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The Tarakan Chronicles #1
The Lost Puzzler
A brilliantly written, page-turning, post-dystopian debut from Eyal Kless, about a society hoping to salvage the technology of a lost generation, a mysterious missing boy who can open doors no one else can, and a scribe who must piece together the past to determine humanity’s future.
More than a hundred years have passed since the Catastrophe brought humanity to the brink of extinction. Those who survived are changed. The Wildeners have reverted to the old ways—but with new Gods—while others place their faith in the technology that once powered their lost civilization.
In the mysterious City of Towers, the center of the destroyed Tarakan empire, a lowly scribe of the Guild of Historians is charged with a dangerous assignment. He must venture into the wilds beyond the glass and steel towers to discover the fate of a child who mysteriously disappeared more than a decade before. Born of a rare breed of marked people, the child, Rafik—known as “The Key”—was one of a special few with the power to restore this lost civilization to glory once again.
In a world riven by fear and violence, where tattooed mutants, manic truckers, warring guilds and greedy mercenaries battle for survival, this one boy may have singlehandedly destroyed humanity’s only chance for salvation—unless the scribe can figure out what happened to him.
More than a hundred years have passed since the Catastrophe brought humanity to the brink of extinction. Those who survived are changed. The Wildeners have reverted to the old ways—but with new Gods—while others place their faith in the technology that once powered their lost civilization.
In the mysterious City of Towers, the center of the destroyed Tarakan empire, a lowly scribe of the Guild of Historians is charged with a dangerous assignment. He must venture into the wilds beyond the glass and steel towers to discover the fate of a child who mysteriously disappeared more than a decade before. Born of a rare breed of marked people, the child, Rafik—known as “The Key”—was one of a special few with the power to restore this lost civilization to glory once again.
In a world riven by fear and violence, where tattooed mutants, manic truckers, warring guilds and greedy mercenaries battle for survival, this one boy may have singlehandedly destroyed humanity’s only chance for salvation—unless the scribe can figure out what happened to him.
517 pages, Paperback
First published January 8, 2019
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1912 people want to read
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January 17, 2019
3.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2019/01/17/...
The Lost Puzzler was a puzzle, in more ways than one. Not only was the story shrouded in mystery, the plot was also slow to unravel, inviting the readers to seek the solution to the big question while doling out clues gradually in a teasing fashion. In addition, the structure of the book felt like a series of many separate and dissimilar segments making up a whole, thus making it feel very fractured.
For obvious reasons, novels like this often present me with a conundrum: how to rate it when I enjoy some of its pieces but not the others? In the case of The Lost Puzzler, I loved everything about the first half. We begin the tale through the eyes of a lowly scribe of the Guild of Historians who has been tasked with a dangerous mission to discover the fate of a boy who disappeared more than a decade before. This boy—named Rafik—is said to be a Puzzler, an individual with a special talent to unlock mysterious puzzle box-like nodes that are scattered across the world, hidden away in labyrinths and other dungeon-like places, where they guard the valuable treasures of the lost Tarkanian civilization. Following an apocalyptic event known as the Catastrophe, those who survived have split into different groups, and one of these groups called the Salvationists believe that the answers lie in the ancient technology of their forebears. They send teams on dangerous expeditions to plunder Tarkanian strongholds, where the Puzzler will attempt to crack their defenses while the rest of the squad protects itself from threats like traps and attacking lizard-like creatures.
Soon after the intro though, the narrative shifts to tell the story of Rafik. He was born in a community that has reverted to the old ways after the Catastrophe, becoming deeply faithful to the new gods they worship while shunning everything to do with technology. When the strange tattoos marking him as special began appearing on Rafik’s fingertips, his parents feared their son cursed, sending him away to a “friend” of the family who promised to get a good price for him at auction. Recognizing his value, a powerful guild ends up purchasing Rafik at a high price, nearly bankrupting themselves in the process. To ensure a return on their investment, Rafik’s new handlers begin grooming him for the demanding role of Puzzler, putting him through rigorous training exercises to prepare him for his first expedition.
The book flips the reader back and forth between these two timelines—the one in the present, where our historian attempts to extract Rafik’s story from a woman who used to know him, and the one in the past, which flashes back to her knowledge of the boy’s history and her recollections of her time with him. The awkward transitions notwithstanding, I generally liked how the two narratives were presented, especially the way they framed Rafik’s backstory while doing an excellent job filling in the lore and background of the setting. Like I said, I loved the first half of the book, particularly the parts detailing the initial stages of Rafik’s exile, from the time he discovered the telltale markings on his hand to the harrowing journey on the road where he is traded from master to master.
Not surprisingly, some of my favorite moments from the book came from these early segments, with Rafik’s time with the charismatic Captain Sam and his supertruck Sweetheart immediately coming to mind. The problem, however, is that many of these fascinating encounters are much too short. While I really enjoyed Rafik’s backstory, I wasn’t so much a fan of the episodic nature of his narrative. It felt really fragmented, with his character being passed like a hockey puck from one situation to the next, not to mention how a lot of the entertaining side characters end up sticking around just long enough to endear themselves to the reader before they are swiftly left behind and never to be seen again. It seemed a little wasteful, in a way, how many of the incredible characters and concepts presented here were never explored to their full potential. It made me think that much of Rafik’s backstory of his time before being sold to the Salvationist guild could have been cut down or reworked because of the way it plodded and meandered.
The novel also started losing me in its second half. After Rafik is bought by the guild, the story descends into a confusion of ideas that remind me of a bit of a fantasy RPG campaign mixed with the premise of a YA dystopian like The Maze Runner. These elements didn’t mesh as well with the rest of the world-building. I also didn’t feel as invested in the story once the present timeline took over for good. And while the conclusion provided some answers, the explanations given were convoluted and I didn’t find them particularly helpful, especially since they led to even more questions.
All of this led to my mixed opinions on the The Lost Puzzler. At times, it was a compelling page-turner where all I wanted was to know more about the life of Rafik and his abilities; other times, I was uncertain how I felt about the story’s direction and disjointed sections. That said, on the whole I found this to be an entertaining read and a fairly solid debut, and at this point I’m up for giving this world another go if there is a sequel.
The Lost Puzzler was a puzzle, in more ways than one. Not only was the story shrouded in mystery, the plot was also slow to unravel, inviting the readers to seek the solution to the big question while doling out clues gradually in a teasing fashion. In addition, the structure of the book felt like a series of many separate and dissimilar segments making up a whole, thus making it feel very fractured.
For obvious reasons, novels like this often present me with a conundrum: how to rate it when I enjoy some of its pieces but not the others? In the case of The Lost Puzzler, I loved everything about the first half. We begin the tale through the eyes of a lowly scribe of the Guild of Historians who has been tasked with a dangerous mission to discover the fate of a boy who disappeared more than a decade before. This boy—named Rafik—is said to be a Puzzler, an individual with a special talent to unlock mysterious puzzle box-like nodes that are scattered across the world, hidden away in labyrinths and other dungeon-like places, where they guard the valuable treasures of the lost Tarkanian civilization. Following an apocalyptic event known as the Catastrophe, those who survived have split into different groups, and one of these groups called the Salvationists believe that the answers lie in the ancient technology of their forebears. They send teams on dangerous expeditions to plunder Tarkanian strongholds, where the Puzzler will attempt to crack their defenses while the rest of the squad protects itself from threats like traps and attacking lizard-like creatures.
