Customer Reviews

Island

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A secret organization consisting of a few hundred people of Noreela search out and kill Strangers who look human, but have gills on their neck and tendrils on the outside of their spine. The Strangers d not cooperate with the Core who they believe are the advances scouts before an invasion. Collateral damage of innocent people by the Core is deemed acceptable if it meant the destruction of the Strangers.

When Core agent Kel Boon observed six innocent children murdered during an attack by his side, his anguish and outrage leads to the unimaginable for a dedicate agent; he quits. He goes to the village of Pavmouth Breaks where he is known as Kell the Woodchopper and loves the witch Namior Feeron. A brutal storm hammers the coast. When the torrent ends, a new island Komadia is nearby. Kel has a bad feeling as visitors from the island arrive at the sleepy fishing village. He wants to make sure the newcomers have no gills so that the villagers he cherishes will not be harmed. No gills or tendrils are evident by the Strangers but he fears they do not belong to Noreela. He and Namior begin to learn an inconvenient truth when they visit Komadia to find out what the islanders want with Noreela; a truth that could destroy civilization as he knows it.

Tim Lebbon provides readers with a spellbinding horror-fantasy tale from the moment the ISLAND appears and never loosens its grip until the climax. His world is filled with magic as anyone can become a Practitioner, but Kel has become wary of something he does not understand. Ironically, he runs ways from a situation only to run into a scenario even potentially more gruesome. He knows he must make a stand; even his beloved expects him choose fiight over flight. Fans will be hooked wanting to know why he ran away from his Core values and like the lead couple readers will want to know what Komadians want with Noreela. Mr. Lebbon cleverly blends two genres with a refreshing romantic subplot into a sleepless night of reading.

Harriet Klausner

This is my third Lebbon book, following Dusk and Echo City. I really enjoyed those first two books and think he is a unique and engaging writer who spins exceptionally rich and cohesive stories at the interface of Fantasy and Horror. If Island had been my first book by Lebbon I would probably have stopped right here. The characters (both heroes and villains) lack the complexity of Dusk and Echo City. There is also a paramilitary element to this book that he seems completely out of his depth on. I'd recommend starting with one of the other books, which were very good, and skipping this one altogether.

So far every trip to Tim Lebbon's magnificient world Noreela has thrilled, chilled, captivated, amazed, I could go on for pages with the emotions you'll feel while being glued to his every word. If you haven't booked a trip to Tim's world through his earlier books, don't worry, this stand alone novel is as good as anywhere to begin your journey. I'm sure you'll seek out his other books and become a frequent visitor as I have. Be sure to pack all your good magic and every charmed weapon you can get your hands on, you'd need them and some great warrior friends just to survive the first day.

Entertaining, not excellent. "Fallen" (by the same author) was more intriguing, subtle, and substantial.