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Road Seven
2021 IPPY Award Bronze Medalist - Best Fantasy Novel
Mark Sandoval—resolutely arrogant, covered head to foot in precise geometric scarring, and still marginally famous after Hollywood made an Oscar-winner based off his memoir years before—has been strongly advised by his lawyer to leave the country following a drunken and potentially fatal hit and run. When a woman sends Sandoval grainy footage of what appears to be a unicorn, he quickly hires an assistant and the two head off to the woman's farm in Hvíldarland, a tiny, remote island off the coast of Iceland. When they arrive on the island and discover that both a military base and the surrounding álagablettur, the nearby woods, are teeming with strangeness and secrets, they begin to realize that a supposed unicorn sighting is the least of their worries.
Mark Sandoval—resolutely arrogant, covered head to foot in precise geometric scarring, and still marginally famous after Hollywood made an Oscar-winner based off his memoir years before—has been strongly advised by his lawyer to leave the country following a drunken and potentially fatal hit and run. When a woman sends Sandoval grainy footage of what appears to be a unicorn, he quickly hires an assistant and the two head off to the woman's farm in Hvíldarland, a tiny, remote island off the coast of Iceland. When they arrive on the island and discover that both a military base and the surrounding álagablettur, the nearby woods, are teeming with strangeness and secrets, they begin to realize that a supposed unicorn sighting is the least of their worries.
300 pages, Paperback
First published July 14, 2020
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786 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
July 15, 2020
Possibly the greatest novel about a unicorn sighting that, uh, I've ever written.
November 23, 2020
He is nearly driven to his knees with entirely average shit like this now: the simple beauty of a sunset, or a drawing of a heart poorly scribbled in a bathroom stall, or a man anguished and gesturing to himself at the right angle of two brick walls. Every day, something threatens to undo him.
Well, this was a pleasant surprise. Often the best reading experiences are when you pick a book at random, as in this case when my eye was caught by the pretty cover, not to mention the cover blurb about a ‘disgraced cryptozoologist’ (Mark Sandoval) journeying to Hvíldarland, a tiny, remote island off the coast of Iceland … to investigate an alleged unicorn sighting. On a pumpkin farm. In case you were wondering, one of the sections is helpfully entitled ‘how in the hell do they grow pumpkins in hvíldarland?’
This is one of those books where the less you know about the plot, the better. Once you start reading it is virtually impossible to stop, as Keith Rosson’s muscular prose initially plunges the reader deep into the back story of his soon-to-be-a-failed-PhD-candidate assistant Brian Schutt. Indeed, many pages race by before we even get to the bloody unicorn. By that stage the reader is already heavily invested in these two main characters, who bring out both the best and the worst in each other.
Does Hvíldarland even exist? Google it and you come with weird shit like ‘SpreadTheSign’, which is quite funny given the weirdness, mayhem and darkness that Rosen’s tale quickly plummets into. His descriptions of the remote island and its phlegmatic inhabitants are beautifully drawn, to the point where you can feel the cold and strangeness seep from the pages.
The titular ‘Road Seven’ is the main road that bisects the island like a plumb line, with branching roadlets leading to all of the main houses, including the pumpkin farm where our intrepid duo prepare for their face-off with a mythical unicorn. Of course, it is a premise that has been done to death and beyond, but Rosen is savvy enough to invest his attention (and affection) on his characters.
There are plenty of unexpected turns in this twisty tale, including Rosen seemingly bringing his hellbent story to a screeching halt by suddenly giving us Mark’s back story. Yeah, I thought, so just another deus ex unicorn. Boy, was I wrong. Rosen knows his genre chops, and is not afraid to mix things up with a sprinkle of Lovecraftian dread and even fairy-tale whimsy. I will probably never look at a pumpkin in quite the same way again. Hugely recommended.
Thank you to booksirens.com for the review copy.
Well, this was a pleasant surprise. Often the best reading experiences are when you pick a book at random, as in this case when my eye was caught by the pretty cover, not to mention the cover blurb about a ‘disgraced cryptozoologist’ (Mark Sandoval) journeying to Hvíldarland, a tiny, remote island off the coast of Iceland … to investigate an alleged unicorn sighting. On a pumpkin farm. In case you were wondering, one of the sections is helpfully entitled ‘how in the hell do they grow pumpkins in hvíldarland?’
This is one of those books where the less you know about the plot, the better. Once you start reading it is virtually impossible to stop, as Keith Rosson’s muscular prose initially plunges the reader deep into the back story of his soon-to-be-a-failed-PhD-candidate assistant Brian Schutt. Indeed, many pages race by before we even get to the bloody unicorn. By that stage the reader is already heavily invested in these two main characters, who bring out both the best and the worst in each other.
Does Hvíldarland even exist? Google it and you come with weird shit like ‘SpreadTheSign’, which is quite funny given the weirdness, mayhem and darkness that Rosen’s tale quickly plummets into. His descriptions of the remote island and its phlegmatic inhabitants are beautifully drawn, to the point where you can feel the cold and strangeness seep from the pages.
The titular ‘Road Seven’ is the main road that bisects the island like a plumb line, with branching roadlets leading to all of the main houses, including the pumpkin farm where our intrepid duo prepare for their face-off with a mythical unicorn. Of course, it is a premise that has been done to death and beyond, but Rosen is savvy enough to invest his attention (and affection) on his characters.
There are plenty of unexpected turns in this twisty tale, including Rosen seemingly bringing his hellbent story to a screeching halt by suddenly giving us Mark’s back story. Yeah, I thought, so just another deus ex unicorn. Boy, was I wrong. Rosen knows his genre chops, and is not afraid to mix things up with a sprinkle of Lovecraftian dread and even fairy-tale whimsy. I will probably never look at a pumpkin in quite the same way again. Hugely recommended.
Thank you to booksirens.com for the review copy.
January 14, 2020
In you are in the market for a story about a pair of Northwest PhD candidates searching the hinterlands of Iceland for signs of the fabled unicorn 🦄, then this is your book. If you want to read about drug trips in tiny Greyhound stations and beatings administered in the streets of Portland, this is your story.
Like Rosson’s Smoke City (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...), Road Seven is very difficult to pin to one category. It’s the kind of book where you think it’s about one thing, but it’s really about something else. Like Lennon said, life is what happens to you when you are busy making other plans. In this case, you might open the book, thinking its about “magical realism” and find there’s very little about prancing unicorns, space aliens, warlocks, and the like.
