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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
I've seen a few reviews talking about how this is the best debut novel of 2020 thus far. I have to disagree. Although I really enjoyed this book, it didn't blow me away. There was a ton of research obviously, but there were a few things about this book that I didn't care for. For starters, there was one sentence that was repeated over and over throughout the book, which I can imagine was supposed to be a through-line for the book, but after the third time, I got tired of it.
This book also transitions between first-person POV and third-person. I really do like and enjoy first-person, third-person, and a combination like this one. I did find, however, that there didn't seem to be near as much first-person chapters as the other. This somewhat detracted from the story, as you were able to see what was happening outside of the protagonists POV. I've found that first-person novels need to be more of a protagonist finding things out along with the reader.
I did think this novel was great, but I can't say it is in my top for the year, but I applaud this great debut novel.
This book also transitions between first-person POV and third-person. I really do like and enjoy first-person, third-person, and a combination like this one. I did find, however, that there didn't seem to be near as much first-person chapters as the other. This somewhat detracted from the story, as you were able to see what was happening outside of the protagonists POV. I've found that first-person novels need to be more of a protagonist finding things out along with the reader.
I did think this novel was great, but I can't say it is in my top for the year, but I applaud this great debut novel.
Really good novel! I'll definitely be reading all future books from this author.
Notes:
Low end of 3 Stars
I got this book because I saw the latest book released for the series in the bookstore. The narrator is not great & very stiff. The writing doesn't grab me and I find the whole plot/characters to be rather flat. Not at all exciting.
Low end of 3 Stars
I got this book because I saw the latest book released for the series in the bookstore. The narrator is not great & very stiff. The writing doesn't grab me and I find the whole plot/characters to be rather flat. Not at all exciting.
Thanks to Penguin Random House for my advanced reader's copy of this book
[b:Without Sanction|46280686|Without Sanction (Matt Drake #1)|Don Bentley|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1562453512l/46280686._SY75_.jpg|71287195] is overall a solid read. It uses some political thriller bits that feel pretty standard, and most of the twists you can see coming, but what makes it stand out is the whole redemption arc it has for Drake and the unexpected (for me at least) way it plays out. There's also the fact that the use of character foils does a lot to reinforce that arc.
Can the meditations on Syria be a little heavy-handed sometimes? Of course. Does this book have aspects which make it stand out from your average political thriller? Also yes.
[b:Without Sanction|46280686|Without Sanction (Matt Drake #1)|Don Bentley|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1562453512l/46280686._SY75_.jpg|71287195] is overall a solid read. It uses some political thriller bits that feel pretty standard, and most of the twists you can see coming, but what makes it stand out is the whole redemption arc it has for Drake and the unexpected (for me at least) way it plays out. There's also the fact that the use of character foils does a lot to reinforce that arc.
Can the meditations on Syria be a little heavy-handed sometimes? Of course. Does this book have aspects which make it stand out from your average political thriller? Also yes.