Thirteen Orphans, by Jane Lindskold (Tor, 2008)

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Brenda Morris never thought her father was anything more than a charismatic huckster with some odd friends. That is, until he takes her on a business trip while she’s away from college for the summer, and tells her some hard-to-swallow stories. How once upon a time, thirteen magically-gifted people were exiled from a mysterious place known as the Lands Born From Smoke and Sacrifice, and how he’s descended from one such person, having inherited the mantle of the Rat. How eleven of the others, each named after an animal of the Chinese zodiac, are scattered around the country, living in secret as they protect the last member of their company, the Cat, descended from their exiled emperor. How they’ve encoded a magical system, capable of offense and defense, within the tiles of mah-jong. And how Brenda is likely to take up her father’s role as the next Rat someday.

All of this is hard to believe, but Brenda becomes a rapid believer after a series of events throw everyone into confusion. An unknown attacker is stealing the memories — the very essences — of these gifted people, leaving behind mere shells of the men and women they used to be. Soon only a handful are left: the Tiger, an elderly actress; the Dog, an ex-soldier only recently come into his own; the Rooster, a talented sorcerer with little battle experience; the Hare, a young mother with a child to keep safe; and Brenda herself, untrained and inexperienced but apparently possessing some of the Rat’s power. This handful of relative strangers has to come together quickly, under hostile conditions, to unravel the mystery of their attackers and rescue the souls of their lost comrades. But when one of the enemy falls into their grasp, they discover that things are even more complicated than they originally anticipated. And the battle has just begin.

Breaking the Wall, the first book in Lindskold’s ambitious new urban fantasy series about the Thirteen Orphans, is one of the best things I’ve seen from her in quite a while. Drawing from Chinese history, mythology, and astrology, she’s created a fascinating new setting, one that straddles two very different worlds. While we only see Earth this time around, I have no doubts that we’ll visit the Lands Born From Smoke and Sacrifice (and what a story there is behind that name) in books to come. She also gets points for the system of magic introduced and explored here, one that uses the symbolism of mah-jong to great effect. It’s new and different, and suits the story perfectly.

Lindskold has also set us up with a nice ensemble cast, which makes for some interesting conflict and development along the way, and I’d be hard-pressed to pick a favorite from the lot. While Brenda may be the point of view character, there’s no doubt that her companions (and her enemies) all have their own stories to tell. The Hare’s daughter, Lani, certainly steals the show whenever she’s on screen. I am definitely interested in seeing where these characters go, and what happens to them in the long run.

All in all, I really think Lindskold has a new hit on her hands. With its skillful blend of magic and adventure, exotic influences and complex characterizations, Breaking the Wall is an excellent start to the new series, and sure to appeal to urban fantasy fans in search of something different from the usual fare.

The Spy Who Haunted Me, by Simon R. Green (Roc, 2009)

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Eddie Drood, aka Shaman Bond, is back, and this time he’s about to meet the competition. Following the events of the Hungry Gods War, he stepped down from running the Drood family, content to once again act as a field agent, kicking ass and taking names in a never-ending quest to protect humanity from a host of terrors. For him, a typical day involves going undercover with a band of misfit mercenaries to prevent them from killing the ravens at the Tower of London, thus robbing England of its symbolic power. Little does he realize, upon the messy completion of that insane little job, that it’s just a warm-up for his next gig….

It seems that Alexander King, the notorious Independent Agent, greatest secret agent and adventurer of the latter half of the 20th century, is finally feeling his years and is ready to retire. And King wants to leave it all, his treasures and trophies and a lifetime of secrets, to one worthy individual. To that end, six have been chosen. The foxy Honey Lake, CIA operative. The treacherous Blue Fairy, representing the Fae Court of Shadows Fall. The beautifully exotic Lethal Harmony of Kathmandu (call her Katt). The unflappable Walker, famous for keeping peace in the Nightside, where anything goes and nothing is impossible. King’s own grandson, Peter, who’s graduating from industrial espionage to the big game. And Eddie Drood, representing the far-flung, obscenely-powerful, often-terrifying Drood family. Their mission: to investigate the truth behind five of the world’s greatest mysteries, and bring back proof. Winner take all, rules be damned.