It’s more about two bumbling guys who are at the ends of their ropes, ready to throw it all away on a whim. Forget the dissertation you’ve pondered for seven years and your crazy sister and all, send your resume in and become assistant to the newest mad scientist. Forget the life you’ve made and pissed away in Seattle. It’s as long gone as the money you owe and the hoodlums think they are going to scare you into turning over. You ain’t got it. You got nothing but a pocketful of change that’ll take you on a bus ride to hell, left to rot in the middle of nowhere. You are not really wanted in Iceland, but why not explore the phenomenon while you can still breathe.
Not exactly a buddy novel about hitchhiking on Route 66. But sure not exactly a fantasy novel either.
Like Rosson’s Smoke City (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...), Road Seven is very difficult to pin to one category. It’s the kind of book where you think it’s about one thing, but it’s really about something else. Like Lennon said, life is what happens to you when you are busy making other plans. In this case, you might open the book, thinking its about “magical realism” and find there’s very little about prancing unicorns, space aliens, warlocks, and the like.
It’s more about two bumbling guys who are at the ends of their ropes, ready to throw it all away on a whim. Forget the dissertation you’ve pondered for seven years and your crazy sister and all, send your resume in and become assistant to the newest mad scientist. Forget the life you’ve made and pissed away in Seattle. It’s as long gone as the money you owe and the hoodlums think they are going to scare you into turning over. You ain’t got it. You got nothing but a pocketful of change that’ll take you on a bus ride to hell, left to rot in the middle of nowhere. You are not really wanted in Iceland, but why not explore the phenomenon while you can still breathe.
Not exactly a buddy novel about hitchhiking on Route 66. But sure not exactly a fantasy novel either.
March 16, 2025
Quick pacing, snappy dialogue and infusions of humor, mystery and darker, chilling overtones makes this mishmash of sci-fi, magical realism and horror truly compelling. As bizarrely intriguing as the plot is, this is really a story of two men, each burdened with guilt, shame and their own secrets. Each seeks validation and redemption for past failures, as they investigate a unicorn sighting. However, things quickly go sideways and violent, and the gap between reality and their own fantasies reaches a breaking point.
May 1, 2020
"Okay, so.
Sure.
A unicorn.
A unicorn on a pumpkin farm.
A unicorn on a pumpkin farm in a small, beleaguered, mostly forgotten island in the Atlantic.
It was like a shitty Mad Lib."
Hello! I'm not sure what I've been reading the last couple of weeks. I mean, I've been reading this book, of course, but having finished I'm not entirely sure what to make of it. I'm not even sure if I mean that positively or negatively.
On the surface it's a story about an anthroplogy dropout called Brian, taking a job to accompany a celebrity ufologist and xenobiologist to an island off Iceland, where someone has supposedly filmed a living and breathing unicorn.
And there is that story. There are also the stories of Brian's family, and of the xenobiologist's life before he meets Brian.
And I'm just wondering how it all ties together. Everything seems to have the same weight, the same sense of importance within the narrative.
The story does sort of go nuts towards the end, which I certainly appreciate. In fact, I'd have welcomed more insanity, if anything
Two important points: the book is beautifully written, with countless wonderful turns of phrase ("Sandoval’s guilt was like a nameless shape writhing in a canvas bag", "My head was a tuning fork for pain. I felt it in my teeth, my fingertips", "Here was our family’s love—somewhere between a caress and an elbow to the throat").
Secondly, the book is very funny. I laughed regularly, and I'm a tough customer regarding humour.
3.5 stars? 4 stars?
Now, while I dazedly strip naked and drift off into the woods, I leave you with this ..
"Remember how fragile the world is."
(Kindly received an ARC from Meerkat Press through NetGalley)
Sure.
A unicorn.
A unicorn on a pumpkin farm.
A unicorn on a pumpkin farm in a small, beleaguered, mostly forgotten island in the Atlantic.
It was like a shitty Mad Lib."
Hello! I'm not sure what I've been reading the last couple of weeks. I mean, I've been reading this book, of course, but having finished I'm not entirely sure what to make of it. I'm not even sure if I mean that positively or negatively.
On the surface it's a story about an anthroplogy dropout called Brian, taking a job to accompany a celebrity ufologist and xenobiologist to an island off Iceland, where someone has supposedly filmed a living and breathing unicorn.
And there is that story. There are also the stories of Brian's family, and of the xenobiologist's life before he meets Brian.
And I'm just wondering how it all ties together. Everything seems to have the same weight, the same sense of importance within the narrative.
The story does sort of go nuts towards the end, which I certainly appreciate. In fact, I'd have welcomed more insanity, if anything
Two important points: the book is beautifully written, with countless wonderful turns of phrase ("Sandoval’s guilt was like a nameless shape writhing in a canvas bag", "My head was a tuning fork for pain. I felt it in my teeth, my fingertips", "Here was our family’s love—somewhere between a caress and an elbow to the throat").
Secondly, the book is very funny. I laughed regularly, and I'm a tough customer regarding humour.
3.5 stars? 4 stars?
Now, while I dazedly strip naked and drift off into the woods, I leave you with this ..
"Remember how fragile the world is."
(Kindly received an ARC from Meerkat Press through NetGalley)
May 22, 2021
For me, Keith Rosson is a master storyteller - original plots with pitch-perfect writing and complicated characters who embed themselves in my brain. Both Rosson books I've read have speculative elements and in the case of this book, they're so deftly and intriguingly designed, that I start to believe they're almost plausible. This review is vague because I don't want to give a single thing away and spoil a good reading time. Minor detail - the paperback is slightly oversized, kind of tall and thin, and I have no idea why, but it made the book even more of a pleasure. Reading umami :)
P.S. After I finished reading I took another look at the cover and it cracked me up, especially the diamond and the little flying saucer. That's Rosson humor, right there.
P.S. After I finished reading I took another look at the cover and it cracked me up, especially the diamond and the little flying saucer. That's Rosson humor, right there.
June 23, 2020
This book was a ridiculous amount of fun. Two men, burdened with their own strange secrets, travel together to a tiny little coastal town out near Iceland to hunt an elusive unicorn and wind up uncovering a conspiracy deeper and darker than anything they could have imagined.
You guys, this book is so well written, and is a delicious mishmosh of sci-fi, magical realism, and cosmic fiction. Keith has a wonderful sense of people and place and his pacing is spot-on. I almost hated to put it down and stayed up late into the night to finish it.
You guys, this book is so well written, and is a delicious mishmosh of sci-fi, magical realism, and cosmic fiction. Keith has a wonderful sense of people and place and his pacing is spot-on. I almost hated to put it down and stayed up late into the night to finish it.
