A SUBTLE AGENCY (Metaframe War Series #1) by Graeme Rodaughan (System Zero Productions Pty Ltd, May 2016) Paperback, 210 pages ISBN # 9780994595201 (ISBN10: 0994595204)
Synopsis on the Goodreads website . . . . .
Thrilling Dark Fantasy Action Adventure
Hunters and vampires are fighting a secret war for control of the fabric of reality. Whoever acquires mastery of the reality shifting powers of the Metaframe will become the new gods of the universe.
"Imagine if you could change the rules of the game, what rules would you choose?"
Witness to a brutal murder, eighteen year old Anton Slayne is inducted by the mysterious Mr Wu into the secret society of vampire hunters, the Order of Thoth. He soon discovers that vicious local gangsters, determined Boston police detectives, and relentless Shadowstone operatives pale into insignificance as he is drawn into the machinations of the enigmatic vampire general, Chloe Armitage.
Heir to a legacy of extraordinary powers, Anton joins a team of hunters, but that is no guarantee of survival against the most powerful vampires in the world, especially when they're equipped with the latest available technology and super weapons.
"When mastery over your soul is at stake, survival is the least of your problems."
My Four-Star Review on the Goodreads website . . . . .
I've heard a lot of good things about the Metaframe War series and wanted to get acquainted with Graeme Rodaughan's urban fantasy world-building. A SUBTLE AGENCY is the best "escapist" fiction that I have read in 2023.
The type of book I decide to read next (genre, subject, fiction or non-fiction) depends on what I'm in the mood for. Sometimes I just want to enjoy the experience, hoping the writer will meet the objective to "entertain me." This novel exceeded my expectations. It deserves 4.5 stars, if Goodreads ever decides to allow fractions.
In his bio on Goodreads, Graeme Rodaughan states: "I have one rule: Deliver an immersive reading experience that will transport you from the everyday world into a realm of fantastic imagination - - and leave you there until you're forced to come up for air . . ." Gasp, . . . mission accomplished!
This is a deft blend of urban fantasy, action adventure, and horror revealing an underground realm of ancient secret societies of vampires and those who hunt them and a centuries-long battle to protect a reality-changing artifact from being utilized for the wrong intentions. There are a multitude of interesting and realistic characters and the main players are fully developed and easy to empathize with. Even the villains are worthy of admiration and respect, along with disfavor.
Rodaughan seems to have extensive knowledge of military tactics and high-tech weaponry and works that into the storyline in exciting fashion. The fight scenes are very fast and cinema-like, with the benefit of print fiction detailing them in slow motion so that readers can achieve a great mental visualization of these battles.
The best elevator pitch I can think of for A SUBTLE AGENCY is "G.I. Joe for adults." This has also been compared to Mission Impossible, Underworld, Blade, Indiana Jones, The Matrix and Wanted - - and I can see the connections and agree with them.
I believe I will need to "escape" once more in the near future and will return to the Metaframe War series.
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