© Robert Swann 2017
Smoke and Tranquillity draws on the touchstones of many
conventions of political thrillers, action adventures and high
espionage romps and treats the reader with respect while
understanding their familiarity with these genres. It excels in
presenting a piece of fiction that will feel familiar to fans of
these novels yet presents its own narrative in a way that isn’t
afraid to make daring decisions and develop a multitude of
unexpected ways. Because of this it strikes the balance of
having it both ways, never insulting the reader’s intelligence
yet adequately paying homage to the beats that the audience
will expect to see in a piece of fiction like this. The style of
writing does not require constant explanation of events or
character motivations, instead it invites the audience to put the
narrative together for themselves.
The structure of this work is very good and portrays a thrilling
piece of character-driven fiction that is genuinely exciting,
emotional, and when it needs to be, remarkably subversive. It
progresses steadily upwards with a series of twists and turns,
leading ultimately to the climax. It strikes a character balance
between intimate character moments as well as larger
substantial plot developments in a way that keeps the book
charging forward and the reader engrossed in what’s going on.
The mixture of bombastic spectacle and raw intimacy gives the
narrative a real emotional draw that transforms the characters
from being mere constructs into living, breathing people that
connect with the audience in a multitude of different ways.
Overall the novel never overstays its welcome, presenting the
audience with a thoroughly entertaining adventure that
promises more to come as the book draws to a close. Likewise,
even though the novel is part of a larger whole the book never
feels as though it is narratively lacking, wrapping up the plot
and larger characters in a satisfying way.
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