3 out of 4 stars
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Raven’s Peak takes place in a universe where the supernatural is, and has always been, part of everyday reality. The first book in Lincoln Cole’s series, it details the adventures of unsuspecting civilian, Haatim, who is roped into assisting a demon hunter on a quest to revive her mentor.
I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars; the elements contributing to a less than perfect rating being superfluous exchanges during fight scenes, a relatively predictable plot and a rather one-dimensional main character. Regardless of these flaws, the detail offered in terms of lore and backstory for the book’s supernatural elements was superb, complex, intriguing and engaging while still withholding key details to preserve a sense of mystery. Additionally, the storyline was dynamic and exciting with vivid descriptions and tertiary characters that prove a perfect aid in setting the scene. While the many plot twists were highly enjoyable, their impact was damped as, in almost every instance, the writer made clear the exact form the resolution would take. The ending was particularly disappointing, with the potential to have the two main characters separated and to flesh out their own story arcs and development, which was abandoned in favour of a predictable hero saga. Despite this, the journey on which this book takes the reader makes for a very stimulating introduction into this horror/thriller series.
The central themes of the book include appearance versus reality, idealism and the nature of faith. Several important characters in the book engage in dissimulation and are not what they appear to be, seen in the reverend and Haatim’s father. This is also reflected in the act of individuals being possessed by demons, losing their identity and being controlled by another entity. In terms of idealism, the idea that the true nature of reality is mental or conscious, this can be seen in the conveyed message that human life is finite but ideals are infinite, as well as in the idea of an afterlife, the idea of hell and access to a spiritual realm prevalent throughout the book.
Perhaps most interesting is the exploration of faith, in the concluding chapters, Haatim reflects on instances where he has gained or lost faith in the goodness of the world. Upon reflection, he realises that what he thought were profound realisations were nothing more than a reaction against individuals and situations which had disappointed or aggrieved him. This notion of reactive morality, born from resentment, is a wonderful insight into Nietzche’s philosophy, exploring the idea of a morality invented as a reaction to being hurt and powerless, one in which we can create a story more conducive to validating our pain in a situation where we cannot avenge it.
To summarise, although unsophisticated stylistically, occasionally verbose and predictable, I would recommend this book simply for the sake of the journey on which it takes the reader; full of interesting themes and world building, with suspense, horror and gore to keep a reader engaged.
******
Raven's Peak
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