THE INSTITUTE By Stephen King Review

Widely regarded as the king of horror and one of the best storytellers of multiple generations, Stephen King has amassed a library worth of material over the years. It's this immense work rate that can result in readers falling behind on his work, with it being easy to become oblivious to the release of a new book. Additionally it's also extremely easy to fall behind due to the vast amount of produce the author publishes, with it being hard to keep up at times. It's the latter of these that proved the case with The Institute, having only recently gotten around to finishing it despite being on my bookshelf since its initial release in 2019.

Awoken in the middle of the night to the sounds of his partner murder, Luke Ellis is quickly abducted and loaded into the back of a black SUV, being whisked off to the titular Institute. Once he comes to, Luke finds himself in a room that looks exactly like his own, with the only difference being there's no windows. As he gets accustomed to his new surroundings our brilliant young protagonist quickly discovers that his “special” talents are more than just coincidental occurrences, being one of many talented children subjected to various tests.

Before we get to all this, the book introduces us to its secondary protagonist, Tim Jamieson, a disgraced cop who leaves his job in Florida following a freak accident. Deciding to leave his previous life behind, Tim finds himself in the small town of DuPray, South Carolina taking on the post of Night Knocker. The decision to break readers into its plot through this secondary narrative proves an interesting one, with Tim's unfortunate circumstances setting the tone for this book's overarching themes. Not only does it allow the intense abduction of Luke to become even more shocking, but it also puts into motion events that won't become prominent until late on in the story’s narrative.

One thing that Stephen King is a master of is creating intriguing concepts, with the way he intertwines supernatural elements into the real world being truly special. This is no different with The Institute, with the telepathic and telekinetic abilities of these children captivating at every possible moment. This intensifies as we progress through the story, with the development and self awareness of these gifts resulting in pivotal twists to the narrative. King handles each moment with the utmost grace and finesse, with the characteristics of these talented youngsters being infectious to say the least.

Talking of our band of supernatural adolescents, King always seems to be in his element when focusing on how children react to the unexpected. Whether it's the first half of It or the incredible short story The Body, the author has always found a way of making his young protagonist mature enough to feel credible. This is no different in The Institute, with King conveying the way they adapt to their powers perfectly. Luke in particular proves to be a fascinating character, as despite never coming across as the bravest or strongest amongst the Institute's test subjects, he adapts to his surroundings at an alarming rate, using his intelligence in a way that makes him more valuable than he initially appears.

The antagonists of this story are the Institute staff themselves, with there being various levels of corruption within their ranks. Feeling like a mental health hospital crossed with a concentration camp, this sick and twisted facility reeks of everything that makes King novels so enticing. From its sinister aura to its regimental routines, this Institute more than delivers when it comes to the fear factor. As for the staff members themselves, they prove a mixed bag, as despite most of them being evil and vindictive, with the higher ups being methodical in their decisions, there are a couple of kind souls amongst their ranks, showing a level of humanity.

The only major gripe I had with this book was its pacing. Despite being full of gripping twists and turns there are several points where the plot feels a little stretched out. This is quite surprising from King, as despite being known for lengthy masterpieces like The Stand, the author usually has an impeccable understanding of plot development, with his compact short stories being a prime example of this. Things do, however, pick up as we move closer to the book's conclusion, with the way King conveys action feeling both dynamic and explosive.

Verdict

The Institute is a gripping coming of age tale that intertwines supernatural elements into the real world in a way that captivates from start to finish. Despite at times feeling a little stretched out, Stephen King once again proves why he's a master storyteller, with the way he develops our young prodigies and builds tension being truly mesmerising. Throw in exciting action sequences and a gripping conclusion, and you're left with a story that's begging to be revisited.

7/10

THE DEATH WATCHER By Chris Carter Review

The Death Watcher is the latest entry in Chris Carter's Robert Hunter series, being book number thirteen. Where this might prove unlucky for some, the author looks to at least contain any ill fate to the characters within his tale, attempting to give readers an intense thriller that is full of mystery. This along with a crimson cover that sports a rorschach like design and the tagline “First he takes you. Then he breaks you,” makes for a potentially enticing read.

Whilst performing a routine autopsy on an apparent hit-and-run victim, LA Chief Medical Examiner, Dr. Carolyn Hove uncovers various inconsistencies in the body. Calling on the aid of Detective Robert Hunter from the LAPD Ultra Violent Crimes Unit, Dr. Hove discovers that not only was there never a hit-and-run, but that the victim was severely tortured prior to death. What neither realises though, is that they've only just scratched the surface, with Hunter and his partner, Carlos Garcia, now on the hunt for a serial killer that no one knew even existed.

