By: Caitlin Kittredge
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks
Publish Date: September 2011
Format: Paperback 329pgs, Pocketbook size
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: 4th book in Black London series; Book 1 ~ Street Magic, Book 2 ~ Demon Bound, Book 3 ~ Bone Gods
Recommendation: Do you love Dark Urban Fantasy reads? This is a dark, gritty and dangerous world here, full of dark magic and fighting. Yes, read it if you've enjoyed the first two books.
Book Synopsis:
The crow-mage Jack Winter is back - with a vengeance - but he's not the only one to fight his way out of Hell...
Pete Caldecott did everything she could to save Jack from Hell, even reining in the dark machinations of the Morrigan to help bring him home. Still, Black London has not welcomed Jack back with open arms...So when a friend on Los Angeles asks for help tracking a sorcerous serial Killer, Pete and Jack decide a change of scenery couldn't hurt...
But the shadow side of the City of Angels turns out to be more treacherous than they ever imagined. Together, Pete and Jack must navigate a landscape teeming with hostile magic-users - and fight an unknown enemy. When their investigation leads to a confrontation with the demon Belial, Jack learns that he wasn't the only thing to escape from Hell. Now it's up to him and Pete to track and eliminate an evil older than the Black itself - before it turns L.A. into Hell on Earth. And destroys life as they know it back at home...
First Sentence:
When the checkout girl at Sainsbury's tried to murder him with her bare hands, Jack Winter decided he should probably get out of London for a while.
My Thoughts and Summary:
After releasing an old dangerous god, even though he captured him again, people have not been asking for Jack to work any cases or even want him around period. None of the magically inclined will forgive Jack and are hunting him. Jack's wondering where Morrigan, the maiden of death who marked him young, is at as he disobeyed her. Pete is a few months pregnant and now completely silent towards Jack. He figures she is shutting down with him slowly and will leave him soon to raise the kid away from this life style. But Jack is determined to protect Pete and the baby as long as she is around. So with all the threats in London Jack needs to take Pete and leave. Pete decides she is taking a case in Los Angeles, America. And Jack can't let her go alone, even though he doesn't like the sounds of it.
Jack seems to be different in this book ever so slightly. Even though his life style is not one for raising a child in and the dangerous magic all around him is deadly to a baby, he sounds as he wants the baby. I liked this growth in Jack. He's becoming a bigger person, and even though he thinks himself a dead-beat dad he wants to be more. Jack even makes a HUGE change in the end of the book. ;) Thanks to something...special... to him after Bone Gods. I really liked this.
I did feel like I missed a story here somewhere when it came to Pete. I couldn't really place her feelings. I know she's pregnant and that should explain a lot, but well... for me I felt she was more disconnected here and not as much in the story as Jack, our leading man. But the baby is a HUGE focus for both Pete and Jack, and they each want the baby to be safe and raised properly, which is another reason for her distancing.
We get to see Jack, and Pete, outside of their usually comfort zone of London. They are now in America for this story. Los Angeles of all places. Los Angeles has a special feel to it as well, which is an attraction for the magical type, the Black, and demons. I have to say we do make a trip to Hell with Jack as well. I enjoyed this different view this time around.
Oh the demons... Jack finds an alley in someone he never thought he would. And makes a few new enemies. Jack, of course, is not the most likable person, but seems to find trouble no matter where he is. Being the Crow-mage seems to attract them all like a beacon in the night.
Again such a dark urban fantasy read. This book is not full of rainbows, but more of hell and fighting. I feel as this book is taking us through a transition period, with Jack and even the new baby to be. There is more to come and that baby is going to have some serious issues, good and bad. I'm looking forward to seeing what is to come here.
I read this book for my own enjoyment.
This book qualifies for Horror and Urban Fantasy Reading Challenge hosted by Book Chick City.
I don't know if I'd be bringing a baby into a world as deadly as this; but god bless Jack for at least striving to at least be a better father.
ReplyDeleteDark UF aren't usually for me, but I love dedicated dads like Jack. And I don't think I've ever read about a Crow-mage before. That sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds great ! I really need to read the second book ! And Pete pregnant, I'm curious to see that !
ReplyDeleteMan - I read book one of this series when it first came out and enjoyed - no idea why I didn't stick with it. I need to catch up..I loved Jack!
ReplyDeleteMy internet connection is killing me!
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I got in, phew, finally. Sounds like a good book too.
PS. I am reading the Sullivan short! Funny :)
StephanieD - Jack really isn't the best of men...he had a drug addiction and trouble, bad trouble, follows on his heels nipping away. But he sounds like he is really trying to turn over a new leaf in this book. I kind of like it. :)
ReplyDeleteMissie - Thank you for stopping by! :) The crow-mage angle is kind of neat, and growing in each book too. :) Thank you!
Melliane - Oh, that's right! You haven't read book two yet. Well, you will enjoy it and 3. :) Hope you do. Thank you!
Mandi - Hi! :) Thank you for stopping by! Oh, I do love Jack too. He's far from perfect, but he is just lovely, in a rough way. ;D Thank you! Hope you enjoy the rest of the books.
Blodeuedd - Sorry you are having so many internet troubles. Hope it straightens out for you. And so glad you loved the Sullivan short. :)