August 16, 2020
Road Seven is my first experience with Rosson's writing, and it's an excellent introduction. With the collection of elements involved in this story, in other hands it could have been a strange mash up, but Rosson's skilled writing binds it together seamlessly. Our grounding character, Brian, is relateable and self aware enough to be likeable. The settings, circumstances and other characters serve to pull the reader along swiftly, hitting on cryptids, folklore, alien abduction, and anthropology. I could not have remotely predicted the ending at any point, but it was completely earned, and incredibly compelling. Strongly recommend.
January 21, 2024
The first time I read W. Somerset Maugham, I remarked about what a keen observer of people he is. And how the book was filled with his warm, wonderful observations of people. Maybe it's a bit of an odd parallel to make (seeing as how the book topics are wildly different & I'm pretty sure Maugham never wrote about investigating unicorns or Joan of Arc's reincarnated executioner), but I feel the same way about Rosson as an author. I do love Rosson's books & feel that one of his biggest strengths is the beauty & depth of his observations of his characters. He too is a keen observer of people.
July 10, 2020
Really enjoyed Keith Rosson's latest novel, "Road Seven" about a doomed expedition to find a unicorn on a small island off the coast of Iceland. Mixing various genres, such as psychological, folk and cosmic horror, this story also explores the complex and labyrinthine structures of relationships, whether professional, familial or, yes, even, academic. Grotesquely funny at times, bluntly violent at others, it is nonetheless a very pleasant ride into the depths of unknown horrors, human or otherwise.
January 24, 2025
Mr. Rosson can pretty much write anything and it would end up blowing your socks off.
August 15, 2020
The ending is so good, every bit as good as Smoke City.
I feel like this book was written for me and my husband. I too have a complicated relationship with academia, and we have an entire folklore section to our home library. We nicknamed our cat Chupacabra and would love to name a scruffy dog Wendigo. Neither of us believes in anything supernatural, but we both would love to live in a world that's even just a little bit magical. Road Seven is about that constant ache.
I feel like this book was written for me and my husband. I too have a complicated relationship with academia, and we have an entire folklore section to our home library. We nicknamed our cat Chupacabra and would love to name a scruffy dog Wendigo. Neither of us believes in anything supernatural, but we both would love to live in a world that's even just a little bit magical. Road Seven is about that constant ache.
May 20, 2020
Small presses can provide unexpected pleasures for those who are willing to take a chance on them. Road Seven by Keith Rosson is a well-written gem that provides delicious snippets of lyrical prose, colorful character development and immersive descriptions to a plot that is compelling and unconventional. Brian is a “long-term” PhD. anthropology student wracked with indecision about his future and facing a scary medical diagnosis. Desperately seeking an exit from his stagnation and immobilizing fear, he jumps at the chance to apply for a job as an assistant to a famous “monster hunter.” Mark Sandoval has become a cultural icon by writing about his personal abduction experience and subsequent investigations into legends from all over the world. This time, he is on a mission to document the existence of a mythical creature on a remote island off the coast of Iceland. Brian signs on to accompany Sandoval on this venture, despite his lack of belief and a strong suspicion that his employer is seriously unhinged. Rosson creates eccentric and well-drawn characters; cleverly describes violent but strangely comedic encounters; and melds menacing conspiracies with enviable skill. Both main characters are deeply flawed men—each dealing with issues of cowardice and a woeful lack of self-awareness. Brian evokes empathy as a first-person narrator dragged unwillingly into events that he is unequipped to comprehend or control. Sandoval is the more damaged of the two, with a complicated life story that is revealed in flashbacks as the story unfolds. Road Seven taps into themes of haunting personal demons; tragic life choices and their resulting consequences; self-delusion and the power of faith over reason. It illustrates peoples’ willingness to accept wild theories when faced with the unexplainable, and the ease with which they can therefore be misled and exploited. Both true believers and stalwart skeptics would enjoy this strange and unique novel, as would anyone who simply appreciates remarkable and entertaining writing.
Thanks to the author, Meerkat Press and Library Thing for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
Thanks to the author, Meerkat Press and Library Thing for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
July 16, 2020
This read is a rollicking, wild ride. It is very well written. It’s witty and it’s funny.
Brian is 30 and is working (not very effectively) on his PhD thesis. He lives in Portland, Oregon. Thanks to his roommate, he sees a help wanted advert from a “monster hunter”. To evade the reality of his messy and stagnant life he applies to see what it entails.
A renowned oddball, Mark, is heading off on an expedition to an Icelandic island where he’s heard a unicorn has been spotted. The help wanted advert is his, as he wants an assistant to help him on this bizarre trip. Brian thinks it’s a ludicrous idea, but as this represents an escape for him from his dull reality he goes for it.
When the two men arrive on the island, no one is cooperative. Conspiracy theories abound. There’s a top secret US military base in the woods, which hampers their search for the unicorn. There are a lot of twists and turns in the fast moving story, as there are references to Icelandic folklore, the appearance of ghostly figures, etc.
Whilst there is a fair bit of tension in this absorbing and engrossing tale, there are also some downright zany, comic moments.
I really enjoyed reading this novel. I recommend it to others.
Thank you to Booksirens and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Brian is 30 and is working (not very effectively) on his PhD thesis. He lives in Portland, Oregon. Thanks to his roommate, he sees a help wanted advert from a “monster hunter”. To evade the reality of his messy and stagnant life he applies to see what it entails.
A renowned oddball, Mark, is heading off on an expedition to an Icelandic island where he’s heard a unicorn has been spotted. The help wanted advert is his, as he wants an assistant to help him on this bizarre trip. Brian thinks it’s a ludicrous idea, but as this represents an escape for him from his dull reality he goes for it.
When the two men arrive on the island, no one is cooperative. Conspiracy theories abound. There’s a top secret US military base in the woods, which hampers their search for the unicorn. There are a lot of twists and turns in the fast moving story, as there are references to Icelandic folklore, the appearance of ghostly figures, etc.
Whilst there is a fair bit of tension in this absorbing and engrossing tale, there are also some downright zany, comic moments.
I really enjoyed reading this novel. I recommend it to others.
Thank you to Booksirens and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 1, 2020
I’d loved Keith’s first two novels, The Mercy of the Tide and Smoke City, both of which were 5* reads for me. Although I was eagerly anticipating reading Road Seven, I did find myself wondering if he could possibly engage and delight me as much with his third. However, after reading just the first few pages and immediately becoming immersed in the compelling nature of his story-telling, I felt totally confident that he could. Yet again he’s demonstrated his remarkable capacity for writing a story which makes the weird, the wonderful, the fantastic and the slightly crazy feel not only believable but also remarkably relevant to the world in which we live.
