Lance

I never trusted the 'novela....' Always seemed like a way to eek out money from fans of a writer, without supplying a fully realized story. Something always sounded like it had to be missing.

Sanderson has changed my mind completely. I've been a huge fan of his work for years now, and chased through his various writings with abandon. I've seen his successes, and had to put down at least one of his less stellar works. I also tend to read series, excessively long series, such as Wheel of Time. I like character development, and completeness. I like the plot to move, and to see what came before, and after, and the motivations behind action. And all of that, can be found in this book. It was an amazing 3ish hours.

Don't connect this with any of his other works. Just start up, knowing it's going to be short, and love the ride.

I picked this one up, on a gamble. I knew it could be fantastic, or terrible. A number of elements I like in a story were in there:

- A controlling society
- Perversion rewarded and encouraged
- Down trodden heroes that might overcome
- Potential anti-heroes, you love to love as they do terrible things to those that need it

Sadly, the last two seem to take a back seat to rampant, near pointless, perversion. She's created a world that is ripe for destruction, and sets up any number of heroes you could get behind to do it. But for the vast majority of the book, well beyond what would be needed to establish that world, she continues it. At some point, you get tired of listening to new perversions, and just want the deserved action to start.

The magical system also bugged me a bit as well. I've perhaps been spoiled by Wheel of Time, and Mistborn, but I expected more structure, or at least definition of "Craft." Instead, it seemed introduced mostly when it was handy to solve a problem, then quickly "vanished" without any more thought. Only her treatment of the web / chalice received more than a backhanded recognition.

Save your credit, it never comes to a "climax."

I grabbed this on a road trip, expecting a riveting ride through the night.

Unfortunately, this picture was... slow. The villain himself was hollow. Sure, he was different than a regular serial killer. He had a well developed idea of why, and I give credit there. But, that's quite literally all there is to him. And it's so, so very repetitive. I got it, after the first few times. He doesn't sound more crazy with each, just more boring.

Worse so, the drawn out nature of the plot. I've heard so many places where a confrontation could have happened, and worked, and was skipped. The heroin drove me insane with her constantly self deprecation and baggage. She represents a lot of why women think they can't, when they can, and need to.

I picked up the softcover of this just to check it out. I'm a fan of the paranormal, and thrillers. Always up for a good paced book. I opened the softcover about half way in, found exactly what I was looking for, and came here.

It started out a little slow, I have to say I started grate about hearing his mother's broken English as much as he did. But that ended somewhat smoothly. And the interesting part picked up. Perhaps the main character whines just a bit too much, but there's enough action to keep things moving along well though. Fantastic imagery of the demon, good characterization too.

About half way through, you'll come on a love it or hate it character that changes the tone of the book almost significantly. There's still a demon, a quick monster thing out to rip their throats out, but humor starts taking a role in the forefront as well.

If you're looking for something evil, dark, and heart pounding, this might not satisfy. But it was a pretty good ride for me. With an, all be it unexpected, but acceptable end.