​Reading Patricia Briggs’ second installment of the Mercy Thompson Series reminded me of Meghan Ciana Doidge’s second installment of her Dowser Series, Trinkets, Treasures, and Other Bloody Magic.
 
Both stories host main characters with unique magical abilities, but neither character is fully aware of the extent of their gifts. In Briggs’s series, Mercy is a shapeshifter, but she’s not a werewolf controlled by the full moon, and neither is she a skinwalker who needs an animal’s skin to shift. She can simply transform back and forth between human and coyote. From the Dowser series, Jade knows she comes from a family of witches in the magical (Adept) universe. Still, she has abilities that go far beyond witchcraft and must uncover that mystery.
 
While the first books in each series were gritty urban fantasies/tension-building romances, the second books in both series sit closer to that horror genre line with some gruesome murder scenes.
 
In Blood Bound, Mercy is after an unusual killer capable of changing memories and controlling supernatural beings. While Mercy is not physically stronger or more magical than most of the other characters in her world, she can resist certain powers, giving her an edge against the over-the-top characters.
 
In Dowser #2, Jade is also after a murderous character, but she has a much closer connection to her target. Unlike Mercy, Jade has excessive power that she’s still figuring out. But even with all her power, Jade’s emotional link to the murderer gets in her way and becomes a significant obstacle to winning the day.

In Patricia Briggs’ Mercy Thompson series #2, one major theme is the fragility of control and dominance.
 
Mercy was raised with werewolves, and even though she is not one of them, she keenly understands pack dynamics. The Alpha of her neighborhood pack, Adam, has developed lustful and emotional feelings for Mercy, but she’s not 100% sure she’s on the same wavelength. Nevertheless, Adam claims her as his mate to protect her — BTW, it’s only a verbal claim/proclamation to his pack. No physical violations.
 
While this seems bizarre and even stalker-creepy behavior, it highlights how the werewolf hierarchy functions and the power behind each rank. For example, since Adam claims Mercy, none can hurt her without it counting against him. But claiming her does something unexpected. Adam’s act also temporarily transfers some of his Alpha abilities/ status to her.
 
When Adam goes missing, for instance, her voice calms and soothes the troubled werewolves who recognize her rank in the pack. Briggs is not entirely clear if Mercy gains actual abilities or if it’s simply wolves following the power paradigm. Still, something at work here supercharges Mercy’s ability to be dominant among wolves.
 
Briggs further shows the intricacies of hierarchy among werewolves by bringing in an interesting aside concerning the LGBTQ+ community. If Adam is the Alpha, his #2 wolf is Darryl, and his #3 is Warren. Within the story, Warren gets seriously wounded when Adam is missing. By the hierarchy, he should submit to Darryl, but the problem is that Warren is far more dominant than Darryl. The only reason he’s #3 is because Warren is gay, which is frowned upon within the werewolf community. Were it not for Mercy somehow having access to Alpha powers, Warren may have torn up Darryl and hurt him if not killed himself in the process.

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​If I had to list something I did not enjoy about Patricia Briggs’ second installment of the Mercy Thompson series, it would have to be the overabundance of subplotlines.
 
For example, one of the subplotlines includes a father desperately trying to find Adam via Adam’s connection to Mercy. At first, Mercy assumes that this guy is trying to hurt Adam, since Adam is among the few werewolves who are publicly known to humans. Then Mercy discovers this man has a teenage daughter who was turned into a werewolf. He’s tried to keep her safe but knows he can’t do so forever, and he’s looking for answers. What’s worse is that he’s worried about wolves taking advantage of his daughter due to the misogynist patriarchal system amongst werewolves. Recognizing this chilling reality, Mercy puts the father in contact with an alpha she trusts not to take advantage of the girl.
 
While this is an interesting aspect of supernatural/human relations in this universe, it felt like a random story. The father does help Mercy figure out a clue of the main plot since he owes her for helping him protect his daughter, but it felt like a roundabout way to bring in some character who could find answers for Mercy.
 
Another random subplot occurs at the end of the book with the name-dropping of an artist who used to date Adam. Now I googled around trying to find this name without spoiling future books, as I thought I must have forgotten the name from somewhere earlier in the book or from the first book, but no one mentioned it before this point. I’m guessing it sets up future problems between Adam and Mercy, but it comes out of left field! The two already have enough issues and personality differences to cause problems. An old flame coming into the picture doesn’t seem necessary.

Readers who love a mix of supernatural characters all trying to coexist in the big city should genuinely enjoy the Mercy Thompson series. And if you’re a reader who likes a good mystery about a homicidal super-powered murderer, then book #2 is certainly for you.
 
On the other hand, if you’re not a huge fan of sexual tension and awkward romantic feelings, parts of this series will make you uncomfortable. Also, if you prefer your main characters to be among the most physically and magically powerful in the story, then this book and series are not for you.

​I give Patricia Briggs’s second installment of the Mercy Thompson series 4 out of 5 stars.
 
While I enjoyed going deeper into this universe, the story was not as strong as the first book. That said, I loved the main plot about a mad sorcerer demon-possess vampire. How often do you get to say that phrase? I just wish there would have been more focus on the main plot versus getting distracted by all the subplots.
 
I obviously still love the series, as I gave it such a high ranking, and I plan on continuing to discover what else Mercy’s abilities can do.

