Early Review: Dragon Justice by Laura Anne Gilman

Dragon Justice by Laura Anne Gilman

Paranormal Scene Investigations #4

WE KNEW THE JOB WAS IMPOSSIBLE WHEN WE TOOK IT...

In my time with PUPI, formally known as Private, Unaffiliated Paranormal Investigations, I've seen a lot. Learned a lot. And not all of it's been good. But what we do-make people accountable for crimes committed with magic-is important work.

Still. Even I need to take a break every now and again. Or so I've just been told (ordered).

So hey, vacation. Maybe I'll finally figure out what's going on with the "special bond" between me and the boss man, Benjamin Venec. Venec seems to like that idea-he's invited me down to join him on a jaunt to Philly. But no sooner do I arrive in the City of Brotherly Love than we're called in to look at a dead body.

And that's when life gets really complicated....

It's been two years since Bonnie and the rest of the crew were hired to form the PUPI investigative team. There's been plenty of ups and downs, but the work is important. Never before has anyone had the capability to bring down those responsible for magical crimes, making them incredibly valuable. The team runs itself ragged trying to keep up with the caseload, but none more than Bonnie. She's been ordered to take a much needed vacation, and when Ben invites her down to Philly, she jumps at the chance. They've been dancing around each other and the magical bone that ties them since the very start and it's about time for them to get things settled. But nothing goes according to plan as shortly after her arrival, Bonnie and Ben get dragged into a murder case. And it's a bad one. Suddenly figuring out their relationship no longer seems like such a priority.

This book was a little too all over the place for my tastes, in both the perspectives and the lack of plot focus due to the many different things going on at once. Granted, it was all pretty much tied together by the end, but until that point I was left frustrated as I tried to keep everything straight in my mind. I think I would have enjoyed Dragon Justice if a little more information had been given earlier on, or even if a few of the many directions had been cut out. Less can definitely be more. My constant confusion was only compounded by the constant perspective changes. There was no warning nor indication of the change other than the switch from first person to third each time we left Bonnie's head. Granted, I did read an e-arc copy, so perhaps those perspective changes will be formatted a little better in the final print version. But even so, I can't really say that those rotations added enough to the story to compensate for the way I kept getting startled out of the book due to the abrupt changes back and forth.

After all the insane build up between Bonnie and Ben over the past few installments I was happy to see them finally start making roads to accept the bond between them. I understand that they are both incredibly stubborn people, but at some point even the most stubborn have to cave, especially when there is a magical bond involved. As much as I would have like to have seen them be head over heels for each other now that they have given in, I realize that wouldn't fit them at all. They seem to have found a balance between their work lives and personal ones, making the switch in personalities/status at the drop of a hat. It is that balance that gives me hope for them in the long run as anything less wouldn't have worked.

Despite the jumbled plot threads that threatened to overwhelm me, Dragon Justice was a pretty decent book. From what I understand, this was the last contracted book in the series. However, while it did not have a cliffhanger ending, it also didn't read like it was finishing the series, so I'm curious to see whether there will be more books in the future. I know I would like to see more of Bonnie and the rest of the PUPI team.

(Received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley)

Rating:

Pre-order links:

Other Reviews:

• See Jamie Read

Previous Books:

1. Hard Magic
2. Pack of Lies
3. Tricks of the Trade

read more

Tricks of the Trade (Early Review)

Tricks of the Trade by Laura Anne Gilman

Paranormal Scene Investigations #3

WHEN MAGIC GOES WRONG, WHO ARE YOU GOING TO CALL?

The name’s Torres, Bonnie Torres, and I’m a paranormal scene investigator—rooting out the truth about crimes of magic. It’s dangerous and boring and scary and fascinating. Though not everyone in the Cosa Nostradamus is happy we’re around, which can make things…tricky.

Working two cases—looking into a murder for the NYPD, and a rich man’s break-in—should be well within our abilities. But when things start getting weird in the Electric Apple, Private Unaffiliated Paranormal Investigations is stretched to the limits, trying to keep one step ahead and out of trouble. Add in rumors
of a powerful creature gunning for us and it’s not just our rep on the line this time—if we don’t solve this case,
everyone will suffer.

