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bmacenlightened's review
4.0
So this was a really odd read,and felt like a lot of stuff went on that I didn't really understand. But at the same time that was kind of the aesthetic of the story and therefore it added to the inherent mystique of the situation that the characters had themselves in.
Mara and Samuel were good fleshed out characters whereas Major and Kole were left almost purposefully one dimensional, perhaps because of the length and the way they were utilized in the plot development.
The world was an interesting place to say the least, with a whole lot of stuff about rebirth and values and even the undefeatable forces had a purpose to them.
I'm not sure if I'd read the sequel, but the first one was definitely interesting enough to recommend to someone looking for a thinking man's existential cerebral kind of horror story.
Mara and Samuel were good fleshed out characters whereas Major and Kole were left almost purposefully one dimensional, perhaps because of the length and the way they were utilized in the plot development.
The world was an interesting place to say the least, with a whole lot of stuff about rebirth and values and even the undefeatable forces had a purpose to them.
I'm not sure if I'd read the sequel, but the first one was definitely interesting enough to recommend to someone looking for a thinking man's existential cerebral kind of horror story.
jimig83's review
5.0
The author has created possibly 1 of the best dark fantasy books that I've ever read!!
Fantastic use of words to describe an alternate world; full of sorrow and despair, but also hope and belief that culminates in a cliffhanger that will seriously leave you wanting answers!!
I'm hoping that those answers will be found in book 2 of the series.....
Fantastic use of words to describe an alternate world; full of sorrow and despair, but also hope and belief that culminates in a cliffhanger that will seriously leave you wanting answers!!
I'm hoping that those answers will be found in book 2 of the series.....
brewergnome's review
2.0
Bleh.
I *think* the concept was decent, but there's so little coherency. I understand the desire to keep things mysterious and let you find things out as the character does but... so little is found out. And the characters are all terrible people. I just couldn't find anything to hold onto.
I *think* the concept was decent, but there's so little coherency. I understand the desire to keep things mysterious and let you find things out as the character does but... so little is found out. And the characters are all terrible people. I just couldn't find anything to hold onto.
moore151's review
3.0
The book reminds me a lot of Stephen King, especially Langoliers and the Dark Tower series. I really enjoyed the ending but struggled through the middle. I would recommend this to anyone that enjoys Stephen King books.
kylewestwriter's review
4.0
This is an esoteric and ultimately well-told dark fantasy story. It takes awhile for it to pick up, as the beginning is quite disorienting.
The beginning is a bit slow and confusing. We don't really know who the character is; indeed, he doesn't know himself, and the entire book is him trying to figure it out. However, it is done well, and it is fascinating to see how things come together as the main character moves about the world and rediscovers snippets of his past.
Portal Arcane is definitely not a conventional tale. It has flashbacks galore, although the flashbacks are integral to the story. It is slow-building, but don't think it doesn't have any action. It definitely has its creepy moments, and the main terror of the story lies in that of inevitability. Definitely toward the end I could not put it down.
It is well-edited - I only caught a few errors, and it is definitely worth more than the $.99 I paid for it.
It took a while to get into, which was my main problem with the book. That said, I'm glad I stuck it out because this has been one of the more interesting novellas I've read.
The beginning is a bit slow and confusing. We don't really know who the character is; indeed, he doesn't know himself, and the entire book is him trying to figure it out. However, it is done well, and it is fascinating to see how things come together as the main character moves about the world and rediscovers snippets of his past.
Portal Arcane is definitely not a conventional tale. It has flashbacks galore, although the flashbacks are integral to the story. It is slow-building, but don't think it doesn't have any action. It definitely has its creepy moments, and the main terror of the story lies in that of inevitability. Definitely toward the end I could not put it down.
It is well-edited - I only caught a few errors, and it is definitely worth more than the $.99 I paid for it.
It took a while to get into, which was my main problem with the book. That said, I'm glad I stuck it out because this has been one of the more interesting novellas I've read.
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