Soon after the intro though, the narrative shifts to tell the story of Rafik. He was born in a community that has reverted to the old ways after the Catastrophe, becoming deeply faithful to the new gods they worship while shunning everything to do with technology. When the strange tattoos marking him as special began appearing on Rafik’s fingertips, his parents feared their son cursed, sending him away to a “friend” of the family who promised to get a good price for him at auction. Recognizing his value, a powerful guild ends up purchasing Rafik at a high price, nearly bankrupting themselves in the process. To ensure a return on their investment, Rafik’s new handlers begin grooming him for the demanding role of Puzzler, putting him through rigorous training exercises to prepare him for his first expedition.
The book flips the reader back and forth between these two timelines—the one in the present, where our historian attempts to extract Rafik’s story from a woman who used to know him, and the one in the past, which flashes back to her knowledge of the boy’s history and her recollections of her time with him. The awkward transitions notwithstanding, I generally liked how the two narratives were presented, especially the way they framed Rafik’s backstory while doing an excellent job filling in the lore and background of the setting. Like I said, I loved the first half of the book, particularly the parts detailing the initial stages of Rafik’s exile, from the time he discovered the telltale markings on his hand to the harrowing journey on the road where he is traded from master to master.
Not surprisingly, some of my favorite moments from the book came from these early segments, with Rafik’s time with the charismatic Captain Sam and his supertruck Sweetheart immediately coming to mind. The problem, however, is that many of these fascinating encounters are much too short. While I really enjoyed Rafik’s backstory, I wasn’t so much a fan of the episodic nature of his narrative. It felt really fragmented, with his character being passed like a hockey puck from one situation to the next, not to mention how a lot of the entertaining side characters end up sticking around just long enough to endear themselves to the reader before they are swiftly left behind and never to be seen again. It seemed a little wasteful, in a way, how many of the incredible characters and concepts presented here were never explored to their full potential. It made me think that much of Rafik’s backstory of his time before being sold to the Salvationist guild could have been cut down or reworked because of the way it plodded and meandered.
The novel also started losing me in its second half. After Rafik is bought by the guild, the story descends into a confusion of ideas that remind me of a bit of a fantasy RPG campaign mixed with the premise of a YA dystopian like The Maze Runner. These elements didn’t mesh as well with the rest of the world-building. I also didn’t feel as invested in the story once the present timeline took over for good. And while the conclusion provided some answers, the explanations given were convoluted and I didn’t find them particularly helpful, especially since they led to even more questions.
All of this led to my mixed opinions on the The Lost Puzzler. At times, it was a compelling page-turner where all I wanted was to know more about the life of Rafik and his abilities; other times, I was uncertain how I felt about the story’s direction and disjointed sections. That said, on the whole I found this to be an entertaining read and a fairly solid debut, and at this point I’m up for giving this world another go if there is a sequel.
February 28, 2020
Mad Max(Mel Gibson and Charlize Theron), Rain Man, and Jesus walk into a bar.
The Lost Puzzler was puzzling.
I just don't know what to make of this book or how to review it.
First time authors should rely heavily on editors. The book was unnecessarily verbose.
So what was it about?
Uhm let me think about it.
A 'puzzler' is a person with tattoos who can unlock doors by solving complex puzzles.
For example: 1,1,2,3,5,8,13,...What's the next number?
Solve the puzzle in 5 seconds to open the door. If they don't they could die. Well that's not good.
Behind the doors are weapons, medicine, books and other assorted goodies.
These puzzlers are shunned and most of the time killed because the simple town folk believe the tattoos are a sign from Satan.
There are 'Guilds' that buy 'puzzlers' to open the doors and give them powerful goodies and knowledge to control the land. 12 year old Rafik is one of the most powerful puzzlers. There are black boxes or locks on the doors with three holes in them. The puzzler inserts three finger in it and is transported to a puzzler dimension to solve a geometrical puzzle once solved the door opens.
I don't know what i'm saying.
Rafik, The Scribe, Galinak, and Vincha were interesting characters. Some of the action scenes were cool but this bloated post-dystopian novel didn't work.
Thanks to Goodreads for an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review.
The Lost Puzzler was puzzling.
I just don't know what to make of this book or how to review it.
First time authors should rely heavily on editors. The book was unnecessarily verbose.
So what was it about?
Uhm let me think about it.
A 'puzzler' is a person with tattoos who can unlock doors by solving complex puzzles.
For example: 1,1,2,3,5,8,13,...What's the next number?
Solve the puzzle in 5 seconds to open the door. If they don't they could die. Well that's not good.
Behind the doors are weapons, medicine, books and other assorted goodies.
These puzzlers are shunned and most of the time killed because the simple town folk believe the tattoos are a sign from Satan.
There are 'Guilds' that buy 'puzzlers' to open the doors and give them powerful goodies and knowledge to control the land. 12 year old Rafik is one of the most powerful puzzlers. There are black boxes or locks on the doors with three holes in them. The puzzler inserts three finger in it and is transported to a puzzler dimension to solve a geometrical puzzle once solved the door opens.
I don't know what i'm saying.
Rafik, The Scribe, Galinak, and Vincha were interesting characters. Some of the action scenes were cool but this bloated post-dystopian novel didn't work.
Thanks to Goodreads for an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review.
February 18, 2019
I won this book in a goodreads drawing.
After a Great Catastrophe, half of a society clings to technology, while the other half rejects it. There's also some curse like disease. Of course, there's a kid who is the key, and he journeys to save the world.
Not bad, but not especially memorable.
After a Great Catastrophe, half of a society clings to technology, while the other half rejects it. There's also some curse like disease. Of course, there's a kid who is the key, and he journeys to save the world.
Not bad, but not especially memorable.
January 25, 2019
I’m sorry, but I could not wait for this story to end.
The Lost Puzzler dragged on for far too long, considering the storyline. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love a long story, and at 528 pages, this book is far from one of the longest that I’ve read.
The story was an overlapping tale, consisting of a scribe’s adventure in unearthing the mysterious disappearance of Rafik (story number two). Kless’ narrative went back and forth between the scribe (don’t ask me his name) and the story recounted to him by Rafik.
Whenever I feel like this, I feel compelled to think about why this story didn’t work for me. I really think that it comes down to a connection; the story moved along well enough with action, but I never really felt like I knew enough about any of the characters. For the story to work for me, to really pull me in, I have to care. If the author can’t make me care about the characters, I really can’t care about the book. I honestly think that Kless needed to give me more background and development on this scribe, who I felt was the real focal point of the story.
I can see how The Lost Puzzler could resonate with some people, life would be boring if we all liked the same things. It is high on creativity, the writing is sound, and it ticked off a lot of boxes of what is expected from the genre. I just wanted, no, needed more from the characters.
*I received a copy of the book from the publisher (via Edelweiss).
The Lost Puzzler dragged on for far too long, considering the storyline. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love a long story, and at 528 pages, this book is far from one of the longest that I’ve read.
The story was an overlapping tale, consisting of a scribe’s adventure in unearthing the mysterious disappearance of Rafik (story number two). Kless’ narrative went back and forth between the scribe (don’t ask me his name) and the story recounted to him by Rafik.
Whenever I feel like this, I feel compelled to think about why this story didn’t work for me. I really think that it comes down to a connection; the story moved along well enough with action, but I never really felt like I knew enough about any of the characters. For the story to work for me, to really pull me in, I have to care. If the author can’t make me care about the characters, I really can’t care about the book. I honestly think that Kless needed to give me more background and development on this scribe, who I felt was the real focal point of the story.
