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SPI Files #3
The Brimstone Deception : A Spi Files Novel(Paperback) - 2016 Edition
Men in Black meets Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum in the new urban fantasy novel starring seer Makenna Fraser and her fellow agents at Supernatural Protection & Investigation.The agents of Supernatural Protection & Investigations (SPI) know that fighting evil is a full-time job, especially when a new designer drug—with mind-blowing side effects—hits the streets... It’s called Brimstone. And after the first few hits, you’ll see every supernatural beast sharing the sidewalk, train, or office with you. After that, you’ll start seeing the really scary stuff. I’m Makenna Fraser, seer for the SPI. And the collateral damage caused by Brimstone is something I’d like to dead drug dealers missing their hearts—and souls. Because your local pusher doesn’t stand a chance against the new cartel muscling its way into New York. And since the drug can only be produced with magic and molten brimstone fresh from Hell, that means a rift to the underworld is open somewhere in the city. And when—not if—the cartel loses control of it, well... It’s going to be Hell on earth.
Paperback
First published January 26, 2016
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About the author
Lisa Shearin
24 books1,103 followersLisa is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Raine Benares novels and The SPI Files.
Lisa is a voracious collector of fountain pens, teapots & teacups both vintage and modern. She lives on a small farm in North Carolina with her husband, four spoiled-rotten retired racing greyhounds, and enough deer and woodland creatures to fill a Disney movie.
Lisa is a voracious collector of fountain pens, teapots & teacups both vintage and modern. She lives on a small farm in North Carolina with her husband, four spoiled-rotten retired racing greyhounds, and enough deer and woodland creatures to fill a Disney movie.
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March 11, 2025
2020 Re-Read
My favourite SPI agent, Makenna Fraser, has an educational trip to the outskirts of Hell. She learns a lot about her seer abilities, her friends and coworkers, and about a certain Goblin businessman. This is the book where the paranormal romance characteristics become pronounced. Thankfully there is still a substantial action adventure involved, or it would get as sugary as Makenna's diet. This girl loves her baked goods!
A bright and optimistic urban fantasy series, giving my spirits the boost that they need during these days of physical distancing. Thank you, Lisa Shearin, for a shot of fun in every book.
ORIGINAL REVIEW
The SPI Files is a delightful series! I will be anxiously awaiting book 4 in 2017.
Makenna is a charming main character—a seemingly ordinary woman with an extraordinary ability (to see through magic glamours) but who knows her limitations. She knows that she will never be able to kick butt like many of her fellow SPI agents, but allows them to do their thing while she does hers. On the theory that one should be a pleasant coworker as well as a useful one, she is always quick with a quip or a smart remark to break the tension.
One of the things that I appreciate about the series is that there is very little swearing—cuss words are used sparingly and when they are appropriate. One of the lessons my mama taught me: swearing all the time takes all the magical shock value out of the words. If you rarely swear, when you do people sit up and pay attention. Save it for when you really need folks to take you seriously. It works! And Shearin has obviously had similar coaching.
I know that some readers will also be frustrated with the glacial slowness of the romantic subplot of the SPI files too. For me, that is another one of its charms. Love is in the air? Hand me a gasmask! Eventually, however, the author will have to fish or cut bait.
It will be difficult to wait a whole year for the next installment.
My favourite SPI agent, Makenna Fraser, has an educational trip to the outskirts of Hell. She learns a lot about her seer abilities, her friends and coworkers, and about a certain Goblin businessman. This is the book where the paranormal romance characteristics become pronounced. Thankfully there is still a substantial action adventure involved, or it would get as sugary as Makenna's diet. This girl loves her baked goods!
A bright and optimistic urban fantasy series, giving my spirits the boost that they need during these days of physical distancing. Thank you, Lisa Shearin, for a shot of fun in every book.
ORIGINAL REVIEW
The SPI Files is a delightful series! I will be anxiously awaiting book 4 in 2017.
Makenna is a charming main character—a seemingly ordinary woman with an extraordinary ability (to see through magic glamours) but who knows her limitations. She knows that she will never be able to kick butt like many of her fellow SPI agents, but allows them to do their thing while she does hers. On the theory that one should be a pleasant coworker as well as a useful one, she is always quick with a quip or a smart remark to break the tension.
One of the things that I appreciate about the series is that there is very little swearing—cuss words are used sparingly and when they are appropriate. One of the lessons my mama taught me: swearing all the time takes all the magical shock value out of the words. If you rarely swear, when you do people sit up and pay attention. Save it for when you really need folks to take you seriously. It works! And Shearin has obviously had similar coaching.
