The Rook: A Novel [Kindle Edition]

Daniel O'Malley (Author)

Book Description

"The body you are wearing used to be mine." So begins the letter Myfanwy Thomas is holding when she awakes in a London park surrounded by bodies all wearing latex gloves. With no recollection of who she is, Myfanwy must follow the instructions her former self left behind to discover her identity and track down the agents who want to destroy her.

She soon learns that she is a Rook, a high-ranking member of a secret organization called the Chequy that battles the many supernatural forces at work in Britain. She also discovers that she possesses a rare, potentially deadly supernatural ability of her own.

In her quest to uncover which member of the Chequy betrayed her and why, Myfanwy encounters a person with four bodies, an aristocratic woman who can enter her dreams, a secret training facility where children are transformed into deadly fighters, and a conspiracy more vast than she ever could have imagined.

Filled with characters both fascinating and fantastical, THE ROOK is a richly inventive, suspenseful, and often wry thriller that marks an ambitious debut from a promising young writer.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Utterly convincing and engrossing---totally thought-through and frequently hilarious. The writing is confident and fully fledged. Even this aging, jaded, attention-deficit-disordered critic was blown away." (TIME Lev Grossman)

"The pace never lets up in this entertaining high-action read....A near-perfect supernatural thriller....Something unexpected happens on almost every page. Don't start this book unless you've got lots of time, because you won't want to put it down. It's that good." (Library Journal David Keymer)

"Adroitly straddles the thin line between fantasy, thriller, and spoof....O'Malley is a nimble writer, effortlessly leaping back and forth between comedy and action. There's plenty of room here for a sequel that readers will no doubt begin clamoring for before they've even finished this book." (Booklist David Pitt)

"Impressive....Dry wit, surprising reversals of fortune, and a clever if offbeat plot make this a winner." (Publishers Weekly)

"O'Malley's narrative is peppered with sly humor, referential social commentary, and the ironic, double-layered self-awareness that will have genre fans believing Buffy the Vampire Slayer has joined Ghostbusters." (Kirkus)

About the Author

Dan O'Malley graduated from Michigan State University and earned a Master's Degree in medieval history from Ohio State University. He then returned to his childhood home, Australia. He now works for the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, writing press releases for government investigations of plane crashes and runaway boats.

Product Details

• File Size: 753 KB
• Print Length: 504 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown and Company; 1 edition (January 11, 2012)
• Sold by: Hachette Book Group
• Language: English
• ASIN: B004QX07EG
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Not Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #12,860 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

64 of 73 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Little x-men, dash of buffy, and a whole lotta awesome January 8, 2012

By texasflower

Format:Hardcover

I picked this book up on a whim while at the bookstore. Just seemed really interesting. Once I started reading I didn't want to put it down. There is just enough humor to keep it from feeling overly stuffy and just enough intrigue to keep it from being overly fluffy. The idea of a secret spy agency that is designed to monitor the world's supernatural goings-on is not a new one, but the author takes it and makes it his own. There are definite parts of the book/plot that remind me of xmen, buffy the vampire slayer, xfiles, harry potter - but at the same time not in a bad way. The book melds all those together very well. It's a good read from start to finish. I look forward to reading more from this author!

31 of 35 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wry humor, unusual supernatural beings, and a deeply absorbing mystery! January 12, 2012

By The Qwillery

Format:Hardcover

When I think of The Rook the first word that comes to mind is 'fun.' Great fun actually. But to simply say that The Rook is 'fun' would be facile on my part. The Rook is a terrific read for a lot of reasons.

Foremost The Rook is very well written. The mystery of why Myfanwy Thomas is without her memory and who did what to whom is hard to crack. As soon as I'd thought I'd figured it out, the story proved me wrong. Not because of authorial plot shenanigans, but because the unraveling of the mystery was very well handled. I really enjoyed how this is done with new Myfanwy being aided by information left behind by old Myfanwy. Myfanwy is a wonderful character. She's trying to figure out how to do her job as Rook and racing against time to find who in the Chequy harmed her and why. The Rook is not a short read (nearly 500 pages), but I barely noticed the length.

The Chequy is itself amazing. It's a fantastical governmental agency. Think FBI/CIA rolled into one that handles supernatural threats. Yes, other supernatural agencies exist in literature, but none quite like the Chequy. How the Chequy functions is explained well, but never bogs down the story. I really enjoyed seeing how the Chequy works, how threats are handled, and meeting the people with whom Myfanwy works, despite that fact that one of them wants her erased. Mr. O'Malley's scrupulous attention to detail creates a believable, if somewhat unusual, governmental agency.

The upper echelon of the Chequy are fascinating characters themselves. Because Myfanwy is trying to figure out which of them might be after her, we get to know each of them well. I certainly enjoyed learning about them and their powers... and trying to figure out who did it and why.

Mr.... O'Malley has infused The Rook with wry humor, unusual supernatural beings, and a deeply absorbing mystery. The Rook made me laugh out loud, entertained me, and kept me fascinated from start to finish.

I give The Rook 5 Qwills.

Posted at The Qwillery. Read more ›

26 of 29 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Fun but flawed August 7, 2012

By D. Ben Flasher

Format:Hardcover

The Rook is a fine summer beach read. It's light and frothy fun--with its wild world full of superpowered secret agents and grotesque monsters, there's always something interesting going on. Like a typical summer blockbuster, though, it works best when you're willing to shut your brain off and look past some slapdash plotting and questionable logic.

It's not a knock against the book, but be warned that the "Supernatural Secret Service" tagline is a bit misleading. The Rook bears far more resemblance to a superhero comic than horror story or spy novel. The members of the Chequey are each gifted from birth with a unique, superhuman ability--a premise that feels more than a little similar to Marvel's X-Men comics. (Or--a more precise analogy for serious comic book geeks--with their opulent wealth and chess-based ranks, they're essentially a good guy version of the Hellfire Club.) Yes, there's a vampire, and some of the antagonists are Lovecraftian grotesques, but the book never delivers the dark, atmospheric chills of horror or growing paranoia of a good spy thriller; this is all about fast pacing and big, explosive action setpieces.

Though The Rook's story and setting owe a lot to comics, its silly and irreverent tone most closely resembles the fantasy parody writings of Terry Pratchett. There's a lot of implausibly goofy behavior both from the eccentric, dysfunctional staff at the Cheque and their various antagonists. Fortunately, the humor amuses more often than not (though never quite as much as the author's winking tone seems to think).

The book's humor, however, is at odds with its occasional attempts to build drama. On the one hand, we're invited to laugh at the Cheque as a group of buffoons.... On the other hand, we're asked to believe that they are an elite, highly-trained secret agency, facing dangers too terrifying for the average populace to know about. The Rook spends a little too much time with the former to pull off the latter successfully, and as a result, there's a lack of tension when the story tries to switch to the dramatic. Action scenes move briskly, and minor Cheque agents die in droves, but it's hard to take things seriously when characters are only a few pages away from snapping back into comic mode.

The plotting is loose and episodic. It's lively, but not always satisfying. The story begins with a great hook in Myfanwy's amnesia and discovery of her powers; letters from her pre-amnesia self initially provide some vital drive to the plot, and fill in backstory quickly. As the book goes on, though, the letters from Myfanwy 1.0 are increasingly given to meandering anecdotes. And what plot information Myfanway 1.0 does have to give, she provides slowly in long letters that read conspicuously like an author doling out flashbacks rather than a character relaying facts that will be critical to the survival of her future self. Myfanwy 2.0 seems much more concerned with going about the daily business of her job than in trying to figure out who took her memory; all of her discoveries fall into her lap either in the course of her work at the Cheque or through Myfanwy 1.0's letters (which she reads at random, plot-convenient intervals, rather than taking the logical course of reading them all at once). Still, when the plot wanders, it's almost always to an enjoyable place. The diversions are usually amusing enough that it's hard to begrudge them, even when they don't have a significant place in the overarching plot.

The book's rushed and unsatisfying conclusion is less forgivable. A major antagonist is found by tracing a fax number (not through any fancy supernatural means, mind you--just a normal, any-police-station-could-do-it-in-3-seconds trace). This antagonist is then dealt with entirely off the page. The reveal of the traitor within the Cheque lacks dramatic punch, undermined by the loose plotting and a lack of any plausible motivation. Most frustratingly, there's never an explanation for the many prognostications pre-amnesia Myfanwy received about the forthcoming theft of her memory. Considering the amount of weight the story gives to the mystery of these predictions, the lack of payoff is conspicuous.

O'Malley's biggest weakness is character voice. Most of his characters are upper-crust British spies, but they sound more like American high schoolers, frequently using slang and swearing in a distinctly American manner. Nearly all of the female characters, including Myfanwy's meek, pre-amnesia self, refer to other women as "chicks," sounding about as authentically British as Larry the Cable Guy. There's also little difference between the voices of the characters, despite their widely varying ages and backgrounds.

And then there's O'Malley's unfortunate fondness for overly descriptive "said" descriptions. People rarely just "say" things; they "remark wryly," "declare boldly," and "observe dryly." This is a habit any editor or creative writing teacher should flog out of a writer at first opportunity. The tone of a line should speak for itself. Following up a witty line with a "remarked wryly" is like a comedian following up a joke with "Pretty funny, right?"

For its flaws, though, The Rook is still a fun read. Breezy, light, and full of action, the pages fly by. Like a bag of off-brand potato chips, it's not particularly nutritious, and there are undeniably better options out there, but damned if it isn't still hard to put down. Read more ›

41 of 48 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Shut Up and Take My Money! April 20, 2012

By Nickolas X. P. Sharps VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

About once a week I get really excited about a new novel I'm reading, declaring that it might just be the best book I've read all year. Ask my friends, they'll resignedly confirm this. In keeping with tradition, 80 pages into The Rook by Daniel O'Malley my excitement was running full bore. "You have to buy this book! It is so freaking awesome!" I would say. Their reply: finish the book, write a review, and then tell us to buy it. Yeah well I've finished the book, this is me writing the review, and at the very end I'm going to tell you to buy it.

