3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Blood-drenched action thriller not for the faint-hearted, May 16, 2009
This review is from: Hunter's Moon (GollanczF.) (Paperback)
Cast: occult practitioner, undercover agent, remorseless assassin w/ many names; a sisterhood w/ an inner circle indulging in sexual perversions; secret counterterrorist department; SAS squad; pumpkin head bureaucrats; a retired man-in-black; & others.
Ingredients: (black) magic; gory details of human anatomy affected by ambush/close combat; heavy-handed interrogations; special ops; mind control; conjuration of and conversation w/ the dead; witty dialogues; sarcastic/cynical self-reflection/justification: "I get the crap kicked out of me on a regular basis doing this job, and when those times come the opiate family are as welcome as a rich uncle who's about to kick the bucket" (p. 125).
Most interesting are the hints the protagonist, Jack, drops here and there about his motivation/rationalization to be in the employment of the 'Broom Cupboard,' as the clandestine outfit is dubbed among field officers (p.17). Perhaps a secretive unit inside the Special Branch?
"It's called the Defence of the Realm...It's about making sure little Johnny down the road can sleep safely without monsters coming out of his closet and eating him. It's about letting people follow their spiritual paths without someone else hijacking their souls...The alternatives are chaos and witch-hunters" (p. 42).
As for its history going back for centuries: "[T]he reason the Service was formed...:someone had to stop all those idiots from turning Britain into a council estate for every dodgy denizen of Hell and Faerie" (p. 63).
"People like me are in the business of keeping all this supernatural nonsense quiet...We don't want you to start messing around with this stuff, because if you've got everyone rolling round with this kind of capability you'll have anarchy in ten minutes flat...Keeping a lid on the world so it doesn't get out of hand" (pp. 158-9).
One deficiency of the novel is that the plot unfolds from Jack's perspective alone, so the characterization of his enemies, enacted by ex-wiccans turned manipulated saboteurs hell bent (pun intended) on the unrealistic eventuality of conspiring against the government, remains superficial. It's no-brainer that, more often than not, the chief culprits can be found positioned well within the gates, behind the the crumbling facade of "law & order."
In brief, "Hunter's Moon" makes a quick read, provided you can stomach the amount of brutal force and lurid debauchery on display.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Sort of M16 spy thriller meets magic, March 6, 2009
This review is from: Hunter's Moon (GollanczF.) (Paperback)
First, let me say this: Hunter's Moon is very hard to classify or pin down to a specific genre. The book would seem at home in Mystery, SciFi-Fantasy, Espionage-Spy thrillers, etc. Second is: even with the literal flood of urban fantasy, paranormal, alternate history, or alternate universe books on shelves right now; this book manages to take a completely different and original look at magic in the hands of a British secret agent. The writing and characters are first rate and the surprises were exactly that for this reader -- nothing is given away. Clues are trickled out one by one leading the reader to solve the mystery along with Jack, the protagonist. The villain is unexpected and of course, evil. Magic is utilized in an eminently practical manner, with the protagonist's abilities and uses of magic treated like any other tool or device except it is unknown to the general public or at least unacknowledged. Very little time is spent exploring the secret of Jack's use of magic; of far greater importance is the mundane danger he is investigating. To be more specific would give away the mystery of the book or potentially leak spoilers -- sorry. This is an excellent story, original in every way, and an introduction to a new and intriguing world of magic, espionage, and the practical spy who lives there. I look forward to Jack's next adventure and seeing more of his world.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
3.0 out of 5 stars
Okay, not great., August 30, 2011
This book is extremely graphic in terms of sexuality and violence (and combinations of the two). It's entertaining and not a bad book, but the author doesn't deal with his female characters very well and the main character is unpleasant. I wouldn't read it again or seek out anything else by the same author.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
