not everything adds up in this book. And you will be right. There are some plot conveniences and some plot holes that aren't quite explained - I am well aware of it and I still gave this book the highest rating. You know why? Because I think that, despite all the issues, is a brilliant and well-written story with characters that are worth rooting for. It's a story that made me turn the page with anticipation what will happen next. It's a story that I enjoyed reading and I will definitely pick up again. I recommend it with everything in me, with all the hopes that you will pick it up with an open mind, and that you will enjoy it, dare I say as much as me ☺️
Edit: I forgot to mention the ANIMALS! Sakab (a horse) and Ella (a dog) are easily one of the highlights of this book for me, as well as their treatment by the characters (like Kane and MartinLuther). I LOVE scenes with lovable animals and people that both are making the biggest sacrifices for each other. Look forward to meet these characters and please appreciate them deeply! They truly deserve it.
After having an outstanding experience with Terry Hayes's previous book, I Am Pilgrim, I was very excited to read the author's next book. I was pleading and begging the workers from my local library to buy the book so I could read it and when I finally saw it on the library's website as available, I immediately jumped on my bike to get there and borrow it (I might've teared up a little when I picked it up).
The book was a huge surprise. My journey with it was like an enormous rollercoaster where it brought me high to the sky, just to drop me down and then make me go high again, even higher than before. When I was reading the first three parts, I thought that I will give it a strong 4.5 or 4.0 rating. Then I got to part four of the book (if you read my update then you know what I complained about) and my enthusiasm had been brought down a little. I thought that I will end up giving the book the 3.5 rating and move on. But then I got tangled up in a mix of emotions so big that I was like 'A FIVE STAR IS A MUST' so here I am ;)
What's the book is about
Meet our protagonist known as Kane, who's CIA's super spy specialized in the Denied Access Area. His special mission starts when one of the New Islamic's Army of the Pure loyal soldiers decides not to be so loyal anymore. He wants to give Americans all the informations he was able to gather about the organization he works for in exchange for freedom, safety and overall a better life for him and his family. Kane is send in a journey through the most dangerous countries (like Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan) to meet the traitor, and, if the fate lets him, find informations about one of the most dangerous terrorists the world only knows as Abu Muslim Al-Tundra. Kane is well aware that he might lose his life in the process. But he's also aware that the stakes of the mission are high: it's the matter of the national security. Either he will succeed or the world is doomed.
The characters.
Kane is such an easy person to like and to root for. He isn't a robot. He isn't a nameless person without any background and without anyone that he could go home to. He's a real person, with hopes and dreams and plans for the future. He was supposed to be a submarine captain, but his incredibly impressive knowledge of languages and a brilliant mind would be wasted, so "fate" decided for him to work for CIA instead. He's a well-trained spy, but sometimes makes calls that a well-trained spy wouldn't do. He has a heart of gold and makes friends quite easily - no matter if he does it on purpose or not. He loves his wife, Rebecca, deeply, and he loves his work. He knows what needs to be done and does it, regardless of complications. He trusts his instincts, no matter if other people tell him that he's wrong (or crazy).
The book has a quite small cast of characters, but I liked everyone who worked with Kane. The bonds that developed through the story between him and his co-workers warmed my heart (especially the ones with his boss and his doctor). Everyone have their role to play, but weren't just standing there like props to make Kane to shine. They all had interesting personalities and backgrounds that you could not help, but be happy wherever they shown up on a page. And I have to give applause to the author for making a great cast of female characters. Rebecca, Lelah, Margaret and Madeleine are all remarkable and strong women. So brilliant and tough, but all kind-hearted. I cheered up for them deeply (especially for Rebecca and Lelah, please trust me when I say that they are incredible).
The bad guy.
