Review - The Warlords of Nin

I ended up giving up on this book. I tend to like Stephen Lawhead's writing, or I certainly did when I was little, but this is really, really purple prose. There's thinly veiled references to Christianity, which don't ordinarily bother me, but which began to build up. There was a terrible love scene, from which I have a quote that makes me die a little:

"There is trouble, Bria. I feel it, though all about me appears peaceful and serene. I start at shadows, and night gives no rest; it is as if the wind itself whispers an alarm to my ears, but no sound is heard."
Bria sighed deeply and clutched him tighter. "What is happening? What will become of us, my darling?"
"I do not know. But I promise you this: I will love you forever."
They held each other for awhile, and the sun rose and filled the sky with golden light.
"See how the sun banishes the darkness. So love will send our troubles fleeing far from us -- I promise."
"Can love accomplish so much, do you think?" Bria said dreamily.
"It can do all things."

Seriously? Ugh.

Add to that my growing feeling that women are reduced to wives in the story -- even in the first book, now I actually think about it. Alinea can't possibly rule in her husband's stead, it seems. Bria isn't even considered for the succession. No, it's the big brave strong religious men must save the world.

Okay, I get writing in a kind of medievalish world. But seriously, it's another world! You don't have to carry our medieval society over!

I'd still be reading, though, despite this, if the characters were somewhat more than cardboard cutouts, or the story at all original. Not impressed.

Review - Cell

Cell is a little like The Stand. There's the same big apocalyptic event wiping out parts of humanity, and the us against them mentality, similar problems of survival. However, there are quite a few differences, too.

For starters, the first thing I noticed was the much quicker beginning to the action. By page eight, in my copy, things were going to hell. No big build-up introducing us to a ton of characters. I actually quite liked it. It sucked me in pretty fast, and it didn't cost much in terms of characterisation -- I still got to know and love the characters.

It's also not as... explained as The Stand. In that, we knew what was happening. With Cell, we're in the dark and we have no idea what is really going on, or why. We have the same journey of discovery as the characters. The pseudo-science is also on much shakier grounds. I was able to suspend my disbelief enough to read it, but your mileage may well vary. Particularly as, be warned, this book does not come with explanations as to why, which definitely did irritate me.

This reminds me of From A Buick 8, which is the same deal, but even that has more closure than Cell. I quite liked the uncertainty, and the last line, but I wasn't ready to leave the story, really.

Not my favourite King novel, but definitely okay for a quick, immersive read, I think.