Furry Crime Noir

Eric Bear thinks he has escaped his violent past, but when crime boss Nicholas Dove threatens Eric's beloved wife Emma Rabbit, Eric has no choice but to do what he asks: find a way to remove Dove's name from the Death List. Problem is, no one knows if the Death List really exists. Nevertheless, Eric gathers his old team together - sadistic male prostitute Sam Gazelle, sweet but dangerous Tom-Tom Crow, and wily Snake Marek - and they set off to find the elusive list.

What Eric learns will forever change the way he thinks about his life, his family, and his town.

AMBERVILLE by Tim Davys is a crime noir with stuffed animals. I chose to read this book based on the cover. A teddy bear near a street lamp really captured my attention. All the characters are stuffed animals that live in a place where only stuffed animals exist. It sounds stupid, but it is surprisingly interesting.

This plot is like Animal Farm meets Who Framed Roger Rabbit. The names of the characters took some getting used to, but when Eric talked about the chauffeurs driving around at night, I couldn't put the book down until I found out what was really going on. Their personalities are quite dark, and I love the twist at the end!

One of my favorite parts is the animal getting beat and coughing up stuffing. Surprisingly intense with several unexpected twists. Not for children.

As always,
AstraDaemon

A Different Kind of Punk

THE MAZE'S AMULET by Auctor Trevel is kind of like Harry Potter mixed with Nightbreed. The author has created one hell of a dark fantasy dystopia about a moonpunk witch trying to keep her business going despite a serious illness and threats from a demonic mobster. (All of this takes place after a war of magic with creatures from another realm.)

The relationship between Elza and Noah is reason enough to read this novella, but the criminal element adds to the drama and suspense. The magic duels provide some intense action scenes, and the interactions between characters provides readers with more details about the society they now live in.

The ending is somewhat unexpected, but I LOVED the extra Elza backstory. Great touch!

If you're into dark urban fantasy fiction, this may be right up your alley.

As always,
AstraDaemon

When Alchemy Meets Genetics [Review]

In Victorian London, the fates of physician Simon Bell and apothecary Gaelan Erceldoune entwine when Simon gives his wife an elixir created by Gaelan from an ancient manuscript. Meant to cure her cancer, it kills her. Suicidal, Simon swallows the remainder--only to find he cannot die. Five years later, hearing rumors of a Bedlam inmate with regenerative powers like his own, Simon is shocked to discover it's Gaelan. The two men conceal their immortality, but the only hope of reversing their condition rests with Gaelan's missing manuscript.

When modern-day pharmaceutical company Genomics unearths diaries describing the torture of Bedlam inmates, the company's scientists suspect a link between Gaelan and an unnamed inmate. Gaelan and Genomics geneticist Anne Shawe are powerfully drawn to each other, and her family connection to his manuscript leads to a stunning revelation. Will it bring ruin or redemption?

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The Apothecary’s Curse by Barbara Barnett is definitely a mix of genres, both classic and modern. The story follows two main characters struggling with immortality: Simon Bell, once a physician, now an author writing about Sherlock Holmes, and Gaelan Erceldoune, former apothecary, currently a bookstore owner. In the past, Bell attempted suicide multiple times, while Erceldoune was captured and tortured by a mad scientist. Eventually the two unite and spend centuries searching for an ancient manuscript that might hold the key to reversing the elixirs which turned them both immortal. Not only does the book contain the secrets of alchemy, but it’s the only remaining link to Erceldoune’s long-lost family.

The storyline moves back and forth in time, delivering the backstory in pieces. At first, the pace is slow and frustrating, but as more mysteries are discovered, readers are drawn further into a spectacular web of conspiracies and drama. The glimpses from the past explain how Bell and Erceldoune come to know one another, while also explaining their shared affliction. The moments in present time reveal the danger of history repeating itself in the form of a corrupt pharmaceutical company hunting down Erceldoune.

I enjoyed the intrigue throughout the story, both in their past lives, as well as their present circumstances. When Erceldoune crosses paths with the geneticist Dr. Shawe, the addition of her character brings just the right twist, leading to an unexpected ending. I was so enthralled by the mix of drama and suspense, I had to read the novel in one sitting.

I think anyone who enjoys mystery-thrillers will enjoy this book.

As always,
AstraDaemon