Review by MadamwordsAlot -- The Hand Bringer

This forum is for volunteer reviews by members of our review team. These reviews are done voluntarily by the reviewers and are published in this forum, separate from the official professional reviews. These reviews are kept separate primarily because the same book may be reviewed by many different reviewers.
Post Reply
User avatar
MadamwordsAlot
Posts: 4
Joined: 10 Feb 2018, 19:12
Currently Reading: Bedu
Bookshelf Size: 19
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-madamwordsalot.html
Latest Review: The Hand Bringer by Christopher J. Penington

Review by MadamwordsAlot -- The Hand Bringer

Post by MadamwordsAlot »

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Hand Bringer" by Christopher J. Penington.]
Book Cover
2 out of 4 stars
Share This Review


Peter, an everyday police officer, after a dangerous encounter with a vampire is recruited by a top-secret government agency to help stop the growing vampire threat. Teaming up with his best friend and fellow officer Luke, plus several other recruits, the rag-tag group are sent back in time on a mission to stop the infamous Vlad Dracula at the height of his power in ancient Wallachia.

In Christopher J. Penington’s The Hand Bringer, Peter and his comrades navigate an ancient landscape filled with violence and uneasy alliances that break and shift with the changing tides. Amidst the chaos of their mission, Peter and his cohorts realize there are more powerful forces at play. As the threat of the vampire, also known as Strigoi, rises within the ancient land, Peter and his comrades face a near-impossible task to accomplish their mission, while struggling to ensure that the future awaiting them back in the 21st century remains unchanged.

It reads like an escapist fantasy. The trope of the average-joe falling into the past to fulfill fantasies of waging battles in ancient times and trying to win the heart of a beautiful woman in the process. A lot of elements are presented in quick succession at the start of the text that has the reader questioning throughout, overall a page-turner.

I am giving this book a rating a 2 out of 4 . While the prose and characters were consistent, keeping to a strong plotline throughout. The majority of the text was very fast-paced, sometimes leaving the reader behind. While the characters battled the elements and politics of the ancient landscape the characters and the reader where never in the same place for long. Every scene had an exact purpose of propelling the plot forward but occasionally leaving the reader little time to catch up when needed.

The text had minor grammar errors but the overall flow of prose was consistent and in keeping with the voice of the narrator. Multiple scenes are violent and graphic in nature, so I would recommend this book for adult readers looking for a fast-paced thriller who enjoys reading books with both science fiction and fantasy elements.

******
The Hand Bringer
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
bookreviewmi1111
Posts: 845
Joined: 11 Mar 2020, 05:13
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 44
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-bookreviewmi1111.html
Latest Review: Creating Literary Stories: A Fiction Writer's Guide by William H. Coles

Post by bookreviewmi1111 »

I do not feel the same way about this book, but I see your points of view and appreciate it. Thanks for writing an honest review!
User avatar
Tonika632
Posts: 661
Joined: 05 May 2020, 04:27
Currently Reading: White Night
Bookshelf Size: 110
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-tonika632.html
Latest Review: Chemicals and Christians by Martha McLaughlin

Post by Tonika632 »

Thanks for your review. I have found this book really interesting. Great review!
Post Reply

Return to “Volunteer Reviews”