Review of Zona: The Forbidden Land
-
Shivali Y
- Posts: 96
- Joined: 02 Sep 2021, 02:27
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 51
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-shivali-y.html
- Latest Review: Sound of Redemption by William John Rostron
Review of Zona: The Forbidden Land
[Following is a volunteer review of "Zona: The Forbidden Land" by Fred G. Baker.]
Dr Grant Taylor, an American professor and palaeogeography researcher from Elmhurst, arrives in St. Petersburg with a mission. He is there to sort out his uncle’s estate, which was inherited by him. His uncle has been declared missing after he failed to return from an expedition to Zona, an isolated region in Siberia, for a year. Dr Grant suspects something is wrong, and when he gets the opportunity to go through his uncle’s journals, he grabs it. In the latter part of the book, an expedition team which includes Dr Grant and the intriguing Irina, the daughter of Grant’s uncle’s attorney, travels to Zona and encounters innumerable fascinating species of flora and fauna. Does Grant succeed in finding his uncle? What kind of dangers does the team face in the forbidden land? Read Zona: The Forbidden Land by Fred G. Baker to find out!
There were many things to like about this book. Following the protagonist's quest to figure out what happened to his uncle, we are introduced to interesting parts of St. Petersburg. Moreover, the author has included several phrases in Russian, which I felt was a nice touch. The maps of the various locations mentioned in the book are helpful in order to visualise what is happening — a feat which is aided in no small part by the author’s descriptive writing. I was enamoured with how he paints the picture of the wilderness of Zona for us, how he created such a mystical world where beasts of seemingly ferocious kinds turn out to be pleasant in reality.
I liked how seamlessly the author merged different genres together. There is the mystery and thriller element thanks to the missing uncle, but also fantasy and science fiction elements that play a more significant role in the later parts of the story. Moreover, there is a certain romantic flare too, seen especially in the chemistry between Grant and Irina.
I disliked nothing about the book. It is a wonderfully crafted and engaging book that successfully grips its readers till the last page. The ending cleverly leaves room for a sequel to be written, which is rather exciting. The book was exceptionally well-edited; I found no errors. There are mentions of sex, as well as profanity, but not in such extremes that it would deter a reader.
I would gladly give this book 5 out of 5 stars. There was no feature that would cause me to remove a star. People who are looking for something fresh and exciting, or those who want to explore something new in the science-fiction genre would love this book.
******
Zona: The Forbidden Land
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Dr Grant Taylor, an American professor and palaeogeography researcher from Elmhurst, arrives in St. Petersburg with a mission. He is there to sort out his uncle’s estate, which was inherited by him. His uncle has been declared missing after he failed to return from an expedition to Zona, an isolated region in Siberia, for a year. Dr Grant suspects something is wrong, and when he gets the opportunity to go through his uncle’s journals, he grabs it. In the latter part of the book, an expedition team which includes Dr Grant and the intriguing Irina, the daughter of Grant’s uncle’s attorney, travels to Zona and encounters innumerable fascinating species of flora and fauna. Does Grant succeed in finding his uncle? What kind of dangers does the team face in the forbidden land? Read Zona: The Forbidden Land by Fred G. Baker to find out!
There were many things to like about this book. Following the protagonist's quest to figure out what happened to his uncle, we are introduced to interesting parts of St. Petersburg. Moreover, the author has included several phrases in Russian, which I felt was a nice touch. The maps of the various locations mentioned in the book are helpful in order to visualise what is happening — a feat which is aided in no small part by the author’s descriptive writing. I was enamoured with how he paints the picture of the wilderness of Zona for us, how he created such a mystical world where beasts of seemingly ferocious kinds turn out to be pleasant in reality.
I liked how seamlessly the author merged different genres together. There is the mystery and thriller element thanks to the missing uncle, but also fantasy and science fiction elements that play a more significant role in the later parts of the story. Moreover, there is a certain romantic flare too, seen especially in the chemistry between Grant and Irina.
I disliked nothing about the book. It is a wonderfully crafted and engaging book that successfully grips its readers till the last page. The ending cleverly leaves room for a sequel to be written, which is rather exciting. The book was exceptionally well-edited; I found no errors. There are mentions of sex, as well as profanity, but not in such extremes that it would deter a reader.
I would gladly give this book 5 out of 5 stars. There was no feature that would cause me to remove a star. People who are looking for something fresh and exciting, or those who want to explore something new in the science-fiction genre would love this book.
******
Zona: The Forbidden Land
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Sound of Redemption by William John Rostron
