Review: I don't know exactly how to feel
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 05 22, 2014
After finishing this book, I don't know exactly how to feel.I expected to feel horrified, and at certain points I was, perhaps not at the points Steve intended, but generally speaking I felt a little disjointed.I believe this was because of the choppy way the story went from one place and time to another and then another. I don't have a solution to make it better; I just know that I didn't really get it.The introduction to the 'world' took a long time. Almost a third of the book! It held useful information, but it felt like I was being introduced to characters, ideas and concepts just to have them ripped away. You don't meet the real protagonist until about 30% in either. That meant you only had 70% of the book left in which to get to know them and feel something for them.It took a while, but eventually I did start to care for a couple of the characters. I think the kicker for me though, the turning point in my feelings for the book, revolved solely around the dog. I felt more for that wiry-haired pooch than any of the other characters. That could be because I'm an animal person, but I don't think so. In fact I believe it's got more to do with the characterisation that the dog had that the other characters were lacking.The antagonists were brilliant creations of horrific proportions, but strangely humanesque in some of their actions, protecting their young and mates for example, and so completely alien in other aspects.I didn't really appreciate the dialogue around them and their existence in their world; I think it would have been enough knowing that they came from a hellish world without all the rest of it too.The thing that kept me engaged and enjoying this story was the science/history behind the different worlds. The ley lines and the Indian culture, the standing stones and the magic that was obviously so thoroughly researched by Steve. That part of the story was steeped in so much truth that even though it was completely 'out there' I found myself wanting to believe it too.I didn't much like how things ended, but then I can't say I didn't expect it a little anyway. Steve seemed to enjoy mutilating characters, finding creative ways to dispatch them from the story and well, I guess I came to expect that any characters were potential targets, even those who deserved a second chance at things or ones who were young and innocent.This book is certainly not for the feint-hearted. It starts off slowly enough, but by the end of it you'll be wading through so much blood and guts it all just starts to blur together.This book could do with another pass over by an editor. There were plenty of little typos and formatting issues on the kindle.The things I noticed:15% - now it (was) just weeds.23% - that's what is (delete is, add it) has to do...27% - A brownish shake's (snake's)...29% - the boat ramp.. (Double full stop)31% - why did L.T. hung (hang) around...42% - ...builds things from stones.(")43% - ...each cave need(ed) to be checked...46% - ...and was (delete was) barely avoided passing talons.48% - With Speaker's dead (either speaker's death or speaker dead)54% - looking for away (a way) out.57% - ...trip to insure (ensure) everything......with hoofs drug (dragged) something through...66% - could loose (lose) that much...83% There must be away (a way).88% - ...lie (lay) crumpled... Lie x 291% - ...creature attacked knocked (either attack knocked or attacked knocking)...94% - ...and (an) expended...**Note: I was provided an electronic version of this book in return for an honest review**