If you look up reviews or descriptions of The Rook you are bound to come away with a quite the impression. I've seen comparisons made to X-Men, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Ghostbusters, Monty Python, Men in Black, The Maltese Falcon, and The Bourne Identity. I would agree with those comparisons and hazard to throw in a few comparisons of my own. The Rook also blends the supernatural and the mundane like Lev Grossman's The Magicians, and may even be considered reminiscent of some of the creepier episodes of Doctor Who. So yeah, that is a lot to take in. It sounds like this O'Malley guy took a sci-fi/fantasy buffet and crammed it all in a blender. Fortunately the result isn't some hideous fictional slop, but a genre-bending supernatural spy thriller smoothie.

Myfanwy Thomas opens her eyes and she is not who she was. Surrounding her are dead men wearing suits and latex gloves. She is aching from a serious beating and soaked to the bone from the rain. In her pocket is a letter from her body's previous occupant warning her of an imminent threat to her life. She is given two options: run away and live in comfort or find out who has betrayed her and given her a wicked case of amnesia.... And so begins Myfanwy's service in Her Majesty's Supernatural Secret Service.

I cannot believe that The Rook is Daniel O'Malley's debut novel. Seriously. I know of plenty notable authors that go their whole career without writing anything near as inventive and entertaining as The Rook. It's almost criminal how good this book is. It even has an amnesia plot for God's sake! Amnesia plots are usually so awful. Myfanwy, without Myfanwy (pronounced like Tiffany but with an `M') I'm not sure O'Malley could have pulled it off. Myfanwy is thrust into the cloak and dagger world of the Chequy, a secret organization dedicated to defending Queen and Country against paranormal threats, with only letters from her pre-amnesia self for guidance. The two Myfanwy's really can be considered separate characters. The pre-amnesia version is shy and soft spoken, an excellent administrator with the disturbing knowledge of her impending doom. The post-amnesia version is much more assertive but still finds herself in way over her head as she adjusts to life as a Rook on the Court of the Chequy. Both Myfanwy's are lovable and the first person narrative is full of wry wit.

Other members of the Court consist of: Gestalt, four bodies (three male and one female) all controlled by one hive mind. Heretic Gubbins, a contortionist whose body is seemingly made out of rubber. Eckhart, a soldier who can sculpt metal with his bare hands. Grantchester, an executive with the ability to release nerve gas from his pores. Alrich, a seductive creature of the night. Farrier, a woman who stalks the dreams of others. And Wattleman, who I regretfully forget what his power is. These characters are both wonderfully diverse and vastly interesting. My particular favorite is Gestalt because the idea of one mind controlling four bodies simultaneously and separately is just the coolest thing ever. One of these super-powered leaders of the most powerful secret society in existence is responsible for Myfanwy's amnesia and she must discover who and why.

Despite being a member of an organization that battles threats from mankind's darkest nightmares and possessing an extremely useful super-power of her own (the gift of control over other people's nervous systems by touch alone), Myfanwy is a glorified paper pusher. She is a bureaucrat and a darn good one at that. Not only must she adjust to a new life and conduct investigation into the traitor, but she is also responsible for the daily domestic affairs of the Chequy. The Chequy is an absurdly cool organization and I would love to see some of the action from the combat personnel but O'Malley does a superb job of infusing Myfanwy's occupation with action. Reading about Myfanwy conducting operations from her office is thrilling enough and when she finally does roll up her sleeves and gets some dirt (or fungus) on her hands it is even better.

The Chequy's long standing enemies, the Grafters are equal parts disturbing and awesome. A scientific brotherhood of fleshcrafters get an A+ for originality. The threat the Grafters pose is substantial and despite all the danger and suspense O'Malley layers in copious amounts of humor. There is one paragraph listing all sorts of supernatural horrors that had me laughing all the way through. The Rook is a sort of meta-book, much in the way that The Cabin in The Wood is a movie that encompasses the whole of the horror genre. The Rook is one half homage, one half spoof, and one half evolution of the genre. Don't check my math on that.

It goes without saying (because I've been drooling in affection for the last seven paragraphs) that The Rook is an amazing novel. Fun and imaginative, O'Malley has written an instant classic. The ending remains my only complaint, once again I have come across a sort of anti-climax, but don't let that prevent you from buying this one. O'Malley has a bright future paved in gold and I simply cannot wait for the next Chequy novel. The Rook is the best book I've read all year, go buy it.

*The magical Goatfairy grants The Rook by Daniel O'Malley, 10 out of 10 cheesewands*

Nick Sharps
Goatfairy Review Blog Read more ›

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