Read Recently -- July -- Urban Fantasy I
Hell Fire: a Corine Solomon novel by Ann Aguirre
Sequel to Blue Diablo.
Previously, Corine had agreed to help Chance rescue his Mother on the condition that afterward, he would come with her to her home town and help her find out what happened to her Mother. Corine knows something about the subject; her Mother was killed by a group of robed men, but she wants to know who and why. This means going to the town of Kilmer, Georgia, and right away things get weird.
Kilmer is surrounded by thick woods, and before they even get to town a dog has run out in front of the car and died of wounds inflicted before it left the woods. When they get to the town, their cell phones don't work, and they find a mysterious powdery substance around their room in the bed-and-breakfast. They end up renting a house near the woods, which works out for the best because the daughter of the creepy bed-and-breakfast owner winds up staying with them (she's almost 18) and so does Jesse Saldana, the handsome and supernaturally talented cop that they met in the last book. Of course, he's got a thing for Corine too.
It turns out that Kilmer isn't on any modern maps. People in the region tend to forget it's there. Corine gets a dream message from one of their occult allies; Kilmer is blocked off on the astral plane, too. There's something in the woods; people go in and never come out again. And the reason why the bed-and-breakfast owner's daughter joins our heroes is that she believes she's next.
I wasn't very enthusiastic about the last one, so I was surprised to find myself enjoying this one so much. Maybe it's that, ever since Silent Hill, I love the idea of a haunted town. Maybe it's that Corine doesn't seem very inclined to get back together with Chance, which I had really figured was the point of this series. Maybe it's just a better book. I don't know. Anyway, recommended.
Oh, and the title? Once again, a drink. Corine has one in a bar about midway through the book.
Turn Coat: a novel of the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher
Harry Dresden was, at one point in his youth, considered a possible black wizard; a necromancer or other magic terrorist. He was literally put on trial for his life, standing in a circle of wizards wearing a hood over his head, knowing that a man with a dirty-big sword was standing by, ready to kill him if given the word. Later, that man, the Warden known as Morgan, kept a close eye on Harry, certain that he would turn to evil if given a chance. Morgan intended to be the one to take him down.
So when Morgan is framed for the murder of a senior wizard, badly injured, and forced to run, pursued by the Wardens he used to lead, why does he turn to Harry for help? And of course, he gets it.
Harry is willing to believe any number of bad things about Morgan. But murdering one of the White Council? Never. Harry has long believed there is a traitor in the Council, and this could be the traitor's work. Add to this the sudden appearance of a supremely frightening evil that kills one of Harry's friends who tries to help him fight it, puts another friend in the hospital, and kidnaps his brother to make Harry give up Morgan, and Harry has his hands full.
I'm continuing the enjoy this series. Butcher actually sort-of resolves one of his sub-plots this time, but he's got lots more going, never fear. Recommended.
Sequel to Blue Diablo.
Previously, Corine had agreed to help Chance rescue his Mother on the condition that afterward, he would come with her to her home town and help her find out what happened to her Mother. Corine knows something about the subject; her Mother was killed by a group of robed men, but she wants to know who and why. This means going to the town of Kilmer, Georgia, and right away things get weird.
Kilmer is surrounded by thick woods, and before they even get to town a dog has run out in front of the car and died of wounds inflicted before it left the woods. When they get to the town, their cell phones don't work, and they find a mysterious powdery substance around their room in the bed-and-breakfast. They end up renting a house near the woods, which works out for the best because the daughter of the creepy bed-and-breakfast owner winds up staying with them (she's almost 18) and so does Jesse Saldana, the handsome and supernaturally talented cop that they met in the last book. Of course, he's got a thing for Corine too.
It turns out that Kilmer isn't on any modern maps. People in the region tend to forget it's there. Corine gets a dream message from one of their occult allies; Kilmer is blocked off on the astral plane, too. There's something in the woods; people go in and never come out again. And the reason why the bed-and-breakfast owner's daughter joins our heroes is that she believes she's next.
I wasn't very enthusiastic about the last one, so I was surprised to find myself enjoying this one so much. Maybe it's that, ever since Silent Hill, I love the idea of a haunted town. Maybe it's that Corine doesn't seem very inclined to get back together with Chance, which I had really figured was the point of this series. Maybe it's just a better book. I don't know. Anyway, recommended.
Oh, and the title? Once again, a drink. Corine has one in a bar about midway through the book.
Turn Coat: a novel of the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher
Harry Dresden was, at one point in his youth, considered a possible black wizard; a necromancer or other magic terrorist. He was literally put on trial for his life, standing in a circle of wizards wearing a hood over his head, knowing that a man with a dirty-big sword was standing by, ready to kill him if given the word. Later, that man, the Warden known as Morgan, kept a close eye on Harry, certain that he would turn to evil if given a chance. Morgan intended to be the one to take him down.
So when Morgan is framed for the murder of a senior wizard, badly injured, and forced to run, pursued by the Wardens he used to lead, why does he turn to Harry for help? And of course, he gets it.
Harry is willing to believe any number of bad things about Morgan. But murdering one of the White Council? Never. Harry has long believed there is a traitor in the Council, and this could be the traitor's work. Add to this the sudden appearance of a supremely frightening evil that kills one of Harry's friends who tries to help him fight it, puts another friend in the hospital, and kidnaps his brother to make Harry give up Morgan, and Harry has his hands full.
I'm continuing the enjoy this series. Butcher actually sort-of resolves one of his sub-plots this time, but he's got lots more going, never fear. Recommended.