May/June 2021 Book Club: Minimum Wage Magic (DFZ #1) by Rachel Aaron. Also Part Time Gods, and Night Shift Dragons.

 

 

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Content: Pretty clean, but I think there was some language.

Making a living is hard. In a lawless city where gods are real, dragons are traffic hazards, and buildings move around on their own, it can feel downright impossible.

Good thing freelance mage Opal Yong-ae has never let little things like impossibility stop her. She’s found a way to put her overpriced magical art history degree to use as a Cleaner: a contract municipal employee who empties out abandoned apartments and resells the unusual treasures she finds inside for a profit. It’s not a pretty job, or a safe one--there’s a reason she wears bite-proof gloves--but when you’re neck-deep in debt to a very magical, very nasty individual, you can’t be picky about where the money comes from.

But even Opal’s low standards are put to the test when the only thing of value in her latest apartment is the body of the previous tenant. Dealing with the dead isn’t technically part of her job, but this mage died hiding a secret that could be worth a lot of money, and Opal’s the only one who knows. With debts she can’t pay due at the end of the week, this could be the big break she’s been waiting for, but in a city of runaway magic where getting in over your head generally means losing it, the cost of chasing this opportunity might be more than Opal can survive.

AUTHOR’S NOTE:
This is the first in a new series set in the same universe as my Heartstrikers books, but you don’t need to have read those stories to enjoy this one. MINIMUM WAGE MAGIC was written to stand by itself, so if you haven’t read the others, don’t worry! I wrote this book with you in mind. Thank you so much for reading!

 

It's safe to say that Rachel Aaron is one of my favorite authors. I've enjoyed everything I've read by her, The Legend of Eli Monpress, The Paradox trilogy (written under the name Rachel Bach), and of course Heartstrikers. This author's books are just so relatable, and so very readable. After reading the Heartstrikers series and loving it, I was really excited to read about the DFZ, and it didn't disappoint. Most of us ended up reading the whole trilogy in the two months we had between book club meetings. This review will be for all three books in the trilogy. 

When I read Heartstrikers I loved it, but I also felt like it went on for too many books, so I was happy that this sequel series, set in the same world, was only three books. Lengthwise, it felt just right to me. I loved the way the DFZ was depicted as a moving city and how the other gods were portrayed. And it was nice getting the cameo appearances from Julian, Bob, and others from Heartstrikers. 

I enjoyed all the characters in this series, even though Opal made some questionable decisions at times. I did think that her decisions were understandable to a point because of the nature of her relationship with her father. I enjoyed the way this series showed Opal and her father and how they each saw things differently and the reasons behind the way they both felt. I liked the third book a little bit less than the first two, I think mainly because Nik was in it less, but I appreciated the time spent with Opal's father in that book and the way things ended up.

I listened to the audio and I have to say that I was disappointed it wasn't the same narrator as the one from Heartstrikers. Vikas Adam is such an amazing narrator, and I missed listening to his voice, especially during the Bob cameos. That being said, this narrator was good, just not the same.

I highly recommend this series if you like urban fantasy, and dragons, but I would start with Heartstrikers and then read DFZ. I also feel like this is a series that both adults and teens alike can read and enjoy.

In honor of the books we had pancakes and Asian noodles at book club. 

 

 

 

And Risa brought a cockatrice egg cheese ball.

 

Here are my ratings for the other two books in the trilogy:

 

 

 

 

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Content: I think there was some language, off page sex

 

 

Life in the magical mess of the Detroit Free Zone is never easy. When you’re laboring under the curse of a certain prideful, overbearing dragon, it can be down right impossible.

My name is Opal Yong-ae, and I’m a Cleaner. At least, I used to be. Thanks to the supernatural bad luck that turns everything I do against me, these days I’m more of a walking disaster. Getting rid of this curse is the only way to get my life back. Unfortunately, dragon magic is every bit as sneaky and deadly the monsters behind it, and just as hard to beat.

But I’ve never been one to take her doom at face value. Cornered doesn’t mean defeated, and in an awakened city that rules herself, dragons are no longer the biggest powers around. 

 

 

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Content: I think there was some strong language 

 

They say family always sticks together, but when you’re your dad’s only lifeline and the whole world—humans, dragons, and gods—wants you dead, “family bonding” takes on a whole new meaning.

My name is Opal Yong-ae, and I’m in way over my head. I thought getting rid of my dad’s bad luck curse would put things back to normal. Instead, I’m stuck playing caretaker to the Great Dragon of Korea. That wouldn’t be so bad if he wasn’t such a jerk, or if every dragon on the planet wasn’t out to kill him, or if he was my only problem.

