Robert cries, confuses his daughter w/ his “wife,”..
….& other men fight his battles. Well - old men & girls do as well.
Wsshheeewww!
I finally completed this really pretty good series - with the exception of the chronically cringy & annoying character, Robert Hardwick.
I have certainly written enough complaints about him in my previous reviews.
Yet … somehow, author Horton found a way to make Robert even more of a pathetic & very odd man in the concluding chapter of this tale in Blood Bought: Book 4.
Robert would speak to ONLY Grace, his daughter, about his inner feelings. As well as her own. About the happenings of the world.
Not his perfectly available wife. Nope, not her.
It provoked such an “ick” factor.
Especially in that Robert wouldn’t just, “get some dirt in his eye,” or actually, “shed a tear,” occasionally when speaking with his daughter. No, he would end up wrapped around the girl & “sobbing.”
Just …. eeeeww.
It is too much.
And his poor daughter, who is his SOLE emotional support person. His psychological support person. Etc…… He does EVERYTHING with Grace.
Robert’s wife, meanwhile, despite successfully single-handedly defending their home in his absence despite her recent surgery in Book 1. Once he returns home - all her role becomes is the silent cook/worried, fretful mother. Period. ???
Grace, the daughter, fills all Robert’s needs for a partner. And it’s so weird & gross.
Grace also is the fighter in the family.
As well as others who have offered to help the Hardwick’s.
Example situation.
Something occurs where defense is needed.
Everyone is sent to their defensive areas of operation. Grace’s is furthest from the home.
People (all others are male) are placed elsewhere.
Her new boyfriend Tom, using a motorized standing wheelchair type device (that could, you never know break, be destroyed, etc etc at any time, leaving him stranded & vulnerable….) is stationed at the end of their very long driveway. This is VERY far from any “safety.”
Even an old man neighbor is in the fight, out there, taking risks.
Now. Where has Robert placed himself? I’m actually feeling EMBARRASSED to share it.
At his home.
Yup.
Right there, at his house itself.
I mean - SOMEONE has to guard the house after all, right??
(Certainly not the extremely capable wife. No. She’s been relegated to hide away in the locked safe room. With their young, BUT already previously trained weapons trained son.)
pppfttttt
Waste of apocalyptic manpower right there, if I’ve ever seen it, yk? Esp as Robert’s manpower is in short supply.
Anyway. I just can’t think about, talk about, or review, whiney, big cry baby, selfish, self centered, so incredibly ugly inside Robert Hardwick any longer.
(Oh! I MUST mention how, when he was dropping off an elderly woman & child that had become family to the Hardwick’s. And he knew this decision would bring doom, pain, & certain slow death to the pair … his thoughts to himself included the knowledge of the former, but also, “now at least his food stores will last longer without the 2 of them.”
And how he always knew he was one who could make the hard choices necessary to survive- even turning away someone like a child in need. That he can’t help everyone who has a familiar face.
Ummmm. No. There’s a BIG difference between telling neighbors you cannot help them. People who randomly come knocking. Etc.
And those YOU have invited into your home yourself. Those who have already broken bread with your family. That YOU have given the invitation to stay…..
Once again .. just so frustrating with a character like Robert. SOOOO unlikable.
Due to his talking out both sides of his mouth, in this situation.)
Ok! So - am I happy I read The Locker Nine Series?
Yes. Because I am such a huge fan of Franklin Horton! And everything else I’ve read by him has been absolutely phenomenal!
I mean The Mad Mick - come on. GENIUS!!!!
I’d like to say at the end of the day, “I’ve read everything Horton’s ever written…”
So there’s that.
But there is something to be said for a character who other characters think is an a**hole, & even that same character owns that part of themselves. As in one of the leads of The Borrowed World series.
It can be … quirky. Create interest. Can add humor, sarcasm, or an edge. Basically- IMPROVE on what would otherwise be just another basic male character.
This is the first time I’ve ever read where a character, not “a bad guy,” but a main character I’m guessing we’re supposed to like?? …. Who refers to himself as an a**hole - truly is one. In every sense of the word.
If this story were reality? The only friends or family Robert would have, would be ones he’d create in his fiction.
Last word…..
Read Locker Nine IF you can stomach Robert/are a big Franklin Horton fan.
Otherwise, just skip it 1000% & read anything else by Horton & ENJOY the masterful writing/reading experience!