For very different reasons both Brian and Mark are using the expedition to Hvíldarland, to investigate the sighting of a unicorn, as a means to escape the messy reality of their real lives and to avoid taking responsibility, either for their actions or for what they need to do to put things right. Initially I felt so irritated with each of them, especially when they appeared unable to learn from their mistakes, that I found it almost impossible to feel any sympathy for either of them. Instead I was often left feeling exasperated by their moral cowardice and weakness, their aimless drifting. However, as the story progressed, and as the author gradually revealed their back-stories, I could begin to understand the background to their self-destructive behaviour and my tolerance and empathy increased. I’m sure that this ability to make me come to care about them comes down to the myriad ways in which Keith uses his brilliant insights into human behaviour, as well as his acute powers of observation, to create entirely credible and recognisable characters. It is an ever-present thread in his writing and is something I appreciate in his story-telling. In fact, each and every one of the characters in this story felt recognisable, something which added a rich dimension to the story.
When the two men arrive on Hvíldarland it soon becomes clear that their presence isn’t welcome and that, for reasons which are only gradually revealed, not only are they unlikely to get much help from local people, but they’re likely to meet violent opposition. Without giving away too much plot-spoiling detail, the developing story includes conspiracy theories, body parts, ghostly apparitions, a top-secret American military base hidden in the woods and Icelandic folklore, elements which make their search for the elusive unicorn a much more dangerous quest than they could ever have anticipated. As I found it almost impossible to predict the next twist or turn in the developing story, a very tangible “edge-of-the-seat” tension was added to my reading experience. Yet I felt happy to go on this roller-coaster of an adventure, confident that the author would guide me through safely, no matter how dark and dangerous it became!
However, there is lots of fun in this story too, with some wonderfully comic moments. Just one example is when the two men are forced to ride children’s bicycles in order to reach the pumpkin farm – you’ll have to read the book to discover why no other transport was available! The image of Sandoval, wearing his four-hundred-dollar jeans, riding a rainbow coloured one – “pedalling furiously with his elbows jutting straight out” – is one which remains vivid in my mind and is still having the power to make me smile as I write this review.
Although the there are elements of magical realism, science-fiction, horror, fantasy in this novel, Keith has used his vivid imagination and literary writing style to meld these into a genre-defying story. It’s a story which, at its heart, is about people – their fears and anxieties, how they negotiate life’s challenges, how they relate to others, what they believe in, the dreams they follow, their search for love and acceptance – in fact all those things which make us human.
Some of his metaphorical descriptions, his wonderful similes and his poetic phrasing were so powerful that there were many times when I just had to stop and re-read them, to marvel anew at their acuity. This ability to combine all these elements in such a smooth, coherent way is what makes Keith’s novels not only thought-provoking but also such a joy to read. Reaching the end of each of his books I’ve felt a strong sense that, whilst not blind to people’s foibles and shortcomings, nor to all that’s wrong in our world, he retains a sense of optimism that we’re all capable of achieving better things – and of finding the magic that surrounds us if we’re prepared to open our hearts and minds to it. Once I started Road Seven I found it so captivating that I could hardly bear to put it down so, if you haven’t read it, I hope my enthusiasm will encourage you to do so soon!
Before finishing I need to say how much I love the striking cover of this book. In addition to his skills as a writer, Keith is a talented illustrator and the graphics, as on all his covers, are his. I was immediately attracted by the design but it wasn’t until I’d finished reading the book that I realised just how many nods to the content of the story are incorporated into it – delightful!
With many thanks to Tricia at Meerkat Press for sending me a copy of this novel in exchange for my reflections … and to Keith for yet another gem.
For very different reasons both Brian and Mark are using the expedition to Hvíldarland, to investigate the sighting of a unicorn, as a means to escape the messy reality of their real lives and to avoid taking responsibility, either for their actions or for what they need to do to put things right. Initially I felt so irritated with each of them, especially when they appeared unable to learn from their mistakes, that I found it almost impossible to feel any sympathy for either of them. Instead I was often left feeling exasperated by their moral cowardice and weakness, their aimless drifting. However, as the story progressed, and as the author gradually revealed their back-stories, I could begin to understand the background to their self-destructive behaviour and my tolerance and empathy increased. I’m sure that this ability to make me come to care about them comes down to the myriad ways in which Keith uses his brilliant insights into human behaviour, as well as his acute powers of observation, to create entirely credible and recognisable characters. It is an ever-present thread in his writing and is something I appreciate in his story-telling. In fact, each and every one of the characters in this story felt recognisable, something which added a rich dimension to the story.
When the two men arrive on Hvíldarland it soon becomes clear that their presence isn’t welcome and that, for reasons which are only gradually revealed, not only are they unlikely to get much help from local people, but they’re likely to meet violent opposition. Without giving away too much plot-spoiling detail, the developing story includes conspiracy theories, body parts, ghostly apparitions, a top-secret American military base hidden in the woods and Icelandic folklore, elements which make their search for the elusive unicorn a much more dangerous quest than they could ever have anticipated. As I found it almost impossible to predict the next twist or turn in the developing story, a very tangible “edge-of-the-seat” tension was added to my reading experience. Yet I felt happy to go on this roller-coaster of an adventure, confident that the author would guide me through safely, no matter how dark and dangerous it became!
However, there is lots of fun in this story too, with some wonderfully comic moments. Just one example is when the two men are forced to ride children’s bicycles in order to reach the pumpkin farm – you’ll have to read the book to discover why no other transport was available! The image of Sandoval, wearing his four-hundred-dollar jeans, riding a rainbow coloured one – “pedalling furiously with his elbows jutting straight out” – is one which remains vivid in my mind and is still having the power to make me smile as I write this review.
Although the there are elements of magical realism, science-fiction, horror, fantasy in this novel, Keith has used his vivid imagination and literary writing style to meld these into a genre-defying story. It’s a story which, at its heart, is about people – their fears and anxieties, how they negotiate life’s challenges, how they relate to others, what they believe in, the dreams they follow, their search for love and acceptance – in fact all those things which make us human.
Some of his metaphorical descriptions, his wonderful similes and his poetic phrasing were so powerful that there were many times when I just had to stop and re-read them, to marvel anew at their acuity. This ability to combine all these elements in such a smooth, coherent way is what makes Keith’s novels not only thought-provoking but also such a joy to read. Reaching the end of each of his books I’ve felt a strong sense that, whilst not blind to people’s foibles and shortcomings, nor to all that’s wrong in our world, he retains a sense of optimism that we’re all capable of achieving better things – and of finding the magic that surrounds us if we’re prepared to open our hearts and minds to it. Once I started Road Seven I found it so captivating that I could hardly bear to put it down so, if you haven’t read it, I hope my enthusiasm will encourage you to do so soon!
