3 out of 4 stars
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The Moonshadow Effect by Robert de Casares is a fast-paced, action-packed, futuristic spy thriller that takes you on an exhilarating ride with protagonist Max Dacre. The story is set in the near future with the world fighting a losing battle against mother nature. Tsunamis, melting ice caps, and rising sea levels are wreaking havoc on different towns and cities all over the world. Nowhere is safe. Despite the mounting evidence of a global crisis, world leaders continue to connive and justify their lust for unlimited and unrestricted power. MI6 operative Max Dacre finds himself caught between love and duty. Will he take a stand and serve his country, or will he follow his heart?
The book’s unforgettable opening sequence read like something out of a James Bond novel. The writing was witty yet precise, eliciting the desired reaction from the reader: an edge-of-your-seat experience. The author deftly maintained the suspense level throughout the book. While the climate issue remained a constant backdrop, it did not overshadow the plot’s main focus which was the duplicitous nature of spycraft. In Robert’s fictitious world, there is no clear cut good or bad guy - only self-interest rules.
I particularly appreciate how the author adapted world events – past and present – from real life into the fictional elements of the book. The author used the 2014 Ukraine uprising, Brexit, the Skripal poisoning in 2018, even Trump’s use of social media to mislead and misinform the masses; as well as other real events in putting together this thrilling story. The result is a highly realistic plot with an almost prophetic feel that keeps the reader intrigued from start to finish.
Additionally, all the significant characters in the book were well-developed and adequately fleshed out. This ensured that the reader understood their motives clearly. One of the most memorable characters for me was Cyril, the transvestite assassin. His uncanny talent to transform himself into a woman to carry out his missions made him a formidable figure. With chameleon-like ease, he became Lisa, an undeniably stunning and charming blonde knockout.
Some parts of the story stood out for me as being a little problematic. First, despite Max Dacre’s comprehensive backstory, his character still felt somewhat two-dimensional. His skill as a superb operative was undeniable, but apart from that, you don’t really know the man. His unpredictability and apparent lack of depth made him unrelatable.
Secondly, we know next to nothing about Max’s ad hoc girlfriend, Saskia. Besides having no backstory, there’s no mention of what she does for a living, how they met, or how long they’ve been together. Also, Max bedded women indiscriminately whenever the opportunity presented itself. Yet, he suddenly decides he loves Saskia and wants to marry her. The move from a sometime girlfriend to fiancé seemed rather abrupt and a bit unrealistic. Had their relationship been fully developed, his proposal would not have appeared out of place. The plot’s love story was not as convincing as the espionage story.
There were also a few editing flaws, but these did not detract from the overall quality of the book. Apart from a few grammatical errors, overuse of the colon and one blank page in the middle of the book, The Moonshadow Effect appeared professionally edited. If you enjoy action-packed books about spycraft and politics, you’ll enjoy this book. I would also recommend the book to climate-fiction readers. I rate The Moonshadow Effect 3 out of 4 stars. As much as I would love to give it 4 stars, I must factor in the issues mentioned above. The author delivered a superb work of fiction, and I look forward to reading more of his books.
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The Moonshadow Effect
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