Tag Archives: Domino Finn

Dead Man by Domino Finn

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Dead Man
Author: Domino Finn
Series: Black Magic Outlaw #1
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Magic, Urban fantasy, Zombies
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2015

Thoughts

I really loved this novel. I mean, it wasn’t one that I couldn’t put down, but it was still one that I was hanging to get back into. The perfect mix for a book sometimes. Don’t get me wrong, page-turners that are impossible to put down are great. But, sometimes it makes me more hesitant to read another book by that author – because then I’ll get too bogged down in it. Finn manages that perfect amount of action – enough that I really wanted to keep on reading and find out what was going to happen next. But not so much that I couldn’t possibly move past this story. Plus, the amount of action and drama throughout this just makes me intrigued as to what other chaotic nonsense Cisco is going to get into.

The idea of waking up dead, ten years after the fact, and unravelling the pieces to what actually happened was a pretty intense journey. I mean, I couldn’t quite get my head around it for the entirety of the story. And I enjoyed the adventure that Cisco and his chaotic past took me on. I can’t wait to find out more of what happened in that ten year interim, and also, how he was shaped as a zombie-man. Then, there’s the discovery of Finn’s special brand of magic throughout this. It’s not often that I can read an urban fantasy which has world building that comes as a surprise. I love that the mix of practiced beliefs and magic all combine into a very unique form of magic. One that, again, I can’t wait to find out more about.

I particularly loved the use of Bokors and Hoodoo throughout Finn’s world building. Cisco has an unforgettable narrative voice that I couldn’t forget. And having Hoodoo and Bokors explained with his special brand of sass and quirkiness was seriously enjoyable. I mean, this was ridiculously fun and added to the rest of the story. Dead Man was filled with so much angst and drama, and the use of different practices to create it just added to the enjoyment. This was also one of the darker urban fantasies on my shelves, which, at this point in my life was a great fit. And I loved how much fun I had reading it.

I can’t wait to read the next book in the Black Magic Outlaw series, Shadow Play. I mean, this was an intense and fun adventure all on its own. And now, after all of the discovery and chaos in Dead Man, Cisco has a chance at a second life. He might have lost all of his family and friends, and burnt a whole lot of bridges, but I feel that he’s about to find a whole new place in his life. I’m so excited to go on this next journey with him!

<- More Domino FinnShadow Play ->

Image source: Goodreads

Urban Enemies edited by Joseph Nassise

Book Review, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Overview
Image result for urban enemies book cover

Title: Urban Enemies
Author: Joseph Nassise, Jim Butcher, Kelley Armstrong, Jeff Somers, Craig Schaefer, Lilith Saintcrow, Kevin Hearne, Caitlin Kittredge, Carrie Vaughn, Jonathan Maberry, Faith Hunter, Jon F. Merz, Diana Pharaoh Francis, Steven Savile, Domino Finn, Seanan McGuire & Sam Witt
In: Urban Enemies (Joseph Nassise)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Short story collections, Urban fantasy, Villains
Dates read: 31st July – 30th December 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Anthology
Publisher: Gallery Books
Year: 2017
5th sentence, 74th page: He’d sent her out of the morgue just long enough to make a quick phone call in private.

Synopsis

Villains have all the fun

For every hero trying to save the world, there’s a villain trying to tear it all down – and in this star-studded urban fantasy anthology, the villains get their say. Told from antagonists’ points of view, this is a rare glimpse into the dark side of your favorite series.

John Marcone decides to battle a cantrev lord instead of going after Harry Dresden in Jim Butcher’s “Even Hand” (Dresden Files). Loki traverses Hell to ahve a sit-down with Lucifer in Kevin Hearn’es “The Naughtiest Cherub” (Iron Druid Chronicles). Kelley Armstrong’s “Hounded” (Cainsville) tells the tale of the Huntsman’s plot to replace his missing hound in a most surprising fashion. The cuckoos are powerful telepathic predators, but one finds herself with difficult decisions to make in Seanan McGuire’s “Balance” (InCryptid). In Jonathan Maberry’s “Altar Boy” (Joe Ledger), the man called Toys is no saint, and certainly isn’t playing around…

Includes other stories by Domino Finn (Black Magic Outlaw), Diana Pharaoh Francis (Horngate Witches), Faith Hunter (Jane Yellowrock), Caitlin Kittredge (Hellhound Chronicles), Jon F. Merz (Lawson Vampire), Joseph Nassise (Templar Chronicles), Lilith Saintcrow (Jill Kismet), Steven Savile (Glass Town), Craig Schaefer (Daniel Faust), Jeff Somers (The Ustari Cycle), Carrie Vaughn (Kitty Norville), and Sam Witt (Pitchfork County).

Thoughts

I really enjoyed this collection, but it was a little more difficult to get through. Unlike a lot of anthologies, every single one of these stories was placed in an already established world and series. However, unlike the few other books that I’ve read which have the same setup, these shorts didn’t stand by themselves very well. Actually, some were just downright confusing because I had no idea what was happening.

What I did love about this collection is that even though I wasn’t 100% about what was happening… there was a little introduction at the beginning of each story. It just explained the worlds and series in a brief manner. Not excellently because I still didn’t actually get what was happening in a number of stories, but enough that it helped me to place the stories a little.

I’d be keen to reread a number of these short stories. Particularly once I’ve actually read the series in which they are situated. At this point, they’re all on my wish list, so it’ll happen… eventually. I seriously need to stop starting a series and then starting a new one… should really finish a few before I get too hooked into a new series.

 <- EverywhereEven Hand ->

Image source: Simon & Schuster

The Difference Between Deceit and Delusion by Domino Finn

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for urban enemies book cover

Title: The Difference Between Deceit and Delusion
Author: Domino Finn
Series: Black Magic Outlaw Companion
In: Urban Enemies (Joseph Nassise)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal fantasy, Urban fantasy
Dates read: 19th December 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Gallery Books
Year: 2017
5th sentence, 74th page: Bullets peppered the large surface but failed to penetrate.

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Synopsis

What’s the difference between deceit and delusion? Will this villain be able to figure out the answer before it’s too late?

Thoughts

This entire story was just a complete, total and utter massacre. Which I loved. Because I’m a blood-thirsty little freak. But it’s probably not okay that I actually enjoyed this much death and killing. I grinned the whole way through this story. Completely unable to remove the grin from my face. But, it’s hooked me into this series. So obviously it was a story that was worth reading and a series that will make it to the top of my TBR list.

I loved that this story utilises people of African faith and mythology. It’s not one that I come across frequently, and I hope that this African flavor makes its way into the greater series when I finally get to add them to my shelves. Most of my stories generally include European mythologies, and I’m sure some of that will makes its way in, but the fact that there was discussion of Anansi and the such? It made the bloodthirsty grin even wider.

One of the reasons that I probably enjoyed the bloodthirstiness of this story so much – I’ve been in a pretty bad mood of late. Reading a story which is incredibly violent and dark is always a way to draw me in when I’m in such a state. Not the kind of short story that I’m likely to forget anytime soon.

 <- Reel Life ReviewBalance Review ->
Image source: Simon & Schuster