Before finishing I need to say how much I love the striking cover of this book. In addition to his skills as a writer, Keith is a talented illustrator and the graphics, as on all his covers, are his. I was immediately attracted by the design but it wasn’t until I’d finished reading the book that I realised just how many nods to the content of the story are incorporated into it – delightful!
With many thanks to Tricia at Meerkat Press for sending me a copy of this novel in exchange for my reflections … and to Keith for yet another gem.
July 14, 2020
There’s strength in dialogue, so riveting, it pulses with momentum and edge. Tomes of character, pockets of dry humour filtering through the pages. In Keith Rosson you might have found yourself a new favourite.
August 8, 2020
I fell in love with Keith Rosson's writing through his former zine, AVOW, when I was younger. It's been an absolute treat to now watch him thrive as a weird fiction writer. He grows bolder with each novel, and Road Seven is his wildest yet. A bleak comedy about monster hunters, government conspiracies, unicorns, and the all-too-familiar feeling of escapism. There's also a recurring mention of a television show starring a horny sentient lasagna. Plot-wise, Road Seven shows Rosson at the top of his game.
There are a few critiques I have of this book. One thing I would love to see in Rosson's work moving forward is a differentiation in character tropes. Like his two previous novels, The Mercy of the Tide and Smoke City, much of this book centers around alcoholic men trying to escape the misfortunes they have created. I would love to see Rosson move past this trope--while his writing is so engaging and strong, this constant recurring theme makes his catalog as a whole feel a tad repetitive. The other thing, which is a personal pet-peeve of mine, is the switch from third person to first person perspective about 3/4ths of the way through the book, and then back to 3rd person for the very end. This back-and-forth shift felt clunky and unnecessary to me, and only really served to pull me out of the story. The book, as a whole, would have worked better if it stayed consistently third-person.
It sucks to be critical of these factors, because ultimately I had so much fun with this book, and am so excited to see Keith Rosson rise as a strong, original voice in one of my favorite genres. I can't wait to see the daring steps he takes with his future releases--he's going to be a name to remember.
There are a few critiques I have of this book. One thing I would love to see in Rosson's work moving forward is a differentiation in character tropes. Like his two previous novels, The Mercy of the Tide and Smoke City, much of this book centers around alcoholic men trying to escape the misfortunes they have created. I would love to see Rosson move past this trope--while his writing is so engaging and strong, this constant recurring theme makes his catalog as a whole feel a tad repetitive. The other thing, which is a personal pet-peeve of mine, is the switch from third person to first person perspective about 3/4ths of the way through the book, and then back to 3rd person for the very end. This back-and-forth shift felt clunky and unnecessary to me, and only really served to pull me out of the story. The book, as a whole, would have worked better if it stayed consistently third-person.
It sucks to be critical of these factors, because ultimately I had so much fun with this book, and am so excited to see Keith Rosson rise as a strong, original voice in one of my favorite genres. I can't wait to see the daring steps he takes with his future releases--he's going to be a name to remember.
December 15, 2020
There are a lot of things you could walk away from this book - what retribution means, how we all learn to deal with our own demons, when to admit our past into our present in order to cope with both - but the one standout for me that I took away when I closed the book was that Keith Rosson is a hell of an author.
Rosson is a story teller, and sometimes - with all the great story tellers - he tries to get away with a contrivance here or there. For the most part, they work, but enough about the only single sort of negative I can think of for this book. The story's the thing, and it's not only brilliantly conceived, it's masterfully written. Rosson is able to spin a web with his words that control the reader, to the point that he can convey a world of emotions in the span of a sentence. This book took me over a month to read, not because of complexity in the writing or boredom with the topic, but mainly because at times I needed to distance myself from the action in order to become an impartial observer, and at other times because I would find myself re-reading passages because of the sheer magnificence of the style. This is a fun and riveting read.
Many thanks to the publisher through Book Sirens for the opportunity to read this in exchange for this honest review. I look forward to reading Rosson's other work; he has set a high bar for himself.
Rosson is a story teller, and sometimes - with all the great story tellers - he tries to get away with a contrivance here or there. For the most part, they work, but enough about the only single sort of negative I can think of for this book. The story's the thing, and it's not only brilliantly conceived, it's masterfully written. Rosson is able to spin a web with his words that control the reader, to the point that he can convey a world of emotions in the span of a sentence. This book took me over a month to read, not because of complexity in the writing or boredom with the topic, but mainly because at times I needed to distance myself from the action in order to become an impartial observer, and at other times because I would find myself re-reading passages because of the sheer magnificence of the style. This is a fun and riveting read.
Many thanks to the publisher through Book Sirens for the opportunity to read this in exchange for this honest review. I look forward to reading Rosson's other work; he has set a high bar for himself.
March 27, 2020
Brian is in a rut: 30 years old, working on his PhD thesis which seems to be endless, and living with roommates in a grungy part of Portland, Oregon. When one of his roommates sends him a link to a help wanted ad from a monster hunter, he’s at first amused and then decides, “what the hell?” and applies. Turns out a well-known crank, Mark Sandoval, is raring to run off on a wild goose chase to a small island off Iceland, where reports of unicorns have reached his ears, and he needs an assistant to help him in his quest. Brian is not a believer, but thinks it could be the change he needs in his life; he has yet to learn that there are many kinds of monsters, and some are hunting him…. I had previously read a novel by Keith Rosson (“Smoke City”) which I liked a lot, and so when Meerkat Press sent this book to the Early Reviewers program at LibraryThing, I jumped at the chance. I’m glad I did, as Mr. Rosson’s prose remains as vibrant and poetic as I remember. The story has elements of old-fashioned adventure, horror and even medical trauma, all while keeping the characters human and believable. I’m not sure when “Roadseven” will be released, but if this review intrigues you, it’s well worth searching out; recommended!
April 20, 2024
This was a very interesting and fun story about trying to find something that shouldn’t exist. Faced with small town distrust and being outsiders, two researchers just want to find something to believe in while trying to run from lives that won’t stay in the past
June 17, 2025
3 ⭐️
“Okay, so.. sure. A unicorn.
A unicorn on a pumpkin farm.
A unicorn on a pumpkin farm in a small, beleaguered, mostly forgotten island in the Atlantic.
It was like a shitty Mad Lib”
Well, I finished this book. I laughed a few times. The writing was honestly great and even beautiful at times, regardless of how weird the actual story was.
