Book:

Rating:                  4.5 Stars

Release Date:    Out Now!!!

Check out KMM’s page.

One can’t help but feel bereft when turning that last final page of Shadowfever. Didn’t Moning give us what we wanted? Aren’t we resolved on so many fronts? And Barrons??!! There was plenty enough moaning and groaning over him on Goodreads, and book clubs everywhere…just as much chatter about him as there was about Terrible (Stacia Kane’s Downside series). We as readers agonized over Barrons.

Moning’s supreme gift is that she can write men well. That, and of course, she’s a great writer. But her smoking hot males, all in the prime of life, are alphas everyone of them, lip-bitingly, teeth-gnashingly good, indelible and unforgettable. I’d thought Dageus was hot-and even Cian. But Barron’s tops them all. This primordial throwback is the best male character she’s written so far. She’s ruined me for all other male leads.

I’d read Shadowfever much more for Barron’s than I did for Mac, but the evolution of Mac blew me away in this potentially final chapter of the Fever series.  Mac 5.0, grownup, rawer, and methodically aligned with the LM was a coup. It was amazing reading that metamorphosis.

Initially when I started the series, the change in voice was off-putting so used to her third-person magic in her Highlander series, but the story hooked me and next thing I knew I was on the Mac rollercoaster ride. Moning has a way of taking something existing…this idea of faery and successfully wielding it into a thing of substance, solid, impactful. And her characters and plot are not trite or retread…The Fever series is epic and entirely her baby.

Shadowfever is the book we’ve hungered for-for over a year, and I loved it. Some bits not so much (Mac’s inner monologue speculating whether she was the Concubine or the King) and other bits. But overall this book had a cohesion that the others didn’t, something more resembling the tightness of her Highlander’s series, less angst and more action. Mac threw me for a loop, surprised me as a character as did V’Lane who has a nasty, nasty secret. And the verbally challenged Barron’s intimately showed us who he was, what he was.  We found out something tragic about Dani, we were taken on an amazing excursion of Faery through the silvers, to the White Mansion, to the Unseelie King’s castle, embraced its tattered and violent history.  And the Sinsar Dubh…well it was fantastically evil. Loved the K’Vruck/Darroc scene!

It’s like Moning had a resolution tick list and resolved each and every question for us by going down the list. I felt well-fed, fat and happy after the whole experience. All I know is that when I finished I wanted to read it again. I wanted more. I wanted to hear more about the sexy transformation of Christian MacKeltar, Ryodan, Lor, the Unseelie King and Dani. There are tales to be told and all I can say regarding this is…get cracking on the next book Ms. Moning, your fans rabidly await the next fantastic story!

A Fiendishly Bookish Review (and one grumpy cat)

Part of the 2011 Book Chick City Horror & Urban Fantasy Challenge

Book:   

Publisher:           Zebra

ISBN/ASIN:         9781420111880

Rating:                 4.5 Stars

Release Date:     Out now

Check out Jess Haine’s site.  Scope out her blog. Read the first couple of chapters of Hunted by the Others, and Taken by the Others.

Two master vamps and only one city make for a very nasty battleground and a hell of a headache for Shiarra Waynest. In Jess Haine’s sequel to her new debut Others series, Taken by the Others, Shiarra finds herself kidnapped by Max Carlyle, a rival master vamp hellbent on revenge. And that is only part of his agenda.  He plans to wrest control of Alec Royce’s territory, his coterie and his holdings. All will come at a bloody cost thrusting Shiarra in the middle.

Haines has dialed it up big time with her thrilling sequel. In Taken, Shiarra ends up blood bound to both Max and Alec…and there is one scene where we come very close to losing our heroine.  The kidnapping, the brutality of the vampires, and the sheer body count remind one of the early days of Anita Blake tempered with some Armintrout. Max Carlyle seriously channels some traits of Cyrus’s (from the Blood Ties series)-which means he is pretty despicable and dangerous. We still don’t have a lot of clues as to why Shiarra is always at the centre of the tempest. What is her history, her background? Is she an Other? Haines might be leaning in that direction. There is a possible clue that Shiarra might be of fae ancestry.

