Alien Arcana

As is typical for his books, its action packed. Unfortunately, as is also typical the key characters behave like they have the IQ of turnips. I’m 3/4 thru this book and he’s (the Hand) just revealed secrets that are “need to know” to some chick that picked him up and he’s been screwing. He’s working to uncover a conspiracy which he has good reason to believe is a threat to the King. So, when she asks him on their first date (!) if he’s stronger (magic wise) than the king, no alarm bells go off? She asks him where he’s going (as he leaves for a top secret research mission) and he not only tells her where, but why. Seriously, why would anyone with any real world experience do that? I can hardly wait, perhaps next he will tell her how to sneak into the Royal Palace. Oh, did I mention he also reveals to her a top secret spaceship building program? This Montgomery ought to be taken out and shot and put out of his misery. As long as you can swallow stupid (or perhaps don’t even see it) the books are entertaining. If you want plots that involve plausible (in the Universe they’re in) story arcs and plausible characters, look elsewhere.

I find it a bit difficult to review the product. On the one hand, it was a tense stroy that kept me hooked to the end. On the other hand, it is rather irritating that we never learn what the hack it is all about and considering the rather extreme events not knowing at the end is a bit of a breaking point for me. I mean, it is already a bit difficult to believe that any high ranking government agent is truly unwilling to even listen or contemplate a compromise even to gain more information. The extreme direct violence the opposition is willing to use is simularly unlikely at a first glance since there are subtler methods to achieve the same end and subtility tend to draw much less attention than mass murder. Mind you, there clearly is a third party handedly playing both sides, but even that takes my suspension of disbelief so far. I hope the next book at least give some asnwers, and I hope it is not going to be a court room drama, but considering how I liked the first three parts, I am going to buy the next part.

At first great action-suspense, and a fascinating secret. Almost immediately there are a couple of troubling plot holes. The agent of the secret conspiracy takes too much action, as if guaranteeing maximum attention on the “secret.” Then if they had wiped out the base making it look like an asteroid, sorry, asteroids too rare for anyone to believe one just happened along while a Hand was visiting.

Then the action becomes repetitive. Predictable battles of the same type with too many missiles to count. My magic beats your magic sort of thing. Damien repeatedly exhausting himself. That’s not a plot, it’s the same story we already read in previous novels.

Ok, so we keep going to maybe find out what the big secret is. But, the obvious strategy to stop all the attacks right from the first is to just out with it. No, the author sacrifices clever plotting and counter plotting (of which he has demonstrated he is capable) for repetition. Then he begins to repeat words, like clear or clearly 4 or 5 times in one short paragraph.

[SPOILERS] It is obvious Ndosi is a mole from the first, I mean, that was spy sex, nothing more. So finally the secret keepers just blow everything up and you don’t get the secret. No one does. That was the only reason after the mid point I was still reading the novel. No payoff. I was a fan of this series. It has gone to pot. Read something else. The sequel is going to be all about Damien defending his actions in killing two Hands. Pathetic. The book is a con.

Glynn Stewart has become one of my favorite writers and Damien Montgomery one of my favorite characters. Book 4 of the “Mages of Mars” series (I know, but we’ve come a long way from Starship Mage) follows Damien as he becomes the King of Mars’ right Hand mage in uncovering a 500 year old conspiracy that leads within the mountain, itself. While left with many unanswered questions and untangled threads, this is a well – written and suspenseful novel with much left for the next book to chew. If you’ve read the others, you won’t want to miss this one.
Note: although I received an ARC for proofing and reviewing, I bought my own copy for my collection. You should too.

Glynn continues the adventures of Damien Montgomery – and Damien gets in his usual ‘over-my-head’ trouble. If you liked the earlier Starship’s Mage books, this is a fine and wonderful next story. The description on the book’s page is accurate, I cannot think of anything more to say about the story that wouldn’t have spoilers.

I’m hoping for a #5 in the series, and I’m hoping for it SOON!

This series does push a lot of my ‘I like this’ buttons – I like the mixture of magic and tech, it’s not something you see very often.

I received a free electronic copy in exchange for an unbiased review. I just went and bought a copy to support Glynn.

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