Author Don Sawyer has returned with the latest book in his Soul Catcher series, The Tunnels of Buda. Prepare to be swept into a fast-paced novel where much will be revealed. Travel to Budapest, Hungary, where you will meet a sinister evil that is centuries in the making. Secrets will be revealed in this thrilling fantasy novel, but know this…what you discover in these pages is just the tip of the iceberg.
The Tunnels of Buda captures readers’ attention with a cover depicting a stone facade that dominates the front of the book. In the center of the cover is a looming tunnel with a ring of rock marking its entrance. In the center of this tunnel is an individual with a glowing light facing inward. What awaits us in the darkness? Only the bold will discover the truth.
Author Sawyer kicks off The Tunnels of Buda with a well-written recap of what took place in book one, The Burning Gem (Check out the review here). The Mester? Maimed or dead. No one truly knows at this point. All we know is that a “pound of flesh” was taken from him during his ill-fated interaction with Zoltan and Barbara. But at the end of the day? The Mester is just a cog in a much bigger wheel. If he survived his injuries…will he be welcomed back into the fold? Or will those above him refuse to suffer “weakness” and instead choose to dispose of him?
Zoltan and Barbara managed to escape the Mester with multiple gems in hand. With this particular boon, they make good with it. The decision is made to reach out to the other gem makers, and those whose gems they hold encourage a meeting. The Tunnels of Buda is barely out of its first chapter, and already readers will be off to the races.
Told from the third-person POV, The Tunnels of Buda alternates between Barbara and Zoltan. There are no distinctions when the book shifts from one character to the next. Normally, we’d grumble about it, but author Sawyer makes it work! How!?! Well, dear reader…it must be magic! Haha! Makes no sense, but it just flows so beautifully, and it honestly keeps you in suspense more often than not.
Now! Who are these gem makers they are contacting? Will they be friend or foe? If foe…how will they be able to tell? Can you imagine reaching out to other people you’ve either never met or only met once or twice in the hopes they won’t stab you in the back? Zoltan and Barbara are both hopeful, but it’s best to be cautious with whom you choose to trust in The Tunnels of Buda.
Author Sawyer brings in these new characters, but instead of introducing us to them as most would expect…he keeps them in shadow. This is yet another point of intrigue for The Tunnels of Buda! What better way to drive readers onward than to tease them with new characters, but tell them little to nothing about them at the same time! You’ll get a sense about a couple of them thanks to Barbara, but getting any real information concerning them will have to wait.
Of course, author Sawyer has another surprise lying in wait for readers in these first few chapters of The Tunnels of Buda. While we sit and wonder about what has been the Mester’s fate, we get a surprise introduction. A mysterious voice begins speaking to the collective as they meet. Who is this mysterious voice? They claim to be the Mester’s “employer.” But who are they really?
While this mysterious individual extends an invitation to the gem makers, they make a point of letting them know…this is no “simple invite.” It is a threat wrapped in a silk glove. Fellow readers, if you’re not on the edge of your seat by this point in the story, we don’t know what to tell you, honestly. We were practically on pins and needles wondering who is mysterious person is. Of course, Barbara is almost excluded, but she refuses to be left behind.
Prepare to jet set around the world! Once again, we return to Budapest! An ancient castle is to be the setting where the next phase of this story plays out. Here enters the namesake of this book as well, the tunnels of Buda. We were quite surprised to learn that this is a real place! Of course, The Tunnels of Buda gives readers some more fantastical elements to really ramp this book up.
Where The Burning Gem (check out the review here) had minimal magic and fantasy elements, The Tunnels of Buda comes out swinging with the right amount of magic to amp this story up. Readers can expect to revel in magical displays at nearly every turn. Barbara exercises her empath abilities as well as her gem’s unique other abilities. All of the characters in this book show off their various gems capabilities, as well as some unexpected surprises that author Sawyer tucks in.
As we read The Tunnels of Buda, we got the sense that author Sawyer has truly found his stride with this book. It is engaging, a real page-turner, and kept us glued to the pages. The Tunnels of Buda has a dark and twisted villain, who is once again, merely a cog in a bigger machine.
Author Sawyer reveals to us readers just how ancient this collective is in The Tunnels of Buda. They have one agenda and that is to be the ones in power, while grinding the rest of the world under their boot heel. Almost has an eerie tone of realism if you’re not careful. Few have tried to stand up to them, and those who have tried…didn’t live to tell the tale.
The Tunnels of Buda are full of as many twists as the labyrinth described in the story. You’ll eagerly devour the pages in the quest for answers and find out what is going to happen next. Author Sawyer weaves together magic, modern elements, drama, and realism to create a truly unique story that will leave you eager for the next book in the series. Because, yes, dear fellow readers, there is more to come!
The pacing of The Tunnels of Buda and how quickly everything happens will literally have you forgetting that Zoltan and Barbara only met about a month ago! A month! Absolutely shocking, right?! It’s hard to believe, but it’s true. So much has transpired in that short amount of time. One thing can be said for sure – their lives are far from boring!
That being said – the romance angle is really pushed in this book. Unfortunately, it’s not as realistic as the rest of the story. The romance isn’t given the attention that it really needs to grow and develop. It comes off more as an afterthought or something that author Sawyer believes should happen per say. Especially in light of the fact that Zoltan and Barbara hardly know each other.
All in all, The Tunnels of Buda is a deliciously delightful novel that we were hard-pressed to put down. We eagerly devoured the pages to learn what was going to happen next. More than once, author Sawyer had our jaws on the floor with twists that we could never have seen coming. The Tunnels of Buda is a smashing successor to its older sibling, The Burning Gem.
Readers who enjoy modern-day fantasies packed with realistic situations, gripping narratives, the perfect balance of details, and vicious villains, this is the book for you! The Tunnels of Buda will draw you into its deceptively dark depths and surprise you at the most unexpected moments. Understand, dear readers – this book has truly dark elements, but it is absolutely worth reading. We can’t wait to read more from author Sawyer in the future.
Pros:
- Engaging storyline.
- Tons of twists and surprises.
- Villain is made a pivotal part of the story.
- Magic has a bigger presence in the story.
- Perfect balance of detail.
Cons:
- The romance angle needed more attention.
Scribble's Worth 