Official Review: Riders On The Storm by Richard Sparacino
Posted: 11 Sep 2017, 09:02
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Riders On The Storm" by Richard Sparacino.]
3 out of 4 stars
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Riders On The Storm is a take on the everlasting battle between good and evil, but with original twists. The story follows Anthony Santini, a detective who is determined to find his father's killer even though thirty years have passed since the tragic event. When his nightmares take a turn for the worse and he realises they are not dreams at all, but real-life murders... it is hard to stay sane.
It is too late to save everyone, but he will do his best to try. One dream might be too much to handle on his own, though, an attack that will destroy New York if it happens. He will need to gain his partner's trust, but how can he convince him that his dreams are actually prophecies? In the world where demonic forces perfected the art of manipulation and are using people as mere pawns, Santini and his allies might be the only ones who can save it.
Even though it seems like the premise of this book is nothing new, I was surprised by how creative the plot twists are, despite several cliché elements and a dose of predictability. I hardly expected a mix of suspense, supernatural and religion, but it somehow blended well. As Santini struggles to come to terms with his dreams, it is not hard to doubt whether they are fake or real since crime scenes can come back to haunt officers. It is admirable that the author developed his idea of evil feeding on people's emotions and their dark side. If the evil inside them prevails, they commit gruesome acts. It is intriguing how close it can be to the truth about why any man would harm another human being.
It promises a lot of action, which is definitely there, but the book lacks professional editing and formatting. It was disappointing that the book resembled a first draft instead of a published work. There are many choppy sentences, paragraphs consisting of only two or three sentences and blank space without any reason (chapters often begin at the end a blank page). Another problem is punctuation mistakes concerning commas and adverb phrases. The most important flaw is weak character development. Fast-paced and thought-provoking, the story leaves almost no space for description, which is perhaps one of the reasons the characters did not get a chance to fully develop. The book consists of mostly dialogue, so it is a quick read that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
I rate the book 3 out of 4 stars. Even though it is more of a draft and could use some polishing, it is a quick and enjoyable read that combines several genres so everyone can find something for themselves. It is a refreshing take on detective novels, so I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys them, but does not mind supernatural elements.
******
Riders On The Storm
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Like IsabelMay's review? Post a comment saying so!
3 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
Riders On The Storm is a take on the everlasting battle between good and evil, but with original twists. The story follows Anthony Santini, a detective who is determined to find his father's killer even though thirty years have passed since the tragic event. When his nightmares take a turn for the worse and he realises they are not dreams at all, but real-life murders... it is hard to stay sane.
It is too late to save everyone, but he will do his best to try. One dream might be too much to handle on his own, though, an attack that will destroy New York if it happens. He will need to gain his partner's trust, but how can he convince him that his dreams are actually prophecies? In the world where demonic forces perfected the art of manipulation and are using people as mere pawns, Santini and his allies might be the only ones who can save it.
Even though it seems like the premise of this book is nothing new, I was surprised by how creative the plot twists are, despite several cliché elements and a dose of predictability. I hardly expected a mix of suspense, supernatural and religion, but it somehow blended well. As Santini struggles to come to terms with his dreams, it is not hard to doubt whether they are fake or real since crime scenes can come back to haunt officers. It is admirable that the author developed his idea of evil feeding on people's emotions and their dark side. If the evil inside them prevails, they commit gruesome acts. It is intriguing how close it can be to the truth about why any man would harm another human being.
It promises a lot of action, which is definitely there, but the book lacks professional editing and formatting. It was disappointing that the book resembled a first draft instead of a published work. There are many choppy sentences, paragraphs consisting of only two or three sentences and blank space without any reason (chapters often begin at the end a blank page). Another problem is punctuation mistakes concerning commas and adverb phrases. The most important flaw is weak character development. Fast-paced and thought-provoking, the story leaves almost no space for description, which is perhaps one of the reasons the characters did not get a chance to fully develop. The book consists of mostly dialogue, so it is a quick read that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
I rate the book 3 out of 4 stars. Even though it is more of a draft and could use some polishing, it is a quick and enjoyable read that combines several genres so everyone can find something for themselves. It is a refreshing take on detective novels, so I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys them, but does not mind supernatural elements.
******
Riders On The Storm
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Like IsabelMay's review? Post a comment saying so!