Aguirre, Ann: Blue Diablo
Blue Diablo (2009)
Written by: Ann Aguirre
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Pages: 316
With her debut of Grimspace, Ann Aguirre has been on my must-read list, and when I learned she was writing an urban fantasy series in addition to her SFR, I was thrilled to bits. One of the things I love about Aguirre's work, aside from the ease of the narrative voice and the excellent way she brings tension to the page, is that she creates characters who are flawed and human and who let those oh-so-human natures drive them. When I read Wanderlust, the sequel to Grimspace, I was so frustrated because I was so invested in the characters that it broke my heart to see how they were acting and how they were treating each other. I knew, that despite my anti-reading phase I've been in the past few months, that if anyone could pull me out of a slump, it'd be Ann Aguirre. And boy did she ever.
The premise: Corine Solomon is a handler, a person with the ability to handle objects and know that object's history and quite possibly, its future. Her gift doesn't come without a serious price, and because of it, she's hermited herself in Mexico City to try and live her life in peace. But it doesn't take long for her past to catch up with her, and her past comes in the form of her ex-lover Chance who desperately needs her help: someone has taken a person they both care deeply about, and with Corinne's gift and Chance's uncanny luck, they might solve the case, but in order to do so, they must fight sorcerers, black magic, and even each other.
Spoilers ahead.
Let's get one thing out of the way: the title. So it's a drink, but why is it the TITLE? Were the demons ever blue? The title didn't seem symbolic to me either, but then again, maybe I'm just reading too much into it? Whatever the case, while I love the title on its own, I'm scratching my head at Aguirre's choice of it for this book.
I stumbled a little bit getting into this book, but only because of the setting and language. I was one of the few in my high school who didn't take Spanish, so when Spanish was spoken in the book, I was lost, and I was a little lost in terms of terminology and world-building. That said, I picked up quickly enough and soon found myself really enjoying the setting, world-building, and overall uniqueness that you just don't see in UF. I mean, the book is set in Mexico City and Laredo, Texas. UF doesn't get much more different than that.
You'll have to forgive me, because I finished this book on Sunday and I've read two books since. My brain's a little fuzzy on details and the things I wanted to say.
One thing I found myself paying attention to in this book was plotting and character. The first chapter sets the reader off running with the main problem that drives the whole book, and Aguirre has a great way of keeping the reader turning the pages, especially with cliff-hanger/high-tension chapter endings. Great job there, but no surprise if you're familiar with Aguirre's work. You know that once you pick up her books, you're going to have a very difficult time putting them down again.
In terms of characterization, I really liked how both characters had obvious flaws, but who also had very specific images of the other that ended up getting deconstructed over the course of the novel. I love how Corinne kept managing to surprise and please Chance, even though she wasn't doing anything special to do so (and at times, she was trying to piss him off), and I love how Corinne keeps getting symbolically slapped as she learns that everything she thought she knew about Chance and how he felt about her might very well be wrong.
What's really good is how these two characters just don't sweep away the misunderstandings and fall in bed together. The sexual tension is there, and there's a tease here and there, but they've hurt each other. They're trying to figure out just how much they want the other to be back in their life. Corinne especially, and she kind of pursues a different romantic interest in the book in the form of Jesse. I have to say, I really like Jesse, and not in the figure of a romantic interest. The fact that his empathy CONFUSES HIM in terms of other people's feelings towards him influencing how he feels about that person is just awesome. I love how, when he senses Corinne's lust, he doesn't know if he truly wants her or is simply feeding off her lust and therefore lusting her back. I've never seen that side of an empath before, and that's just really awesome.
Also awesome was Aguirre's treatment of Kel, who seems like a crazy religious fanatic but who becomes something a little more sinister and awe-inspiring. Part of it's how the reader learns about him, and how Corinne views him, and as Corinne/the reader see Kel's actions, her/our opinion of him is forced to change.
Really, the whole cast is just great. Eva and Chuch. Booke. Min. Twila. It's a great cast. And the best part of it is Butch, the little chihuahua who could, and trust me when I say, I have a fondness for chihuahuas. :)
It's a really good read that doesn't stray too far into the unbelievable in terms of the world-building. We have demons, but they aren't of the obvious sort, more like forms of energy. And the zombie appearance, while off-putting at first, made sense in regards to the usage of black magic. All in all, Blue Diablo has enough of the FAMILIAR to please regular UF readers, but it also has enough that's different and interesting to give those of us who are tired of the FAMILIAR something to appreciate.
If there's one flaw in the book, it's the ending, which is far too abrupt. I know there's at least two more sequels, but I wish there was a little more to the end, a bit more of a wrap-up. Min's explanation of what happened and why felt too much like an info-dump (a rushed one at that), and once she's done, the book's over with Chance telling Corinne he'll keep his promise, and then asking her to give him another chance. A request that she can't give him an answer to, because she's conflicted. Which is fine: I don't mind making the characters work for their relationship, and we obviously need some sexual tension to get us through the next couple of books, but I wanted a little more of a . . . introspective ending maybe? Something that didn't just STOP.
Whatever. The book completes the main storyline, which is the rescue of Min, and leaves enough hanging to build the next couple of books, all of which I'm looking forward to.
My Rating
Must Have: if you're an Aguirre fan, this is beyond a must. If you're a UF reader, it's a must because of the unique Mexican/Texan setting and the rather grounded way Aguirre handles the magic of her world. The characters are raw and human who have to make tough decisions about themselves, their situation, and each other; and overall, Aguirre's assembled a GREAT cast (including some strong women and one character that's not at all human) that I hope will return in the sequels. It's a very fast read that often utilizes cliff-hangers for chapter breaks, so know that once you pick this book up, you're likely going to have a difficult time putting it down. I'm definitely looking forward to the sequels (there's at least two planned, according to her website), and I'm glad that Aguirre has once again held me in thrall with her work. She's still a must-read author for me, and that's a great thing.
Cover Commentary: it's pretty, but I'm disappointed it's not BLUE. You know, because of the title. That and the fact that the heroine looks nothing like I pictured, and I know for a fact her hair is MUCH LONGER because I actually paid attention in the book. :) It's a nice cover, but I just wish it was blue. :)
Next reviews: I've read two books since I finished this one, so you can rely on the following reviews in the following order:
The Convent of the Pure by Sara M. Harvey
AND
The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan