Sons of Storm

DNF - PG 11 (ish) (more like 6 (ish) pages, because the page count starts at the stat of the book and the prologue starts on page five)

Why?

Because I've already thought about dropping it twice thanks to the writing and third times the charm.

I don't even really remember how I came across this book - all I do remember was that it was available as an ebook from my library. Considering that it sounded interesting, I put it on my list. Of course, there's not exactly any reviews here for it - just empty ratings - so I knew nothing more than the synopsis for it. (How did I ever select books like that?)

Anyway, the major issue is the writing style that is certainly not for me. Let me share the highlights that I made.

(first page, part of the very first paragraph)
‘A slight smile touches his thin lips, offering a glimpse of unexpected kindness among the ravines of an ancient face, older than what, at first sight, those marked but sure traits might look, those greying hairs, those clear eyes full of deep awareness.‘

To be perfectly honest, I almost dropped the book right then. I mean, honestly. This is not my kind of writing style and it is compounded by the fact that the man in question is the only person in this scene, so the POV style is not my type, either. But, I convinced myself that I needed to at least meet one of the main characters. So I continued.

(first page, still the only man in the scene)
‘That thought sketches a different grin on his lips, curling them, showing a white flash of perfect, white teeth.‘

First of all, this man is already creeping me out. Second of all, I try very, very hard in my writing to not repeat words too close together unless there is a real reason. Please, please, do not use ‘white' twice in this sentence. Once works perfectly well to get the point across and looks significantly less silly. (Nitpick, I know, but it is still something that bothered me.) Once again, I convinced myself that I needed to at least meet one of the main characters. So I continued.

(second page, phone conversation, also nitpicky)
‘“[...]I generally avoid throwing my soul up if I can help it.[...]”‘

Some of the turns of conversation make about as much sense as some of the non-conversation writing does. To be fair, I eventually did realize that this was supposed to be about getting carsick. Only realized that when preparing to write this review, so the issue stays. Still haven't ‘really' met either of the main guys. Still continuing.

(third page, first main character sighted, teen boy perspective)
‘She almost ran across the crowded courtyard of Trinity College, zigzagging among small groups of vociferous students.‘

Well. That's a word that happened. And there went my hope that the ... colorful writing style would be a character feature and not show up in the normal, average, everyday boys (until!). So...well, the rest of the page and the next didn't offer me anything else to pick at (except for some odd turns of phrases between college students, which... I'm somewhat past that age, so benefit of the doubt). Continuing.

(fifth page, I hate this)
‘He found himself in front of a tall, long-limbed teenager, with regular and slightly angular features, framed by short, rough black hair. On his ivory complexion, a trait of his father, the first June sun had caused a splash of freckles to appear. His own eyes stared at him thoughtfully.‘

For a hot second, I thought the second main character had been introduced. Then I realized that I shouldn't try reading while also actively watching TV. But, anyway, this book was written in 2020, not 2003 when self-insert fan fictions were all the rage. Please, authors I beg you, stop having your main character look into a mirror, water puddle or photo of themselves to describe what they look like. Just stop.

(fifth page)
‘[...]the man he thought of as his paternal grandfather[...]‘

(sixth page)
‘[...]his nephew's[...]‘

Please do note that the only people involved in this scene is Dick - the old man of the ‘marked but sure traits' we met at the start and young Nate - of the ‘black hair' and ‘ivory complexion'. There is no one else here. So, tell me, is it grandfather and grandson or uncle and nephew? And is there any reason that it feels like Dick is grooming Nate? Any reason at all?

I'm out.

(Also, it's actually page 7 (no ish).)

Also, please note: it seems like most of the author's other work is in Italian, so being slightly unfamiliar with English - or using a translator - could account for every issue I had with the book.