Official Review: Timelock by R.G.Knighton

[BookWorm07]

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Timelock" by R.G.Knighton.]

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Timelock is a novel that has bits of horror, thriller and mythological aspects to it. The book starts with a prologue set in an unknown point in time, detailing the macabre execution of Toomak, the High Priestess and physician of Pharaoh Memnon. With her dying breath, she swears to find the amulet of the ancients, unite with the underworld and wreak vengeance over all of mankind.

Knighton splits the story into three parts, the first two of which are set in different periods and these two converge in the third part, providing a climatic ending to the book with the battle to save the human race.

Part one is set in the 1980’s, in Huntington University, London, where a group of students perform an experiment which is supposed to allow them to peek into the Purgatory. However the experiment does not quite go all as planned. Instead a portal is opened in the purgatory and a few of the more vicious souls including Toomak return into the living world once more. Enlisting the help of Prof. Appleyard, George, Mary, Carl, Chelsea, Henry and Tyler try to force her back through the portal. However she not only escapes them, but also steals the amulet before that.

She then unites with the underworld as she had vowed earlier and is reborn in Ancient Judea. Set on a quest to tip the balance of the world towards Satan, she quickly garners the requisite knowledge of dark arts and rises to a position of immense power. When her path to vengeance threatens to destroy all of humanity, the students responsible of her escape and Prof. Appleyard are sent to stop her.

Part three wraps it all up in an epic final battle to stop Toomak from changing a historical event in the history of mankind and enabling hell to rise on earth.

Knighton has a knack for gruesome details and truly blood curling descriptions of various scenes. He paints an obscene picture in your head as he takes horror to the next level. My favourite scene in the whole book was George’s accidental trip into the purgatory. I liked the way he left each chapter at a cliffhanger.

Overall, it is a likeable read with a typical of Good Vs Evil story. I enjoyed reading about Toomak more than any other character. She is a fine portrayal of all that is evil. I also liked the references to religion in the book like that of hell, heaven and the Purgatory.

The characters are well written. Their circumstances shaped their personality and their actions, making them more real and relatable. They are just ordinary people put in an extraordinary situation. The author uses a sarcastic voice and his humor is dripping with cynicism.

However, despite all its good qualities, the plot does not feel as compelling as stories in this genre should be. Though the prologue had me hooked, it wasn't a heart racing, couldn't-put-down type of book I expected at first. The twist in the end let me down a bit too.

I'd rate this book a 2 out of 4 and recommend it to anyone who is new to either reading itself or the horror genre.

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