The game will take them from the misty lochs of Scotland to the frozen wilds of Siberia, from the haunts of Bigfoot to the shores of Faerie, from the peaks of the Swiss Alps to the deserts of the American Southwest. But the secrets they’re disturbing were buried for a reason. Who will be the first to fall in this deadly game, and who will be the last man or woman left standing? Think you know the answers? Think again; in the world of a secret agent, everything is suspect. Game on.

Ah, Simon Green. With just a fraction of the insane energy and mad glee he throws into any one of his books, I could rule the world. Here’s an author who’s not afraid to cut loose, kick over the speakers, and throw himself off the stage in a moment of passion. Part of why I keep coming back for more is because I know exactly what sort of over-the-top tale of adventure, intrigue, mystery and magic I’m in for. In The Spy Who Haunted Me, the third in the Secret Histories, Green throws Eddie Drood into a series of dangerous encounters. Forced to ally with people who will likely stab him in the back, facing off against demons, ghosts, aliens, psychic nightmares, elves, poor Eddie is pushed to his limits. Due to the nature of the plot, this is a rather episodic book, with our cast catapulted from one location to the next, their numbers steadily dwindling for assorted reasons. Part spy games, part Ten Little Indians, it’s a hell of a romp. Some segments are weaker than others – one involves a lot of sitting around and telling stories – but the stronger portions help to balance it out nicely. I won’t go into details, save to say that once again, Green inspires a “I wish I’d thought of that” reaction in me, more than once.

One aspect of this series that I find particularly interesting is that Green uses it like a needle, to help sew together his other works. By this point, through overlapping locations, characters, or concepts, just about everything he’s done fits together, from the fantasy of the Forest Kingdom, to the space opera of the Deathstalker books, to the urban fantasy of the Nightside and the Secret Histories. Here, we actually get a full-on major crossover with the Nightside in the form of Walker, a constant thorn in Nightside protagonist John Taylor’s side. Events from Shadows Fall are briefly referenced as well, and perpetual cameo Leo Morn of Drinking Midnight Wine fame wanders through at one point. It’s a brave author who finds ways to make it all fit in the same universe, and Green does the best he can. (Though a perceptive reader will still find cracks where things don’t quite mesh up, leading them to wonder just how certain timelines work out between series. Also, a character who died in the previous book is name checked as alive and well here, and I don’t recall any miraculous resurrections…)

As big a fan as I am of Simon Green, I’ll admit that he could be better at times. His overuse of certain stylistic quirks dips dangerously far into the realm of self-indulgence, and he’s been known to lift and reuse entire paragraphs from book to book when the opportunity arises, usually when describing people or places. As a result, his work occasionally feels padded when it could be tightened, and an underlying sense of shortcut repetition creeps in after a while. But even so, no one delivers a story quite like he does. Green’s books always, without exception, leap to the head of my reading list whenever a new one shows up on my doorstep. I thoroughly enjoyed The Spy Who Haunted Me, and I’ll cheerfully recommend it to anyone who wants some wide-screen, no-holds-barred, big ideas and snappy execution thereof, urban fantasy adventure.

Succubus Heat, by Richelle Mead (Kensington, 2009)

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It’s not easy being a succubus in love. Worse still to be a succubus still suffering from a painful breakup with the love of her life. With author Seth Mortenson out of her love life (and now dating one of her mortal coworkers), Georgina Kincaid has, to put it mildly, developed an attitude problem. After Georgina sleeps with her therapist for a quick energy fix, her demonic boss Jerome decides that it’s time for a scenery change. And off Georgina goes to Vancouver, Canada, to help another demon deal with an embarrassing case of Satanic cult in the area. Canada. Land of Tim Hortons.

