Tuesday 12 February 2013

Dark Remains by Sean McMahon

Dark Remains
Paperback, 288 pages
Published by Createspace (first published March 22nd 2011)
ISBN
1456543040 (ISBN13: 9781456543044)
edition language
English
London, 1842. England is in turmoil and one young woman must carry the demands of both the living and the dead.

After the death of her mother and imprisonment of her revolutionary father, thirteen-year-old Maggie Power is plunged into a world of poverty and violence. Promising to protect her younger brother - come what may - she scavenges upon the mudflats of the Thames, haunted by the constant shadows of hunger and disease.

That is, until a chance encounter with a charitable countess, who rescues her from the brutal streets of 19th century London. But Maggie’s troubles are just beginning. For the rich life presented to her by the mysterious countess comes at a dreadful price. Slowly she realises she must free herself of the influence of her benefactor - whose dark motives are revealed over the course of the turbulent summer of 1842.

A suspenseful, historical mystery, Dark Remains takes the reader on a journey through the dark heart of early Victorian London.

"Fine characterization...and skilled pacing make this a real page-turner." Publishers Weekly on this 2011 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Semi Finalist.
My Review
It was a sort of fantasy novel without it being a fantasy novel. It was the kind of novel that made it different and made it more interesting in many other ways that books tend to fail in. I liked the concept of the novel and felt that it was engaging in its own sort of way because I was able to relate with the characters without getting fully engaged with them and with what they were expressing and stating. I loved the overall depth of the novel and the time it was set within. I think all to many authors forget that the time element is important to a novel, because that can sometimes help you to really put the picture together and then to become more involved. 

The storyline itself, I wouldn't say it was a brilliant one. I think there is much room for improvement but it was still a good plot. It was the factor that you never really knew what was happening, or who could and could not be trusted. It almost had that sort of oliver twist feel to it, what with the two young kids just trying to make there way to somewhere safe in life. I think that the objectives of the novel are perhaps a little unclear and unclarified because for me it almost felt like there was a big hollow gap, where there was something missing, something that should have been there but wasn't.

Could this be better produced were the plot dragged out with more depth and detail and perhaps produced into a sequel, maybe. I think this would give it so much more room to grow and to really grasp the readers with everything that it has to offer. I don't think it would be the be all and end all of it, but I do think it would give it that much bigger and more extra room for growth and development in its own sort of style and way.

My rating: didn't like it it was ok (my current rating) liked it really liked it it was amazing

 

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