The Rook (urspr publ 2012; utgåvan 2012)

This book was quite a pleasant surprise! I didn't really have any expectations going into it, a friend had just recommended it so I gave it a whirl. And damn.. I ended up really liking it.

It could have been five stars, if not for one tiny gripe.. Sometimes the little asides, the history parts (the letters, you'll know what I mean if you read it), got to be a little tedious and dry. Luckily they tended to be pretty short, and weren't always that bad, so it didn't take away from my enjoyment too much. But still, it brought a five star down to about four and a half.

One of the things I liked most about it was the style of humor, it really appealed to me. It wasn't a laugh out loud kind of funny (although I did laugh out loud a couple of times... "A gynecologist appointment... To have my vagina checked... And... it's still... there. And okay.") But it was more so a pleasing kind of smiley funny, where I couldn't help but grin as I read it.

I also found the whole concept of the book to be really interesting. What would happen if I woke up tomorrow and didn't remember anything at all? Would I have the same personality without the memories of all of the experiences that have shaped my life, and have conditioned my behavior and responses? Would I like the same foods, or is what I like conditional behavior as well?

I kept putting this down to take a break, but then I always ended up picking it right back up again because I was enjoying reading it so much. Definitely recommended, and I hope to see more from Mr. O'Malley. ( )

I don't usually give full marks to any novel, but I'm going to have to give Rook this one because there... simply isn't anything to complain about.
The narrator is interesting, humorous, and a pleasure to follow.
The plot is exciting, VERY fresh (especially considering that fantasy as of late has rather suffered from a trend of rehashing the same stories and pretending that they are unique), and in my personal opinion, not at all predictable. Which is a feat that deserves quite a bit of applause when you're dealing with a story in which amnesia, secret societies, and the knowledge of traitors within the main organization all feature prominently.
Furthermore, the story tied up all of its loose ends quite nicely, leaving promising possibilities for a sequel (while still managing to be a solid stand-alone piece should Mr. O'Malley prefer).
There is literally nothing wrong with this book. It deserves full marks. It is wonderful fiction, and I enjoyed it immensely. I hope that everyone will give this book the chance it deserves. ( )

A young woman awakes and has no memory of who she is or what has happened to her. Then she finds a note in her pocket: ‘Dear You.” Thus begins her quest to find out who she is, what’s happened to her, and, along the way, to save the world.

What a fun read. Great feisty heroine with no sense of fashion, a secret spy agency charged with policing the supernatural, and a pet bunny. ( )

One of my favorites of the year. ( )

This book was so worth staying up until 3:30 this morning to finish. I love clever books that make me laugh, but throw in a little fantasy and mystery for good measure and I'm sold. ( )