Of course, things don’t go easily at all. The cultists may be idiots, but there’s a genuine supernatural entity manipulating them, and Georgina suspects it’s all part of demonic politics and jockeying for territory. Her fears are confirmed when Jerome vanishes, leaving Seattle without a demon-in-charge and the immortals under his control powerless. Just like that, Georgina loses her powers and succubus need for life energy, making her closer to human than she’s been in many centuries. While her vampire coworkers go off to try and get a tan, Georgina throws herself into finding Jerome and solving the mystery of his disappearance. But was it Cedric from Vancouver, or Janette from Portland, or some other demon that would benefit from a little local reorganization? And how does the Army of Darkness fit into the plan? To further complicate matters, Georgina and Seth are drawn back to one another, even though he’s dating Maddy and Georgina is sleeping with bad boy magician Dante. Can they resist temptation, or will Georgina’s newfound ability to get physical without sucking out life force be enough to justify rekindle the flames of passion?

In Succubus Heat, we get to see our heroine at her most vulnerable, emotionally, physically, and supernaturally, but it doesn’t slow her down for long. Even bereft of her powers, she’s still following her nature, trying to do the right thing for her friends even though she’s technically a creature of evil. One thing you can say about Georgina: she’s predictable. Also loyal, stubborn, foolhardy and impulsive. You just know she’s going to make some dumb mistakes along the way, which is half the fun. And when the men in her life all manage to converge, it’s not just her dating life that’s going to take the hit.

It’s the little touches which continue to make this series fun, like Georgina’s mortal job as a bookstore manager, and her love for cats and salsa dancing. Or Jerome’s insistence on looking like John Cusack. Or the vampires who hit the beach when their nocturnal status is temporarily negated. Or the Army of Darkness and their lame Satanic-worshipping pranks. Or Tawny, the world’s worst succubus. Or Carter, the grunge-wearing angel who has a special interest in Georgina’s fate. Things like this really make the world memorable and entertaining.

There’s a genuine mystery underlying the plot here. That, coupled with adept characterization, some intensely hot sex scenes (what else do you expect when a succubus is involved), and wry humor, makes Succubus Heat as enjoyable as its predecessors in the series, and worth checking out. I’m still interested to see just where Richelle Mead plans to take things in books to come. I suspect it won’t be what any of us expect.

Succubus Dreams, by Richelle Mead (Kensington, 2008)

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Even though she’s got the boyfriend of her dreams (fan-favorite writer Seth Mortensen), and a day job she loves (managing a Seattle bookstore), Georgina Kincaid’s life is anything but wine and roses. Maybe, just maybe, it’s because she’s really a succubus, tasked with seducing men and damning their souls to Hell, and she can’t consummate her relationship with Seth lest she kill him by accident. Maybe it’s because her demonic superiors are getting on her case about not paying enough attention to the job, and the imp who originally brought her into the “business” has shown up in Seattle with an inept new succubus he wants Georgina to mentor. Or maybe it’s because she’s having weird dreams of a happy, content, normal future that leave her drained when she wakes up. Any of these things would be bad enough; all of them at once is a recipe for disaster.

As Georgina’s relationship with Seth frays around the edges due to stress and lack of time spent together, she digs into the mystery of her strange dreams, even as she attempts to train Tawny, who may just be the worst succubus to ever fail at seducing a man. But Georgina quickly realizes that whatever is going on in the Emerald City is bigger and badder than she anticipated, especially when a host of heavenly agents show up and start doing mysterious things on the periphery of the action. Even enlisting the aid of Dante, a dream interpreter with a dark past and a sordid nature, doesn’t make things any less complicated. Something out there is using Georgina as part of a dangerous, demonic agenda, and if she doesn’t do something drastic, there’ll be Hell to pay.

The third installment in the adventures of Georgina Kincaid, Succubus Dreams follows our heroine as her routine is twisted into knots, as she finds it impossible to separate her personal and professional lives, and as she learns the price for getting too attached to people. Richelle Mead really does a great job of putting the screws to Georgina’s contentment. As always, she draws from a variety of mythological sources to paint a picture of a supernatural-infested Seattle, where angels and demons go about their business with nary a mortal realizing. And Mead injects the series with a sense of unpredictability as she throws a wrench into the loving relationship built up between Georgina and Seth in the first two books, leaving things wide open for the future.

There’s a lot to like about this series, from its mixture of romance and mystery, to the memorable characters and ever-unpredictable plot, and Succubus Dreams has all of those things in ample supply. And as one might expect from a series starring a (reluctant) succubus, there are some pretty steamy points as well, when Georgina’s forced to turn on the “charm,” either for work or for more private reasons. Mead manages to keep it sexy and hot without letting it slide into sleazy, which is always a risk when you’re dealing with soul-sucking Hellspawn.

Street Magic, by Caitlin Kittredge (St. Martins, 2009)

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When she was sixteen, Pete Caldecott watched a man die, killed by the spirit she helped him summon. Twelve years later, still haunted by that disastrous night, she’s become a Detective Inspector with the London police. Caught up in the job, dealing with the fallout from a failed relationship, and on the trail of a kidnapped girl, Pete’s thrown for a loop when her latest informant turns out to be Jack Winter, the man whose death changed her life forever. Very much alive, angry with her for unspecified reasons, and strung out on heroin, Jack Winter is far from the man she knew, and their reunion is as acrimonious as it is unexpected. But they need one another, a fact which becomes clear after they find the first kidnapped child, only for several more to go missing. Someone’s stealing children and draining them of their spirits, and only Jack has the answers.

Their unlikely partnership rekindled, Pete and Jack take their searches into the hidden supernatural world of London known as the Black, where mages and sorcerers, fey and monsters dwell. But as Jack kicks the heroin habit, his supernatural abilities and psychic talents reemerge with a passion, threatening to drive him mad and take Pete along for the ride. Worse, powerful people are out to kill Jack for unspecified reasons, and they don’t mind collateral damage. Meanwhile, Pete’s own mysterious talents are coming into play. Can Pete and Jack stop fighting with one another over their shared past, long enough to deal with the larger problems at hand, or will this case end with someone dead for real this time?

Moody, atmospheric, and raw, Street Magic convincingly evokes a hard-edged, punk-spirited London, where trouble lurks around every corner and magic demands a price. There’s a heavy John Constantine (Hellblazer) (as written by Garth Ennis) vibe, infused with some of Gaiman’s Neverwhere and just a dash of Alan Moore for flavor. It’s rough, bleak, emotional and fast-paced, the sort of story which threatens to drag you under. Easily Kittredge’s best work to date, Street Magic doesn’t pull punches in terms of language, violence, or consequences. In a word, it feels real, for all that it’s a dark urban fantasy set in a world where the fey hang out in secret bars, secret sorcerous societies conspire against one another, and spirits linger long past their time. The emotional conflict between Jack and Pete is quite nicely done, as these two old friends don’t hold back while dealing with their various issues.

I loved Street Magic. It’s a hell of a read, and I’ll be eagerly anticipating the future adventures of our unlikely heroes. From what I’ve heard, Kittredge plans to keep putting Jack Winter and Pete Caldecott through the wringer. I expect it’ll be awesome. Kittredge may be American, but she’s put her heart into making this as convincing a Brit-flavored dark urban fantasy as possible, and it shows.

Storm Born, by Richelle Mead (Zebra, 2008)

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Meet Eugenie Markham. Under her professional name of Odile Dark Swan, she’s a powerful shaman who hunts down unruly and unwelcome spirits, either killing or banishing them back to the Otherworld, depending on the circumstances. Mercenary and relentless, she’s become something of a name to be feared among the supernatural circles. With a variety of spells and weapons to suit any occasion, and a trio of spirits bound to serve her, there’s very little that can give her pause for long. Until now. When she takes on a job to rescue a fifteen-year-old girl who’s been kidnapped by the fae (or gentry, as she refers to them) and taken to the Otherworld, Eugenie quickly discovers there’s far more to this case than she originally thought. For one, her real name’s gotten out among the elementals, spirits, and gentry of the Otherworld, linked to a prophecy that says her firstborn will finish the work started by a long-banished warlord, conquering the mortal world in the name of the gentry. Now, every supernatural nasty around either wants to kill her, or father her child, and Eugenie wants nothing to do with it.

To complicate matters, two very different men have come into her life. The first, sexy shapeshifter Kiyo, inspires an instant attraction in her, and their initial meeting is as passionate as it is whirlwind. Unfortunately, he may be working for someone else, seducing Eugenie for an ulterior purpose. The second, gentry king Dorian, is mercurial and dangerous, with a taste for bondage and a knack for getting past her defenses. Unfortunately, he’s everything she hates and fears, one of the creatures she’s dedicated her life to fighting and killing. If she’s to ally herself with either of these men, she’ll have to overcome a lifetime of prejudice and bias, and learn to accept her hidden heritage and swiftly-increasing powers. Ignoring them isn’t an option, as she’s sworn to rescue Jasmine from her ruthless captors, even if she has to defeat one of the most powerful gentry alive in the process. No, for this job, it’ll take everything Eugenie has and then some. Regardless, if she survives, she’ll be transformed, forever by the experience.

Storm Born is the start of a new series from Richelle Mead, best known for her series featuring reluctant succubus Georgina Kincaid. In this series, Mead introduces us to a whole new world, and a heroine of a very different sort. Eugenie is highly competent, professional, determined, stubborn, and passionate, a feisty woman with a mean left hook and a quick trigger finger, and she’s rightly dubious about the circumstances in which she finds herself. She walks that thin line between adaptable and gullible, and it’s nice to see that while she’s open to changing her mind, she doesn’t commit to change without a good reason. I really like her, and I think she has the potential to go far.

I will say that in some ways, the plot reminds me of Laurell K. Hamilton’s Merry Gentry series. Both feature an tough, female protagonist of unusual lineage who get dragged into Fae/Otherworldly politics pretty much against her will. Moreover, both feature plots involving the main character being sought out for sex by all manner of suitors, again for political/prophetic reasons. But upon further examination, any resemblances are superficial; Merry Gentry may seek out bedmates with great abandon, but Eugenie Markham is pretty picky about who she gets close to, and makes her feelings quite clear on the matter. Furthermore, Richelle Mead throws in a few surprises along the way, that’ll either have the readers nodding with satisfaction, or blinking as they look back for clues. Frankly, let’s go ahead and throw out those Merry Gentry comparisons altogether, now that we’ve addressed the concern. Storm Born is definitely something new and different. Mead populates it with an eclectic and occasionally obscure variety of mythical creatures, from elementals to keres, hags to kitsune, in such a manner that it seems natural for them all to exist in the same setting, and ties them all together with the powerful, capricious, enigmatic gentry.

Faced with the choice of grabbing some much-needed sleep on a recent road trip, or reading this book in one long sitting, I choose the latter and have absolutely no regrets. Sleep deprivation, sure, but no regrets. Storm Born features a fascinating setting with an exciting plot and an enjoyable new heroine, makes good use of mythology and folklore, and spices it up with several downright sizzling erotic encounters with some memorable romantic leads. Both Kiyo and Dorian bring a lot to the story in terms of personality and appeal, and it’s easy to see why Eugenie is tempted by them both, for all the issues standing between her and either of them. Her love/hate mentor/student enemy/ally dynamic with Dorian is a whole lot of fun to watch, especially.

I’m genuinely excited by this series and looking forward to seeing where it goes from here, as Mead leaves us with an interesting new status quo by the end of the book. This sort of urban fantasy is definitely bound to appeal to fans of Jim Butcher, Kim Harrison, Kelley Armstrong, or yes, even Laurell K. Hamilton. Give it a shot.

