Star of Africa/ The Devil’s Kingdom by Scott Mariani

".....Mariani seems to have got Ben Hope back from the brink of destruction. The Star of Africa, the first in a two part tour de force, is action packed and full of twists and turns to keep fans of the series gripped as in days of old. The cliff-hanger ending is handled nicely to set up the next part of the journey through the dark heart of Africa. Yes, unfortunately Ben's son is along for the ride and is as petulant, surly and sanctimonious as ever (while every now again turning into an improbable Action Man) but he luckily doesn't detract too much and is vital to the whole plot so I'll let him off (...for now). A word of warning though - as other reviewer have pointed out the violence in this instalment as been turned up to 11. It's graphic, relentless and traumatic at times and doesn't make for entirely pleasant reading. I wouldn't say it's gratuitous as some others have as it does serve a purpose to highlight the shear vileness of the villains and paint a bleak picture of life in some parts of Africa. That being said, some readers of a more delicate constitution might well be turned off...."

'Star of Africa' 'The Devil's Kingdom' 이 두 작품은 내용이 연결되는 작품들이다. 엄청난 크기의 다이아몬드를 훔치는 이야기에서 출발해 해적들에 의한 상선의 납치에 이르는 이야기에 ... 언제나 등장하는 정신 나간 재벌의 등장 ... 광기에 사로잡힌 소위 장군이라 불리는 자의 횡포.... 아들을 구하고자 동분서주하는 주인공 Hope ... 솔직히 지루한 부분이 많은 이야기다. 'I'm your father' '어설픈 관용은 비극을 부른다' 라는 정도의 이야기다. 전형적인 이야기와 아프리카를 배경으로 하는 작품등에 등장하는 전형적인 인물들의 나열 ...진부하고 지루하다. 표현이나 문장의 구성 등은 읽기에 무난하다. 이 시리즈는 당분간 쉬어야겠다.