​After reading the second book in David R. Slayton’s Adam Binder Series, several elements reminded me of Zoraida Córdova’s Labyrinth Lost.
 
Both main characters have troubled pasts with magic. For Adam Binder, his connection to the magical world made him appear schizophrenic and got him locked up in an asylum. In Labyrinth Lost, Alex is one of the most powerful witches in her family, but magic is why her father disappeared, making her fearful and untrusting of it.
 
Protecting and reconnecting with family are also key themes that connect both books. Adam and Alex will have to go to great lengths to save their families and other loved ones. In fact, both characters will have to cross dimensional boundaries and embrace their magic like never before if they want to succeed.

​One of the main themes discussed within the second book of David R. Slayton’s Adam Binder Series includes the poisonous and festering effect of secrets.
 
As Adam starts his new relationship with Vic in the first book, he holds back on some key secrets. Doing so causes significant problems in their relationship and is only magnified by all the magical chaos trying to attack the couple and rip them apart.
 
Holding back information must be a Binder family trait since so many family secrets are uncovered in this story. We finally learn the truth about Adam’s father and discover some strange family history about Adam’s ancestors. As each secret unfolds, Adam’s relationship with his brother, mother, and cousin becomes fraught with distrust, which does not bode well when these people have to work together to fight the big bad.
 
Even the immortal characters are holding back secrets, which puts them in great peril.
 
Silver, the Elven Prince, lies and schemes politically to try and stop his father’s monstrous prejudice from causing acts of genocide. In doing so, he forces his father’s hand and must face the alternative he desperately tried to avoid.
 
Death, the deity, also has convoluted secret agendas that pull the Binders and now Vic down a bizarre rabbit hole. While we don’t fully know in this book why Death needed certain events to happen, it’s clear that their choice to play everything close to the chest simultaneously risks the plan blowing apart completely.

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​One of the things I did not enjoy about the second book of David R. Slayton’s Adam Binder Series included how Robert “Bobby” Binder’s character changes from book 1 to book 2. Robert obsesses about appearances in the first book, especially looking successful and sane. He hates bringing in his brother Adam to solve a supernatural problem because Robert would rather pretend the supernatural doesn’t exist. Admitting it exists means accepting he threw his brother into an asylum for no reason.
 
While a lot happened in book 1 that would change Robert’s perspective and make him more accepting of the supernatural and his brother, it wouldn’t explain the entire character shift. Robert goes from being a fastidious control freak to a more complacent character who’s there to comfort and cheer Adam on. It feels like he was downgraded from a developed character to a plot device.
 
Reducing Robert’s role could have been a structural decision. Slayton uses a parallel plotline framework that splits the narrative between the two main characters' perspectives. Book 1 was split between Adam and Robert. Book 2, however, is divided between Adam and Vic. Therefore, you could argue that since Robert is no longer a main character, we wouldn’t see as much development as we did in the first book. Nevertheless, to me, it seemed slightly dismissive of the character.

​People who enjoy parallel plotline structures and reading about LGBTQ+ budding romances, other magical worlds, and family mysteries will surely enjoy the second book of David R. Slayton’s Adam Binder series.
 
If you easily get lost in multiple plotlines, prefer human-focused magic stories, and are not a big fan of cliffhangers, then you may not like reading this book.

​I give the second book of David R. Slayton’s Adam Binder series five out of five stars.
 
The story continues directly from the first book, maintaining the pace and format incredibly well. I enjoyed how Slayton took the time to reveal new layers of the characters we already met. He does the same with his magical world, letting us see more of the infrastructure and what makes it so fantastic.
 
Instead of just seeing more depth of the characters and the world, Slayton also shows the flaws that make these characters, places, and individuals so beautifully unique and broken. He highlights all of their decisions, good and bad, showcasing the cause and effect of their choices.
 
The series' first and second books end on cliffhangers, which normally would drive me insane. Thankfully, Slayton understands how to do a cliffhanger correctly. He ties up the immediate storylines but leaves you with just enough curiosity triggers to make you run to the next book.

​As Shadows, Maps, and Other Ancient Magic is book #4 in Meghan Ciana Doidge’s Dowser series, I am highly familiar with the author’s work by now. If you haven’t read any of her books, I highly suggest you go to the menu on the right side of your screen, scroll down to Doidge’s name, and check out reviews of her other books.
 
For this book, Dowser #4, the story structure reminded me a lot of Freya Marske’s A Marvellous Light.
 
Both Doidge and Marske interweave their urban fantasy worlds around uncovering mysteries that require solving puzzles and finding hidden objects. Doidge prefers to use a broad spectrum of supernatural beings, including werewolves, vampires, dragons, and witches. Marske’s world focuses mainly on human magic users, although there is a hint of the Fae-folk.
 
Doidge and Marske also create their urban fantasies to include swoon-worthy, hot, and heavy scenes. Doidge’s work focuses mainly on hetero-love connections, although some supporting characters mention non-hetero relationships, but always as a secondary option. Marske, on the other hand, is all about LGBTQ+ romance, and she gets FAR MORE descriptive and in-depth with her romance scenes as compared to Doidge — i.e., explicit sexual content warning!!!

​The concept of control is one of the most powerful themes in Meghan Ciana Doidge’s Dowser #4. It has been an overarching theme in all four books.

