Review of Dead Man Walking
Posted: 26 Nov 2024, 00:00
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Dead Man Walking" by Zach Adams.]
This was by far the most interesting and unique sci-fi I’ve read in a long time.
Like all good sci-fi and fantasy, the groundwork has to be laid. The world needs to make sense while expanding and guiding you along the plot, so you stay invested. In Dead Man Walking, author Zach Adams did a superb job at just that.
The story follows Isaac Falcone of Anchorage, Alaska. He’s a quiet, anxiety-ridden library assistant, who just wants to get lost in his books and work on his own writing. His sarcastic personality, coupled with a layer of clever nerd, makes for an excellent character to throw into a tailspin of multiverse and mystery.
While working in the library, he discovers some hidden pages with strange writing on them and his world immediately turns upside down. Soon after, he meets a stranger named L’aeon, an elf who pulls Isaac further down the rabbit hole of universal glitches and impossible events.
We follow him along as he navigates strange and terrifying creatures, bizarre dreams, and a nearly constant shifting idea of who the villain really is. Because of course there’s a villain. Who else is he supposed to save the universe from? Throughout it all, Issac runs into obstacle after obstacle but keeps pushing past his fear in his desperation to understand what’s happening.
Along the way, we meet what can only be described as the best friend a guy can have, Don, and the world's most accepting sister, Chloe, who both help Isaac on his journey for the truth. We learn about a connecting family history and meet a work adversary, code named Beige, who Don and Isaac rightfully despise.
The world this writer created was fascinating and kept me engaged while also making me repeatedly yell “What!?” at my kindle several times. There are even gangsters in this story. Gangsters!
This book was shocking, scary, gory, and funny all at once. We even get a few fourth wall breaks thrown in to add to the sarcastic humor, and ever developing plot. Not to mention alternate timelines. Because all good sci-fi has alternate timelines. I removed one star because there were a few parts that just didn't mesh with the main character. I felt like Isaac was way too smart to be so wrong about a couple of things. I couldn’t help thinking, “come on Isaac, get there! Connect the dots!”, or “How can you possibly think that? It makes no sense!”. Regardless, this was an outstanding story, and I gave it a 4 out of 5.
The ending was so surprising and left plenty of room for more to come. This definitely has the makings of a great series. I would recommend this book to anyone over the age of 18, due to some of the more graphic depictions, and anyone who loves sci-fi and fantasy. It is well worth the read.
******
Dead Man Walking
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
This was by far the most interesting and unique sci-fi I’ve read in a long time.
Like all good sci-fi and fantasy, the groundwork has to be laid. The world needs to make sense while expanding and guiding you along the plot, so you stay invested. In Dead Man Walking, author Zach Adams did a superb job at just that.
The story follows Isaac Falcone of Anchorage, Alaska. He’s a quiet, anxiety-ridden library assistant, who just wants to get lost in his books and work on his own writing. His sarcastic personality, coupled with a layer of clever nerd, makes for an excellent character to throw into a tailspin of multiverse and mystery.
While working in the library, he discovers some hidden pages with strange writing on them and his world immediately turns upside down. Soon after, he meets a stranger named L’aeon, an elf who pulls Isaac further down the rabbit hole of universal glitches and impossible events.
We follow him along as he navigates strange and terrifying creatures, bizarre dreams, and a nearly constant shifting idea of who the villain really is. Because of course there’s a villain. Who else is he supposed to save the universe from? Throughout it all, Issac runs into obstacle after obstacle but keeps pushing past his fear in his desperation to understand what’s happening.
Along the way, we meet what can only be described as the best friend a guy can have, Don, and the world's most accepting sister, Chloe, who both help Isaac on his journey for the truth. We learn about a connecting family history and meet a work adversary, code named Beige, who Don and Isaac rightfully despise.
The world this writer created was fascinating and kept me engaged while also making me repeatedly yell “What!?” at my kindle several times. There are even gangsters in this story. Gangsters!
This book was shocking, scary, gory, and funny all at once. We even get a few fourth wall breaks thrown in to add to the sarcastic humor, and ever developing plot. Not to mention alternate timelines. Because all good sci-fi has alternate timelines. I removed one star because there were a few parts that just didn't mesh with the main character. I felt like Isaac was way too smart to be so wrong about a couple of things. I couldn’t help thinking, “come on Isaac, get there! Connect the dots!”, or “How can you possibly think that? It makes no sense!”. Regardless, this was an outstanding story, and I gave it a 4 out of 5.
The ending was so surprising and left plenty of room for more to come. This definitely has the makings of a great series. I would recommend this book to anyone over the age of 18, due to some of the more graphic depictions, and anyone who loves sci-fi and fantasy. It is well worth the read.
******
Dead Man Walking
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon