One part of this book that I feel separates it from similar books out there is that it doesn't seem to hinge so heavily on history. By the end, the world still felt grounded, just more mysterious and unexplored/unexplained. The central mystery is serviceable, and the more supernatural elements of the story build gradually - a technique I admire more than being assailed by the wild and fantastical with no buffer to cushion the unexpected blow that irreality can sometimes provoke. The story moves along at a brisk pace, with just the right amount of ebbing and flowing between frantic action and quieter character moments that I never felt the book was rushing or dragging.
Oh, and speaking as a Native American woman, I can't tell you how thrilled I am to see Native American representation in a genre that typically forgets Native people ever existed - and for that representation to come in the form of the series's protagonist. She isn't weak, just inexperienced, and succeeds not in the absence of flaws, but in spite of them. And the fact that she gets beat up, makes mistakes, and experiences human moments of both doubt and courage had me rooting for her every step of the way. I love that Simone has a reason for being in good enough physical shape to dart off on grueling jungle treks and perilous journeys through unrelenting desert terrain, and that the reason is not your typical shady Special Forces past. Reading about mowing down faceless bad guys puts me right to sleep, but this is a story where violence has lasting effects, where each death is significant, and this makes the action feel truly consequential rather than merely obligatory. The events of the story have a tremendous impact on Simone, and it's SUPER refreshing to see an action hero(ine) who is reluctant to kill. The heroine, former superstar world-class athlete Simone Cassidy is much more than an amalgamation of Lara Croft and the famous Harrison Ford movie role, and the depths explored in her psyche is one of the book's strongest and most intriguing aspects.
If the Tomb Raider video games mated with the Indiana Jones films and gave birth to a book, you would have The Treasure Huntress series.
0 kommentar(er)
