BOOK: The Apostle

Written by: @Brian5peck

Reviewed by: @Iamjustasapien

Chapters read: 6

Cover:

To begin with, the cover is simple and fits the storyline of the book.

I have to admit the background suits the cover. We see a person in a gothic outfit, with a beak mask on. The cover gives off a gothic horror vibe.

But it is really not that eye-catching and lacks substance. I highly recommend the author to add more elements to the cover, related to the storyline.

For example, given that this story is set in the Anglo-Saxon (old English period) period, you could add carriages, medical instruments, churches, etc. You can just lower the transparency and make it blend with the background. There are a lot of ways to improve your cover! Please, do not be discouraged by my words above.

Furthermore, you can even add a quote or a small piece of dialogue to the cover. This catches the attention of readers. It could something simple, like:

" It was my duty to help the people to the best of my ability, knowledge, and conscience. And, until the end, I thought this was what I did."

I have taken this from the first chapter's opening lines. As you can see, the above lines can evoke curiosity in readers and this makes them more prone to explore your book more.

Title:

'The Apostle' is a suitable title. Most might be a bit puzzled at first, since this is a word most aren't familiar with. But this is a really eye-catching title and suits the plot of the book. I have no complaints with it, good job!

Blurb:

"When a mysterious disease breaks out in Saint Edwards, the renowned medicus Oscar Fleming is sent to investigate. The people welcome him as a blessing, nicknaming him "The Apostle."

Is a good start! I have no complaints regarding your blurb. The blurb evokes curiosity in readers and engulfs the reader in immediately. It is simple, straightforward and impactful. Good job!

Plot:

The plot is really well-planned and well-written. I just love the use of old English here. It sets the right tone of the plot and is a huge plus point. The pacing is perfect, not too fast nor too slow. Not to mention, each chapter is continuing from where the last chapter ended. There is a good continuity. I have no complaints!

But I do suggest the author tone down the use of old English phrases a bit. Now, I do admire the amount of research and hard work done to construct such a good old English phrase, but most in Wattpad are not familiar with certain terms. I do appreciate the guide to old English given at the start, though.

Again, this is just a mere suggestion. You are not obligated to do this

Character development:

Well, I have not read the whole book due to some reasons. But I have to admit the characters are well-written. Mother Carolina, Gregorius, Mr. Flemming, all of them are easily distinguishable and well-written. I have no complaints! There are subtle movements or dialogues which can tell us about their nature, due to the remarkable writing. Good job!

Grammar and vocabulary:

I poked around every nip and corner and could not find any grammatical mistakes, apart from a few misplaced commas. But they are not a hindrance at all.

I do suggest you place your book in awards for it to gain recognition it deserves.

Improvements need to be done and Overall Enjoyment:

As I said above, the cover could use a lot of work. It has to be improved, since most in wattpad do judge a book by its cover (literally). The old English could be toned down a little. But apart from this, the book is really enjoyable and puts the reader in a spine chilling tale. My personal favorite paragraph was:

"On both sides of the warehouse ran a row of sickbeds, and in these beds lay the patients, largely outnumbering the physicians concerned with their treatment. The former disturbed me with their inflated heads and skin—partly healthy, partly rotting and gaping, and held together by sutures—and the scent of the decaying meat they emitted, while the sight of the latter—their figures hidden beneath black gowns and anonymized by their beak masks—was deeply unsettling. Their attire I associated with that of the grim reaper. And just like them, he doubtlessly, too, strode to and fro between the beds, deciding whom he shall take next."

Fix the mistakes mentioned and do work on the suggestions! There is no limit to improvement, keep going! Let this masterpiece be known. Thank you.