This book is not for everyone. But then, what books is?
The caveats: I received this copy free from Del Rey, along with a very shiny copy of a Brzrkr cThis book is not for everyone. But then, what books is?
The caveats: I received this copy free from Del Rey, along with a very shiny copy of a Brzrkr comic from BOOM! Studios.
Now it might be important for you to know that this is my first foray into this world. If you are an established reader of BRZRKR comics, you may find or have found many nuances that I have missed in reading this.
But, for me, coming cold to this book, this is my honest response.
It wasn't what I expected. 'Well, it's based on a comic-book with an immortal hero who gets in lots of battles and wins and even if they kill him, he regenerates (respawns?) and goes on.' (I don't think that's a spoiler for anyone.) So I thought it would be fast paced, action, lots of battles, lots of gore, full speed ahead.
It isn't.
So, imagine you are part of 'B's team. The team is not just the fighters who go where he must go and follow the orders given to them. It's the management at the top. Diverse people who have to look after not just B but also those who serve alongside him. All of those people have reactions to him. Philosophically, morally, scientifically, socially.
This is not the first time comic readers will encounter a pause to consider what having a Superhero or being a Superhero might mean. Spiderman: With great power comes great responsibility. Superman is for truth and justice.
But this time, the reader will have time to think about what it might really mean. So this isn't a fast, action, on-to-the-next-fight read. This is a character study of not just B but those who support and command him and his team.
I really liked the narrative flashbacks in this book. Who summoned this being, and how? Is there another one like him? Can he ever fall in love? Get married? Be over-powered? Truly be a friend to a mortal who will never share his years? When would any of that happen in the thousands of years he has walked among mortals?
Be prepared to look up a few words along the way. I did. And I flatter myself that I have a pretty wide vocabulary. And be prepared to stop and think about what the characters do and say. Never a bad thing.
I worried that because this is based on comic books, nothing would be resolved at the end, no question answered. Relax. You will have a satisfactory finish.
I have no idea how Keanu Reeves and China Mieville split the creative duties on this. And tha's good, as it means no obvious seams. One cohesive piece of story telling.
I would put this at the science-fantasy end of my fantasy bookshelf. Yes, some 'willing suspension of disbelief' will be required. It's worth it for this thoughtful tale.
