Review: Unique male voice in paranormal world
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 08 25, 2011
After Joe finds his wife having an affair with his best friend, he runs away and starts restoring an old theatre to help cope. He is quickly pulled into the Quarter Square, a haven for supernatural street performers located between this world and The Wild, a place where magic rules. Joe finds himself strangely at home there, and when Quarter Square is threatened by an ancient enemy, Joe makes a stand to help save his new friends.This story has a bit of everything paranormal thrown into a strangely coherent structure. There are supernatural talents, shape shifters, reincarnated everlasting love, and more. There is lots of action packed into a surprisingly short book.Hearing a paranormal story through a male hero is quite unique, and makes for a very different read than usual. It was refreshing. Joe is an ordinary guy who finds himself in an extraordinary position. I found him very likable and easy to cheer for.I did like Min, his love interest, very much. I am not a fan of insta-love, or its cousin, repeating reincarnated love. I found Min to be condescending, snooty and overall unlikable. She doesn't treat Joe very well, and I'd have much rather him found a nice girl who would appreciate his nice guy appeal.This is definitely the first book in a series. The ending is left wide open, and the main plotline is not wrapped up or concluded in any way. That said, the story felt satisfying, without the stereotypical maddening cliff hanger ending that is becoming so prevalent. The story real set the stage for the next book, and I look forward to it, whenever it arrives.