Review: Unique and Engaging
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 18, 2014
I found Apollo's Curse to have a bit of a slow start. I found Dane's character hard to connect with and his condescending attitude is more than a bit off-putting. This initial impression is enhanced by the combination of first person and narrative writing that Vance uses. I kept plugging away however and about 20% into the story found myself starting to engage.Dane's character becomes clearer, his struggles more personal, and the addition of more supporting characters began to enhance the overall dynamic. Half way through the story I was completely hooked. Rather than laying everything out plainly for readers, Vance develops his story using veiled suggestions and slowly reveals details that readers must put together themselves in order to complete the puzzle. I found myself turning the pieces over in my head while trying to anticipate where the story was leading me.The heart of this story is in the journey. As Dane struggles to discover the cause of his obsession and attempts to reconcile his analytical mind with the reality living out a curse that is rooted in ancient mythology, his character is easier to empathise with.I would have liked to have seen a bit more follow through at the end. It felt a bit abrupt and there were a few questions that remained unanswered but it's possible that was done intentionally. Overall, Apollo's Curse is a book worth reading. Despite the occasional pacing issues and a few editing errors, I found the story premise to be unique and engaging.A copy of Apollo's Curse was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.