This is one of the best new urban fantasy series I’ve read in awhile. The books has everything you want in urban fantasy: intriguing world building with it’s own unique history and flavor, likable characters, a nice balance between real world life and paranormal craziness, action, adventure, steamy sex and in a nice surprise, a very gay inclusive world.
Angel is a sorcerer who’s busy teaching magic to his private students and taking care of his troubled and self destructive younger brother. He conducts his sex life with a hit and run attitude, not wanting emotional entanglements.
The relationship with Angel and his difficult brother Isaac, who he raised after they were orphaned, while only a subplot was my favorite part of the book. Angel is a tough guy who can take out a demon before lunch but he’s helpless in the face of his brother’s seeming eagerness to party himself into an early grave under the influence of his own equally self destructive boyfriend.
The book’s pace was brisk and at times I wanted to get out and explore the intriguing world of magic and intrigue. The action was engrossing, the sex was steamy and Angel’s sarcastic coping skills were funny.
The one thing I’d like to have seen explored better was Angel’s love interest Simeon. He was hugely important yet I never felt like I connected with the character or understood him. His basic concept, a savage Viking under a thin veneer of cultured respectability was interesting, but he just never quite came alive for me the way I wanted him to, and that made the romance a little hard to understand if I didn’t get who this guy was. Hopefully Simeon will get developed in further books as the second book is already out and hopefully coming soon to audio.
There’s a really colorful supporting cast, from Angel’s business partner who’s equal parts fierce defender and exasperated mother figure to a family of anti-sorcerer cops with a grudge against Angel’s family going back generations.
Joel Leslie’s narration continues to be a fan favorite, giving each character their own voice. It’s easy to forget you’re not listening to a full cast performance. Angel’s scrappy accent was endearing and brought Angel and his world to life beautifully.