Review: Clever dialogues mixed with fast paced action
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 24, 2014
Hunters of the Last Dungeon is the beginning of a dystopian dark fantasy adventure. I knew that before I opened the book, but what I found out was much more. It is also a coming of age novel, because the scenario and the context within the plot are contingent to the characters’ personal growth. Olly is 15 years old and Hiro is “almost 13”. They want to become hunters, for a variety of reasons (Hiro’s real motivation isn’t disclosed until later on – and it adds much more complexity to the character). Olly wants to become a hunter to escape the slums of Teigen, and her determination in doing so is only surpassed by her intelligence. Hiro and Olly complement one another, but most of all, they create a bond of friendship that is intensively described through the profusion of dialogues. This is a key point to me. Under the most extreme situations, the characters resort to conflict resolution through communication and reasoning, instead of mindless violence. This also illustrates how the protagonists are leaving adolescence behind: the Last Dungeon is, in a sense, their rite of passage, and an extremely tough one.Olly is a strong female character. It’s a relief to read a book with strong female characters (Dasha also fits in this category), who have great lines of dialogue. As a matter of fact, it pleases me because it shows commitment to women empowerment, and it helps to compensate the lack of attention women got in fiction in the past, by being portrayed as mere decoration or as a foil to male protagonists. Reading about female characters who aren’t the typical damsel in distress certainly can provide a good role model to teens.The history is told in a subjective third-person perspective interleaved on a linear storytelling. There are brief reminiscences regarding what got the characters’ where they are, but mostly the plot is focused on going forward.In this sense, this book is a page turner. It’s concise, yet rich in descriptions. There is a good balance between descriptions, dialogues and action. The author doesn’t overdo the usage of adjectives. This is essential to keep the readability, especially because this is an adventure book, therefore, dependent on a fast paced narrative.I recommend this book to anyone who liked The Hunger Games trilogy or “journey to personal growth” books such as The Hobbit.