Review: The Hunger

Today I'm going to be reviewing The Hunger by Michael D. Young. I was given this book to review by Future House Publishing and this review is spoiler-free. With that, lets get started!

I would give this book a 4/5 stars. Goodreads gives this book a 3.74/5 stars but I think it deserves more justice than that. The synopsis of the book makes it sound like the reader will encounter constant battles, great heroes, and great dangers. Which is true - but only when getting towards the crisis moment. The beginning of the book was slow in my opinion. After reading the synopsis I wanted to immediately jump into axe fights and meet deadly creatures, but the slow introduction is worth it. Well, not too slow, as the book starts off with our main character Azil fighting for his life against an assassin.

In the beginning, we meet Kaval, an orphan, Azil, a fashion obsessed historian, and Evelet, a magical and mysterious woman. With each chapter beginning with a journal entry of scholar Jamith, whose mission to uncover the secrets of Rahim (their God) and how the world was created leads him to ask Azil to find Kaval and help, gives the book the background you didn't know you needed. (Read the journal entries!)

The journey takes us across the three Keeps; Scarlatti, Dorian, and Azuran. We encounter different societies, the dangers in them and between these floating cities, as well as the magical world Rahim created. The three are sent on a mysterious mission in order to save humanity and send order across the lands.

Now here is where I get my rating from:

I give reviews based on five separate categories: plot, characters, description, pace, and extras. Each point earns a total of 1 star - which is what gives my five star rating.

Plot: 1/1 stars. The plot line and world Young gives us is unlike anything I've ever read before. It is creative, unique, and executed effectively.

Characters: 1/1 stars. Characters were realistic, intriguing, and well developed. There were no characters that were better written than others - especially among the main characters. Each life was thought up carefully, with no holes in story/background or annoying characteristics. All the characters were interesting to read about and gave life to the story.

Description: 1/1 stars. Even in this crazy world Young presents us, he takes his time giving every detail of it. I was never confused reading where I was, who I was with, what they looked like. I could envision everything going on clearly and it made the action of the play more exhilarating. Every action filled scene was met with perfect description which provided my imagination the fuel it needed to gasp in shock or cry out in despair.

Pace: 0.5/1 stars. The introduction to the action felt too long. I found that it wasn't until I was halfway through the book that the plot picked up, as well as the action. While it wasn't like nothing happened in the beginning, the way it was written made it feel like eternity between chapters. I wanted the plot to progress faster! If you can get past the beginning, it is worth it!

Extras: 0.5/1 stars. Extras are what I consider the extra pop in a book that makes it go from being a "good" book to a "GREAT" book. The Hunger has some of that pop in terms of the complexity in the world Young created. The idea that humans need Sustenance in order to survive, and will turn into these grotesque, hideous beings called Mals without it is something I personally would never have thought of. The world Young presents is one filled with magic and creativity that gave it that extra "humph" and made me love it even more. The only reason it does not get a 1/1 stars is solely because that extra "humph" is not enough to keep the reader involved if they end up finding the beginning too slow or boring.

If you liked my thoughts or completely disagree, please feel free to let me know!

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