I can see how The Lost Puzzler could resonate with some people, life would be boring if we all liked the same things. It is high on creativity, the writing is sound, and it ticked off a lot of boxes of what is expected from the genre. I just wanted, no, needed more from the characters.
*I received a copy of the book from the publisher (via Edelweiss).
April 11, 2019
"Only at Tarakan valley will you feel at peace"
* * * * *
5 / 5
It is rare that one book contains so much of the elements and ideas that I love to read about. The Lost Puzzler read like the author had looked into my brain and written this book for me: a speculative, futuristic world featuring ancient cities, people with tattoos and special powers, an unreliable narrator, a young man gifted with a peculiar power, and a hunt for a confusing, wild truth.
We read books to solve a mystery, and the more I heard about Rafik the more I was intrigued, even obsessed, with finding out what had happened and why
There are two interwoven stories in The Lost Puzzler. The first is that of the primary narrator, an unnamed man set on a quest by his Guild of Historians. He is tasked with searching for a woman who knows what happened to a young boy around fifteen years ago. Through this Historian we are introduced to the City of Towers with its ancient Tarakan technology, violent bars, roving gangs and for-hire “trolls” who have willingly modified their bodies with technology, smoking drugs to dull the pain of these modifications.
Through the narrator and his search we hear the tale of Rafik, a young man born to a wildness village. We jump back into the past, to Rafik’s highly religious community who view the tattoos of the Marked as signs of the devil. When Rafik’s fingers turn black with ink, his family sneaks him out and sends him to the city. There he passed from hand to hand, shot over, haggled, bought and sold for the tattoos on his fingertips that mark him as the rarest of rare: a Puzzler. I’m a total sucker for this sort of thing; I loved the Arcane Ascension books for the same sort of reason: some people are gifted with RPG-like powers that work in a ‘real-world’ sort of way.
These men told him what was wrong with him; they had named his malady. He was a Puzzler. Now he had to find out what that meant
Essentially, Rafik can open locked doors and treasure boxes. In the Salvationist-era society, where wealth and fame is to be made in what are essentially dungeon runs, fighting beasts to get to locked nodes of Tarakan treasures deep in the mountains, Rafik is a prize above all others. I adored the way the author wove together a realistic, gritty, imaginative fantasy world with RPG mechanics. It worked so well and had me turning pages manically.
Jump back to the future and our Historian. Something happened to Rafik and we want to know what. The story got weirder and weirder as it becomes apparent that the reader is being lied to, the truth is being fudged in the tale we are hearing. There’s a great balance in The Lost Puzzler. There’s a balance between the draw of the mystery of what happened to Rafik and the action that’s going on in the present. The world is interesting and otherworldly without being alienating and hard to understand. There’s gun fights and pit jumps and moments of terror, balanced against moments of happiness and peace for Rafik.
The Lost Puzzler is an engaging, beautiful, and balanced debut novel that I urge fantasy and sci-fi readers to pick up.
Read this review and more on my blog: https://atlasrisingbooks.wordpress.co...
* * * * *
5 / 5
It is rare that one book contains so much of the elements and ideas that I love to read about. The Lost Puzzler read like the author had looked into my brain and written this book for me: a speculative, futuristic world featuring ancient cities, people with tattoos and special powers, an unreliable narrator, a young man gifted with a peculiar power, and a hunt for a confusing, wild truth.
We read books to solve a mystery, and the more I heard about Rafik the more I was intrigued, even obsessed, with finding out what had happened and why
There are two interwoven stories in The Lost Puzzler. The first is that of the primary narrator, an unnamed man set on a quest by his Guild of Historians. He is tasked with searching for a woman who knows what happened to a young boy around fifteen years ago. Through this Historian we are introduced to the City of Towers with its ancient Tarakan technology, violent bars, roving gangs and for-hire “trolls” who have willingly modified their bodies with technology, smoking drugs to dull the pain of these modifications.
Through the narrator and his search we hear the tale of Rafik, a young man born to a wildness village. We jump back into the past, to Rafik’s highly religious community who view the tattoos of the Marked as signs of the devil. When Rafik’s fingers turn black with ink, his family sneaks him out and sends him to the city. There he passed from hand to hand, shot over, haggled, bought and sold for the tattoos on his fingertips that mark him as the rarest of rare: a Puzzler. I’m a total sucker for this sort of thing; I loved the Arcane Ascension books for the same sort of reason: some people are gifted with RPG-like powers that work in a ‘real-world’ sort of way.
These men told him what was wrong with him; they had named his malady. He was a Puzzler. Now he had to find out what that meant
Essentially, Rafik can open locked doors and treasure boxes. In the Salvationist-era society, where wealth and fame is to be made in what are essentially dungeon runs, fighting beasts to get to locked nodes of Tarakan treasures deep in the mountains, Rafik is a prize above all others. I adored the way the author wove together a realistic, gritty, imaginative fantasy world with RPG mechanics. It worked so well and had me turning pages manically.
Jump back to the future and our Historian. Something happened to Rafik and we want to know what. The story got weirder and weirder as it becomes apparent that the reader is being lied to, the truth is being fudged in the tale we are hearing. There’s a great balance in The Lost Puzzler. There’s a balance between the draw of the mystery of what happened to Rafik and the action that’s going on in the present. The world is interesting and otherworldly without being alienating and hard to understand. There’s gun fights and pit jumps and moments of terror, balanced against moments of happiness and peace for Rafik.
The Lost Puzzler is an engaging, beautiful, and balanced debut novel that I urge fantasy and sci-fi readers to pick up.
Read this review and more on my blog: https://atlasrisingbooks.wordpress.co...
April 21, 2025
Bevor wir hier die Geschichte von Rafik erfahren, die auf dem Klappentext angekündigt wird, lernen wir erstmal den Schauplatz kennen, an dem die Geschichte spielt: Die Stadt der schwarzen Türme.
Was genau es damit auf sich hat, weiß man noch nicht wirklich genau. Es wird eine "große Säuberung" in der Vergangenheit erwähnt, die die Menschen fast ausgelöscht hat und dass sich nach diesem Ereignis vieles veränderte. Vor allem sind wohl die Cyborgs ein markantes Merkmal, Menschen, die sich mit Maschinenteilen ausstatten ließen, also Körperteile damit ersetzt haben, um wehrhafter zu sein.
Diese werden als "Trolle" bezeichnet und von den Gläubigen als Abschaum angesehen.
Die technischen Modifikationen, mit denen sich die Trolle ausstatten und zu gefürchteten Kriegern werden, sind übrigens nicht ohne und oft mit unsäglichen Schmerzen verbunden. Auch weil das Wissen fehlt und manches nur stümperhaft eingebaut wird. Um dieses Prozedere durchzuhalten, nehmen fast alle das süchtig machende "Skint"
"Du kannst entweder Skint nehmen, um den Schmerz zu betäuben, bis dir eines Tages das Hirn zu den Ohren rauskommt. Oder..." [...] "Oder du stellst dich dem Schmerz, mein junger Freund. Stell dich ihm mit all deiner Willenskraft und du wirst ihn besiegen."
Zitat Seite 217
Ein ebensolches Merkmal für "Ungläubige" sind Tattoos, die meist in der Zeit der Pubertät plötzlich auftauchen, Zeichen auf der Haut, die mit besonderen Fähigkeiten einhergehen. Für die Sekten ein Zeichen von Sünde und Teufelswerk.
