Jack Cloudie

Jack Cloudie: A Penny Dreadful Review

            Young Jack Keats escapes the noose to serve on an airship no one wants, on a mission no one really things they will survive. Omar ibn Barir is freed by his master moments before everyone he knows is slaughtered. These two boys hold the fate of their continent in their hands. One wrong step, and their countries are plunged into war.

            Master author Stephen Hunt has done it again. Jack Cloudie is fascinating, frightening, and fantastic. The story never quite goes in the direction the reader anticipates, and at times the events are quite brutal. It cannot be said that Mr. Hunt goes easy on his characters. For instance, I was heartbroken at the outcome of poor Omar’s love story, but not for the reasons one might think.

It is a deeply violent and problematic world these characters inhabit. I can’t go too far into the villain’s secrets without spoiling the book, but if only that society were a little more open and equal, a lot of people would still be alive! Then again, if Omar’s society held more equality, then Jack would likely still be in prison and the airship Iron Partridge would be scrap.

            Four and a half gears out of five. This book makes one think and has the reader on the edge of their seat the entire time.

Your Correspondent From The Bookstore,

Penny J. Merriweather