Review: Artful

ArtfulArtful by Peter David
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received a free ebook copy of this book from NetGalley.

As Ka would have it, earlier this year I read Oliver Twist. So I was rather intrigued when I later saw that Peter David was putting out a book about the Artful Dodger. I've read Peter David and he is among my favorite comic book writers as well as one of my favorite authors of Star Trek novels. This man wrote the adaptations of Stephen King's Dark Tower comic series! So he's telling the story of one of the better characters from the Dickens novel? Sign me up.

All in all, this was an enjoyable story. David wrote it in a tone to echo Dickens's narrative voice, while adding his own elements of humor to it. And (view spoiler).

It was well paced, and had lots of historical and literary surprises packed in there. The Dodger himself remained an interesting character. I also like what David did with the other characters, both from the original story and other sources. And even the (view spoiler).

I was rather amused by the Artful's perspective on Oliver Twist himself, among his other views.

So yes, this was a good light read with nice pacing and some humor, along with a few surprising plot Twists.

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