So much potential, so little delivery

On it's surface, this storyline and series should have been a stellar hit. Stephen Lawhead has written some fantastic stories that I've throughly enjoyed, including his "Song of Albion" series, "the Pendragon Cycle", and the "Dragon King" trilogy. All were excellent.

And this book has some fantastic science fiction ideas and some very creative ways of bringing all these concepts into a cohesive and compelling storyline: multiverse and alternate dimensions, dark matter, universal expansion, quantum mechanics, lines of power (leylines), ancient civilizations and time travel. This really should have been an exciting story given all of these interesting components.

However, the story just seemed to drag on. The author created characters that I was only mildly interested in, that seemed boorish and immature. The plot of this series meandered wildly. Since the story was telling a multi-dimensional and multi time-period narrative, some of that is to be expected. But most of the time you did not have a very clear indication at all of what was really trying to be accomplished by whom and why. A tattooed man who passed away a long time ago holds the secret to... something. We don't know what for a long time, by we are going to get 5 books to try and figure it out.

Characters are introduced at random almost, they disappear and then re-appear at random (though it gets all tied together later I suppose). One character's storyline goes on for 4 books only to have him die at the beginning of the 5th book in a very disconnected and odd way, having accomplished nothing and pretty much resulting in a compete waste of time knowing his story at all. Indeed, the author goes on to explain that he really shouldn't have existed except by another character's mistake.

Also, the book has an almost "G" level rating in terms of action and drama. It's very "British" in it's prudence and the characters sense of propriety, and the "danger" posed to the protagonists feel veiled and benign. Occasionally, one stumbles through a leyline into a tricky situation, but very rarely do you get a sense of danger. And when someone is killed, it is always more by circumstance and carelessness that an act of aggression against them. (I am still confounded why the author chose to kill off one of the characters in particular at "the fatal tree"- perhaps to give the book it's name?)

Fantastically creative concepts for the book, but the actual story told was VERY sub-par and boring. I nearly dropped the series after the 3rd book, but after some encouragement from a friend, picked it back up again for book 4 (which got my hopes up for the story actually becoming interesting) only to completely dash it to smithereens in this final book. There are MUCH more interesting works of Lawhead to explore.

Pass on this one unless you're already 4 books into the series- juts don't expect a good finish.

4 people found this helpful

poor narrator with poor dialog

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

dialog was clownish for too much of the story; especially in the Astronomy Lab between the supervisor and his subordinates, but also between the main characters; too much stereotyping between the main male character and his female counterpart; which leads me to a another criticism; he had the most G Rated sexual interaction between the characters from Book One of this series to this finale; the sexual tension built into the plot was frozen under a mile of ice
but I will admit the story had me finish the series!

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

disappointment

Any additional comments?

could be sold as a kid's book

1 person found this helpful

outstanding resolution to a mondboggling race

although I loved the performance the production was sub par other than that. an outstanding piece of literature. for those who enjoy thrill of a chase, mystery, crime, time and space travel its a hit. start with the skin map and trust ne when I say this is one of those series that keeps getting better!

Stupid Religious Theme Ruins Interesting Series

Leave it to Christian proselytizers to ruin an interesting science fiction series with their absurd religious beliefs. The Skinmap Series begins with some fascinating plot twists that raise intriguing, though far out, questions about Cosmology and Astro Physics, and ends in a disappointjng muddle of Christian superstition and anti science religious dogma.
Hasn't humanity evolved enough to put aside the ignorance and poison of religion?

could have been good.

Disappointing end to this series. It got worse with each book. the religious overtones were just too much. I can handle some subtle religious content, but it was way overdone and cheesy.

Interesting concept,

I really enjoyed this book, The reader is excellent at giving each character a different feel and even a different accent.

Ever feel like....

Ever feel like after reading 4 EXCELLENT books that you get to last one and scratch your head?

I think Stephen Lawhead is one of the best authors I follow. I have read every single book and series that he has written for over 35 years. I feel like after reading the other books in the series that this "finale" has left me thinking "did I miss a book?". I'm conflicted because I really highly recommend this series and don't know want anyone to read this review and miss out.

So if you have read the other books, please know the all the loose threads are tied together. There are some surprises. It is definitely worth your time to finish the series. Don't attempt to read these out of order or as stand alone novels.

I highly recommend this series and look forward to reading Stephen Lawhead's next books.

The fatal tree had me hooked

The Fatal Tree has me hooked. I have truly enjoyed Stephen R Lawheads books and finished this series in the road today. I will be looking for more like this as the adventures continue as the miles pass by.

powerful

This is a powerful conclusion to a beautiful story. I appreciate Lawhead's portrayal of grace in the face of great difficulty. I also appreciated the theme of God's providence. God is good and does work all things out for the good!

Excellent as always

Stephen Lawhead has delivered on every book of his I have read... And I have read them all.