Speak of the Devil, by Jenna Black (Dell, 2009)

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Here’s the scoop: exorcist Morgan Kingsley is being sued by a father who blames her for an exorcism that left his son brain-dead. Her license has been suspended, she’s been living out of a suitcase ever since her home was burned down, and the exiled king of the demons is illegally living in her body. Her boyfriend is upset with her for having both trust and secrecy issues, and the only people she can count upon are the people she fears and distrusts the most. It’s clear that someone’s trying to destroy her life, and Morgan’s had enough of that, thank you very much. If she can’t figure out who has it in for her, and why, she’ll be in real trouble … and for once it’s not someone trying to kill her because of Lugh, her unwelcome guest. But with her personal life already in shambles, how much more does Morgan have to lose? Plenty. Here’s hoping she can hold it together long enough to survive.

I’ll be honest. I don’t keep returning to this series – four books and counting – because I like the main character. Morgan’s a self-absorbed, irritating person, the sort who invariably makes life much harder for herself than it needs to be. She constantly alienates and abuses everyone who might be willing and able to help her, drives away her allies, and tosses common sense and self-preservation out the window on a regular basis. It’s hard to imagine how she’s lasted this long. No, I’m here because of the supporting cast, and specifically for Adam and Dominic. It’s pretty damn rare to find such a positive portrayal of a loving, committed homosexual BDSM-practicing couple in any series outside of the erotic section, and their presence more than makes up for Morgan’s shortcomings. While they’re used, at least a little, for titillation (this series does not shy away from erotic moments), they’re also in a functional, sane relationship, one presented as healthy and matter-of-fact, even if some aspects of what they do squicks the main character. I think Adam and Dominic could headline a book of their own, especially since Adam’s a cop hosting a demon and Dominic’s a mortal with a passion for cooking. Another breakout supporting character is Barbara “Barbie” Paget, a private investigator who plays a large part in the events of this book, for good and for bad. Again, she seems like she’d be a great lead at some point.

But what about the plot, you ask. Here I’ve been going on and on about the characters, but the plot? Well, it’s pretty much as described above: someone’s systematically destroying aspects of Morgan’s personal life, including her career and her relationships, and it has almost nothing to do with the overarching plot involving Lugh and his slow struggle to defeat his usurper brother and regain his throne in the Demon Realm. While there’s some small progression in terms of character growth and adding new elements to the mix, there’s not much made towards what I’ve always considered to be the real plot of the series. Maybe I’m missing the larger picture and where this fits in, or maybe it’s more of a plot detour. I guess we’ll see. Meanwhile, throughout the course of this book, Morgan does, what else, everything she can to sabotage her own chances of success, including ditching her allies/bodyguards at every opportunity and shooting herself in the legal foot. It’s frustrating to watch a protagonist go through so much trouble when a touch of patience, understanding, and trust would have saved her the grief.

But you know what? I’ll be here for the next book in the series anyway. Perhaps in morbid fascination, I have to see how this turns out, and of course, I want to see the supporting cast get more time in the sun. They’re what makes this series memorable, as far as I’m concerned. Before I wrap this up, let me reiterate: this is by no means a bad book, or a bad series, for all that I’ve got some major complaints. Black lures me back with each new volume because there’s a lot of potential here, and some solidly enjoyable underpinnings to the series. Speak of the Devil still has plenty going for it, enough to keep fans happy at the very least.

Soulless, by Gail Carriger (Orbit, 2009)

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Miss Alexia Tarabotti is not your average young lady. At twenty-six and unmarried, her chances of finding a prospective husband are almost nil. Worse still, she’s half-Italian and her coloring quite definitely takes after that side of the family. Olive skin is -so- out, after all. Worst of all, she has no soul. As a so-called, and extraordinarily rare, preternatural, she can negate the supernatural qualities of werewolves and vampires with but a touch, a fact she keeps to herself as much as possible. After all, proper ladies don’t go around touching the undead willy-nilly, no matter how accepted they are in British society.

