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Enoch's Device (2012)

by Joseph Finley(Favorite Author)

3.9 of 5 Votes: 3

ISBN

0988410826 (ISBN13: 9780988410824)

languge

English

genre

Historical Fiction

publisher

Tarastone Press

review 1: Unfortunately, I started this novel on a Monday evening, and the next few days were completely unproductive. I could not put this book down. Joseph Finely's debut novel is a gripping historical fantasy adventure. This book is a intricatem web of history, religion, sex, violence, and mystery with an ending that begs a sequel. Although he clearly did his research for historical and biblical accuracy, he does not get so bogged down in the details that he interferes with the flow of his story. I appreciated his fast-paced writing style and fascinating, believable characters. As other reviewers have commented, Finley's villians are TRULY EVIL and his heroes are compelling. Great job!
review 2: Finley's debut novel was a surprising delight. Sure, detailed, and well-w... morerought placed in a setting the Author has done his homework in, and it shows.It was interesting to come to an apocalyptic book where the fears of the coming Patmosian encounter are some thousand years in our past. While I know that such fears have plagued man since the dawn of civilization, it was refreshing to hear voices from the distant past echoing our current fears, albeit in a slightly mythological and magical setting.The twists and turns of plot, while necessary for any "thrilling page-turner" did not necessarily feel forced. Most grew naturally from the setting involved, and from the events at play. While I did debate some of the developments while reading, I knew that some were primarily FPS (for purposes of story).My one critique rests somewhat squarely in one area. It is a small thing, but one that didn't help to attract notice, and it was in terms of the narrative only, seperate from plot and character.Descriptions of characters at times lapsed into a very quick form of emotive description, particularly the agents of the forces of darkness. Eyes that were "cruel", or "cunning" or "flashing", descriptions that give us trait-markers before the characters display any particular action that would show them as being cruel, or cunning, or any other marker. Being guilty of this myself, it's not much to take someone to task for, and to be honest did very little to detract from the pacing, however the shorthand must be noted.As well, I would have loved to see a little more of the final battle at Brosse. There is a conflict in the faerie realm, and while it is well imagined, the struggles of men against men is also of prime importance to the text (since while the fae involved in this book are indeed involved in a primeval struggle, they do need agents of mortal flesh in order to work their will) and so I had hoped a little more of that mortal world struggle would make itself clear.All told, however, I had a fine ride with this book. The philosophical musings and religious backdrop were well balanced with a bit of oomph and muscle and lots of running about. What "Enoch's Device" sets out to do - open a door of possibility and magic in a well researched historical setting - it does very well. I am curious to see where Finley takes us next in the twists and turns of the "Dark Ages", and look forward to his next work. A wonderful debut from a writer I will be looking forward to hearing from again. less

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