A Review - A Fools Hope - Mike Shackle


I went into this book immediately on the back of reading 'We Are The Dead' which means I picked it up with high expectations. Obscenely high expectations. The kind of expectations that can only set you up to be disappointed, right? WRONG. This book takes everything Mike Shackle does well in the first book and builds on it fantastically. As the tides turn the constant fear and uncomfortable tension that I loved so much about book 1 should fade but it doesn't, Shackle does a near perfect job of developing this story in a way that avoids giving the main characters that cheesy invincible feeling, anyone can go at any time.


That being said, this book does address the only thing I wasn't overly enamoured with from book one which was the ever changing supporting cast, the cast of characters is far more settled this time out and it allows you to develop more of an emotional attachment to characters outside of Tinnstra. A special mention here for Dren who in my opinion is one of the most well written characters and individual character journeys in modern fantasy.

In terms of pacing 'A Fools Hope' maintains the fast pace we got from the first book with very little in the way of lulls and a cliff hanger at the end of pretty much every chapter, seriously if you pick this book up be ready to be head down in it for 4 hours or more.

Finally, another special mention for how well Mike Shackle writes a Villain, I've drawn this comparison before but for me Raaku, Lord Bacas, The Monsutas, Francin and The Egril in general are on a par with J.R.R. Tolkeins Orcs.

I cannot recommend this series enough, grab a copy, grab two and give one to your friend, it doesn't matter, just buy and read these books.

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