Wednesday, September 3, 2014

(Review) The Oversight by Charlie Fletcher

 
 
Title: The Oversight
Author: Charlie Fletcher
Pages: 448
Published: May 6, 2014
PublisherOrbit
Review Copy: Yes

Why did I want this book?
I saw this book in the new LBB-cataloge and fell in love with its cover!
Synopsis:
Only five still guard the borders between the worlds. Only five hold back what waits on the other side. Once the Oversight, the secret society that polices the lines between the mundane and the magic, counted hundreds of brave souls among its members. Now their number can be tallied on a single hand. When a drunkard brings a screaming girl to the Oversight's London headquarters, it seems their hopes for a new recruit will be fulfilled - but the girl is a trap, her appearance a puzzle the five remaining guardians must solve or lose each other, and their society, for good. As the borders between the natural and the supernatural begin to break down, brutal murders erupt across the city, the Oversight are torn viciously apart, and their enemies close in for the final blow. This dark Dickensian fantasy spins a tale of witch-hunters, magicians, mirror-walkers and the unlikeliest of heroes drawn from the depths of British folklore. Meet the Oversight, and remember: when they fall, so do we all.

Cover:
The cover image is incredible! It was the reason, I got interested in the book. Usually, when I hear the word fantasy, you can see me running. But not this time! The setting features the ancient London and not a completely new world. I was instantly hooked!

Title:
The title refers to the guardians who protect the border between the worlds.

Writing style:
The writing style is very detailed but not in an annoying way. It didn't result in lengths and boring parts. And I really, really loved the fact, that it is set in London! The author also knew how to capture a reader. You could almost smell the old roads and feel the black mood.

Characters:
The book tells you the story of the Oversight. They are guardians of the border between the ordinary human world and the one of the magicians. But there numbers decline and only five are left by now.
The only hope of the Oversight is a girl, that comes to them. The only problem: She has no clue who she is and a lot of her memories are missing. She also has strange visions.
I liked the protagonists a lot. They have a great character development: personality and depth.

Noteworthy:
The book is the first novel of a Trilogy.

Stuck in my Head:
„It was hard to be afraid of what the darkness might hold when you know you are almost always the most dangerous thing abroad after the sun goes down.“ (p. 184)
What I didn't like:
Don't read the Amazon reviews, they contain way too many spoilers! In my opinion, even the synopsis reveals too much.

Quick and dirty:
A fascinating story that knows who the captivate its reader with a great plot and a very new version of London.

Thank you to ...
... Little Brown Books UKwho gave me this review copy in exchange of a honest review!

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