OnlineBookClub.org

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Gravitas: Valkyrie in the Forbidden Zone" by Lynne Murray.]

During an intergalactic conference Sybil, a delegate from the planet Valkyrie, transports Gravitas, a highly potent aphrodisiac, to trade during the event. However, before the trade can be made Sybil is attacked and knocked through a portal to the planet Earth-otherwise known as the Forbidden Zone. With all portals closed and no help coming Sybil must find a way out of the Forbidden Zone before the Gravitas she carries destroys her.

I would like to start out by saying congratulations to the author for writing this piece. I thought the idea was very intriguing and had lots of potential. That being said, there are quite a few things in this book that I had some problems with. Firstly, the amount of explanation in this book was minimal and simplistic. Many concepts in this book about the world that Sybil lived in and how it worked either didn’t come at all or were explained as if the character were speaking to the reader directly. World building should be done subtly and should also be thorough, this is especially important within the sci-fi and fantasy genres. Due to this lack of world building I spent a lot of my time reading this book confused.

The second largest issue I had with this book was its discontinuity and fast pace. After the beginning of the book the scenes would change from one scene to another and then to another and so on with no logical follow through. This became especially bad towards the end to the point that it got hard to follow what was going on with the storyline. It’s almost as if the book was like an action movie that had all of the scenes except the action scenes taken out. This makes it not only hard to follow a storyline, but it’s also hard to really care for any of the characters because minimal time is given for the characters to be developed properly.

My final issue with this book was the ending or more in particular the lack of an ending. There were multiple social arcs hinted at between certain characters during this book, which is one of the things I enjoyed about this book and wish had been explored more, but the problem is that these arcs were introduced and then never resolved. I understand that you can’t resolve every single thread at the end of a story, but I feel if you are going to mention it repeatedly it needs to be resolved at the end of the book.

Overall, I would rate this book a 2 out of 4. It was okay, but due to the discontinuity, minimal world building, and lack of properly resolved storylines the book was difficult to get through and it was hard to enjoy it for just its story.

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Gravitas: Valkyrie in the Forbidden Zone
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Good review! I like how descriptive you were when describing the flaws with the writing. I have read more than my fair share of books like this one--good story with lots of potential, but coupled with insufficient writing.

Good review, although it makes me curious regarding what the author got right about the book. You seemed to only mention the negatives, or at least spent the bulk of your prose on them.

Very well written and honest. I like how you described the flaws in a critical manner not coming off mean or anything. Good job.

That was a very honest review. The theme sounds really interesting. However, the manner it was written sounds to be wanting.

I like this review, but I do have to agree with dhaller that you only seem to point out the negative things, however, I understand that you're just giving your honest review. The plotline sounds great though.

How would the gravitas destroy her? I understand the stakes of trying to get back to her world but I am not sure how an aphrodisiac raises the stakes?

Thanks for your review. I myself in my potential projects would make a big priority, as regards World building.

The book has a very distinctive title and premise, but perhaps had more potential than actual end project from what you are saying.

Good review, well constructed! The book seems interesting, but it sounds like it might have fallen flat in execution. Oh well.

It does sound like an interesting premise so it is unfortunate that it turned out to be disappointing. Thanks for the review.

Though it seems like an interesting premise, I find Valkyries in space somewhat kitschy. The reviewer showed a couple of discrepancies that just don't make it worth your time.

Nice review but the book is not pleasing to my ears. You've than it well. Thanks for sharing your thoughts here. I enjoyed reading your review.

Nicely written review. Well done on being constructive and conscious of the author in your review. Hopefully the author takes this into consideration with any future books.

I can work with poor characterisation or world building but both of them at the same time in a science fiction novel? It's a shame because I would have loved to know more about Gravitas, Valkyrie and why Earth is the Forbidden Zone.

Very nice and honest review.
I like it when there's a heroine who's a super human trying to accomplish some good. Her struggles are bound to teach something or two. I can't wait for this.