The concept is fun - it is very much an action movie. ( )

This was very close to 5 stars. It's an original take on a story of magic existing in the world we live in, particularly in the use of demonology and giving practicers of the art (called adepts and karcists) a high price of self destructive behaviour and substance abuse problems in order to use magick. The story itself is gripping; and the characters, while sometimes a bit one dimensional, are interesting. The missing star, however, is due to David Mack's writing style being lacking. It's hard to pinpoint exactly what is off, but the book often has the feel of Tom Clancy or Greg Kihn. Which isn't to say that it's bad, but it is a little repetitive and simple for such a great concept. ( )

harry potter for adults? there is a lot more flash and dazzle than substance - fairly likable characters but minimal evidence of any kind of growth - ok world building but spends lots of time describing superfluous elements (do we really need to know the technical name of every arcane weapon? how about ever foodstuff provided at the meal?) and no "why" underpining it (which admittedly is normal for high action titles) - the antagonists are painted in stark contrast, providing no room for them to grow in evil, or redeem themselves. The team connects then breaks up with no real leverage.
overall - it almost made it to likable ( )

I really loved the beginning of The Midnight Front.

The magic system is so intense, and the intricacies David Mack describes are fascinating. You know every step of what it takes to become a karcist and even though there's a *strong* Chosen One vibe, it's very interesting and I lived for the casting scenes.

However, in order to have an intricate world like this and not lose the reader in the folds, the pacing is very, very slow. Painfully slow. It's something I'm willing to forgive for books that shine (Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones) but ultimately, I didn't feel like the Midnight Front lived up to my expectation.

What David Mack does very well in descriptions and setting (there are descriptions of the war zones and ghettos that will give you chills), he falls short in plot. The book was easily 100 pages too long, and the "grand finale" was ultimately neither supremely grand, nor a finale. By the end, I was unimpressed.

That said, I think this is a *really good* book for someone in the right genre. I'm close, but I think this is a better book for people who like war stories and appreciate fantasy rather than someone who loves fantasy and tolerates war stories. In the right hands, this could be an instant favorite. ( )