I cannot say much about Abu Muslim Al-Tundra without getting into a spoiler section. CIA knows basically nothing about him. The Al-Tundra name is obviously a fake one, but CIA cannot confirm either deny it. He's an Islamic soldier who worked for all the most dangerous terrorist organizations (like Al-Qaeda and ISIS) and, despite it, is still free. Imperceptible. More like a ghost than a human being. The common knowledge is that he died in an American attack, but it's quickly obvious to everyone that he's actually alive and well, and definitely plotting something horrifying. He lives through convinced that he's on earth from the order of the God and that he is fulfilling the God's will. He's powerful, well-trained, well-prepared, with a big authority among people - he's someone that will convince you to stand by his side either with words of by force. He's a guy that will either rule the world - or destroy it.
What you also need to know
What you need to know is that it's NOT just a thriller/suspense story with the vibe that 'it might happen in the real life'. There are a fantasy elements put into it. I probably shouldn't talk about it, because spoilers, BUT I think it's crucial to the reader's final perception of the book. If you know about it, there is a higher chance that you might enjoy it more. If you don't have this knowledge, you will end up either be pleasantly or negatively surprised. I was quite shocked while getting into part four of the book (it's written in five parts) - this is where the fantasy elements starts. I will be honest here, I did felt let down and disappointed. What I expected was a thriller/suspence story similar to I Am Pilgrim. But it's not that. Do NOT go into this book expecting that. I mean, it IS a thriller/suspence story with a spy and danger and high stakes and tough journey with the everyday fight for survival, with a great cast of characters, bonds and twists and turns in every corner. BUT there is a fantasy mixed into it. Please, be aware of it while picking this book up.
You might think that not everything adds up in this book. And you will be right. There are some plot conveniences and some plot holes that aren't quite explained - I am well aware of it and I still gave this book the highest rating. You know why? Because I think that, despite all the issues, is a brilliant and well-written story with characters that are worth rooting for. It's a story that made me turn the page with anticipation what will happen next. It's a story that I enjoyed reading and I will definitely pick up again. I recommend it with everything in me, with all the hopes that you will pick it up with an open mind, and that you will enjoy it, dare I say as much as me ☺️
Edit: I forgot to mention the ANIMALS! Sakab (a horse) and Ella (a dog) are easily one of the highlights of this book for me, as well as their treatment by the characters (like Kane and MartinLuther). I LOVE scenes with lovable animals and people that both are making the biggest sacrifices for each other. Look forward to meet these characters and please appreciate them deeply! They truly deserve it.
November 19, 2023
The death of a story
I was excited about TheYearofTheLocast. I was anticipating a novel that would capture me as did I AM PILGRIM. A page turner, absolutely. Captivating, without a doubt. A thriller of thrillers. Then I reached 3/4 of the way through, and everything died. My credulity, my interest in the climax, & an overwhelming sense of disappointment and even anger.
Without spoiling for readers to be, I'll leave it there. An unfinished book, a one star rating by way of retribution & mourning a story that promised so much but turned one genre into another that I have never been particularly interested in. For those who are, I guess Mr Hayes has delivered, but I expected a feast, but ended up with a fairy tale, the ending of which I had absolutely no interest!
I was excited about TheYearofTheLocast. I was anticipating a novel that would capture me as did I AM PILGRIM. A page turner, absolutely. Captivating, without a doubt. A thriller of thrillers. Then I reached 3/4 of the way through, and everything died. My credulity, my interest in the climax, & an overwhelming sense of disappointment and even anger.
Without spoiling for readers to be, I'll leave it there. An unfinished book, a one star rating by way of retribution & mourning a story that promised so much but turned one genre into another that I have never been particularly interested in. For those who are, I guess Mr Hayes has delivered, but I expected a feast, but ended up with a fairy tale, the ending of which I had absolutely no interest!
March 8, 2018
How one can rate a book with five stars without reading it is beyond me lol
November 12, 2023
I really enjoyed I am Pilgrim ( read it twice) and looked forward to reading this. The release date was pushed back again and again. I forgot about it and was pleasantly surprised when my pre- order arrived on my kindle.
