Technically, I’ve never met Annie Bellet. We’ve crossed paths on the Science-fiction and Fantasy Writers of America site but I’ve know about her for a long time. She’s who I want to be if I grow up. That woman can herd words like nobody’s business. I’ve been in awe of her production for a long time.
Now I’m in awe of her writing. I picked up a boxed set of the first three books of the series and I’ve practically mainlined them in the last day. I’m in the last few pages of the third title now and I really need to put it down to get some work done. It’s that engrossing. Jade Crow – the main character with her dodecahedron focus – grabbed my be the ears and dragged me into this series. Her voice – lushly profane, peppered with pop culture references from Buffy to Leroy Jenkins, sharp and pointed as a splinter in your thumb – made me believe she’s a sorceress. Hiding in a village of shifters and mundanes, the story kicks off when the new sheriff (figuratively speaking) comes to town. I’ve just been holding on for the ride ever since.
These first three are shorter works. Longer than novellas but shorter than my usual fare. I’m not holding that against them. I don’t normally go for the short but having seven of them out there? I’m willing to go that distance for what is turning into my favorite paranormal since Harry Dresden.
Caveats: Jade uses the F-bomb – straight up, no chaser and with it’s maternal variants – regularly. For Jade, a street urchin, this is not as gratuitous as it might seem. There’s a depth here that’s being woven with big weft on tight warp. The language, the D&D references, the backstory, the whole thing feels a lot bigger than some f-bombs tossed on a whim. If that word bothers you, then maybe skip this. There’s also some romance. It’s nicely done, I think. It adds depth to the surface story by giving Jade someone to care about besides herself – and more immediately than “everybody else in the world who will die.”
So? Feeling daring? Want a book about a heroine who has to eat her enemies hearts to kill them? (Yeah. Really.) The first taste is free, but I’m betting you’ll be hooked.
About the reviewer:
Nathan Lowell has been writing science fiction and fantasy most of his life. He started publishing in 2007 and has no intention of stopping any time soon.
Learn more about Nathan Lowell and his works at http://nathanlowell.com
[Note: You’re seeing more reviews from me because fellow authors aren’t sending reviews of the books they like. If you’re an author, consider the submitting a review about an indie book you loved. The submission guidelines link is at the top of this page.]