Turns out, things can always get worse in the DFZ. When a rival spirit attacks my god/boss with the aim of turning the famously safety-optional city into a literal death arena with Nik as his bloody champion, I’m thrust onto the front lines and way out of my comfort zone. When gods fight, mortals don’t usually survive, but I’m not alone this time. Even proud old dragons can learn new tricks, and with everything I love falling to pieces, the father I’ve always run from might just be the only force in the universe stubborn enough to pull us back together.

 

 

 

 

Fallen (Kate Burkholder #13) by Linda Castillo

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Mystery, Suspense
Content: Strong Language, A very brutal killing with some description, A rape that isn't described in much detail.

 

When a young woman is found murdered in a Painters Mill motel, Chief of Police Kate Burkholder is shocked to discover she once knew the victim. Rachael Schwartz was a charming but troubled Amish girl who left the fold years ago and fled Painters Mill. Why was she back in town? And who would kill her so brutally?

Kate remembers Rachael as the only girl who was as bad at being Amish as Kate was—and those parallels dog her. But the deeper Kate digs into Rachael Schwartz’s life, the more she’s convinced that Rachael’s dubious reputation was deserved. As a child, Rachael was a rowdy rulebreaker whose decision to leave devastated her parents and best friend. As an adult, she was charismatic and beautiful, a rabble-rouser with a keen eye for opportunity no matter who got in her way. Her no-holds-barred lifestyle earned her a lot of love and enemies aplenty—both English and Amish.

As the case heats to a fever pitch and long-buried secrets resurface, a killer haunts Painters Mill. Someone doesn’t want Rachael’s past—or the mysteries she took with her to the grave—coming to light. As Kate digs deeper, violence strikes again, this time hitting close to home. Will Kate uncover the truth and bring a murderer to justice? Or will a killer bent on protecting a terrible past, stop her once and for all—and let the fallen be forgotten?

 

Kate Burkholder and John Tomasetti have become like old friends that I enjoy visiting with every year. That being said, I don't think my expectations for these books are ever real high. Some of the books in the series have been better than others. There have definitely been times I wanted to give up on this series, but at this point I've made peace with it, and I feel like the characters have grown and I like them. 

This time around I thought the story was compelling but there were some implausibilities that were hard for me to ignore, thus the 3 star rating. The implausibilities were mainly surrounding the murder. It was a vicious murder that was very personal and full of rage, and after reading about these characters and their backgrounds and motives, I just felt like it wasn't likely this person would have killed the way they did. There was a good enough reason for wanting to kill someone, I guess, but it didn't feel believable for this person or for the amount of rage that was involved. 

Despite the implausibilities, I still enjoyed reading this book and look forward to visiting Painter's Mill again next year. I think the thing I like best about these books is the way the author paints the Amish people in the stories, and how Kate can relate to them still, even though she is no longer Amish. I also like that we get to go down memory lane with Kate in most of the books as she relates something to her past.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC of this book.

 

 

The Killing Fog (The Grave Kingdom #1) by Jeff Wheeler

  

My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

Category: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Content: Clean

Survivor of a combat school, the orphaned Bingmei belongs to a band of mercenaries employed by a local ruler. Now the nobleman, and collector of rare artifacts, has entrusted Bingmei and the skilled team with a treacherous assignment: brave the wilderness’s dangers to retrieve the treasures of a lost palace buried in a glacier valley. But upsetting its tombs has a price.

Echion, emperor of the Grave Kingdom, ruler of darkness, Dragon of Night, has long been entombed. Now Bingmei has unwittingly awakened him and is answerable to a legendary prophecy. Destroying the dark lord before he reclaims the kingdoms of the living is her inherited mission. Killing Bingmei before she fulfills it is Echion’s.

Thrust unprepared into the role of savior, urged on by a renegade prince, and possessing a magic that is her destiny, Bingmei knows what she must do. But what must she risk to honor her ancestors? Bingmei’s fateful choice is one that neither her friends nor her enemies can foretell, as Echion’s dark war for control unfolds.

 

After reading all of the Kingfountain books and the other book series that are set in that same world, I decided to try this series that is set in a completely different one. I've enjoyed most everything I've read by Jeff Wheeler, but I have to say I did not find this one nearly as interesting. I liked the characters and at times the story would catch my attention, but there were also times I got bored with the story. Sometimes I would zone out and have to backtrack. Because of this, it took me a lot longer to read this than I thought it would. 

In general I recommend Jeff Wheeler's books, but this one just did nothing for me. This is a trilogy, but I'm sad to say that at this time I don't think I will continue on to the other books. I will, however try one of his other independent series.

Shifting Shadows: Stories from the World of Mercy Thompson (Mercy Thompson #Shorts) by Patricia Briggs

  

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy
Content: Strong Language, The Story Alpha and Omega has discussions of past rapes and abuse.

I'm a huge Mercy Thompson fan and I've read every one of the books, including the spin off series with Charles and Anna, so I have no idea why it took me so long to read this compilation of stories from that world, especially since I have this in three forms! But I finally got around to it and of course I loved it. 

There are a total of 10 stories, plus 2 outtakes in the book and I'll add my ratings and any thoughts on each one below.

Silver- 4 stars. This was a story that went way back to when Samuel was turned into a werewolf. Bran is featured as well and I liked getting this backstory on the two of them. It also tells how Samuel first met Ariana and how they eventually ended up parting ways.

Fairy Gifts- 3.5 stars. This one features Margaret who played a small role in Fire Touched. It's been a few years since I read that book, so I struggled to remember who she was. I liked this story a lot, but it didn't hold my interest as much as I wanted it to.

Gray- 3.5 stars. A story about a woman who gets turned into a vampire in 1920s Chicago and the tragic results. I enjoyed the ghost story aspect of it the most.

Seeing Eye- 4 stars. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story about how Tom and Moira from Hunting Ground met. 

Alpha and Omega- 4 stars. Most people have read this prequel story to the Charles and Anna books, but I never got around to reading it until now. Typically I would dislike how instantly these two fall for each other, but I can give it a pass considering the circumstances and the wolf mate thing. I've always loved Anna as a character and it was interesting to actually read this even though it has been recapped a lot in the series.

The Star of David- 4 stars. This story is about Adam's old military buddy David Christiansen who was featured in Moon Called. It tells about what happens when his estranged daughter, Stella needs his help with a problem involving something supernatural. I really liked this one and the themes it touched on of love and forgiveness.

Roses in Winter- 4 stars. This is the story of the teenage werewolf Kara who is mentioned in Blood Bound. Patricia Briggs wasn't able to fit it into the book, but I'm glad that it was included here. I liked finding out what happened to Kara, and also the friendship she forms with Asil.

In Red, with Pearls 4 stars. This one is a story about Warren. I always enjoy Warren in the books, so this was a nice bit of insight into his character. 

Redemption- 3.5 stars. This story is about Ben and it centers around his workplace and job as a DBA. I enjoyed the bit of character growth for him in this story, and the part with him trying to quit swearing for a week were pretty funny.

Hollow- 4 stars. Finally we get a story about Mercy. I thought there would be more of them, but this is the only one. Mercy reluctantly helps someone with a ghost problem here, and of course things get pretty hairy, just like every time Mercy gets involved in something. I found this one very entertaining. 

There are a couple of outtakes at the end of the book that I thought were pretty good, one from Silver Borne about Samuel and Ariana and one from Night Broken that involves Adam and Coyote.

The Facefaker's Game by Chandler J. Birch

 

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Content: Strong language

 

For fans of Patrick Rothfuss and Scott Lynch, a picaresque fantasy about a clever young beggar who bargains his way into an apprenticeship with a company of thieving magicians and uses his newfound skills in a vendetta against a ruthless crime lord.

Ashes lives in Burroughside—the dirtiest, most crime-ridden district in the huge city of Teranis. His neighbors are gangs of fellow orphans, homeless madmen, and monsters that swarm the streets at nightfall. Determined to escape Burroughside, Ashes spends his days begging, picking pockets, and cheating at cards. When he draws the wrath of Mr. Ragged, Burroughside’s brutal governor, he is forced to flee for his life, only to be rescued by an enigmatic man named Candlestick Jack.

Jack leads a group of Artificers, professional magicians who can manipulate light with their bare hands to create stunningly convincing illusions. Changing a face is as simple as changing a hat. Ashes seizes an opportunity to study magic under Jack and quickly befriends the rest of the company: Juliana, Jack’s aristocratic wife; William, his exacting business partner; and Synder, his genius apprentice. But all is not as it seems: Jack and his company lead a double life as thieves, and they want Ashes to join their next heist. Between lessons on light and illusion, Ashes begins preparing to help with Jack’s most audacious caper yet: robbing the richest and most ruthless nobleman in the city.

 

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It was easy to read, pulled me in immediately, and the characters were likable. The world is very reminiscent of Victorian London and the book felt like it could have been inspired by Dickens. Someone said Oliver Twist with magic and that seems rather accurate, but I also think the comparison to Rothfuss is a good comparison, at least as far as the story goes. The writing style is very different though. I can't say how similar it is to Lynch though, as I haven't read any of his books.

I really liked the magic system in the book, even though it wasn't some big intricately thought out thing. It worked and was enough for the story. There were some nice twists and turns in the story and it left me wanting to read more. The author said he wanted to write more, but it's been five years and so far nothing else has been written. For now I'm going to consider this a standalone, and it works ok as one, although there are some answers that I would love to have about the rasa, where they come from, and why they can't remember who they are. I would also like to know how the ravagers came to be. I do have my eye on this author and I'll be watching for any new releases in the future.

Murder on Wall Street (Gaslight Mystery #24) by Victoria Thompson

 

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Mystery
Content: Clean

 

Reformed gangster Jack Robinson is working hard to bolster his image in Gilded Age New York City society as he prepares to become a new father. But when Hayden Norcross, the man who nearly ruined his wife, is shot in cold blood, Jack knows the police will soon come knocking on his door. Frank Malloy has to agree—things don’t look good for Jack. But surely a man as unlikeable as Hayden had more than a few enemies. And it’s soon clear that plenty of the upper echelon as well as the denizens of the most squalid areas of the city seem to have hated him.

Sarah and Frank have their work cut out for them. As the daughter of the elite Decker family, Sarah has access to the social circles Hayden frequented, and the more she learns about his horrific treatment of women, the more disturbed she becomes. And as Frank investigates, he finds that Hayden had a host of unsavory habits that may have hastened his demise. But who finally killed him? Sarah and Frank must put the pieces together quickly before time runs out and Jack’s hard-won new life and family are ripped apart.

 

After reading twenty-four books in this series, it has become like an old friend. I find these books to be comfort reads at this point and although I've had my complaints about how easy the murders are to figure out—this one was no exception—and how slowly the relationships develop, I still enjoy these and look forward to them every year. I liked this book a little better than the last one, and I think the reason for that is that Sarah's parents got involved in solving the mystery. I just love when Mrs. Decker is on the case! I also enjoyed reading more about Jack Robinson and Jocelyn and their relationship. Now can we just move things along a little bit faster for Maeve?

Thanks to Goodreads and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book.

The Nature of a Lady (The Secrets of the Isles #1) by Roseanna M. White

  

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Category: Adult, Christian Fiction
Genre: Romance, Historical Romance, Mystery
Content: Clean

 

1906
Lady Elizabeth "Libby" Sinclair, with her love of microscopes and nature, isn't favored in society. She flees to the beautiful Isles of Scilly for the summer and stumbles into the dangerous secrets left behind by her holiday cottage's former occupant, also named Elizabeth, who mysteriously vanished.

Oliver Tremayne--gentleman and clergyman--is determined to discover what happened to his sister, and he's happy to accept the help of the girl now living in what should have been Beth's summer cottage . . . especially when he realizes it's the curious young lady he met briefly two years ago, who shares his love of botany and biology. But the hunt for his sister involves far more than nature walks, and he can't quite believe all the secrets Beth had been keeping from him.

As Libby and Oliver work together, they find ancient legends, pirate wrecks, betrayal, and the most mysterious phenomenon of all: love.

 

It's no secret that I enjoy Roseanna M. White's books, and when I saw this new trilogy was being published, of course I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book! Overall I liked this story. As with all of White's books, it includes romance, historical elements, and also a bit of a mystery, along Christian themes. This one was slow moving in the beginning, and I wasn't sure if I was going to like it as first, but it ended up being a good read—not a favorite—but good. At times it just lacked a little excitement. I think I would have enjoyed the book a bit more if the intrigue had played a larger part, and the romance had felt a bit more intense. The island setting and the bit of intrigue reminded me of Mary Stewart's book The Moon Spinners, but only a little.

I enjoyed every character in this book, especially Libby and Oliver, and I really liked how Libby came to understand that God and science are not mutually exclusive of each other but go hand in hand. This part of the book—the naturalist part— reminded a little of Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell. I think the real strength of the book is the message about being yourself and finding your place in the world. I enjoyed how Libby was able to find that. 

 

Thanks to NetGalley and Bethany House Publishers for providing me with an ARC of this book.