Review: Excellent start to an epic series.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 04 5, 2012
I wasn't sure what I would make of Steve Finnegan's Into the Mist as I started reading. I enjoy fantasy though I'm getting a little jaded by books trying to hook me into series. I'm fascinated by how the mind works, but I'm not sure how well sympathy and illness lead to plausible characters. And I love ancient mythology but sometimes feel dismayed at how modern stories tend to use it instead of reinterpreting it.That said, I actually enjoyed this book a lot and was sorry to read the final page. Please, please... I want some more. The story doesn't finish, which ought to annoy me. But it does have a reasonable sense of completeness and doesn't cheat the reader. Gabe's Temporal Lobe Epilepsy really does become integral to the story. And the mythology delights, with just enough hints of the familiar to heighten a powerful sense of mystery.The real-world parts of this story bring Gabe to a new home, school and town. The background to his illness is left to be discovered as the story continues rather than forced down the reader's throat, and his parents' and brother's different responses to his TLE are pleasingly plausible, with just enough space for change. School is a challenge, especially when the bullies attack Gabe's difference, and there are some truly scary, sadly believable scenes. I really admire the author's ability to create realistic atmosphere and threat without using offensive words, though very occasional minor slips frustrated me.Meanwhile another world lies just beyond the edge of mystery. There's a nice interplay between duty and trust, following your calling and doing as you must. The modern world ignores the past and nature at its peril, and Into the Mist feeds that peril very nicely into a closely tied fantasy world. Witches, sacrifice, swords and sorcery combine with nice humor, great dialog, wonderful characters and real-world problems to create a novel that, despite its length, comes too quickly to its end.Uneven in places, but quickly absorbing, well-imagined and well-told, I really enjoyed this tale.Disclosure: I received a free ecopy of this novel from the author in exchange for my honest review.