Review by pastime inquirer -- Raven's Peak by Lincoln Cole

[pastime inquirer]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Raven's Peak" by Lincoln Cole.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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Lincoln Cole’s Raven’s Peak is the first book in the World on Fire series. This action-packed story tackles the themes of good versus evil, loss of faith, and the supernatural. Urban fantasy and horror are not my usual genres, but this was a quick and fun read. In the prologue, Cole does a fantastic job building up the excitement and mystery with fantastic writing. The Reverend’s internal turmoil and self-commitment into a high-security prison pulled me right into the story. But this high level of writing is not carried throughout the book. The book isn't very scary for a book labeled as horror. The prologue is the darkest and most complexed part.

Abigail, a demon-hunter on the fritz with the Council who oversees the supernatural world, and Haatim, a recent graduate student of religious studies suffering from a personal loss, are brought together on an adventure to uncover the truth about strange happenings in a small mountain town. I really enjoyed these diverse characters and their growing friendship built on a foundation of trust without the romance. Although I wouldn’t be disappointed if their friendship blossomed into something more because of that foundation. The strong female lead and budding male lead could have benefited from a bit more character development and editing. The repetition of some details, like Haatim’s father paying for his upscale apartment and Haatim’s loss, are missed opportunities for better character development and a stronger impact. Also, the overuse of phrases like “hurts like hell” and “what the hell” is a bit cliché for a demon-themed story.

The overall plot is not deep or that original. It reminded me of Dan Brown plots but less sophisticated and intricate. Even with a demon focused plot, it didn’t feel like a horror book. I wanted more horror, especially when it came to the scene in the town of Raven’s Peak. For the name of the town being the title of the book, it took a while to get to that part and when it did, it was felt rushed. I’m still wondering what was the significance of the town. I hope this will be addressed in the other books in the series.

My favorite part of the book is the prologue and the diverse characters. My least favorite part is the very end. It seemed forced and took away from the story. I’m aware Cole is building up a cliffhanger for the next book, but I wish it would have ended a little earlier in the book.

I give this book a 3 out of 4 stars. I didn’t give this book 4 stars because of the repetition of detail. Although I was a bit nitpicky on many aspects of the book due to the fact that it really doesn't offer anything new to the genre, I didn’t give this book 2 stars because it was a quick and very entertaining read. I enjoyed the ride and will be reading the rest of the series! Readers who are looking for a fun, demon-themed thriller with well-written dialogue will surely enjoy this book.

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Raven's Peak
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