Comments on: REVIEW: Night Child by Jes Battis

By: Jes Battis

Jes Battis — Wed, 28 May 2008 16:36:16 +0000

Jia,

Thanks for the crit. I always appreciate info that will help me revise my writing and make it better. I do agree that Tess makes mistakes, although that’s mostly because she’s human (well, sort of), and if she did everything according to procedure, there’d be no story. But I think you make some valid points, and I appreciate that you took the time to read my book. I hope you like Hextacy, the sequel, and I look forward to reading your review. I like that you’re honest and you don’t pull punches.

All best

Jes

By: Jia

Jia — Tue, 27 May 2008 20:28:56 +0000

Keishon: Actually, the use of “materia” distracted me a lot because I associate that word with the Final Fantasy videogames. I know it’s not a proprietary usage but it was one of those things that kept kicking me out of the book.

loonigrrl: Tess does seem like she skipped Investigation Tactics 101, doesn’t she? Even if those “tactics” are really just common sense.

By: orannia

orannia — Tue, 27 May 2008 20:16:56 +0000

In Night Child, the problem is how do you make sure your readers understand the science while also introducing the story and characters? I don’t know the answer to that but I do know the execution failed to work for me here

My best friend calls it techno-dumping. Some authors have whole paragraphs detailing various technical aspects, most of which aren’t necessary. Watching CSI New York last night brought to my attention something I’ve also noticed occurring in books as well as in TV shows: certain characters make very obvious statements about a situation that they wouldn’t otherwise say to a colleague because said colleague is also an expert. So, it is only being said for the reader/viewer, but it is so obvious it is clunky.

Out of interest, is it just me or are a lot of urban fantasy books being written in the first person at the present? I almost forgot, with heroines who are headstrong and upon whom the fate of the whole world rests?

orannia

By: loonigrrl

loonigrrl — Tue, 27 May 2008 18:16:08 +0000

I’m about halfway through this book, and although I’m going to finish it, I don’t exactly love it either. I agree, the story is slow-there’s too much background about forensics- but my problem is really with Tess. She’s got this one chance to make or break her career and she keeps deliberately doing things that she knows will get her in trouble. And they are simple things like calling for back up, or not taking the victim to her apartment. Ugh! It’s really aggravating. I’ve felt absolutely no sympathy for her each time her boss calls her on it.

By: Keishon

Keishon — Tue, 27 May 2008 18:02:25 +0000

In Night Child, the problem is how do you make sure your readers understand the science while also introducing the story and characters? I don’t know the answer to that but I do know the execution failed to work for me here

I had started this book over the Memorial Day weekend and had to stop. The in depth details about “materia” and other sci-fi gadgets and the physics behind it bored me. Interesting stuff but it really slowed down the first couple of chapters for me, too. I had to stop reading or go insane. Overall, for me, this felt like an ambitious novel that was poorly executed. Glad someone reviewed this book. I agree, the cover is nice and will draw attention like it should but too bad that what’s between those covers didn’t work.