Review: A unique twist on history
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 16, 2014
"Midnight Riders" by Pete Clark is an action-packed re-telling of the beginning of the American Revolution. It follows characters such as Paul Revere, Daniel Boone, Benjamin Franklin, Samuel Prescott...you get the picture....as they traverse the thirteen colonies and fight werewolves, zombies, and many other mythical creatures. That's right the British isn't their number one concern! It's all the monsters that have come to join the fighting. This is the "true, unheard tale" of the American Revolution and what a fun one it is!I'm gonna be honest with you. I didn't love this book, but I didn't hate it either. There were times I was laughing so hard at the ridiculousness (is that a word?) of the situations the main characters found themselves in that I had tears streaming down my face. Then there were times that I was re-reading a section because it made no sense. But I guess that's the point really. As much as this is a historical fiction, it is also satire. And I have to say the dry humor won out!The characters are funny, and because it is written with today's vernacular, the situations they find themselves in made me laugh out loud. Paul Revere is depicted as the bumbling idiot, instead of the rebel who warned of the British invasion. He was so stupid!! To use one of my favorite Southern sayings....Bless his heart! Daniel Boone is also a main character, and he is a no nonsense kind of guy, and he's my favorite!Then there's the monsters of the story....werewolves, zombies, dragons, wyvern, succubae, and many others. Pretty much think about a mythical creature and it's probably in the story. The French team up with the Indians during the French and Indian War and a character named Guyasuta begins researching why these monsters appeared in North America and not "across the pond." They decide that the monsters started showing up 200 years earlier and the story revolves around the why and how to get rid of them. Especially the how to get rid of them since they seem to be drawn to fighting and the Revolution is on the horizon.This is a fantastical blend of history, sci-fi, and fantasy. Real people, real events all surrounded by the world that the author has created. Overall, it is nicely done. If you know me, you know my vice is historical fiction and fantasy. However this is the first time I've ever read a blend of the two genres, and to be completely honest it just didn't work for me. What did work was the dry humor and satirical nature of the story itself. FYI this book does contain some graphic violence (hello....zombies!!) and strong language so I'd suggest it for those over 18. If you enjoy a good fantasy novel, like a little history, and want a good laugh, I highly recommend you check out this book.***I received a copy of this ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review.***