When a strange vampire attacks Alexia at a party, she quite sensibly defends herself, accidentally staking the vampire in the process. The ensuing mess brings her into contact with Lord Maccon, a Scottish werewolf who works for the Bureau of Unnatural Registry, who’s had a bone to pick with Miss Tarabotti ever since a certain incident involving a hedgehog. This sets off a bizarre and unconventional series of events involving Alexia, Lord Maccon, an American scientist, and the so-very-flamboyant vampire Lord Akeldama. It seems that packless werewolves and solitary vampires have been disappearing, while fledging vampires are turning up with disturbing frequency, their origins a mystery. When people try to kidnap Alexia, Lord Maccon decides to see to her protection personally. But can they stop arguing long enough to figure out what’s going on? And at what point will propriety be thrown out the window in favor of expediency?

Soulless is charming, whimsical, and splendid. Part comedy of manners, part Regency send-up, part urbane fantasy, part alternate history, part steampunk, it’s a beautiful blending of disparate elements that’s bound to appeal to a wide range of readers. With its wry, tongue-in-cheek tone and a thoroughly plausible worldview, it’s easy to fall into the story and get swept up in the action. Alexia Tarabotti is a heroine to admire, a saucily-independent, feisty young woman who addresses every situation with her unique mixture of common sense and proper manners. Her constant foil and occasional romantic interest, Lord Maccon, is a gentleman and a werewolf, and it’s no wonder that opposites attract and sparks fly every time they’re together. (Honestly? Miss Tarabotti and Lord Maccon are one of the cutest, most adorable, most entertaining, most natural couples I’ve seen in a long time, and their interactions fill me with a glee bordering on guilty pleasure.) Lord Akeldama makes for one heck of a memorable supporting character, stealing every scene he’s in with a colorful swish that would be the envy of any drag queen, while still maintaining that immortal presence one expects of a centuries-old vampire.

This book overflows with a sense of wonder and unapologetic playfulness, starting with the first page (…she had retreated to the library, her favorite sanctuary in any house, only to happen upon an unexpected vampire…) and continuing right up to the very end. In lesser hands, the clever banter and self-aware tone could have been cutesy, twee, or just plain groan-inducing; Gail Carriger rises above those pitfalls to give us something rich and delightful and thoroughly appealing. I simply must insist upon more, and the sooner the better.

Skin Deep, by Mark Del Franco (Ace, 2009)

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Laura Blackstone is a woman of many faces. Under the Blackstone name, she serves as public relations director for the Fey Guild in Washington, DC. But as Janice Crawford, she’s a freelance druidess who occasionally works with D.C. SWAT when they need to handle unusual targets. And when she slips into the Mariel Tate identity, she’s a globe-trotting, high-level agent for InterSec, the International Global Security Agency. Three very different personas, three very different lives, and so far, she’s been able to keep them separate. Using her innate abilities to create impenetrable disguises, weave magical essence, and sense when someone’s lying to her, Laura is the perfect secret agent. But even she can’t predict how her newest case will affect the delicate status quo which keeps her lives from crossing over and colliding.

A routine drug bust goes spectacularly wrong, resulting in the death of an officer, and “Janice” barely survives, only to find herself targeted for death by an unknown faction. The fallout from this drags the Laura and Mariel identities into a web of conspiracy and intrigue. The National Archives are about to play host to a major exhibition, one with some very important people, both human and fey, in attendance, and there’s every indication that trouble is brewing. But who’s trying to kill Janice? Who can Laura trust? Who will betray Mariel? The revelation that someone has successfully linked all three identities may give Laura her worst enemy yet, or her best ally. But with events progressing, can one woman lead three lives, or will she burn out?

