❀﹒Client: eclipseNoir123 

❀﹒Title: Canvas on Deception 

❀﹒Reviewer: the_lonely_pi 

❀﹒Review: 39/45 

1) Cover: 5/5

The cover of "Canvas of Deception" is rather striking and really sets the tone for this dark and somewhat mysterious tale. It hooks you right away and teases at the intrigue underneath. That 10/10 cover that will live long in the memory and give you a lovely taste of what's to come next.

2) Title: 5/5

In terms of titles, it does a good job evoking the themes in "Canvas of Deception" which focus on art and mystery and deceit. This is actually a pretty solid piece of foreshadowing in the narrative because creating something new from dust has been well covered by this point — and remember, Creation/Destruction Duality plays heavily into how Chaos Engine works. The brilliance of the title is that it is magnificent, stylish and just gets to what he accomplishes in this text.

3) Blurb: 4/5

Victoria Blackwood had been after Gray for years so he's gone to her now with an offer: take it, deal deaths from the shadows discreetly in exchange for being left alone. Find out what happens when a detective and wanted criminal team up - Booksquawk The blurb makes this book sound like a classic case of grey vs black but by employing Victoria Blackwood as much more than your average huntress we have some fantastic cases where you can explore their minefield relationship or just read about murder most downright polite. It really brings the suspense in, and teases you so that when book starts Stories happen. Still, it can also maybe use a little tightening so that the main plot points and stakes land even harder.

4) Characters: 8/10

The character of Victoria Blackwood is another plus; she's a strong protagonist with an interesting backstory that really helps to flesh out her character. The ambiguous artist with a dark task is the enigmatic Dominic Gray, spinning Victoria in many directions. The other main characters -- especially Xander, are well designed in that they contribute to the drama and emotion. On the other hand, there are certain characters who should be further developed to make their part in backstory of something worthwhile as well. For example, more context on Dominic's sister would have deepened the emotional impact of what his actions are.

5) Plot: 8/10

Filled with plot twists and underlying feeling of ominous, psycho-thriller dread that has you on the edge of your seat. The prophecy with its gruesome series of murders interspersed with the back stories of Victoria seducing a man, Dominic getting hot and heavy in a rubbish dump works together to create such an engaging narrative, full as it is with complex characters. The pacing is contractible, although there are a number of places where it definitely could have stood for some judicious tightening to keep the action going. The stakes are set high from the prologue and first chapter, creating an instant hook for any reader.

6) Grammar & Vocabulary: 4/5

This is good writing, proficient in spelling and grammar. It is written with an equally vivid narrative, rich in description and flavour that rounds out the dark brooding nature to a tee shadow atmosphere from Shadowfell City. There are occasional minor grammatical mistakes and a few clunky phrases, but they are not prevalent enough to ruin what is otherwise strong writing.

7) Enjoyment: 5/5

This is a gripping yarn entirely. Its mystery/dark fantasy/psychological ingredient is a perfect combination that would furiously keep you flip the pages for more. The tension is thick throughout and the consequences are dire — there's an anticipation that makes it impossible to set down. The journey into the darkness with Victoria and chasing after Dominic make sure you stick through these words until the end.

Overall Impressions:

This is an interesting and gripping story that works well between a psychological thriller, dark fantasy, crime .... There are some great characters, particularly Victoria and Dominic who you can't help but be intrigued by, and the twists and turns of the plot ensure that it is actually quite a page-turner. This is a page turning, and thrilling story with only minor weaknesses in the character development and pacing that fans of dark suspense will likely not even notice. In fact, the cover and title alone will pull you in, further enticing one with a great story.

Overall Rating: 39/45