Visitor Login
Book Review
 |
SHADOW OPS: CONTROL POINT
Genre: Fantasy, General Fantasy
An intriguing and imaginative journey to an alternate world with plenty of action and some fascinating fictional creatures. Those familiar with the military and/or willing to memorize a daunting glossary of terms, acronyms and slang will find this an enjoyable and exciting escape. In a world where ordinary individuals suddenly discover they have extraordinary magical powers, keeping those powers hidden is a crime. When a report of two Selfers at a high school turns out to be two scared teens, Army Lieutenant Oscar Britton is determined to bring them in alive, only to have the girl shot by the SOC Sorcerer as she lay wounded. Her death makes him realize that when his own magic manifests, if he doesn’t run, he’s dead. Run he does and when caught Oscar is given the choice of working for the government contractor Entertech Corporation — or death. With his decision made, he becomes privy to secrets that push him to once again seek his freedom, and that of others who are being used and abused. (ACE, Feb., 400 pp., $7.99) Reviewed By: Susan Mobley Publisher: ACE Published: February 2012 |
RT Rating
This book will change your life......forever.
Submitted by Anonymous on February 5, 2012 - 8:59pm.
Okay, not really, but it will immerse you to the point where you will not want to put it down.
Glossary of Terms for the above description:
Selfer - someone who manifests magical powers but decides not to contact and/or flees the authorities.
SOC - Supernatural Operations Corps - a division of the military responsible for all magical use.
Yes, the first couple chapters were lessons in learning some new acronyms; but, if you're not being challenged by what you read, then why bother? Also, I learned (after finishing the e-book) that there was this handy dandy glossary of acronyms at the back. With the way that Mr. Cole immerses us into Oscar's world, it really isn't necessary.
Enough about acronyms.
I enjoyed this book primarily because of the concept. People suddenly manifest magical powers in various schools of magic. There are some schools which are permitted and others which are prohibited from use. No one really knows where the probes, those who manifest in prohibited schools, go after they are taken into custody by the military. I will not divulge the different schools in this review because the other aspect of this book I enjoyed was discovery.
Why did I give this book a 4.5 stars? Mostly because I couldn't give it 5. Any book that has me sacrificing my limited and valuable sleep, so I can consume "just one more chapter", deserves it. There are no lulls in this book because of how Mr. Cole paces his storytelling.
Finally, any time I read a new book and immediately consider devouring it again, I can't give it anything but top marks.
I am now a Myke Cole fan and I am eagerly anticipating the release of the second book.
(PS - If you didn't read the above book description in the voice of Don LaFontaine, you have no soul)