About the Book: Myfanwy Thomas awakes in a London park surrounded by dead bodies. With her memory gone, her only hope of survival is to trust the instructions left in her pocket by her former self. She quickly learns that she is a Rook, a high-level operative in a secret agency that protects the world from supernatural threats. But there is a mole inside the organization and this person wants her dead.
As Myfanwy battles to save herself, she encounters a person with four bodies, a woman who can enter her dreams, children transformed into deadly fighters, and an unimaginably vast conspiracy. Suspenseful and hilarious, THE ROOK is an outrageously inventive debut for readers who like their espionage with a dollop of purple slime.
The Checquy Files #1
Urban Fantasy
Back Bay Books | October 16, 2012
I’ve heard so many wonderful things about The Rook. So many people are reading it and loving it, and I was excited to read and love it too. What I’m going to say next is in no way a reflection of this book. I know that’s odd to say, since this is a review, but trust me this is only a reflection of ME.
What reviewing has taught me about myself is that my emotional investment in a book is directly connected to the characters and the character relationships. Not too long ago I did a book tag and one of the questions was whether I was character or plot driven. I answered that I’m definitely character driven. I can love a book with very little plot if the characters and their relationships soar. On the other hand a book can have an amazing plot, but if I don’t feel the characters in my heart I’ll probably only be lukewarm. When it comes to The Rook, unfortunately I’ve only been lukewarm.
The Rook has a brilliant plot, and the world is immense and well thought out, but (and spoiler here, probably) Myfanwy has no familial, friendly, or romantic connections to anyone. She doesn’t even have a connection to herself. That’s all actually part of that well thought out plot. “Myfanwy Thomas awakes in a London park surrounded by dead bodies. With her memory gone, her only hope of survival is to trust the instructions left in her pocket by her former self.” It’s right there in the synopsis. I guess I just thought that more time would be spent on building connections, and I admit that at 55% (where I am right now) there’s been a start, but it’s just been too long without. I don’t feel invested.
So, basically I’m blowing out my breath in a exasperation… I’ve been reading this for so long, trying hard to force a connection. Wanting it. Sadly, it’s not the first time this has happened to me. For some reason there are a handful of really beloved books that don’t hit me the way they should, and unfortunately The Rook is one of those books. Except that I refuse to give up forever. I’m just going to set it aside for now. Maybe it’s just December? Maybe December is too hard for this book? December is busier at work, and busier at home. It’s the holidays. My mind isn’t completely here. For all the reasons I keep running through my head, I’m going to come back to you Myfanwy. I promise.
Birdie Bookworm 
Drat! This is a favorite of mine. I wish you were enjoying it more. You know, I remember it being incredibly complex. Not exactly a light read, so maybe this time of year isn’t the best time to read it. I brought the sequel a few months back and I thinkj I’m goung to have to reread The Rook before I dive back in.
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I think that is it, it was really complex with a huge world and characters. I wasn’t hating it, I was just not into it… if that makes sense. I kept my bookmark in my spot so I can come back to it.
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I’m doing that right now too!! I’m on the third book in a series and I loved the first two but am struggling with the third… so I set it down. I plan on going to it soon..
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Sometimes I think it’s just the timing. The timing is not good for me to read something this intricate. What series are you reading?
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The “His Fair Assassin” Trilogy by Robin Lefevers. I’m on the third book but can’t connect with the main character 😦
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Ah yeah, I read the first one only. I’m not sure why I didn’t continue.
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Don’t feel bad about it! I firmly believe that a reader’s mental state can significantly affect their experience with a book. It’s okay to put a book down. I do that with Classics far more often than I’d like to admit. And don’t feel guilty! There is nothing wrong with a DNF. If you come back to it someday, awesome. If not, no harm done.
Now- go out and read a book you *know* will hook you! You deserve it.
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Thank you! It feels good hearing that, because when it’s a book like this (that everyone is raving about) and I don’t like it, I do feel like I’m the problem.
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This is a reason I try to avoid hyped books for about a year. I am (strangely) more often than not disappointed in hyped books– PARTICULARLY if people love them! This is why I haven’t started Six of Crows yet. I don’t want to ruin the wave of awesome.
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LOL, what a perfect way to put it! Ruin the wave of awesome… because that’s exactly what I feel like I did. Though, on the flip side, when you like them too it feels good to be a part of the ‘yay club’.
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Exactly! I haven’t read Six of Crows yet, and I feel like I’m missing out on something. All these end of year reviews are calling out something about Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom has a favorite couple/plot/world building, etc. Oh well.
Someday.
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They definitely aren’t going anywhere.
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Having to force yourself to finish a book is never a good sign. Hopefully it’s just a matter of timing, and it gets better when you return to it.
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Here’s hoping.
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