Autumn Bones (review)

                                      


There are some stories that ensnare you in an exciting adventure from the opening scene and this is one of them.  Despite unfamiliarity with the events from the first novel in the series, “Dark Currents”, I knew that I was going to want to read this book because Ms. Carey excels in creating complex characters and well-developed worlds as is demonstrated in her ‘Kushiel’ series and I definitely was not disappointed.  The requisite personal struggle that is normally a part of the psyche of any being who is burdened with ‘tainted’ blood is enriched by demands of the heroine’s role in keeping the peace between the humans and the eldritch in her town and yet I also enjoyed the heartfelt ‘ordinary’ interactions she has with her best friend and with her mom.  The intriguing cases that she has to work with the police to solve, including the typical confidence games perpetrated on unsuspecting tourists have a delightful paranormal twist and it was fun to watch her find a solution for the hypnotic sex vibes being sent out by a visitor to the town.  There is depth to the secondary characters as well and I am looking forward to watching the evolution of relationships, including one which will undoubtedly involve the geek genius with his social maladaptations and insatiable curiosity as well as those of Daisy herself who doesn’t lack for sexy complicated males in her life.  A fun, imaginative, and enthralling read that can be read as a stand-alone although I personally am off to look for the first in the series to tide me over while waiting for a sequel!

“Autumn Bones” by Jacqueline Carey is the second novel in the ‘Agent of Hel’ series which features Daisy Johanssen.  This human/demon hybrid is the liaison between the Norse goddess of the dead (Hel) and the mundane humans who occupy the city of Pemkowet, Michigan which just happens to have a little pocket of the underwold known as Little Niflheim.  Daisy is aided in her struggle to keep from causing Armageddon by various allies, including a lamia, werewolf and various ghouls and uses the artifact dauda-dagr (death day), a magical dagger, to help her in her daily duties.  While exploring her attraction to Sinclair Palmer, she discovers that he has plenty of secrets of his own, including a strong link to the obeah practices of his family, and she is going to have to decide whether the two of them are actually better suited as friends or lovers.  The only trouble is, more players than just the two of them become engaged in the decision-making, and the town and many lives may get destroyed during the ensuing struggle.

© Night Owl Reviews
I received a copy of this title in return for an honest review.

Autumn Bones: Agent of Hel (Amazon link)



Dark Currents: Agent of Hel (Amazon link)

Ritual Magic (review)

                                         


Ritual Magic by Eileen Wilks is part of the compelling ‘Lupi’ series which features the deliciously alpha Rule Turner who has learned to deal with his Nokolai werewolf ties so that he can adequately carry out his duties as head of the Leidolf clan.  He is getting closer to tying his mate, Lily Yu, to him with the human ceremony of marriage when another salvo in the Great War is struck and Lily’s mother is caught in the cross-fire.  The incorporeal Al Drummond is only one of the allies who attempts to help right the grave wrong that has been done but he, like most of the others is having trouble circumventing some of the limitations placed on him.  It may take more than two packs of lupi, a wizard, a dragon, and several very determined relatives to circumvent the evil plans of Robert Friar and his goddess but nobody is prepared to give up, no matter what the cost.


This mesmerizing series combines an enticing blend of reality as provided by Lily and her ties to the FBI and other law enforcement agencies with the mystical elements provided by shapeshifters who include wolves and a tiger and combines this all with the ritualized culture from both the lupi and the Asian-American elements.  The deep and abiding romance that has characterized the relationship between Rule and Lily makes this one of my favorite aspects of this series and the author’s lyrical descriptions emphasizes the intensity of their bond.  Phrases like describing Lily as the ‘heart of Rule’s world’ and the following description of their mate bond always make me sigh.  “The ease was immediate.  This, too, the mate bond gave them, heightening the inherent comfort of touch.  But it was love that made her touch rich, layered, full.  Love was like smell, Rule thought.  Smell was the most complex and dimensional of the senses, weaving together past and present, near and distant, motion and stillness.  Love, too, was a weaver.”

I like the way Rule is able to compromise (somewhat) as he has learned how to deal with the demands upon him, his innate protective nature, and the stubbornness of his mate.  Their relationship has evolved over the series and although I think it might be possible to read this as a stand-alone, I think it would be difficult to appreciate the complexities of the interrelationships among all of the characters, including the irascible ghost who has also evolved and the opinionated dragon who has intricate ties to Lily and her family.  This is a wonderfully complex and fascinating paranormal series characterized by an artfully built world peopled by charismatic beings and I look forward to many more tales spun by this masterful storyteller. 

© Night Owl Reviews
I received a copy of this title in return for an honest review.

Ritual Magic (A Novel of the Lupi) (Amazon link)


Additional notes:  This is one of those series that I usually have pre-ordered well in advance of publication.  I love the enigmatic characters that make up Lily's family and I thought this particular tale did a nice job of giving a different perspective of Lily's mom.

I thought I'd share this terribly appropriate description of one of those escalating headaches that one tries to ignore to one's regret...it's just another example of the way this author can paint such vivid word portraits!

  “It was one of those sneaky headaches that starts small so you won’t notice it and take action, but the little guy with the big crowbar had clocked in at some point and was hard at work prying open her skull.  The little guy is industrious.  As long as you’re still, he can keep working. If you move, it jostles him.  That makes him mad and he whacks you with the damn crowbar.”