The Triangle: Robert P. Ottone
Reviewed By Steve Stred
Way back in 1995, I was a 14-year-old teen obsessed with all things sci-fi/fantasy/horror. While I wasn’t reading widely, my horror novels limited to mostly Stephen King, I did watch A LOT of movies. One such movie I watched was the Kevin Costner film ‘Waterworld.’ And you know what? I LOVED THAT MOVIE. Now, don’t get me wrong, it prob has issues or whatever, but back then, I went in and watched this crazy movie about a guy with gills and the world covered in water and was blown away.
At the same time, I was loving the super creepy things in life and one such thing was The Bermuda Triangle.
Which brings me to this book.
One part Waterworld, one part Bermuda Triangle and one part Lovecraft Mythos and voila – ‘The Triangle.’
What I liked: Ottone has crafted a really engaging read here, one that feels both fast-paced but also slow-burning at the same time.
The story follows 15-year-old Azlynn, who travels with her father and her friend Ellis to The Triangle to try and see if an old oil rig is still standing. Oh, did I forget to mention this is set far in the future when the polar ice caps has melted and the entire world has flooded? Oops! See, that got you interested.
Once there, in the place formerly know as The Bermuda Triangle, and now rumored to have creatures that inhabit the ships and the waters, they also decide to see if they can find The Pearl, a mythical cargo ship that is supposed to be lost in those waters.
Ottone does a great job of making us connect with Azlynn and as she feels a strange pull to the area and creatures and Old Gods arrive, we see her struggle with internal pressures as well.
The action is crisp and really well done and as the story moves along we see more and more layers added and ‘things’ revealed.
The ending sets up the sequel nicely, but also does a great job of making this one a stand-alone if the reader so desires.
What I didn’t like: A couple of minor things with this one. I felt the discovery of The Pearl was really, really easy, considering the lore behind it.
And – the water is frequently referred to as ‘the drink’ and while I call bodies of water that as a slang term, for whatever reason it really irritated me, ha!
Why you should buy this: Well, I did describe this as three fantastic things mashed together so there’s that, but if you’re looking for a really intriguing story set in a future where life is completely different and everyday is a struggle, this one has that in spades.
Azlynn is a great character and this world Ottone has created is top-notch and one I can’t wait to return to.
The Triangle
The world, as we know it, is over. Sea level rise has all but finished off life on Earth.
Born with a gift for engineering and technology, Azlynn and her father Merrill spend their days running a small shop in the flotilla community of Coral Cove. They scavenge shipwrecks, sunken vessels, and what precious little remains of the world before the planet drowned. With her best friend Ellis, they do their best to support their community, while struggling to survive.
When a group of scouts sent by The Order, a mysterious and powerful northeastern cabal, goes missing in the nearby Bermuda Triangle, Merrill is tasked with finding them. Unbeknownst to him, Azlynn and Ellis have snuck aboard to join in on the mission to find out what lurks within The Triangle. The ancient, cosmic truths they discover may be more terrifying than they ever imagined.
You can buy The Triangle from Amazon UK & Amazon US
Steve Stred
Steve Stred is the Splatterpunk Nominated Author of ‘Sacrament’ and ‘Mastodon.’
Based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Steve has released over a dozen novels and novellas as well as a number of collections. He has appeared alongside some of horror’s biggest names within some truly excellent anthologies.
He is a proud co-founder of the LOHF Writer’s Grant and an Active Member of the HWA.
Website: stevestredauthor.wordpress.com
Twitter: @stevestred
Instagram: @stevestred
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16356875.Steve_Stred
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Amazon: amazon.com/author/stevestred
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