Review: Ecko Rising

Publisher: Titan Books

Price: £ 7.99

I hadn't ever read a sci-fi book by a female author before. Don't know why, just never had so I was most excited! And by gum did Ms Ware do a wonderful job! 

The novel is a clash of titans, sci-fi gets plonked straight in the middle of fantasy! It is like a genre head to head mash up and it is fantastic! So cleverly done and so well executed that you aren't sure on occasions which genre this book is actually meant to fall in to! The sci-fi elements are bleak, dark and futuristic but the fantasy elements are full of quest, adventure and olden timey fires, swords and heros on horses. 

Looking at the characters this mash up is pretty obvious also. Ecko is your sci-fi man and a total marmite character, well he is for me anyway! I don't know if I want to punch him or love him but he is great and provides a bit of a parody element to the fantasy feel of the novel. He pokes fun at the formulaic aspects of fantasy novels and the quest element that usually unfolds in books of the genre. It is very entertaining, yet, I hope I haven't read too much in to him. Another character I'd like to big up whilst I am on characters is Redlock! I loved him, he is a total dude! He is my falling in love character for this book!

When it came to the plot the phrase totally bat shit crazy works well. It was mental! You have no idea if you are coming of going, who to love, who to hate, who is good, who is evil or what exactly the plot is on occasion. However, all the to-ing and fro-ing and craziness just makes this book more compelling and even more of a page turner. You are gripped from the off and have so many different questions floating around at one time that you need to keep reading! But have no fear, the clouds do part and the whole thing is hugely fulfilling!

This really is a cracking read and if you are a fantasy fan but not a sci-fi fan I urge you to give this a go. I've always swayed to the world of fantasy but I think I need to broaden my sci-fi horizons a bit more after reading this. Ms Ware certainly has the bogey man's luck with her! And there had better bloody be another one!!!!

Happy Reading

Book Geek

;-)

P.S. There were are two TOTALLY amazing quotes in this book:

'The magic far away pub' and 'cleavage you could park a bike in.'