Title: Promising concept, somewhat empty
Product review: The writing is clever. The characters are emblematic. The quest it introduces is fundamental. Where does it go wrong? Too much wordplay and character interaction unrelated to the story, and a story that wanders and makes no firm conclusion; it's too simple and too directionless. The character "Captain Alatriste" would be excellent fodder for future serials, but the complexity contained in this book (outside of wordplay, author asides, etc) is that of a dime comic book and no more. Lengthy poetic excerpts, scene-setting conversations, and rambling motion between places fail to enhance tension or tell a good story. As far as conceptualization goes, it's an A+, but as a read, the book is more like a C- or D.
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