The Upstream Writer: Reader's Review: "Anamatus" by Derrick Tribble

Synopsis from Amazon:

In a world of extraordinary talents, she uses hers to create a monster.

On Biersheva, a colony world populated by God’s people, extraordinary talents have emerged. Everyone has something they excel at, but a few are blessed with “noble talents,” supernatural abilities intended for helping others and glorifying God.

Karina has one of these noble talents -- she can shape animals out of organic matter and animate them, giving them will and purpose. But pride and fear prompt her to reach beyond her God-given talent and animate a bronze statue. Her sin unleashes a monster, and she must put it to death before it destroys everything she loves.

>>>>>>

My Review:

Well, one thing I will say about this book--it's a "sleeper" win!

I was intrigued by the premise, and got it in a giveaway several years ago, per a friend's recommendation. It's been a while, but I finally managed to read it now.

The first 100 pages, I still wasn't quite sure what I was reading. It didn't quite feel like totally a fantasy world, especially with the "flashbacks" at the beginning of each chapter talking about a mission to leave Earth and colonize another planet... and people on this new planet miraculously receiving superhuman powers... but the setting was more medieval-industrial, not cyberpunk as one might expect... It was intriguing to watch the situations hinted at in the blurb unfold, but at the same time, the pacing was very slow and I lost interest halfway through the chapter, and there were too many unanswered questions...

Of course, events happen about a third of the way through the book, and after that, things start picking up and we meet a whole bunch of amazing and entertaining characters, and the plot develops at a much faster pace and after about the halfway point I was delighted to find that I had a hard time putting it down! I just wish the first half was integrated a bit better, more concise... or something.

One thing is for certain: Anamatus is going on my hypothetical "List of Christian Books That Don't Feel Overtly Preachy But Do A Good Job Of Communicating Christian Themes." Karina's struggles don't feel forced or contrived--it's more like watching someone fumble and make mistakes, and you know exactly where the choices are going to lead because of your third-person perspective, but the person at fault, in the midst of their flaws and the emotional clouds over their decision-making, is blind to the consequences of their mistakes until they land right in the middle of a desperate situation. There's just so much that Karina never had explained to her, and she never bothered to reason out before her impulsiveness led her to make choices that carry into events much later in the book.

It's when the other characters, and other "talents" are introduced that Karina's small, cloistered world suddenly expands into this rich, vibrant community full of potential and variety. Sibyl, Claire, Zib, and Jude--and even Hester and Master Rodolfo--each have their own personalities and mannerisms and contribute to the story in some way. It's only about two-thirds (or even three-quarters) of the way into the book that any actual backstory comes into play, about the colony that left Earth (but whether they actually landed on a habitable planet, or just went out and back over a thousand years) and set up a new colony on the land they called "Biersheva", and once that is established, it begins to feel like a futuristic society, instead of a "retro-fantasy alternate dimension." Basically, the last half of the story does a good job of making up for the slowness and confusion of the first half--it's just that those who get bored and don't find anything interesting in the first couple chapters might miss out on the excitement that is not even hinted at in the beginning part. (Literally one new character that Karina meets in the second half has any connection to one character from the first half--and that connection is drawn in retrospect, never mentioned before then--it really makes it feel like this should have been two smaller books, instead of one thick one!) The title itself isn't explained until the start of "Act 3", stylistically speaking--I kind of like when a book does a better job of making its title a real theme through the whole story, instead of just making a reference near the end!

In light of all the positive characteristics it absolutely nailed: the characters, the dialogue, the interactions, the premise, the conflict and resolution, the unique setting--I would be inclined to give this book a full ****5 STAR***** rating--yes, not even the shortcomings I've mentioned here warrant a full docking, the way that the end makes up for the slowness of the beginning! Could it have done a better job from the first? Yes. Were there still some unanswered questions at the end? I mean... I still had a few... The concept of "The Lawless" wasn't ever clarified in any balanced way... Did I still enjoy it? YES. Did I close the book with a sense of satisfaction? YES. Would I consider reading more titles by this author? If the creativity on display in this book was any indication of the wealth of possibility for more--then YES, of course! It's a good, clean read and I can add an Upstream Writer Certified Wholeheartedly Recommended endorsement. If you're going to get into Anamatus, if anything I've hinted at or mentioned seems the least bit intriguing, I sincerely hope you find the culmination as worth your while as I did!

Further Reading: (Christian Authors/Wholesome Reads/Otherworld Adventures)

-For None of Woman Born--S. D. Curran
-Countless As The Stars--Steve Trower

The Alexander Legacy--Sophronia Belle Lyon
-A Dodge, A Twist, and A Tobacconist
-The Pinocchio Factor

-Thimblerig's Ark--Nate Fleming

-Out of Darkness Rising--Gillian Bronte Adams