Official Review: Skorpions by John Patrick Byrne
Posted: 10 Aug 2019, 10:18
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Skorpions" by John Patrick Byrne.]
2 out of 4 stars
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There are some books that are enjoyable in spite of having quite a few drawbacks. Skorpions, is one such book that falls under this sector. I will attempt to justify this claim, based on my experience while reading it in the following review.
The book resembles one of the classic mafia stories, that has been rewritten with a touch of modernity to it. There is a gang called the Skorpions, who paint the city red with the blood of their enemies. They are known to be utterly ruthless and contemptible. The leader of their gang is a young woman who calls herself 'Auntie', though she does not live up to her name. She is known for her complete lack of morale and disregard for human life. She comes with a broken past, and has now developed a thirst for blood and murder. She is the proud mastermind behind a series of heinous crimes. As a complete contrast to her, we have Dame Marie, who is probably the only one to openly stand against Auntie, despite her physical disability. All the characters in the novel can be divided into two binaries, namely, the good guys and the bad.
The plot mainly revolves around taking down the mafia gang and rescuing those who have fallen prey to them. Dame Marie and her team of highly efficient individuals are almost unstoppable once they begin to track down the activities of the gang. Characters like Jenny Page and Maggie are absolutely captivating as they are few of the most important agents in the mission. The various quirks and characteristics of all the individuals are revealed slowly during the progression of the novel.
The writing style is quite fast paced and to the point. There was no section that I found slow, monotonous or boring as such. It was a little difficult to remember the cult names as they were not in English but apart from that, the language was easy to comprehend. What I loved most was how it drew attention to what goes on during illegal trade and human trafficking. It was heart breaking to read about young children being traded as slaves and prostitutes. Alongside all this, the author was still able to incorporate a passionate love story that made the story all the more magnetic.
Apart from this, the novel did have a few downsides. The editing was appalling. I came across typographical and grammatical errors on almost every single page. The formatting was not quite right as well, as two completely unrelated stories taking place in different settings would often continue in an uninterrupted sequence, thus, making it hard for the reader to understand what was going on. There was a clichéd representation of the main villain, Auntie, portraying her as being enormously formidable as well as the embodiment of sexuality. She seemed to have no underlying depth or hidden trait that was hidden from the reader, from the introduction of the character till the end of the book.
I would rate the book two out of four stars. John Patrick Byrne has done an exceptional job with the main plot of the book. The only major drawback was the editing, and that prevents me from giving the book a solid three stars. I believe it would be appealing to readers who enjoy thrillers that are action-packed. However, it may not be enjoyed by readers who prioritize literary technique and representation over the content of the book.
******
Skorpions
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
2 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
There are some books that are enjoyable in spite of having quite a few drawbacks. Skorpions, is one such book that falls under this sector. I will attempt to justify this claim, based on my experience while reading it in the following review.
The book resembles one of the classic mafia stories, that has been rewritten with a touch of modernity to it. There is a gang called the Skorpions, who paint the city red with the blood of their enemies. They are known to be utterly ruthless and contemptible. The leader of their gang is a young woman who calls herself 'Auntie', though she does not live up to her name. She is known for her complete lack of morale and disregard for human life. She comes with a broken past, and has now developed a thirst for blood and murder. She is the proud mastermind behind a series of heinous crimes. As a complete contrast to her, we have Dame Marie, who is probably the only one to openly stand against Auntie, despite her physical disability. All the characters in the novel can be divided into two binaries, namely, the good guys and the bad.
The plot mainly revolves around taking down the mafia gang and rescuing those who have fallen prey to them. Dame Marie and her team of highly efficient individuals are almost unstoppable once they begin to track down the activities of the gang. Characters like Jenny Page and Maggie are absolutely captivating as they are few of the most important agents in the mission. The various quirks and characteristics of all the individuals are revealed slowly during the progression of the novel.
The writing style is quite fast paced and to the point. There was no section that I found slow, monotonous or boring as such. It was a little difficult to remember the cult names as they were not in English but apart from that, the language was easy to comprehend. What I loved most was how it drew attention to what goes on during illegal trade and human trafficking. It was heart breaking to read about young children being traded as slaves and prostitutes. Alongside all this, the author was still able to incorporate a passionate love story that made the story all the more magnetic.
Apart from this, the novel did have a few downsides. The editing was appalling. I came across typographical and grammatical errors on almost every single page. The formatting was not quite right as well, as two completely unrelated stories taking place in different settings would often continue in an uninterrupted sequence, thus, making it hard for the reader to understand what was going on. There was a clichéd representation of the main villain, Auntie, portraying her as being enormously formidable as well as the embodiment of sexuality. She seemed to have no underlying depth or hidden trait that was hidden from the reader, from the introduction of the character till the end of the book.
I would rate the book two out of four stars. John Patrick Byrne has done an exceptional job with the main plot of the book. The only major drawback was the editing, and that prevents me from giving the book a solid three stars. I believe it would be appealing to readers who enjoy thrillers that are action-packed. However, it may not be enjoyed by readers who prioritize literary technique and representation over the content of the book.
******
Skorpions
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon