Series readers don’t necessarily need a large build-up in their reviews. What they look for (well, what I look for and presume others do, too) is a comparison of the latest volume to the rest of the series and whether their favorite characters or subplots are featured. Since the following three books are later books in popular series, I’m going to give you what I think you are looking for. If you think this gives those books/series/authors short shrift, please comment so that I can adjust (or not) accordingly.
Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews
Someone is spreading terror via magic-enhanced disease, and Kate Daniels is on the case. As if magically enhanced contagious diseases are not a big enough problem, they seem to be only the tip of the iceberg. And somehow Kate’s history is a part of it. It all starts with a bar fight and some rampantly contagious bacteria. Things don’t get easier as Kate is forced to make decisions that affect both The Pack and The Guild.
Fans will be extremely happy with this installment’s big ramp-up in the romance department, plenty of the expected action, and quite a bit of political twistery. Magic Bleeds is the best book so far of the series. Not only do we learn quite a bit more about Kate’s extremely dysfunctional family, we also get a peek at some interesting new magic, including some that is faith-based, and Kate kicks some furry butt to keep The Pack in line while her lover is out of commission. Now we must wait and see if the authors can repeat the feat with the next book in the series. I’ll be anxiously awaiting it.
Magic on the Storm by Devon Monk
The Allie Beckstrom series has been a favorite of mine since its beginning; I love the “magic with a price” system and the developing thread of magic and technology being melded together to enhance each other.
Monk delivers the goods once again. This fourth in the series is a continuation of the goodness of the earlier books, including the interesting magic use, the budding romance between Allie and Zayvion, the building tensions among The Authority, Allie’s dad and his possession of her, and my personal favorite, Stone the animate gargoyle. Though I wish that there had been a little more detail on the place Allie has worked on to house the Hounds, I suspect more to do with that and the Hounds themselves will be coming up next. One complaint I had with the characterizations–Allie and Zayvion have had several months to build on their relationship, but it seems that they don’t speak with each other at all. She doesn’t open up to him, and he says nothing at all about his past. Do they spend all their time talking about magic? I think this was just a minor oversight by the author and certainly nothing to mar the fun of the book.
Be warned, there is death and destruction in this volume. I refuse to spoil it by detailing any more of it, though. Like the rest of Monk’s fans, I’ll be waiting impatiently for the next installment. While there is no true cliffhanger at the end of this volume, there is quite a bit left up in the air that will have the readers anxiously awaiting the next book.
The White Road by Lynn Flewelling
Book five of the Nightrunner series picks up just after the end of Shadow’s Return. Seregil and Alex have been through so many trials in the past few books that they deserve a break. Sadly, they don’t really get one. Sebrahn, the “child of no woman,” is a magnet for danger and trouble. Not only do they need to learn more about him to keep him and themselves safe, they need to ensure that no more evil alchemists will be following in the footsteps of his maker. To do that they have to go back to the place where Alex was an alchemist’s ingredient and Seregil a slave. Neither wants to even think of their time there, but they both agree that the knowledge of the making of Sebrahn must be destroyed before it can be stolen.
While Seregil and Alex are always enjoyable to read as characters, I found this book to be much darker overall than the previous four. Previously there were always good times and laughter and jokes, and this time around these elements are thin on the ground. To be sure, the book isn’t really a downer–just not as fun as the ones that have come before. It was a satisfying read in many ways: learning more of Seregil’s past and family, dragons…but also in some ways a bit unsatisfying in that there was a lot of focus and point of view sections from new secondary characters, which seemed to dilute my personal enjoyment of the story. Additionally, there was one subplot that seemed to just fizz out instead of having a true resolution. However, that being said, I definitely enjoyed The White Road and will look out for any more that might be coming in the future regarding Seregil and Alex.
