Create a fantasy quest, add a mystery and some thriller elements, include an online community and game and THE MALICE BOX is something way outside the normal, expected style of Thriller or Fantasy Quest novel.Robert Reckliss (yes that is his name) is seemingly just another Englishman in New York. He and his wife Katherine originally met at Cambridge, at the same time that they both fell under the spell of the mercurial Adam - who has continued to appear and disappear from their lives since their school days.When Robert receives what seems to be a simple copper puzzle box, both he and Katherine assume this is just another one of Adam's little practical jokes or puzzles. But that night one of Robert's acquaintances kills himself in curious circumstances and the existence of an arcane weapon that could wipe the Western world from the face of the planet is revealed. Suddenly, New York in the year 2004 is a battleground to the death between ancient forces and Robert must use his spiritual powers to overcome seven mystical trials - Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Ether, Mind and Spirit. Only then can he come face to face with evil in a disused subway station beneath City Hall and save the World from destruction.THE MALICE BOX is definitely unusual. Set in current day New York there's a really weird combination of the arcane and the current day - New York interwoven into a plot that is sometimes told in current day language, sometimes in something more Gothic and elaborate. It has a highly complex plot combining the alchemical and the mystical, taking characters on a journey of danger and self-discovery.Because the THE MALICE BOX is a combination of fantasy, thriller and mystery it is a different reading experience from a standard, more conventional thriller. It is also different from a lot of recent big-name thrillers in that it does have the adventure or the quest, but the characters are an important component at the same time. The fantastical aspects of THE MALICE BOX will require an acceptance of the unexpected and the other-worldly which is not going to appeal to all readers. The combination of the styles of language - the gothic and the everyday is also obvious at points in the book - not necessarily completely off-putting, but unusual enough to stand out.The online game at http://www.maliceboxquest.com/ is still running, although the prize competition is resolved. Playing the game adds a level of interest and multi-media experience that could just be that little something different that you're looking for.
"Flamma Unica Clavis Mundi!" Seru Horace"Omnia Vinat Amor" Jawab Katherin dan Robert bersamaan14 Agustus 2003, seluruh kawasan Amerika padam total!Mereka menyebutnya dengan istilah Great BlackoutTidak ada yang bisa menjelaskan mengapa hal itu terjadiPersaudaraan IWNW adalah nama sebuah tempat suci.Sebuah pusat kekuasaan yang senantiasa diperebutkan oleh nenek moyang anggota IWNW dengan nenek moyang mereka yang berada di Cahaya Sempurna.Makhluk yang tinggal di dunia kita, tidak hadir secara nyata tapi terus mencari kesempatan untuk menunjukkan kehadirannya. Makhluk yang bersaksi ketika seseorang mengalami kepedihan, kebingungan, ketakutan. Makhluk yang terkadang seperti terkait dengan kehendak bebasKetika seseorang memilih mengerjakan sesuatu yang jahat, atau mempunyai peluang untuk melakukannya, makhluk itu mendekat. Ketika orang mencoba menggunakan kekuatan cenayang namun tidak cukup bekal untuk mengendalikannya, makhluk itu merasa mempunyai peluangRobert Recklis, seorang wartawan, tidak tahu harus berbuat apa, saat sahabatnya Adam Hale-Devereaux meminta bantuannya. Adam sering kali melakukan permainan dengan menggunakan teka-teki. Lewat permainan itulah Robert pertama kali bertemu dan berkenalan dengan KatherinRobert menerima sebuah kiriman yang dialamatkan untuk dirinya. Saat dibuka isinya sebuah tabung metalik berwarna emas-platinum dan berdiameter sekitar 2,5 inci. Pinggiran atasnya berhias beberapa buah cincin sepusat.Selembar kertas yang menyertainya bertulikan "TOLONG AKU",di bagian belakang tampak tulisan yang lebih acak-acakan: “Kehabisan waktu” Walau tidak ada tanda tangan, tapi Robert mengenalinya sebagai tulisan tangan Adam.Benda tersebut oleh Katherine diberi nama Malice Box yang merupakan campur aduk dari Bahasa Perancis dan Inggris, secara harafiah iartikan sebagai kotak muslihat.Saat Robert berhasil membuka, isinya hanya sebuah alamat! Robert, Katherin, Adam dan seorang cenayang bersama Terri harus berjuang menyelamatkam bumi dari sebuah bom misterius yang jika meledak mampu menyapu habis peradaban baat dari muka bumi.Dengan mengambil setting Kota Manhattan buku ini benar-benar menegangkan!
Do You like book The Malice Box (2007)?
Interesting. This was a love affair with Manhattan - so much about the buildings, monuments and other areas turned up it was almost like a guidebook in places. The author seemed to know the area, including little bits and pieces that most people probably wouldn't know about, or even notice. It was kind of fascinating, and I kept wanting to hit Google Earth and find these places. If I ever go back and read this again, I just might do that next time. It was almost like Manhattan was one of the characters. And that was the problem for me. The setting, in places, seemed more real than the people in it. I couldn't honestly describe the physical appearance of any of the main characters and they seemed to lack a certain depth. I know the book is set over the course of just a week (with occasional flashbacks to three or four other times), but even so it seemed like there should have been something more to the people within the story. I didn't particularly dislike any of the 'good guys', but I didn't particularly like them either. They were just kind of there, which was a shame, because the plot was a fascinating idea. The pace was very occasionally a bit hit and miss, as sometimes the wandering off into esoterica was a bit boggy, but it was enjoyable all in all. It seems there's a sequel. I may just have to read it some time.
—Sam
Intuizioni e superficialitàPeccato davvero. Quest'opera di Langfield avrebbe potuto avere recensione migliore ma devo dire che sono molte le cose che proprio non mi convincono del libro. Il titolo un po' scontato faceva presagire il classico thriller alla Codice da Vinci, ma fin qui nulla da eccepire l'ho comprato perchè questo filone narrativo in fondo mi piace. Il guaio è dentro al libro. Caotico, molto caotico. Si riesce poco ad entrare nei personaggi e la narrazione impostato su continui flashback seppur interessante rischia di rallentare il racconto. Buone alcune intuizioni con l'inserimento di parole tipo blog, post, quad (ma sarebbe stato meglio chiamarlo PDA), l'inserimento quindi di nuove tecnologie che fanno pienamente parte del racconto ma che sono poco approfondite e quindi risultano superficiali e potrebbero essere complesse o totalmente prive di senso per chi non sa cosa è un blog o un quad. La trama tuttavia è molto fantasiosa e forse troppo ricca ed il risultato non è affatto piacevole. Alla fine direi che è un libro da 6 più per le intuizioni che per l'effettiva bontà narrativa. Non so se sia un libro da consigliare.
—Nilo Di Stefano
A twisting , turning, complex race against time and around Manhattan. It was an engaging read, lots of changes in direction for both the main character, Robert, and the reader. I loved the descriptions of the buildings and the articfacts, despite never having been to Manhattan I finished the book feeling as though i'd just had a personal tour with an authortive guide! I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good mystery and likes to try and solve the puzzle as they read, as I do.. I even enjoyed it when my guesses as to what would happen next were wrong..as the author's direction was always better!
—Zephfire
