Book Review: Blue Diablo

Blue Diablo

By:  Ann Aguirre

Publisher:  Roc Books/Penguin

Publish Date:  April 2009

Genre:  Fantasy

Format:  Paperback, 316 pgs pocket size

Series:  1st book in A Corine Soloman Novel.

Recommendation:  Yes!  You like stories with twists you don't see and lots of action and fighting in an urban fantasy read?  Check this one out.

Book Synopsis:
Right now, I'm a redhead. I've been blond and brunette as the situation requires, though an unscheduled color change usually means I need to relocate in the middle of the night. So far, I'm doing well here. Nobody knows what I'm running from. And I'd like to keep it that way.

Eighteen months ago, Corine Solomon crossed the border and wound up in Mexico City, fleeing her past, her lover, and her "gift." Corine, a handler, can touch something and know its history - and sometimes, its future. Using her ability, she can find missing persons - and that's why people never stop trying to find her. People like her ex, Chance.

Chance, whose uncanny luck has led him to her doorstep, needs her help. Someone dear to them both has gone missing in Laredo, Texas, and the only hope of finding her is through Corine's gift. But their search may prove dangerous as the trail leads them into a strange, dark world of demons and sorcerers, ghosts and witchcraft, zombies - and black magic...

First Sentence:
Right now, I'm a redhead.

My Review and Summary:
Corine lives above the pawnshop she owns in Mexico city.  She doesn't stay places long, having to stay on the move and knowing she should be on the move again.  But she likes living here and her ability with the nicknack's helps in this business.  She finds it's peaceful here for her and she likes the shop.  Then one day Chance, her ex-boyfriend she left to come to Mexico City, walks in her door.  Chance has tracked her down using his Luck.  Chance needs Corine's help, and asks her to help him find his mother, also close to Corine, who was taken and is hopefully still alive.  Chance is hoping Corine's power of touch and sight mixed with his luck will work together to find his mother.

I found the beginning a little slower for me, but in no time the book picked up and I really enjoyed this book.  I think in the beginning I didn't understand what Corine was holding back from, but as the book unfolded I warmed up to Corine and stated to understand her more and more.  I did love her calm and humor or quick comebacks.  She did make me smile.  And the brief torture moments along with comments to Chance on them not being a couple any more.  Although, I loved Chance from the beginning.  The two characters fight through many rough moments in the investigation and through the history they had together and make it through.  I enjoyed the relationships between all the characters.

The book has a mix of magic and dark magic with witches and warlords, zombies, and some warfare as well.  There is lots of excitement in this book with the action and information.  Once I got done I immediately thought this book would make a great action movie full with some sexual tension, love and attitude to go with it, with great fight scenes and complete with blown up cars.

Great read and looking forward to book two, which I have already purchased.



This was a read for our Urban Fantasy Book Blog Chat, Discussion: 1 here, 2 here, and 3 here.
This book qualifies for the Speculative Fiction Challenge hosted by Book Chick City.