It’s a story of two guys, essentially at the end of their ropes in the real world, together in Iceland for an investigation. Whether they were wanted there or not, it did not matter. They were there with strict focus on their search… for a unicorn, that is.. sighted once by a woman who caught a millisecond of it on film.
For some reason Audible rec’d this to me, and I still don’t know why. It certainly wasn’t fantasy in my eyes; it wasn’t even particularly about what the synopsis says. You get the characters’ back stories, which feel just as prominent as the research throughout the novel. I’m giving it three stars for the writing, humor, and the fact I wasn’t completely shut off enough to DNF? Not sure if that’s positive or not, but that’s what we’re going with!
“Okay, so.. sure. A unicorn.
A unicorn on a pumpkin farm.
A unicorn on a pumpkin farm in a small, beleaguered, mostly forgotten island in the Atlantic.
It was like a shitty Mad Lib”
Well, I finished this book. I laughed a few times. The writing was honestly great and even beautiful at times, regardless of how weird the actual story was.
It’s a story of two guys, essentially at the end of their ropes in the real world, together in Iceland for an investigation. Whether they were wanted there or not, it did not matter. They were there with strict focus on their search… for a unicorn, that is.. sighted once by a woman who caught a millisecond of it on film.
For some reason Audible rec’d this to me, and I still don’t know why. It certainly wasn’t fantasy in my eyes; it wasn’t even particularly about what the synopsis says. You get the characters’ back stories, which feel just as prominent as the research throughout the novel. I’m giving it three stars for the writing, humor, and the fact I wasn’t completely shut off enough to DNF? Not sure if that’s positive or not, but that’s what we’re going with!
May 22, 2020
What a deliriously dark, trippy, head-case of a story this was - I LOVED IT! Keith Rosson has created a cast of characters that is all too believable, not too likeable, and particularly relatable in their apathy, egotism, fears and neuroses. Then he takes those characters on a series of adventures that play out like horror/sci-fi/#AdultingIsHard mini stories that together comprise a novel that is original, interesting, and head-shake-producing in equal measures. It was a helluva ride and one I thoroughly enjoyed - primarily because it was so quirky and unusual, but also because of the way sneaky little red herrings, twists, and life lessons were snuck in throughout.
I was never entirely sure what was going on or coming next. Often that irks me. I tend to prefer stories to be pretty linear. I read to escape *real* life - as such, I don't want to work too hard to follow things or figure out what end is up. Every now and then though, I stumble on a title that twists back on itself in a way that resonates and just works for me. This was one of those. The foibles and weaknesses of the main characters could have been irritating - instead, through Rosson's careful plotting and revelations of back- and forward-going story for each, I found myself curious as to what the next train wreck would look like, and how they'd navigate it, rather than annoyed that the inevitable (i.e., bad choices lead to bad outcomes) was happening yet again...
I don't know why it worked, but it did - beautifully. I was thoroughly engaged from the opening salvo and the last pages felt like they tied everything together without being handy or sunshine-blowing. It was a fine line to walk and Rosson managed it magnificently. I tried one of his earlier titles, but struggled to get into it - based on this read, I'm thinking I owe it, and him, another look!
Thanks once again to the good folks at Meerkat Pressfor my obligation-free review copy. If you aren't familiar with their catalog, you really should be - they have a remarkable collection of authors/books that are unusual, entertaining, and definitely worth a look!
I was never entirely sure what was going on or coming next. Often that irks me. I tend to prefer stories to be pretty linear. I read to escape *real* life - as such, I don't want to work too hard to follow things or figure out what end is up. Every now and then though, I stumble on a title that twists back on itself in a way that resonates and just works for me. This was one of those. The foibles and weaknesses of the main characters could have been irritating - instead, through Rosson's careful plotting and revelations of back- and forward-going story for each, I found myself curious as to what the next train wreck would look like, and how they'd navigate it, rather than annoyed that the inevitable (i.e., bad choices lead to bad outcomes) was happening yet again...
I don't know why it worked, but it did - beautifully. I was thoroughly engaged from the opening salvo and the last pages felt like they tied everything together without being handy or sunshine-blowing. It was a fine line to walk and Rosson managed it magnificently. I tried one of his earlier titles, but struggled to get into it - based on this read, I'm thinking I owe it, and him, another look!
Thanks once again to the good folks at Meerkat Pressfor my obligation-free review copy. If you aren't familiar with their catalog, you really should be - they have a remarkable collection of authors/books that are unusual, entertaining, and definitely worth a look!
August 10, 2020
I enjoyed this book for quite a while, it went off on a tangent I'm not sure I cared for and then came back and finished fairly strong. The book has a lot of different feels to it, a lot of Blair Witch Project, a little Stranger Things, I suppose a little Close Encounters for lack of a better analogy. I would really give it 3 and a half stars.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 2, 2020
I knew literally nothing about this book when I bought it. I think Keith was on the Ink Heist podcast and he seemed like a cool dude. They may have talked some details about the book but once I decide to read something I’ll generally stop listening if it seems a conversation is veering into spoiler territory. And I think going into this with no expectations made the mad journey of it that much better.
What surprised me was, before we got to anything supernatural, before the core narrative of the story was even revealed, was the humanness of the story. Keith knows these characters, their lives, and there is an empathy and warmth even for people who are terribly flawed.
The main character, Brian, is like so many men of my generation, trapped in a perpetual adolescence. Scared and closed off. Grown so used to retreating to abstraction that the end result is a sort of detached solipsism. The disappointment his sister expresses toward Brian hurt, it was so real. Because I know that fear and the utter obliviousness that leads to me hurting others in what can only be perceived as indifference.
Thematically, I think selfish men form the hard center of this book. Men whose insistence on denying reality offers protection against some hard truths, who maybe arrive at insights about who they are in time to give them some solace but not to undo damage they have done.
At one point in the story, someone points out that nobody really wants proof of the existence of monsters. They want the mystery. The mystery hints at a larger world beyond our understanding. The reality would just be one more thing to be afraid of. There’s something reassuring about externalizing the darkness because it moves it safely outside of us, further removing us from having to confront out behaviors and motivations, gives us another place to hide.
I’m purposely avoiding telling too much about nuts and bolts here because there is beautiful ambiguity as the story develops and everyone should get to experience that without any expectations. The story compels, the tense and POV changes are smooth as silk, the language is at times pure poetry.
The conversation about literary vs genre fiction is one that will likely come up at intervals forever. Books like this one reveal that the argument is predicated on a false dichotomy. Road Seven has all the literary sensibilities you could want, in terms of both craft and depth. And maybe there’s a unicorn, so bite me, John Updike.