What a disappointment. I could overlook the one-dimensional female characters. Started off ok and I was gripped by his mission in the Middle East. And then it dragged on and on. Eventually descending in to farce in part 4. Time travel? A dystopian future reality. Had Terry Hayes been binge watching “The Last of Us” as his tried to finish this? A short stint as a submariner to explain his ability to single handedly pilot a nuclear sub? I lost interest at this point and hate read to the end. I didn’t even care when he finally killed his nemesis.
Don’t waste your time. Reread Pilgrim. Can I get my money an wasted weekend back? I can only assume the 5 star reviews are from people who have not actually read this book yet.
What a disappointment. I could overlook the one-dimensional female characters. Started off ok and I was gripped by his mission in the Middle East. And then it dragged on and on. Eventually descending in to farce in part 4. Time travel? A dystopian future reality. Had Terry Hayes been binge watching “The Last of Us” as his tried to finish this? A short stint as a submariner to explain his ability to single handedly pilot a nuclear sub? I lost interest at this point and hate read to the end. I didn’t even care when he finally killed his nemesis.
Don’t waste your time. Reread Pilgrim. Can I get my money an wasted weekend back? I can only assume the 5 star reviews are from people who have not actually read this book yet.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 4, 2023
So this was an awefull long wait for the next book of this writer and several times there was a release date that went by without a book. Two online bookstores returned my pre-order payments and their apologies for not being alle to fullfill my order. I know I am probably not the only reader that suffered this fate. So the Day I finally received the hardcover version was a good Day.
Now that I finished the book I look forward to the Day Terry Hayes third original thriller Will appear which undoubtely Will see it publishing 8 to 10 years from now.
The book is an excellent thriller with details that Will scare the living daylights out of you as it spotlights the harsh reality of the religious conflict in the Middleton east. Then we get an episode from Doctor Who thrown in for good measure before we return to a final conflict deel into Russia. The book tells a quite brilliant and original story of the conflict between the west and religious fanatical east. Once again the writer delivers a great tale who leaves me with the feeling I once upon a time were delivered by A fellow with the name Ludlum, which is a great compliment.
This book did draw me in and even the sciencefiction element did not really rattle me too much it did deserve a Roger Moore raised eyebrow.
But overal the book's story flowed well and was easy to read. Another tour the force by Hayes. May his next novel arrive a lot sooner. As hé lives in Lisbon live must be enjoyable so I don't expect the next book which Will be like this one worth the wait.
One tip, read the whole book before you judge the story, which makes you appriciate it much more.
Now that I finished the book I look forward to the Day Terry Hayes third original thriller Will appear which undoubtely Will see it publishing 8 to 10 years from now.
The book is an excellent thriller with details that Will scare the living daylights out of you as it spotlights the harsh reality of the religious conflict in the Middleton east. Then we get an episode from Doctor Who thrown in for good measure before we return to a final conflict deel into Russia. The book tells a quite brilliant and original story of the conflict between the west and religious fanatical east. Once again the writer delivers a great tale who leaves me with the feeling I once upon a time were delivered by A fellow with the name Ludlum, which is a great compliment.
This book did draw me in and even the sciencefiction element did not really rattle me too much it did deserve a Roger Moore raised eyebrow.
But overal the book's story flowed well and was easy to read. Another tour the force by Hayes. May his next novel arrive a lot sooner. As hé lives in Lisbon live must be enjoyable so I don't expect the next book which Will be like this one worth the wait.
One tip, read the whole book before you judge the story, which makes you appriciate it much more.
March 12, 2024
After a long hiatus, I returned to read the debut by Terry Hayes before tackling this massive tome. I enjoyed the refresher, though nothing could have prepared me for the heavy and detailed story that lay in this novel. Full of action, intrigue, and stunning developments, Hayes paints a stunning image for the reader to take in as they try to make their way through this piece. Political and military thrillers, take note, this novel is sure to subsume both genres as it pushes through a powerful story, told across many countries. Terry Hayes should not be dismissed, nor should the length of this novel. Both are well worth the dedicated effort needed for this piece.
The CIA has few agents like Kane. He is what one might call a Denied Access Area spy, where there are no boundaries and even fewer limits. When the Agency needs you somewhere, you go and do whatever is asked of you, knowing that there is no safety net or protection by the US or anyone. Such is the life of a man whose life is defined by what he does for his country.
