The glowing reviews for Mike Cole's Control Point made me want to read this book bad. It's not exactly a small thing when you have Robin Hobb, Peter V Brett and Mark Lawrence singing your praises so I had some pretty high expectations for Control Point. Did it meet them? Almost. Lots of things worked for me in this book. Cole is a solid writer for one and has crafted Control Point to be a tense, exciting and high action thrill ride. On top of that is the kickass world and magic system he has obviously taken time to make as believable and cool as possible. He made me want to be a part of his world. The one thing that held me back was that I wasn't exactly enamoured with his main character, Oscar Brittan. He is a good man, always trying to do what feels right but his constant inner turmoil and indecisiveness held me back from ever being invested in him. I understand why Cole has written him this way but I think he could have been a more effective character if his decisions had more impact (which they don't necessarily when he changes his mind from chapter to chapter). So all in all, Control Point is a good book, verging on greatness. I haven't read much urban or military fantasy, so a premise where an old school fantasy magic system is combined with those genres was very appealing to me. I am definitely interested in picking up the sequel and I strongly urge you to pick up this book if you enjoy high action fantasy with a unique and exciting world. Control Point is a fantastic read. It is a step away from my “normal” fantasy read of different worlds and times. Magic has been “reawakened” in the modern world and the story is set around Lt. Oscar Britton in the US Military.Those that discover they have a magical ability and do not turn themselves over to the military, who run, must be contained else they could cause serious damage to themselves and those around them. This is where we come into the story, Oscar’s team trying to contain one of these “Selfers”, but in a support role to the Supernatural Operations Corps.From here the story of Oscar Britton unfolds and I was taken on an emotional ride of a man trying to come to terms with a changing world and his place in it. Where should he belong, in the military which he loves and lives for, or somewhere away from their control? The continued inner dialogue with himself is impressively written and will keep you guessing, but more than that, I was truly drawn in by it and found myself almost shouting my opinion to him!I’ve not read a military based book for a long time, probably since reading a story about the formation of the SAS in the North African desert during World War Two – and that was in my early teenage years. I was a bit hesitant when I first picked it up. I should not have been. Military acronyms used are explained deftly after their first use and they really do help set the atmosphere and tone of the book.I found the characters very well written and could easily picture them in my mind and how they were finding themselves in this “new world”, each with their own flaws, regrets, secrets and fears. Their interactions were spot on.The pace of the book is perfect, I didn’t want to put it down. I was, and am, itching for more. Which way will the characters go? How sadistic is Fitzy going to get? What will Oscar decide?The quote on the front cover reads “Black Hawk Down meets the X-Men… Military fantasy like you’ve never seen it before”, though I’ve not read Black Hawk Down (or seen the film), I could not agree more. Myke has secured himself on my list of authors who I must and will read and I’d love to see this made into a film too! The follow up, Fortress Frontier, is definitely in my sights to be read this year.
What do You think about Control Point (2012)?
The main character is uncertain about what to do and his dilemma doesn't make enough sense to me.
—TheRealMomster
exactly the kind of popcorn novel i waaaaaaanted.
—PattiReaderxxx
