Customer Reviews

The Everlasting

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This story had a lot of promise, but unfortunately never paid off. Once the setup is revealed, nothing really happens until the very end. Long, vague descriptions slow the pace down to a crawl. Reading this reminds me of waking up from a dream I can't seem to remember because it all blurs into a confusing mess. This would have worked much better as a novella -- something, in my opinion, Tim Lebbon is better at writing. There simply wasn't enough material to merit a 325 page novel. I hate to say it, but this is another disappointment. Lebbon's novel, Beserk, is still his best work.

Tim Lebbon does a lot of good things in this book. He has a good grasp of creating believable characters. Whether they are human or immortal their actions and personalities are believable and realistic.

Lebbon's writing also shines when it comes to creating a sense of paranoia and conspiracy, especially early in the novel when Scott has recieved the letter from Papa and is home alone. Lebbon also brings up this sense of paranoia when Scott recieves a mysterious message in the hotel when he's traveling with Nina.

He's also an excelent writer when it comes to actions sequences. His descriptions are very vivid and the style of writing is fast paced which keeps you on the edge of your seat.

The only problem I had with the book is that the truth behind the Chord of Souls is rather muddy at best. I would've preferred a bit more of an explanation as to the nature of the Chord. Although there are some definte hints throughout the tale as to what it does or is doing. I enjoy stories that allow the reader to fill in the gaps or wonder about it all. It's a tale that once done with if you think back over the plot things start to click.

SPOILER....







The only other thing that bothered me is I thought Lewis needed the Chord to recite a spell to release Papa, but unless I missed it this never happened and Papa was simply freed upon the Chord's destruction.

I really liked the idea of these immortals living among us, and this ancient, secret "book" written way back when. But, after reading the word "Papa" for the 700th time by page 100, it started to annoy me. I get that the main character had a very close relationship with his grandfather...but it was over the top. And the last 20 or so pages didn't make a lot of sense. Characters just seemed to pop up in places. Ah well. I'm a fan of Mr. Lebbon's work, but this was just OK.

Lebbon is a grandmaster at horror and suspense. He, like the earlier works of Jack Ketchum and Tom Piccirilli has that rare something that gets under your skin and give you the heebie-jeebies in a jolt of a second. His contemporary realism is unsettling; his vision is disturbing yet compelling and irresistibly entertaining.

I can guarantee that with every written work of Tim Lebbon, he will write with sweet lyricism and modern day mayhem.

--Joseph McGee, author of In the Wake of the Night, Phil's Place and Darkness Won't Rest: Phils Place II

This book is a very boring book. I kept hoping it would get better but it was a big let-down. I usually pass my books to friends but not this one.

As a youngster Scott spent a lot of time with his grandfather who he calls Papa. Although he didn't know it at the time, Papa imparted a lot of arcane knowledge into Scott's memory so that he will be able to remember it when he needs it. Scott's time with Papa comes to an end when his grandfather kills his best friend Lewis and then kills himself. Scott sees Lewis after his death and asks him for the Chord of Souls.

Scott doesn't know what he is talking about and tries to forget the encounter ever happened. Three decades later, happily married to Helen, Scot receives a letter from Papa and Lewis appears and tells him that he must find the Chord of Souls. He kidnaps Helen and takes her into the Wide, a vast passageway to the afterlife. Nina, one of twelve immortals guides Scott on his journey because she wants him to find the Chord of Souls as she wants to learn how to die after living for several millennia. Although he doesn't trust Nina he follows her to a point until he no longer needs her and starts out on his own to find a way to the valley that doesn't exist where the House of Skulls contains the Chord of Souls, danger stalking him every step of way.

Tim Lebbon is one of the premiere writers of horror novels. Tucked within the horror storyline is the romantic subplot between Scott and Helen that is critical because it is his love for her that gives him the motive and impulses needed to search for the Chord of Souls while dealing with bad Mojo and immortals who think differently so are undependable. The EVERLASTING is an intellectual horror novel that makes the audience question their own beliefs.

Harriet Klausner