Tag: Urban Fantasy Page 12 of 44

On November 11, 2022

The Ballad of Bonaduke—
Episode 8: Cat out of the bag

DETAILS:
Series: The Ballad of Bonaduke, #8
Format: Kindle Vella Story
Read Date: November 10, 2022

I smiled at the stupidity of it all. No one who was right in the head would think this would work, even with a real coin. “Stupid stuff works all the time.”

The Story So Far…

A drunken Michael Bonaduke decides to use a grift (with maybe some sort of magic/magic-like “help”) to win on a scratch-off lottery ticket so he has money to buy more to drink. He pulls off whatever he did, gets his money and some booze and stumbles off into the darkness to drink himself into oblivion so he can start again the next day. He’s hit by dark memories (probably what’s driving him to the drinking) of fire, pleading, and screaming. There’s going to be a price to pay for his grift, and he’s trying to be ready.

Before then, he gets himself drunk and we get some of his tragic backstory. As he ponders this, he decides to use some of his ill-gotten-gains to buy more booze and walks into a liquor store robbery. He foils it in some sort of magical fashion, gets some more to drink, and heads off to the park to drink until he’s arrested (probably for the failed robbery). At least that’s his plan, but it gets interrupted by being hit by a car. He wakes up on some sort of short, metal bed and is unsure what’s going on. It turns out that some group is subjecting him to a test—if he passes, everything will be explained to him (and hopefully the reader, too).

What’s Cat out of the bag About?

Bonaduke tries a couple of new strategies that fail, and when he’s about at the end of his rope, or maybe at the end of his rope, something happens. Now he’s ready to begin.

So, what did I think about Cat out of the bag?

Oh, ho. Now we’re cooking with fire—we see a little about Bonaduke’s childhood. And we get to the end of the test, so we can find out what this has all been leading to. Whatever it is, it feels like a real improvement compared to his life on the streets.

Or, it could be a trap.

Either way, it will be fun to see.

3.5 Stars

Gardens by Benedict Jacka: A Quick, Action Packed, Visit to the World of Verus

On November 4, 2022

In Alex Verus, Benedict Jacka, Fiction, Urban Fantasy

Gardens

by Benedict Jacka

DETAILS:
Series: Alex Verus, #12.1
Publication Date: October 31, 2022
Format: eBook
Length: 123 pg.
Read Date: November 3, 2022

What’s Gardens About?

This takes place about four months after Risen, and definitely should not be read by anyone who hasn’t read it (I’m not going to spoil anything though). We do get to catch up with the world of Mages, the Council, and the state of things with Adepts post-Risen, but we do so from a different perspective and with a largely new group of characters (they ultimately interact with some people we know though).

These characters are Daniel, Jess, and Emmanuel. They are youngish adepts with a little experience in thievery (although they really don’t like using that term) and are looking to expand. They’re hired by a mage to join a crew of others for a job to “retrieve” an object.

The object is in the possession of a mage, who they are told will be away from home for quite some time. All they need to do is open a lock (through an interesting application of wind magic that I don’t think I’ve seen before) and find the thing. Assuming they can get along with the other group of adepts hired for this job (which is clearly going to be an issue from the get-go), it sounds like an easy job.

But if it was an easy job, why would Jacka give us a novella about it?

So, what did I think about Gardens?

I had so much fun with this. It satisfied my desire to know more about this world and how things look after that fantastic finale—but was a different kind of story in it. Just not getting it told in Alex’s voice, but from a third-person narration, gave it a different feel immediately. Also, Jacka says that this is “a slightly different (but overlapping) genre to urban fantasy,” so that different feel is multiplied.

With all due respect to Jacka, I think it’s still UF. It is a darker form of it than we’re used to from him, though. But that’s just splitting hairs, and there are much better things to do with this novella.

Primarily we ought to just read and enjoy it—this is exactly what a heist-gone-wrong story told in the Verus-Verse should be. There’s in-fighting, double-crossing (maybe triple-crossing), lies, deception, unrequited love, and people in way over their head. Especially as we’ve been colored by Alex’s attitudes toward Adepts, it’s easy to forget what a great gulf there is between even a strong Adept and a Mage. Gardens does a great job of fixing that misapprehension. It’s a fast read with plenty of action—pound for pound, more than Jacka usually gives us, and I am here for it.

Is this a must-read for Alex Verus fans? No, not especially. But my friends, you will be missing out. You will be so glad you took an hour or so for this. This is definitely a must-not-read for people who haven’t read Risen (and if you haven’t read Risen, you likely haven’t read anything else in the series—which is something you should fix).

4 Stars

The Ballad of Bonaduke—Episode 7: Lost Lamb by R. T. Slaywood: Lost, but Maybe on the Way to Being Found

On November 4, 2022

The Ballad of Bonaduke—
Episode 7: Lost Lamb

DETAILS:
Series: The Ballad of Bonaduke, #7
Format: Kindle Vella Story
Read Date: November 3, 2022

That’s the thing people don’t get about being homeless. Nobody wants to see you until you’re a threat.

The Story So Far…

A drunken Michael Bonaduke decides to use a grift (with maybe some sort of magic/magic-like “help”) to win on a scratch-off lottery ticket so he has money to buy more to drink. He pulls off whatever he did, gets his money and some booze and stumbles off into the darkness to drink himself into oblivion so he can start again the next day. He’s hit by dark memories (probably what’s driving him to the drinking) of fire, pleading, and screaming. There’s going to be a price to pay for his grift, and he’s trying to be ready.

Before then, he gets himself drunk and we get some of his tragic backstory. As he ponders this, he decides to use some of his ill-gotten-gains to buy more booze and walks into a liquor store robbery. He foils it in some sort of magical fashion, gets some more to drink, and heads off to the park to drink until he’s arrested (probably for the failed robbery). At least that’s his plan, but it gets interrupted by being hit by a car. He wakes up on some sort of short, metal bed and is unsure what’s going on. It turns out that some group is subjecting him to a test—if he passes, everything will be explained to him (and hopefully the reader, too).

What’s Lost Lamb About?

So Bonaduke’s strategy last time didn’t work out so well—and he tries a couple of other things, and we end up in a similar situation to the ending of the last episode. Bonaduke’s got an idea, he’s trying something, and…well, it ends.

So, what did I think about Lost Lamb?

I thought I didn’t have a lot to say about the previous episode, and it turns out that I’m still there. Bonaduke’s not making a lot of progress in this test, and I’m not making a lot of progress in my evaluation.

Once again, I have nothing but questions at this point—and I think that’s the point. I liked what we got here, and am possibly more intrigued by this story than I have been so far. Again, I’m tempted to toss of my schedule and catch up on all the episodes right now.

3.5 Stars

The Friday 56 for 11/4/22: Gardens by Benedict Jacka

Gardens by Benedict Jacka

On November 4, 2022

In Currently Reading, News/Misc., Quotations, The Friday 56

This is a weekly bloghop hosted by Freda’s Voice.

RULES:
The Friday 56 Grab a book, any book.
Turn to Page 56 or 56% on your ereader. If you have to improvise, that is okay.
Find a snippet, short and sweet.
Post it.

from Page 56 of:
Gardens

He nodded off into the forest. “You can go now.”

“While you do what?” Jess said.

“Not your problem.”

“Don’t let him—” Shirazad began, before Deathgrip twisted her arm, making her cry out in pain.

“You still here?” Deathgrip asked Emmanuel.

“So how do we get paid?” Emmanuel asked.

“Guess you’ll just have to keep your advance.”

“We didn’t get an advance.”

Deathgrip raised his eyebrows. “Sucks to be you.”

The Ballad of Bonaduke—Episode 6: Rat in a Maze by R. T. Slaywood: I Feel Like I’m Lost in a Maze with This, but I Like It

On October 28, 2022

The Ballad of Bonaduke—
Episode 6: Rat in a Maze

DETAILS:
Series: The Ballad of Bonaduke, #6
Format: Kindle Vella Story
Read Date: October 27, 2022

I spent an uncomfortable amount of time pulling out the IV before standing up and rushing the door. The world spun upwards, and the floor hit my face.

The Story So Far…

A drunken Michael Bonaduke decides to use a grift (with maybe some sort of magic/magic-like “help”) to win on a scratch-off lottery ticket so he has money to buy more to drink. He pulls off whatever he did, gets his money and some booze and stumbles off into the darkness to drink himself into oblivion so he can start again the next day. He’s hit by dark memories (probably what’s driving him to the drinking) of fire, pleading, and screaming. There’s going to be a price to pay for his grift, and he’s trying to be ready.

Before then, he gets himself drunk and we get some of his tragic backstory. As he ponders this, he decides to use some of his ill-gotten-gains to buy more booze and walks into a liquor store robbery. He foils it in some sort of magical fashion, gets some more to drink, and heads off to the park to drink until he’s arrested (probably for the failed robbery). At least that’s his plan, but it gets interrupted by being hit by a car. He wakes up on some sort of short, metal bed and is unsure what’s going on.

What’s Rat in a Maze About?

Bonaduke tries to escape from wherever exactly he is while learning what he can about it. It turns out that he’s going to be tested for something (he’s not told what) and if he passes, someone will explain everything. The test is…hard to explain without giving any details. Essentially he ends up taking a “Kirk passing the Kobayashi Maru” sort of approach. We’ll have to see how that works out for him in Episode 7.

So, what did I think about Rat in a Maze?

I don’t have a lot to say about this episode, but what I do have is complimentary.

I have nothing but questions at this point—and I think that’s the point. I liked what we got here, and am possibly more intrigued by this story than I have been so far. I’ve been fighting the temptation for a day to push on and ignore my schedule.

3.5 Stars

The Ballad of Bonaduke—Episode 5: Hair of the Dog by R. T. Slaywood: Waking Up…

On October 21, 2022

The Ballad of Bonaduke—
Episode 5: Hair of the Dog

DETAILS:
Series: The Ballad of Bonaduke, #4
Format: Kindle Vella Story
Read Date: October 13, 2022

Only my experience waking from numerous drunken nights told me to keep quiet until I could sort out where I was. It also told me that the pain I was feeling was not from booze. It had started at the back of my head, and was already making its way down through my bones, joints, and muscles. Even my belly button hurt like hell. Each sensation fought like a bitch to complain the most. I felt like I was hit by a truck.

No.

It was a blue Prius.

The Story So Far…

A drunken Michael Bonaduke decides to use a grift (with maybe some sort of magic/magic-like “help”) to win on a scratch-off lottery ticket so he has money to buy more to drink. He pulls off whatever he did, gets his money and some booze and stumbles off into the darkness to drink himself into oblivion so he can start again the next day. He’s hit by dark memories (probably what’s driving him to the drinking) of fire, pleading, and screaming. There’s going to be a price to pay for his grift, and he’s trying to be ready.

Before then, he gets himself drunk and we get some of his tragic backstory. As he ponders this, he decides to use some of his ill-gotten-gains to buy more booze and walks into a liquor store robbery. He foils it in some sort of magical fashion, gets some more to drink, and heads off to the park to drink until he’s arrested (probably for the failed robbery). At least that’s his plan, but it gets interrupted.

What’s Hair of the Dog About?

Bonaduke wakes up in pain, as you’re wont to do when hit by a car. Even by a Prius. He’s disoriented and hungover and it takes him a little while to piece together what had happened to him and how he may have arrived…wherever he is. That part’s unclear, he’s getting something delivered by an IV, he’s on something cold, metal, and too short to be a hospital bed (or anywhere else to hold an adult). There are a couple of people having a conversation nearby about him. Bonaduke doesn’t understand exactly what they’re saying or have any idea who they are.

Determined to confront them and get out of answers, he swings his “half-numb legs” off the bed and the episode ends.

So, what did I think about Hair of the Dog?

I’ll have to see what happens in Episode 6. I don’t have enough to really say—I think the direction this is going, though. Hopefully, Eposide 6 will be like 4, and give me something to chew on.

I think it’s clear at this point that the Kindle Vella format is really not my cup of tea. But I’m going to stick with this particular story, I just can’t see myself trying another.

3.5 Stars

The Ballad of Bonaduke—Episode 4: The Five by R. T. Slaywood: In the Wrong Place at the Wrong Time

On October 14, 2022

The Ballad of Bonaduke—
Episode 4: The Five

DETAILS:
Series: The Ballad of Bonaduke, #4
Format: Kindle Vella Story
Read Date: October 13, 2022

Recovering, I stood up straight, and stared at his right eye. His eyes bounced back and forth between mine, the gun moving with his gaze. Another one of my dad’s tricks as only professionals shoot a moving gun.

The Story So Far…

A drunken Michael Bonaduke decides to use a grift (with maybe some sort of magic/magic-like “help”) to win on a scratch-off lottery ticket so he has money to buy more to drink. He pulls off whatever he did, gets his money and some booze and stumbles off into the darkness to drink himself into oblivion so he can start again the next day. He’s hit by dark memories (probably what’s driving him to the drinking) of fire, pleading, and screaming. There’s going to be a price to pay for his grift, and he’s trying to be ready.

Before then, he gets himself drunk and we get some of his tragic backstory. As he ponders this, he decides to use some of his ill-gotten-gains to buy more booze and walks into something.

What’s The Five About?

Bonaduke walks in on a liquor store robbery and takes it upon himself to intervene. We still don’t get a clear idea of his abilities or of whatever it is that makes this an Urban Fantasy. And wow. He’s not messing around. You get the impression that things are going to go bad for him soon–like he expected after his grift, which was a smaller exercise of his abilities. So whatever is coming will probably be even worse than that (and the last sentence seems to suggest we’ll see that soon).

So, what did I think about The Bad Stuff?

I really liked this one–good action, nice magic (or whatever it turns out to be), and I liked what we saw of Bonaduke and his motivations. If we get episodes like this on a fairly regular basis, I’m really going to enjoy this series.

Good hook for the next episode, too.

3.5 Stars

The Friday 56 for 10/14/22: Dead Man’s Hand by James J. Butcher

Dead Man’s Hand by James J. Butcher

On October 14, 2022

In Currently Reading, News/Misc., Quotations, The Friday 56

This is a weekly bloghop hosted by Freda’s Voice.

RULES:
The Friday 56 Grab a book, any book.
Turn to Page 56 or 56% on your ereader. If you have to improvise, that is okay.
Find a snippet, short and sweet.
Post it.

from Page 56 of:
Dead Man's Hand

He longed for the days when things were simply monsters and slaying. Black-and-white. But that was a long time ago. Now everything was more muddled gray. He was starting to think maybe it always had been; he just couldn’t see it.

Not until after Mary died.

He growled and shook his head. He had hoped to shake out the memories, but they just settled to the bottom of his mind instead, like shards of glass floating in a whiskey bottle.

Amari and the Great Game by B. B. Alston: Can Amari Rise to These New Challenges?