Mortal Coils by Eric Nylund Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Mortal Coils
Book Review: A Very Promising Start
Summary: 5 Stars
I was a huge fan of the novels based on the video game Halo, and that served as my introduction to Eric Nylund. I loved the characters (not just because of the game), the action, and most importantly the writing.
I went into this book not knowing what to expect, knowing really only that it was a fantasy novel. And, as you may be able to tell from the '5 Stars' in my review, I really, really loved it.
The story focuses on Eliot and Fiona, twins who live with their grandmother and great grandmother and live very boring lives. They are forced to wear homemade clothing that barely fits, they only ever get out of the house to go to work at a pizza joint, and their grandmother gives them long essay projects as homework night after night. But really, Eliot and Fiona are not what they appear to be, and finding out what they really are is half the fun of the novel, so I won't spoil it here. And the other half of the fun is, of course, simply reading the book.
Eliot and Fiona are eminently relatable characters. They have traits and thoughts and ideas that are unique and at the same time universal, so right from the get go there's a connection between you the reader and them, and, like all great novelists, Mr. Nylund uses this connection to the fullest, so that you are completely hooked on not only the plot (which is crazy and amazingly awesome) but you deeply care about the characters that you are reading about, especially (although not exclusively) the twins. And the background of the book, which intertwines different mythologies and mythological figures and creatures, is a joy to delve into.
And the writing of the book makes it spectacularly easy to get into and fully enjoy. It is truly an extremely fun book to read, written without much of the heavy-handedness that pervades much fiction today. But of course, this isn't a light and frothy book either, it's a novel about choices and serious consequences, and those choices and consequences make for some very interesting sequences within the book, sequences that were tense and well thought out and, as I said before, great fun to read.
In summary, Mortal Coils is really a fantasy for all ages. The characters are brilliantly worked and the plot, while deep and intricate, is at the same time extremely accessible, and there are a great many surprises along the way, with each and every little twist and turn along the way adding to the intense frenzy of action that is the finale. And trust me, that's one finale that you don't want to miss. If you are a fan of Mr. Nylund through the Halo books, buy this book even if you are not a fan of fantasy. Honestly before this I enjoyed Tolkien and C.S. Lewis and that was about it in the fantasy department, but this book has actually forced me to reconsider my position and it's actually broadened my palette quite a bit. And if you are a fan of Mr. Nylund from the pre-Halo days, knowing him only as the author of fantastic works like A Game of Universe, Dry Water, and Signal to Noise (which, I've read all of them so I'm allowed to call them fantastic; I'm not lying), you will also not be disappointed by this purchase.
Book Review: A fantasitc, engaging read!
Summary: 5 Stars
Simply put, I was completely blown away. While there were a lot of aspects that I really enjoyed by far for me the the most intriguing was how so many different personalities could not only co-exist but use each others strengths and weaknesses for the own benefit. Anytime Henry appeared I felt a sense of unease, never quite sure which way he may tip the scales. There's a lot more I could write about the book but as I start to re-read it I feel that that best way to experience it is to go in with knowing just what Nylund provides and letting the world he creates do the rest. An excellent read and I can't wait for All That Lives Must Die, the second in this series.
Book Review: American gods + Harry Potter = Mortal Coils
Summary: 4 Stars
Enjoyable read. I felt a lot of Gaiman's influence. Well written, engaging, and kept my attention. Slightly derivative of the title-mentioned books, but not in a bad way. Grittier and more adult than Harry Potter, and not as significant and poetic as American Gods, but a good amalgam. Any smart kid would enjoy it, and I enjoyed it too. I'm looking forward to the sequel.
Worth picking up.
Book Review: Coninualy astounded by Eric Nylund's work
Summary: 5 Stars
I have been completely enthralled by his writing style and technique, I love the way he conveys a story and how entranced his writing makes me. I am just finished reading "Mortal Coils" and I couldn't put it down I even missed my stop on the bus a couple of times because of it, to no dissapointment though, not wanting to miss a single thing, as if I were to have "paused" my reading I might have missed something, or my understanding would have changed slightly. I also feel I should say, however one man's opinion may not mean much to the masses, I enjoy reading his novels even more than Stephen King, not to say that he is a better writer but definitely near his equal, I enjoy fantasy novels a lot more than horror, and I can not wait to read the sequel. I have truly enjoyed all of his work and will continue to read everything he writes.
Give yourself the privilage and the pleasure of reading his work.
Book Review: Didn't want to put it down.. except..
Summary: 4 Stars
First book I've read by Mr. Nylund and it's a good story. Very good character development while leaving a little bit out to keep you guessing. Very easy, enjoyable read. My only complain was the "footnotes" which seemed to be rip-off from "Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell: A Novel". They didn't add to the story, instead they were distracting and a nuisance, never really explaining things as in JS&MN. They were the only thing that kept me from giving this book a 5. I'd hope that any sequels would simply leave them out, but I'll enjoy reading the further adventures of Eliot and Fiona.