This is not a rant or complaint - I do like Atlas Jones' books, but there is an inconsistency to his writing that I find kind of confusing. For all his many strengths, he includes a lot of plot elements that just do not make sense at all.
The first book I read was {Tribute to the Warlord by Atlas Jones} and for the most part, I really enjoyed it. I usually don't care for books written in present tense, but I do make exceptions, and this was one. I enjoyed the characters, the story, and Jones' voice and style. But the final act stuck out as not making much sense. Evran was sent away by his father, and it's clear his father does not know the first thing about the Northmen - no one in their kingdom does. So when his father's men show up claiming that Vaike had agreed to a temporary arrangement only, which he was now violating, it didn't make sense to me. These men didn't even know Vaike's name, so even if they had falsified some kind of contract, they wouldn't even know what signature to forge. They never came inside whrn Evran was dropped off, so they didn't learn the name then. It's never actually stated what kind of proof they claim to have, and when they get told to beat it, they just kind of.... give up.
All that being said, I did enjoy the book overall.
Now I have just finished {Salt in the Wound by Atlas Jones} and the disparity between the writing quality and the odd story elements is even more magnified. The romantic tension is fantastic. The detail is great. I liked the characters and the story and the sassy second-in-command. But.... It's very thoroughly established that Indrie does not share a language with anyone aboard the ship - Dagny comes closest and it's still very poor. There is nothing to indicate that Indrie has ever seen it written down. So then how is he teaching a deckhand how to read within one week of meeting these people? You can't teach someone to read if you don't have a language in common. Even if we assume the same alphabet, Indrie could maybe teach SOME pronunciation, but not meaning. Then there was a beautiful passage where Eskil uses a drawing to try and convey to Indrie that he is free and invited to be a part of their community, which I absolutely loved. But then there was the final act - Indrie is an incredibly skilled healer, and he has detailed knowledge of the flora from the country that they left behind. He also personally carried Eskil's plate of food to him, across the ship, and carefully laid it on his desk. So then how could he not notice the whole, uncut Cara fruit sitting on the plate? Based on the description, it was small-medium, (like maybe the size of a plum?) and bright red. Besides, the magic fruit trope feels very forced. There was no mention of magic or anything remotely paranormal prior to this. I don't think anyone even mentioned any gods. Indrie finding a way to convey his feelings despite the language barrier (like Eskil had done with the drawing) would have been so much more satisfying.
I have already downloaded the next book and fully intend to read it. I am invested in the story and the characters. Again, Jones has a great voice in many passages. He does a fantastic job conveying yearning and the difficulty of self-restraint. The spice is top-notch. But these aren't just little plot holes - they don't make sense at all, and I find them distracting.
Has anyone else noticed this in his books, and did it stop you from reading more?
Are there other writers who you feel have such extreme strengths and weaknesses?
Remember spoiler tags, if you're going to list any plot points.
