Who follows Affonso Solano on twitter (@affonsosolano) and like when it is present in Nerdcast and podcast Killing Giant Robots, is fed up (in a good way) to know that the book The Swordsman of Coal is a masterpiece of Brazilian fantasy literature.
Was the mission life-NERD-check whether this book was really good all-fanatical fans of the author were saying or were simply rabid fans-even.
Unfortunately I could not read when it was released, because I was still reading the second or third book in the saga Game of Thrones George R. R. Martin e, who knows my reading habits, known, when beginning a saga, 'm going through. No case of war two Thrones, until last book currently published.
But let's stop talking about George Martin and back to talking about Alfonso Solano and his first book: The Swordsman of Coal.
The Swordsman of Coal
Have start this review by saying that the book does not end when it ends. For those who are accustomed to read Martin and their 800 pages in a single volume, The Swordsman of Coal is a very fast and direct reading in his few 256 pages.
(Cover illustration by Rafael Damiani. Graphic Design Hood: Rico Bacellar)
This book is another that creates a unique world (Kurgala), where several different breeds, mais a humana, live in harmony and mixed. Adapak, the main character of the book, a being of black skin, no nose or ears, but with the mouth (still well), is placed in a situation that does not know exactly what is happening.
Son of one of the gods of Kurgala, Adapak was trained in the art circles; technique that uses swords and probability to determine the movements and actions that will lead to victory. All this I already knew the track mini-spoilers posted by Alfonso on his personal twitter account, but hoped to better understand how these circles work when reading the first volume. Not. Still not quite understand how they work. Curious as I am, I look forward that this technique is best explained in the next books.
At first reading I was impressed with the courtesy and concern that Solano dedicated to Portuguese. Yes, The book is very well written, or very well reviewed, and struck me in the very first plated. I thought you were reading a story written by a teen, without rhythm or agreement, I tive and pleasant to be completely deceived surpresa. Congratulations on this point.
I feel perdido
I swear, early in the book, I felt completely lost with what I was reading. Thought: what's happening!!??
Baloney. It was exactly where the author wanted readers were: Lost. Took me by surprise, because, throughout history the book uses the technique of flashback and delights the reader with details that will clarify the few open spots and making you understand why that situation is Adapak.
Adapak by Jovian Marques
It is distressing to put yourself in the shoes of a character who does not know what is happening nor what to do to get out of this situation. I like to feel again that the hero.
Accustomed to War of Thrones, had learned not nourish hopeful feelings for the main characters, acabavam dying for the next chapter; but not Adapak!
Almost cursed the Solano!
Despite being a book of adventure, in which you expect the character to win all fights without any scratch, Adapak suffers an accident that made me scared! I can not talk about what happened because it would be a big spoiler, but I swear I thought I'd turn on the cold heart that used to read George Martin.
If you have weak heart or faint at the sight or smell of blood, careful reading! ;)
What I did not like?
Influenced by twitter messages and quotes on Nerdcasts, created in my head the world Kurgala totally different than the author. Explain:
As already knew Adapak was the son of a God, who lived alone on an island, reading fantasy books that were left as an offering to his father, I thought then that he was living on Earth, where there were only humans and their eventual appearance cause a stir (Extraterrestrial? Super-herói? Demon? Friend? Enemy?).
I figured the U.S. president sending secret agents to try to capture it and being killed by the circles in sequence. Not, Kurgala is not Earth and, not, the-humans are just one of the races living on this planet. It's something like Star Wars, where each race has different skills and advantages, that make them more lethal, intelligent and vulnerable than others.
I thought my world better, but it is normal to imagine things, at the end, has nothing to do with reality, after all, each riding your world any way you want.
The book is bad?
But of course not. The Swordsman of Coal is very good! I was so very proud to know that we have another Brazilian writing excellent stories, that encourage young readers to take the reading habit.
If you like fantasy and adventure books, this is one you should read urgently. It is small and we have promises of release of the second volume, we look forward to buying and reading on my Kindle! Moreover, Now I have to figure out how to get an autograph on my ebook! :)
Congratulations to Alfonso Solano and thanks for bringing back the freedom to twist without much fear for the main character landslide! (at least in this first book, of course).
Saiba mais
Want to know more about the book or the author, Visit the official site:
http://espadachimdecarvao.com/
