Tuesday, May 8, 2012

The Rook

I've finished Daniel O'Malley's The Rook.  I enjoyed it thoroughly and would describe as Dr. Who meets Wild Cards (without the latter's rough bits).  At first glance, I thought it would present a secret world filled with magic, more The Atrocity Archives.  But in fact, it's really a story of secret government superhumans fighting each other and the supernatural (which is anything kept from the general populace).

It's hook and the device O'Malley uses to introduce the reader to his world is exceptional, and what originally drew me into the book.

I heartily recommend it.

However, I need another book to read.  I have Wise Man's Fear (the first part, Name of the Wind was so good, I'm worried it won't live up), waiting in the wings, but I'm open for suggestions.

What should I read next?

4 comments:

Daddy Grognard said...

I don't really know what you've read before or what your tastes are but stuff that I've recently read that I really enjoyed includes Joe Abercrombie's First Law Trilogy and the stand-along (but same world) Best Served Cold - think a fantasy Kill Bill. The Bartimaeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud is very good, although YA. What else? China Mieville, Robert Holdstock's Mythago Wood, Bakker's Prince of Nothing if you like your fantasy bleak and philosophically dense to the point of unintelligibility; the first few Temeraire books by Naomi Novik. I could go on...

That having been said, I really didn't like Wise Man's Fear.

Unknown said...

I would recommend Kevin Hearn's Iron Druid Series. The first book is Hounded. Very good and dripping with mythology. I have this book on my to read list.

Cross Planes said...

Thanks for the suggestions. As soon as I figure out what's next, you'll see it on the blog!

Cross Planes said...

BTW, Daddy Grognard, did you see Mieville is writing DC's NEW 52 book Dial H? I thoroughly enjoyed the first issue.

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