John Meaney

Setting, setting, setting - this author is damned deviously inventive when it comes to setting. Tristopolis is like nothing else out there now. But it comes with some characters that are sometimes as incompletely fleshed out as the zombies that inhabit this dark city. The love affair that Donal, the main character has feels too convenient. The situation provides him with everything that he would need as a sort of deus ex machina of amour. Donal doesn't have to lift a finger to achieve the relationship so it feels flat. It's also a rough transition when the story goes from Donal's perceptions to suddenly encompass the view points of the members of the team. This is not a bad thing, because there are a number of interesting characters. The plot of the story is intriguing and develops well and contains well drafted action scenes. But it's that setting, the completely thought out and envisioned world of Tristopolis that really sells things. Meany has a plethora of ideas and he tosses them out freely. What's even better is the follow up is an easier read, partially because he can now freely pursue these larger themes without the necessity of complex intoductions.… (more)

Uninteresting in the extreme for me and I really wanted to like this one. There were many instances where I felt I was missing some important exposition only to realize after rereading and going back and forth through pages that the author wasn't providing the exposition itself. I was well and truly lost in the story and came away not understanding the antagonist's motivations, what the driving force behind the plot was, or why I should care about the protagonist. Maybe it wasn't explained in small enough words for me.

*All thoughts and opinions are my own.*… (more)

"Bone Song" blew me away with its inventive world built on necromantic physics. "Black Blood" was decent, but I'm afraid as the series spins on the characters are becoming flatter and the stage of action (and consequences) too large: not just a few lives threatened with the political conspiracies, but the entire city of Tristopolis itself. Donal's sudden love for Mel seemed rushed and unmotivated, and the boxing digressions border on propaganda. I'll likely continue on, but I hope the scope shrinks back down to the more interesting necromancy-noir of the first book.… (more)