Book Review: Ex-Purgatory by Peter Clines

Ex-Purgatory by Peter Clines (Broadway Books)

Genre: Science Fiction Fantasy

Series: Book 4 of Ex-Heroes

Publication Date: January 14, 2014

Author Information: Website

Mogsy's Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars


It's an age of trilogies we live in, so you can't really blame me when at first I thought Ex-Communication was going to be the end of the Ex-Heroes series. Thank goodness it was not. I was so happy when I finished reading that and found out about Ex-Purgatory, because I don't think I'm ready to say good bye to this superheroes vs. zombies fest quite yet.

Ex-Purgatory was...strange, though. Despite (or perhaps because of) the fact I've been following this series since the beginning, I was thrown for a loop as soon as I started the first page. St. George is now just George Bailey, working as a janitor on a university campus. No super strength, no invulnerability, no flying. No fire-breathing, no nothing! Seriously, I was like, is this like a prequel or something? A flashback? What's going on?

Well, there's a reason why the book description is so vague. The story's sort of a surprise, though a reader who remembers some of the events and characters from the previous books would probably figure it out quite quickly. I'll just put it this way: you know how when you sit down to watch a Star Trek: The Next Generation marathon and like a Holodeck episode comes on you just immediately know it's going to be weird? It's sort of like that.

Fans of movies like Inception or shows like Lost will probably really enjoy this one. And that's what puzzles me -- I normally go nuts over stuff like that and thrive on high levels of weirdness especially when it comes to books like this; I wouldn't have such a love for this series in the first place if I didn't. Still, I wasn't as on board with the story as I'd hoped. Something just felt missing here, and I think it has to do with superpowers and the zombies taking a backseat while the main conflict shifted internally to focus on the heroes trying to figure out what was going on instead.

I still really enjoyed the book; it has a lot of the things I really like about this series, including the action and clever dynamics between all the characters. I've always loved how Peter Clines writes about his ensemble casts, the way he gives each person a unique identity and attitude for speaking. It does make for some very entertaining scenes. Take complete polar opposite personalities like Karen Quilt AKA Stealth and Barry Burke AKA Zzzap, for example, throw them into a conversation together and watch the fur fly and dialogue flow. The satirical take on superhero archetypes still also makes me chuckle.

As for the main plot, methinks how it'll be received will depend on the invidual reader. I think it's slightly darker in tone than the last three books, and Clines was definitely out to try something a little different with the whole idea behind this story. Others will probably love it, even if I personally wasn't completely sold (though, I still think I should have been. And I still feel somewhat like a wet blanket that that wasn't the case). I just love these heroes and their powers so much, and to read about how all of them have forgotten who they are for so much of the book just feels...too odd!

Don't get me wrong, this was nevertheless very good. Yes, it's different but whether it's a welcome or unwelcome change, you'll just have to read it and be the judge of it yourself!

 A review copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: 14 by Peter Clines

14 by Peter Clines

Genre: Paranormal/Horror 

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Permuted Press

Date of Publication: June 5, 2012

Author Information: Website

Mogsy's Rating: 4 of 5 stars - "Excellent and diverse cast of 

characters in this fun, creepy paranormal novel"

I'd like to start this review off with some background information. So for the past year, I've been playing a massively multiplayer online role-playing survival horror game called The Secret World. The developers' description of it as a "dark fantasy" MMO is quite apt, due to its paranormal setting and the creepy mysteries-of-the-unexplained nature of the story and quests, heavily inspired by the works of H.P. Lovecraft. So that's why when a fellow gamer asked me for a book recommendation that has the same kind of vibe, my mind immediately went to Peter Clines' 14.

At the time, I hadn't read the book myself but I'd heard good things and knew from its description and others' reviews that it could be thematically and atmospherically similar to what my friend was looking for. A group of tenants living in a strange apartment building where bizarre things like strange light fixtures, wonky room temperatures, and mutant green cockroaches with extra legs are an everyday occurrence? The book definitely has that creepy-paranormal feel going for me.

Anyway, little did I know, in so many ways this book turned out even more like The Secret World than I could have possibly imagined. Those familiar with the game will know that there are certain types of quests called "Investigation Missions" that require the player to find facts and solve puzzles. That's pretty much how I saw this book. The main character Nate and his fellow neighbors gather to examine all the oddities they've found in their own apartments, and together they try to solve the mystery of the old Los Angeles brownstone they call home.

