The Eye of The Storm by M.T. Falgoust

This book is a ride and a half!  Like a corkscrew rollercoaster at an amusement park, this book forces you to put your head on a swivel, so you don’t miss anything.  I would not have imagined that the worlds of fine art, environmental science, and commercial espionage would work so well together, but Ms. Falgoust is a seasoned chef, blending the tastes and aromas of each as we become gluttons to her tale. 

The pacing of this book is brilliant.  The author uses short chapters that change locations, characters, and POV while still maintaining a tight story arc and delivering impressive dividends for our emotional investment in both the hero and the villain.  In the beginning of the book, these short introductions give you exactly the information you need to get to know the cast, but not so much that you’re left with useless information dumps.  These small bits of intrigue, romance, action, and snark compliment the story and keep it moving… always moving.  This book is wonderfully fast paced, so hold on tight.

The conversations that Ms. Falgoust creates between her characters, whether spoken aloud or not, lend great depth to the story.  Once we hear their words, we find ourselves agreeing or challenging them in exactly the same way.  We find ourselves on a team before we realize that we’re supposed to choose an allegiance.  The sprinkles of dialect and exotic language adds credibility to the character’s backstories without leaving the reader thirsting for subtitles.  The gentle way the author defines character by utilizing these moments of difference, puts you right in the middle of the action without becoming lost in translation.

As the story progresses, the tension builds, and the connections between each group of characters begin to commingle in surprising ways.  Like melting three different cheeses to make a delectable fondue, this book gently tosses in subtle details of emotional spice and adventurous expectation that delivers pages of decadence you didn’t know you craved. 

I hope that this is the beginning of a series because I want more!

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