When Kane is told of a new mission that requires his skills, he is ready to go and make a difference. He’s sent deep into Pakistan to acquire some intel about a new weapon and a villain that cold make its use something the world can not yet understand. As Kane makes his way through Pakistan and into Iran, he learns just how dangerous the mission has become, as he is captured and jailed, only to slip away before he ends up beheaded and left to rot. Kane will have to get the intel needed and slip out before he is caught, while many are waiting for him stateside to get the intelligence needed to make major decisions.
While trying to get back to the US, he crosses paths with an adversary like no other; a man who will stop at nothing to kill the Great Satan and ensure they are left gasping for decades. This is not only a weapon, but also a means of proving that destruction is the fuel by which some live happily, This will be a mission like no other and Kane has no one but himself to trust. Terry Hayes weaves a stunning novel that had me hooked from the opening pages until the very end.
I enjoy reading within the espionage genre, this one was new level and required a great deal of my attention. Terry Hayes creates yet another strong piece that takes the reader on a journey across time and geography for one man to settle a score he has been tasked to complete. The story may be long and have moments that meander, but Terry Hates makes sure that the reader is always front and centre during the narrative development. When the story reaches its full momentum, there is a hum as it takes various twists and turns to develop a deeper story that keeps things moving along easily. The protagonist takes the reins and keeps things moving well, without getting too bogged down in minutiae, though there will be some readers who will not like the slow nature that makes this book even more inciting. Strong characters and wonderfully created scenes provide action and intense moments for the reader to lose themselves. Short chapters help push things along and keeps the reader wanting to read just a little more before putting it down for a short time. I can only hope more is to come from Terry Hayes, as his writing calibre is unique for me.
This book contains many plot points and twists that take things on many odd turns, which adds depth and great flavouring to the story. Terry Hayes knows just what he wants and provides the reader with an adventure like no other. I could not help but hope that things would develop with ease and provide the reader with an adventure much like the debut novel Terry Hayes offered all those years ago. I am eager to see what is to come from Terry Hayes, as well as the sentiments others have about this book, as it is surely not for the faint of heart!
Kudos, Mr. Hayes, for a great piece, I hope you are back before 2035 with another book!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
The CIA has few agents like Kane. He is what one might call a Denied Access Area spy, where there are no boundaries and even fewer limits. When the Agency needs you somewhere, you go and do whatever is asked of you, knowing that there is no safety net or protection by the US or anyone. Such is the life of a man whose life is defined by what he does for his country.
When Kane is told of a new mission that requires his skills, he is ready to go and make a difference. He’s sent deep into Pakistan to acquire some intel about a new weapon and a villain that cold make its use something the world can not yet understand. As Kane makes his way through Pakistan and into Iran, he learns just how dangerous the mission has become, as he is captured and jailed, only to slip away before he ends up beheaded and left to rot. Kane will have to get the intel needed and slip out before he is caught, while many are waiting for him stateside to get the intelligence needed to make major decisions.
While trying to get back to the US, he crosses paths with an adversary like no other; a man who will stop at nothing to kill the Great Satan and ensure they are left gasping for decades. This is not only a weapon, but also a means of proving that destruction is the fuel by which some live happily, This will be a mission like no other and Kane has no one but himself to trust. Terry Hayes weaves a stunning novel that had me hooked from the opening pages until the very end.
I enjoy reading within the espionage genre, this one was new level and required a great deal of my attention. Terry Hayes creates yet another strong piece that takes the reader on a journey across time and geography for one man to settle a score he has been tasked to complete. The story may be long and have moments that meander, but Terry Hates makes sure that the reader is always front and centre during the narrative development. When the story reaches its full momentum, there is a hum as it takes various twists and turns to develop a deeper story that keeps things moving along easily. The protagonist takes the reins and keeps things moving well, without getting too bogged down in minutiae, though there will be some readers who will not like the slow nature that makes this book even more inciting. Strong characters and wonderfully created scenes provide action and intense moments for the reader to lose themselves. Short chapters help push things along and keeps the reader wanting to read just a little more before putting it down for a short time. I can only hope more is to come from Terry Hayes, as his writing calibre is unique for me.
