Review: Familiar concepts, fun execution - a promising start to a new series.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 10 13, 2011
In Zero Sight, the debut novel from B. Justin Shier, we're introduced to Dieter Resnick, a self-proclaimed nerd with an unusual ability - a Sight - that lets him see auras and perceive threats. When his ability manifested in a new - and highly explosive - way, Dieter was offered a scholarship at a prestigious private university, one that trains students in the use of magic. His journey to school takes him across the depression-ravaged country, where he meets the beautiful and deadly vampire Rei Bathory and learns that the magicians at the university aren't the only ones who have taken an interest in his life.I know what you're thinking. This isn't exactly a new concept. It's more or less Harry Potter in college, and Lev Grossman's excellentThe Magicians: A Novelalready covered that territory most effectively. And the whole vampire as romantic interest angle sounds vaguely familiar as well, though to be fair Rei is hardly some sparkly vegetarian vampire. Still, at the end of the day what I'm looking for is a fun story with memorable characters, and in that regard Zero Sight more than delivers.While The Magicians was more self-aware (Grossman was at least up front about riffing on the Harry Potter and Narnia books) and culturally relevant, Zero Sight reads a lot like a Jim Butcher-style urban fantasy, which isn't a bad thing at all. The characters are fascinating, there's great dialogue, a nice balance of action and character development, and Shier introduces enough twists and unusual takes on the magical staples that you can't help but get into the story. The ending is a bit of a letdown, but it is an effective way to set up future novels, and by the end you're definitely hooked enough to want to read more. I'd recommend Zero Sight to anyone who enjoyed The Magicians, The Dresden Files series and older fans of the Harry Potter novels. It may not be the most original concept, but it's definitely a fun read.