What instantly appeals about this book is its accessibility. Whether you've been invested in the series since day one or jumping into it for the first time, Chris Carter crafts a tale that is easy to pick up and understand. He achieves this primarily through the way he introduces us to the various characters, with the subtle descriptions giving new readers a vivid picture, whilst not feeling oversaturated for long term readers. The writer also avoids delving into prior work, with the absence of references allowing the narrative to stand out on its own and feel self contained.

Being my personal introduction to the series, I had high expectations for its protagonist, Robert Hunter. What we get is a much more sombre character than is typical from these kinds of stories, lacking in personality and proving rather unimposing. What he lacks in those departments, he more than makes up for elsewhere, with his experience, intelligence and overall organised demeanour shining throughout. Where this works best is alongside his partner, Garcia, with the chemistry between the two detectives not only highlighting their tenure as colleagues, but their close friendship. The bold, gung-ho attitude of Garcia also bounces off Hunter’s calm mannerisms, with the latter more often than not providing the voice of reason.

Another aspect of Carter's writing that makes him stand out next to his contemporaries is his lack of over-dramatisation. Now that isn't to say that this narrative isn't dramatic, more so that it doesn't do so in a way that's detrimental to the plot or that feels over the top. In doing so the writer gives us a product that flows smoothly and feels realistic, having an American detective show vibe to it. This is most noticeable in the dialogue, with Carter's word choice allowing each sequence to have its own unique dynamic. Whether it's the banter between our seasoned detectives or the sophisticated way in which our forensics examiners break down their findings, the writer manages to craft engaging interactions, allowing for tremendous depth.

Having a background in criminal psychological, Chris Carter seems to find it eerilly simple to create the perfect killer. Being quite possibly the most fascinating aspect of this tale, the author fashions a complex character that shows no mercy to his victims, being terrifyingly intelligent and meticulous. As is the case with any character, be it protagonist or antagonists, it is their background and overall development that makes them entice. This is no different with our story's killer, with the writer expertly delving into his past little by little to divulge what brought him to this point. What's most disturbing about all this is the horrific detail in which Carter describes his actions, with the psychotic mannerisms making the killer all the more frightening.

The only major gripe I had with this book, especially as it marched towards its conclusion, was its pacing. Despite being a gripping read for the most part, there are several points where it feels just a little draw out. This is most perceivable in the final third, with our detectives’ investigation lasting longer than it probably should. This unfortunately results in some of the more critical twists becoming slightly predictable, with it being likely that readers will uncover certain aspects of our killer before Hunter or Garcia do. Nevertheless, this doesn't prevent the story from culminating in dramatic fashion, with Carter delivering an intense conclusion to this suspenseful thriller.

Verdict 

The Death Watcher is a chilling tale that, for the most part, will leave readers clinging to every page. Utilising his criminal psychology background to its finest, Chris Carter fashions a killer that’s not only sinister, but bone-chillingly meticulous. The disturbing way in which the writer describes our antagonist's actions, along with intelligent detective work results in a thrilling narrative that, despite its flaws, pushes Robert Hunter to his limits.

7.5/10

THE BOOK CLUB By C.J. Cooper Review

"Everyone is hiding a secret. One of them is murder." These are the words emblazoned on the front cover of The Book Club by C. J. Cooper, all in an attempt to entice potential readers. Instantly this gives promise of an intriguing mystery, uncovering what the members of this unfortunate book club are hiding from one another.

Set in a small Cotswold village, the story centres around Lucy, a young woman who has moved from London following an affair with her boss. Having made new friends, and settled into village life, things look to be getting better for Lucy. That is until the arrival of the villages latest resident, Alice, and the formation of the titular "book club." What follows is a series of events that sees the group's secrets come to the surface, with Alice's need for revenge turning them all against one another.

On the surface this book had the potential to be a gripping psychological thriller. Unfortunately it was anything but this. Focusing more on the psychological and less on the thrills, the author makes little to no attempt at hiding who our potential killer is. The only real mystery in this supposed thriller is Alice's motives, and why she is adamant to destroy Lucy's life, along with the friendships she's built since moving to this quiet village.

There are, however, some redeeming factors within this tale. One example is the writing, with the story for the most part being well structured, with good grammar. The overall character development also proves to be a strong point throughout, with the different personalities of our main characters adding some level of depth to the story. The way these personalities bounce off one another also entices, having a somewhat soap opera feel at times.

Alice in particular proves to be an intriguing, albeit flawed character. Being besotted with ruining Lucy and everyone around her's lifes, the character's odd and extremely weird personality is surprisingly quite infatuating. The way she plots, calculating every move with the utmost precision is eerie to say the least, with the character seeming to have an answer for any situation. Where all this crumbles is in the motives behind Alice's actions, with the revelation regarding her intentions being rather ludicrous and far fetched.

