TEST
I was surprised when I found out that this book was the first in a new series, and even more surprised to find that it was her first mass market book. Events in the story were so well wrapped up at the end that I assumed it was the last book in a new-to-me series, and Ms. Roland’s writing has a confident quality one would expect from an author who’s been in the biz for a good long while. Unfortunately, although the wrap-up and writing skill are positives, the book still feels somewhat derivative.
The (obligatory kick-ass) heroine is one Cassandra Archer, chosen by the Earth Mother to rescue kidnapped children from the Barrows district of Duivel, Missouri. The Barrows are across the river from mainstream Duivel, bordered on one side by the docks, surrounded by a bog on the other three sides and filled with monsters – both human and other. Cassandra, with her gifted strength and skills is one of the few people who can get in and out of the Barrows alive after dark. The book opens with a bang (literally) as Cassandra is running from the Barrows with a rescued child, pursued by a monster.
Her skills and reputation are the reason that Cassandra is approached by the (macho, cop, non-magical) hero, Detective Flynn, when Flynn’s sister is abducted. Aided by Cassandra’s mentor (kick-ass elderly witch) and an angelic denizen of the Barrows (gorgeous, untrustworthy), Cassandra and Flynn soon find that Flynn’s sister’s kidnapping is anything but simple. When a mob boss (powerful, unscrupulous, violent) enlists Cassandra’s help as well, to find his missing son, Cassandra faces a dilemma. How can she work with a cop and a criminal at the same time? But how can she not, when it seems the two disappearances are related? With friction and angst all around, the group of highly disparate individuals becomes a team, combining resources and skills in order to further their investigation. They are eventually led into the dark center of the Burrows (sewers) where a malevolent presence lurks.
Let’s face it. There are a lot of urban fantasies out there with the elements that I put in parenthesis, or similiar variations thereof. They run the gamut from excellent to just about unreadable. This book is of the excellent variety, with a lot of attractive qualities. It’s written in a very modern sounding first person, with a self-deprecating humor and honesty that is very entertaining, even as it’s reminiscent of another popular series. I mentioned earlier that the writing is competent. The dialogue is good and the action moves along at a nice pace. The romance is believable and the love scenes are satisfying. All in all, this is a very read-able book.
Grading this one is difficult. If I were new to the genre I might have been blown away and gushing over this great find, but I’m not, so I can’t. While the author adds enough new elements to avoid the same-old same-old feel, there isn’t that special magic…something…that would set this book above the rest. However, it’s so well written and entertaining that it shouldn’t be downgraded because it’s part of a saturated genre. That feels like a B, to me.
I understand that future books in the series will be about other women like Cassandra, devotees of the Earth Mother, each featurning a different heroine. Perhaps one of them will have that…something. I look forward to finding out.
Grade: B
Book Type: Urban Fantasy
Sensuality: Warm
Review Date: 06/09/11
Publication Date: 2011/06
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Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.