​In this book, our main character, Jade (half witch and half demigod dragon), desires to gain control of her choices and who she keeps safe. Unfortunately, her enemies are forcing her to take specific actions, as is her destiny to become a Dragon Guardian. She can’t stand the thought of her friends or loved ones getting hurt, but nor can she stop them from getting involved with the chaos that constantly surrounds her.
 
After four books, we finally see Jade vaguely starting to realize her limits on what she can control, including the actions and choices of those around her. She doesn’t like it and still wants to stop the big bad from one-upping her and hurting her friends.
 
In this book, I saw a glimmer of hope that Jade understands how playing defense to protect her loved ones has limited her control. Eventually, she has to play offense, think ahead several moves, and be willing to let go of complete control if she wants any hope of winning. She’s not quite there yet, but as she learns more about her dragon abilities and uncovers more secrets about the magical world of the Adepts, you can see a stronger version of Jade slowly emerging.

One of the things I did not enjoy about Meghan Ciana Doidge’s Dowser #4 was Jade’s constant complaining of not getting enough sex.
 
The series describes Jade as tall, blonde, curvy, and loaded with magical power. She’s absolutely stunning and can draw people in with her personality and magic. If all she wanted was sex, there is no reason at all why she couldn’t get that from the number of delicious men surrounding her in the narrative.
 
Her whining about lacking sex annoys me because she never really admits the truth in this book. She complains about not having sex or not having enough chocolate, but she doesn’t want just sex or just chocolate (well, maybe chocolate). She wants a real relationship that gives her safety, which seems entirely out of reach, given the magical chaos that swarms around her nonstop.
 
I think it’s interesting that Doidge creates this boring, average guy who obviously has the hots for Jade and tries to flirt with her at Jade’s bakery, but their courtship never really goes anywhere. It does prove that if all Jade wanted was sex, she could’ve had it with this guy. Doidge’s dangling the normal guy under Jade’s nose is pushing Jade to admit that she needs a real relationship, but Jade never actually says it, which frustrates me.

​Readers who enjoy interwoven storylines, multiple supernatural characters, and stories about recovering artifacts and solving puzzles will love Meghan Ciana Doidge book #4 in the Dowser series.
 
Readers tired of the romantic trope that people who hate each other upon first meeting must fall in love later may want to skip this book and the entire series. Likewise, if you do not like cozy romances, baking references, or desire more werewolf and vampire action, this book may not be your favorite.

I give Meghan Ciana Doidge’s Dowser #4 a total of four out of five stars.
 
Doidge has grouped her books within the Dowser series so that every three form a mini trilogy within the overall series (9 books total). As this is book 4, it starts off the next mini trilogy, and I adore how it’s giving off the National Treasure vibe with solving puzzles and searching for hidden items. Given all the secrets about the world of the Adepts (magical peeps), Jade will have plenty of mysteries to solve.
 
At this point in the whole series, you’ve also seen Jade go through so much trauma that it’s a wonder she’s not catatonic! If anyone needs therapy, it’s this woman! That said, you start to see the hints of her coping and dealing with what has happened to her. It’s difficult because things are constantly moving, but her training in the alternate dragon dimension has given her some needed private time away from the chaos. It may not be therapy, but it has given her time to reflect and process.
 
Will I continue reading the series?
 
One of the things that attracted me most to Doidge’s urban fantasy world is that she constructs all these different series within the same universe — what she calls her Adept universe. I do the same thing with my Rupt World universe.
 
Doidge also has some exciting crossovers mapped out [go here to see the awesome graphic], including crossovers with the Dowser series.
 
I started reading her Oracle series, which crosses over with Dowser #3, but the Oracle series didn’t really grab me. That said, future books of the Dowser series also crossover into her other ongoing and complete series. My question: How much do I want to commit?
 
Since I’ve read this far and I’m still intrigued, I’m confident I will finish the Dowser series. I may start her Reconstructionist and Amplifier series, but no promises.

​Reading R. S. Belcher's The Six-gun Tarot is a unique adventure, and finding comparable novels to recommend is challenging. I can see similarities between Belcher’s book and J.M. Miro’s Ordinary Monsters. Both stories take place in the mid to late 1800s and include a fairly sizable cast of characters. Belcher and Miro use similar tactics to focus on each character or character group, separating those perspectives into chapters or sections.
 
In The Six-gun Tarot, many subplots are going on that help further establish key characters. Comparatively, Ordinary Monsters has fewer subplots, although the direction of the main plot twists and turns a few times. Both stories certainly keep you curious about character motives and alliances, which adds to the ongoing tension. If character-driven stories are your jam, these two will get you excited.

In R. S. Belcher's novel, The Six-gun Tarot, one of the most powerful themes is the racism of the era and the social problems within. Remember that this story takes place in post-Civil War times, underscoring the concepts of recently abolished slavery. As the story also takes place in the Wild West, there’s also racism toward Native Americans, Chinese railroad workers, and anyone identified as “other.”
 
A derogatory phrase gets thrown around throughout the narrative: "Going native."
 
During the era, this phrase reflected the disdain Caucasians felt for other Caucasians who became “too friendly” with Native Americans. It could also be the perspective of East Coast city dwellers looking down at people who had been on the wild frontier for too long.
 
As you read the story, you definitely feel this racial and socioeconomic prejudice, but then you start to notice that some characters and character groups use "going native" a little differently. After all, this is an urban fantasy, and “going native” could imply supernatural beings acting too much like or sympathizing too much with ordinary mortals.
 
***Spoiler Alert***
 
Two supernatural beings in the story receive this level of racism: Malachi and Mutt. Malachi is an angel God cast down to earth as punishment. Malachi must observe the world and its inhabitants for eternity. Mutt’s mother was a Native American, but his father was Coyote, the trickster deity, making Mutt half-human and half-shifter.
 
As other angels visit Malachi, they see his connection to humanity and cannot relate to it because of their disconnection with mortals. Angels live in the heavens and do not witness time the same, so they see humans as things made from dust that will return to dust. Malachi doesn't have that perspective and instead becomes invested in what the humans do.
 
Mutt has always lived an odd life. His tribe disowned him and his mother because of her choice to make a child with Coyote. Few white men trust Mutt because they see him as either a Native American or as a "halfbreed." After being abandoned by so many groups, it is no surprise that Mutt chooses his allies carefully and commits to them completely.
 
Angels and shifters confront Malachi and Mutt, and each group accuses Malachi and Mutt of being too sympathetic to humans and forgetting who they are as supernatural beings. They're "going native" by thinking humans are their equals.
 
The angels and shifters judge Malachi and Mutt for not conforming to their “true purpose.” As they see it, angels and shifters are above humans and thus should show them no love or sympathy. This prejudice combined with the “going native” dialogue, adds so much drama to the storylines of these two characters.
 
As you watch Malachi and Mutt run through their plotlines, it’s fascinating to see how each finally realizes that they are in control of their destiny and do possess free will. For Malachi, this goes against dogma and pushes the question of whether humanity is something you’re born with or discover. If it is something you discover in yourself, does free will come with it? For Mutt, he is both human and deity, but only when he accepts both sides of himself can he give himself access to the free will that has always been there.

You can also support your local library and rent this and other Urban Fantasy stories through the Libby app.

​While there were several elements I did not enjoy about R. S. Belcher's novel, The Six-gun Tarot, the pacing and flow are near the top of the list.
 
To be fair, Belcher created an enormous cast of characters. His method of handling simultaneous action and character development does help the pacing, as he uses individual chapters to section off each character/character group’s progress. He also does a pretty good job at using time markers of events or other situations that help keep track of the action.
 
Sadly, Belcher’s dialogue often bogs down the pacing.
 
As different characters or groups converged, there were long discussions explaining key story elements. These lengthy conversations that sometimes took place between adversaries felt way too close to monologuing. Several other conversations seemed to be spoon-feeding the plot as if you hadn’t followed along the entire time.
 
True, this book hosts a large cast with many simultaneous subplots. Clarifying everyone’s objective and perspective of each other makes sense when done well. But it wasn’t always well done in this book. If anything, the author neglected to set up the proper clues throughout the story, leading to these out-of-place long conversations to explain and cover up any plot holes. In my opinion, these long conversations dragged down the scenes and took me out of the narrative action.

​Readers who enjoy historical urban fantasy with complex storylines, religious mythos, frontier town settings, cults, and world-ending magic will surely enjoy R. S. Belcher's novel, The Six-gun Tarot.
 
Those who prefer more active feats of magic, smaller casts, fewer archetypal characters, and a more in-depth range of female characters may not enjoy reading this book.

​I give R. S. Belcher's The Six-gun Tarot three out of five stars.
 
I applaud the author’s ability to include such a diverse cast of human and supernatural entities. The fact that each main character had such tragic and unique backstories is also fabulous and proof of Belcher’s talent. All the different historical elements created a fantastic backdrop for the magic and mayhem of this tale.
 
That said, some issues failed to impress me.
 
Too many Westerns over-focus on the purely male experience. There were plenty of women in the West historically, and to deny that further pushes the toxic masculinity of the cowboy or the loan gunmen. Yes, the story did have female characters, but out of the 20+/- main characters, 14 were men. Of the main female characters, only one, Maude Stapleton, has any depth to her character, and that’s only because she’s not entirely human. She’s a witch in hiding.
 
Another issue that bothered me was the inclusion of tarot without really doing it justice. Each chapter has a tarot card name, but those chapters don’t resonate with the meaning behind those cards. Similarly, the only time you see tarot cards used is when Malachi (an angel in disguise) is dealing himself tarot cards. Hightower, the sheriff, mocks him for playing "gypsy" again. As a reader, you don't get to know the cards dealt, which is odd. You only know whether the cards dealt are good or bad based on Malachi's reaction, and even that is convoluted. I just expected the narrative to intermingle the mysticism and secret knowledge associated with tarot, and that simply didn’t happen.

​After reading the first book in the Adam Binder series, White Trash Warlock by David R. Slayton, the character development reminded me of A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin.
 
While set in dramatically different worlds and eras, it’s interesting that both stories have main characters who possess some magic but have yet to appreciate or develop their skills fully. Adam from White Trash Warlock has more knowledge of his ability in the magical world, but he also had a teacher. Technically, Ning, from A Magic Steeped in Poison, also had a teacher, her mother, but Ning didn’t believe in herself and never dedicated the time she needed to improve. Despite how well they learned or grew in magic, Adam and Ning get pulled into their plotlines and must find the magic within to get out.
 
Both Adam and Ning have troubled pasts and significant trust issues. So, of course, both authors threw in love interest storylines to push the characters even further out of their comfort zones. I enjoyed how Slayton and Lin added risk factors to the love interest scenarios. For Adam, as a poor southern boy only somewhat out of the closet, falling in love with Vic risked significant exposure, ridicule, and potential physical harm. Ning falls for someone socially higher above her station, and if she pursues it, she risks becoming a social outcast or formal execution. These risk factors certainly add deadly degrees of tension to both stories.

​One of the main themes in David R. Slayton’s White Trash Warlock includes understanding and dealing with where you came from.
 
Adam has no issue accepting himself as poor, southern, gay, and capable of using magic. But when Adam first used magic as a teen, his non-magical mother and brother didn’t see a budding wizard. They saw what looked like schizophrenic episodes. As a result, his mother and brother had Adam committed, which he took as a complete rejection of his identity. When Adam left the asylum, he lived with a relative who married into the family but also had magic and could accept Adam for everything he was. Still, Adam tried to live his life apart from his immediate family.
 
Adam’s brother, Robert (a.k.a. Bobby), has tried desperately to separate himself from his immediate family, mainly from his poor southern past. He left the family homestead, went to school, became a doctor, and married a beautiful non-southern woman. Everything seemed to be going fine until his wife got possessed, and all the weird magic stuff he tried to pass off as his brother’s psychosis crashed into Robert’s reality.
 
No matter how much Adam and Robert try to forget their connections or what happened in the past, magic is in their roots, and magic forces their lives to collide. For the two brothers to survive, they must work together, admit hard truths, and uncover old secrets that were thought long buried.

​If I wanted to be nitpicky and choose something I did not enjoy about David R. Slayton’s White Trash Warlock, I would say that the massive power difference between humans and non-humans was a bit off-kilter.
 
I mean, I totally understand how non-human supernatural creatures born with innate abilities would be more powerful. That said, in this world, it noted that humans have been crossbreeding with immortal creatures for a reasonably long time. Yes, the blood may be diluted, but if magic is the more robust set of genetics, wouldn’t magic-wielding humans be somewhat more formidable than shown?
 
One could argue that lack of training makes a huge difference, even with power. Non-human supernatural beings live in cultures that normalize magic, whereas humans do not. In modern times, humans are put in asylums if they display any signs of magical aptitude, which further makes humans afraid of using their abilities. Nevertheless, if you can get past the fear and get some training, how powerful can a human magic user become in this world?
 
We start to see the answer to that question form as the series continues and Adam grows in strength, which is nice. Still, it’s something that always pokes at me in UF and fantasy.

​Readers who enjoy a good mystery, family drama, a mishmash of supernatural and non-magical characters, and a budding LGBTQ+ love story will surely love this first book in the Adam Binder series, White Trash Warlock.
 
Suppose you prefer urban fantasy stories that stay within one realm of existence, focus on powerful human mages, and include more drama/mystery than love story. In that case, you’ll probably not be a big fan of this book or the series.

​I give David R. Slayton’s White Trash Warlock five out of five stars.
 
The story flow works beautifully, and I appreciated the framework of going back and forth between the two main characters' perspectives. In this book, you see the world through Adam’s eyes and then through Robert/Bobby’s eyes. With such diverse world views, the stark contrast enriches the plotline and provides so much additional backstory and emotion.
 
How Slayton introduces and portrays supernatural creatures offers a throwback to myth and legend mixed with a modern twist. In the mortal world, you can only see these beings in their human disguises. In the parallel dimensions, which is beyond the mortal world's veil, you can see their true form. That said, their true form can blind you, as mortals can’t withstand the awe and might of such power.
 
For those of you who have read my other reviews, you know I am not a huge fan of cliffhangers. While this book does end on one, Slayton cleverly closes up all the main storylines before enticing you with the cliffhanger to the next part of the series. His method is the example of how to use cliffhangers effectively. From a marketing perspective, how Slayton finishes the first book and creates tension and urgency to move to the second one is an intelligent tactic. I can tell you from experience the tactic worked on me as I raced to consume the rest of the series.

After reading the first book in the Green Bone saga, Jade City, by Fonda Lee, the sheer depth of the characters and the writing style reminded me of Daniel O’Malley’s Rook.

​Thematically, the stories also have similarities in that the characters in each book possess supernatural abilities and work within distinct organizations to maintain order. There’s plenty of political intrigue in both stories. O’Malley’s book focuses more on a single person, whereas Lee’s focuses on the entire Kaul family. I would say Lee’s book offers a grittier and somewhat more realistic worldview. In comparison, while full of horrific imagery, O'Malley's story ties up all the storylines into a semi-neat bow by the end, which works excellent for fiction but does not reflect how the world works.

​One of the most powerful themes in Jade City by Fonda Lee includes the clash between honor and family.
 
Those who are Green Bones live by a code of honor, and they consider their fellow Green Bones connected in a familial structure of clan ties. The honor and the connection of those clans often supersede blood-family ties. Nearly every conflict throughout the novel pushes that clash between being bound by honor and bound by blood.
 
As the Kauls are almost all Green Bones, they are duty-bound to put the clan before their own needs, yet each family member uniquely addresses this challenge. Some go full-on with the tradition, whereas others try to balk against tradition and find their own road. Sadly, all choices lead back to the family and this clan/family struggle.
 
