Official Review: One Last Vigil by Keith Edward English
Posted: 18 Nov 2016, 19:26
[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "One Last Vigil" by Keith Edward English.]
4 out of 4 stars
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One Last Vigil is the most touching piece of fiction I’ve read in a long while. The novel is very publicly dedicated as a memoir to the author’s god-brother, Ricky, whose struggle with cancer caused him to die much earlier than he should have. Without knowing about Ricky and the catalyst for the novel’s creation, much of the novel may seem incoherent. However, every encounter, every thought and action that the main character has is one that can be directly connected to something in the author’s – and Ricky’s – personal history.
The novel itself can most definitely be described as fantasy. The main character wakes up in a strange world with no memory of his past or even his own name. The characters he comes across on his journey are the stuff of myths, but as he encounters them he slowly starts to remember pieces of his own world. The main character is completely lost and is sure that he will be unable to reach his goal, but for every evil creature that tries to cut him down, there is a friend waiting to save him.
Even after knowing that the novel is a memoir of sorts and that the events that occur in it are vaguely related to events that actually occurred, I had a hard time understanding what was actually related to Ricky’s life journey and what the author just put in for special effect. The beginning of the novel was a bit slow as the main character was mostly questioning his situation and taking in his surroundings. I was sucked into the novel, also wondering what sort of situation he had gotten himself into. However, as the novel picked up pace, it went full speed ahead and almost never slowed down after that. Every single chapter was filled with action and fight scenes, with the main character desperately fighting for or running to save his life. The character received so many mortal wounds that were “magically” healed by the time he woke up that at first I was anxious, but over time I grew bored of the same scenario.
It was the constant battle scenes that made me disconnect from the novel. At first I was thrilled with the action, but over time it lost its appeal. I also began to wonder how the battle scenes fit into Ricky’s personal history, if they were representative of momentous occasions in his life or just a product of the author’s imagination. I believe that I would have been able to enjoy the novel more fully if I had not known about Ricky’s death, and then had been able to reread the story to look for the connections.
That being said, I fully congratulate the author for having the strength to write One Last Vigil. The death of a loved one is never easy, but by memorializing Ricky’s story in this novel, even complete strangers such as myself can share in the author’s pain. Although I obviously never met Ricky, I cannot say that I do not know him after reading this book.
I give this novel 4 out of 4 stars. I would recommend it to action and fantasy buffs, as well as readers who enjoy a good personal adventure. Since there is a tiny bit of nudity and the main character swears very often, I suggest that it may not be suited for very young teens. One Last Vigil is a heart-touching story that should not be missed.
******
One Last Vigil
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4 out of 4 stars
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One Last Vigil is the most touching piece of fiction I’ve read in a long while. The novel is very publicly dedicated as a memoir to the author’s god-brother, Ricky, whose struggle with cancer caused him to die much earlier than he should have. Without knowing about Ricky and the catalyst for the novel’s creation, much of the novel may seem incoherent. However, every encounter, every thought and action that the main character has is one that can be directly connected to something in the author’s – and Ricky’s – personal history.
The novel itself can most definitely be described as fantasy. The main character wakes up in a strange world with no memory of his past or even his own name. The characters he comes across on his journey are the stuff of myths, but as he encounters them he slowly starts to remember pieces of his own world. The main character is completely lost and is sure that he will be unable to reach his goal, but for every evil creature that tries to cut him down, there is a friend waiting to save him.
Even after knowing that the novel is a memoir of sorts and that the events that occur in it are vaguely related to events that actually occurred, I had a hard time understanding what was actually related to Ricky’s life journey and what the author just put in for special effect. The beginning of the novel was a bit slow as the main character was mostly questioning his situation and taking in his surroundings. I was sucked into the novel, also wondering what sort of situation he had gotten himself into. However, as the novel picked up pace, it went full speed ahead and almost never slowed down after that. Every single chapter was filled with action and fight scenes, with the main character desperately fighting for or running to save his life. The character received so many mortal wounds that were “magically” healed by the time he woke up that at first I was anxious, but over time I grew bored of the same scenario.
It was the constant battle scenes that made me disconnect from the novel. At first I was thrilled with the action, but over time it lost its appeal. I also began to wonder how the battle scenes fit into Ricky’s personal history, if they were representative of momentous occasions in his life or just a product of the author’s imagination. I believe that I would have been able to enjoy the novel more fully if I had not known about Ricky’s death, and then had been able to reread the story to look for the connections.
That being said, I fully congratulate the author for having the strength to write One Last Vigil. The death of a loved one is never easy, but by memorializing Ricky’s story in this novel, even complete strangers such as myself can share in the author’s pain. Although I obviously never met Ricky, I cannot say that I do not know him after reading this book.
I give this novel 4 out of 4 stars. I would recommend it to action and fantasy buffs, as well as readers who enjoy a good personal adventure. Since there is a tiny bit of nudity and the main character swears very often, I suggest that it may not be suited for very young teens. One Last Vigil is a heart-touching story that should not be missed.
******
One Last Vigil
View: on Bookshelves
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