This book contains many plot points and twists that take things on many odd turns, which adds depth and great flavouring to the story. Terry Hayes knows just what he wants and provides the reader with an adventure like no other. I could not help but hope that things would develop with ease and provide the reader with an adventure much like the debut novel Terry Hayes offered all those years ago. I am eager to see what is to come from Terry Hayes, as well as the sentiments others have about this book, as it is surely not for the faint of heart!
Kudos, Mr. Hayes, for a great piece, I hope you are back before 2035 with another book!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
July 13, 2024
Genero thriller, 848 paginas, 17 horas tiempo de lectura, narrada en primera persona por el protagonista principal, capítulos cortos, un protagonista principal y varios secundarios, un único ámbito temporal y varios espaciales.
Novela de gran volumen, dividida en cuatro grandes partes, en la que se nos presenta a un agente experimentado de la C.I.A. al que se le encargan las mas complicadas misiones en el exterior de los Estados Unidos; la historia principal comienza cuando se tiene conocimiento por la Agencia de Inteligencia de los Estados Unidos de América de una información acerca de la existencia de la posible perpetración de un atentado de grandes proporciones por grupos extremistas islamistas en una ciudad sin desvelar en Occidente; ello determina que envíen a zona de acceso restringido a nuestro personaje principal para ponerse en contacto con el miembro del grupo radical que puede facilitar la información necesaria para abortar el atentado.
Bueno, las peripecias del intrépido agente de la CIA están tratadas con mucha credibilidad y, en ocasiones, provocan situaciones realmente estresantes. A mi personalmente las 250 primeras paginas me han cautivado, a la vez que me han hecho sufrir por lo escalofriantes de algunos pasajes del libro. La segunda parte, muy relacionada con la primera, también me ha parecido de alto nivel. La tercera sin embargo ha decaído un poco quizás por la extensión del libro y finalmente, la cuarta, me ha roto todos los esquemas con un desenlace a lo largo de las ultimas 200 paginas un tanto imaginativo.
No obstante, lo anterior, el libro es sumamente recomendable, Terry Hayes, aunque en mi opinión su primera y extraordinaria primera novela “Soy Pilgrim”, resulta imposible de igualar, esta novela no esta muy por debajo de aquella y en esta, al igual que la anterior, desbroza en las casi 900 paginas del libro un protagonista principal cuyos principios, valores, honestidad, profesionalidad y humanidad te reconfortan con los servidores públicos americanos.
En definitiva, si disponéis este veranito de casi 20 horas aproximadamente de tiempo de lectura os animo a la lectura de El año de la langosta.
Novela de gran volumen, dividida en cuatro grandes partes, en la que se nos presenta a un agente experimentado de la C.I.A. al que se le encargan las mas complicadas misiones en el exterior de los Estados Unidos; la historia principal comienza cuando se tiene conocimiento por la Agencia de Inteligencia de los Estados Unidos de América de una información acerca de la existencia de la posible perpetración de un atentado de grandes proporciones por grupos extremistas islamistas en una ciudad sin desvelar en Occidente; ello determina que envíen a zona de acceso restringido a nuestro personaje principal para ponerse en contacto con el miembro del grupo radical que puede facilitar la información necesaria para abortar el atentado.
Bueno, las peripecias del intrépido agente de la CIA están tratadas con mucha credibilidad y, en ocasiones, provocan situaciones realmente estresantes. A mi personalmente las 250 primeras paginas me han cautivado, a la vez que me han hecho sufrir por lo escalofriantes de algunos pasajes del libro. La segunda parte, muy relacionada con la primera, también me ha parecido de alto nivel. La tercera sin embargo ha decaído un poco quizás por la extensión del libro y finalmente, la cuarta, me ha roto todos los esquemas con un desenlace a lo largo de las ultimas 200 paginas un tanto imaginativo.
