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Showing posts with label Deadtown Series. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Deadtown Series. Show all posts
Friday, August 3, 2012
Review: Darklands by Nancy Holzner
Darklands
Author: Nancy Holzner
Release Date: July 31, 2012
Publisher: ACE
Deadtown #4
ISBN: #978-1937007706
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format(s): Paperback (336 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher/Author
About the book:
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Boston’s demons have been disappearing, and Vicky’s clients are canceling left and right. While fewer demons might seem like a good thing, Vicky suspects foul play. A missing Celtic cauldron from Harvard’s Peabody museum leads her to an unwelcome conclusion: Pryce, her demi-demon cousin and bitter enemy, is trying to regain his full powers.
But Pryce isn’t alone. He’s conjured another, darker villain from Vicky’s past. To stop them from destroying everything she loves, she’ll have to face her own worst fear—in the realm of the dead itself.
What I’m talking about:
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After the previous two Deadtown series books opened with our heroine Vicky working at her job as a demon slayer, it was a completely fun change of pace to witness Vicky participating in the zombie high school career event. Vicky is there to help her one-time apprentice, Tina, although she’d rather be out fighting evil. Things seem to go as planned until a vicious Harpy demon attempts to kill Vicky, and she must demonstrate her job first hand to the zombie teens. Such is the life of Victory Vaughn, Boston’s only professional demon slayer. Oh, AND she may also be the subject of an ancient prophecy, she has a demi-demon cousin out to kill her, she’s summoned an Eidolon demon who is literally gnawing away her insides because of her own guilt, she’s dating a high-profile werewolf, and now she has to deal with another woman trying to horn in on her wolf, er... man.
Darklands kicks off shortly after the conclusion of Bloodstone, but if you haven’t read the previous books, not to worry. Ms. Holzner does a fantastic job weaving critical pieces of earlier books into this story. We recall how Vicky is working to repair her relationship with her sister, Gwen, especially since her niece, Maria, is showing signs of being a shapeshifting Cerddorion. We are reminded of the past battles Vicky has fought with her “cousin” Pryce and the Hellion that marked her, Difethwr the Destroyer. And finally we recollect how Vicky’s Aunt Mab and boyfriend Kane have fought beside Vicky time and time again.
One thing that I enjoy immensely about the Deadtown series is watching Vicky grow as an individual from the start to finish of each book, and how she builds upon the progress from book to book. In this story we go further into Vicky's psyche via the Eidolon. Having Vicky infest herself with a demon was an interesting twist. While providing some comic relief, the primary purpose is to help Vicky work through all of the things she regrets/feels guilty about, etc.
I delight in the continuing developing relationship dynamic between Vicky, Gwen and Maria. Ms. Holzner gives the reader both “normal” family drama and interactions - adolescent girl vs. mother, etc., but then add in a shapeshifting teen, when her mother has personally closed the door to that life... It makes for intense side plots. It is wonderful to be privy to Vicky’s thought process of how she balances helping Maria but not overstepping her role as mentor and Aunt.
Another area of personal growth that is front and center in Darklands is within her relationship with Kane. When another wolf, Simone, makes an obvious play for Kane, Vicky must deal with a wide array of emotions that she did not know were in her. Once again, knowing her inner-most thoughts on this matter were entertaining and enlightening, ranging from both heart-warming to heart-breaking. I was seriously worried for the entire book that Vicky would lose her chance to figure out her feelings before it was all too late.
Darklands continues the story of Vicky vs. Pryce. Vicky discovers that Pryce is attempting to recreate his shadow demon by smuggling captured demons into the Darklands - the “afterlife” plane where souls move on, wait to be reborn in a new life, or are regenerated and continue to stay in the Darklands. Once again, Vicky strikes out on her own, feeling the weight of saving the world rests solely on her shoulders. She makes a deal with the Mistress of the Hunt to enter the Darklands so she may begin her quest to defeat Pryce. Fortunately, Vicky finds help from her long-dead father, Evan. Together the two not only go on a danger-filled journey, but they take the time to clear the air and reconnect. Again, a superb balance of action and emotion.
As I mentioned earlier, I was really worried about Vicky for, well, most of the book. I had a knot in my belly, wondering if things would work out, because for a while nothing was going right for Vicky. NOTHING! It felt like no one cared much, but that's because we are in "Vicky's head" via her POV. I was so mad at her for not letting others help her, but she always does what she thinks is best for others - a quality that can be extremely aggravating at times. It made for a gripping (and rewarding) read, one that I want to read again.
Darklands is another solid and wonderful story from Ms. Holzner. Her stories are fierce and exciting, full of spirit and emotion. The stories feel familiar, but the mythology is unique. Ms. Holzner's world is engrossing and engaging. It's not easy, but she always finds a way to pull together all of the pieces of the story by the end of each book. In the end, Vicky must take a long hard look at what is in her heart and decide what is worth fighting for. I love it!
My Rating:
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Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
Reviews in the Series:
Deadtown (Book 1)
Labels:
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Review: Bloodstone
Bloodstone
Author: Nancy Holzner
Release Date: Sept. 27, 2011
Publisher: ACE Fantasy
Deadtown #3
ISBN: #978-0441021000
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format(s): Paperback (336 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
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Boston’s diverse South End is known for its architecture and great restaurants, not its body count. So when mutilated human corpses begin turning up in the area, the entire city takes notice. The killer—dubbed the South End Reaper—uses a curved blade for his grisly work. And even though there’s no real evidence pointing to a paranormal culprit, the deaths are straining the already-tense relations between Boston’s human and inhuman residents.
As the bodies pile up, Vicky, her formidable aunt Mab, and her werewolf boyfriend Kane investigate, only to find that the creature behind the carnage is after something much more than blood….
What I’m talking about:
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Once again, demon-hunter Victory (Vicky) Vaughn, finds herself involved with the darker side of Boston’s paranormal scene. She has a day job - demon-slayer for hire, but it’s the extra-curricular hunting that’s putting her life - and those she loves - in danger.
Bloodstone takes place shortly after the conclusion of Hellforged (review HERE). Once again, Ms. Holzner does an amazing job of creating a stand-alone story within the context of a larger story arc. You don’t have to have read the earlier books to enjoy Bloodstone, but I highly recommend it because the stories are so good.
The story opens with Vicky just “doing her job” of killing off unwanted nuisance demons - this time a “7 deadly sins” demon has created too much sloth and gluttony in a gym. Ms. Holzner’s sense of humor shines here and for the duration the story. Vicky has a snarky side - a dry wit that made me smile several times.
After completing her job, Vicky and her werewolf boyfriend, Kane, visit Vicky’s “normal” sister and family in the suburbs. I really enjoyed the family dynamics in this scene, as well as throughout the book. Every interaction Vicky has with her sister Gwen, niece Maria and the mysterious Aunt Mab allows the reader to see more depth in our kick-ass heroine. We learn more about why Vicky’s sister gave up her paranormal powers and witness Gwen’s struggle watching her own daughter begin to develop shape-shifting abilities. In addition, Vicky’s relationship with Kane seems to have deepened and is more heart-warming. These parts of the book do not overwhelm the plot, but add just the perfect amount of “emotion” and perspective to create a rich storyline and sincere characters.
Of course, life doesn’t remain all sunshine and roses for Vicky. Soon she discovers that her nemesis, “cousin” Pryce, is still in the picture, with his demon father killing off innocents to revive Pryce (who remains in a coma after the events in the last book). Also, Vicky’s missing vampire roommate, Juliet, remains on the run from the mysterious and ultra-evil “Old Ones.” These two storylines merge and create an intricate plot which brings Aunt Mab from Wales to Boston to help Vicky defeat the bad guys. (The phrase “This time it’s personal” is very appropriate.)
