Review: Imaginative world building
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 4, 2012
I like detailed description, the kind that encourages you to slow down your reading pace and savor every word; details that bring vivid imagery to mind, making you feel like you're watching a production unfold before you on a giant screen. McNally has accomplished this with the opening book of the Norothian Cycle. He grabs you from the start and drags you into a train of events, drama, and, at times, gut wrenching action that you can't put down.Character development is progressive, not too much at a time, and you grow to have strong feelings for the various and unusual cast of players... for good or for ill. It is a long book and the rich detail may seem ponderous to some who are used to quick reads. But it is that same rich detail that brings it to life.The author's style of writing flows smoothly with a good mixture of short and complex sentences, making it easy to read. I also appreciate that it is written in third person because so much is happening that a first person point of view would be confining. I didn't notice any errors but I am not a grammarian; if the story moves along without distraction I am not picky. The only thing I take issue with, and it is minor, is the seemingly endless list of unusual names and places. I have the feeling, though, that the fantasy genre is especially prone to that tendency. However, this is a well written story that any fantasy or adventure lover will thoroughly enjoy. And the bonus is two sequels. McNally has given us a great start to a compelling saga.