No obstante, lo anterior, el libro es sumamente recomendable, Terry Hayes, aunque en mi opinión su primera y extraordinaria primera novela “Soy Pilgrim”, resulta imposible de igualar, esta novela no esta muy por debajo de aquella y en esta, al igual que la anterior, desbroza en las casi 900 paginas del libro un protagonista principal cuyos principios, valores, honestidad, profesionalidad y humanidad te reconfortan con los servidores públicos americanos.
En definitiva, si disponéis este veranito de casi 20 horas aproximadamente de tiempo de lectura os animo a la lectura de El año de la langosta.
November 30, 2023
It is hard to believe this is the same author as I Am Pilgrim. Actually, it is hard to believe this book is written by one person.
The amount of flaws in this book is staggering, as I progressed I actually started skipping pages. I also literally rolled my eyes or guwaffed at points.
As a woman this is something I am particularly riled about: Rebecca is a ridiculously one dimensional “tough woman working in the ER” that we have seen countless times before. I had thought anno 2023 we had moved on from this cliche. Apparently not.
Before we even get to the aliens (!!!) and time travel (!!!) there is an insurmountable amount of coincidences and unlikelihoods to overcome. The first time they hear Kazinski on record ever he happens to be relaying his life story? Come on man. The CIA director has nothing better to do than be BFFs with one of his spies and take personal interest in his career development? Come on man. Rebecca recognises a specific cigarette no CIA analyst noticed just by walking into a room with photographs at random? Come on man. Rebecca then basically joins the CIA at all meetings and - presumably - confidential discussions? Come on man.
Our spy guy knows absolutely everything about everything, this is made apparent to us through things like knowing his way around city like Grozny simply by having spent some days there once upon a time. Ditto for managing a submarine and later on, actual time travel? And don’t get me started on the languages. I don’t know if you’ve heard many Americans speak foreign languages but trust me - there is an accent. There is simply no way a guy from Florida pulls off being fluent in Russian and Turkish and Arabic to the extent of fooling the residential bad guys. Terry really should have spent more time building that character and his 27396 superhuman skills.
Then, our sensitive spy guy travels into the future (I simply can’t even) and coming up at a random point on the planet and the first people he meets are his children? And Kazinsky is there too?! Get out of here.
Finally, the writing. It’s bad. Terry often finishes chapters with half a sentence and a -
It makes absolutely no sense and is very jarring and did I say it makes absolutely no sense? Virtually all dialogue is explanation, it’s like Terry hasn’t been around actual people having actual conversations in a decade. This is not how people talk or behave. And it would be an insult to explain this away with ‘the CIA is filled with weirdo’s’
The problem with the writing is that you end up not caring about pretty much any of the characters. And as you go on, if you can stick with it, you actually end up laughing out loud. Oh yes, and the aliens are called ‘Orcs’. I feel sorry for Tolkien being dragged into this mess.
To close with some of my favourite worst lines:
“Gunfire from the future” (this is a recurring line, increasingly ridiculous with each use)
“You’ve been there, haven’t you? I said. He stared at me. Iran, Pakistan, the Persian Gulf? He laughed. No I’m not crazy - I’ve never been anywhere near them. Not the places. I meant lost behind enemy lines, some place like that, I replied. I saw his forehead knit with concentration. Congratulations, he said quietly. Yes, you’re right - we both know what it is like.”
“Closed-circuit footage found later showed that (…)” This is how Terry explains how we are following the events in Baikonur around Kazinsky becoming an alien.
“You’re everything in my life, you have been for years. I may not be family to the kids but they certainly are to me. It’s like you told me once, there’s a reason DNA is built like a chain. This is where I belong, with the people I love, this is where I stay.” The spy guy, 5 minutes after arriving in the future and stumbling across his kids.
The amount of flaws in this book is staggering, as I progressed I actually started skipping pages. I also literally rolled my eyes or guwaffed at points.
