Merlin’s Cove reviewed Death Unleashed by Steve McHugh
Review of 'Death Unleashed' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
To say I was excited to get an early copy of this book would be an understatement! McHugh has rapidly climbed to the top of my ‘most anticipated’ list and he’s yet to disappoint.
This book takes up the story a few months after the end of Sorcery Reborn and continues with the split perspective, this time adding Mordred’s perspective to Nate’s and Layla’s. Despite there being three perspectives the book never feels too busy. All three characters have a distinct ’voice’ and it’s easy to distinguish which story we’re following (if you somehow miss the chapter headers where it tells you who it is - I’ve been surprised at how difficult people seem find keeping up with split perspectives in books, even with clear headings to guide them!). Once the action starts it’s pretty much non-stop, with new and intriguing uses of powers, and of course swearing - thanks …
To say I was excited to get an early copy of this book would be an understatement! McHugh has rapidly climbed to the top of my ‘most anticipated’ list and he’s yet to disappoint.
This book takes up the story a few months after the end of Sorcery Reborn and continues with the split perspective, this time adding Mordred’s perspective to Nate’s and Layla’s. Despite there being three perspectives the book never feels too busy. All three characters have a distinct ’voice’ and it’s easy to distinguish which story we’re following (if you somehow miss the chapter headers where it tells you who it is - I’ve been surprised at how difficult people seem find keeping up with split perspectives in books, even with clear headings to guide them!). Once the action starts it’s pretty much non-stop, with new and intriguing uses of powers, and of course swearing - thanks mostly to Remy, who never ceases to amuse (read his novella Hunted to get more Remy goodness). It’s violent, but if you don’t want violent don’t read books about former assassins and wars, and it’s funny. It’s also heartbreaking at times, beloved characters are in peril, as are their loved ones, as they battle Avalon.
Again I’m impressed and happy that McHugh manages to be inclusive, with sexualities represented well and not used simply for titillation and fetishisation. He’s one of the best male writers with regard to female characters. They aren’t described or valued by their physical and sexual attributes- case in point, Aphrodite. She’s a succubus and is described as beautiful, but that’s it. No epic paragraphs about her body. It’s amazing how many male (and to be honest, female) writers are incapable of creating strong, competent and smart female characters without reducing them to a bra size. There are so many strong and powerful women in this universe, who get the respect they’re due. Even better than that, in some ways, McHugh isn’t afraid to create terrible women, and he isn’t afraid to treat them in the same way he treats his awful male characters. How sad is it that in 2020 it’s still so unusual to see true equality??
The amount of story threads that McHugh has had to weave together is staggering, and he does it masterfully. This trilogy is the culmination of 10 previous novels, over two series, with a huge cast of characters with a lot of plot to cover. Lesser writers would have stumbled many times, leaving loose ends galore, but other than a few things lost in editing - which he’s explained in various places - McHugh manages not to fumble.
I’d highly recommend reading all of McHugh’s books, this is a great universe to get lost in and is somewhere I return to regularly as I reread often. Unforgettable characters, continuous action, masses of humour and a great story.....what’s not to love?!
