Review of Zona: The Forbidden Land

[Fola Moni]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Zona: The Forbidden Land" by Fred G. Baker.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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If you love fantasy/sci-fi books, you would love Zona: The Forbidden Land by Fred G. Baker. It has all the elements of a fantastic read; mystery, crime, mutiny, love, adventure, and fantasy.

As Grant Taylor stepped out of the taxi in St Petersburg, Russia and stared at his uncle’s apartment, he was suddenly overwhelmed by an acute sense of pain and loss. He wished it was under better circumstances that he had become an heir to his Uncle Randall’s properties. The latter had gone missing on an expedition to a mysterious land called Zona and was proclaimed dead after a year. Grant tried to shrug off the sense of gloom and began the painful act of sorting through his uncle’s stuff. Suddenly, he heard a crash in one of the rooms and discovered a stranger rifling through some books in the study. Reacting to Grant’s voice, the man quickly pushed past him and ran out of the apartment. Who is the man, and why was he looking through Uncle Randall’s books? What is this place called Zona, and why is the expedition shrouded in mystery?

The author did a great job pulling off the intricacies of the plot. I was engrossed from the very start, and my attention didn’t waver till the end. His descriptive writing style is also top-notch. His words reel you into the story, and all the scenes come alive in living colours. In fact, Zona became so real for me that I had to research it to remember it was just fiction. I couldn’t stop imagining a place where ancient beasts, long dead in the real world, still existed and roamed wild and free. I believe the explorers were the trespassers in the exotic land because they had no right to be there.

The characters are many, but I believe the leads are well-developed and relatable. Grant comes across as a bit naive despite his educational background and exposure. I feel he is too trusting and lacks self-discipline, especially when it comes to the opposite gender. Irina seems both mysterious and gullible. Igor irked me the most; I couldn't understand his state of mind and motive. Overall, it was an eclectic group of characters, and they all served to make the plot fascinating.

My only problem was the small print used in his uncle's journal. I had trouble reading it, and there was no zoom option in Kindle Unlimited, which was the version I downloaded. Since the journal just comprised a small percentage of the whole text, it only affected my reading experience a little.

Overall, I would rate it 4 out of 4 stars for being such an entertaining read. It is also very informative. It addresses how people’s behaviour can change in exceptional circumstances e.g., in isolation or away from the confines of the real world. It also makes one wonder if some animals have evolved more than we realise. I have to say it is exceptionally well-edited because I couldn't spot a single error. It contains strong language, violent scenes, and a lot of sexual activity. Hence, I wouldn’t recommend it to younger/ sensitive readers. Mature lovers of the fantasy/sci-fi literary genre would appreciate this.

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Zona: The Forbidden Land
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[Bigwig1973]

I've read this book and I enjoyed it very much! You do a really nice job introducing the reader to Grant while also giving the reader a strong sense of the tone of the book!

[Fola Moni]

I've read this book and I enjoyed it very much! You do a really nice job introducing the reader to Grant while also giving the reader a strong sense of the tone of the book!

Yes, the book is really engrossing. Thanks for your kind comment.

[Amelia-Lily]

I've read this book and I enjoyed it very much! You do a really nice job introducing the reader to Grant while also giving the reader a strong sense of the tone of the book!

I have also read the book. It is very hard to see someone who doesn't like the book. That book was well written.