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The Rook by Daniel O’Malley
The Rook, the first book by Australian author Daniel O’Malley, is filled with everything. A spectacular beginning that captures your attention after just one minute. A complex ensemble of characters to get to know. There are plenty of classic villains and devoted supporters, but it’s never clear who can be trusted.
You can’t help but root for this protagonist (or these protagonists). Since Myfanwy Thomas is as fiery and snarky as they come, her opinionated outbursts often make me laugh out loud. She has a tender side in addition to having a dry wit that could cut through ice. Although she is clumsy and frequently finds herself in potentially fatal situations, her admirable never-say-die attitude is always evident.
And in The Rook, Thomas’ stoic reactions to absurd circumstances provide for some of the funniest passages. Science fiction with spoof elements, humorous farce, and gripping edge-of-your-seat tension have all been expertly combined by O’Malley. The plot of this book had just enough complexity to keep me interested while also conveying an aura of understatement and a lack of self-importance, which was what I found to be most appealing.
Science fiction is no longer just a genre for nerds. Daniel O’Malley has written extremely approachable science fiction in The Rook that will appeal to a wide audience, including both male and female readers with higher academic standards as well as young adults. For that reason, it comes as no surprise to me that it was recently named ‘Best Science Fiction Novel’ in the 2012 Aurealis Awards.
About The Book
When Myfanwy Thomas awakens in a London park surrounded by bodies that are all wearing latex gloves, the note she is carrying says thus. Myfanwy, who has no memory of who she is, must follow the directions her former self left behind to find out who she is and find the agents who want to eliminate her. She quickly discovers that she is a Rook, a powerful member of the Checquy, a clandestine group that fights the various paranormal forces at play in Britain.
She also learns that she has a unique and lethal supernatural talent of her own. The Rook is a profoundly imaginative, thrilling tale with a cast of characters that is both interesting and fantastical. A remarkable first appearance from a stunning new voice.
The Review
The Rook
9 Score
This was a quick read. Yes, there is info dump but it's an interesting world and the author throws in some fun touches (e.g. a passing reference to the Narnian wardrobe). I loved the way the author grabbed the attention right from the start with an great opening, and the way the heroine has to navigate through a world she's already supposed to know while trying to figure out who's trying to kill her and why.
PROS
- A Strong Female Protagonist.
- Fast Moving And Funny.
- Inventive, Hilarious, Wacky, Clever!
- Fantastic Storytelling.
CONS
- Dull And Yet Unbelievable.
- Boring And Predictable.
- Taxes The Credulity.
- Decent Concept. Terrible Execution.
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