A vigilante cop who murders those who deserve it. You won't find that part questionable.
In spite of the forensic detail, the book has a kind of surface feel. I couldn't get involved with either of the main characters, and although I certainly don't advocate vigilante justice, it is hard to feel any sympathy for the victims. Since the victims are so despicable, the idea of a moral question is lessened.
Evidently the first in a new series featuring Maggie Gardiner and Jack Renner. I probably won't follow up on this one.
NetGalley/Kensington Books
Mystery/Thriller. April 26, 2016. Print version: 336 pages.
The Emperor's Railroad is a post-apocalyptic, dystopian novella. A zombie plague, knights and angels (?), a mechanical beast, protected compounds....
The story is told in retrospect by Abney, who was a twelve-year-old boy fleeing with his mother from a town overrun by zombies at the time of the story. Now, Abney is an old man, but his stories still carry weight.
Abney relates how Quinn, a wandering knight, aids Abney and his mother on their journey to a place of safety. There are some interesting elements to the world that Haley has built, and he obviously has a larger picture in his mind; he has, however, focused on this one little episode, this journey in which Quinn accompanies Abney and his mother.
I'm not a great fan of novellas, although this one has the feeling of being part of a more overarching storyline that would reveal more about the situation of this post-apocalyptic world.
NetGalley/Tor/Forge
SciFi/Fantasy/Dystopian. April 19, 2016. Print length: 176 pages.
That Darkness sounds like it has a great premise and characterisation as well but a pity about that disconnection feeling. To me it's part of the factor which determines my liking for a book.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a great fan of novellas too so I'll probably give The Emperor's Railroad a miss.
That need to feel a connection to characters is huge, isn't it?
DeleteI am sure The Emperor's Railroad will turn out to be a teaser for a new series or something...
ReplyDeleteYou may be right. Obviously, Abney would not be a part of it, but the wandering Quinn has more to his story.
DeleteI'm not a fan of vigilante justice either: after all, the wrong thing done for the right reason, is still the wrong thing. But I might give the novella a try. :)
ReplyDeleteI didn't even feel that the moral question was of great consequence since the bad guys were so awful.
DeleteIt sounds like I am taking the opposite stance. I might try That Darkness but I'll pass on another post-apocalyptic story. I have read something by Lisa Black before. I'll have to check my back lists. Since nothing stands out maybe I should bypass that too?
ReplyDeleteA lot of people who reviewed it on Goodreads liked That Darkness, it wasn't a book that really reached me in any way. I thought I'd read something else by Black, but I couldn't find a record of having done so.
DeleteToo bad the Lisa Black wasn't better. I do have that one on my stack to read too and I'll give it a shot and see what I think. Now the novella sounds out there but I like it!
ReplyDelete:) The Darkness wasn't a good fit for me, but you may like it!
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