Review: The Best Book I've Read All Year
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 21, 2012
This has to be the best book that I've read all year. The writing is subperb, the cadence is musically poetic, the characterization is masterful, the plot is carefully crafted, the pace is non-stop, the ending knocks you off your feet and the overall impression of the book is simply outstanding. I can't say it enough, this author is truly superlative. I can't wait for more of Mr. Crow, and more of him I will get in the future I am assured by the author. So, now down to the details of I Know Not.THE PLOT: A gentleman wakes up in a castle with a nasty headwound and no memory, surrounded by dead bodies and body parts, after a hellacious battle has taken place. After collecting himself somewhat, he explores, his surroundings, and finds he is the only living human in the place. Two sides have battled it out, taking heavy losses on both sides and left him for dead. He has no idea of who he is. No idea of his name. No idea of what side he has fought on. His response to all the questions in his head is I know not. After passing out several times, he believes that it would best if he left the castle, as death tends to bring with it the plague, so he takes off in a direction that looks good and that is where out story begins. The story is about the adventures of the man who eventually garners the name Fox Crow. His only natural talent it seems is for killing. He can kill with just about any implement, be it a needle, rod, sword, exotic poison, scarf, garotte, or his bare hands. He knows all the ways. He also knows all the ways of stealth, as well as the ways to manipulate people into doing what he wants. These seem to float up out of his memory unbidden. Like floating up out of a fog. He also seems to know the normal behaviours of people at work, such as farmers in fields and other laborers and traders. But if you ask how he knows, he will tell you, " I know not."  His adventures lead him into adventures as a rescuer of a damself in distress, as a bodyguard, as a guard commander, as an assassin hunter, as teacher of boy guards, as a travelling guard, as a personal bodyguard, and finally, as a guest to a noble. The action is thick and fierce. The twists in the plot come quickly as we find out with Fox, bits of who he is at the same time as he battles people everywhere. Some people know more about who he is than he does, but won't tell him. At the same time, supernatural forces are trying to lay claim to his soul. The plot is amazingly complex, yet building from nothing, Ross layers complexity like an artists layers paint on a canvas to create a masterwork. When he's done - you have something beautiful. For Characterization I give Ross an A+++THE CHARACTERIZIATION: Here too Ross had to start out with nothing. Crow didn't even have a name when he left the castle. He did have a sword, which was good, because the need to defend himself was paramount in this novel. Just like in the plot, Ross layers the characterization for Crow bit by bit as you go through the book, starting at the castle where we first see the man through his own eyes, as the book is told from Crow's POV. This was a stroke of genius, not ever switching over to other characters, as Crow is such a unique character, that he made the novel unique as well. His voice and thoughts set the tone for the book. He's a strong man, knowing and getting what he wants - you can see that right off. He's clearly a killer, but is he a killer for good or evil? But who is he really? We find out as he does. Surprises come is small packages along the way. The other characters in the book are all secondary, but get treated quite well in characterization. Aelia, Gelia, the boy guards, all get fully characterized as three dimensionally human. Even the tertiary characters get good treatment in Ross' hands. Some of the nobels for instance. Ross cannot put a character to a page without giving almost full characterization. I love that about him. It makes the book such a rich reading experience. For Characterization I give Ross an A+++DIALOGUE; The most interesting diaglogue and most numerous happened inside of Crow's head as he talked to himself about each situation at hand and what to do about it. Crow is articulate, observant and terse. The actual dialogue between characters is kept to a minimum. and consists of Milady this, or Sir that. Very short sentences that either give or receive orders. The only one who actually didn't talk this way was Gelia, who spoke to Crow as if he were a human being, and spoke in cryptic sentences, as she was one of the people who understood things about him that he did not. She knew that he was fighting a supernatural battle inside himself and she wanted his current self to come out on top, so she encouraged him. The boy guards every once and a while asked him questions about this or that method of killing people. They were in awe of him, and a little scared as well. The dialogue is all credible especially what is Crow's head, it is amazing. Depending on what comes out of the fog in his brain, it can be rather frightening as well. I give Ross an A+++ for Dialogue.THE PACING; The pacing in the book grabs your whole head, brain and all, and won't let go until it's done with you. This is not an undemanding book. It demands that you read it until it's done with you, which is until you are finished with the book. Don't put it down. Don't walk away. Don't dare close the cover, because the book demands that you continue, as does Crow. I have never seen a book like this with pacing this quick, and a character that demands to be read. The action in non-stop. It never slows down. Just when you think you've got a reprieve and can go into the kitchen for a drink or a snack, you've been fooled. Whack! Out comes the sword and off come arms, heads, legs and there are bodies bleeding everywhere, even animals a time or too. The only time the pacing lets up is when you turn that last page, indicating you are done, and with a heavy heart, you close the book, knowing no more Fox Crow. Sad and elated at the same moment, you sit and sigh. Should I read it over again just to get that same rush? For Pacing I give Ross an A+++THE ENDING: The ending in the book left me totally surprised. Nothing and no one could have guessed what would have happened in the end of this novel. Not even the psychic hotline. The ending wrapped up the loose ends on Crow's part but opened up all new ones that leaves the reader reeling. The other loose ends in the story get wrapped up quite nicely and come to a quite pleasing ending. That part was very satisfying. As to Crow, his future is so open, you want his next novel to be here right now, so that you can immerse yourself in his next adventures to make sure that he is alright as he kills his way through his future. That his new associate doesn't cash in what is owed to him, at least not quickly, so that we can get some more Crow books before it happens. For the Ending, I give Ross an A+++.THE UPSHOT: The upshot of all of this, is that, as I said in the beginning, is that this is the best book that I have read all year. This book is not for the squeamish. There are a lot of scenes where body parts fly and blood flows, some of it Crow's.  If you don't like that kind of thing, then this book is not for you. But if you can get around that type of thing, or if it doesn't matter, then please join me, revel in this book. Anyone who reads English, should read this book. It's that good! I recommend it everyone who reads English that doesn't faint at the sight of blood. Crow is a master assassin who is a glory to watch calculating the odds of survival in any situation where he must either protect himself or his charge. His glorious intellect comes to the forefront when he is doing this, and it is amazing to see how the truly smart criminal element thinks, moves and watches, then acts. All I can say is WOW! Get the book and read it! It's a slice of life; like a hit man from the dark ages come to life just for you.  Like Michael Corleone in the 1300s without his family. This is one adventure you don't want to miss.