Review by lrbfilm -- Raven's Peak by Lincoln Cole

[lrbfilm]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Raven's Peak" by Lincoln Cole.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Raven’s Peak by Lincoln Cole, is a treat for readers. It comes complete with mythology, demons, secret organizations, and an international cast of characters. The story centers around Abigail, a young African American woman who grew up knowing the names of all the monsters who go bump in the night (and how to kill them) and Indian grad student Haatim who studied these monsters but he never dreamed they were real. Thrown together, they continue to surprise one another and themselves with their abilities while racing to unravel the mystery that has disrupted and taken control of their lives. The more they uncover, the faster enemies and misguided friends close in to destroy them, along with the entire town of Raven’s Peak.

I liked this book for the way Cole slowly leads his characters to clues that illuminate different aspects of the rich world he has created. We are never bombarded with exposition, Cole giving us just a taste so we are eager for more world building. This was a true page turner for me, every detail sparking a new level of interest, questions, and a mad dash to learn and grasp all that he has woven together. Like the rest of the world Cole has built, Abigale and Haatim have layers of secrets that pull back leaving two incredible individuals at the core. I never questioned them, each responds to their horrifying situations with believability but never predictability.

Abigale has a strong heart in a profession that necessitates a removal of emotion. With an arsenal of paranormal and normal weapons, it is refreshing that she takes extra steps that endanger herself to ensure others are not killed when she can avoid it in her battles with demons. Haatim has a wonderful scene where he is given a gun for self-protection and he chooses to give it back, knowing he wouldn’t be able to use it successfully. His strengths lie in what he has studied and he uses that knowledge to fill in the gaps to solve the mystery in the town of Raven’s Peak, as well as the mystery surrounding his own family.

The weakest point of the novel can be found towards its conclusion. Cole weaves important themes of family as well as guilt and belief expertly through the bulk of the novel. Then when Haatim needs to act with a power and confidence he hasn’t exhibited in any way before, he suddenly has a realization that feels unearned. This realization has a massive effect on how the plot resolves and seems to unravel a lot of the work Cole put in earlier.

Despite this point, I still rate the novel a 4 out of 4 as the mythology, characters, and the mystery in the plot far outweigh the quick conclusion. I have already recommended it to family and friends. I am also eager to read the rest of the trilogy. Seeing that there are still two more books, I have hope that the sudden turn in Haatim is addressed in the later novels and is built into his wider arc.

This book is perfect for anyone interested in supernatural, horror, or mythology. The research the author put in to its cast of demons and the way they interact with the human world is astonishing and well-crafted into a driving plot. His leads Haatim and Abigale are unlike any heroes we have ever seen and I am so excited to follow their stories in the next two novels.

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Raven's Peak
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