Reading a book a week is no small task. Taking on such a hefty goal means I have to be very organized in choosing my reading material. It also means that starting a new series isn't always the best idea. I simply have so many books to read that it becomes difficult to keep up with a series of books. That probably explains why I've left Gregg Hurwitz's Orphan X unread for so long. His publisher sent me the first three books in his series to read and review, but I was hesitant to start the series. With seven books in total and an eighth expected next year, my curiosity got the better of me. I finally read Orphan X.
Years ago, a black ops program took children and trained them to be assassins. They became ruthless killers who could discretely take out the kind of targets that would draw too much attention to those individuals or entities that needed them to be eliminated. Evan Smoak was one of those children. The man who rescued him from his life before became a father figure to the young boy. He trained him in combat, and defense, and built a mental fortitude into the boy that would see him become a person of the shadows, the Nowhere Man.
That was all in the past. The Orphan program was discontinued. These days, Evan lives in a state of semi-retirement. Instead of taking on clients who pay, he helps only those who are desperately in need. For those most forlorn individuals, he is their last resort. He helps them out of the most hopeless situations. The only thing Evan asks for in return is that the beneficiary of his services passes his number along to the next person in need. Thus the Nowhere Man has a constant list of people to help.
Despite his best efforts, cracks are beginning to form in Evan's life. First, they arise in the form of unintended personal connections, the kind of relationships that bring deadly baggage to a man like him. Then, more alarmingly, someone begins to use his Nowhere Man services to hunt him down. Someone has figured out who he really is. They've tied him back to the discontinued Orphan project and will stop at nothing to bring him down.
On the surface, Orphan X is an exciting thriller that sees Gregg Hurwitz build his character into an impossible situation. There's only one problem, the main character just isn't that likable. I understand that Evan is an assassin, trained to operate with mechanical precision. That fits the bill for what the character requires, but it doesn't give any kind of personality for the reader to latch onto. Hurwitz attempts to give his character a moral compass by which he operates, but I just didn't buy it. This guy is a ruthless killer who has been conditioned from childhood to preserve himself no matter the cost. Flashbacks to his training and present-day interactions meant to "soften" his personality don't ring as authentic. Without a clear protagonist to root for, the thrills in the plot just don't pack much of a punch. Clearly, other readers have found more to enjoy in this series than I have, so don't take my own reaction as the final judgment on these books. There wouldn't be a long-running series if others hadn't enjoyed this one. Still, I can't see myself committing any more time to continue reading this series.
For more information visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.
(2022, 28)
I have seen this premise in YA books (without the character growing up). It's not a bad one, but I think I would struggle if I couldn't get on board with the character. That's usually vital for me (unless the plot is that amazing that I don't notice). Sorry to hear this wasn't a hit for you.
ReplyDeleteI really wanted to like this one more than I did. So many others seem to really dig the series.
DeleteI have heard great things about this series. I am sorry that it didn't work for you. I do read a lot of series but am hesitant to start a long running series until I catch up on some that I am already reading.
ReplyDeleteI rarely start a new series these days, but I'm not opposed to finding a good one!
DeleteI'm sorry you didn't connect with Evan Smoak as a character. I have to admit, I love him! And I really love this series. But we all read differently, and that's what makes blogging so fun. :D
ReplyDeleteSee, so many people love him haha. I'm not sure why, but I just couldn't connect with him. Oh well, on to the next.
DeleteOh, bummer! I love this series! I listen to the audio books, so maybe that enhances the story for me somehow. Every reader has their own personal reaction to a story, so I get it. No need to waste precious time on a series you don't love. On to the next book!
ReplyDeleteFor as much as others seem to enjoy the character, I'm almost tempted to give the second book a chance now.
DeleteI don't think this will be a book that I love. I just need a character that I can connect with. I recently found out that I'm much more a character driven reader instead of a plot driven reader :)
ReplyDeleteI think I'm starting to see my tastes shift that direction too.
DeleteI checked my book list and I read the first one, enjoyed it, but didn't continue on. Too many books to try and taste!
ReplyDeleteI'm constantly overrun with series!
DeleteOn the surface, I think this has all the elements in a book I would like, and i am trying to remember a book I liked despite not liking the main character, and I couldn’t. I think it’s kind of a dealbreaker for me too, especially if a book is this intense. — Verushka @ Pop. Edit. Lit.
ReplyDeleteYeah, even with a pretty cool plot, I couldn't overcome my distaste for the character.
DeleteIt's hard to like a book when you really don't like one of the characters. It's too bad too because the premise for this sounds really good.
ReplyDeleteSorry this didn't work for you, Ethan. I don't need the main character to be a good guy (I've pulled for many an anti-hero or morally gray character), but there does have to be *something* there for me to connect with and pull for. Evan sounds cold to the point of there being nothing there.
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