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Title: Good idea. Decent writer. Bad book.
Review: While the underlying idea for the plot--the intrigues surrounding the re-collection and protection of ancient, alchemical items supposedly possessing miraculous powers--has lots of potential, a cumbersome structure turns what could have been a page-turner into a snorer. The characterizations and the plot did not receive the development they could have, given the abilities the author possesses, and the interchange between the "modern" story, past events, and the encyclopedia-style introduction of confusing items nearly brought the story to a stand-still. In short, the reader spends a great deal of the time wondering what is going on (and not in the sense of a good mystery), and worse, wondering why anyone would have told this story in this way. I, frankly, couldn't wait for it to end; but it just went on, and on, and on. Read something else.
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