Review: An imaginative quest, full of surprises
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 04 5, 2014
Alix and partner Fagan are demon-hunters. They put their lives on the line to protect humanity from otherworldly creatures. Their standard operating procedure is simple enough: if it’s not human, not of this earth, kill it. All demons are presumed to be evil invaders, even though they have little if anything to do with the quasi-religious concept of “demon” as a supernatural minion of the underworld. Usually it’s a case of no hesitation, no questions asked. But sometimes the hunters will capture a demon hoping to gain information before they execute it.One such captive hints to Alix that he may know how to find the Storyteller, the possibly mythical being who has the story of everyone’s life written down, and might, some say, be able to make changes. Perhaps the devastating events that changed Alix’s life forever can be reversed. It’s enough that, given the chance, the hunters will cross into the other world to seek the Storyteller.Now the status quo is about to change. The hunters will come to question everything they thought they knew, as they find themselves embroiled in a conflict in the demons’ world.I liked this story very much. The characters, both humans and demons, are well-rounded and believable. There’s plenty of action and tension, and mystery as well. The companions encounter one danger after another, and things quite often aren’t what they seem to be. On the other hand, I did hit a “speed bump” early in the story that totally blew my “suspension of disbelief” to the extent that, if I’d been reading the paper version of the book, I might have thrown it across the room. (I did put the Kindle down and walked away, but curiosity eventually brought me back.) Heat is energy. Heat flows from one system to another. You don’t chill an object by putting “cold” into it. Not even if you have access to the magic of an ice dragon. So, four stars instead of five, and I’ll be watching for the sequel.