Storm Front by Jim Butcher

 

It's a bit off-kilter to compare this book to a TV series because the mediums are different. However, if you enjoyed watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer or its spinoff Angel, this book swims in the same urban fantasy genre. In this story of Good vs. Evil, we view the bad side of wielding magic with our uncontrolled emotions and the terrible results of involving ourselves with drug pushers. 

Harry Dresden is a wizard and investigative consultant who also works part-time with the Chicago Police Department with Detective Murphy. Detective Murphy is the woman the precinct calls when cases are out of the ordinary or extreme. Recently,  Harry Dresden received two cases in need of solving. The first was phoned in by a woman named Monica Sells. A wife with a shy streak who claims had lost her husband. The second case was phoned in by Detective Murphy ordering Harry Dresden to meet her at the Madison Hotel, where two lovers were found dead in strange circumstances. The narrative is entertaining and descriptive. The descriptive detail lets you feel the harrowing action sequences and unsettling imagery as a result of the murders. Another example of unsettling imagery I confess is both a good, and unusual depiction. His name is Bob and he is my favorite character. He is an intelligent, funny, but perverted spirit bound to a skull. He is Harry's lab assistant and is overly enthusiastic about all things of love and the good life. 

I definitely recommend this book for its noir quality. The dive-in bar, the P.I's office, the danger that lurks in corners just with a dash of magic. At the same time, a book like this would be the reason this page is up. It achieves the urban fantasy genre to the T. Or, read it for some of its whimsical characters, like Bob. However, I did have a little gripe about his personal style. To be walking around in a duster day in and out with a blasting rod, I've got to say I agree with Detective Murphy. Did he have to look conspicuously on an adventure to El Dorado? Overall, Harry Dresden has a fine quality about him. He's a bit on the rugged side, earnest and accommodating in solving his cases. But how he does it is why you read this book.

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Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

It's interesting to me, the timing of when I read this book. As we enter the season for Halloween, I recommend this read with all its macabre details. Many chapters were utterly thrilling, terrifying, and grotesque. Some chapters really stabbed into my emotions. Because of that, it's difficult to love this book. But I liked reading it so much that pulling through those emotions was worth the pain of finishing it.

Lethe: the Ninth House and the Ancient Eight of the Veil represent the secret societies of Yale University. They delve into topics of the education and learning of the supernatural, including keeping that part of Yale financially afloat. Alex Stern is nowhere near Yale material. A high school dropout she has experienced the seedier parts of life. After being involved in a heinous crime with her ability to see ghosts, she is plucked from that old life and is now among the Ivy League population for that special ability. A murder occurs during a secret society ritual, and Alex is tasked to investigate whether Lethe caused it. Although the authorities confirmed otherwise, there is more afoot, and not all is as seems. We follow Alex into another world as she pulls through dangerous and harrowing situations inside and outside the veil. In this thrilling, dark adventure through college life and the supernatural, she heads into horrific means to find the truth in this mystery of power and corruption. 

Leigh Bardugo generates a rich world-building narrative. However, in this story's case, she was blessed with a world already been built, setting the stage to tell her mystery. Leigh Bardugo immerses readers with descriptive detail. I can hear the flesh curdle when I read on about the "victima". On the flip side, the story has a way of going back and forth between the timelines. I had to backtrack some pages to review some context in the later chapters. Although it was a challenge going back and forth, I don't feel it is a factor in hating the book. With ghosts and essential characters who aren't present in the story, you're going to need a lot of historical context. Plus, at the heart of it, it's a mystery. If the writing didn't whirl you into a sort of who-done-it confusion, one might think the mystery has been ill-executed. One of the things that kept me hooked on the book is the characters. There are no bland characters in this book. Among the characters that guide Alex, is Darlington. Despite his academic and somewhat disconcerting personality, he is essential. In Alex's simple terms, he is a snob. He reminded me of people in real life. He is that person you hate at work but you need him around because he has a skillset you don't have. Then there is Dawes. She is soft-spoken and gentle but executes her will with fierce logic. She is my favorite.

Leigh Bardugo is popular for her Young Adult writing in the Shadow and Bone trilogy. For the Ninth House, don't be expecting a YA read. This is 100% adult material. The characters carry themselves with adult confidence and determination that is not focused on within a YA story. There is excessive drug use and partygoing in this story that the youth are often protected and discouraged from engaging in, not to mention explicit blood and violence. Besides a rousing story, I wondered if there was a goal in shedding light on some things. There are characters who sit in positions of power and I completely question their ethics. There was one unsuspecting character to whom I rooted for, given the tragedy laid upon her. But after what transpired, I was glad she experienced that.

