Saturday, July 23, 2011

Review: Edward Mike Voyce


 
★★

Book Source: I received a copy from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Release Date: 2011

Book Synopsis: Owning a Law practice gives the author freedom, he uses it to devise a project using hypnosis, becoming hypnotised into past-life regression.

It isn't just any life, but the future duke of Buckingham; son of a traitor, with a better claim to the throne than the King, fabulously rich, but a prisoner to the most dangerous woman in Europe. Edward is hereditary Grail Knight.

It isn't just this life, it's the times. Margaret Beaufort made her son king by treason, intrigue and witchcraft. The lawful Richard III has been replaced by Henry Tudor, heir to an illegitimate line; Tudor rule is by tyranny and embezzlement. Into this comes Edward, on the run from age 5, prisoner of the Tudors from age 7, his estates are plundered, he is forced to support Tudor, and join in the killing of his detractors.

There are 2 saving graces: Edward's love for Eadie and their daughter - defying a marriage contract by Margaret Beaufort, and his inheritance of the Holy Grail, Sword and 'Druid Glass'. They're not enough to save Edward from History, can they save the author?

My Review: So I really hate writing bad reviews. When I do I feel like such a B**** and I’m so not, but unfortunately in this case I have to and I’m so very sorry. I will try to be as gentle and gracious as I possibly can. So here goes nothing…

Okay for starters, after reading the book synopsis I was so intrigued because I thought the idea of using reincarnation as a way to go back in time to tell a historical story was completely genius and I could not wait to sink my teeth in this book and see the direction the author chose to take. Sadly, it just didn’t do it for me. At first I was completely confused until I figured out what the author was doing by first telling the story of the present day “Edward” and then going back in time to Edward de Stafford. 

The storyline barely made since because it was so scattered and jumbled around it was like the character was scatter brained or something or had ADD. I just couldn’t get into it and I kept telling myself give it more time to develop and then decide whether or not to put the book down. I got to page 50 something and then I decided okay I’ve had enough so before I put the book down all together I jumped ahead about 50 pages to see if it gets better and it was still “messy” and when I say messy I mean the character just talked about random things and then he would go back in the past and the present day “Edward” would describe every single detail but yet the details being described were pointless.

I think if the author told Edward de Stafford’s story in third person then it would have made a big difference, but instead it was told in first person and it was present day “Edward” talking to the reader and it was distracting and for lack of a better word it was annoying. I also thought the characters and the plot had no depth I just couldn’t picture any of them and it wasn’t believable to me. Before I chose to write my review I got online and looked to see if I could find other reviews over this book to see if I was crazy by not enjoying this book and apparently according to the two reviews I could find, I am because it was given a 5 star review by both reviewers. So maybe I am crazy and I just don’t know what the heck I’m talking about, but I just could not get through it and I chose to move on to my next adventure. 

I hope this doesn’t sound too pretentious and mean, but it’s my honest opinion and I take pride in not sugar coating something in order to save face in fear of offending someone connected to the book.

2 comments: