Thursday, October 18, 2012

Dark currents by Jacqueline Carey

Dark currents by Jacqueline Carey. Welcome to Pemkowet where Hel, Norse goddess, oversees the eldritch races in town.
Meet Daisy Johanssen, Hel's liason with the mortal authorities. And Hel's enforcer.
She's also hell-spawn, well, half. And, yes, in this case the Judeo-Christian meaning of Hell... ie demon.

Usually things are pretty quiet for Daisy. Her part-time job as filing clerk in the police department keeps her vaguely occupied. And handy when the Chief needs her attendance. She has family and relationship issues to deal with, paying the rent, feeding the cat (when he deigns to turn up).
Then, a mortal frat boy is found dead. Under suspicious circumstances.
Add in some interesting males - some of whom are also interested in Daisy (there's also the one Daisy is interested in) - and you have an, on the face of it, reasonably standard urban fantasy.

However, Carey's skill and ability as an author makes this one of the best urban fantasies around.
Her world-building is sound and more varied than many urban fantasies / paranormal romances. Yes, there are vampires. Yes, there are werewolves. But there are also ogres, trolls, mermaids, fairies, ghouls... and a few other creatures you discover along the way.
The world is also populated by characters. There's Daisy, herself, who is a pretty-normal young woman. Except for a few things. One of them is trying not to lose her temper. If she gives in to her demon-half, she could bring about the end of the world. Armageddon - final battle and all that.

Anyway - the suspicious death of the frat boy is solved (surely that's not a spoiler). Daisy's relationships are up-in-the-air. And, there's more to come. (You'd hope so, what with the whole Agent of Hel, book 1 promise). Don't believe me? Check out the reviews on goodreads.

Bring it on.

Other urban fantasies that are a cut above include Halfway to the grave by Jeaniene Frost; Cry wolf by Patricia Briggs; Precinct 13 by Tate Hallaway; Sunshine by Robin McKinleyUrban shaman by C.E. Murphy; Dragon bound by Thea Harrison.

~ Reviewed by Aud Selene.

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