This post doesn't have a promotional purpose.

Hello!

To start off on the right foot, Lobook is an episodic initiative that I decided to launch by creating a very simple logo. As usual, and I repeat it, it's my personal experience only, nothing more.

What does it consist of? I'll summarize it with the key steps of the process:
I get a book, usually by buying or borrowing it. I read it. I took some illustrative photos to add as attachments. I provide a brief introduction and my personal opinion. In short, practically, a blog like many of those that provide reviews or opinions. However, my vision is more focused on providing a general and very concise idea of the book I read, lingering little or nothing on plot previews, and stopping more on my personal buying and reading experience.

And now, let's go!

This new episode takes a cue from the James Rollins' novel, published with the title The Seventh Plague (2016), and a part of the series with the members of Sigma Force as protagonists. The Italian translation I read is La Settima Piaga, curated by Paolo Falcone. The first publication in Italy dated back to 2017. In the image below, you can see a cover picture from which I removed a few parts, trying to avoid possible direct advertisings.

And below, some slices of the inner pages:

I bought the book a few months ago in paperback format. There are several editions with different prices, major for the hard-cover version and minor for the softcover one. Excluding various discounts applied (and instead considering only the official cover price) the price range at which it is possible to find this book in paper format in Italy at the moment varies approximately from €10.00 to €18.60. There is also an e-book format for digital readers.

Turning pages

A gift from God given to man in antiquity. A mysterious amulet that carries with it something capable of decimating anyone who comes into contact with it. A mummified corpse was found today. And the members of an entire team who died after a few hours, the same ones involved in the discovery.

Once again a James Rollins adventure, once again the same tracks and usual style. Adventure, a bit of suspense, a tangle of events that makes novels look like thrillers, although - in my opinion - less macabre than other imprints. The plot has all the prerogatives to be compelling as usual and captivating for lovers of the genre. The painful side of Rollins' style lies more in the way of narrating, dry but very academic, with few flashes of creativity. As already noted for other novels, the text focuses heavily on the plot, but gives something to be desired for those who are looking for a novel where the creativity with which the plot is told is more important than a creative plot.

And yes, I really missed this time. I've read the whole book, but can't summarize it. I was able to follow the first part, with the interweaving of the various clips, then complete darkness. Also, my attention is to blame, so I don't feel like leaving a negative vote in terms of the book itself, which I consider sufficient (and perhaps even more, for lovers of his style). For the involvement, are instead forced to leave the minimum. This is to say that for people who - like me in this case - have to place their attention on other events, and who don't have much to put in to get in tune with the story of a novel, perhaps this text isn't the most suitable choice. Better to put it away and take it out in times with a little more desire and attention, when perhaps it will be easier to identify with and grasp all the pieces useful for finding a sense in the story.

Personal Evaluation

The personal rating system is still in its infancy. Considering I rely primarily on my involvement and not on the quality of the texts, this is the fundamental parameter that guides my first vote. The second is a vote - once again personal - which instead takes into account how I understood the quality of the text. I will call the first vote INVOLVEMENT VOTE, the second one GENERAL VOTE. The rating scale for both will be a number between 1 (worst rating) and 5 (best rating), represented as stars (from 1 to 5).

In the case of The Seventh Plague, my personal response is 1 for the involvement vote and 3 for the general vote (3.5 for the effective vote).

If this article has intrigued you, you can find info by searching on the web for news of the author, or contacting retailers in the books business sector. I greet you, and I hope I have left a useful opinion. I will periodically publish other posts of this kind. If you are interested in discovering new books – mainly novels – on the market, you can continue following me on the #lobook tag.

A greeting and to the next book!