Fortunately, around here, when the going gets weird, the weird hire us.…

Bonnie's still hard at work along with her fellow teammates working paranormal crime scenes to get to the root of the offense. They've slowly been able to establish some credibility, though nothing is ever easy as they are treading in untested waters. Working two cases at once shouldn't have posed a problem, but then some crazy things start happening and everything gets turned upside down. To make matters worse a faceless creature is loose in the city wreaking havoc and the team seems to be its latest target.

To be honest, Tricks of the Trade was a little overwhelming at times. There just seemed to be too much going on at once to really follow. Not only were there two cases, but there also was the Merge issue as well as another fatae mess stirring the pot. To make matters worse was that the pups kept getting switched around in their assigned jobs that it was too hard to keep track of it all. At times I found myself really frustrated to the point of losing interest. This was all with having the knowledge from the first two books on how things work. It would be almost impossible to pick the series up at this point without that foundation, and even then some of the magical aspects still baffled me. I think if one or two of the issues had been removed, the book would have been a lot more enjoyable, but as it was, things just seemed crowded.

Tricks of the Trade was every bit as much about the cases as it was the ongoing issue of the Merge between Bonnie and Ben. It is such a rare thing that they don't really know its full reaches or what to fully expect. That would be fine and good, and the mystery of it all would be quite interesting if that had been the only issue. However, both Bonnie and Ben are fighting the thing tooth and nail to the point of sheer stubbornness. He doesn't like not being in control, and she has major issues with relying on someone else. Every time they let their guard down they both relax and benefit from the connection, but in no time at all one or both panics and they are set back again. They seem to be using the poor excuse of the boss/employee taboo and its effect on the team. But to be honest I think the team would rather have them shacking up and get things back to normal versus having the pair of them on such an edge all the time. It is really starting to effect their work, and they cannot afford that. Also, the lack of progress was just general frustrating to me as a reader. At this point I just want them to either get it on already or find a way to completely sever the connection. This hanging in limbo just might drive me batty.

While I can't say that Tricks of the Trade was my favorite installment, it didn't turn me off the series. I love the dynamic between the team members and the two top dogs, as well as the very intricate world behind it all. I think with a little less chaos and some forward progression in the romance area there is plenty of promise for the future. I'll be looking forward to seeing where things lead after the ending events of Tricks of the Trade as a whole new can of worms may have opened. It should prove to be an interesting ride.

(Received a copy from Netgalley)

Rating:

Pre-order from Amazon:
Tricks of the Trade

Other Reviews:

• Readalot

Previous Books:

1. Hard Magic
2. Pack of Lies

Challenge Categories:

• Outdo Yourself
• Horror and Urban Fantasy

read more

Pack of Lies (Early Review)

Pack of Lies by Laura Anne Gilman

Paranormal Scene Investigations #2

FUNNY HOW LIFE CAN TURN YOU UPSIDE DOWN...

My name is Bonita Torres, and eight months ago I was an unemployed college graduate without a plan. Now I’m an investigator with the Private Unaffiliated Paranormal Investigations team of New York. Pretty awesome, right?

The Cosa Nostradamus, the magical community, isn’t quick to give up its secrets, though. Not even to fellow members. Not even when it’s in their best interests. So we’ve been busting our tails, perfecting our forensic skills, working to gain acceptance. The team’s tight… but we have our quirks, too. And our Big Dog, Benjamin Venec…well, he’s a special case, all right.

But we can’t give up. We’re needed, especially when a case comes along that threatens to pit human against fatae. But one wrong move could cost us everything we’ve worked for…

The PUPI team gets a case that seems pretty open and shut. However, they quickly realize things are much more complicated. Tensions rise between the humans and the fatae and it will only take a single spark to ignite a dangerous showdown. Its up to the team to get to the bottom of the case before it's too late. Meanwhile other tensions are brewing as unexplained events happen between Bonnie and Ben making it harder for her to ignore her feelings for him. It seems almost everything is this book is only one step away from disaster and it's up to the team to walk that fine line without stepping over the edge.

My biggest frustration about the last book was the extremely slow pacing. This book however, really picked it up. As soon as they pick up the case, it becomes a roller coaster ride to solve it. I really love how the team or "pack" is really working great together now. While they still clash at times, they really have solidified their bonds and will stick together through it all. I really love how all of them interact, especially the "big dog bosses." Despite their gruff exteriors you can tell that underneath they really care for their "puppies."

