You could call this book historical
urban fantasy noir. Set in Chicago in the 1920s, the narrator is a sort of
exorcist. He puts ads in papers that only those who need him can see, then goes
and removes the ghosts and demons that are haunting them. His unusualness goes
beyond this, though; his body is host to the dragon that he slew 1,600 years
ago- he is, in fact, Saint George. He and the dragon share an uneasy alliance.
Also, he is the guardian of the gate that separates our world from that of
Feirie. His companion is a shapeshifter who can no longer shift, trapped in his
canine form.
The hero finds himself set up
against Oberon, long exiled from Feirie. Oberon plans on taking over again,
conquering his former mate Titania. This will drag our world into the the
fight, something Nick, the protagonist, must stop at all costs. He finds
himself fighting demons, speaking with the ghost of the Emperor who ordered his
execution, trying to avoid bootleggers and Al Capone’s gang members, trying to
protect a woman from his past who won’t agree to stay where it’s supposed to be
safe, and battling with magically enhanced goons before actually getting into
it with Oberon.
Nick narrates almost like your
typical hard-boiled noir detective, except he’s frequently talking about magical
things. The pace moves quickly and never lets up; Nick can’t even sit down to
rest without the house turning into something else or demons coming to the
door. There is a lot we don’t find out about Nick, Claryce- she really doesn’t
get a chance to develop her character-, Fetch, and the ghost of the Emperor
Deocletian; the ending leaves it possible that there will be a sequel. I would
definitely read a sequel; I liked the characters (particularly Fetch the
shapeshifter) and like the era. It’s fast and fun.
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Neither of these things influenced my review.
Sounds like a lot to keep track of.
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