The Left-Hand Way [Dramatized Adaptation]: American Craftsmen, Book 2

Doyle is a tremendous author. He has an incredible imagination. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of history, literature, geography, science, religion, philosophy, and culture. And the guy can flat out tell a story. He combines all of these in this amazing trilogy. He has created a world that deserves to be ranked among the greatest in science fiction. The characters are compelling and sympathetic and the plot moves breathlessly fast. At times it is twisted and dark, though it is never nihilistic. On one level, it is a fun adventure: Harry Potter meets Jason Bourne. It is immensely enjoyable for that alone. But there is much more going on: philosophical dilemmas, religious imagery, and incredible attention to detail. I would love it if someone good picked this up and did three seasons on Netflix. I apologize for putting basically the same review for the different books in the trilogy, but I think it applies to all of them. If you read the first one, you have to read the other two. If you mistakenly start with either the second or third, you need to go back and read the earlier book(s). It is worth it.

I think I enjoyed the second book in this series even more than the first--couldn't put it down. World-building out of the way, it launches right into the missions of the three well-drawn characters we already love, now separated around the globe and (of course) in peril. The narratives are tautly paced, exciting, unpredictable, and always leavened by the author's sharp wit. This time it's Endicott whose story is told in first person, and I loved getting inside his head. As the series expands outside America we meet a new craft family, the Marlows, in the formidable person of Grace. Doyle is one of the few male writers in the genre who writes women well; they're fully formed individuals every bit as compelling as the men, rather than the hastily-sketched boner-magnets one is accustomed to. That's one of the reasons I look forward to more in the series. As with the first book, "The Left-Hand Way" is packed with delights for historians, and sly treats for the attentive reader. Look for them, since Doyle, to his credit, doesn't blow a trumpet and shout "see what I did there?" He's a fine writer whose abilities only seem to be growing, and I look forward to more from him.

Minus this being a former library book, this used hardcover copy of The Left-Hand Way: A Novel (American Craft Series) is action-packed and interesting follow up in this book trilogy I my option

Tom Doyle continues his American Craftsmen fantasy series with this second installment: The Left-Hand Way. Although it is not strictly necessary to have read Doyle's first book American Craftsmen, it is hightly recommended. Before, all the action was set in the United States. Doyle takes a decidedly international bend, with the Left-Hand Way begins with adventures in England, Turkey, Greece, Japan, and the Ukraine before returning home. Doyle uses these adventures to extirpate more about international magic or "craft". Much like the Orthodox church has country-based hierarchies, each of the country based groups has differences in the way they operate from the American families. Doyle gives us several familiar characters: Dale Morton, and his new wife Scherie Rezvant, Michael Endicott, as well as new characters like the British craftperson from MI13, and Endicott love interest, Grace Marlow. These four, along with assistance from various others, are battling the re-animated Roderick Morton. This time the fate of the world is at stake as Roderick tries to deify himself by opening a rift between our world and the world of the dead. With the almost nonstop action, Doyle keeps us engaged and engrossed. Whether we are cringing as Endicott encumbers yet more bodily damage, or Roderick is dispatching his enemies like squashing gnats, we are not quite sure what will happen next. The title refers to the sinister form of magic refered to as Left Hand craft. It is not quite equal to dark or evil magic. Although, it is much, more oftern used for nefarious purposes than for good. And with the goals of domination and life extension, it usually extracts a horribly price on the practitioner. Nevertheless, after Endicott is embued with Left Hand craft, Doyle shows us that there are not absolutes, only some very strongly colored shades of gray. At the end of the book, Doyle sets us up for the next chapter in Craftsmen adventures. This time hinting a looming, global battle between various alliances of craftsmen.

Excellent follow-up to The American Craftsman. Doyle spins an intelligent, witty, suspenseful and fast-paced story and introduces a number of interesting new characters as he builds on the historic families of craft. His use of literary references helps provide a framework to the story without bogging down the action. We see a different side of Endicott in this second novel, and a view of the pure essence of evil that is Roderick. I will avoid saying more to avoid spoilers, but I can't wait to read the third book of the trilogy.

After American Craftsman, the Left Hand way makes it clear that Tom Doyle has indeed created a unique, rich universe with many more stories to tell.

This book loses something from the shifting POV's. It really disrupts the flow of the story and makes parts of the narrative hard to follow. And I question if the shifting POV's were needed to tell the story. But otherwise it's a good book and quick read. The ending changes the status quo of the series going forward while a main character's powers get a major upgrade as he loses other things in the process.

Nice continuation of the story. Two friends/enemies in a way come to fight a common enemy and with the help of their strong loves they must fight and destroy the evil. A good read for a light book. Enjoy