Where the book struggles most, however, is in its plot. On the whole the premise seemed quite intriguing, and did have potential, but where it falters is in its layout and overall progression. At times it feels as if the author doesn't know exactly where to take this story, with it jumping between the past and present on a whim and with very little context. The author also awkwardly switches between character perspectives, with it sometimes taking several paragraphs to realise exactly who the narrative is focusing on at a specific point.

Another detracting factor of this narrative is the intellectual capacity of our characters, with Lucy in particular being rather dimwitted at times. Given the lengths in which our characters have went to keep their personal secrets safe, it is hard to grasp the simplicity in which Alice's schemes go over their heads. This is all the more relevant as we approach the story's conclusion, with Lucy's actions almost certain to end in fatality.

Verdict

The Book Club is a psychological thriller that boasts tons of potential, yet fails to deliver any real thrills. Having a convoluted plot and questionable twists, C.J. Cooper gives us a revenge story that more often than not doesn't seem to know where it wants to go. This coupled with some extremely unintelligent character traits and poor trasitions makes any redeeming factors within this narrative very easy to overlook.

3.5/10

Never Go Back (Jack Reacher Book 18) Review

Writer: Lee Child

I really got into the Jack Reacher novels about eight months ago as I liked the look of the film, and was unable to see it in the cinemas. I have since read five of the novels, with this making six, having loved every single one of them.

Plot

Jack Reacher has finally made it to Virginia, but the person that he travelled to visit, Major Susan Turner isn't there, and Reacher is soon re-enlisted in the army, with two criminal charges/investigations against him.

Review

This was a terrific book, and an amazing story. Lee Child has simply done something phenomenal with this series, and I have been extremely happy to have gotten into the series. Now this story wasn't one of the best the series has produced (at least from what I've read), but it was still extremely enjoyable, having all the traits that I loved about the other stories. I think it's the realism in Child's righting that I love the most, as although it's very gritty, and exciting, it's the realism that makes it that much more appealing, and in itself also makes it more exciting. Lee Child also does an extremely amazing job with the characters in his stories, and it was no different in this one, as there is so much depth to them, as well as individuality. Another thing that I really enjoyed about this book was the mystery, with the more mysterious Reacher novels seem to appeal more to me.

This story finally sees Reacher making it to Virginia, but as it always is with Reacher's life nothing is ever that simple. He arrives to find a Lieutenant Colonel named Morgan in Major Turner's office, and is soon re-enlisted into the army. I found this to be a shocking, and interesting twist to the story, and I was very happy with it. Child handled this part of the story perfectly, as following the quick paced start it was the perfect turning point to get the ball rolling. As a character Morgan was also a great person to antagonise Reacher, as given his superiority in rank it allows a person that Reacher would usually dismiss quickly to have some power over him. I was however also happy that at the same time Reacher wasn't out of character, not being too kind to Morgan, rather following orders like any good soldier would.

The reason Reacher was re-enlisted in the army was due to two investigations being made into him, one with the accusation that a beating he gave a man named Juan Rodriguez sixteen years prior caused him to die, and another from a woman named Candice Dayton who says that Reacher is the father of her fourteen year old daughter, wanting child support from him. I found this to be a very interesting, and unique development point for a Jack Reacher novel, as although it isn't something I'd ever expect to happen, it adds to the style of the series very well. I also loved the interaction between Reacher, and both his lawyers over this subject, which yet again was very realistic, and entertaining.

The last few Jack Reacher novels (bar Affair) have seen Reacher making his way to Virginia to met the person that has his old job, simply on the basis that he liked her voice. Finally this book introduces Major Susan Turner, as although she appeared on the phone numerous times during 61 Hours, being considered as a relatively main character, this time round she's much more involved, being the secondary character in the book. I was very happy about this, as although I enjoyed the recurring journey, showing Reacher's adventures on his way to meet this woman, it can only last so long before a reader feels cheated, and it was the right thing to have that part of Reacher's journey end here. Susan as a character is much more developed in this book, which I really enjoyed, and the way she acted, and interacted with certain characters was amazing, and I wouldn't complain if she ever appeared again in a Reacher novel.

The main antagonists of this story would be two men who are referred to as Romeo, and Juliet, and a group of four men who work for them. I found these characters to be extremely interesting, as I really enjoyed the mysterious nature of these characters. The way they operated throughout the story was also extremely well handled, adding great suspense, and drama to the story, as well as allowing the story to develop simple, but brilliant twists. I also loved the typical thuggish nature of the four men that worked for them, and I loved Reacher's reaction to them, and how he felt of the people ordering them. I also loved the way that Child would keep a standard way of introducing a sequence with Romeo, and Juliet, as it made it that much more formal, and unique, giving it's on unique tone to the story.

