Review by JacquiL -- Raven's Peak by Lincoln Cole
Posted: 22 Jun 2017, 11:29
[Following is a volunteer review of "Raven's Peak" by Lincoln Cole.]
3 out of 4 stars
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Raven’s Peak, the first book in the Lincoln Cole’s World on Fire series, is an action-filled occult fantasy joyride.
Abigail Dressler, a trained demon hunter, is on a quest to find her mentor, The Reverend, who has been taken to Hell by unknown demons. Along the way, she takes on an unlikely partner, Haatim Arison, a religious man’s son who has returned to Arizona devoid of faith in God and himself.
Their journey thrusts them into numerous battles with otherworldly demons capable of taking over human bodies as hosts, telekinetically moving large objects to use as weapons, and reaching into the dark recesses of a peoples’ minds to bring them to the brink of insanity. Their final stop is the old mining town of Raven’s Peak where “strange occurrences” have been reported to the Council, the ruling body for whom Abigail has been trained to hunt.
This is not a genre I am accustomed to reading, but I was drawn in from the beginning and looked forward to reading the book each day. As the story progresses, Abigail and Haatim’s relationship evolves to where the protector in turn becomes the protected. Their light banter brings enough needed levity to balance the story’s darkness and violence. Lincoln Cole also deftly walks the line between the realm of fantasy and reality, bringing that blurred line to us through Haatim’s evolution from doubter to believer.
While, overall, the book is enjoyable, it is not overly original with many themes that appear in other horror/occult books – Hellish demons, the organization that finds and contains those demons, the organization’s renegade fighter, the reluctant partner, human hosts, telekinesis, and mind control. The ending also felt a bit rushed, with a last-minute search for a mysterious, previously unmentioned artifact. There are also untidy loose ends that seem to be meant to compel the reader to get the next book in the series. I would have liked to see the book stand on its own, with fewer fight scenes and a more compelling, wrapped-up, ending.
For these reasons, and because of several typos and editing issues, I give Raven’s Peak a 3 out of 4 stars rating. If you’re looking for something uber-original, this is not your book. The book feels familiar and comfortable while you’re reading it, so the “twists and turn” seem to lead to a foregone conclusion. But, if you’re looking for a fast-paced story, engaging enough characters, and some vividly-depicted fight scenes, this is a good choice for you.
******
Raven's Peak
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Like JacquiL's review? Post a comment saying so!
3 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
Raven’s Peak, the first book in the Lincoln Cole’s World on Fire series, is an action-filled occult fantasy joyride.
Abigail Dressler, a trained demon hunter, is on a quest to find her mentor, The Reverend, who has been taken to Hell by unknown demons. Along the way, she takes on an unlikely partner, Haatim Arison, a religious man’s son who has returned to Arizona devoid of faith in God and himself.
Their journey thrusts them into numerous battles with otherworldly demons capable of taking over human bodies as hosts, telekinetically moving large objects to use as weapons, and reaching into the dark recesses of a peoples’ minds to bring them to the brink of insanity. Their final stop is the old mining town of Raven’s Peak where “strange occurrences” have been reported to the Council, the ruling body for whom Abigail has been trained to hunt.
This is not a genre I am accustomed to reading, but I was drawn in from the beginning and looked forward to reading the book each day. As the story progresses, Abigail and Haatim’s relationship evolves to where the protector in turn becomes the protected. Their light banter brings enough needed levity to balance the story’s darkness and violence. Lincoln Cole also deftly walks the line between the realm of fantasy and reality, bringing that blurred line to us through Haatim’s evolution from doubter to believer.
While, overall, the book is enjoyable, it is not overly original with many themes that appear in other horror/occult books – Hellish demons, the organization that finds and contains those demons, the organization’s renegade fighter, the reluctant partner, human hosts, telekinesis, and mind control. The ending also felt a bit rushed, with a last-minute search for a mysterious, previously unmentioned artifact. There are also untidy loose ends that seem to be meant to compel the reader to get the next book in the series. I would have liked to see the book stand on its own, with fewer fight scenes and a more compelling, wrapped-up, ending.
For these reasons, and because of several typos and editing issues, I give Raven’s Peak a 3 out of 4 stars rating. If you’re looking for something uber-original, this is not your book. The book feels familiar and comfortable while you’re reading it, so the “twists and turn” seem to lead to a foregone conclusion. But, if you’re looking for a fast-paced story, engaging enough characters, and some vividly-depicted fight scenes, this is a good choice for you.
******
Raven's Peak
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Like JacquiL's review? Post a comment saying so!