As outsiders attack the Kauls and their clan of Green Bones, that clan/family line blurs even further. What will they do to maintain honor on all fronts? What are they willing to sacrifice? As the first book in the saga, this story sets up these questions and lets us see how the members of the Kaul family deal with blurred lines and difficult choices.

​If I had to pick something that I did not like about Jade City by Fonda Lee, strangely, I would say it was how characters and the author used the jade substance as more of a plot device than anything else.
 
While reading the book, you learn that jade has some supernatural quality that affects certain people and gives them powers. Wearing jade becomes a status symbol on the island, indicating how much power you can wield. Controlling the mining and shipping of jade also gives the Green Bones a position of power in the world political theater.
 
Nevertheless, despite these jade discussions, I was expecting more displays of magic via jade. Besides the characters sensing each other’s abilities or having their normal senses enhanced, there just wasn’t as much use of the jade for magic beyond the few supercharged fight scenes.

​People who like serious dramas with multiple characters, political intrigue, familial relationships, Asian-influenced settings, supernaturally enhanced characters, and heavy fight scenes will surely enjoy Jade City by Fonda Lee.
 
Readers who prefer stories that follow a typical story arc, have a smaller cast of characters, and neatly tie up all subplot loose ends may not be big fans of this novel.

​I give Jade City by Fonda Lee five out of five stars.
 
The intertwining of the political and personal plotlines grabbed my attention and kept me fully engaged as I kept guessing what would happen next. You will easily find yourself rooting for some of these characters or screaming at them when they do something you know will be detrimental.
 
Lee brilliantly constructs this alternate world, yet it feels very much like an early era of our world. Giving us a pseudo-Asian island country helps anchor us in the story and allows us to embrace the unknown of this fictional world. Just the way she describes the foreigners resonates with readers. You instantly recognize their real-world counterparts, making these foreigners all the more real.
 
After completing this first book, I was shocked that no one has made this into a TV series. I found out that it was optioned, but the creators have backed away from the project. I do hope someone picks it up soon.

​After reading the final book of the Greta Helsing trilogy, Grave Importance, by Vivian Shaw, I am reminded of Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. Both stories include quite the cast, and I love how they use the clever trick of grouping off the characters for added effect. I enjoy the different moments when key groups meet, as it always signals that something spectacular or catastrophic is about to go down.
 
While grouping is a common trope in fantasy literature, it’s commonality does not diminish the effect. Putting the massive cast into smaller groupings helps readers in several ways.

​First, each group usually has a goal, so it becomes shorthand for readers to remember which group is doing what. Second, by seeing each group individually and together, you see their immense differences and similarities, even if the characters would never admit to having anything in common with their “enemies.” Finally, readers see the world through multiple lenses, giving them a richer worldview and a better understanding of what is at stake in each story.

One of the most powerful themes in Grave Importance by Vivian Shaw includes partnership and the need for connection. The main couples (Greta and Varney, and Ruthven and Grisaille) showcase how partnership isn’t always about finding someone exactly like yourself. Often, it’s finding someone from a different background whose strengths and flaws pair well with your own.
 
At the same time, true partnership is more than the cliché of opposites attract. It’s about recognizing what each of you can bring to the table and how your offering enhances and lifts the other person.
 
Shaw shows partnership in extremes with the love of Greta (a human) and Varney (a vampire). But instead of doing the male monster entrancing and capturing the love/lust of the female human, Shaw throws that out the window in favor of real relationship moments. We see these characters worry about each other, be there to support each other, and muddle through it all. They are allowed to be vulnerable in this series, and they find their connection in that vulnerability.
 
The author further shows this theme of connection and simultaneously promotes diversity and inclusion. The other main couple and example of a strong partnership are the two male vampires, Ruthven and Grisaille. While both are vampires and non-hetero, they have different experiences with vampirism and opinions on existing among mortals. Finding each other and connecting in a way often denied to them (an aside of what society often denies the LGBTQ+ community) shows how differing life experiences can come together to help each other feel complete and seen.

​Having read the entire Greta Helsing trilogy, including this last book, Grave Importance by Vivian Shaw, I can definitively say that one of the very few things I didn’t like was the deus ex machina used in every book.
 
***Spoiler Alert***
 
Shaw almost always pulls out this trope to fix what seems completely unfixable. Whether using the devil, a demon, or God themselves, no matter how insane it gets, one of these deitific beings will fix it.
 
To be fair, Pratchett and Gaiman do something similar in Good Omens.
 
While I know this trope fits the genre pattern, it’s just not my favorite plot device. In both Shaw’s trilogy and Good Omens, the trope works and makes sense in each universe, but it still seems like an easy way out. Not that it was “easy” in either book. Nor would I diminish the work of these authors, who all did a fantastic job. I’m just picky.

​Anyone who enjoys high romance, the importance of partnership and friendship, adventure, and fighting the big bad against all odds will undoubtedly want to read Grave Importance by Vivian Shaw.

​Readers who prefer drama-heavy, overtly steamy, and somewhat toxic romantic relationships will probably not immensely enjoy this book or the series.

​I give Grave Importance by Vivian Shaw 4 out of 5 stars. It is a beautiful story, but some of the pacing was a bit slow.

Several storylines were playing parallel and interweaving with each other. While multiple storylines can prove vital to the whole tapestry of the story, they can interfere with the pacing and rising action moments.