Another thing that I love about Jack Reacher novels is the action throughout them, and how Lee Child writes these sequences. The way Child breaks down the fight sequences, describing blow by blow how Reacher uses his specialist skills to defeat his foes is simply amazing, and very dramatic. I also loved the brilliant dialogue that he gives to Reacher during these sequences, and how Reacher is so confident on the outcome that he warns the person/people before hand. Another thing I loved about the action in this book was that it started straight away, helping draw the reader in with the excitement, as well as it's fast pace.

I will finish by talking a little about the ending, as without any spoilers I will say that I didn't really like it, as although it was realistic, and unique, it wasn't as impactful as I hoped it would be, leaving me slightly disappointed.

Final Verdict

This was a terrific story, and although not the best Jack Reacher novel yet, it was also not the worst, being an extremely enjoyable story. The realistic, and gritty tone of this book is simply outstanding, and the excitement, drama, and suspense added by Lee Child makes it a joy to read. It also had great character development, as well as a bit of mystery, and I for one can't wait for the next Reacher novel to come out. Due to all this I'd highly recommend this novel, as it's an amazing read, and is sure to turn you into a fan of Jack Reacher.

Rating: 4/5

The Cuckoo's Calling Review

Writer: Robert Galbraith (pseudonym of J.K. Rowling)

I have to admit I probably would never have bought this book if it wasn't revealed to have been written by J.K. Rowling under the pseudonym, Robert Galbraith, as well as the fact that it's a crime novel (as I didn't get her last novel, the Casual Vacancy due to it's plot, and genre not appealing to me).

Plot

After model, Lula Landry supposedly commits suicide, her lawyer brother hires private detective, Cormoran Strike to investigate it, believing it to be murder instead of suicide.

Review

This was a fantastic book, and one of the most realistic crime novels that I've read in a good while. Now first of all I'll get the whole J.K. Rowling being the actual writer of this book out of the way. If I'm being honest if I didn't know that she was the true writer of this novel I'd probably have never noticed the similarities to her work, but cause I do I noticed a very similar writing style, as although the book is very different to the Harry Potter novels, there were similarities in the writing style. The main thing as I said that I liked about this book was the realism of it, as there are a lot of crime novels that feel all Hollywood like, and unrealistic in the normal world, whereas this feels very natural. It was also very gritty, which helped make it much more realistic, as well as dynamic. Besides the realism, the depth of character was probably the next best thing about this novel, as everyone had such unique, and interesting personalities that were described perfectly. The book was however not perfect, as due to the realism it lacked action, which meant it also lacked in excitement, as although the dramatic, and suspenseful tone of the story kept me gripped, the lack of excitement was a little disappointing, hurting the overall quality. I would however also add that this has quite a bit of bad language, as well as the odd sexual reference, meaning that it's definitely for adults, and not children who love Harry Potter, and magic.

The main character in this novel is a private detective named Cormoran Strike, who used to be in the army until he lost half a leg to a land mine. Strike is also the illegitimate son to a famous musician named Jonny Rockeby, with life not being too kind to him, being heavily in debt, as well as splitting from his fiancée. Overall I found Strike to be a very interesting, and deep character, with a lot to him that doesn't initially show. I liked that he was a determined, and strong person, who didn't let his disability defeat him, as well as his debt. I also found it interesting that in some ways Strike is an underdog, as with all his problems it's easy to feel sorry for him, and it wouldn't be surprising if things got worse. He is also however not the typical underdog that you'd want to root for, as there are quite a few unpleasant parts to him, and you probably wouldn't want to be associated with him. There is however a lot more to this character, as you can tell he's a good hearted person, but also a proud, and strong person, which made him very interesting.

Strike would also have a temp working for him as a secretary throughout this story, named Robin Ellacott. Now we are actually introduced to Robin first, and the main focus on her as a character is her growing working relationship with Strike, as well as how she grows as a character, from a timid character who's just got engaged, to someone who want's to help Strike as much as she can. This was what I liked about Robin the most, as it gave so much depth to her as a character, as she is very judgemental of Strike to start with (with a good reason to be), but learns that he's a very misunderstood person, who doesn't show his proper emotions on the outside. I also loved how Robin would have quick shifts in expressions, as she'd go from being very excited, and happy one minute, to possibly being uncomfortable, and worried the next due to changes in circumstances, and overall she was yet another very interesting character.

