I wanted the book for Christmas (among other things). I was intrigued by the cover and the post-apocalyptic world, which I adore. Besides, the fact that the author is from Germany played a role here, and I've become quite fond of German authors lately. Why not give it a try then.
I was very much looking forward to it, I was hooked, but the book didn't quite click with me. I would rate it more as a weaker work. I was pretty bored by the halfway point.
The setting is nothing special. I would say I've read better thought out worlds. The characters themselves didn't shine either. They came across as very boilerplate. Underdeveloped. Flat...
This is a first novel, and you can tell the author isn't listed yet.
So the characters and settings are not complex. The heroes are sympathetic bandits who follow their own moral code. In the second half of the book, the plot has more momentum. It is supplemented by minor digressions here and there. The villains are too cocky for my taste.
The format of the book is really small (= pocket-sized) and the hilarious cover has no connection with the book. Thus, The Rising: A New Hope is an easier read and the discerning reader who is used to multi-layered novels with a variety of realistically portrayed people will experience disappointment. It certainly pleases in the short term, but brings nothing new to me. In short, an ideal train read that doesn't live up to its full potential.
In the second volume I expect improvement regarding characters and story, but I'm not holding out much hope. schovat popis