As dead presidents on the other side play a board game of world conquest (like Risk), their moves are played out in the real world, and one person is destined to save the world.
Specs
Title: Presidential Risk
Author: Michael Bronte
Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Self-Published
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1512081655
ISBN-13: 978-1512081657
Available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats.
Summary of Presidential Risk
In some supernatural dimension, dead presidents are playing a game of world domination, a lot like Risk. Meanwhile Pauli Campo is going about his life buffeted by the roll of the presidential dice. His story intersects with a psychopathic dictator from Africa who wants to rule the world.
What Worked for Me
I’m sorry to say, nothing worked for me. I only got to page 75 before I couldn’t bare to read anymore. That’s less than 20% of the book.
What Didn’t Work for Me
Let me count the ways:
1. The presidents are depicted as characters of their worst features. Basically, no matter what side of the political fence you stand on, you’ll be offended by the characterization of your favorite president.
2. The story telling bends over backwards to be politically correct when it comes to diversity. Pauli Campo is white. His best friend is black. This is thrust into your face like its something profoundly unusual.
3. I don’t care about Pauli. In those 75 pages, I barely got to know him! This says something, as I forced my way through The Mammoth Hunters simply because I wanted to find out what happened to Ayla.
4. There is plenty of gratuitous cussing and violence. I understand that cussing is sometimes part of the characterization, but it just seemed out of place and unnecessary at times.
5. The writing is ponderous, overblown and full of unnecessary adjectives.
6. The story jumps around a lot, with large amounts of time happening off page. I think this is part of why I just don’t care about the main character.
What I’d Love to See in the Second Edition
I don’t think I’d be willing to give a second edition a chance. It would have to be almost an entirely different book for me to read it.
Recommendation
Don’t bother with this book. I think it is unsalvageable. If your curiosity gets the best of you, get the Kindle edition. That way you’ll only be out four bucks.
Score for Presidential Risk
No palm trees this time. I couldn’t even give it one.
NOTE: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. If you’ve read past book reviews, you’ll know that I don’t pull my punches when I believe they are warranted. I also try to provide balanced information so you can make your own decision to read or not read the book, even if you disagree with my opinion.