While a complex story is not a dealbreaker, awkward pacing can impact the experience, as it did for me. Regardless, I highly recommend reading the entire trilogy.

Just by clicking on Daniel José Older's name in the right column, you can see that I’ve already connected his book Shadowshaper with two other urban fantasy novels (Nnedi Okorafor’s Akata Witch and Zoraida Córdova’s Labyrinth Lost). Therefore, I want to give you a new connection and expand your horizons.
 
I see a lot of similarities in style and content between Older's Shadowshaper and J.M. Miro’s Ordinary Monsters. Both stories focus on elements of hidden magic and inequality related to race and socioeconomic situations. In Shadowshaper, Older focuses on the Hispanic community, the value they put on heritage, and how gentrification decimates their communities and livelihoods. Similarly, in Ordinary Monsters, Miro shows the visceral racism and prejudice of earlier generations and how that can separate children from their people and any connection to their ancestry.

​One of the significant themes in Older’s Shadowshaper includes cultural erasure.
 
From the story's start, Sierra, the main character, notices the ethnic murals in her neighborhood changing and growing dimmer. She almost can't believe what she's seeing because it doesn't make sense. How can images change? But then her grandfather, in an unprecedented moment of clarity after his stroke, warns her that the pictures are fading, indicating something insidious is coming.
 
From there, we discover that “shadowshapers” have created these mural images throughout their communities as places to give the shadows (ancestor spirits) new life. They put the energy of those shadows into the murals, and the shadows animate those images. But just as shadowshapers can put energy into a mural, so too can others drain that energy.
 
In a supernatural sense, the fading of the images indicates that the antagonist is growing in power by stealing it from the dead members of Sierra's community. From a cultural perspective, this layered metaphor portrays how the social majority appropriates what does not belong to them, erasing that history. The majority takes the bits and pieces they like from minority cultures and demands that minorities transform and fit in with the majority's view of social reality.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Daniel José Older's Shadowshaper. If I had to point out something I didn't like, it would have to be the lesson of being wary of outsiders.
 
***Spoiler Alert***
 
While I agree entirely with the author’s point of outsiders coming in and appropriating other cultures, I worry about this lesson of ongoing mistrust, especially in today's society. Nevertheless, I don't have an easy solution or alternative to this dilemma. Historically, outsiders have proven themselves to be problematic in some cases and helpful in others, so there is no way I can say to any minority group that they should trust outsiders completely.
 
That said, a lack of trust in outsiders only further isolates us.
 
In the novel, Older almost implies that people should lean into that isolation to embrace and remember their cultural heritage. Yet this message seems convoluted, as Sierra’s sexist grandfather denied her magical heritage and chose to keep the truth about magic hidden from female descendants. Without the knowledge and connection, Sierra and her friends fumble through the book's adventures and almost get killed. Plus, since cultural rules keep them from trusting outsiders and keep outsiders from making alliances with them, Sierra and her friends often find themselves alone without the resources or knowledge they need.
 
Again, I'm not trying to preach or push an answer. Still, I am saying that when I read books on ethnic, gender, orientation, and socioeconomic struggle promoting the message of “Never trust or allign with outsiders,” it concerns me. I fear such books implore people to stay stagnant and isolated instead of trying to find ways to grow toward more inclusion.

​Readers who enjoy young adult coming-of-age stories mixed with unique magical abilities, racial struggles, and solving mysteries will surely enjoy Daniel José Older's Shadowshaper.
 
If you're uncomfortable with multicultural literature, different forms of magic, and/or prefer more non-human supernatural creatures, this book may not be for you.

​I give Daniel José Older's Shadowshaper five out of five stars.
 
As the first book in an urban fantasy series with a unique magical system, I applaud Older's framework choice with letting the reader learn about this world in sync with the main character. It draws you into the story and instantly puts you on the main character's side. I also love how Older showcases a multicultural community of Spanish speakers, highlighting how many different countries and cultures share this language and use it as a bridge to connect in a melting pot like the States.
 
The magic system further supports and comes from that mixed cultural heritage, which produces a beautiful story and makes you wonder what else this magic can do. While the story does show the cultural struggles of minorities forced to fit in the spaces left to them by the social majority, I also thought it was clever of Older to showcase the racism and sexism within the multicultural Hispanic community. It was a great nod to the social argument that we will never notice our real enemy if we fight amongst ourselves.

I wanted to compare Treasures, Demons, and Other Black Magic by Meghan Ciana Doidge to a different author since this is the third book of hers that I’m reviewing. There are interesting similarities in style and character relationships between Doidge’s series and Ilona Andrews’ Kate Daniels series. I enjoy how both Doidge and Andrews include a wide cast of magically powered characters and tie in tantalizing tension. I feel Doidge is going more cozy paranormal romance than Andrews. While I love Doidge’s world, I feel Andrews’ world-building goes more in-depth than Doidge's.

In this third installment of the Dowser series (Treasures, Demons, and Other Black Magic by Meghan Ciana Doidge), denial and acceptance are the two most powerful themes.
 
****[[SPOILER ALERT]]*****

Jade has grown in abilities and magic but still believes she can save her sister and make everyone happy. She can only avoid her sister's sins and the Adept community’s need for justice for so long, and she hates that fact. Despite what happens in the end, Jade begrudgingly accepts the outcome, but not 100%. To be honest, I don’t think she’ll ever be 100% OK with any of it, but you see her start to transform into what she needs to be to live in this gritty world of constant power struggles.

