Singer of Souls by Adam Stemple Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Singer of Souls
Book Review: A good story deteriorates into a splatter film
Summary: 2 Stars
Adam Stemple has the makings of a good writer. He has a fertile imagination and a quirky sense of humor. His descriptions of people, places and events have a feeling of authenticity. At times he's capable of working some real magic with language. However, like many fledgling writers, he has trouble distinuishing the voices of his muse and his inner demons. As the story progresses, the demons get the upper hand, and a novel that begins as a charming mystery degenerates into a neausating bloodletting. Mr. Stemple seems to have chosen the worst possible ending for this unfortunate book, resolving all conflict with an ugly adolescent power fantasy.
Adam, you can do better than this. Don't let your demons write the ending of your next book. Let them have their say, then put their pages through the shredder and give your muse some breathing room.
Book Review: GREAT! A Full Story with a hard-landing finish.
Summary: 5 Stars
Adam Stemple has created an interesting and engaging story which crosses from our world to faery. From the very beginning, the books pulls you in. The story is well told and the language flows perfectly. You won't find yourself stumbling over clumsy style or grammatical errors. Most notable he establishes a fascinating relationship between music and magic.
The characters are full and often dark. Watch out for Father Croser...Whoa!
We could do with out the one sex scene, which is boring and obviously plays to the fantasy of male readers with little experience. Of course you might laugh too since it's so incredibly over the top cheesy.
The pace near the ending of the book changes suddenly. It took me by surprise anyway, and unpleasantly so. Days later I'm still digesting and can't quite get it out of my head. But upon reflection, it all makes sense. The main character stumbles into a world where his only talent becomes his greatest power. Sympathies, loyalties and positions change, dramatically.
If you need a feel good, fuzzy, happy ending this story is NOT for you! Personally I can't wait for the sequel.
Book Review: Great Fantasy Writing
Summary: 5 Stars
This is so clearly the best book ever written (by Adam Stemple) that I don't know how there is any debate. Buy this book or I will come to your house and punch you in the groin until your ears bleed.Book Review: Overall, an exciting new author
Summary: 4 Stars
If you are serious about fantasy, this is a good book. If you are serious about happy endings, this is a bad book.
Adam Stemple has a wonderfully readable and likable voice as an author. He hooked me from page 1 and I didn't want to put the book down. That is why the ending is so devastating. Was it a lack of maturity on his part? Was it a desire to startle the reader? Was it an intentional statement trying to separate his identity from that of his mother (Jane Yolen)?
The only way I'll ever know is if he writes the sequel that this story is screaming for.
Book Review: Starts fine, but screws the reader in the end.
Summary: 1 Stars
I bought this book shortly after visiting Edinburg during the Festival, and found it did a good job of capturing the feel of the Edinburg Festival and the Fringe. The main character is interesting and we get caught up in his attempt to keep himself clean from drugs.
However, as others have pointed out, something happened. Unbelievable characters, such as the priest, appear. The worst sin of all is his contemptuous screwing of the reader. We are given characters that we are mean't to like, and then senseless death ensues. And the main character, our point of view character that we are to identify with, suddenly changes his personality 180 with no justification or development. It's like, "Oh, time to end the book, let's piss on the reader now."
Books don't have to always have happy endings, manipulation of the reader can work with proper setup and justification, but this callous, clumsy ending is an insult. All I can say, Mr. Stemple, is that I'll avoid any future writings of yours in the future. Perhaps you should read some of your mother's fine writings without that chip on your shoulder.
More Singer of Souls reviews:
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