The main subject of this story was the suspicious suicide of Lula Landry, and how Strike would prove whether it was murder or not. I loved the way this mystery unravelled as the story progressed, and how Strike found out more and more about this troubled young star. I also found the process that Strike went through to be very interesting, and realistic, as although I felt that some points were unnecessary to the overall story, it helped to keep the realism, as well as the tension, and suspense. I also found the way that Lula's brother, John Bristow hired Strike to be very interesting, and dramatic, as it showed that everyone (even Strike at that point) accepted the fact that it was suicide, and how Bristow was upset to be the only one to think otherwise, adding lots of tension, and overall it was a very intriguing mystery.

There was also a long list of supporting character's in this story, being formed by friends, colleges, and acquaintances of Lula, witnesses to the supposed suicide, as well as other miscellaneous character's. These character's were mainly introduced as people that Strike wanted to interview to either understand the circumstances of Lula's death, as well as her state of mind leading up to the supposed suicide. The way that Strike went about his interviews was very realistic, and yet again interesting, and I loved how he thought of things that most people wouldn't connect with the situation. The character's that Strike interviewed also had very different characteristics, and personalities, giving a variety of character's, and enjoyed how that even if the character lasted a few pages in the story, that they were very well thought out, with a lot of depth, which also added dynamic as well as more realism, and uniqueness.

Besides all this I also enjoyed all the different locations, as well as the world events references (which included then Prime Minister Gordon Brown calling a voter a, "bigot"). The little pieces of excitement was also appealing, as well as the fact that the story was versatile, having sudden changes in direction, which helped with the story's progress, as well as keeping the reader interested.

Final Verdict

This was a fantastic novel, and although I only bought this due to the revelation that J.K. Rowling wrote it under a pseudonym, I'm glad that I did. It was very entertaining throughout, as although it lacked in excitement, and action, it more than made up for with it's gritty, and realistic tone. It also had brilliant character's, both main, and supporting, who all had brilliant depth, and overall this was a brilliant read that I'd highly recommend to anyone who loves a good crime novel.

Rating: 4/5

Stephen King: Joyland Review

Writer: Stephen King

Stephen King is one of the first writers I tried as a teenager/adult, and have loved his stories ever since with him been one of my favourite writers. So when I noticed he had a new book out I had to get it, and having the tagline, "Who dares enter the Funhouse of Fear?" made it sound very interesting.

Plot

Devin Jones is a 21 year old college student, who decides to go and work at Joyland over the summer. Whilst there he discovers the story of a murder victim, befriends a dying child, as well as his first heartbreak.

Review

This was a great book, and although it's not one of Stephen King's best, it was a fun read. King does a great job, shaping the character's perfectly, as although he doesn't describe them in vast detail like some writers, he adds so much depth to them, making them feel very real. The narration from King in this book was also perfect, giving a real gritty, and realistic tone, whilst also having ton's of drama, as although there wasn't a great deal of suspense, the story was very interesting, making me want to continue reading on and on, which is a very good thing. King did however have some suspense in this novel, especially near the end, but the best thing about King's writing in this novel besides the depth of character had to be the emotion he put in, as there were a lot of very emotional moments that made me go, "what?" The book wasn't however quite the mystery/horror that I hoped for, and more of a coming-of-age story, reminding me of King's novella The Body, which was made into the film, Stand by Me.

One of the main focus points of the start of the novel is Devin discovering heartache for the first time, which would continue throughout the story, shaping Devin's characteristics. I feel that King did a good job of this, as although there was a part of me that feels he's went a little over the top, that's probably a good thing, as pain of that magnitude won't go away that easy. I also loved how it was built-up, as although it made the story drag slightly, it gave a more realistic tone. I did however find it a little predictable at times, and I'm not sure if that's a good thing or bad thing, as part of me feels it's too obvious, but at the same time it once again adds to the realism.

The main setting for most of the book was naturally Joyland, and although I was hopping for a very spooky, ghost town vibe to this theme park, it was still amazing for other reasons. The detail that King went into describing all the rides, as well as how he went into the carny talk, making the place come to life. I also liked how King thought ahead adding a note at the end of the novel stating that although some of the talk may not actually be correct, that it's fiction, and that some of it is. Joyland was also written in a very fun way, which was very fitting, and appropriate. I also found Devin's experience to be very interesting, going from one of the new guys, to loving the place.

All stories need it's group of side character's, and this story had it in abundance, from all the Joyland staff, to Devin's landlady, Mrs. Shoplaw, to Devin's work, and lifelong friends Tom Kennedy, and Erin Cook. I will however only talk about his work friends, Tom, and Erin. The relationship between the three character's in this novel was very well handled, feeling realistic, and natural. The differences in personality was also brilliant, and the way they changed over their time in Joyland was also interesting. It was also interesting that the three would remain friends, and King did a terrific job of showing how they cared for each other, which added yet more depth to the character's.