Spinning off from Del Franco’s Connor Grey series, Skin Deep is the start of a new series focusing on a whole new cast of characters, with no discernable overlap as yet. It’s a world where, a century ago, the event known as the Convergence merged portions of the Fey realms with Earth, leading to an uneasy coexistence between humans and fairies, elves, dwarves, druids, and numerous other mythological creatures. It’s a world where shrewd politics, cunning back-room deals and fragile treaties keep the Celtic fairies, Teutonic elves, assorted solitary breeds, and ordinary mortals away from each others’ throats. It’s a world where people like Laura Blackstone are necessary, since there’re plenty of people, human and fey, who’ll stop at nothing to change the world for their own benefit. It’s a nifty setting, one we’ve seen a fair amount of already in the Connor Grey books, and this series promises to flesh it out even more.

Laura has a certain fascinating appeal to her, as we watch her struggle with the pressures, obligations and pitfalls of maintaining so many active identities. As she stumbles at the edge of disintegration due to the events of this storyline, it’s easy to wonder if she’s going to snap once and for all, or if we’ll find out just how strong she is. In the process, we get to find out just who the real Laura is, assuming she even knows herself. Luckily, she has some good friends and uneasy allies to keep her going. So far, I love the supporting cast, from her faithful boggan assistant to her immediate InterSec supervisor, to the cop she’s partnered with as part of the investigation. There’s some excellent chemistry, both platonic and otherwise as appropriate between Laura and her allies, and I really dig the interactions she has with Jono Sinclair, the aforementioned cop who’s packing some secrets of his own.

Del Franco turns in a page-turner of a magical spy thriller here, and while it’s occasionally hard to keep some of the details straight about who knows whom in what identity under what circumstances, it’s overall quite a strong offering. I look forward to seeing what he has planned for Laura Blackstone and her alter egos in the future.

Sins & Shadows, by Lyn Benedict (Ace, 2009)

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Sylvie Lightner runs the Florida-based Shadows Inquiries, a small firm which investigates the decidedly weird aspects of the world. That is, until she sees a friend and employee killed in front of her. Tired of killing monsters and becoming one herself in the process, and afraid she’ll get someone else she knows killed, she decides it’s time to shut up shop for good. But even as she’s turning out the lights, a cop named Kevin Dunne muscles his way in, accompanied by a trio of attitude-laden women. Claiming that he’s the Greek God of Justice and his companions are the Furies, he wants to hire Sylvie to find his lost lover, and refusal is not an option. Reluctantly, Sylvie takes the job, only to discover that things aren’t as they seem. Sure, Dunne is the God of Justice, but he’s not the only god involved in this mess. oh no. Something deep and rich and complicated is afoot, involving monsters and gods, mortals and immortals, and poor Sylvie is right there in the middle. Sylvie will have to call in her allies, and forge tenuous truces not just with one of the Furies, but also with Demalion, the agent of a secret government agency formed to deal with the supernatural. Can she trust either of them when the chips are down? Or will their previous loyalties win out? Before all is said and done, Sylvie will discover some hard truths about the world, about her own heritage, and about the lives and deaths of the gods.

The start of a new series, Sins & Shadows comes out of the gate at full speed, and doesn’t slow down. Lyn Benedict delivers one hell of a powerful expertly weaving Greek, Egyptian and Christian lore and traditions together before tossing them into a modern setting. She’s managed to find her own little niche in the crowded world of paranormal investigation stories, populating it with memorable characters and a compelling mystery. I have to say, I love the depth of characterization and personality granted to Erinya, one of the Furies. Though just a supporting character, she steals the scene whenever she’s around to growl and stomp and exude pure attitude. Sylvie herself is a tough cookie, one willing to boss around gods and monsters alike to get the job done.

It’s obvious that this will be another fun urban fantasy series, and I’ll definitely stick around to see what’s in store for Sylvie Lightner in the future. She’s made some powerful friends and enemies in Sins & Shadows, and there’s plenty of potential for additional adventures, and evidence that her back story needs exploring as well. Here’s hoping we see more soon.