The Finisher by David Baldacci is a dystopian fantasy unlike any other.  The book reads like a conspiracy theory set in the relics of a Terry Brooks’ Shannara world.  The reader first settles into a plotline similar to that of familiar dystopian novels, but quickly realizes that the added elements of fantasy creatures, magic talismans and sorcery have upped the ante a bit.  Fast-paced, action-packed and mysterious, the tale is engrossing and confusing at the same time. There are some cliches to the characters and plot, but also enough unexpected elements to make it completely unpredictable.  Readers will be hooked, mystified, and excited for the next book, in the hopes of getting some kind of grasp on what is really going on and how it all fits together!

This book was sent to Compass Book Ratings for review by Scholastic Press (A Scholastic Imprint)

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language:  35 Mild obscenities.

Violence/Gore:  A character is chased by attack dogs; several verbal threats of harm; attack by a fantasy creature, killed by a knife in the eye; attack of fantasy creatures, property destroyed; battle violence, 2 characters killed; fantasy violence; a character is burned; a character is kicked in the stomach and hit on the head; a character is thrown down and threatened; a character throws a rock at another; description of an execution; a character falls and dies; several “duels” with kicking, punching, wrestling, blood; frightening scene of a monster absorbing a character; a duel to the death, monster attack; fantasy violence; 2 characters shot; a character is blasted with magic.

Sex/Nudity:  Characters kiss twice; one character undresses to underwear to show drawing.

Mature Subject Matter:

Battle Violence, death, monsters.

Alcohol / Drug Use:

Several instances of characters using “smoke weed” and “flame water.”