Overall, I hope you'll enjoy this great read. Although it is not the kind of writing Leigh Bardugo is popular with, you must admit. Whether it's Young Adult or Adult, she is one heck of a bewitching storyteller.

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A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

 

If you liked the magical machinations of Harry Potter...If you're enthralled by the scenes of Victorian London with their coats and androgynous fashion through the likes of Coco Chanel, gray yet, romantic scenes of the Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern...That tourist-visit feel you get when reading Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman, dive in and enjoy this book.

A Darker Shade of Magic takes place in London, four kinds of London. You have Gray, Red, White and Black.  Gray London's knowledge of magic is summed up in legend and folklore. Red London is the thriving magical kingdom, where magic is seen as equal and balanced to its practitioners. White London sees magic as something to be commanded and dominated. Black London is overtaken and in dark ruin. The monarchs of each London wielded magic to assist in their reign. Black London's magic is seeping through the cracks and White London was left to fend off for the rest of London. Politically, the four Londons are closed off and only speak to each other through the Antari to keep it that way. Kell is an Antari or Blood Magician. The Antari are the only ambassadors to these Londons. Kell is thrown into a political plot to stop magic from Black London. With surprising friends he makes on the way we see how his journey unfolds.

The narrative style takes you on an adventure. If you can imagine yourself reading a book and screaming at it to teleport you into that setting, this is one of those books. The narrative also attaches a descriptive style. Each London, despite their different colors, has their similarities. And within those similarities, differences enliven each London with a kind of culture, vivid characteristics, and locales. For example, while you have the River Thames in Gray London, they're called the Isles in Red London and the Sijlt in White London. But, still that ever-flowing river is indicative of London. All these descriptions simply embellish the adventurous narrative and I'm just sucked into another world.

This book plays off on courage and heroism, some aspects of survival, looming war, and maybe a dash of love. Our main character Kell is quite the modest hero. Sure, he might do a naughty thing or two between the Londons but when a loved one is near death, he goes on and saves them. Lila is quite a strong woman. I've read some reviews that spoke of her as annoying, but I can't help but root for her. She is my favorite character. There were chapters that made you wonder what is in store for the ambitious and aspiring sea-faring pirate. She at times was the voice of reason and spunk. Both displayed copious amounts of courage as they confronted the dangers around them. Lila has also survived such a hard life. It's only fitting she chooses her destiny. I recommend this book in three ways. If you read the physical book, not only will you enjoy the story, but you'll partake in that book page smell. Unless it was tainted with cigarette smoke or other unpleasant smells, that book page smell can be rather invigorating as you read.  Now, the physical copy is rather thick, so if you're in a position that lacks self-space, the eBook is just as great. I read my copy with the free Kindle app for Android. Watching the animated pages while swiping has always been a delight. Lastly, I recommend the audiobook as well, because Steven Crossly's narration adds life to the characters with his accent and various intonations. If you're like me, and easily distracted by outside sounds while reading, listening to the audiobook while reading my eBook helped me immerse and comprehend the story immensely.

I love this book. So much, so that I am fan-casting. Overall, I look forward to reading the next chapters of this story. V.E Schwab has built an engrossing world. It is a trilogy. I feel the story is resolute but still ambiguous enough to want to read the next installment.

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Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

If you took an interest in reading my blog through the labels, you should read this book. Certainly, generalizing might leave one wanting, but those labels were the very reason I had to review this book. If you're a fan of Silvia Moreno-Garcia, you must read this book. She to me, is like enjoying a musical artist and becoming their fan. Your intro to their work was at a later point. But you cannot, in my opinion, call yourself a fan until you've experienced their older work. The itty-bitty pieces defined the artist as what they are present. I recommend this book because you dear readers love urban fantasy and mystery. Read this book too, to enrich your vampire lore. I stepped into a world of vampire lore unfamiliar to me. Even what I knew about vampires was told differently and it was still cool and awesome.

