IRA: Final Analysis Blog

This is my final blog for The Shadow King. All in all, I think its a very good book. It's part of a larger series but at the same time its a novel that can stand alone. I'm also very pleased with the fact that the hero of the story, and as an extension of that, the story itself, aren't typical. The protagonist isn't like most heroes and main charcters of novels, all righteous and doing everything for the greater good. While he does want to help his people, more than that he wants revenge. It's more like saving his people is a fringe benefit. What really drives him is his thirst for revenge. This sets him apart from most heroes but in my opinion it also makes him more realistic. In a lot of stories the hero will have his family murdered by someone but will forgive them and go after the antagonist for the sake of others. However, this isn't realistic at all. Also, this story doesn't give you false hope. Most novels will comfort you with the belief that there will eventually be a happy ending, but The Shadow King doesn't do so. In this way its far more realistic. When you think about it logically, it's really very simple: theres a war going on and the good guys are vastly outnumbered. Only an idiot would believe that even if the protagonist prevails that the outcome will necessarily be a good one.  This novel is gritty and realistic. The setting may be in a fantasy realm but it still has a degree of realism. In a lot of stories. the hero is righteous and can do no wrong. He certainly isn't the type to kill people in their sleep, mutilate corpses, etc.

Excluding all the details, this is what I really like about the book: the characters realism. They are very human. They feel emotions, they have doubts, fears. Also, the characters aren't just flat and one-dimensional. They are three-dimensional and it feels as if they could actually exist. Another thing to note about the book is the theme of religion. Now, I know I could be reading too much into the religion aspect of the story but I think its a perfect example of why religion is such a horrible thing. I don't mean to offend anyone but the fact is that religion has caused incalculable amounts of death and destruction, and still continues to do so.

So, to end my blog. Well, to conclude it on a personal level, I'd have to say that this book just helps to reinforce my belief in the fact that religion is a bad thing. Until something comes along to prove differently, that will remain my stance on it. Now to recommend this novel. I personally enjoyed it very much, so I would definitely recommend this book. That being said, I'd have to say that unless you enjoy sci-fi/fantasy, you probably wouldn't like this book. However, if you are a fan of the genre, then I would definitely suggest you read it.