The relationship conflicts also take precedence in Taken by the Others. Chaz and Shiarra have still not consummated their relationship due to the contractual binding that is required in advance, and because of her blood bond to Max and Alec, Chaz is put through the wringer as he watches his potential love interest irrevocably drawn closer to Alec. He must stand by and suffer through the connection. Haines hints that their relationship could be permanently damaged by the blood bond. Shiarra’s fight to dissolve both bonds at great emotional cost forces her to face some feelings about Alec, and herself even though they are steeped in ambivalence.  I expect more will be revealed in book #3 Deceived by the Others out in July.

I was thrilled, excited by the action, the schism between the White Hats and Shiarra, and the interesting backstory of Alec and Max. I especially want to see Athena unveiled in Deceived by the Others. The conflicts, the relationship triumvirate, and the introduction of a few new characters (Mouse, Tiny and Dawn) really proves that Haines pulled a fantastic smash and grab for this installment, particularly the Other fracas which was teeming with all the subtlety of a mob war. Highly recommended, this series just keeps getting better and better.

A Fiendishly Bookish Review (and one grumpy cat)

Part of the 2011 Book Chick City Horror & Urban Fantasy Challenge 

Book:   

Author:                 Jess Haines

Publisher:            Kensington/Zebra

ISBN/ASIN:           9781420111873

Rating:                  3.75 Stars

Release Date:    Out now

Check out Jess Haines and dive into the first chapters of her engrossing H&W Series.

What exactly does it take to be a heroine in today’s paranormal genre?

Guns? Check. Knives and Swords? Check. Superpowers? Check. But what if our heroine in question doesn’t really have all of these…yet?

The draw to Jess Haines’ new series  Hunted by the Others is its very ordinary, mousy heroine. For those with jaded tastes and who adore souped-up urban fantasy and paranormals, Shiarra Waynest could prove to be a bit too vanilla…but I found her and her exploits to be quite refreshing. And that should not deter anyone from diving feet first into Jess Haines’ world. Hunted by the Others was an engrossing feast that I gorged on. And I want more!

If you have read a lot of pnr/uf, you will notice the similarities that have become part and parcel of the genre: the great reveal….the natural conflict between weres and vampires….pesky magick users, and a heroine that has a destiny to be realized. This has become the template for the pnr  genre and Haine’s debut series is no different. But there is a subtle twist to Haines’ writing….an earthiness that appeals more than the typical pretentiousness that can be found between the pages of a similar novel. That earthiness, and genuine normalcy is what the reader identifies with, and I was immediately drawn in.

When Shiarra finds herself accepting an offer from The Circle to acquire the Dominiari Focus from sexy alpha vamp Alec Royce, she doesn’t know that her quiet PI career is going to plumb new depths. The focus which was lost long ago, has the ability to control Others and their actions. And everyone wants it. For those who are big Kim Harrison fans, you will recognize the similarities in the Hollow’s series with regard to Rachel Morgan’s quest to wrest the focus from competing factions.

Shiarra, in many ways reminds one of Sookie in the early days….wet behind the ears, bumbling, innocent and ignorant. And that shows when in one particular scene, Alec Royce manages to manipulate her into signing a blood contract. Her natural fear and spinelessness could have worked against her but it doesn’t. Readers have to remember that this is a character evolving.  It’s the journey that this character has to go through and Haines has dropped many hints throughout the book that Shiarra has a destiny to fulfill: the prophetic statements that Arnold makes when he throws the dice, the reason why The Circle chose Shiarra for the job, the affinity the belt has for her, and the obsession of the White Hats to join their cause. All of these clues point to Haines and the fact that she’s got plans for Shiarra. And hopefully scrumptious Alec Royce.

What are the ultimate goals of a pnr novel? To entertain, to seduce, to thrill, to transport, and to create a desire for more.  Hunted by The Others has won on all fronts. Jess Haine’s easy-peasy Rachel Ray-writing style made it easy to breeze through Hunted, and readers will revel in this infectious romp as a fiery haired Shiarra plays hardball with the baddies. It’s genuinely enjoyable and addictive! I enjoyed every minute of it. 

I cannot wait to jump into more of this fun series. Haines’s sequel Taken by the Others is out today (which I am dying to dive into) and the third book in the series Deceived by the Others is out in July. Sweet.

A Fiendishly Bookish Review (and one grumpy cat)

Book:                     Sparks

Author:                  Laura Bickle

Publisher:             Pocket

ISBN/ASIN:          9781439167687

Release Date:       Out Now!!!

Rating:                  4 Stars

Check out Laura’s page here.

Laura Bickle has definitely upped the ante with her sequel to Embers. Anya and Sparky are back in Sparks, with more ghosts, more creepies, and more bang for your buck. There is also a new fabulous baddie is in their midst….shyster Hope Soloman who runs Miracles for the Masses in Detroit who is intent on wreaking havoc, despair and destruction.  You name it, she either wants to break it or rule it and she’s giving Anya a run for the money. Anya might have defeated Sirrush and Mimiveh in Embers, but now she may be way in over her head.

This time Anya must track down Hope who is capturing entities into spirit jars, and essentially controlling them-forcing them to maim and kill-and she’s leaving a trail of corpses all over Detroit. The ultimate source of power that Hope is after is the reputed Pandora’s Jar that is currently on loan to the Detroit Institute of the Arts. Anya suspects that it could it be an enormous spirit jar. With such an artifact at her disposal, Hope could possibly command thousands of ghosts to do her bidding and eventually tip the power of Hell itself. And Anya must do whatever she can to stop her.

Armed with the eternal Charon (who is a hottie), Sparky and a brood of newly hatched salamanders, Anya might finally be on the path of fulfilling her destiny-the hints of Anya being one of Ishtar’s chosen ones is thrilling and hopefully Bickle will pursue this next. One of the most important clues we get in Sparks, is the real truth behind the devastating fire that killed Anya’s mother, as well as her mysterious father, and some harsh truths about Brians’ character. 

There is little to no romance in Sparks, and Bickle might be hinting that Brian is on his way out (yes…breath a sigh of relief). With the introduction of Charon who is ready and willing to help, I can only wonder…will he be the next in line? There is also the interesting take on the A.I. that Brian develops (ALANN) at the university with a captured soul at its technological core-this concept reminds me strongly of Rachel Caine’s Morganville Vampires series and evil Ada who was the ghost in Myrnin’s machine.

Bickle has done herself proud with Sparks, because this time around there are more shades of Anya, and readers get closer to her as a character. There is also the added bonus of new forays into Detroit’s underground which lends Sparks a great edgy, gritty, darkness. Anya ventures to Hell, the astral plane, Michigan Central Station (the way station of the ghostly realm), and even sewers…all great backdrops to the action and suspense that Bickle has mapped out. And that earlier indecisiveness and unsteady footing that might have been present in Embers is missing. In its place, is a competent writer who has realized her vision with this series, plunged head first to write an exciting and visually stunning sequel. Bravo!

A Fiendishly Bookish Review (and one grumpy cat)

Book:                 Embers

Author:              Laura Bickle

Publisher:          Pocket Books

ISBN/ASIN:       9781439167656

Release Date:    Out Now!!!

Rating:                3.75 Stars

Check out Laura Bickle’s Webpage and her Blog

There’s fire magick in the air with Laura Bickle’s debut paranormal investigation series Embers, which combines the realistic and politicized environment surrounding the urban decay of Detroit, interesting paranormal elements, and a heroine that realizes that her death might actually save the city.  Devil’s Night will have new meaning for Detroiters if a slumbering elemental is let loose on the city.

Ember’s heroine is Anya Kalinczyk, a reluctant loner heroine who moonlights as a spiritual Lantern for the Detroit Area Ghost Researchers (DAGR) and by day reports in as an arson investigator for the Detroit Fire Department. With her trusty salamander Sparky, aka a fiercely protective hellbender, she is hot on the trail of an arsonist whose intent is to raze the city to the ground.

Lanterns have the ability to consume wayward ghosts and demons, conjure fire-and yes, summon nasty beasties. Just think more along the lines of “I eat dead people” instead of “I see dead people”.

Thoughtfully written, Bickle has great potential and fuel for Anya and while she might have her plot lens focused, Embers at times struggles to be grander than it is-which can be a problem when the plot and the sidekick overshadow its bland heroine.

Embers has some great plot development, complete with a Sumerian deity called Mimeveh who has taken root in Anya (an exorcism gone wrong), a scorching attraction to her enemy, Drake Ferrer, and ancient elemental, Sirrush who slumbers under the very streets of Detroit. If awakened, thousands of victims will churn in the flaming wake, a conflagration that will burn Detroit to the gritty end. All that remains in question is how will Anya stop it? And must she sacrifice herself do it?

Despite these pivotal plot plots, Bickle needs to dig down deep and dirty into Anya and present us with an unforgettable character in vivid shades. By comparison, Sparky, her trusty sidekick, is utterly unforgettable with a vibrancy that jumps off the pages.

The highlight of Embers is the lovely sense of wicked anticipation regarding the erotic play between enemy Drake Ferrer and Anya. Bickle has done her job enticing her readers and the buildup is almost scorching. Does Anya want the nice and steady type of guy like Brian, or is she instantly gravitating towards her enemy, also a Lantern, who can intimately relate to her and understand her?

From a readers perspective Brian seems a bit vanilla, certainly not worth the effort as a solid match to Anya. Which is why readers will give the thumbs up for
Drake. I know I did. Two thumbs up for Drake (slurp), I’m flicking my Bic right now as I write this.

Embers was a good read and I already have Sparks queued up (see? I believe in this series), but I couldn’t help but feel it needed more. More spice, more zing, perhaps more internal fleshing out for its heroine so she would pop off the page with some searing permanence. The setting is great, the relationships are reality driven, the conflict is well-done, thought out and very, very believable.

Embers was a great debut by a promising author (she also writes as Alayna Williams) so be sure to check out this promising new series.

A Fiendishly Bookish Review and one grumpy cat

Book:                  Magic Bites

Author:                Ilona Andrews

Publisher:            Ace

ISBN/ASIN:         9781429569859 

Release Date:      Out Now!!!

Rating:                4.0 Stars

Find out more about the dynamic duo here.

Delve into the crazy crumbling world of magical Atlanta.

Discovering the world of Kate Daniels propelled me into a non-stop weekend immersion. For three whole days I read non-stop, sans the Boons Farm and Slayer.

Magic Bites, the first of the Daniels’ story truly sets the pace for the entire series and whetted my appetite enough to blaze furiously through each and every installment, ever hungry for more-just a small testament to the lure of the Andrews’ duo literary superpowers. It should really be renamed Magic Rocks. How can you go wrong with a merc chick that carries a bloodthirsty blade called Slayer?

Kate Daniels is determined to get to the bottom of the death of her guardian Greg Feldman, the Knight Diviner of the local chapter of the Order of the Knights of Merciful Aid. Something of a badass, and loose cannon, there is no love lost between the Knights and Kate and they are barely able to tolerate her. But her guardian had power, connections, and a secret to keep. And he’s bequeathed a few magical power words to Kate that is bound to get her into trouble.

So starts an enigmatic, and combustible series. Magic Bites keeps a steady pace-that of a small jet engine, in reality. There are so many things pushing the plot forward: the alliance with Curran, Beast Lord and her potential love interest, the mysterious Saiman, Dr. Crest who wants a relationship with Kate, a diabolically evil upir, and the deadly secret that she is keeping. All these great plot movements make for a dead sexy read. 

The best part about Magic Bites is that it seamlessly delivers a great story, engaging action, and without fail, a consistent quality, that will make you hunger for more. The Andrew’s world-building talents figure largely into the plot: the idea of Atlanta crumbling from corrosive magical elements perpetually battling technology, and eating away at its infrastructure, is genius. The concept of the Immortuus pathogen and Lyc-V, m-scans, the color of a supernaturals magical residue, the feylanterns and how Atlanta exists when the magic is “up”, is brilliantly conceived. Even the Andrews’ take on vampiredom the innovative perspective of how vamp drones are driven by their Master of the Dead is cunningly original, making this first in the series not only a killer read but a heady experience.

For those who might have started the On The Edge series (like moi) without turning to Kate Daniels first, be sure to pick up and read the entire series. After I blew through On the Edge and Bayou Moon, I figured I’d pick up some Kate. By the first chapter had been absorbed I found myself a tad chagrined that I hadn’t discovered the series sooner. It’s not hard to imagine the Andrews’ rubbing their collective hands gleefully over their computer cooking up one delicious plot after another. 

If you like Kelly Gay, Laura Ann Gilman, Stacia Kane, or Seanan McGuire, Magic Bites will be a seamless transition and an instant hit. I guarantee you’ll read your paperback copy to pulp. Tatters. Shredded pages. Like moi.

A Fiendishly Bookish Read and One Grumpy Cat

Book:                     Queen of Shadows

Author:                  Dianne Sylvan

Publisher:              Ace

ISBN/ASIN:           9780441019250

Release Date:       Out now!!

Rating:                   4.5 Stars

Find out more about Dianne Sylvan.

Read an excerpt of Queen of Shadows

Queen of Shadows is a mesmerizing urban fantasy thriller by newcomer Dianne Sylvan about a not-so-perfect heroine…one that has been broken, on the edge of death, barely realizing her worth and rising from the ashes.

It’s not an instantaneously “vixen-from-the-box” urban fantasy. Miranda Grey does not have a prophecy to fulfill; she doesn’t have a sidecar entourage, or a cache of magical weaponry at arm’s length. What she does have is a curse; a talent inherited from her mother…an empathic telepathy that can control others and their emotions. Slowly it is burning her soul and mind from the inside out. The only way to get a handle on it is to channel it through music, but that method is faltering.

Barely subsisting in Austin, playing at a few bars where she has a following, Sylvan has meshed the incomparable beauty of music with vampire lore that is not sappy but strong, and utterly believable.

In fact, Queen of Shadows is pretty far from the urban fantasy template. Sylvan has taken her character, stripped her bare in body and soul and begun the complicated process of building her up. This is why readers are so heavily invested in this story, its personal, moving, and genuine.

This change up is refreshing. And Sylvan takes risks devolving Miranda early on, pushing her into the quagmire and watching her crawl her way out with sexy David Soloman to lend a hand. Sylvan is patient, and the texture is rich and sultry unfolding like an approaching storm, not peppered with creating a show. It’s filled with honest, ardent feelings, and the developing story between David and Miranda Grey is rending, and powerful.

Soloman, the ninth Prime of the Southern United States did not get to his position by being soft. His control over his Shadow World territory is absolute. But his territory will soon begin to face an attack on all sides, and he will need Miranda in ways he had not thought possible…

I loved Queen of Shadows. Rarely does a debut execute such supple footing but Sylvan has knocked it out of the park with this one. I don’t doubt a bevy of fans will be clamoring for the next book.

A Fiendishly Bookish Review

Book:                 The Darkest Edge of Dawn

Author:               Kelly Gay

Publisher:          Pocket Books

ISBN/ASIN:        9781439110041

Release Date:    Out Now!!!

Rating:                4.5 Stars

Buy: | Amazon | B&N | Borders | Powell’s | Indiebound |

Check out Kelly Gay’s page and blog. Read an excerpt of The Darkest Edge of Dawn. 

The Darkest Edge of Dawn steams with a ferocious intensity as Kelly Gay outdoes herself in this remarkable sequel to The Better Part of Darkness. She has pulled out all the stops this time, capably molding her world with a sense of certainty that can only come from fully realizing the hurdle of a first novel and deviously plotting a strategy to surpass it.

Gay has infused Dawn with more desire, conflict, history and whetted our appetites for more. Definitely more. And she has done it with a steady hand, and confidant plot building. Tasty morsels are rampant in this worthy sequel. Get ready to bunker down and lick your lips as you start flipping each and every delicious page.

When we last left off with Charlie Madigan, she had a few startling revelations to deal with…her half Charbydon and half Elysian DNA, the ushering in of the darkness over Atlanta, the destruction of the ash lab and Mynogan. Emma’s rescue, and the formation of a sub unit of the ITF on the mysterious fifth floor.

This time in The Darkest Edge of Dawn, two months have elapsed. Charlie and Hank are up against a group determined to wrest away the Charbydon darkness that was cast over Atlanta, and instead, bring Elysian light to its skies. If it were a simple spell casting, then they’d have an easy time of it. But the foes they face and the entity they plan to raise from the dead will force Charlie to plumb the depths of her new power and reveal her genetic legacy to her enemies.

It has now turned into a full-scale tug of war over the elements and powers as the two rival forces battle it out. Hank and Charlie have to get to the bottom of the latest string of Adonai deaths fight off Llyran and they only have a week to do it or war will break out between Pendaran, The Druid King and Grigori Tennin. Will darkness or light reign over the skies of Atlanta? Adonai bodies are piling up-fast and that biting suspense keeps the pages turning.

Gay has allowed us to peer further into the looking glass of her creation-the elusive history of both Charbydon and Elysian races…their intriguing history, the myths of the Old Lore and the followers of a sect determined to bring back the old ways. The stunning truth of the origin of all three races is revealed.

The pull between Hank and Charlie’s can only be described as gravitational force that has gone off the charts…and Gay has written a scene between the two of them that had my jaw dropping and my pulse racing. I had to pick my jaw off the floor! That teaser alone is definitely worth five stars in my book. Enough to have me making cartoon dust trails to the bookstore when #3 hits the shelves!

The best part about Dawn is the realization that Charlie is much more than half Charbydon and Elysian. With her ancestry straddling both races, and her genes manipulated to some unknown end, it appears that Carreg and Mynogan had more in mind when they brought her back to life. Could they have been intent on resurrecting an entity or deity to be reckoned with? Perhaps. To what purpose? One wonders.

Gay has rich content in which to weave #3 and with the myths of the Old Lore now firmly in place, Gay has hinted at a few possible avenues to take, and has further laid the foundation for her next book. I anticipate that it will be even more exciting and riveting than the previous two-especially with the cliffhanger we’ve been handed with Hank and Charlie. Phew! Scorching!

A Fiendishly Bookish Review (and one grumpy cat!)

Book:              Web of Lies

Author:            Jennifer Estep

Publisher:       Pocket Books

ISBN/ASIN:      9781439147993

Release Date:  Out Now

Rating:    4 Stars

Buy: | Amazon | B&N | Borders | Powell’s | Indiebound |

Find out more about Jennifer Estep.

Read an excerpt of Web of Lies.

Jennifer Estep goes a long way in laying more brick down for Gin Blanco’s foundation in her saucy sequel to Spider’s Bite. She’s given us some closure on some nagging issues but she’s not handed us the whole tamale. That, I expect will be saved for Venom when it hits shelves in September.

The most pressing conundrum since the series started has been the mystery of Gin’s family. Why were they murdered? Why was Gin tortured at such a young age? What is the significance of the silverstone spider’s rune emblazoned on her palm? And where is her sister Brie? Estep gives readers what they need in Web of Lies: Gin finds out who killed her family, but not all the troubling questions that follow it.

Finding her retirement a tad boring, it seems that trouble has a way of finding her. When friends from Fletcher’s past are threatened, Gin pays homage to her handler’s memory by filling their need of a gun hand. The Fox’s are being run off their land by a strip-mining dwarf that wants what buried under their property and he’ll do whatever he can to get it. It’s up to Gin to take care of him “spider style”.

If that weren’t enough she’s got another enemy to take care of-Gin has accidentally crossed another ally of Mab Monroe’s that has put her on the radar of the infamous Fire elemental. This time Mab won’t be likely to forget who Gin is, and its not like she can fade into the woodwork and tamp down her power. Sooner or later, Mab is going to figure out that the busty blonde that crashed her party, and Gin are one and the same. And then all hell is going to break loose.

