Review: Sophomore slump
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 07 19, 2013
I REALLY wanted to like this book. I liked the first one so well I even signed up for the authors email blog updates so I would have advanced notice of this books release, something I've never done before or since. However all the things that made the first one so good were either absent, stilted or predictable. Now granted, the final third of the book improved. The plot thickened and twisted a bit although I must admit a good portion of it I had already put together. Still the things that made the first one so enjoyable were gone, such as the rather nasty but lovingly playful banter between Blake and his bodyguard reminiscent of Robert B.Parker's Spencer and Hawk. I know Mr.Stephenson has a great deal of talent, the first book proved that, but I think he forgot one very important rule when writing a series. It's more important to write each book well instead of writing them quickly. The final third of the book is what got it three stars. Without it it would have gotten less. I don't like giving bad reviews especially on a book I so looked forward to but I have to be honest, sorry Mr. Stephenson. I do look forward to the next one, hope it will be more like the first.