Kwatee

R. Allen Downey
BookSurge Publishing (2008)
ISBN 9781419613302
Reviewed by Deb Shunamon for Reader Views (1/09)

 

At 702 pages, there was a lot of reading to do in “Kwatee.”  Fortunately, the first story kept me totally mesmerized. I was proud of the author for daring to mingle World War II events with Wicca (witchcraft), Vodun (voodoo) and a capable “Rosie the Riveter” main character, as well as presenting  fascinating naval history and wartime tidbits (Did Bob Hope really say that?). Then, at the end of chapter 8, a traditional action-adventure began that introduced a final major character, space aliens, and romance. While interesting, this part was more mainstream and quite a departure from the first in many ways. “Kwatee” by R. Allen Downey is two books in one.

I have never read anything quite like the beginning of this novel. An original tale of the supernatural educates and entertains. Branwen works in the shipyards during WWII and follows the Wicca religion. She soon finds herself witnessing mysterious behaviors and activities surrounding the building of a tanker. The story then moves forward to the 1950s and introduces Rick and JC, another Wiccan and a Vodun follower, who have been assigned to the now completed vessel. They discover that a lot of weird things have been happening on board and off.

I was intrigued by the lengthy character development, relaxed pacing, and discussions of old religions. Attempting to give supernatural causes for war events was delightful, and the (sometimes graphic and rude) war talk, jibes, and slang were hilarious. Then aliens abruptly appear; they apparently have the technology to destroy humanity but cannot diffuse our bombs. They, along with “ancient evil” and the emergence of Rick as the action hero, were too unbelievable for me. The story loses its supernatural appeal as well as the need for several main characters, and, in my opinion, the originality disappears. However, the fast-paced action is masterfully written and the author continues to create absorbing settings, such as Hong Kong in the early 1950s.

I would like to see a real ending to the first book, and a better beginning to the second.  Of the two, the first is chilling, quite unique, and very humorous. The second is a fairly good, fast-paced adventure. However, space aliens should not be introduced to conveniently resolve conflicts, and their appearance here only divides, rather than combines, the two parts of this book. R. Allen Downey has attempted to include a lot of different things in “Kwatee,” the result being two well-written, but unfinished, stories in one.

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