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mellhay's review
4.0
*I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
I'm a sucker for a narrator who does different voices with the characters. So when Shawn spoke as a hellion or a demon, I smiled. He had me. Each character had their own sound/voice. When Shawn read Salem I found his voice monotone-ish. There didn't feel to have a lot of feeling to the character, however this could have been the character that's written. Salem is more of an even keel type character and independent with the life he's living.
Baltimore's Inner Harbor is turned into Razor Bay. There are demons of all sorts present. And we get a feel for the city from the get go. Wow, really did an overhaul on things when God left and demons arrived.
Salem is a very special person. What he can do and why caught my attention when he started explaining it. I really like this creation and blend for Salem and the world. Cyborgs, technology, magic, Demi-gods, and demons. Totally awesome combination!
I found the story very interesting as it's taking place years after God left. There's a reason for why he left, you get to know it. I liked this concept and spin on the world. There is a lot of details to the world and drops of how it came to be. As much as I enjoyed learning the past, sometimes I found it dragging and my mind drifted.
The story is well written in that we are given all the pieces we need before we get to the moment we need it. It all fits the events and scenes we come through. I had moments where I knew when we learned a small detail that backed current scenes as I came across them in the story. I like that I can connect those dots when reading/listening.
There is more to life than simply getting through. To feel and live it in your heart is important and what keeps you tethered to humanity. I love this feel I got. I don't know if it's a theme for the book or not, but it really stuck out for me. Salem comes through on the other side of this story learning this lesson. He may be starting to change from the closed off man to opening to those around him. There is a hint that we could get more in this world with Salem. I'm curious with this small drop.
I'm a sucker for a narrator who does different voices with the characters. So when Shawn spoke as a hellion or a demon, I smiled. He had me. Each character had their own sound/voice. When Shawn read Salem I found his voice monotone-ish. There didn't feel to have a lot of feeling to the character, however this could have been the character that's written. Salem is more of an even keel type character and independent with the life he's living.
Baltimore's Inner Harbor is turned into Razor Bay. There are demons of all sorts present. And we get a feel for the city from the get go. Wow, really did an overhaul on things when God left and demons arrived.
Salem is a very special person. What he can do and why caught my attention when he started explaining it. I really like this creation and blend for Salem and the world. Cyborgs, technology, magic, Demi-gods, and demons. Totally awesome combination!
I found the story very interesting as it's taking place years after God left. There's a reason for why he left, you get to know it. I liked this concept and spin on the world. There is a lot of details to the world and drops of how it came to be. As much as I enjoyed learning the past, sometimes I found it dragging and my mind drifted.
The story is well written in that we are given all the pieces we need before we get to the moment we need it. It all fits the events and scenes we come through. I had moments where I knew when we learned a small detail that backed current scenes as I came across them in the story. I like that I can connect those dots when reading/listening.
There is more to life than simply getting through. To feel and live it in your heart is important and what keeps you tethered to humanity. I love this feel I got. I don't know if it's a theme for the book or not, but it really stuck out for me. Salem comes through on the other side of this story learning this lesson. He may be starting to change from the closed off man to opening to those around him. There is a hint that we could get more in this world with Salem. I'm curious with this small drop.
punkhazard's review
dark
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
vinayvasan's review
4.0
Quite a super awesome, funny and creative book that mashes religion, magic, and cyberpunkish SF into a dystopian blender where God has bugged out and the demons have won. With a sarcastic first person narrative of a smuggler (with special powers), the story is basically of him moving from a loner working for this own self to become a hero as is the trope. But the journey through that is what makes this book standout
The sheer creativeness, the fast-paced nature and the character dynamics work brilliantly as does the non-stop pop-culture reference. The worldbuilding is quite awesome (in so far that this is our world, just gotten hellish) and the japes and barbs keep on coming. The action is top-notch and non-stop while some of the escapades would make Mathew Reilly proud. Yes, there is the case of the dues ex machina and how certain things conveniently fall into place but the betrayals and double-crosses (not surprising given we are dealing with demons) make this completely worth it. If I had to crib, I would say the tone of the book is a bit weird in the sense that the content is definitely adult themed but the action kind of seems cartoonish in nature. Plus a rather horrible cover
The sheer creativeness, the fast-paced nature and the character dynamics work brilliantly as does the non-stop pop-culture reference. The worldbuilding is quite awesome (in so far that this is our world, just gotten hellish) and the japes and barbs keep on coming. The action is top-notch and non-stop while some of the escapades would make Mathew Reilly proud. Yes, there is the case of the dues ex machina and how certain things conveniently fall into place but the betrayals and double-crosses (not surprising given we are dealing with demons) make this completely worth it. If I had to crib, I would say the tone of the book is a bit weird in the sense that the content is definitely adult themed but the action kind of seems cartoonish in nature. Plus a rather horrible cover
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