2 out of 4 stars
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The Sons of Waywould is a crime novel full of suspense. The book, written by Albert John Asaro, revolves around three brothers: Julian, Justin, and Lucius. There’s also a fourth, mysterious half-brother named Barnabas. They are born into a dysfunctional family, with an abusive father and a drug-addicted mother who are members of an evil organization – Waywould Youth of America – whose objective is to enslave and exploit boys. Posing as a phony charity, this organization uses brothels as hubs to lure vulnerable boys and initiate them into a life of vice.
Due to neglect and abuse, the brothers are separated and sent to foster care. But “they were damaged goods.” Julian and Lucius reunite and go back to their parent’s world of crime, suspecting that their brother is dead, for Justin changed his name to William. To perform his abominable misdeeds, Julian assumes an alternate personality called Darius. Hunted by law enforcement, the brothers delve deep into organized crime, with FBI’s agent Sandra Masterson – the lead detective on the case – on their tail.
The author successfully weaves supernatural elements in the plot. I found this to be a positive aspect. It’s almost as if the brothers are fantastic, non-human creatures, possessing strong yet morally ambivalent personalities. They display an unusual ability to perceive feelings and experience vivid, premonitory dreams. In some respects, they reminded me of iconic comic book characters, with their troublesome past, a long coma, memory lapses, split personas, and fuzzy identities. Even Sandra has psychic powers.
On the other hand, the characters and dialogues were not well developed. In my opinion, the author’s depiction of the brothers was somewhat shallow and stereotyped. Additionally, the novel is not for the faint-hearted. It’s a disconcerting parade of heinous rapes and murders, and I found the sexual exploitation of minors particularly disturbing. Also, graphic and vulgar accounts of sexual acts are frequent, as well as unsettling descriptions of abuse and assault. I believe the book would be much better without these unnecessary details.
Lastly, I found numerous editing errors in the book, which is far from its most polished form. For this reason, but most of all for the overly distasteful parts, I am taking two stars away from its rating. Therefore, I rate this book 2 out of 4 stars. I believe it should appeal to readers who enjoy crime stories with a touch of magical elements. Those who are put off by sexual vulgarity might not like it as much.
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Sons of Waywould
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