Review: Great Start! Excellent Serialized Tale
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 09 25, 2012
So far, I've read the first three of the five parts to the series and I've really enjoyed the ride. Before I delve down into books four and five, I better get a review out. Wouldn't want to mix up details for the review and spoil things.In this, the first volume, we get introduced to our protagonist. William Hill...or Hill William as we come to hear him referred to...is a basic man. Divorced once and rather lonely he is now faced with something decidely not part of the everyday: a fast moving and terribly fatal disease called The Fever. Deciding that he's rather unlikely to be a lucky survivor, he makes a sort of peace with his recently deceased father and takes the sailboat he inherited so that he can die on the island he sailed with his father during better days.It's a rather beautiful start and I genuinely like the character. His interactions with D. Little (what a hoot) and the proprietor of the general store really flesh him out into a believable and knowable character. The reader is invited to like this guy and I did.Things take a rather interesting turn right away and we get a small glimpse of a bit of the terror to come, but the dark curtains don't close completely and if you are anything like me, you'll click open Part Two immediately upon finishing.As to my thoughts on this, like others, I was very confused by the dragon on the cover and that almost made me pass it up when it was suggested to me on Amazon. After Part Two, I understood the image as an allegory for the island and the bad things that are going on...sort of a crouching dragon waiting to devour those who remain. Now, after I read Parts Four and Five I may change my mind on that but for now it is a satisfying explanation for me.Overall, this story blends elements of pandemic, apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic worlds and the supernatural very well in an engaging and thoroughly enjoyable read. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy the above genre as well as those who enjoy serial fiction and supernaturally influenced thrillers.