Echoes of Ilium celebrates the lesser-known culture of the oil field and its even lesser-known legendary hero, Buck Burnet. While tales of Buck’s mythical feats travel throughout Texas and Louisiana, no one is sure which (if any) are true. Mike Brown, a young engineer in the industry, is determined to find out. Upon meeting Buck, Mike finds him to be a true hero but an even truer friend.

Their world is shaken, however, when newcomer, Val Campbell, joins the rig’s crew, and Buck is confronted with his greatest battle– overcoming his own ego. Buck comes to discover his own flaws and find that perhaps he is just a man, not a legend, after all.

Author Bob Carnes created Buck Burnet as an amalgamation of his real-life heroes in the oil industry. One cannot help but love Burnet, a brute come scholar who calls on his superhuman strength to protect the vulnerable and those in need.

The duality of human nature is a strong focus in this novel, especially with two of the central characters– Mike who is kind but homely and Val who craves physicality to escape a scholarly upbringing. The characters are charming if not believable, but they are always fun to follow. Each one’s virtue is so perfectly balanced with an opposing flaw, which makes them feel grounded and authentic. The characterization and treatment of women, for example, fits the times and the personalities of the characters. Readers will come across the female depiction that fits the “hooker with a heart of gold” trope, but I was fascinated by the different perspectives presented in the story.

Echoes of Ilium is an engrossing character driven novel that tells a story that is rarely seen in literature. The author shares some unique experiences in this fascinating story that will speak to specific readers. This tale of the unlikely heroes of the oil field could really stand out as an original and compelling story.

Pages: 416 | ASIN: B00CZCDP94

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/08/31/echoes-of-ilium/