Better than Harry Potter
By Orlando McCarthy / Spinebreakers Crew
Listen. The Sanctuary of the Redeemers on Shotover Scarp is named after a damned lie, for there is little redemption that does on there and less sanctuary.
These are the words that will pull you into a book so hard to put down; it feels like it is welded to your hands. The Left Hand of God by Paul Hoffman marks the start of a fantasy series like no other. When it is released in 2010 it will be Penguin’s biggest book launch of the decade.
Close your eyes and imagine a world with no females. This story is set in this kind of world.
The story starts in The Sanctuary, a place ruled by a group of oppressing religious-men called Redeemers. It is a sort of citadel, which houses a large number of boys. The Redeemers are heavy-handed and strict, so most of the boys keep their head down. WE follow the story of Thomas Cale, who is around the age of fourteen.
After finding an impossible thing, a girl, Cale along with his two friends Henri and Klaus cleverly escape the Sanctuary. They make it to the nearest large city, Memphis. Here they start a new life, but with them they bring the Redeemers, who for some reason need Cale back in their possession…..
This book is excellently written, with Hoffman creating a dark and medieval atmosphere that shows his skill at writing. The plot had me hanging onto the edge of my seat and I couldn’t wait to find out what happens in the end. Cale is a character that sometimes seems to be a little cold, though I think the reader will find it easy to feel for him. The fear and oppression that stirs up throughout the book is excellently crafted and it is an amazing read.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is into fantasy of any type.
This book is better than Harry Potter. Yes I’m serious.
Rating: 5/5
By Orlando McCarthy
The Left Hand Of God is out in stores 2010.