The part of the story where the mystery falls in is Devin's intrigue into a murder victim, who was killed at the Horror House in Joyland, wanting to see her ghost, as well as find out who killed her. This was a very interesting addition to the story, adding more excitement, as well as most of the story's suspense. It wasn't however quite the spooky mystery that I was hoping for, as although it was very dramatic, and suspenseful near the end of the story, with a few interesting points prior, it was overall slightly disappointing. It was however still very interesting, and well thought out, keeping to the realistic tone of the story.

Tom, and Erin weren't the only friends that Devin would make during his time at Joyland, as he'd also befriend a dying child named Mike Ross, and eventually his mother, Annie (as well as dog Milo). Although Devin's relationship with Tom, and Erin was interesting, this was however much more interesting. The fact that Annie wanted nothing to do with Devin, even though Mike would wave at him added drama straight away, showing that this wouldn't be an easily started relationship. It did however develop brilliantly, with some really interesting points, as well as some emotional, and was probably the most interesting part of this story.

Final Verdict

This was a fun read, with great characterisations, as well as brilliant emotion, and interesting mystery. It was however missing the wow factor that I expect from a Stephen King novel, but it was still very good for the type of story it was. I'd recommend this book to anyone who loves books with great character depth, with a hint of mystery, but otherwise unless you can get this for the right price, you probably wouldn't be missing much.

Rating: 3.5/5

Dan Brown: Inferno Review

Writer: Dan Brown

After reading Da Vinci Code I've became a Dan Brown fan, having enjoyed both Da Vinci Code, and Angels and Demons (still to read The Lost Symbol), as well as the film adaptations of both books. I've also been quite interested in Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy, and although I've still to get a copy of the actual book, I've read up on the story, and love anything connected to the epic poem, so I was really looking forward to seeing how Brown would utilise this masterpiece.

Plot

Harvard Professor, Robert Langdon wakes up in Florence, Italy, not remembering the last two days, or the fact that he was in Florence. He soon begins to be hunted by a group of people who appear to want him dead, and with the help of a doctor, named Sienna Brooks he has to unravel a mystery that's inspired by Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy.

Review

This was a good book, and a very enjoyable read, but there were also things about this story that were disappointing. Dan Brown once again goes to Harvard Professor, Robert Langdon as the main character of his story, and since the hit success of Da Vinci Code it looks like his future story will revolve around the mystery solving professor. Now don't get me wrong, this isn't a bad thing, as it makes his stories feel connected, even though they're stand alone. In this novel Brown does a brilliant job of putting Langdon in a new, and unique environment, which is what really grabbed my attention at the start of the book. Another thing I really like about the Langdon novels is that they are all stand alone stories, and although you can see similarities, you don't need to read any of the prior novels to enjoy the one you're reading. Brown also does a marvellous job of giving us a suspenseful, and dramatic story, that has plenty of twists, and turns making the reader question what happens next. There were however parts of the story that felt slightly dragged out, with certain things being repeated too much, which was really disappointing, even though the overall story was entertaining, and gripping, being hard to put down. 

The story starts with Langdon waking up in a hospital in Florence, not even realising that he wasn't in America any more, having lost the last two days of his memories. Now as I said, this really interested me, as with a main character that can't remember what he's done in the last couple of days makes the story as much of a mystery to him as it does to the reader. Also added the fact that he's in an hostile environment, it gives a psychological suspense to the story, as with no memory of the last two days he's obviously confused over the fact that people are after him, which I found really interesting, and entertaining. I also liked the way that Brown developed the Langdon character, using these new circumstances to take Langdon out of his comfort zone, making him adapt as a character. 

Like previous Langdon novels, Langdon has a female assistant, that helps him unravel the mysteries. This time round one of the doctors treating Langdon, named Sienna Brooks saves Langdon from death, and helps him escape captivity. I found Sienna a very interesting character, and although this book isn't Brown's best in the Langdon series, Sienna is in my opinion one of the best side character's that Brown has created. She was very unique, and different from any other character I have read, and the mysterious nature behind her made her that much more interesting. I also liked how she was a very deep character, with a lot of development throughout the story, as it is shown that she is highly intelligent, whilst also having suffered in life. The interaction, and chemistry between Sienna, and Langdon throughout this novel was also very interesting, and entertaining, and I found the pairing to be very dynamic, and exciting, making the novel that much more dramatic.