As a woman this is something I am particularly riled about: Rebecca is a ridiculously one dimensional “tough woman working in the ER” that we have seen countless times before. I had thought anno 2023 we had moved on from this cliche. Apparently not.
Before we even get to the aliens (!!!) and time travel (!!!) there is an insurmountable amount of coincidences and unlikelihoods to overcome. The first time they hear Kazinski on record ever he happens to be relaying his life story? Come on man. The CIA director has nothing better to do than be BFFs with one of his spies and take personal interest in his career development? Come on man. Rebecca recognises a specific cigarette no CIA analyst noticed just by walking into a room with photographs at random? Come on man. Rebecca then basically joins the CIA at all meetings and - presumably - confidential discussions? Come on man.
Our spy guy knows absolutely everything about everything, this is made apparent to us through things like knowing his way around city like Grozny simply by having spent some days there once upon a time. Ditto for managing a submarine and later on, actual time travel? And don’t get me started on the languages. I don’t know if you’ve heard many Americans speak foreign languages but trust me - there is an accent. There is simply no way a guy from Florida pulls off being fluent in Russian and Turkish and Arabic to the extent of fooling the residential bad guys. Terry really should have spent more time building that character and his 27396 superhuman skills.
Then, our sensitive spy guy travels into the future (I simply can’t even) and coming up at a random point on the planet and the first people he meets are his children? And Kazinsky is there too?! Get out of here.
Finally, the writing. It’s bad. Terry often finishes chapters with half a sentence and a -
It makes absolutely no sense and is very jarring and did I say it makes absolutely no sense? Virtually all dialogue is explanation, it’s like Terry hasn’t been around actual people having actual conversations in a decade. This is not how people talk or behave. And it would be an insult to explain this away with ‘the CIA is filled with weirdo’s’
The problem with the writing is that you end up not caring about pretty much any of the characters. And as you go on, if you can stick with it, you actually end up laughing out loud. Oh yes, and the aliens are called ‘Orcs’. I feel sorry for Tolkien being dragged into this mess.
To close with some of my favourite worst lines:
“Gunfire from the future” (this is a recurring line, increasingly ridiculous with each use)
“You’ve been there, haven’t you? I said. He stared at me. Iran, Pakistan, the Persian Gulf? He laughed. No I’m not crazy - I’ve never been anywhere near them. Not the places. I meant lost behind enemy lines, some place like that, I replied. I saw his forehead knit with concentration. Congratulations, he said quietly. Yes, you’re right - we both know what it is like.”
“Closed-circuit footage found later showed that (…)” This is how Terry explains how we are following the events in Baikonur around Kazinsky becoming an alien.
“You’re everything in my life, you have been for years. I may not be family to the kids but they certainly are to me. It’s like you told me once, there’s a reason DNA is built like a chain. This is where I belong, with the people I love, this is where I stay.” The spy guy, 5 minutes after arriving in the future and stumbling across his kids.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 20, 2023
Wanneer je, net als Kane, werkzaam bent als spion voor de CIA in Denied Access Area’s, dan hebben grenzen geen betekenis. Jouw taak is om je toegang te verschaffen, te doen wat nodig is en weer te ontsnappen… op welke manier dan ook. Je weet wanneer je moet rennen, wanneer je je moet verstoppen en wanneer je moet schieten.
Maar op sommige plekken gelden de standaardregels niet. Sommige plekken zijn te gevaarlijk, zelfs voor iemand met de ervaring van Kane. Het No Man’sgebied, waar de grenzen van Pakistan, Iran en Afghanistan samenkomen, is zo’n plek – een plek waar geweld de enige manier is om te overleven.
Kane reist erheen om een man met cruciale informatie voor de veiligheid van het Westen te evacueren, maar in plaats daarvan ontmoet hij een vijand die de wereld tot aan de rand van de afgrond zal brengen. Een angstaanjagende, intelligente, wrede man met bloed aan zijn handen en wraak in zijn hart...
