Review: Cerebral and Captivating
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 09 19, 2013
Fortuna's Bastard is a superbly written and engaging, cohesive story that garnered my intrigue from the very beginning. The book has a raw, gritty, and unapologetic tone that is enhanced by Wellhauser's impeccable use of diction. Setting descriptions are thoroughly detailed, allowing the reader to conjure vivid imagery.The characters exhibit a peculiar eccentricity, though they are still believable and relatable; they may remind us of ourselves, or others we know, at times - and yet, they represent a primordial ontology that exists within us all. The teenage protagonist, Matt, seems a bit too wise for his age, but I was willing to suspend my disbelief as he also possesses a certain ideological puerility. However, side characters are introduced only tangentially, making it difficult for the reader to understand their relation to others and their significance in the plot. The plot is unpredictable and maintains the reader's attention throughout the novel, although it is a tad slow at the beginning.Because of the attention to detail and intricacy, the book is one that requires a focused and mindful reading in order to glean the complex narrative signification in its entirety. All in all I truly enjoyed Fortuna's Bastard - it is intellectually written and Wellhauser is an incredibly talented author. I look forward to reading the rest of the series and highly recommend this novel.