Review of Villains: The Reeve Book Two
Posted: 15 Jun 2024, 02:08
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Villains: The Reeve Book Two" by Ian Lewis.]
Set in the city of Beldenridge, a place struggling to recover from a devastating attack by the mutated 'Wojiin,' "Villains: The Reeve Book Two" by Ian Lewis is a dark fantasy novel that I liked for its combination of breathtaking action, intricate character arcs, and amazing plot. Its richly textured world made it a really compelling read for me, especially considering that I was looking for such a dark, fantastical book at the time—it couldn't have come at a better time. To give a short taste of the plot, the story follows Logan Hale, the city's Reeve, who grapples with personal demons and his duty to protect the city. In the book, 'Reeves' are the highest peace officers of the city, responsible for maintaining law and order. To understand just how demanding Logan's duty is, he has to oversee the city's law enforcement, make critical decisions for the city's protection, and organize efforts to repel the Wojiin and other threats, all while facing intense battles, both physical and moral. So you can imagine how depressing it was for him when he returned to Beldenridge after being stranded outside, only to find the city in ruins. He struggles to come to terms with his failure to protect the city as well as the devastation caused by the Wojiin attack. He would have to face the court to explain his failure. While an even bigger threat looms over the city, Logan has to decide whether to totally do nothing after being stripped of his duties by the court or continue fighting for the city—yet the city's fate depends on him.
If I'm being honest, this book was a real banger! It was just what I wanted at the time—an interesting and thrilling piece to keep me up all night. The setting from the onset was unique and vividly described, with its city's decaying grandeur and constant threat of invasion providing a backdrop for the story’s events. Logan is constantly in the limelight right from the word go, which made him a character that was very easy to mess up as his life and character arc mark significant events that shape the story and drive the narrative forward—but he wasn't messed up. I was so invested in his journey, waiting to see if he was the one to save the day. He was a really vulnerable character, though, as evident in his discussions with Arkady, a wise and enigmatic figure. These conversations challenge Logan’s views on morality, meaning, and the existence of an 'Absolute'. I could see through his struggle with his sense of duty, the nature of good and evil, and his role in protecting Beldenridge, which make his internal conflicts an amazing focus in the narrative. Other characters like Amelia were also well-crafted, which also goes for antagonists like Solomon Leech and Stranger. The highlight of the book for me was Logan's showdown with Wilbert. Overall, I rate the book 5 out of 5 stars, and I found nothing to dislike to make me rate it lower. I also found no errors, and the book has been exceptionally well edited.
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Villains: The Reeve Book Two
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Set in the city of Beldenridge, a place struggling to recover from a devastating attack by the mutated 'Wojiin,' "Villains: The Reeve Book Two" by Ian Lewis is a dark fantasy novel that I liked for its combination of breathtaking action, intricate character arcs, and amazing plot. Its richly textured world made it a really compelling read for me, especially considering that I was looking for such a dark, fantastical book at the time—it couldn't have come at a better time. To give a short taste of the plot, the story follows Logan Hale, the city's Reeve, who grapples with personal demons and his duty to protect the city. In the book, 'Reeves' are the highest peace officers of the city, responsible for maintaining law and order. To understand just how demanding Logan's duty is, he has to oversee the city's law enforcement, make critical decisions for the city's protection, and organize efforts to repel the Wojiin and other threats, all while facing intense battles, both physical and moral. So you can imagine how depressing it was for him when he returned to Beldenridge after being stranded outside, only to find the city in ruins. He struggles to come to terms with his failure to protect the city as well as the devastation caused by the Wojiin attack. He would have to face the court to explain his failure. While an even bigger threat looms over the city, Logan has to decide whether to totally do nothing after being stripped of his duties by the court or continue fighting for the city—yet the city's fate depends on him.
If I'm being honest, this book was a real banger! It was just what I wanted at the time—an interesting and thrilling piece to keep me up all night. The setting from the onset was unique and vividly described, with its city's decaying grandeur and constant threat of invasion providing a backdrop for the story’s events. Logan is constantly in the limelight right from the word go, which made him a character that was very easy to mess up as his life and character arc mark significant events that shape the story and drive the narrative forward—but he wasn't messed up. I was so invested in his journey, waiting to see if he was the one to save the day. He was a really vulnerable character, though, as evident in his discussions with Arkady, a wise and enigmatic figure. These conversations challenge Logan’s views on morality, meaning, and the existence of an 'Absolute'. I could see through his struggle with his sense of duty, the nature of good and evil, and his role in protecting Beldenridge, which make his internal conflicts an amazing focus in the narrative. Other characters like Amelia were also well-crafted, which also goes for antagonists like Solomon Leech and Stranger. The highlight of the book for me was Logan's showdown with Wilbert. Overall, I rate the book 5 out of 5 stars, and I found nothing to dislike to make me rate it lower. I also found no errors, and the book has been exceptionally well edited.
******
Villains: The Reeve Book Two
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon