Ok, so Morgan Brice's Loose Ends continues the story of Italian Cop Vic, and his psychic boyfriend Simon in Myrtle Beach. Only this time, both of their exes are on the warpath, for different reasons.
In Vic's case, we met Nate previously, during a Christmas caper. He evidently has escaped prison and is pursuing a vendetta against Vic with the help of a Strega. That the help is also proving to be detrimental to his health is of no matter, he may die, but not before screwing over Vic.
In Simon's case, Simon's WASP mother and Jacen have teamed up to get Simon back to Columbia attached to Jacen. For her, prestige. For him, a partner to help him get a grant.
One of the bigger subplots in the book concerns Simon and Vic both dithering over proposing to the other (Vic has bought the rings, but Simon is headed to the jeweler), and most of what goes on are, as the local witches point out, reflections of powerful love, both good and bad. From ghosts in a statue who loved each other too much to be separated by death to a painting haunted by ghostly lovers enchained by an accidental love spell; to the main romance and their evil exes, it all revolves around love gone good and bad.
And boy, does love go bad. Nate is downright vicious in his revenge, and Jacen is not exactly a nice person either.
A good addition to the ever growing world, and one wonders is a wedding might be in the next book.
Tuesday, February 25, 2020
Saturday, February 22, 2020
Murder on the Bath Express
Simon R. Green's new Ishmael Jones novel is actually pretty well written, although I was kind of sad that I was pretty sure on whodunit well before the reveal. Not that the red herrings weren't distracting enough, but....
Night Train to Murder takes a lot of inspiration from Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express, even if the solution is different. It also takes place over roughly an hour or so, since Sir Dennis dies about 30 minutes into the express ride between Paddington Station and Bath. Sir Dennis is a rather unpopular British Politician, having not done much beyond shady dealings and influence peddling. He's recently been promoted to head of the Ministry of Defense's Psychic Division, and is headed First Class to Bath to take on the role. As such, The Organization sends Penny and Ishmael on the train to make sure he survives the trip, since the Organization would love to have the Division owe it a favor.
It doesn't work out that well, as Ishmael discovers Sir Dennis dead of a broken neck in a locked lavatory. The car behind first class is empty, and there are only four passengers in First class besides Penny and Ishmael, all of whom had hidden motives for wanting Sir Dennis dead, as well as a host of other reasons for being on the train acting suspiciously. We also have the Conductor and the lady selling snacks running around as the only ones who seem to be passing through cars.
In the end, Ishmael figures it out not long before the train enters Bath, and almost everyone gets a semi-happy ending.
As I said, half the reason I like these is that, unlike his over the top other series, this series acknowledges the hidden world, but it's at best flavor for very real, human killers and motivations.
Night Train to Murder takes a lot of inspiration from Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express, even if the solution is different. It also takes place over roughly an hour or so, since Sir Dennis dies about 30 minutes into the express ride between Paddington Station and Bath. Sir Dennis is a rather unpopular British Politician, having not done much beyond shady dealings and influence peddling. He's recently been promoted to head of the Ministry of Defense's Psychic Division, and is headed First Class to Bath to take on the role. As such, The Organization sends Penny and Ishmael on the train to make sure he survives the trip, since the Organization would love to have the Division owe it a favor.
It doesn't work out that well, as Ishmael discovers Sir Dennis dead of a broken neck in a locked lavatory. The car behind first class is empty, and there are only four passengers in First class besides Penny and Ishmael, all of whom had hidden motives for wanting Sir Dennis dead, as well as a host of other reasons for being on the train acting suspiciously. We also have the Conductor and the lady selling snacks running around as the only ones who seem to be passing through cars.
In the end, Ishmael figures it out not long before the train enters Bath, and almost everyone gets a semi-happy ending.
As I said, half the reason I like these is that, unlike his over the top other series, this series acknowledges the hidden world, but it's at best flavor for very real, human killers and motivations.
Tuesday, February 18, 2020
Sam and Dean go to the Carolinas
So, ended up finishing Morgan Brice's Flame and Ash this afternoon, which would be the next book in the Witchbane series. We're again following Seth and Evan as they track down witch disciples, this time in Boone, North Carolina, and this time with Milo and Toby, Seth's mentors in the hunt.
They're roughly two years ahead of schedule, as the current victim to be, Steve, is known, as is the probable identity of the disciple, and Steve isn't due to become a victim for another two years. (This would also be the third disciple they've gone after, and the third who's victim is a gay man. I'm beginning to wonder if part of the curse is each victim enjoys the pleasures inherent in the touch between two men.)
Anyway, the chase is almost secondary, as much of the book is spent examining the parallels between the hunter couples, and everyone getting mirrors into their relationships, as well as a reflection on Seth's time in Iraq, as one of his platoon lives in Boone.
We also get a reversal on the boyfriend in jeopardy, as this time Seth gets in trouble instead of Evan. Which is good, since it gives us some much needed insight into the disciples and how they operate.
This isn't exactly undying fiction for the ages, but it does hold attention pretty well and remains fun to read, which beats undying literature to be sure.
They're roughly two years ahead of schedule, as the current victim to be, Steve, is known, as is the probable identity of the disciple, and Steve isn't due to become a victim for another two years. (This would also be the third disciple they've gone after, and the third who's victim is a gay man. I'm beginning to wonder if part of the curse is each victim enjoys the pleasures inherent in the touch between two men.)
Anyway, the chase is almost secondary, as much of the book is spent examining the parallels between the hunter couples, and everyone getting mirrors into their relationships, as well as a reflection on Seth's time in Iraq, as one of his platoon lives in Boone.
We also get a reversal on the boyfriend in jeopardy, as this time Seth gets in trouble instead of Evan. Which is good, since it gives us some much needed insight into the disciples and how they operate.
This isn't exactly undying fiction for the ages, but it does hold attention pretty well and remains fun to read, which beats undying literature to be sure.
Sunday, February 16, 2020
Muy silencio
So, while we had a hint some of Mercedes Lackey's old series were getting revamped with new characters, Breaking Silence (Co-written with Cody Martin) at least mentions characters from the series as it existed prior to the reboot. (Yes, I know this is the second book in the reboot. However, this one actually talks much more about Fairgrove Industries.)
Anyway, we're again following around Staci and Tim, mages, and Wanda and Seth, who aren't.
Anyway, Tim is training Staci to be a mage, which she's having some success with. Wand is learning to fight, and Seth is becoming an accomplished trapper. Silence is finally lifting from the horror of Unseeleigh rule under the Blackthorns, but...
In the meantime, Fairgrove is in town, and trying to get the industries restarted, with some success. Mind you, Tim bears prejudice again the elves, Staci still feels betrayed by Dylan, and the elf clan in Maine doesn't trust humans.
And something is in the woods and unhappy.
All of which literally blows up in the last third, as we find out Beth's secret, David's secret, how the preacher has actually been healing people, and why a rather large storm is trying to level the town.
While this is really centered around Young Adult readers, it does bring back good memories of the original novels. I'm happy to think that new readers are getting to enjoy the series now.
Anyway, we're again following around Staci and Tim, mages, and Wanda and Seth, who aren't.
Anyway, Tim is training Staci to be a mage, which she's having some success with. Wand is learning to fight, and Seth is becoming an accomplished trapper. Silence is finally lifting from the horror of Unseeleigh rule under the Blackthorns, but...
In the meantime, Fairgrove is in town, and trying to get the industries restarted, with some success. Mind you, Tim bears prejudice again the elves, Staci still feels betrayed by Dylan, and the elf clan in Maine doesn't trust humans.
And something is in the woods and unhappy.
All of which literally blows up in the last third, as we find out Beth's secret, David's secret, how the preacher has actually been healing people, and why a rather large storm is trying to level the town.
While this is really centered around Young Adult readers, it does bring back good memories of the original novels. I'm happy to think that new readers are getting to enjoy the series now.
Monday, February 10, 2020
Cape May Capers
I couldn't help but feel that reading Morgan Brice's new series intro, Treasure Trail, that the new characters and plotlines were less there for entertainment, but more to serve as a tentpole for a mege novel at some point, since again, more characters from series written under Brice and her Gail S. Martin characters show up at various point. Indeed, the epilogue includes a stinger on par with Samuel L. Jackson showing up and asking Iron Man about the Avengers Initiative.
But anyway, We're in Cape May, New Jersey, as former art fraud and art theft investigator Erik is preparing his new shop, Trinkets, for opening. He's also dealing with a pushy agent who wants him to narrate a PBS show dealing with art and antiquities fraud. He's a recent transplant, deciding to get out of his old business after a cursed Faberge Egg investigation in Flanders goes very badly, followed by walking in on his boyfriend at the time screwing his junior partner on the dining room table.
Then we meet Ben, the possible new owner of a local rental agency, who was formerly a Newark cop. Whose boyfriend also dumped him. Erik's aunt has semi retired, and her son doesn't want to run the business.
Eventually, the two meet, when Erik thinks his date is Ben. This does wind up working out, as they eventually do end up meeting under different circumstances as Ben and his cousin find a fake clock that's somehow wrapped up in a murder at a cursed local hotel that burned down prior to the start of the story. I shoudl mention here that Erik has a form of touch magic, where he can see glimpses of the past of objects and spirits attached to them, while Ben sees ghosts. It's a match made in Urban Romance heaven.
Anyway, it doesn't take long before a few people who showed up for a page start dying off, old Mafia hits start popping up as ghosts, and one of the pair winds up in serious danger.
I mean, it's a fun read, but I feel like we're really getting bones here instead of fully fleshed out characters, and even then, those bones are trying to support a larger support beam for some kind of paranormal romance meganovel.
But anyway, We're in Cape May, New Jersey, as former art fraud and art theft investigator Erik is preparing his new shop, Trinkets, for opening. He's also dealing with a pushy agent who wants him to narrate a PBS show dealing with art and antiquities fraud. He's a recent transplant, deciding to get out of his old business after a cursed Faberge Egg investigation in Flanders goes very badly, followed by walking in on his boyfriend at the time screwing his junior partner on the dining room table.
Then we meet Ben, the possible new owner of a local rental agency, who was formerly a Newark cop. Whose boyfriend also dumped him. Erik's aunt has semi retired, and her son doesn't want to run the business.
Eventually, the two meet, when Erik thinks his date is Ben. This does wind up working out, as they eventually do end up meeting under different circumstances as Ben and his cousin find a fake clock that's somehow wrapped up in a murder at a cursed local hotel that burned down prior to the start of the story. I shoudl mention here that Erik has a form of touch magic, where he can see glimpses of the past of objects and spirits attached to them, while Ben sees ghosts. It's a match made in Urban Romance heaven.
Anyway, it doesn't take long before a few people who showed up for a page start dying off, old Mafia hits start popping up as ghosts, and one of the pair winds up in serious danger.
I mean, it's a fun read, but I feel like we're really getting bones here instead of fully fleshed out characters, and even then, those bones are trying to support a larger support beam for some kind of paranormal romance meganovel.
Monday, February 3, 2020
Abi Normal
So, as is prone to happening, I had missed the release of Mercedes Lackey's continuation of her Family Spies Series, Eye Spy, following around the second child of Megs and Amily, Abi.
Like her brother before her, Abi has a gift that doesn't quite fit in with the mind-magic so prevalent in Valdemar. In her case, she discovers early on she can detect stress in architecture, and indeed, figure out when something is going to collapse. She figures this out when the bridge she's crossing starts to go.
From there, she gets enrolled in with the Artificers and learns to use her gift for other things, like finding hidden rooms. Mind you, while in school, she also has to defend herself from Dudley, who ends up saying the quiet part out loud. (Much of Dudley's actions seem to be a cypher for certain people. "When you're rich, they let you get away with it.")
And then, after coming up with her Masterwork, a bridge to replace the one that collapsed at the beginning, she, along with 3 other Master Artificers get sent to a strip outside Valdemar and Menmellith that wants to join Valdemar. Unfortunately, while things go well at first, their third stop results in agents who came ahead before and ruined the reputation of the Valdemarians.
As we go about trying to resolve that, we find out the Merc escorting them is a lesbian, and after she kissed Abi, we find that Abi is Asexual.
While I enjoyed reading this, and indeed enjoyed some rather thinly veiled political commentary and a few hidden memes, the plot stretches over several years, and it reads less like a novel than a series of connected stories. Still fun.
Like her brother before her, Abi has a gift that doesn't quite fit in with the mind-magic so prevalent in Valdemar. In her case, she discovers early on she can detect stress in architecture, and indeed, figure out when something is going to collapse. She figures this out when the bridge she's crossing starts to go.
From there, she gets enrolled in with the Artificers and learns to use her gift for other things, like finding hidden rooms. Mind you, while in school, she also has to defend herself from Dudley, who ends up saying the quiet part out loud. (Much of Dudley's actions seem to be a cypher for certain people. "When you're rich, they let you get away with it.")
And then, after coming up with her Masterwork, a bridge to replace the one that collapsed at the beginning, she, along with 3 other Master Artificers get sent to a strip outside Valdemar and Menmellith that wants to join Valdemar. Unfortunately, while things go well at first, their third stop results in agents who came ahead before and ruined the reputation of the Valdemarians.
As we go about trying to resolve that, we find out the Merc escorting them is a lesbian, and after she kissed Abi, we find that Abi is Asexual.
While I enjoyed reading this, and indeed enjoyed some rather thinly veiled political commentary and a few hidden memes, the plot stretches over several years, and it reads less like a novel than a series of connected stories. Still fun.
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