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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Loved it!, April 11, 2008
This review is from: Devil's Cape (Discoveries) (Paperback)
Devil's Cape is the first novel from author Rob Rogers. It is set in a world where super heroes exist and are an accepted part of life- as in flying around in spandex suits with capes and having names like The Grey Ghost, Argonaut, and Bedlam. But unlike the comic books, the world of Devil's Cape is grim and deadly, with a high body count of both heroes and villains.
The city of Devil's Cape Louisiana is a few miles from its more famous sister New Orleans. Founded by a pirate as a smugglers haven, Devil's Cape has never shed its legacy of danger and corruption. In fact, at times it's as if the residents and the city itself revel in their dark past. The story revolves around several residents of the city who discover their powers and are motivated for different reasons to join forces and confront the villainous crime-lord known as "The Robber Baron" who runs the city.
At the beginning of the book the author takes a trip back in time several years as he builds the foundation of the story, it's a long but interesting build, and the reader will realize its necessity when they reach the present day and the story begins to unfold. The characters are well thought out and interesting. I became invested in them, and even with detailed set up there were times I wished I knew more about them, but for the story at hand what the author gives suffices. The story builds as the various threads are pulled together snugly. The action in Devil's Cape is quick, intense and deadly. For example, one of the heroes in the story gets taken out by a head shot from a sniper with a high powered rifle followed by a bunch of guys with sledge hammers to finish the job. Brutal.
By the end of the story I was savoring every page. Rogers wraps the story up nicely and leaves open the opportunity for more adventure in the Devil's Cape universe. As I finished the last pages I was ready to dive into the next adventure, and that's the best recommendation I can give it.
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14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Do Not Miss this Book, April 10, 2008
This review is from: Devil's Cape (Discoveries) (Paperback)
I couldn't agree with the first reviewer more. This is a fantastic book. The writing is very sharp and immersive, the action sequences are very well done, and the characters are believable and interesting. This is a great book whether you like Superheroes or not, and it's easily one of the best superhero novels ever written. In fact, out of the many superhero novels I've read, only Other People's Heroes could even compete with it for the top spot.
This is a serious book with real suspense and intrigue. I found it hard to put down, and for the first time in a long time I found myself saying "just one more chapter" when I knew I needed to get some sleep. I read a lot, and I enjoy a lot of what I read, but it's been a long time since I've enjoyed a book this much.
If you like action, suspense, sci-fi, fantasy, or superheroes, you should not miss this book. Great stuff. Great fun. Fast paced (yet detailed,) believable, and very well written.
This book deserves to sell well, and if this novel is any indication of the authors future writing, he deserves a long, prosperous career.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Outstanding Novel, April 13, 2008
This review is from: Devil's Cape (Discoveries) (Paperback)
Devil's Cape is a superhero novel, yes, but it's more than that. It's a novel with a real sense of place; careful, exacting detail is given to every inch of real estate and every word of history in and about the city of Devil's Cape. Ordinarily, this would not be a good thing for me, as my eyes tend to glaze over as writers spend page after page describing every little thing about the world they've been building in their notebooks since junior high. Rogers gives you all the detail, without any of the tedious minutiae. A master class in world-building.
It's also firmly rooted in the American South, as 'southern' as Faulkner and O'Connor. Destiny, Legacy, Family -- all of the big Capital Letter themes of Southern Lit are tackled here, and tackled well.
Oh, yeah, and there's superheroes. And pirates. And circus freaks.
Great book - can't wait for Rogers' next.
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