The Society Of Unrelenting Vigilance (2009) - Plot & Excerpts
Theo has been raised in isolation. His illness has required him to wear gloves constantly and undergo daily medical treatment, and only three people are ever around. But one day, he finds a mysterious gift that draws him to a world outside the only home he's ever known. It is there he comes face to face with not only the mysteries of his own life, but with a secret war fought with powers ordinary people can't imagine. But can Theo survive, let alone be any kind of hero?Imagine superheros (and villains!) designed with the flavor of Victorian England. The titular Candle Man. The Dodo. The Philanthropist. Throw in a few secret societies, the overtly known but secretly corrupt Society of Good Works (killing with kindness), a menagerie of extinct animals and a pinch of alchemy. It all makes for an intriguing blend of what-if that feels like the steampunk version of any superhero comic.Ironically, though, a great deal of the cast is old. Most of the backstory has its roots in the real Victorian era, where the story proper takes place in the present. This lends it a steampunk flavor without being steampunk entirely (which may or may not be to taste; I would have preferred the entire thing be set in the Victorian era since there wasn't much that would have changed). The characters are also fairly simple, with only one real surprise at the end. The real draw is more the mystery of the Candle Man and the historical band of heros and villianry, and Theo's own burgeoning powers. Though the story wraps up somewhat, it does leave several things dangling for a sequel. I liked it enough to be glad I picked up the sequel. I do hope the characters from the past either get scenes or have more of their lives explored. I rate this book Recommended. The Candleman is a book about a glowing superhero. It's a quick read and has its funny moments and good characters. When reading it late at night, Theo and Chloe tend to transform into Chleo, which means its time to go to bed because things stop making sense at that point.There are a few instances in this book that I became really frustrated with it as I read it - the first being that for the life of me I cannot figure out what time period it should be set in. The "fungus globes" being something I've never heard of are the only indication that this is not our own timeline, but the only other thing I've had to point me in the right direction is thay it is some time after World War II. It bugged me all the way through the book that I could not find the precise date. Furthermore, I know this is dumb, but I feel as though Theo should have collapsed from exhaustion and muscle degeneration long before the halfway point of the book. But that is just my personal experience and perhaps his being the Candleman helped him there somewhat.
What do You think about The Society Of Unrelenting Vigilance (2009)?
Writing was okay, characters okay, plot interesting. A sequel comes out this autumn...we'll see...
—Day
3.5 stars. Interesting premise. I'm looking forward to seeing where the author takes it from here.
—Jonae
Intriguing concept and a little dark. Looking forward to the next in the series.
—Trizze
dark - different type of read- sometimes confusing
—pook