Die Stadt selbst ist nur im Tageslicht relativ sicher, doch die Geschichte, die erzählt werden will, wartet im "Loch", tief unterhalb der Stadt: dem Sündenpfuhl, der gefährlichsten Gegend, in der Schaukämpfe stattfinden, Glückspiele in Lasterhöhlen und finstere Gestalten das Gesellschaftsbild prägen.
Diesen Einstieg und das Kennenlernen dieser Welt fand ich sehr spannend gemacht und hat vor allem auch gut eingestimmt auf die Szenerie, die uns hier erwartet. Eine finstere Entwicklung unserer Gesellschaft, die von Angst geprägt ist und die Kluft der Schichten noch weiter auseinander driften lässt.
Schließlich lernen wir dann auch Rafik kennen. Seine Geschichte scheint wichtig für die Zukunft und sie wird hier im Rückblick erzählt - denn auch bei ihm tauchten an seinem 12. Geburtstag schwarze Symbole an seinen Fingern auf, die ihn zu einem äußerst seltenen und begehrten "Puzzler" machen.
Bis dahin hat Rafik ein sehr ruhiges, von religiösen Pflichten bestimmtes Leben im Hinterland geführt, doch diese Zeichen führen ihn auf einen Weg, auf dem er plötzlich mit Ablehnung umgehen muss, mit Hass und Brutalität und dem Gefühl, auf seine Fähigkeit reduziert zu werden. Dennoch bewahrt er sich sein Mitgefühl und entscheidet oft ohne Rücksicht auf sich selbst.
Trotzdem muss er lernen, für sich einzustehen und sich gegen vielerlei Angriffe zu verteidigen.
Der Stil ist einfach, aber auch sehr greifbar und anschaulich. Man kann sich alles sehr bildhaft vorstellen und ich hab mich beim Lesen immer sofort in den jeweiligen Schauplatz versetzt gefühlt.
Manche Abschnitte sind also ruhiger, andere wiederum fesselnd, dann wieder actionreich. Manche sprechen sehr derb miteinander, es gibt Kämpfe, Explosionen und spritzendes Blut -
Zeitlich ist es schwer einzuordnen. Die eingangs erwähnte große Säuberung bzw. die Katastrophe hat jedenfalls einen Großteil der Menschheit ausgelöscht - und diese Menschen waren technisch schon um einiges weiter als wir.
In der Gegenwart der Geschichte versuchen sie, diese "alten" Technologien zu entschlüsseln und heraus zu finden, wozu die Gerätschaften gedient haben. Bei manchen ist es einfach, bei anderen wiederum sehr kompliziert - und da kommt Rafik ins Spiel. Mit seiner seltenen Gabe hat er Zugriff auf begehrtes und wertvolles Material, aber es steckt noch weit mehr dahinter!
Hier bekommen wir großartige Schauplätze, eine düstere Zukunft und eine tolle Verknüpfung mit technischen Raffinessen. Außerdem sehr interessante Figuren natürlich mit Rafik, der eine qualvolle Zeit durchleben muss; aber auch Vincha, die seine Geschichte erzählt, und dem Erzähler, ein Historiker, der glaubt, einzig auf den Spuren der Vergangenheit zu sein.
Von den Nebenfiguren hat mir vor allem der Krieger-Troll Galinak besonders gefallen :)
Es endet mit einem actionreichen Spektakel, was mega neugierig macht, wie es weitergeht!
Weltenwanderer
Was genau es damit auf sich hat, weiß man noch nicht wirklich genau. Es wird eine "große Säuberung" in der Vergangenheit erwähnt, die die Menschen fast ausgelöscht hat und dass sich nach diesem Ereignis vieles veränderte. Vor allem sind wohl die Cyborgs ein markantes Merkmal, Menschen, die sich mit Maschinenteilen ausstatten ließen, also Körperteile damit ersetzt haben, um wehrhafter zu sein.
Diese werden als "Trolle" bezeichnet und von den Gläubigen als Abschaum angesehen.
Die technischen Modifikationen, mit denen sich die Trolle ausstatten und zu gefürchteten Kriegern werden, sind übrigens nicht ohne und oft mit unsäglichen Schmerzen verbunden. Auch weil das Wissen fehlt und manches nur stümperhaft eingebaut wird. Um dieses Prozedere durchzuhalten, nehmen fast alle das süchtig machende "Skint"
"Du kannst entweder Skint nehmen, um den Schmerz zu betäuben, bis dir eines Tages das Hirn zu den Ohren rauskommt. Oder..." [...] "Oder du stellst dich dem Schmerz, mein junger Freund. Stell dich ihm mit all deiner Willenskraft und du wirst ihn besiegen."
Zitat Seite 217
Ein ebensolches Merkmal für "Ungläubige" sind Tattoos, die meist in der Zeit der Pubertät plötzlich auftauchen, Zeichen auf der Haut, die mit besonderen Fähigkeiten einhergehen. Für die Sekten ein Zeichen von Sünde und Teufelswerk.
Die Stadt selbst ist nur im Tageslicht relativ sicher, doch die Geschichte, die erzählt werden will, wartet im "Loch", tief unterhalb der Stadt: dem Sündenpfuhl, der gefährlichsten Gegend, in der Schaukämpfe stattfinden, Glückspiele in Lasterhöhlen und finstere Gestalten das Gesellschaftsbild prägen.
Diesen Einstieg und das Kennenlernen dieser Welt fand ich sehr spannend gemacht und hat vor allem auch gut eingestimmt auf die Szenerie, die uns hier erwartet. Eine finstere Entwicklung unserer Gesellschaft, die von Angst geprägt ist und die Kluft der Schichten noch weiter auseinander driften lässt.
Schließlich lernen wir dann auch Rafik kennen. Seine Geschichte scheint wichtig für die Zukunft und sie wird hier im Rückblick erzählt - denn auch bei ihm tauchten an seinem 12. Geburtstag schwarze Symbole an seinen Fingern auf, die ihn zu einem äußerst seltenen und begehrten "Puzzler" machen.
Bis dahin hat Rafik ein sehr ruhiges, von religiösen Pflichten bestimmtes Leben im Hinterland geführt, doch diese Zeichen führen ihn auf einen Weg, auf dem er plötzlich mit Ablehnung umgehen muss, mit Hass und Brutalität und dem Gefühl, auf seine Fähigkeit reduziert zu werden. Dennoch bewahrt er sich sein Mitgefühl und entscheidet oft ohne Rücksicht auf sich selbst.
Trotzdem muss er lernen, für sich einzustehen und sich gegen vielerlei Angriffe zu verteidigen.
Der Stil ist einfach, aber auch sehr greifbar und anschaulich. Man kann sich alles sehr bildhaft vorstellen und ich hab mich beim Lesen immer sofort in den jeweiligen Schauplatz versetzt gefühlt.
Manche Abschnitte sind also ruhiger, andere wiederum fesselnd, dann wieder actionreich. Manche sprechen sehr derb miteinander, es gibt Kämpfe, Explosionen und spritzendes Blut -
Zeitlich ist es schwer einzuordnen. Die eingangs erwähnte große Säuberung bzw. die Katastrophe hat jedenfalls einen Großteil der Menschheit ausgelöscht - und diese Menschen waren technisch schon um einiges weiter als wir.
