The Tomb by Carl Novakovich, a review.
This book is the first in the series and the first book that I have been approached to review. A novel experience in itself. I wasn't sure what to expect from this book. I've had mixed experiences with urban fantasy over the years. Some are brilliantly written and work well, others, however, have fallen short of such accolades. Thankfully this one edges closer to the better of the lot. I won't tell you this is the best book I've ever read, it definitely has some faults, but overall I enjoyed it and would happily read what comes next in the series.
The premise is a simple one. We have a young former detective that gets caught up in a plan to bring about the apocalypse, dragged in as he seeks his missing partner. This follows a similar pattern in many ways. We, the reader, are brought along with John as the events unfold around him. The story unfolds from several different points of view, with John's being the main one. I will say that at just over 200 pages this is not the lengthiest novel, and it might have been worth extending the page count to flesh out some points of the story. That being said, the short length and fast pace mean the story never falters or stutters as we race to the conclusion of the tale. John is written well, though some of his thoughts seemed a little out of place at times, given the circumstances he finds himself in. I do like his humor on display, and John has a strong identity. Technically the writing is not overly flowery, and there is a strong sense of direction throughout. I would have preferred a greater descriptive style, but that is a personal preference, and I won't drag down the review of this book for Carl's personal style of writing. I will say that his villains and background characters feel real enough that there is a weight to events as they unfold. His use of a certain Angel as the main antagonist is a favorite of mine. I have always had a fondness for his character after watching Fallen with Denzel Washington. I would have liked to see greater use of demons, more of the differences of the types of demons in use utilized, and more of the history of some of the characters. Some of the romantic elements did not work for me, but again that is because I'm not such a big fan, in general, of those elements.
All in all, I would give this 3 out of 5 stars. It is a quick read that will hold your attention until the very end and has enough of a cliffhanger to grab your interest for the next installment. So if you're looking for a quick read, and after some demons and Angels, give this book a go. You might find your next series.
