Review: excellent urban fantasy/romance
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 17, 2012
I am really enjoying O'Faolain's urban fantasy/romance series, Section Thirteen. The first book, "The Thirteenth Child" was a solid urban fantasy with some romantic elements. This book has a strong romance as a subplot to the mystery. The mystery is very well-developed, with some great surprises. But readers should know that this installment has many more graphic sex scenes, and erotic undertones than the first book. That made it all the better for me.Cole is a very likeable hero, that reminds me a lot of Harry Dresden. He's more roguish than noble, but he is a "paranormal" being (Sidhe rather than wizard) living in a world that doesn't believe in magic. He also works with a special police squad, Section Thirteen, tasked with supernatural cases. At the end of book one, Cole was roped into the Section as a Special Detective and also began a relationship with the team leader, Joss Vallimun. I love their romance - it has a strong foundation, hot sex and both men are realists trying their best in an insane world. However, the mystery is what had me reading this book straight through in one evening. Someone is killing little boys by burning them alive. In the midst of that case, Cole and Joss get pulled into another. A murdered teacher at a private school, where fey are being enslaved. It seems most urban fantasies have a human organization that hates the "otherworldy" and this one is no different. Cole has avoided them, until now. I loved that the story had multiple plot lines, with lots of twists and more than one "villain." There is a lot fo character development, and unexpected consequences for Cole and Joss.Overall, this was another fantastic novel, and I cannot wait for more. My one teensy, tiny criticism? I hate the cover. The first one was excellent. It evoked a paranormal urban fantasy, but hinted at a romance with Cole's bare chest. This looks like any other contemporary gay romance. Erotica with little substance - which could not be further from the truth!