Changes

All this and the fact the story swung too vividly from being in favour of one side to the other meant I felt the author was trying too hard to have his cake and eat it. Which is a pity, because he doubtlessly has a brilliant book in him. 'Vivid' is not the word for some of the action and writing here, although he cannot sustain that throughout. Not only can he imbue us with caring about Ben, even while we flick annoyed through some plot elements that go on, but he can develop a brilliant turn of phrase about North Wales that would brighten many an adult read. He can then annoy, by proving he knows how to develop a perfectly realised young fantasy fan ([[:|Category:Terry Brooks|Terry Brooks (before he went crap)]] books beside his bed, war-gaming fascination at the expense of having friends) only to have the punchline to a quip about the Underworld being regarding their use of scatter-cushions. I don't think Robert Rankin or [[:|Category:Terry Pratchett|Terry Pratchett]] would have stooped so low for a readership age so low, and I think that despite some flashes of real talent here, that is where I would suggest this disparate target audience should turn.