Who Would Like This Book:
This book is a wild mashup of X-Men, The Bourne Identity, and Good Omens - with a dash of British bureaucracy and a ton of quirky supernatural shenanigans. The witty, resourceful heroine, Myfanwy Thomas, finds herself at the heart of a mysterious secret organization and must piece together her identity using cleverly-written letters from her former self. Expect a fresh take on the amnesia trope, crazy powers, espionage, and a story that doesn’t take itself too seriously. If you love twisty urban fantasy, office politics with superpowers, a dash of dark humor, and strong, capable women (with little to no romance), you’ll have a blast with The Rook.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Some readers found the book bogged down by lengthy info-dumps and letters, which can interrupt the action and slow the pace. If you’re after a tightly-plotted thriller, you may find the whimsical tone, shifts between comedy and dark drama, or the sometimes-contrived exposition a bit frustrating. A handful of people felt the characters weren’t deeply fleshed out beyond their quirks, and others struggled with the blending of absurd humor and serious stakes. Also, the ending didn’t land for everyone, feeling rushed or unsatisfying after such a big build-up.
About:
'The Rook' by Daniel O'Malley follows the story of Myfanwy Thomas, a high-ranking operative in a secret government agency called The Checquy, who wakes up with amnesia surrounded by dead bodies. She discovers letters left by her former self guiding her through her identity and role in the agency, while also dealing with internal threats and a dangerous enemy. The plot is a mix of supernatural elements, mystery, and humor, set in an alternate London where paranormal forces are kept hidden by the agency.
The writing style of 'The Rook' is described as engaging and clever, with a first-person narrator who has had her memory wiped but leaves letters for her successor, providing detailed incluing for the reader. The characters are rounded and interesting, the plot is deftly handled, and the book is seen as an origins story that sets the stage for future installments in the series, promising more depth and development in the Checquy Files universe.
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From The Publisher:
Myfanwy Thomas awakens in a London park surrounded by dead bodies. With her memory gone, she must trust the instructions left by her former in order to survive. She quickly learns that she is a Rook, a high-level operative in a secret agency that protects the world from supernatural threats. But there is a mole inside the organization, and this person wants her dead.
Battling to save herself, Myfanwy will encounter a person with four bodies, a woman who can enter her dreams, children transformed into deadly fighters, and terrifyingly vast conspiracy.
Suspenseful and hilarious, The Rook is an outrageously imaginative thriller for readers who like their espionage with a dollop of purple slime.
"Utterly convincing and engrossing - -totally thought-through and frequently hilarious….Even this aging, jaded, attention-deficit-disordered critic was blown away."-Lev Grossman, Time
Ratings (84)
Incredible (28) | |
Loved It (29) | |
Liked It (15) | |
It Was OK (9) | |
Did Not Like (2) | |
Hated It (1) |
Reader Stats (182):
Read It (86) | |
Want To Read (69) | |
Did Not Finish (3) | |
Not Interested (24) |
3 comment(s)
Such the good start to a series. A really good blend of world building, real characters and relationships. He also did a really good job of balancing both Myfanwy's so you got to know them both and they both felt like full fledged people.
I thought this book was AMAZING! In fact, I found myself reading only a few chapters at a time so I could make it last longer. It was a cross between the MI-5 TV show on BBC and the X-Men.
The plot is a little hard to explain -- and I'm not going to try. That's why Daniel O'Malley wrote the book and I did not. But basically, Myfanwy Thomas (weird name but it grows on you) is a leader in a supernatural CIA-type organization in England. She awakens in a park with dead bodies all around her and no recollection of who she was. She learns from letters in her jacket that her memories had been wiped. And the story proceeds from there.
I have no idea how the author came up with the plot, but he's absolutely brilliant. The writing was clever and funny. The characters were complex. And even though the details of the book were far-fetched, I believed every single word. I'm completely bummed that this is a standalone book because I would really enjoy reading a sequel.
Llevaba tiempo detrás de leer este libro, y lo que me he encontrado ha sido la versión alegre de la Lavandería, más cerca de las historias de espías pulp que de los funcionarios luchando contra horrores cósmicos.
Empieza con la protagonista despertando sin memoria en su cuerpo, y así consigue incluir todo el trasfondo que hace falta sin que duela demasiado.
What can you read after
The Rook?
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