Review - Hands of Flame by C. E. Murphy

Hands of Flame
The Negotiator, Book 3
C. E. Murphy
Luna
September 1, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-373-80270-8

From the back cover:
War has erupted among the five Old Races, and Margrit is responsible for the death that caused it. Now New York City's most unusual lawyer finds herself facing her toughest negotiation yet. And with her gargoyle lover, Alban, taken prisoner, Margrit's only allies—a dragon bitter about his fall, a vampire determined to hold his standing at any cost and a mortal detective with no idea what he's up against—have demands of their own.

Determined to rescue Alban and torn between conflicting loyalties as the battle seeps into the human world, Margrit soon realizes the only way out is through the fire.…

My thoughts:
Margrit Knight has become the Negotiator for the Old Races. As a lawyer she can argue a case with the best of them, and she’ll need every bit of her skill when she comes up against the gargoyle’s council. Alban Korund, her gargoyle lover, has gotten himself in hot water defending Margrit’s life and if she loses this case she could lose him as well.

Fighting has broken out among the Old Races and is beginning to spill over into the human population. Detective Tony Pulcella has little choice but to step in and finds himself in the middle of beings he has no chance against. His future, along with the Old Races, lies in the choices that Margrit makes. If the fighting continues they’ll risk exposure, and the human race is far from ready.

This is the third installment in The Negotiator series, and the final release in this trilogy. Margrit Knight’s life has become more complicated since the night she met Alban Korund, and now with a war brewing among the Old Races it’s her job to prevent it. Ms. Murphy provides the action, mystery, and romance that keeps readers engrossed in this urban fantasy, and introduces new beginnings and tragic ends to shake up her character’s world. While some aspects of the storyline come to a close, others are kept open for the possibility of revisiting the Old Races. Hands of Flame has some surprises in store and should be read in order, after Heart of Stone and House of Cards.

To learn more about The Negotiator series, please visit Ms. Murphy’s website: Here

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

The Wild Road by Marjorie Liu

The Wild Road
A Dirk & Steele Novel
Marjorie Liu
Leisure Books
July 29, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-8439-5939-0

From the back cover:
Lannes Hannelore is one of a dying race born to protect mankind against demonic forces. And while those who look upon him see a beautiful man, this illusion is nothing but a prison. His existence is one of pure isolation, hiding in plain sight, with brief solace found in simple pleasures: stretching his wings on a stormy night, long late drives on empty highways, the deep soul of sad songs. But when Lannes finds a young woman covered in blood—desperate and alone, with no memory or past—he will be drawn into a mystery that makes him question all he knows. And though it goes against his nature and everything he fears, Lannes will risk his heart, his secrets, and his very soul, in order to save someone who could be the love of his life...or the end of it.

My thoughts:
A woman wakes surrounded by a horrifically bloody scene and has no memory of what’s happened or who she is. She runs from the room and finds herself with Lannes, a man with his own secrets who’s willing to help. Together they try to unravel her past with little to go by. As clues emerge they follow them to their end, revealing a decades old mystery that has a bizarre connection to the amnesiac woman’s current situation.

Lannes is a gargoyle whose race is dying off with little hope for their future. Hiding away after being kidnapped and tortured by a crazy witch, Lannes has little contact with the outside world. When he ventures out to visit a friend, his life takes a sharp turn in the form of a woman he catches in the act of trying to break-in to his car. She’s a woman in need of rescue and protection, and that’s a combination Lannes can’t resist.

The Wild Road takes readers on a wild ride from the opening to the surprising end. While the characters have endured difficult times in their lives, their strengths are well described and shine through the shadows that surround them both. Ms. Liu has quickly become one of my favorite authors with her solid writing and engaging tales. The Wild Road is heavy on paranormal mystery and realistic in its romance. The creative twists and turns made it impossible to set down and I thoroughly enjoyed every chapter. This is listed as the 8th Dirk & Steele story in the series, but is easily read as a stand alone.

You can read the first chapter of The Wild Road by visiting the publisher’s site: Here

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Don't Hex With Texas by Shanna Swendson

Don’t Hex With Texas
Katie Chandler, Book 4
Shanna Swendson
Ballantine Books
April 29, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-345-49293-7

Katie Chandler thought she was doing the right thing by leaving her job and the man she cared about behind. Far from Manhattan, she returns to her hometown of Cobb, Texas where life is generally quiet. While she missed her job at Magic, Spells, and Illusions, Inc., Katie thought her absence would help to keep Owen safe. Her boss, Merlin, seemed to agree. Little did she know that something was brewing in her hometown, and someone she knows could be deeply involved.

Owen Palmer is a powerful wizard who’s at war against darker magic. He’s been busy tracking down Idris, a wizard who poses a dangerous threat. When Katie’s hometown is in magic induced trouble, Owen betrays his orders and heads down to help. What he discovers could be a real problem. While he manages to find assistance from some unexpected sources, he’ll still have to rely on their honor in keeping their promises. Not such an easy thing to do when so many lives are on the line.

This is the fourth installment in the Katie Chandler series. In this magical world wizards can be charming, gargoyles make fabulous bodyguards, and what most of the world sees is rarely what’s there. Don’t Hex With Texas is fun, witty and delightfully entertaining. Ms. Swendson weaves fantasy, fairytales and her own creative magic into the storyline, making this series simply unique.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

House of Cards by C. E. Murphy

House of Cards
The Negotiator, Book 2
C. E. Murphy
Luna
March 1, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-373-80263-0

Margrit Knight has become the negotiator between the Old Races. Made up of gargoyles, dragons, vampires, djinn and selkies, they have existed with humans through the years by remaining hidden or hiding in plain sight. Keeping their true natures concealed from humans has helped to ensure their survival, but with some of the Old Races dying out it’s become imperative that they find a common ground between them. This is Margrit’s job, and it’s earned her a voting seat in their quorum.

Janx, the dragon crimelord that Margrit owes favors to, has called one in. He’s concerned that someone has targeted Malik, the djinn by his side, and Margrit is given the task of keeping him alive. While she protects him during the day, it’s Alban, the gargoyle, who will guard him at night. Someone among the Old Races has more of a personal agenda in mind, and once they reach for their goal only knowledge and a quick mind will save everyone else involved.

House of Cards is the second installment in The Negotiator series. As Margrit is drawn deeper into the world of the Old Races, her human life is rapidly changing. While she hadn’t prepared for her future to change in such ways, Margrit has the strength to see it through. Ms. Murphy builds an intriguing world for her characters and shares it in vivid detail. The non-stop action and suspense will easily keep the reader’s attention, and the ongoing romance adds just the right amount of heat. In order to get the most from this fabulous series the opening installment, Heart of Stone, should be read first.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews