So here we go, back to book reviews 🙂 I’m sure you all missed them.
The Claiming by Ike Hamill:
There is not a paperback/hardback copy of this book. It’s one of the best self-published books I’ve read, and I’m surprised there’s no paperback or hardback copy. The author, Ike Hamill, has been steadily gaining followers for the past few years. I have now joined that group.
As for the book itself, The Claiming was easy to read and fast-paced. Events kick off very quickly and don’t slow down. The ending (which I loved!!!!) is especially more eventful and more related to the overall plot of the story than most I have read. It isn’t just the bow on the wrapping of the story; it is the story itself.
Human-ish person in brown robes? I’d say this qualifies. (This will make more sense to you as you read along.)
So, without further ado…
WHAT I LIKED:
- Suspense Building
There are so many moments and scenes in this story that add to the tension and suspense. Some are involved in the major plot, while others have tension in and of themselves. You always know something terrible’s about to happen, but of course there is no way for you to stop it. Instead, you’re forced to sit back and watch, trembling, to see just how bad the events will turn out.
One thing that ties into this is the family of five being so likable. There are two “mothers,” since the adults are a lesbian couple. The first mother brings a teenage boy, almost out of high school, and a little girl into the family. The second only brings a little girl. Like any family, there is internal strife building, and this causes more suspense as you wonder whether they will all stay together.
- Writing Style
Ike Hamill’s style of writing has been compared to both Stephen King and Dean Koontz, according to his Amazon Author’s Page. I found this book much easier to read than King’s, and I don’t know about Koontz’s because I haven’t read his.
Because of this, it took me less than a week to read the book and I flew through it, enjoying it all the same. I’m thinking of reading more that Hamill writes whenever I get around to it, after I get through this Mark Edwards phase.
WHAT I DISLIKED:
- Need for Weed
So to see the bad creatures (some kind of hood-wearing, humanoid things; I don’t think it ever says exactly), they have to either be kids still and be “chosen,” or they have to smoke bad marijuana. That doesn’t make sense to me. Was there no other way -a more interesting way- for the adults to see these creatures? Obviously, they had to see them. But did it have to be this way?
The world may never know.
Actually, you could email him if you want. I might email him. But maybe not. He’s probably writing. I probably should be.
- Bad Guys Inconsistencies
So, like I said, we never know what the bad guys are. That’s perfectly fine with me. I don’t really want to know.
They’re described as wearing brown robes and kinda like humans. (see image above)
But I would like to know what they are capable of. At times, they’re murdering, massacring maniacs that can take over people and kill by the dozens. But then at other time, they just stay in the shadows, try to take kids, and sometimes do absolutely nothing at all. Just seemed strange.
Nevertheless, you do not wanna meet these fools.
RANDOM THOUGHT TIME! *cue music*
Was this whole book a lesson in why smoking weed is bad?
If so, it probably didn’t sell too well in Colorado.
BOTH GOOD AND BAD
- Concept
Both?
BOTH?
Yeah, I’m kinda breaking my rules but I don’t really care right now.
This part of it was good and bad. So there’s a house for sale and a family moves in and bad things begin to happen to them, seemingly because of the house? Well, yeah. I’ve seen that before. A few times. A lot of times. Been there.
BUT those bad things are like people creatures in brown robes that take children at first and end up killing them later and sometimes taking them to an underground labyrinth of light? That’s new. That’s very very very very new. I think.
MY RATING: 8/10
This was a good book; a great story. It had wonderful twists and surprises and plenty of honestly scary scenes.
Read it!!!
David Kummer 