Matt McAvoy Book Review

Ancient and modern cultures collide in this brilliant, engrossing book, as a millennia-old nomadic island tribe protect the sacred Garden of Eden and the apple of eternal life, from ruthless big pharma, who want to harvest its life-preserving qualities for profit.

This ultimately quite sad indictment of modern society is a book of two halves, the first an intrepid, fantastically mythical quest for the ancient artefact, with shades of Indiana Jones meeting the creatures of Sinbad.  The second part, in contrast, is all out war – much more back to the unpleasant reality of contemporary life - as the cultures clash.  With some nice surprises and a superb, old-school adventure storyline, it is ultimately left on a not displeasing teaser, suggesting perhaps a potential sequel.  Though, reading in the afterword about the author’s tribulations getting this book out, perhaps that will not be anytime soon!  The story of The Apple is wonderful and beautifully written… and, I do hope that I have not given too much away.

English is not Dev’s first language, and whilst excellent – articulate and flawless – sometimes the phrasing could be a touch more naturalistic and fluid.  But, I am never going to criticize an author for this.  He is a wonderful, creative writer with a tremendous imagination, and an ability to weave the fantastic, every bit as eloquently as the grotesque.  The proof could perhaps do with a final sheen, if only just to format the text and perhaps pick up one or two other small points, but this is minimal, and certainly in no way hindered my enjoyment of this marvellous book of adventure.

Sure, there is violence, and a small touch of graphic depiction, but if you like your action a little more discerning, and your stories more traditionally creative, you can do much worse than The Apple, whatever your age group.  I enjoyed the book very much, reading three-quarters of it in a single sitting.  Recommended – and I do hope debut author Dev doesn’t take five years to put out his next, because I’ve high hopes for his work.

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