In der Gegenwart der Geschichte versuchen sie, diese "alten" Technologien zu entschlüsseln und heraus zu finden, wozu die Gerätschaften gedient haben. Bei manchen ist es einfach, bei anderen wiederum sehr kompliziert - und da kommt Rafik ins Spiel. Mit seiner seltenen Gabe hat er Zugriff auf begehrtes und wertvolles Material, aber es steckt noch weit mehr dahinter!
Hier bekommen wir großartige Schauplätze, eine düstere Zukunft und eine tolle Verknüpfung mit technischen Raffinessen. Außerdem sehr interessante Figuren natürlich mit Rafik, der eine qualvolle Zeit durchleben muss; aber auch Vincha, die seine Geschichte erzählt, und dem Erzähler, ein Historiker, der glaubt, einzig auf den Spuren der Vergangenheit zu sein.
Von den Nebenfiguren hat mir vor allem der Krieger-Troll Galinak besonders gefallen :)
Es endet mit einem actionreichen Spektakel, was mega neugierig macht, wie es weitergeht!
Weltenwanderer
December 1, 2019
This book shows an impressively original future, very entertaining and interesting characters.
March 19, 2019
Please enjoy additional book reviews & adventures on my blog: The Bull Crabs
4.5 stars - The pieces all come together in such a rusting wonderful way.
I'm not sure why I started this book with a negative attitude, but I did. I did not feel like learning about a new world. If you are like me and sometimes get exhausted learning about each world inside each fantasy novel - HAVE NO FEAR.
THE LOST PUZZLER is a gradual build. You learn with the main character, Rafik, who is just as new to this world as you are. You travel back in time as everyone tries to better understand the past. This was an absolute well put together book. The pieces all come together in such a rusting wonderful way. The author only reveals what you need to know at the time which helps understand the world, not feel bored learning about the world and adds a little suspense as you continue reading, eager to find out what's next.
The book is long (I love longer books), but every word is important. There isn't a lot of 'fluff' that you can skim over, every word is impactful to really take in the half men, machines and grit. I do agree with other reviewers. The story did drag on, so I dropped it a half star due to that reason.
I absolutely fell in love with this book. I was left hanging though and am now forced to pick up the next book as I enjoyed reading the first book in the THE TARAKAN CHRONICLES so much.
4.5 stars - The pieces all come together in such a rusting wonderful way.
I'm not sure why I started this book with a negative attitude, but I did. I did not feel like learning about a new world. If you are like me and sometimes get exhausted learning about each world inside each fantasy novel - HAVE NO FEAR.
THE LOST PUZZLER is a gradual build. You learn with the main character, Rafik, who is just as new to this world as you are. You travel back in time as everyone tries to better understand the past. This was an absolute well put together book. The pieces all come together in such a rusting wonderful way. The author only reveals what you need to know at the time which helps understand the world, not feel bored learning about the world and adds a little suspense as you continue reading, eager to find out what's next.
The book is long (I love longer books), but every word is important. There isn't a lot of 'fluff' that you can skim over, every word is impactful to really take in the half men, machines and grit. I do agree with other reviewers. The story did drag on, so I dropped it a half star due to that reason.
I absolutely fell in love with this book. I was left hanging though and am now forced to pick up the next book as I enjoyed reading the first book in the THE TARAKAN CHRONICLES so much.
May 3, 2019
I loved the world Kless invented here. The long infodump towards the end of the novel leads into a rushed climax. I'm not sure what the plan is for future volumes but this likely could have been expanded upon in multiple volumes. I do hope we see more from Kless in the future.
October 3, 2019
This was awesome!
January 14, 2019
3.25 stars
The Lost Puzzler offers an interesting world but gets bogged down in a repetitive plot structure. Telling the story of Rafik, the titular lost puzzler, we see events that directly affect him in the past, along with a "present day" (future world) historical search for information about him, along with an attempt to determine his whereabouts. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, puzzlers are those both gifted and cursed with the ability to gain access to sophisticated technology and structures that are remnants of the mysterious Tarakanian society.
While the concept was initially intriguing, the repetitive theme of twelve year old Rafik being sold from guild to guild as people exploit his puzzle solving abilities seemed to drag on. The reader can foresee early on what facets of the ending of the book will be but it's a long 500 pages getting there. My biggest complaint however was the development of the character of Vincha, who is judged by everyone in this future dystopian world by the same double moral standards as those in our day. It felt odd that this was a world that evolved with sophisticated technology, fell apart, its denizens struggle to survive in an almost Mad Max sense, many with significantly augmented humans, yet everyone is still focused on how many people Vincha has slept with in this camp or another. Evidently women's sexuality/promiscuity is still a significant social issue while men can still "just be boys." Really? After a while, it just began to annoy me. Wouldn't it be unique to have a future dystopian world in which assertive or aggressive women are not labeled bitches and no one cares about who they sleep with? It also would have given the sting of the revelations about her character's actions far more impact.
I received a Digital Review Copy from Harper Voyager via Edelweiss along with a paper review copy, in exchange for an honest review.
The Lost Puzzler offers an interesting world but gets bogged down in a repetitive plot structure. Telling the story of Rafik, the titular lost puzzler, we see events that directly affect him in the past, along with a "present day" (future world) historical search for information about him, along with an attempt to determine his whereabouts. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, puzzlers are those both gifted and cursed with the ability to gain access to sophisticated technology and structures that are remnants of the mysterious Tarakanian society.
While the concept was initially intriguing, the repetitive theme of twelve year old Rafik being sold from guild to guild as people exploit his puzzle solving abilities seemed to drag on. The reader can foresee early on what facets of the ending of the book will be but it's a long 500 pages getting there. My biggest complaint however was the development of the character of Vincha, who is judged by everyone in this future dystopian world by the same double moral standards as those in our day. It felt odd that this was a world that evolved with sophisticated technology, fell apart, its denizens struggle to survive in an almost Mad Max sense, many with significantly augmented humans, yet everyone is still focused on how many people Vincha has slept with in this camp or another. Evidently women's sexuality/promiscuity is still a significant social issue while men can still "just be boys." Really? After a while, it just began to annoy me. Wouldn't it be unique to have a future dystopian world in which assertive or aggressive women are not labeled bitches and no one cares about who they sleep with? It also would have given the sting of the revelations about her character's actions far more impact.
I received a Digital Review Copy from Harper Voyager via Edelweiss along with a paper review copy, in exchange for an honest review.
February 15, 2019
Review coming soon for Sequart.org. I'll link it here when it's ready. Overall, pretty fascinating world-building in a compelling page-turner. Recommended for any SF/F readers teen and older.
Update: here is the online review I wrote.
http://sequart.org/magazine/69573/rev...
Eyal Kless
Update: here is the online review I wrote.
http://sequart.org/magazine/69573/rev...
Eyal Kless
July 18, 2019
Didn’t want to put it down
I liked the characters and the story was well told. I read way in to the night when I should have been sleeping, the sign of a good book!
I liked the characters and the story was well told. I read way in to the night when I should have been sleeping, the sign of a good book!
March 29, 2022
A story within a story that develops all of the characters. I enjoyed the historian angle. I will be reading the next book in the series.
December 31, 2020
Eine interessante Geschichte, die mich aber nicht komplett fesseln konnte.
February 26, 2020
The general concept of this book is quite interesting but there is something missing in the narrative. I am surprised that it took Harper Collins editors 8 months to edit this book.
