Review of Chrome Mountain
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Giovana Arévalo
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- Latest Review: Chrome Mountain by Ben Schneider
Review of Chrome Mountain
[Following is a volunteer review of "Chrome Mountain" by Ben Schneider.]
In Chrome Mountain, Trey Radisson is an inventor who developed something that would undoubtedly make him wealthy, even though it would pose a risk to public safety. A waitress in a tiny town named Sonya McCall is on the run from her criminal ex-boyfriend and her troubled past. A mysterious terrorist group called the Chrome Falcons is attempting to conquer the United States. The Chromes' pursuit of Trey pushes him to cross paths with Sonya, embarking on a dangerous road trip together where they must flee from the evil organization, a biker gang, and even law authorities.
As much as I enjoy political and terrorist thrillers, I have to say that Chrome Mountain fell short. It was an interesting concept with some promises, so I'll give credit for imagination. Though I'm not entirely satisfied with how things ended, I think it was decent enough. The narrative was sound, and I enjoyed how the events flowed together. Simultaneously, the author's extensive understanding of military aircraft and armaments proved beneficial in shaping the story. But in terms of giving it the elements it needed to be outstanding, the writing style was inadequate.
The most significant issue I had with this book was its superficiality. The novel is dull, shallow, and impersonal because it appears the author arrived at the gates but was too afraid to pass through. Though the concept of this universe was intriguing, the world-building and character development were lackluster. Schneider touched on several topics, including suicide, sexual crimes, terrorism, and social injustices, but never went further or built up the kind of emotional suspense that would have drawn the reader in. On the other hand, if you enter expecting a humorous critique of current world affairs, you will encounter caricatures made out of the characters rather than anything witty or thought-provoking, and the delivery will again feel flat.
Furthermore, it seemed as though two different authors had written the novel. The text seemed robotic about half the time, leading me to wonder if I was reading a translation rather than something written by a local speaker. On the other hand, the characters overcompensated in their dialogues by using too many slang terms, making them sound like aspiring street gang members. The author's constant switching between the first and third person was another annoying aspect. He just needed to choose one because, although I can see why he wished to bring the characters' inner monologues to light, most were unnecessary or could have been incorporated naturally into the narrative. In addition, too many abrupt point-of-view changes occurred throughout the scenes, prompting rereading.
Overall, I thought Ben Schneider's Chrome Mountain was a clever concept but required a lot of refining to become excellent, specifically a multi-layered universe and interesting, detailed characterization. That's why I rate it 2 out of 5 stars. It also needed extra editing because, despite a few typos, it had an unprofessional appearance. I suggest this book to everyone who enjoys motorcycles and high-tech terrorist thrillers. Readers should be aware that this work contains a strong Christian message; those who reject it may find it forced and excessive, while those who love it will likely find it enjoyable.
******
Chrome Mountain
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on Smashwords
In Chrome Mountain, Trey Radisson is an inventor who developed something that would undoubtedly make him wealthy, even though it would pose a risk to public safety. A waitress in a tiny town named Sonya McCall is on the run from her criminal ex-boyfriend and her troubled past. A mysterious terrorist group called the Chrome Falcons is attempting to conquer the United States. The Chromes' pursuit of Trey pushes him to cross paths with Sonya, embarking on a dangerous road trip together where they must flee from the evil organization, a biker gang, and even law authorities.
As much as I enjoy political and terrorist thrillers, I have to say that Chrome Mountain fell short. It was an interesting concept with some promises, so I'll give credit for imagination. Though I'm not entirely satisfied with how things ended, I think it was decent enough. The narrative was sound, and I enjoyed how the events flowed together. Simultaneously, the author's extensive understanding of military aircraft and armaments proved beneficial in shaping the story. But in terms of giving it the elements it needed to be outstanding, the writing style was inadequate.
The most significant issue I had with this book was its superficiality. The novel is dull, shallow, and impersonal because it appears the author arrived at the gates but was too afraid to pass through. Though the concept of this universe was intriguing, the world-building and character development were lackluster. Schneider touched on several topics, including suicide, sexual crimes, terrorism, and social injustices, but never went further or built up the kind of emotional suspense that would have drawn the reader in. On the other hand, if you enter expecting a humorous critique of current world affairs, you will encounter caricatures made out of the characters rather than anything witty or thought-provoking, and the delivery will again feel flat.
Furthermore, it seemed as though two different authors had written the novel. The text seemed robotic about half the time, leading me to wonder if I was reading a translation rather than something written by a local speaker. On the other hand, the characters overcompensated in their dialogues by using too many slang terms, making them sound like aspiring street gang members. The author's constant switching between the first and third person was another annoying aspect. He just needed to choose one because, although I can see why he wished to bring the characters' inner monologues to light, most were unnecessary or could have been incorporated naturally into the narrative. In addition, too many abrupt point-of-view changes occurred throughout the scenes, prompting rereading.
Overall, I thought Ben Schneider's Chrome Mountain was a clever concept but required a lot of refining to become excellent, specifically a multi-layered universe and interesting, detailed characterization. That's why I rate it 2 out of 5 stars. It also needed extra editing because, despite a few typos, it had an unprofessional appearance. I suggest this book to everyone who enjoys motorcycles and high-tech terrorist thrillers. Readers should be aware that this work contains a strong Christian message; those who reject it may find it forced and excessive, while those who love it will likely find it enjoyable.
******
Chrome Mountain
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on Smashwords
Latest Review: Chrome Mountain by Ben Schneider
