A respectable first effort, likely to appeal to fans of Greek myth and students of classical antiquity, but one that labors...
Bender’s debut novel is an epic youngadult fantasy that incorporates classical lore, intonations and references into an ode to the lasting greatness of Greek myth.
The not-quite-but-almost-16-year-old Thrace is a high school sophomore, an unknowing son of Ares, God of War, and quite possibly a prophesied savior known as the “Seed of Destruction.” Together with his best friend, Parker, and a helpful oread named Anthia, Thrace is drawn into an epic quest by the machinations of the goddess Aphrodite and the despotic plots of Ares, Slaughterer of Men and self-proclaimed ruler of everything. Thrace’s extended immortal family, however, is not making it easy, as the other sons of Ares—including both those from classical mythology, like Phobos and Deimius, and those of Bender’s own invention, like Cresphontes—take an instant disliking to him. With the other gods of Olympus bound in slumber, it is up to Thrace; his newfound mentor, the centaur Sophos; and Thrace’s friends to escape Ares’ plots, rescue Thrace’s mother from the enchantments of Aphrodite and discover, if they can, just what the prophecy about the Seed of Destruction might mean for them and the world. While the characters are engaging and the plot moves at a swift pace, one of the book’s strongest parts is also its Achilles’ heel: the sheer weight of classical myth and lore that Bender infuses into the story. On one hand, it reads very much like a translated Greek epic poem, but on the other, many of the frequent metaphors are made unwieldy by endless allusions to Greek myth. Thrace’s adventures are also very mythic in nature, and the variations on ancient tales that Bender weaves into Thrace’s tale are just similar enough to their root material to be recognizable without being mere retreads.
A respectable first effort, likely to appeal to fans of Greek myth and students of classical antiquity, but one that labors under the weight of history as much as it draws from it.Pub Date: March 24, 2014
ISBN: 978-0615956466
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Cresphontes LLC
Review Posted Online: April 17, 2014
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
An engaging story that’s gone flaccid.
The twisted tale of sexualized, attractive and perennially unlucky Theo, from his various arrests to finding fame and riches, all while making and losing love.
Theo’s journey starts with him married, with two children, to the delicate Chu hua, seemingly fulfilling his role as a blissful family man. All’s well until a fateful night out with wayward former-friend Wessley. The night ends in disaster for young Theo; however, not being one to admit to defeat, he moves on from the heartbreak to work in the family business, taking a job with his uncle, Christian, at a multimillion dollar corporation. Through the ensuing years, Theo simultaneously tries to win back his wife while engaging in orgies with other men. The conflicting behavior continues with Theo ardently pursuing his estranged Chu Hua, then having a sex-fueled romp with Chunhua, a flight attendant who later becomes his second wife. Theo’s journey leads him to a long visit with his parents, the famed performers Cordelia and T’Sang. There, Theo discovers his talent for performing, as well as a taste for the fame and fortune that go with it. Readers learn of still more orgies, past relationships with men and Theo’s burgeoning relationship with Chunhua. Through his many encounters with his past, some well-deserved retribution and a reunion with a long-lost family member, Theo learns about himself and the man he wants to be. While he can be a likable character, his contradictory behavior and capricious missteps can at times be trying for the reader’s patience. What’s more trying, though, is the author’s fleeting command of the English language; the text includes many punctuation and grammar mistakes. While Theo’s struggle with his own sexuality is forefront in the story, it’s told in such a disjointed way that the reader can barely build any real sympathy for him. Although the story is infused with numerous sex scenes, they lack a reasonable buildup; the result feels like an inferior take on a grocery-store romance novella.
An engaging story that’s gone flaccid.Pub Date: June 11, 2012
ISBN: 978-1468582536
Page Count: 308
Publisher: AuthorHouseUK
Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2012
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Certain to stir the debate surrounding reproduction and environmental sustainability.
A bleak, provocative portrait of the difficult choices to be made if humanity is to survive.
Brent is quite convincing in his argument that we’re heading toward “the perfect storm” of global ecological crises. Population growth exacerbates the rising level of consumption and shrinking resources, especially with respect to fossil fuels, which paints a new, stark reality highlighted by climate change, pollution, scarcity of potable water and food shortages. The author predicts that this critical situation will lead to armed conflicts between nations; thus, he asserts, “The choice is between resource wars with weapons of mass destruction and coercive population control.” For the most part, Brent writes in an accessible style, offering multiple examples or illustrations whereby readers can easily digest the large amount of statistics and mathematical projections. However, many readers may believe that there’s a way to convey the urgency of the matter without resorting to a hostile, confrontational tone. In fact, readers might then feel more engaged and less browbeaten. Most likely, inflammatory references to “parasites” or “religious fanatics who produce the most children and spread like a cancer over the face of the earth” will alienate even those who support some of Brent’s more palatable recommendations, such as increased access to proven methods of birth control. In the end, Brent advocates a global “One-Child-Per-Family law,” along with execution of parents (and their second child) who disobey; naturally occurring multiple births (twins, triplets, etc.) would represent an exception to the rule. This scenario raises a myriad of questions: Who will take care of the first child, now orphaned? Will those with a genetic predisposition toward multiple births be privileged or oppressed? Will homosexuality become a more socially desirable trait? Without addressing these particular consequences, he unequivocally states: “Each individual will have a very clear choice—execution or birth control or sterilization or abortion or abstinence.”
Certain to stir the debate surrounding reproduction and environmental sustainability.Pub Date: June 6, 2012
ISBN: 978-0985412906
Page Count: 130
Publisher: CreateSpace
Review Posted Online: Aug. 27, 2012
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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