July 17, 2019
In a time after the Catastrophe, a secondary scribe at the Guild of Historians is sent by his LoreMaster on a mission to find one particular woman, Vincha, who knows the story of Rafik. Rafik was a puzzler, marked, as they say, and a key for the Salvationists. His fate could directly relate to the continued survival of humanity, but the Guild of Historians scribe will have to figure out what happened to Rafik and if there is a way to save the human race.
I was very surprised how much I enjoyed this novel. The world building and character development was fascinating. The author does a fabulous job of creating this post-apocalyptic society with evil and dangerous Lizards, the Skint addicted Trolls who have Tarakan technology augmentations attached to their bodies (I imagined right away that they have a steam-punk look to them), and many other particular-to-this-world characters. I think my favorite individual, though, is probably Vincha. (I imagined her to look very similar to Lisbeth Salander, actually.)
I also very much enjoyed the frame narrative of Rafik (told by Vincha). That part, in particular, sets up for the mission the characters embark on toward the end of the book. It ends up being an exciting, even nail-biting most of the time, adventure that leaves you wanting to have the next book of the series to read. In fact, I will be keeping tabs on when the next book will be released. That is how much I got into this story.
The only downside to this novel is how long it is. Rafik's “origin story” gets a bit long-winded. I wish that part had been a bit shorter. Otherwise, I highly recommend this book to both YA and typical adult readers who enjoy action and some science fiction.
** Thank you to the author, the publisher, and Goodreads for providing me with an ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.**
I was very surprised how much I enjoyed this novel. The world building and character development was fascinating. The author does a fabulous job of creating this post-apocalyptic society with evil and dangerous Lizards, the Skint addicted Trolls who have Tarakan technology augmentations attached to their bodies (I imagined right away that they have a steam-punk look to them), and many other particular-to-this-world characters. I think my favorite individual, though, is probably Vincha. (I imagined her to look very similar to Lisbeth Salander, actually.)
I also very much enjoyed the frame narrative of Rafik (told by Vincha). That part, in particular, sets up for the mission the characters embark on toward the end of the book. It ends up being an exciting, even nail-biting most of the time, adventure that leaves you wanting to have the next book of the series to read. In fact, I will be keeping tabs on when the next book will be released. That is how much I got into this story.
The only downside to this novel is how long it is. Rafik's “origin story” gets a bit long-winded. I wish that part had been a bit shorter. Otherwise, I highly recommend this book to both YA and typical adult readers who enjoy action and some science fiction.
** Thank you to the author, the publisher, and Goodreads for providing me with an ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.**
January 31, 2020
Make it 3.5. I liked but didn't love this one. The audio was good. I might pick up the second in the series when it comes out next month.
April 15, 2020
The title itself had this book on my Audible wish list and radar the day it was released. It just pulled me with it’s description as well. There’s a eclectic mix of fantasy,, and scifi, which I’m guessing is a hard balance to succeed at as a writer.
The ruined, post apocalyptic world has remnants of fascinating, futuristic technology that is very hard to obtain, and harder still, to maintain. Most of it is locked up in mountains where, puzzlers are used, people with a unique ability to unlock the bunkers, assumed to contain said lost tech.
The story follows a scribe, a bit of mystery there too. He seems to be closing in on a young boy, Rafik, who is thought to be a highly gifted puzzler that previously had disappeared. It’s very exciting from there, with a unique cast of characters, action, adventure, leading to a grand twisty finish that blasts open the level of intrigue into the next book.
Eyal Kless has a very natural style of writing, and absolutely shines, in a genre that seems especially stuffed and watered down. I’ll say this though, this was a wonderful, speculative, and dystopian mix of a book with fascinating world building. When you consider this is a first novel for him, its even more impressive. I cannot wait to get into book 2, and I hope you give this book a chance.
Credit shall also be given to the narrator, Michael David Axtell. He did a very professional job, and truly brought the extra dimension needed to make this an all around outstanding audiobook.
Thank you for a few minutes of your day, and again, hope you’re staying sane and safe right now.
5 of 5 Bright burning stars.
The ruined, post apocalyptic world has remnants of fascinating, futuristic technology that is very hard to obtain, and harder still, to maintain. Most of it is locked up in mountains where, puzzlers are used, people with a unique ability to unlock the bunkers, assumed to contain said lost tech.
The story follows a scribe, a bit of mystery there too. He seems to be closing in on a young boy, Rafik, who is thought to be a highly gifted puzzler that previously had disappeared. It’s very exciting from there, with a unique cast of characters, action, adventure, leading to a grand twisty finish that blasts open the level of intrigue into the next book.
Eyal Kless has a very natural style of writing, and absolutely shines, in a genre that seems especially stuffed and watered down. I’ll say this though, this was a wonderful, speculative, and dystopian mix of a book with fascinating world building. When you consider this is a first novel for him, its even more impressive. I cannot wait to get into book 2, and I hope you give this book a chance.
Credit shall also be given to the narrator, Michael David Axtell. He did a very professional job, and truly brought the extra dimension needed to make this an all around outstanding audiobook.
Thank you for a few minutes of your day, and again, hope you’re staying sane and safe right now.
5 of 5 Bright burning stars.
January 4, 2019
This was an early download from Harper Voyager (those who follow along already know I'm part of the Super Reader program, those who don't will know now lol), the blurb sounded cool so I gave it a shot.
It's somewhat your basic dystopian YA, which got it dinged for a star, in that it felt like it somehow restrained itself. I mean, I don't need it to go all Cormac McCarthy, but it trod the edges of dark without really taking that leap, without taking advantage of the possibilities that an R rating has over a PG-13 when dealing with the darker aspects of humanity and post-humanity.
That being said, where the book excelled was world building. This is definitely something that I would like to see continued, as Kless has done a masterful job of setting the scene and prepping for an expanded story. The characters are (mostly) intriguing and engaging, even some of the bit players (the super truck driver still comes to mind two months after having read it). The book would easily translate to film with very little adaptation needed.
So yeah, 4 stars for everything it got right, well worth your time if you're into stuff like The Maze Runner, but it's waaaaayyyy better than those books.
It's somewhat your basic dystopian YA, which got it dinged for a star, in that it felt like it somehow restrained itself. I mean, I don't need it to go all Cormac McCarthy, but it trod the edges of dark without really taking that leap, without taking advantage of the possibilities that an R rating has over a PG-13 when dealing with the darker aspects of humanity and post-humanity.
That being said, where the book excelled was world building. This is definitely something that I would like to see continued, as Kless has done a masterful job of setting the scene and prepping for an expanded story. The characters are (mostly) intriguing and engaging, even some of the bit players (the super truck driver still comes to mind two months after having read it). The book would easily translate to film with very little adaptation needed.
So yeah, 4 stars for everything it got right, well worth your time if you're into stuff like The Maze Runner, but it's waaaaayyyy better than those books.
July 11, 2019
Right, rating your own book... did not think that’s “allowed”... but I saw other authors do it for the sake of reaching out to readers, answering questions and generally feeling good about themselves (that’s allowed), so why not?
It took me 25 years to complete TLP. It survived countless re writings, edit versions, several writer’s rage episodes (just made that syndrome up), 7 computers and 4 international relocations. The reason it took me so long is that I did not dare (and I was playing world of warcraft for 8 years...). But eventually I simply had to do it. The story was too strong in me to box down.
Have no fear! The sequel, The Puzzler’s War, took me only 8 months to complete and it is now in the final stages of editing.
One of the critics I read (I do read them all) wrote that writing a dual arc in different timeframe and point of view was a bit of a challenge for a debut author. I took this to heart, I really did! The Puzzler’s War has 3.5 (!!) story arcs in different time span, several new and exciting characters and of course, Galinak and Twinkle Eyes.