The people that were after Langdon were also very interesting, and mysterious people, and although they weren't as interesting as Sienna, nor as unique, they were still very interesting, and their involvement made the story that much more dramatic. What I loved most about them was the mystery to them, as they seemed to be very private, not wanting people to know anything about them. It was however the person who hired this group, and the main antagonist of the story that interested me the most when it came to the opposition. I won't name the character, as although he is named later in the book, it remains a mystery at the start, and I'd prefer not to spoil that for readers, but I will say what I thought of the character. Now he doesn't make many physical appearances in the story, mainly featuring in flashbacks, or recollections, but he definitely had a huge impact on the story. Again this antagonist was a very mysterious character, and not like your usual villain, which made him a bit more unique. He did however like a lot of antagonists have an agenda, and goal, believing that it was the greater good, which although not very unique, it yet again added more depth, and drama to the story.

I finally come to the key fact that interested me the most in this story, and the main reason I was looking forward to reading it, and that was the connection to Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy. I mainly got interested in Dante's Divine Comedy, and mainly the Inferno part a few years ago with the release of the Dante's Inferno video game, and although I'm still to get round to reading the epic poem itself, I have read up on it, and know the main plot details. So how does this novel utilise Dante's Divine Comedy in it's story? There are plenty of references to the poem, and mainly the Inferno part, with the main antagonist being highly inspired by Dante's work, and Langdon himself also being an admirer of Dante. The puzzles, and mysteries involved in the story also heavily utilise Dante, and extracts from his epic poem, and overall I loved the references, and the way Brown has utilised Dante's work to create something dramatic, and different. It may however disappoint a lot of people who are more into Dante, and his work than I am, and I know there are people who were disappointed, but for me it was a nice addition, and although there were points that could have been better, Brown did a very good job.

As with all the Robert Langdon novels, this book also had lots of symbolism, and artwork throughout. With the novel being centred mainly in Florence I knew there would be some famous artwork mentioned during this story, and like always Dan Brown did an amazing job of describing these wonderful pieces of art, which included La Mappa dell’Inferno by Sandro Botticelli, The Battle of Marciano by Giorgio Vasari, as well as Lorenzo Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise, and Dante's death mask, just to name a few. Brown also did a brilliant job of having the artwork fit in with the story, choosing the ones that best fitted the Dante theme. I also loved how like the previous Langdon novels, Brown had Langdon describe the symbolism in certain pieces of artwork, as well as other symbols featured in the story, showing why Langdon novels are so unique, and interesting.

This story also had Langdon moving about quite a bit, visiting some amazing locations. Again as with the artwork, Brown did a fabulous job of describing some of the phenomenal architecture that Italy has to offer, having Langdon visit some of Florence's most famous tourist attractions. I won't go into any more details about Langdon's travels in this book, as they may spoil certain parts of the story, but I will say that I think that it made the story much more unique, and suspenseful, and Brown did an amazing job in this department.

In this novel, Brown also added some dramatic, movie like action sequences. Now I wasn't too sure if I liked this or not, as although it added a lot more drama, and suspense to the story, it felt slightly forced, which wasn't nice. I also felt that Brown was trying to add some brilliant movie style sequences into his book, as to make it easier to adapt to a big blockbuster movie, like Da Vinci Code, and Angels and Demons have, which was also slightly disappointing, even though I'm sure this is just coincidence, as most writers never think about their work getting made into a film, seeing that as a respectful bonus. Overall I wasn't really too disappointed with this, as it was very suspenseful, and dramatic, and didn't take away from the overall story.

I thought I'd finish with the part of this story that irritated me the most, the twist at the end. I say it irritated me, but to be honest I wasn't sure if I loved it, or hated it, as there were things, that I liked, and things that I hated, but if I had to make an overall judgement, I'd say that I was hugely disappointed. Now I won't go into details about the twist, or what happened, but I will say my thoughts, and why I feel it was disappointing. First of all, the changes that it made to what was true was just confusing, and although I understood what was happening, it just didn't seem realistic, and was just too far over the place. In saying that there was one other twist in this story that I loved, and although I saw it coming, it was still very entertaining, and dramatic, and Brown handled it perfectly, which slightly makes up for the rest.

Final Verdict

This was a very interesting, and mysterious novel, that was also at time entertaining. It was however nowhere near the same level of quality as Da Vinci Code, and some of the twists were really disappointing. At the same time it was a very enjoyable read, and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys mystery thrillers, or Dan Brown novels, but would also say not to have high expectations.

Rating: 3.5/5

The Hobbit Book Review

Writer: J.R.R. Tolkien

After seeing The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, which is the first part of a three part adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's great novel the Hobbit, which itself has gotten more fame as a prequel to the Lord of the Rings trilogy, I decided to read the book again. I haven't read this book in over 10 years, and having shamefully never owned the book (having read it previously from a Library) had to buy a copy, so got the movie cover version, and at a very reasonable price (Tesco: £2.95).