What surprised me was, before we got to anything supernatural, before the core narrative of the story was even revealed, was the humanness of the story. Keith knows these characters, their lives, and there is an empathy and warmth even for people who are terribly flawed.
The main character, Brian, is like so many men of my generation, trapped in a perpetual adolescence. Scared and closed off. Grown so used to retreating to abstraction that the end result is a sort of detached solipsism. The disappointment his sister expresses toward Brian hurt, it was so real. Because I know that fear and the utter obliviousness that leads to me hurting others in what can only be perceived as indifference.
Thematically, I think selfish men form the hard center of this book. Men whose insistence on denying reality offers protection against some hard truths, who maybe arrive at insights about who they are in time to give them some solace but not to undo damage they have done.
At one point in the story, someone points out that nobody really wants proof of the existence of monsters. They want the mystery. The mystery hints at a larger world beyond our understanding. The reality would just be one more thing to be afraid of. There’s something reassuring about externalizing the darkness because it moves it safely outside of us, further removing us from having to confront out behaviors and motivations, gives us another place to hide.
I’m purposely avoiding telling too much about nuts and bolts here because there is beautiful ambiguity as the story develops and everyone should get to experience that without any expectations. The story compels, the tense and POV changes are smooth as silk, the language is at times pure poetry.
The conversation about literary vs genre fiction is one that will likely come up at intervals forever. Books like this one reveal that the argument is predicated on a false dichotomy. Road Seven has all the literary sensibilities you could want, in terms of both craft and depth. And maybe there’s a unicorn, so bite me, John Updike.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 21, 2020
I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher for review purposes.
This is a book is a difficult one to pin into a particular genre, it begins looking like one thing, but as the story unfolds further layers are revealed making for an even more interesting story than anticipated.
Interested in a book about two failed PhD post graduate students searching for cryptozoological species? - here's your book.
Interested in a book about mystery about strange goings on as outside forces try to thwart an investigation? - here you go.
Interested in a book that contains a young mans bizarre bad drug trip and the life changing inspiration it gave him? - oh yeah that's here too.
Interested in a book that has a paranormal aspect? - look no further.
Overall, once the ground work was laid and the story commenced I found it to be quite riveting and kept just needing to read a few more pages before putting it down, as a result I read this in a single day and have no complaints about the story telling. I found the way the true aspects of the story were slowly peeled back also made the narrative even more enjoyable as you found yourself wondering what next was going to be revealed as real, false or misdirection. Would recommend.
This is a book is a difficult one to pin into a particular genre, it begins looking like one thing, but as the story unfolds further layers are revealed making for an even more interesting story than anticipated.
Interested in a book about two failed PhD post graduate students searching for cryptozoological species? - here's your book.
Interested in a book about mystery about strange goings on as outside forces try to thwart an investigation? - here you go.
Interested in a book that contains a young mans bizarre bad drug trip and the life changing inspiration it gave him? - oh yeah that's here too.
Interested in a book that has a paranormal aspect? - look no further.
Overall, once the ground work was laid and the story commenced I found it to be quite riveting and kept just needing to read a few more pages before putting it down, as a result I read this in a single day and have no complaints about the story telling. I found the way the true aspects of the story were slowly peeled back also made the narrative even more enjoyable as you found yourself wondering what next was going to be revealed as real, false or misdirection. Would recommend.
July 23, 2023
Road Seven would not typically be my go to read, but it’s introduction grabbed me and roped me in. It was an easy read with great character introduction. It keeps you wanting more page by page and even when I was finished I still wanted more. The story takes you on unexpected turns, that really weren’t unexpected. I would recommend this book to others and will read more from this author in the future.
“How in the hell do you grow pumpkins in Hvildarland?”
Character development and plot twists abound in this book. When traveling down Road Seven you are not left with the question of who exactly are these characters in fact you learn all the answers to the questions you create in your mind as well as the questions they have created for themselves as to who they are.
“I became used to gazing between the staggered limbs of trees, looking beyond the branches and needles, at finding the shapes. “
Deep and dark, as dark as the forest they through, you feel the emotions right along as the story engages you
I received as an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
“How in the hell do you grow pumpkins in Hvildarland?”
Character development and plot twists abound in this book. When traveling down Road Seven you are not left with the question of who exactly are these characters in fact you learn all the answers to the questions you create in your mind as well as the questions they have created for themselves as to who they are.
“I became used to gazing between the staggered limbs of trees, looking beyond the branches and needles, at finding the shapes. “
Deep and dark, as dark as the forest they through, you feel the emotions right along as the story engages you
I received as an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 16, 2020
An overall fantastic book full of memorable characters and absurd situations. So much fun. The final act reads like a bullet train, straight through to an ending you'll never predict.
Read
April 16, 2020Brian is a loser -- a thirty-something failing Phd candidate with no girlfriend and an annoying flatmate. He's had debilitating headaches for years that he can't be bothered doing anything about, and is a disappointment to everyone in his life.
Mark Sandoval is an enigma. A best-selling author notorious for his conspiracy theory-laden output, he has mysterious glyphs scarred all over his body, supposedly given to him during an alien abduction.
When Sandoval hires Brian to travel with him to a far-flung corner of the world to investigate an alleged unicorn sighting, that's when things start to get interesting. The main action is set in Hvíldarland, a fictional country that's a lot like a miniature version of Iceland. The locals are tough and don't take kindly to strangers, and there's definitely something fishy going on. Not only is there an American military base hidden in the woods, but the area Sandoval wants to investigate is reputed to be an Álagablettur, a sacred place of power haunted by spirits.
Is the unicorn real? What's really going on at the military base? And can Brian and Sandoval go even one day without being beaten up?
I enjoyed Road Seven very much. It had a barbed wit reminiscent of Chuck Palahniuk and subject matter worthy of The X Files which made it intriguing and readable. I'm also fascinated by all things Icelandic at the moment, so knowing it was set within that culture made it even more interesting.
My only criticism is that it takes a long time to get to the action -- the protagonists only arrive in Hvíldarland about a third of the way into the book. Once it gets going though, I was completely absorbed in the story. At the end, some of the ends were tied up tight, and some were left hanging loose. Sometimes I find loose ends annoying, but in this book, I found that the right ones were handled in the right way.
Would I read more from this author? Definitely!
Please note: this book was provided for me to read and review by LibraryThing's Early Reviewer programme. You can rest assured however, that this is (as always) an honest review!
Mark Sandoval is an enigma. A best-selling author notorious for his conspiracy theory-laden output, he has mysterious glyphs scarred all over his body, supposedly given to him during an alien abduction.