I think The Puzzler’s War is even better than The Lost Puzzler so when it will be out, I’ll give it 6 stars...
It took me 25 years to complete TLP. It survived countless re writings, edit versions, several writer’s rage episodes (just made that syndrome up), 7 computers and 4 international relocations. The reason it took me so long is that I did not dare (and I was playing world of warcraft for 8 years...). But eventually I simply had to do it. The story was too strong in me to box down.
Have no fear! The sequel, The Puzzler’s War, took me only 8 months to complete and it is now in the final stages of editing.
One of the critics I read (I do read them all) wrote that writing a dual arc in different timeframe and point of view was a bit of a challenge for a debut author. I took this to heart, I really did! The Puzzler’s War has 3.5 (!!) story arcs in different time span, several new and exciting characters and of course, Galinak and Twinkle Eyes.
I think The Puzzler’s War is even better than The Lost Puzzler so when it will be out, I’ll give it 6 stars...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 6, 2019
Humanity's in a shambles. Living on the scrap remains of the Tarakan civilisation people get by, with Tarakan augmentations, Tarakan vehicles, Tarakan houses (for some). Told across two eras, through the eyes of two characters, attempting to piece together the disaster that eliminated the Tarkanians, the Catastrophe, and the fate of a young Puzzler, a tattooed boy named Rafik, who lived during the glory times of the Salvationists.
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Lost Puzzler, even if at times I was taken out of the experience due to the issues mentioned on my full review (link below). Because of this I have rated it 4 stars on Goodreads, rounded down from a 4.4 stars in my internal rating system. I will read the sequel, and look forward to seeing the author grow as a writer.
Full review: https://twoinateacup.wordpress.com/20...
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Lost Puzzler, even if at times I was taken out of the experience due to the issues mentioned on my full review (link below). Because of this I have rated it 4 stars on Goodreads, rounded down from a 4.4 stars in my internal rating system. I will read the sequel, and look forward to seeing the author grow as a writer.
Full review: https://twoinateacup.wordpress.com/20...
November 23, 2018
(Review from an early advance copy)
Author Eyal Kless is a classical violinist, but he can whomp up a sci-fi adventure novel, too.
It's about a ragtag crowd of people in a dystopian society after everything got blowed up real good.
The press release says the book is a combo of "Mad Max: Fury Road" and "The Canterbury Tales," and now I can't un-compare the book to those two things. The author captures the energy and the craziness of "Fury Road" in the world he creates, while the depth of the characters shows that he has thought way too much about the world he has created (I mean that as a compliment.)
This one is the first book in a series, and you will need need the next part, right now. Or sooner.
Author Eyal Kless is a classical violinist, but he can whomp up a sci-fi adventure novel, too.
It's about a ragtag crowd of people in a dystopian society after everything got blowed up real good.
The press release says the book is a combo of "Mad Max: Fury Road" and "The Canterbury Tales," and now I can't un-compare the book to those two things. The author captures the energy and the craziness of "Fury Road" in the world he creates, while the depth of the characters shows that he has thought way too much about the world he has created (I mean that as a compliment.)
This one is the first book in a series, and you will need need the next part, right now. Or sooner.
July 15, 2019
The world and cultural/religious aspect where interesting, but the middle of the story dragged out and the end of the book lost me. Too many twist at the end and the characters became unbelievable. Female characters where few and portrayed poorly. Perhaps SciFi of the past can be viewed with more leniency, but I expect to see less chauvinistic attitudes in new SciFi.
January 27, 2020
Dystopian setting with a good set of characters to build off. A solid well crafted base to what will hopefully be an even better series. While a little machismo, rough and tough at times, there are some warm notes. Excited to see how this will develop. Definitely a page turner that leaves you wanting more.
June 1, 2023
5 star for the Audiobook: Amazing story by Eyal Kless, that takes us to a dangerous world full of incredibly brave people. The authors imagination is outstanding and the tale is gripping and action packed. I loved it.
The narration is nothing short of brilliant. The range and nuance of Micheal David Axtell's voice is incredible and brings this story alive!
The narration is nothing short of brilliant. The range and nuance of Micheal David Axtell's voice is incredible and brings this story alive!
May 5, 2020
One of those times were having approximately zero expectations ends up being a good thing: this book wasn't one of those big hype YA books, but I still think it would work on similar audiences as those big YA hype books. There is violence and sex, but whilst the violence is explained, sex is mostly just mentioned as something that happens "behind the scenes", so to speak. You know, the American-style prudeness where people dying in droves is less bad than showing a nipple. Admittedly, violence is more important for the plot in this, too, so it sort of makes sense, but it was still sort of funny to me.
This was probably actually more of a 3 star book when it comes to actual plot, but somehow it managed to keep me wanting more and I even spent a few days reading (something I rarely do nowadays, my reading tends to focus on the evenings), so I think 4 stars is more than fair. I found the world interesting, and most of the characters were fun, even if not super complicated. I enjoyed the two timelines and how they were done, and the writing was straightforward enough to be easy to read but not too simplistic.
And the bad stuff? Weeeell, there was a lot of that, too: Rafik, the Puzzler of the name, was from a village that seemed, to me at least, very similar to the stereotypical and not very accurate ideas of Muslim cultures. It is possible I just misunderstood the meaning behind it all, but since the author is an Israeli guy, it was really hard for me not to draw conclusions like this. Then again, as I've said before, I'm as white as they come, so it is possible I'm (mildly) upset for nothing here.
The book could have used better editing, too. I work with languages and it is part of my trade to be able to notice small mistakes in texts (unless they are my own, hah), but usually reading for fun I might not care as much if there is a typo or two somewhere. But when a character is suddenly spelled differently, it is rather confusing for a while. And when a verb is missing its inflection, well, that can also cause a moment of "wait what". Not to mention when the author says "several" but actually means, based on the context, "a few"... And then in the acknowledgments you see he thanks not one or two but like 4 or 5 people for reading it through in fancy publishing companies. Not very well, it seems!
But I need to get the second part of this. I need to know what happens next. This book ends in a relatively sensible way, but it also leaves the future wide open and did not reveal all its cards (but instead made sure you realized there was one mystery that had not been explained by "casually" mentioning it several times, even when just one, a bit more discreet, time would have been enough), so now I need to know more about Twinkle Eyes and the future of the world. Luckily the second part is already out, so I don't have the time to forget all that happened in this one. Probably. Unless, of course, I buy the second part and then just let it gather dust in my shelf for years, like I do way too often...
This was probably actually more of a 3 star book when it comes to actual plot, but somehow it managed to keep me wanting more and I even spent a few days reading (something I rarely do nowadays, my reading tends to focus on the evenings), so I think 4 stars is more than fair. I found the world interesting, and most of the characters were fun, even if not super complicated. I enjoyed the two timelines and how they were done, and the writing was straightforward enough to be easy to read but not too simplistic.
And the bad stuff? Weeeell, there was a lot of that, too: Rafik, the Puzzler of the name, was from a village that seemed, to me at least, very similar to the stereotypical and not very accurate ideas of Muslim cultures. It is possible I just misunderstood the meaning behind it all, but since the author is an Israeli guy, it was really hard for me not to draw conclusions like this. Then again, as I've said before, I'm as white as they come, so it is possible I'm (mildly) upset for nothing here.