Ms. Holzner’s world is a fun one - zombies that love junk food, yet full of action - demons with nefarious plans. The storyline alone is exciting and at times a bit gruesome. The plot is engrossing and clever - I was surprised by a twist near the end as Vicky discovered more about the killings taking place in Boston, but it was the revelation fit the story and added the ideal emotional punch. In addition, Ms. Holzner commentary on the human condition via the human (norms) vs paranormal (monsters) strife, gives a serious yet non-preachy aspect to the book.
All-in-all a fantastic book - one that I couldn’t put down. A bit reminiscent of Buffy and Angel, with a voice all its own, the Deadtown series is one to add to your must read list!
My Rating:
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Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
Monday, January 17, 2011
Review: Hellforged
Hellforged
Author: Nancy Holzner
Release Date: December 28, 2010Publisher: ACE Fantasy
Deadtown Series Book #2
ISBN: #978-0441019809
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format(s): paperback (352 pgs), e-book
I received a copy of this book from the PUBLISHER for the purposes of an honest review.
From the author’s website:
After Vicky banished her demon nemesis to the fiery depths of Hell, she thought life would return to normal. But considering she has a werewolf lawyer boyfriend, a zombie apprentice who’s angling to become a pop star, and an eccentric vampire roommate, what is normal, anyway?
Then the supposedly banished Hellion starts to trespass in Vicky’s dreams—just as several of Deadtown’s zombies are viciously attacked and become really dead. When Vicky realizes she’s the only connection between the victims, she suspects that the demon is somehow working through her dreams to become Deadtown’s living nightmare.
What she doesn’t know is that her old enemy brings with it a force more terrifying—and deadly—than anything she’s battled before.
What I’m talking about:
Hellforged opens with demon hunter, Victory Vaughn and her zombie teen apprentice, Tina, attempting to rid MIT computer labs of a nasty Glitch demon. Of course things don’t go smoothly, but Vicki manages to make the best of the situation. And that is how Vicki rolls.
Soon Vicki’s life takes a turn for the dangerous. Her roommate is seen with mysterious creatures (but denies it), a Hellion is using her dreams to kill zombies, and her Aunt Mab summons her to Wales overnight, telling her of an evil prophesy that involves Vicki. Once in Wales, Vicki meets her “cousin” Pryce who is bent on becoming the king of the demons. With time running out and Pryce freeing evil spirits that kill the zombies, Mab trains Vicki to become a better demon-slayer.
Although I did not read Deadtown, the first book in Ms. Holzner’s series, I did not feel as if I missed a beat (but I hear the book is wonderful). The author does a great job with world-building - making the zombie-infested streets of Boston seem normal. Hellforged builds upon the world created in Deadtown, but does not rely on the actions of the first book when telling the tale of the second book.
I really enjoyed reading Hellforged. Vicki is reminiscent of Buffy the Vampire Slayer with the “chosen one” type prophecy hanging over her head. She is tough-as-nails, but sensitive to the human (and non-human) condition. She is sort of a loner, especially in her emotional connectivity to others, but has a few close friends and family that help her out. I found myself completed engaged by the motives behind her actions and inactions. Her sarcastic sense of humor is woven into her character - not right on the pages, but sly in her comments:
...I thought about what I had to do: Keep from dreaming, read a book written in a language I didn’t understand, and become pure through contamination. Piece of cake.
The plot was smart and exciting; I enjoyed watching Vicki attempt to solve the mystery of the prophecy while trying to keep the world safe. Although it had a bit of familiarity about it, the storyline was original and kept me glued to the pages. There were even a few surprise twists and turns that I didn’t expect. Vicki’s relationship with Mab is special and heartwarming. On the side is Vicki’s love life and a host of other intriguing characters. Hellforged is action-packed, somewhat violent, and overall a great story.
My Rating:
4 stars: Really enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
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