Overall this was a fantastic read, quite different in tone and subject compared to the author's other books that I've read and very much enjoyed, mainly the Ex-Heroes series. But the things I loved, such as Clines' light style and funny dialogue, are still all there. I've noticed he is excellent when it comes to writing about large ensemble casts. In the case of Ex-Heroes, it was his engaging and unique band of superheroes; in 14, it's the diverse group of tenants living in the strange Kavach Building. Clines gives them all distinct personalities even if at times they are a little cliched, and the conversations that result are always natural, witty and entertaining.

In terms of the story, I think some might find it slow to take off, particularly at the beginning and especially if you're expecting something more along the lines of pure horror. There are certainly horror elements in this book, but for the most part there's nothing too frightening. Is 14 scary? No, not really; there's nothing that would give me trouble sleeping anyway. But creepy and a bit unsettling? Definitely. This eeriness strengthens throughout the course of the novel with each new discovery of weirdness in Nate's building, every one of them adding to the atmosphere.

Beyond that, it's going to be hard to talk about the plot without giving too much away. I can't say I was a big fan of the ending, but after all that build-up everything does come to a head in a big, meaningful, almost overwhelming way. That, I can guarantee.

In general, 14 is a tough book to categorize, but think a mix of science fiction and fantasy with a dash of horror, with emphasis on mystery, paranormal, and topics relating to unexplained phenomena. It's a lot like the show Lost in this regard, but with a heavier dose of humor. A fun read all around, which held my attention from the first page to the last.

4 of 5 stars

Book Review: Ex-Communication by Peter Clines

Ex-Communication by Peter Clines

Superheroes, zombies, and Hollywood -- you really can't go wrong with this combination. This third book in the Ex-Heroes series is just as fun and entertaining as the first two. A big thank you goes to LibraryThing and their Early Reviewers program, which is where I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Since this is a sequel, be aware that there may be possible spoilers here for the previous books Ex-Heroes and Ex-Patriots if you haven't read them yet. It is definitely best to read this series in order, as our superhero main characters and their community of survivors have come a long way. It has been years since the zombie plague decimated humanity, but St. George formerly the Mighty Dragon and his remaining fellow powered teammates have created a safe haven for the remnants of the population.

Still, many dangers still lurk beyond the walls. The hordes of ex-humans have become a new weapon for an enemy known as Legion, who uses the dead as pawns in his attacks against the superheroes. Things are not all well within the walls either, as dissension spreads amongst the survivors and Zzzap's behavior becomes more erratic. The zombie plague has changed the rules about life and death, but even then the heroes are surprised when a couple of faces they thought long departed also show up at the Mount. Featuring the return of an old hero and the arrival of a new one as well, this third Ex-Heroes book definitely goes all out. 

Certainly, if you enjoy reading "superhero fiction", this series would be a great choice. The inclusion of the zombie apocalypse injects a new twist into the subgenre too -- because it's not enough that our heroes already have their hands full keeping order in a modern day world, they have to do it in the middle of a planet overrun with undead as well! I just love how ideas like that continue to make these books interesting and fun to ponder.

And naturally, it's the ensemble cast and their unique powers that define a superhero book. This installment allowed me to catch up with St. George, Stealth, Cerberus, Zzzap and Freedom. As always, I continue to find myself entertained by their individual personalities, quirks and hangups. In some ways, reading about how the heroes' attitudes and morals clash with each other is even more fun than seeing them use their powers to fight. 

If anything, I felt the book could have done with less action scenes at the beginning. One might think "superheroes vs. the undead" would be something no one would tire of, like, ever -- but you'd be surprised. After all, there's only so many ways you can describe a superhero crushing a zombie's skull, and even in the opening sequence I was tempted to start skimming. However, the book picks up when it starts filling in the events of the present as well as in the past, the latter achieved through chapters that leave the "NOW" and go back to "THEN". These brief looks into the past give the reader the necessary background information to appreciate the story all the more. 

I'm happy to see the series will continue. Peter Clines has provided me so much entertainment over the last couple of years with these books, I'd hate to see them end. Post-apocalyptic survival, fast-paced action, superheroes saving the world from evil and monstrous villains -- you'll find that all here.

 4 of 5 stars