When Sandoval hires Brian to travel with him to a far-flung corner of the world to investigate an alleged unicorn sighting, that's when things start to get interesting. The main action is set in Hvíldarland, a fictional country that's a lot like a miniature version of Iceland. The locals are tough and don't take kindly to strangers, and there's definitely something fishy going on. Not only is there an American military base hidden in the woods, but the area Sandoval wants to investigate is reputed to be an Álagablettur, a sacred place of power haunted by spirits.
Is the unicorn real? What's really going on at the military base? And can Brian and Sandoval go even one day without being beaten up?
I enjoyed Road Seven very much. It had a barbed wit reminiscent of Chuck Palahniuk and subject matter worthy of The X Files which made it intriguing and readable. I'm also fascinated by all things Icelandic at the moment, so knowing it was set within that culture made it even more interesting.
My only criticism is that it takes a long time to get to the action -- the protagonists only arrive in Hvíldarland about a third of the way into the book. Once it gets going though, I was completely absorbed in the story. At the end, some of the ends were tied up tight, and some were left hanging loose. Sometimes I find loose ends annoying, but in this book, I found that the right ones were handled in the right way.
Would I read more from this author? Definitely!
Please note: this book was provided for me to read and review by LibraryThing's Early Reviewer programme. You can rest assured however, that this is (as always) an honest review!
August 10, 2025
Cryptozoologist Mark Sandoval has been sent a grainy video of a unicorn sighting at a pumpkin farm on a tiny Icelandic island. Mark needs to get out of America for a while, and desperately needs to write another book, so he snaps up the opportunity for this adventure. With the help of Brian, a PhD student who is grappling with his own issues, the pair set out on the hunt for this mythical creature. Little do they know things aren’t exactly as they seem and they are about to crash into a whole world of chaos.
I’ve had Rosson’s work on my radar for a little while so I felt it was finally time that I picked something up, and I am so glad that I did. Road Seven is bizarre and chaotic and can’t be truly pinned to one genre alone. Rosson pumped this tension filled story with humorous quips and made this adventurous little book a fun but stressful read. This twisting tale tells so much more than just a hunt for the unknown, it explores the complexities of both of our leads lives and the troubles that they are facing - for better or for worse, and dives into the choices people make when faced with a catastrophe of their own.
Mark Sandoval was quite an unlikeable lead, and the more I learnt about him the more I felt like I was being dragged along in a drug binge with him; throw in the creepy Icelandic woodland that sets the scene and you’re in for a real little head spin. With Brian I felt every moment of his stress with him, whether this be through his personal strife or the insanity Sandoval was pulling him through, our guy was going through it.
Just a bit of friendly advice for my dear readers: if you find yourself peddling on a children’s bike down a winding, Icelandic road in search of a unicorn, maybe steer clear of the woods and the ominous army bases that reside in them.
Is Road Seven Iceland’s version of a much stranger, pumpkin farm filled, unicorn roaming, Route 66? I guess you’ll have to read it and find out.
I’ve had Rosson’s work on my radar for a little while so I felt it was finally time that I picked something up, and I am so glad that I did. Road Seven is bizarre and chaotic and can’t be truly pinned to one genre alone. Rosson pumped this tension filled story with humorous quips and made this adventurous little book a fun but stressful read. This twisting tale tells so much more than just a hunt for the unknown, it explores the complexities of both of our leads lives and the troubles that they are facing - for better or for worse, and dives into the choices people make when faced with a catastrophe of their own.
Mark Sandoval was quite an unlikeable lead, and the more I learnt about him the more I felt like I was being dragged along in a drug binge with him; throw in the creepy Icelandic woodland that sets the scene and you’re in for a real little head spin. With Brian I felt every moment of his stress with him, whether this be through his personal strife or the insanity Sandoval was pulling him through, our guy was going through it.
Just a bit of friendly advice for my dear readers: if you find yourself peddling on a children’s bike down a winding, Icelandic road in search of a unicorn, maybe steer clear of the woods and the ominous army bases that reside in them.
Is Road Seven Iceland’s version of a much stranger, pumpkin farm filled, unicorn roaming, Route 66? I guess you’ll have to read it and find out.
April 9, 2024
As someone who studied anthropology in college and enjoyed discussions on pseudoarchaelogy / pseudo anthropology like Ancient Aliens and why that phenomenom captivates the public, a book about some anthropologists that go in search of a unicorn definitely grabbed my interest.
Going into the book, it's unclear to what degree this will really be a fantasy book or a just a book about human beings in search of fantasy, and I like the questions about human nature that brings up. Both of the main characters are deeply troubled in their own way, but the professor becomes more and more unlikeable to me throughout the book. And I have to say the pacing of the book was rather unsteady. It had a strong start that pulled you into the characters lives and gets them going into their project. The middle section of the book is quite heavy on the professor's backstory but I found myself growing bored of it. It slogged on a bit too long. I kept reading bits of the book every once in a while, until I got to the last 15% of the book and the pace really picked back up. Finally we were getting some type of answer and conclusion to the characters' problems and their project. But just as soon as I got hope again that this book was worth reading, the ending felt like it weakened a lot of the strengths of the book. I think a more ambiguous conclusion to their project would have worked in its favor. I almost feel like the situation the main character is in at the very end of the book would have made for more intersting material than reading about him and the professor bumbling around the little town looking for unicorns and constantly ignoring violent warnings to get outta dodge.
I was hoping to give this book 4 stars but my dissatisfaction with the ending bumps it down to 3. Not a bad read but not my favorite by far.
Going into the book, it's unclear to what degree this will really be a fantasy book or a just a book about human beings in search of fantasy, and I like the questions about human nature that brings up. Both of the main characters are deeply troubled in their own way, but the professor becomes more and more unlikeable to me throughout the book. And I have to say the pacing of the book was rather unsteady. It had a strong start that pulled you into the characters lives and gets them going into their project. The middle section of the book is quite heavy on the professor's backstory but I found myself growing bored of it. It slogged on a bit too long. I kept reading bits of the book every once in a while, until I got to the last 15% of the book and the pace really picked back up. Finally we were getting some type of answer and conclusion to the characters' problems and their project. But just as soon as I got hope again that this book was worth reading, the ending felt like it weakened a lot of the strengths of the book. I think a more ambiguous conclusion to their project would have worked in its favor. I almost feel like the situation the main character is in at the very end of the book would have made for more intersting material than reading about him and the professor bumbling around the little town looking for unicorns and constantly ignoring violent warnings to get outta dodge.
I was hoping to give this book 4 stars but my dissatisfaction with the ending bumps it down to 3. Not a bad read but not my favorite by far.
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