The book could have used better editing, too. I work with languages and it is part of my trade to be able to notice small mistakes in texts (unless they are my own, hah), but usually reading for fun I might not care as much if there is a typo or two somewhere. But when a character is suddenly spelled differently, it is rather confusing for a while. And when a verb is missing its inflection, well, that can also cause a moment of "wait what". Not to mention when the author says "several" but actually means, based on the context, "a few"... And then in the acknowledgments you see he thanks not one or two but like 4 or 5 people for reading it through in fancy publishing companies. Not very well, it seems!
But I need to get the second part of this. I need to know what happens next. This book ends in a relatively sensible way, but it also leaves the future wide open and did not reveal all its cards (but instead made sure you realized there was one mystery that had not been explained by "casually" mentioning it several times, even when just one, a bit more discreet, time would have been enough), so now I need to know more about Twinkle Eyes and the future of the world. Luckily the second part is already out, so I don't have the time to forget all that happened in this one. Probably. Unless, of course, I buy the second part and then just let it gather dust in my shelf for years, like I do way too often...
March 23, 2020
"Das schwarze Mal" von Eyal Kless erzählt die Geschichte von Funkelauge, der auf der Suche nach Vincha ist, um sich von ihr wiederum die Lebensgeschichte von Rafik - dem eigentlichen Protagonisten - erzählen zu lassen. Rafiks Geschichte ist eine traurige, aufregende und nervenaufreibende. Was dem Jungen in seiner Kindheit widerfährt, muss man erstmal wegstecken. Er ist gezeichnet. Eines Tages tauchen plötzlich Linien auf seinen Fingerkuppen auf. Die Glaubensgemeinschaft, in dem der Junge lebt, sieht das als böses Omen. Rafik droht der Tod, doch seine Familie lässt ihn rechtzeitig wegschaffen. Und so beginnt sein Abenteuer voller Ungewissheit, Flucht, Gewalt und Heimatlosigkeit.
Rafik ist ein Puzzler, einer der wenigen Menschen, der die Schlösser der vergangenen Kultur Tarakan öffnen kann. Er ist wertvoll, denn ohne die Schätze, die hinter den tarakanischen Türen liegen, würde das früher oder später das Ende der derzeitigen Menschheit bedeuten.
Das Cover des Buches hatte mich sofort. Die Mischung aus (fast) schwarz und dem matten Grünton ist sehr ansprechend, auch der auffällige QR-Code in der Mitte des Covers ist mal was anderes.
Zu allererst muss ich die absolut authentische Darstellung der Charaktere hervorheben! Der Autor hat hier Akteure erschaffen, die auf dem Papier kaum lebendiger sein könnten! Mir persönlich gefällt Vincha am besten, aber auch Funkelauge und Rafik haben mich in ihren Bann gezogen. Selten habe so eine glaubhafte Charakterentwicklung in einem Roman gesehen!
Auch an Kreativität mangelt es dem Autor nicht. Er hat eine post-apokalyptische Welt erschaffen, in der von vorne bis hinten alles stimmt. Schauplätze beschreibt er bildhaft und wortgewandt. Teilweise meinte ich, den Wüstensand auf der Haut zu spüren oder den Gossengestank zu riechen.
Einzig und allein die Geschichte selbst hat mich das Buch 3 Sterne geben lassen. Seitenweise zähe Erzählung, Unmengen an Gefluche und Ausführungen (vor allem an Ende) hat mich das Buch teilweise unmotiviert lesen lassen. Die Spannung hat oft auf sich warten lassen. Da kann das Worldbuilding noch so toll sein, man liest eben einen Roman und keinen Reiseführer (in dem Fall).
Also, 3 Sterne für einen soliden post-apokalyptischen Sci-Fi-Fantasyroman und eine Leseempfehlung hinsichtlich Charaktere und Setting!
Rafik ist ein Puzzler, einer der wenigen Menschen, der die Schlösser der vergangenen Kultur Tarakan öffnen kann. Er ist wertvoll, denn ohne die Schätze, die hinter den tarakanischen Türen liegen, würde das früher oder später das Ende der derzeitigen Menschheit bedeuten.
Das Cover des Buches hatte mich sofort. Die Mischung aus (fast) schwarz und dem matten Grünton ist sehr ansprechend, auch der auffällige QR-Code in der Mitte des Covers ist mal was anderes.
Zu allererst muss ich die absolut authentische Darstellung der Charaktere hervorheben! Der Autor hat hier Akteure erschaffen, die auf dem Papier kaum lebendiger sein könnten! Mir persönlich gefällt Vincha am besten, aber auch Funkelauge und Rafik haben mich in ihren Bann gezogen. Selten habe so eine glaubhafte Charakterentwicklung in einem Roman gesehen!
Auch an Kreativität mangelt es dem Autor nicht. Er hat eine post-apokalyptische Welt erschaffen, in der von vorne bis hinten alles stimmt. Schauplätze beschreibt er bildhaft und wortgewandt. Teilweise meinte ich, den Wüstensand auf der Haut zu spüren oder den Gossengestank zu riechen.
Einzig und allein die Geschichte selbst hat mich das Buch 3 Sterne geben lassen. Seitenweise zähe Erzählung, Unmengen an Gefluche und Ausführungen (vor allem an Ende) hat mich das Buch teilweise unmotiviert lesen lassen. Die Spannung hat oft auf sich warten lassen. Da kann das Worldbuilding noch so toll sein, man liest eben einen Roman und keinen Reiseführer (in dem Fall).
Also, 3 Sterne für einen soliden post-apokalyptischen Sci-Fi-Fantasyroman und eine Leseempfehlung hinsichtlich Charaktere und Setting!
July 20, 2020
4.5 stars. Tomb raider meets mortal combat in a gritty cyberpunk kinda world... it was well thought out, excellently written and a compelling story. I want to know how it ends but I also want to know how it began...
I picked this book up on a recommendation from a little indie bookstore I like and I’m glad I did. I’m usually more of a Fantasy reader but I dabble in Sci-Fi but never would have found this book on my own.
The story evolves quickly and what starts out as a story being told to you about a boy from a small village becomes immersive and feels a bit like a video game... and it works. I thought the different timelines would bother me but they were pretty easy to follow, so I was on board.
The geography was a bit strange and I ended up ignoring the map and letting the words paint the picture instead... I feel like I’ve been there... to those platforms in the sky...
The comment on the human condition is what got me though... how close are we to our own Catastrophe? From starting over and using things we don’t understand but use because we can? From the edge of mayhem that is bred by greed and dwindling resources? From having machines fighting our battles with cool logic? From getting caught up in how great we are?
This was a fun story but more than that it makes you think, like all good stories should.
I picked this book up on a recommendation from a little indie bookstore I like and I’m glad I did. I’m usually more of a Fantasy reader but I dabble in Sci-Fi but never would have found this book on my own.
The story evolves quickly and what starts out as a story being told to you about a boy from a small village becomes immersive and feels a bit like a video game... and it works. I thought the different timelines would bother me but they were pretty easy to follow, so I was on board.
The geography was a bit strange and I ended up ignoring the map and letting the words paint the picture instead... I feel like I’ve been there... to those platforms in the sky...
The comment on the human condition is what got me though... how close are we to our own Catastrophe? From starting over and using things we don’t understand but use because we can? From the edge of mayhem that is bred by greed and dwindling resources? From having machines fighting our battles with cool logic? From getting caught up in how great we are?
This was a fun story but more than that it makes you think, like all good stories should.
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