Plot

This book shows how Bilbo Baggins is persuaded by the Wizard Gandalf, and a party of thirteen Dwarves, who are lead by Thorin Oakenshield, to be their burglar, and join them on a journey to retrieve their treasure from the Dragon Smaug in the Lonely Mountain.

Review

It's easy to forget that this book was originally intended for children, as the Lord of the Rings books aren't. Although this is written for children, which is very noticeable near the start, it is still a joy to read for people of all ages. Although there are talking dragons, birds, and other creatures that wouldn't usually talk, it is still a very sophisticated story, and it's easy to believe that these creatures can talk, and I actually think the story wouldn't be the same otherwise. I also realised whilst reading this that I remembered very little from my first read through all those years ago, so I was also able to enjoy this read through even more.

The first chapter sees Bilbo visited by Gandalf, and offered to join in an adventure. When Bilbo refuses Gandalf puts a mark on his door which lets the Dwarves that are on his adventure know where to meet him later, unknown to Bilbo, who is later visited by the Dwarves. The way this story starts was brilliant, and I loved how a character who has never had any adventure in his life, and is from a family that is respected, who's also a descendent of the Took's, a Hobbit family known for going on adventures, is torn between the two sides of his genetic nature. The chapter itself was also very funny, and I loved how this polite Hobbit that didn't want to seem rude was getting very confused with the amounting guests that were apparently invited without his knowledge. When Gandalf eventually arrived it was even funnier, as Bilbo knew exactly what was going on, and how he was persuaded to join their adventure was also very interesting.

Bilbo's development throughout this book was probably the best, and most interesting thing about it, and rightfully so. How this small Hobbit who kept to himself, and didn't partake in anything that a Hobbit would class as out of the ordinary, changed throughout this novel was outstanding, and I have as much love for this character whilst reading this book as I did for Frodo Baggins in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. It was also interesting to see how the opinion people had towards Bilbo changed throughout the events of this book, and how his own opinion changed with it. The way he changes from a frightened timid character, who sometimes regrets joining this adventure, to a slightly brave character who shows brilliant intellect was also interesting.

The Dwarves in this story were also very interesting, and due to being the main supporting characters I started to actually feel for these characters, whether they were in danger or not, and whether they were in the right or not. The changes in the Dwarves throughout this book was also interesting, and Thorin more than the others. Although all the other Dwarves were nothing but friendly throughout this novel, Thorin was sometimes very moody, and felt was constantly changing his mind about Bilbo throughout the book, seeing him as a nuisance near the start. The Dwarves nature was also an interesting point in this tale, as throughout the story there was some knew trait of the Dwarves revealed, whether from their actions or what others said about Dwarves. The thing that was noticeable about the Dwarves throughout this story was that they were very loyal to each other, and Bilbo, and treated him like one of their own, helping him as much as they could.

The other characters throughout this story was also interesting, and one of the main things that made this story constantly interesting. Beorn the skin-changer was the character I found the most interesting, and the way Gandalf knew how to win his aid was perfectly written, and thought out. What I enjoyed about Beorn was that although he kept to himself, and although he was very untrusting, once he did trust someone he was the best ally they could have. Elrond was also featured in this story giving Gandalf, Bilbo, and the Dwarves shelter in the early part of their journey. Although he didn't really do much in this novel his appearance was still appreciated as I liked the character in the Lord of the Ring books, and films. The Eagles, and Wood-Elves were also very good additions, and had very interesting sequences. It was also nice to see them later in the story during the Battle of Five Armies.

The Dragon Smaug was also a very interesting creature, and knowing that the Dwarves, and Bilbo would eventually encounter this creature also made you want to continue reading. As I said earlier the Dragon speaking made the sequence even better and his conversation with Bilbo was very interesting. I did however feel that the fate of Smaug was slightly disappointing, and that he could have played a bigger role than he actually did. This did however create a brilliant twist to this already fantastic story.

The one ring featured in the Lord of the Rings was also interested in this book, which all Lord of the Rings fans will know, and this is the main reason this book is classed as a prelude to Lord of the Rings. As most people will know he got the ring from Gollum, who wasn't too happy with losing his, "precious." His encounter with Gollum was also very entertaining, and the way he had to trade riddles with the creature to secure his escape from the Misty Mountains. The unusual split personality of Gollum was also featured very well during this story, and acted exactly like he did in Lord of the Rings. The ring itself also had a big role in this story being the tool of Bilbo's plans, and with it's ability to turn Bilbo invisible, it became very useful. It was very interesting seeing the ring use it's true power, as due to the nature of Lord of the Rings it wasn't shown as much during that story.

Final Verdict

A very entertaining read for all ages, and if you've seen the film you will love this. If you were however disappointed with the film I would still recommend trying this book, as it's brilliant, and has a slightly different tone than the film does.

Rating: 4.5/5