This book had some major sexual tension. Bonnie has always been extremely open about her personal life and sexual preferences, or lack there of as she doesn't discriminate on gender. However, for once she may just have some secrets. From the start she has had a major attraction to one of the bosses, Ben Venec. In this book, it becomes apparent that he has some serious attraction to her as well. They both know it would only be a recipe for disaster so they try their best to stay away from each other. But some pretty strange things start happening between them that make it almost impossible to stay apart. Only sheer will power keeps them separate. You can almost taste the tension coming off the page.

I'm really glad that I gave this book a chance. After reading and not really enjoying the first book I was pretty sceptical about continuing the series. The biggest reason I did was while very slow, the first book did pave the way into a really intriguing world. The premise behind these books is really interesting and original, and I'm really glad this one was able to hold my interest much better. The additional sexual tension really added to the book as well, and makes me very eager for the next installment. All in all, it was a much better book than the first one, and now that the world is fully established, and the kinks are mostly out, I hope the series continues on this "new" path.

(Received from Netgalley)
Rating:

Pre-order at Amazon:
Pack of Lies (Luna Books)

Challenge Categories:
Outdo Yourself
Horror and Urban Fantasy

read more

Review: Hard Magic by Laura Anne Gilman

Hard Magic by Laura Anne Gilman

Paranormal Scene Investigations #1

Welcome to P.U.P.I.—Private, Unaffiliated, Paranormal Investigations

A handpicked team trained to solve crimes the regular police can't touch—crimes of magic.

My name's Bonnie Torres. Recent college grad, magic user and severely unemployed. Until I got a call out of nowhere to interview for a job I hadn't applied for. It smelled fishy, but the brutal truth was I needed the work—so off I went.

Two days later I'm a PUPI—me and Nick, Sharon, Nifty and Pietr. Five twenty somethings, thrown into an entirely new career in forensic magic.

The first job we get is a doozy: proving that the deaths of two Talents were murder, not suicide. Worse, there are high-profile people who want us to close up shop and go away. We're sniffing out things they'd rather keep buried.

Looks as if this job is gonna get interesting. The only problem is, we're making it up as we go along….
 
Bonnie, a recent college grad, comes from a very unique background. She was raised in two different worlds and this makes her a little different from everyone else. She's having a terrible time trying to find a job because of this. But then one day, a mysterious phone call changes everything. She finds herself mixed up in a group on the cutting edge of magical forensics. It's up the her and the team to set out and prove their worth in order to keep their jobs, all the while dodging someone's sabotaging efforts. Not everyone wants magic to be policed and if they aren't careful they stand to lose a lot more than just their jobs.

Bonnie is a really interesting character. Her birth father was a lonejack, an unorganized magic user, and her mentor/adopted father is a full fledged member of the council, the organized side of magic. This makes her very unique as she comes from "both sides of the river." In this book lonejacks and council just do not understand the other, but Bonnie does, and this is a rare talent. She also has amazing mental recall which makes her really good at capturing a scene. She also is bisexual, which isn't a problem in itself. However every time she meets someone she spends a long time in her head analyzing her attraction to the person, and that got old after a while.

The most enjoyable part of the book was the characters themselves. The team is comprised of individuals that could not be any more different. But somehow they all blend together to work great together. Don't get me wrong, in the beginning it was rough until they learned to play well together, but as time went on you could really see why the boss men picked each of them. Speaking of the boss men, the lone jack of the two, Vasic was really intriguing. I enjoyed the slight sexual tension between him and Bonnie and I'm eager to see whether it is just one sided or mutual.

This book really had a lot of potential for me, but it ultimately fell short. While the premise behind the book was intriguing and original, the book was paced incredibly slow at times, making it hard to stay focused. It became confusing at times because I just couldn't keep my interest in it enough to really pay attention to the fine details. That being said, I think the series could really pick in future books as the world has been fully established. I enjoyed the characters and their interactions with each other, so hopefully the next book will pick up the pace and make it a really enjoyable book. I'm rating this one a generous three butterflies based on the potential of the series.

Rating:

Buy now at Amazon:
Hard Magic (Luna Books)

read more