Review of The Samaritan

[Helen Akoth]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Samaritan" by Robert Atkins.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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The Samaritan: A Tale Plagued By Regret is a gripping fantasy novel by Robert Atkins. It follows Jonathan "Johnny" Porter. The story begins with a gruesome scene—Johnny brutally kills a child named Bethuel. Not long after that, he hears footsteps of orcs approaching him and decides to scamper away for his life. More damages follow, and later, Johnny, this former Alabama resident, finds himself on a bridge between dimensions. He has company, though. A nagging invisible being—Brody—resides in his mind and seems to be controlling everything he does. Like an automaton, Johnny has no free will; he has limited say about what he does, if any. How will his life be in this new dimension, The Bridge?

There were several things I liked about this book. First, I liked the world-building. The world Johnny found himself in is nightmarish. We get to meet spooky characters like ghosts, owls, cannibalistic orcs, and even forests with metallic trees, a perfect blend for fans of scary stories. Also, in this world, sanity, ethics, and free will are zillions of light-years away, thanks to the mental intruder, Brody. Second, I liked that this book was not only entertaining but also informative. Through the characters, the author explores some thought-provoking topics that give readers a deeper understanding of human nature. I couldn't help but marvel at how true they were. Third, I liked that it ended on an interesting note; however, it was a cliffhanger, hinting at a sequel. It left me thirsty, and I look forward to the sequel.

My favorite aspects of this book were the scenes that featured Johnny and Brody. In particular, I liked Brody's wit and sarcasm, which appeared to come to him naturally. He had a cynical view of life, came up with outrageous propositions, and was kind of a sociopath. The funny thing was that he made Johnny do things and could care less about how the subject felt. From what I have just described, it is hard to imagine there is even anything likable or funny about Brody, but there is. One can only understand this fully by grabbing the book and experiencing that first-hand.

Overall, there was nothing I disliked about this book. I found only a few errors, meaning it was professionally edited. As the errors were not enough to influence my final rating, I am glad to give The Samaritan: A Tale Plagued By Regret by Robert Atkins five out of five stars. I had no reason to give it a lower rating, as I liked the world-building and how the author portrayed Johnny and Brody.

I highly recommend this book to fans of fantasy novels with great world-building and interesting, well-developed characters. This book has spooky, nightmarish scenes, and except for readers who can be affected by such, I can't think of those who may find it least suitable. It was great following Johnny and Brody, and I look forward to meeting them again in the sequel.

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The Samaritan
View: on Bookshelves

[Kebun Bunga]

The feedback on the review for "The Samaritan: A Tale Plagued By Regret" by Robert Atkins reflects a positive evaluation of the fantasy novel. The reviewer highlights the gripping storyline and the intriguing world-building that introduces spooky and nightmarish elements, such as ghosts, owls, and cannibalistic orcs. They also appreciate the informative nature of the book, as it explores thought-provoking topics that provide a deeper understanding of human nature. The reviewer expresses enjoyment of the witty and sarcastic character, Brody, who adds a unique dynamic to the story. They mention the absence of major dislikes and note the professional editing of the book. The reviewer gives a perfect rating of five out of five stars and highly recommends the book to fans of fantasy novels with well-developed characters and engaging world-building.

[Odichimma Okoye]

Seems like a thrilling fantasy indeed, nice review!

[NetMassimo]

This is a horror-thriller that seems particularly interesting because the story is developed showing various aspects of human nature. Thank you for your great review!