What you've got here is an intriguing piece of work. It's action-packed and filled with thrilling descriptions. You've got vampires, humans, cops, and criminals. You will want to know how and if our characters make it through the dark streets of Mexico City alive or if they'd be swallowed whole? In an alternate universe, Mexico is swarming with vampire cartels. You have the Aztec vampires, native to the land, and the Necros, colonizers from Europe, fighting for turf. Mexico City is a vampire-free zone. The human cartels defend the city to the teeth. Unfortunately for the vampires, that human element has its vices, which make it difficult for vampires to survive in the city. Atl is an Aztec vampire on the run from the Necros after a defeating skirmish. Entering Mexico City, although it is dangerous for vampires, it evens out the playing field for Atl. Domingo is your streetwise 17-year-old garbage digger. One look and Domingo is drawn to Atl. Through Domingo and Atl we meet otherworldly and criminal characters with one goal, an escape from the city. Our main characters although entitled to our love, the character that won my heart was Bernardino. He reminds me of Papa Midnite from Hellblazer or Constantine. He is neither friend nor foe and his role puts fear in everyone, yet he enables you to unexpectedly trust. 

Death, Love, and Courage are themes readers can easily pull out of. You can't have a vampire book without death. Atl is on the run after her family and clan were killed and burned by the Necros. It takes courage to head to a city dangerous to vampires for safety. Atl is also the spoiled and debaucherous second child. She took many things for granted because she didn't need to worry much. However, you see a change as her resources have been reduced by her enemies. Can you imagine groveling to those you need help from after the debauchery you've caused? As for Domingo, despite his street smarts, his ideas are limited. One can look at Domingo as courageous maybe naive, but one look from Atl was met with quiet enthusiasm and desire. Domingo is attracted to Atl. However, I feel the writing leads you to tread lightly when falling in love. I'm reminded of the song No More I Love You's by Annie Lennox...Lovers and Monsters. Now if Silvia Moreno-Garcia's goal was to introduce me to another wonderous world of vampire lore she has certainly achieved much. My knowledge of vampires was strictly from Dracula, Anne Rice, and every TV show that portrayed vampires as dangerous predatory monsters. Monsters who seemed to possess the leathery skin of bats, sharp teeth, or spawn from hell, whatever that might look like. Occasionally, I'd dip my feet into the likes of Twilight, where you have the monsters capable of love, but overall predatory monsters. I never would have imagined vampires have the likeness of majestic birds.

For the most part, I can't say I hated this book. The genre, the characters, the story it wished to tell was so cool. But I can't say I love it either. While I believed in Atl's struggle, she wasn't someone with whom I related. She was an immature child throughout the book. I felt the good and well intentions of Domingo, but he was pigeonholed from the start. I had hoped for something more glorious for the two of them. I'd say it comes down to a 4.9/5 Like.

I bought Mexican Gothic first. Mexican Gothic seems to be the darling when Silvia's name appears on the windows of bookstores and libraries. But I didn't start reading her work until I read Gods of Jade and Shadow. (Another recommendation for another day, if one hasn't been written already.) Certain Dark Things was one of Silvia Moreno-Garcia's first works. While I love her writing, sometimes you can tell when it is someone's first time doing things or if the work was done through an earlier self. There were many plot holes or situations where I wished there was more to be said about the characters. What vivid characters they are! For example, what backstory presented why these characters were in the situation they were in? What reason did Veronica need to change her name? What duty required Bernardino to be involved with a race of vampires so different than him? What happened to Domingo or Atl after the fact? I felt more could have been explained to enrich this story. Having a thicker book has never stopped any author from telling more. This is not to say these inconsistencies are a bad thing. The genre itself is so cool that I hope Silvia Moreno-Garcia will take this opportunity to produce more stories from it. The way some authors had created side stories or spinoffs of their other work. Ana's story would make such a great prequel. Another story can be told of Bernardino and the usage of the Tonalli. 

For me, Sylvia Moreno-Garcia has a magnetic way of speaking. There is enough sophistication in her narrative to conclude she's different, special, and educated. Words like Demarcation and Kyphosis might compel a reader to run to a dictionary, but she leaves a good amount of context to help avoid that. Not to mention, the Mexican terminology that is written in this book. I say Mexican because not only is Spanish used, but words native to the Aztec culture. All of that can accuse her of being technical and visceral. Then she starts cursing profanity and it simply pulls you back and zeroes you into focus and on the same page of understanding. She is able to wield the words in a way that doesn't exclude you. I'm hooked and enveloped. I love her style so much, I read four of her books in one month. I go to the bookstore and it's so hard for me to resist getting another title from her. She is my author of the year.

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