Book Reviews - Hilath's Home Page

"What started out as a promising buildup (in Ilse Witch, Vol. 1 of The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara) fell short of expectations in the second volume, Antrax, with Morgawr finally leading to a more than disappointing "conclusion" (if you can painfully sit through this book which almost all the time seems to be "beating around the bush.") No doubt that Terry Brooks' literary skills have greatly improved (read Ilse Witch, The First King of Shannara, and Running With The Demon) which is why I could force myself through Antrax. But with Morgawr, I've had enough; it seems that Brooks is most of the time fumbling around, and that happens only when an author is not sure of a coherent plot or point to his/her book. Like how Terry Goodkind (Wizard's First Rule), Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman (Well of Darkness) have recently utterly disappointed me (Goodkind with his Pillars of Creation and Weis and Hickman with Guardians of the Lost), Brooks, too, will have to make a major effort before he can gain my trust again as a great author -- who could always be trusted to deliver the goods."--Hilath, Maldives, 17 Nov 2002

"Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman try to inject so many new characters into this second volume that I was left confused and without any empathy to the characters. This is one directionless book ( out of five) whereas its predecessor, Well of Darkness, was one of the best fantasies I've ever read. Is this a trend with fantasy writers these days that they can't keep up with their previous works? I wonder."--Hilath, Maldives, 17 Nov 2002

"I couldn't finish it. It's terrible! I was a fan of Salvatore before for his Drizzt fantasy stories and Demon Saga, but this is terrible and I am beginning to wonder what I liked about his writing anyway. Might work for you though if you have the patience to read about very one dimensional characters which is very ironic since the Darth Vader character should be anything but. One good thing though, the "clone war" thing is explained in a little more detail than in the movie. But doesn't matter. It sucked anyway!"--Mohamed Hursheed, Maldives, 8 Dec 2002

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"Ever since the brilliant Jurassic Park, Crichton seems to have developed a talent for disappointing his fans. I wouldn't have read this novel if not for the promised information about nanotechnology (at least Crichton has the decency to educate his readers even when he fails to entertain). But the real disappointment about Prey is... it's thin plot! Is this the best that a master like Crichton can come up with?"--Hilath, Maldives, 11 April 2003

"One of the most annoying things about Prey is that it is written in the first person. Not that I have anything against that, of course, but this is a first for Crichton. Thing is writing in first person somehow seems to limit the scope of this otherwise extremely exciting book. Take Jurassic Park for example. I doubt it would have been half as good if it had been written in first person. Anyway you get over that hurdle you are confronted with an amazing technology with unlimited avenues of exploration. Unfortunately Crichton seems to be writing to have his stories adapted to movies in the easiest possible manner and after a while you wonder if you are reading a hollywood script. (Yes, movie rights have been sold -- even before the book hit the bookshelves!) This book would have been the perfect vehicle for Crichton to top his Jurassic Park high but unfortunately for whatever reason he just can't seem to get it right. (Doesn't seem to matter though, since this is already No. 1 in a lot of Bestseller lists including USA Today.) Better than Timeline in some ways. Better books on nano-technology might be out soon but I doubt anyone else can jam as much technical mumbo-jumbo into the book as easily as Crichton can! out of five stars"--Mohamed Hursheed, 8 Dec 2002

"This is a book of epic proportions -- one could say Robert R. McCammon's Lord of the Rings!"--Hilath, Maldives, 7 Jan 2004

"I am speechless! This is one amazing piece of literature! I don't want to give anything away so I won't give a synopsis or talk about the book but for all of you who have read Boy's Life and his other masterpieces and waited patiently for this book, let me tell you, this book is everything I hoped it would be and well worth the wait! McCammon has never disappointed me and I guess even as his farewell from writing he sticks to the unspoken promise. This book is classic McCammon.
Even after 10 years of absence he has not lost his touch for beautiful writing and tight plotting. For me Boy's Life will always be on a pedestal and nothing else can come close but Speaks the Nightbird rivals his best --like Usher's Passing, Gone South or even Swan Song. One of the most amazing things about his books is that halfway through the book you don't really care about the plot. You go on because you want to keep reading. You enjoy reading so much the plot is just background noise and you hardly notice it compared to the richness and detail and beauty of his writing! As is true of life, so it is true for McCammon stories --It's not the destination that matters, it's the journey! Beware, if you are expecting a horror story like his earlier works then stay away. But if you leave behind all expectations and start reading for the joy of joining McCammon for a ride as dark as any then be prepared to be dazzled and dragged along at light-speed by his unmatched storytelling prowess. Totally gripping! out of five stars no less!"--Mohamed Hursheed, Maldives, 12 Dec 2002