 You can also support your local library and rent this and other Urban Fantasy stories through the Libby app.

While I absolutely loved the first book in the Dowser series, both book #2 and this book,
Treasures, Demons, and Other Black Magic by Meghan Ciana Doidge had some weird pacing and character development issues for me.  
 
****[[SPOILER ALERT]]*****
 
Going from a low-knowledge witch with only moderate dowsing abilities to a half-witch/half-dragon uber-powerful character will always be a climb, but it just felt that Jade moved through these changes too rapidly. Also, why were some of her abilities inert for so long? I guess you could argue that you'll never try if you don’t know you can do something, but that seems like a stretch or convenient plot hole. All I’m saying is that this first three-part arc started off great then went through this seemingly endless bumpy road that felt jarring as a reader. I’m on the fence if I want to keep going into the Dowser series, but I really do enjoy Doidge’s writing. 

​Do you love lots of magic, a wide cast of supernatural characters, fairly good fight scenes, and sexual tension that will make you take a cold shower? Then you will get a kick out of Treasures, Demons, and Other Black Magic by Meghan Ciana Doidge.
 
On the other hand, if you’re not a fan of long series, then why are you reading urban fantasy? But seriously, if you can’t commit to a long series, are sick of supernatural politics, and don’t dig strong female characters, then you will probably not enjoy this book.

​I give Doidge’s book four out of five stars.
 
While the pacing for these first three books in the Dowser Series was rough, I did enjoy the way that Doidge concluded the storylines to reflect the politics and natures of the Adept World. She gave us the ending the story needed, and I respect that she goes there. It can be tough as a writer to side with the story vs. what you think audiences would prefer, but it makes a more authentic tale. Since the Dowser Series continues, Doidge also left an exciting opening and piques your curiosity as to where Jade’s character will go on to do from here.

Ben Aaronovitch’s Rivers of London, also known as Midnight Riot, reminded me of Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files Series in many ways. Both use the detective/investigator trope as well as the police procedural style. While Butcher’s main character, Harry Dresden, is a freelance detective/magician who works with the cops, Aaronovitch’s main character, Peter Grant, is a so-so cop recently assigned to work with a wizard, Thomas Nightengale, who handles the unexplained crimes of London. It’s interesting to see books with similar urban fantasy story concepts take different ends of the detective/procedural spectrum.

​One major theme in Ben Aaronovitch's Rivers of London is adaptation and evolution. While magic has existed since the beginning, it does not stay stagnant. Therefore, those who have and/or practice magic must adapt or risk falling behind the progression of magical evolution.
 
Thomas Nightingale, the wizard in charge of The Folly (a group that handles supernatural crimes in London) was born in 1900. While that gives him 100+ years of experience in magic, he’s still human and resistant to change. Furthermore, he doesn’t keep up with scientific advances, as he sees them as “other” than magic. His newest apprentice and our main character, Peter Grant, loves technology and tinkering. Through his tinkering, Peter provides Thomas the means to adapt to the changes of magic by blending it with technology. Doing so helps Thomas and Peter stay relevant and combat against the supernatural menace plaguing London.

​One of the things I did not fully enjoy about Ben Aaronovitch's Rivers of London had to do with the balance between the detective/procedural framework and the show of magic. From the beginning of the book, we see that Peter Grant is a cop, but perhaps not the greatest of police officers because he gets too caught up with the details. For magic, this is perfect, but for law enforcement, you need to stay in the moment. Therefore, I thought it was strange that the book's framework leaned so heavily into keeping Peter in that procedural copy mindset.
 
Additionally, the parallel subplots in the book that were magically focused felt convoluted. The information you receive comes across too cryptically. While this may have deliberately reflected Peter’s lack of magical knowledge, I think he and the reader could’ve received more information. In some ways, much of the subplot’s magical elements in this urban fantasy felt a little forced or like an afterthought to tie into the main plot.

Urban fantasy readers who enjoy history, police procedurals, investigator tropes, and rough-around-the-edges wizards will love Ben Aaronovitch's Rivers of London. Readers who prefer in-depth magical worlds focused on supernatural entities and more visual displays of magic may not enjoy this book as much.

​I give Ben Aaronovitch's Rivers of London three out of five stars.
 
A part of me was hoping to give this book a higher ranking. After all, if you Google “best urban fantasy books” or “leading urban fantasy,” this book is almost always included in those lists. Therefore, the expectation is high, which may put unfair pressure on this story.
 
While the story is interesting, and the framework offers something enjoyable, I just didn't feel drawn into this world. The competing storylines of magic versus procedural distracted me. Likewise, the supernatural characters had convoluted motivations that made me curious but then frustrated me when I didn't get enough answers to want to continue.
 
Rivers of London is also noted as a book promoting diversity and inclusion since the main character, Peter Grant, is represented as a mixed-race Londoner, and most of the supporting characters come from underrepresented groups. Non-white representation in urban fantasy is a major issue, so any book that brings a diverse cast to the forefront helps. That said, while there are plenty of strong non-male/non-white supporting characters, and the main character is biracial, the rest of the main characters are fairly white. It’s a good step in the right direction toward better diversity and inclusion, but I think it could have gone further.