'Het jaar van de Sprinkhaan' telt maar liefst 765 pagina's en is opgedeeld in vier delen. Je maakt kennis met Kane, een spion die werkzaam is voor de CIA. Hij wordt op missie gestuurd naar het Midden-Oosten en daar is het behoorlijk gevaarlijk...
Deze reis wordt ontzettend gedetailleerd beschreven en het voelde alsof ik er zelf was. De spanning is erg goed voelbaar en ik werd erg enthousiast. De gebeurtenissen die zich afspelen in dit gebied zijn nogal barbaars.
Dan lees je over Kane en zijn uiteindelijke ontmoeting met de grootste vijand en ook hier was de spanning goed aanwezig. Uiteindelijk krijgt het verhaal in de laatste twee delen ook een sci-fi tintje, dus dit moet wel je smaak zijn, anders weet ik niet zeker of het je gaat bevallen.
Ik vond Kane een boeiend personage. Je leest ook over zijn liefdesleven, maar vooral zijn taak als spion was interessant.
Is dit boek voor iedereen weggelegd? Ik denk het niet. Sowieso is het een erg lang en uitgebreid verhaal met spionage en terrorisme als hoofdthema. Hier moet dus wel je interesse liggen. Ikzelf vond het met momenten toch net wat te lang duren, maar het was een leuke kennismaking met deze auteur.
Ik wil @awbruna heel erg bedanken voor dit recensie-exemplaar!
Beoordeling: 3,5 ⭐️
Maar op sommige plekken gelden de standaardregels niet. Sommige plekken zijn te gevaarlijk, zelfs voor iemand met de ervaring van Kane. Het No Man’sgebied, waar de grenzen van Pakistan, Iran en Afghanistan samenkomen, is zo’n plek – een plek waar geweld de enige manier is om te overleven.
Kane reist erheen om een man met cruciale informatie voor de veiligheid van het Westen te evacueren, maar in plaats daarvan ontmoet hij een vijand die de wereld tot aan de rand van de afgrond zal brengen. Een angstaanjagende, intelligente, wrede man met bloed aan zijn handen en wraak in zijn hart...
'Het jaar van de Sprinkhaan' telt maar liefst 765 pagina's en is opgedeeld in vier delen. Je maakt kennis met Kane, een spion die werkzaam is voor de CIA. Hij wordt op missie gestuurd naar het Midden-Oosten en daar is het behoorlijk gevaarlijk...
Deze reis wordt ontzettend gedetailleerd beschreven en het voelde alsof ik er zelf was. De spanning is erg goed voelbaar en ik werd erg enthousiast. De gebeurtenissen die zich afspelen in dit gebied zijn nogal barbaars.
Dan lees je over Kane en zijn uiteindelijke ontmoeting met de grootste vijand en ook hier was de spanning goed aanwezig. Uiteindelijk krijgt het verhaal in de laatste twee delen ook een sci-fi tintje, dus dit moet wel je smaak zijn, anders weet ik niet zeker of het je gaat bevallen.
Ik vond Kane een boeiend personage. Je leest ook over zijn liefdesleven, maar vooral zijn taak als spion was interessant.
Is dit boek voor iedereen weggelegd? Ik denk het niet. Sowieso is het een erg lang en uitgebreid verhaal met spionage en terrorisme als hoofdthema. Hier moet dus wel je interesse liggen. Ikzelf vond het met momenten toch net wat te lang duren, maar het was een leuke kennismaking met deze auteur.
Ik wil @awbruna heel erg bedanken voor dit recensie-exemplaar!
Beoordeling: 3,5 ⭐️
November 15, 2023
WTF was Part 4? The ending has completely ruined this book for me. There was no indication that this would be a sci-fi centric read! It jumped the shark so completely that I couldn't be bothered to read any further after getting to Part 4 because of how badly the ending deviated (completely and utterly) from the compelling beginning of the book. The only reason I'm giving this two stars is because it started off well until the plot was literally lost.
I am so disappointed. I am annoyed that I spent part of my holiday reading this.
I am so disappointed. I am annoyed that I spent part of my holiday reading this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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