Author: Kate Griffin
Publisher: Orbit Books
Review: Jeff
So I tend to not read too many female authors, I think that's mostly because although I love urban fantasy I am not really into the romance and/or vampire porn that a lot of the female authors seem to be writing in this genre. With this author though I felt safe with reading for a few reasons, first all the reviews i have read seemed different than most, also I do admittedly prefer a male protagonist, I don't know if I feel like I relate to the character better or what the case may be but it's just what I prefer. Also she has Mike Careys stamp of approval and that's good enough for me.
Anyways on to the book itself. I loved this book. It is about a sorcerer named Mathew swift. The book starts with explaining that he died 2 years previously and is brought back to life. He doesn't know why or how he was brought back to life, and now now is is on a mission to get revenge on the person that killed him and also find the person who brought him back to life to figure out why.
The magic in this book is great. In fact I would say the only magic that I like better is the Night Watch series by Sergie Lukyanenko, and that's saying a lot because that is my favorite urban fantasy series that I have read. When Mathew first leaves his old house that is now occupied by another family he hits the streets to start to find some answers. It doesn't take long before he runs into some bad magic as he finds that someone sent a "litter bug" after him. A litter bug is exactly what it sounds like. It is a bunch of trash mixed together and completely animated with arms legs a mouth etc... it follows Mathew and attacks him. Mathew gets his magic from the city he feels the magic and it is a part of him, and a part of life. there are all kinds of great characters in the book. the bad guys are great. especially the shadow of the sorcerer who taught him. it's a shadow that he calls "hunger" because it is always hungry for life, especially the life of those strong with magic. It is a really brutal killer with little on its mind other than killing. It especially wants to kill mathew because within mathew is the blue electric angels that live inside of him. There are many other characters that Mathew teams up with, and fight against. Some look like they will be returning in the second book the midnight mayor which is already out in hardback, but I like to wait for the paperback so I have a few more months to wait.
I loved this book and look forward to continuing with the series and hopefuly the other books live up to this one. I highly recomend this one even if like me you are hesitant to read a female urban fantasty author because you are worried it will be full of romance and other things that you try to avoid.