"Definitely one of the most brilliant and creative fantasies I have ever read! Orson Scott Card has outdone himself! I have been a fan ever since I read his novelization for the James Cameron movie The Abyss. But when I started reading Alvin Maker I wasn't expecting such an amazing piece of work! For those who think this isn't REAL epic fantasy, I have to say that it doesn't matter. It is a rare occurence when you get emotionally attached to characters in a book and start caring about them. Very few authors manage to do this --Terry Goodkind, Weis and Hickman and George R. R Martin to name a few. Orson Scott Card enters the list with his Alternate Histrorical Fantasy series Tales of Alvin Maker. I have read all five books in the series (Seventh Son, Red Prophet, Prentice Alvin, Alvin Journeyman and Heartfire) and realised that the series gets better as it goes on unlike other series (Sword of Truth, Wheel of Time) from top authors. I can't wait for the final two books! For those of you who have yet to read it, well, you are in for a hell of a ride. The series gets better with each consequetive book and you will come to care for each and everyone of the characters including some of the negative ones!"--Mohamed Hursheed, Maldives, 12 Dec 2002

"Relic just happened to be a masterpiece and it's close to impossible to duplicate a success of that kind unless you are very, very lucky. So I have learnt to settle for less and found no problems with their latest, The Ice Limit, which was quite an adrenaline rush I must say! What lacks in the story is more than made up for through sheer story-telling power which left me tense until the very last line which then delivered the ultimate shock that only Lincoln and Preston could."--Hilath, Maldives, 11 April 2003

"I know I shouldn't compare an author's books coz they can't always be gems, but I can't help but wonder why this VERY talented team (Lincoln and Preston) have been unable to outdo or even match their first effort Relic. The Ice Limit started out as very promising and kept the pace throughout most of the book and the ending was --to coin a cliche-- a rollercoaster of a thrill ride! I couldn't turn the pages fast enough!
But ultimately the ending left me disappointed. Not that I was expecting a twist like in Relic but I was hoping for a good conclusion at least. As it is I guess a sequel is in the works already. Fans of Lincoln and Preston who look forward to their new and interesting characters won't be disappointed though. You'll get to meet powerful characters like Lloyd the multi-billionaire and the extremely logical and analytical Glinn not to mention the last Yaghan! No one like Penderghast in Relic though. He is in a class all of his own. I am just glad they didn't put him in the sorry excuse of a movie they made for Relic. Better than an average book but I am still looking for something that can hold it's own against Relic and Jurassic Park."--Mohamed Hursheed, 8 Dec 2002

"Khalid Hosseini's book is not just about Afghanistan; rather it deals with the all-universal emotions and complex relations we all face, whether in Maldives, Afghanistan, or elsewhere in the world. But because the book sprawls the turmoil of Afghanistan right from the Soviet invasion in the 1970s to the civil war in the 1990s and then the Taliban in 2001, it makes it all the interesting to read, and is instrumental in bringing out the tragedy of this immensely humanistic story. In Kabul in the 1970s, 12-year-old Amir, the son of a rich socialite, commits the ultimate betrayal to his only friend Hassan, who also happens to be his poor servant. It will haunt him all his life, pursuing his self-exile in America where he struggles as a writer trying to recover some part of his life, may be even his dignity.But towards 2001 and now in his 40s happily married with a beautiful but barren Afghan wife, Amir will once again be drawn back to the country where he was born, now ravaged by the Taliban. There, he has to ultimately confront the horror he inevitably unleashed on Hassan. Perhaps this may be the only chance for Amir for atonement, and to perhaps become that someone that Hassan always wanted him to be: a man who would stand up for himself.Written flawlessly, the book reads like a fast Sidney Sheldon book, and I finished it in one sitting which is quite a rare case for me! The author’s writing style is poetic, creating an authentic atmosphere of Afghanistan, and I would not be surprised if this book is nominated for the prestigious Booker Prize next year or awarded many other literary awards!"--Hilath, Maldives, 18 Dec 2003 (This review was published in Haveeru Daily on 18 Dec 2003)

"I've always wondered how prisoners psychologically tolerate the confines of a cell or prison. But after reading this book (which is just over 100 pages), written by Nobel Prize winner Albert Camus, this question has been answered! This is one of the best books around if you want to know how to survive in a prison without going insane."--Hilath, Maldives, 7 Jan 2004