Drew Bowling - Reviewer
Drew Bowling is one of the nicest guys I have met online. He is also an avid fantasy reader and the newest writer to be published by Del Rey Books (for a fun, fast read pick up The Tower of Shadows). When Drew learned I was writing a book and had posted the first few chapters online for fans to read, he read those excerpts and asked to read my book when it was done. I gave it to him a few weeks ago and he wrote this review upon finishing the book:
"Song of the Fell Hammer is a solid debut. Shawn examines myriad themes in his fantasy novel with a seriousness that belies his lack of writing experience, crafting complex characters who deal with issues of great import to the real world. The struggles these characters face give rise to pertinent moral questions, triggering believable evolutions as protagonists. One the book’s greatest strengths is Godwyn Keep, which serves as an allegory for organized religion; Shawn uses a fictional magisterium to probe the virtues and vices of a real world faith in a balanced manner, and on a scale seldom seen in epic fantasy. But best of all, the book is fun. Readers looking for an entertaining adventure will not be disappointed. Song of the Fell Hammer has moments of dark and gritty violence--paganism and witchplay cast unsettling shadows throughout the story--but will appeal to fans of authors such as Terry Brooks, R.A. Salvatore, and David Eddings. The book has flaws, but pointing them out in a public forum at this prepublication stage, when Shawn still has time to polish his manuscript, wouldn’t serve any purpose. It is important to state that many people who frequent this forum should find much to enjoy in his novel."
Drew also likened aspects of the book to how George R. R. Martin tells a story, which I am pleased with. My characters are not cardboard cutouts, and that is what I am most happy about. I hope others see that too. If I've written a book that might be liked by George R. R. Martin fans as well as Terry Brooks and R.A. Salvatore fans, then I've done my job. Now let's hope I've done it well.
"Song of the Fell Hammer is a solid debut. Shawn examines myriad themes in his fantasy novel with a seriousness that belies his lack of writing experience, crafting complex characters who deal with issues of great import to the real world. The struggles these characters face give rise to pertinent moral questions, triggering believable evolutions as protagonists. One the book’s greatest strengths is Godwyn Keep, which serves as an allegory for organized religion; Shawn uses a fictional magisterium to probe the virtues and vices of a real world faith in a balanced manner, and on a scale seldom seen in epic fantasy. But best of all, the book is fun. Readers looking for an entertaining adventure will not be disappointed. Song of the Fell Hammer has moments of dark and gritty violence--paganism and witchplay cast unsettling shadows throughout the story--but will appeal to fans of authors such as Terry Brooks, R.A. Salvatore, and David Eddings. The book has flaws, but pointing them out in a public forum at this prepublication stage, when Shawn still has time to polish his manuscript, wouldn’t serve any purpose. It is important to state that many people who frequent this forum should find much to enjoy in his novel."
Drew also likened aspects of the book to how George R. R. Martin tells a story, which I am pleased with. My characters are not cardboard cutouts, and that is what I am most happy about. I hope others see that too. If I've written a book that might be liked by George R. R. Martin fans as well as Terry Brooks and R.A. Salvatore fans, then I've done my job. Now let's hope I've done it well.
posted by Shawn C. Speakman | 10:48 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home