Review: Modern, edgy, and unique - MUST READ
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 20, 2013
Kickass Guns & Samurai Swords is a modern and edgy novel. It hits the ground running with the action and gritty realism. The first chapter drops you right in the middle of the protagonist's journey. You will be captivated as you orient yourself to what is going on. You will be immersed in the action and feel like you are there.There are many moments of humor in the story. While not funny in the conventional sense, there is a dark and at times twisted strain of humor behind the dialogue. If this is your sense of humor, you will find Kickass Guns & Samurai Swords truly enjoyable. The author has an understated way with words. Each scene builds on the next, and everything is intertwined. Details you may overlook at first will be important later. The more you read, the more you will appreciate the subtle yet hard hitting writing.At first, it is a bit of a challenge to really get into the author's head and see things from the character's point of view, but this is quickly overcome. It is impossible to pinpoint exactly when, but as you turn the pages and venture further into the plot, things will start to click. Like everything else about this novel, this is a fluid process, and things will be explained not by having everything laid out, but by experiencing them yourself. Once you arrive, you will not want to leave.It is difficult to sum up Craig Askham's work. It is truly different. Dark, but enjoyable. Gloomy, but engaging. Fantasy, but grippingly real and engrossing. The ending is quite brilliant. It wraps up the plot, but leaves more questions as it does. There is enough closure to satisfy your curiosity and more than enough questions to pique it further. It also leaves the perfect cliffhanger for the next book. This is the first of a trilogy, and I can't wait to read the rest of the series.There is quite a bit of cursing in this book. Personally, I felt the language added to the grit and atmosphere, but some readers may be offended. Kickass Guns & Samurai Swords is definitely a book for adults only. If you are looking for a mature, modern, and unique read, I would really recommend Kickass Guns & Samurai Swords.