Matt McAvoy Book Review

Feels like a book of two halves, this one, and really it’s carried by the huge creative talent of the author J. Lee Bagan.  I have to be honest and say I enjoyed it immensely up to a point, probably midway, when I genuinely thought this was simply a book about a bereaved young boy and his immense strength of character, as he grows up surrounded by people who care for him, in spite of his severely dysfunctional home life.  With a father in prison and a drug-addicted mother, I honestly thought the talking dog and other mystical happenings were manifestations of a lonely young, creative mind.  I was enjoying its easy-going, hugely positive cerebral tone, as Billy Dee faces each devastating challenge with a childlike innocence yet uncommon resilience.  It turned out, however, the voice wasn’t in his imagination at all, and in the book’s second half it goes full-on high fantasy, with demons, fae and spirits going to battle.  To tell the truth, I was deflated by this; I rarely read blurbs before picking up a book for a more authentic experience, and I actually had no idea what to expect.  Fantasy isn’t my favourite genre at the best of times, and it was something of a gut punch after I was so invested in the intriguing, sometimes desperate characters in this book and their own individual stories, such as Billy Dee, Bear and Luther. 

That isn’t to say the book isn’t very good; it is, and if you’re a fan of gritty, melancholy high fantasy with a contemporary feel, with some low-living realism thrown in, this will be right up your street.  The Ozarks are portrayed as beautiful, warm, yet a little desolate at the same time, its residents warm and kind, yet flawed.  But in this book even the most wretched are given positivity and silver linings.  J. Lee is a wonderful writer, the prose absolutely engaging; Midwest warmth shines through on every page, the emotions and defence mechanisms vividly imparted; you really feel that you’re there with Billy Dee and his growing group of friends for life. 

The most prominent theme to take from this narrative is one of love; the book is overflowing and Billy Dee surrounded by it, whether to his knowledge or not.  It is, quite simply, a nice book to read.  My own personal tastes in the genre shouldn’t put you off, but I feel it was important to mention the sharp transition midway, for if you are not expecting high fantasy, you’ll probably feel as blindsided as I did; then again, read the blurb.  Now you know what to expect, I have no doubt you’ll enjoy this book immensely.