Web of Lies definitely feels like a middle book but so much more and that is one of the reasons that it was so appealing. Estep knew that she had to dole out some teasers but also had to appease readers questions served up in Spider’s Bite. She’s levied enough suspense to have us gnashing to Venom-especially with her cunningly crafted teaser of Owen Grayson. That is something definitely to look forward to because Gin needs someone to accept her for who she is-faults and all. Gin needs her own “Terrible” (from Stacia Kane’s series) And it’s not likely that Donovan will fit the bill.

Smart, sexy and satisfying, Web of Lies was a worthy sequel to Spider’s Bite and Estep gave us critical information that we needed to keep us hungering for more. She’s ingeniously created a great urban fantasy with a unique twist on elemental powers, an intriguing family history, mob mayhem, and a truly singular heroine who is unabashedly naughty-who isn’t afraid to “take out the trash”. Amen to that!

Can’t wait for more? Hah! Knew it! Read an excerpt of Venom out in September and Tangled Threads, the fourth book in the Elemental Assassin series.

A Fiendishly Bookish Review (and one grumpy cat). 

Book:             City of Ghosts

Author:           Stacia Kane

Publisher:      Del Rey

ISBN/ASIN:    9780345515599

Release Date:  Out Now

Rating:  6 Stars (FB’s Top Ten of 2010)

Buy: | Amazon | Borders | B&N | Powell’s |

Read an excerpt of City of Ghosts. Find out more about Stacia here.

Unholy Magic ended on quite a few loose ends. Chess and Terrible, at opposite sides of the ring, bloody and beaten-a row of epic proportions widening the chasm between them-and Lex at the center of the maelstrom. Despite the uncertain footing of Terrible’s ambivalent allegiance, Chess manages to down a pyschopomp to save his life, battle the Cryin’ Man, Vanita, and the unholy brothel from hell and even escape twisting black curses for Bump. But not without sacrifice.

This time in City of Ghosts, Chess Putnam has her work cut out for her as the latest challenge to the Church and its indomitable rule is that there is a war waging in the labyrinthine tunnels beneath Triumph City. And this time it’s not a gang war between Slobag and Bump that threatens to break the back of Downside, but something more evil, more sinuous, that could crack the heart of the City of Eternity-and let the ghosts run rampant…

The black magick faction Lamaru has slowly been consolidating their power and all signs point to a threat on the horizon of the likes that Chess has never seen. And now an enigma has stepped up to the plate complicating issues: Baldarel, a shadowy wraith with untapped power and a hidden connection to the Church who commands an army of aberrant children intent on battling for supremacy of the City. The citizens of Triumph and Downside find themselves caught betwixt two ruinous evils. Will Chess have Terrible at her side to engage in the deadliest battle of her life?

The peaks and valley’s of Terrible and Chess’ relationship is ardently felt throughout City of Ghosts. Biting with the sharpest knife and forever etched into your memory, Kane has patiently and agonizingly laid out her best work to resolve some of the loose ends left unanswered in Unholy Magic. The scene at Chuck’s is incomparable…a smoke-laden backdrop flickering filled with reverb, feedback, and bitter ashes, as Chess and Terrible battle it out-two damaged souls melding, unable to bear the constant polarity between them. Readers will be gasping like strangled guppies for air over that confrontation.

City of Ghosts shivers with vibrancy and a patently inimitable style that is without a doubt the best urban fantasy series I have ever read. Kane’s Downsider patois is an integral component-making the burnt and decrepit rank and file ‘hood hum with flavor. It is riddled with rabid gangster noir, surly and intriguing inhabitants, arcane magick, and a vice-ridden heroine riding the proverbial train wreck to hell and back. It’s so far north from cookie-cutter-gun-toting-vixens that you’ll get a nosebleed. (here…have a ‘kerchief)

A Fiendishly Bookish Review (and one grumpy cat).