I know that some readers will also be frustrated with the glacial slowness of the romantic subplot of the SPI files too. For me, that is another one of its charms. Love is in the air? Hand me a gasmask! Eventually, however, the author will have to fish or cut bait.
It will be difficult to wait a whole year for the next installment.
February 10, 2017
There's a new designer drug in town and it has some unfortunate side effects including allowing humans to see through supernatural glamours and realise that there are monsters living among us. As if that wasn't bad enough the drug's main ingredient is brimstone, imported freshly from Hell itself and that means that somewhere hidden in New York is an open portal which could have disastrous consequences if it's not closed before demons start using it as a one way ticket to paradise. SPI Agents Mac and Ian have been tasked with finding out who is behind the drug's creation and also a string of grisly murders amongst the local drug dealers but most importantly they need to find that portal and figure out how to close it before the world is change forever.
This series is going from strength to strength and I really enjoy diving back into this world to spend time with these characters. I love the partnership that is developing between Mac and Ian now that she's starting to find her feet as a Seer. She's still got a lot to learn but it's clear that there is mutual respect between them now and I love the banter between them and their regular driver, werewolf Yasha. I will say that I'm still a bit disappointed that Lisa Shearin seems to have given up on the idea of a romance between Mac and Ian though, they had such brilliant chemistry in the beginning and although I love them as friends I'm still hoping they'll end up being more. I just don't feel the connection between Mac and Rake yet and I'm even less convinced by the Ian and Kylie pairing. Both relationships feel false and they definitely don't have anywhere near the chemistry that Mac and Ian used to. Having said that Rake is growing on me so I'm glad he's still hanging around and perhaps the author will convince me he's a worthy romantic lead eventually.
This series is full of humour so there is lots of witty banter and I enjoy Mac's way of snarking when she's stressed. There is a great cast of side characters too with more being added in every instalment. The Brimstone Deception is full of action and Mac's abilities seem to be heading in an interesting direction, the same goes for the bad guy they're hunting and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens on both counts in future instalments. If you're looking for a lighter funny urban fantasy series you can't go far wrong with this one.
Source: Received from Ace in exchange for an honest review
This series is going from strength to strength and I really enjoy diving back into this world to spend time with these characters. I love the partnership that is developing between Mac and Ian now that she's starting to find her feet as a Seer. She's still got a lot to learn but it's clear that there is mutual respect between them now and I love the banter between them and their regular driver, werewolf Yasha. I will say that I'm still a bit disappointed that Lisa Shearin seems to have given up on the idea of a romance between Mac and Ian though, they had such brilliant chemistry in the beginning and although I love them as friends I'm still hoping they'll end up being more. I just don't feel the connection between Mac and Rake yet and I'm even less convinced by the Ian and Kylie pairing. Both relationships feel false and they definitely don't have anywhere near the chemistry that Mac and Ian used to. Having said that Rake is growing on me so I'm glad he's still hanging around and perhaps the author will convince me he's a worthy romantic lead eventually.
This series is full of humour so there is lots of witty banter and I enjoy Mac's way of snarking when she's stressed. There is a great cast of side characters too with more being added in every instalment. The Brimstone Deception is full of action and Mac's abilities seem to be heading in an interesting direction, the same goes for the bad guy they're hunting and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens on both counts in future instalments. If you're looking for a lighter funny urban fantasy series you can't go far wrong with this one.
Source: Received from Ace in exchange for an honest review
February 17, 2016
3 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum http://bibliosanctum.com/2016/02/16/b...
The Brimstone Deception is the third installment of Lisa Shearin’s paranormal urban fantasy series SPI Files. For a while I’ve been comparing these books to a jauntier version of the X-Files when it suddenly hit me–the relationship between the main characters reminds me more of Brennan and Booth from Bones, except in this series Makenna is the cheerful half of the partnership while Ian is the down-to-business one. Either way, I love the fact our heroine is a Seer, one of just a handful of people in the world able to see through the glamor of supernatural creatures, and in a city like New York AKA Supernatural Central, Mac’s unique talent comes in high demand, meaning she gets pulled in on all kinds of interesting missions.
This time, SPI is investigating a new type of designer drug that has hit the streets, a serious but nonetheless seemingly non-supernatural crime, except for one major problem—called “brimstone”, the drug itself may have supernatural origins. Like its name implies, its key ingredient is discovered to be a substance only found in Hell, and its effects are equally disturbing. Humans who take a hit of brimstone essentially gain Seer abilities while they are under its influence, but lucky for Mac this doesn’t mean she is out of a job, since brimstone users are typically 1) freaked out of their minds when all of a sudden they start seeing werewolves, vampires, and other monsters crawling all over the city, and 2) they can’t remember a thing after the high wears off. Thank goodness.
Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean brimstone isn’t causing all kinds of other complications for SPI. A string of gruesome deaths coinciding with the sudden emergence of this drug have them convinced that it is all related. The victims are drug dealers and other criminal underworld types, meaning someone or something might be clearing out the competition in preparation for their next move. What that might be is anyone’s guess, but with all evidence pointing to SPI’s hidden culprit having an all-access portal to the magic from Hell, things definitely can’t be good.
As with most urban fantasy series, the second or third books is where we often see a shift in direction, and I am getting that feeling from the SPI Files now. In the first book The Grendel Affair we had a group of Grendel monsters threatening to wreak havoc in New York on New Year’s Eve, while in its sequel The Dragon Conspiracy we had Gorgons making trouble for everyone on Halloween. Clearly, I’ve been spoiled by the previous novels, because I admit I came into this one expecting another unique type of monster villain. While that didn’t really turn out to be the case, it’s also good to see SPI evolving from literal monster-of-the-week plots to wider, more series-encompassing story arcs. For instance, Mac gets a special boost to her powers in The Brimstone Deception which allows her to see dimensional rifts, and this was a direct result of the events from the last novel.
Speaking of Mac, I’m also glad that she got a more active role in this book. She disappointed me in The Dragon Conspiracy, where she was more observer than actual player, and it had struck me as strange that the main character and narrator would have so little to do with the outcome of the story. Mac was a much more important presence in The Brimstone Deception, so that was great, though now I have to wonder if we’ve gone a little too far in the other direction. Our protagonist is starting to give me “special snowflake” vibes, being the darling of the entire SPI office. And now having the ultra-rare ability to see portals too, she has caught the interest of every supernatural in the country including the wealthy and ridiculously good-looking goblin sorcerer Rake Danescu, who now finds her even more irresistible. This aspect of Mac’s character still feels like it needs balance, but I admit it is an improvement over her passivity from the last book.
Ultimately, avid fans of urban fantasy might not find anything too new in the SPI Files, though you’ll certainly dig the earlier books if you enjoy seeing unique or underused monsters in action. It’s also perfect for readers looking for a lighter tone to their UF, since Mac’s bubbly personality and her conversations with her co-workers go a long way in brightening up the darker moments, especially when SPI is called to deal with some of the more violent and brutal aspects of the supernatural underworld. It’s good, fluffy entertainment and I’m still having a fun with this series. Recommended if you need a quick escape from the stresses of life, or if you need a break from your heavier reads.
The Brimstone Deception is the third installment of Lisa Shearin’s paranormal urban fantasy series SPI Files. For a while I’ve been comparing these books to a jauntier version of the X-Files when it suddenly hit me–the relationship between the main characters reminds me more of Brennan and Booth from Bones, except in this series Makenna is the cheerful half of the partnership while Ian is the down-to-business one. Either way, I love the fact our heroine is a Seer, one of just a handful of people in the world able to see through the glamor of supernatural creatures, and in a city like New York AKA Supernatural Central, Mac’s unique talent comes in high demand, meaning she gets pulled in on all kinds of interesting missions.
This time, SPI is investigating a new type of designer drug that has hit the streets, a serious but nonetheless seemingly non-supernatural crime, except for one major problem—called “brimstone”, the drug itself may have supernatural origins. Like its name implies, its key ingredient is discovered to be a substance only found in Hell, and its effects are equally disturbing. Humans who take a hit of brimstone essentially gain Seer abilities while they are under its influence, but lucky for Mac this doesn’t mean she is out of a job, since brimstone users are typically 1) freaked out of their minds when all of a sudden they start seeing werewolves, vampires, and other monsters crawling all over the city, and 2) they can’t remember a thing after the high wears off. Thank goodness.
Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean brimstone isn’t causing all kinds of other complications for SPI. A string of gruesome deaths coinciding with the sudden emergence of this drug have them convinced that it is all related. The victims are drug dealers and other criminal underworld types, meaning someone or something might be clearing out the competition in preparation for their next move. What that might be is anyone’s guess, but with all evidence pointing to SPI’s hidden culprit having an all-access portal to the magic from Hell, things definitely can’t be good.
As with most urban fantasy series, the second or third books is where we often see a shift in direction, and I am getting that feeling from the SPI Files now. In the first book The Grendel Affair we had a group of Grendel monsters threatening to wreak havoc in New York on New Year’s Eve, while in its sequel The Dragon Conspiracy we had Gorgons making trouble for everyone on Halloween. Clearly, I’ve been spoiled by the previous novels, because I admit I came into this one expecting another unique type of monster villain. While that didn’t really turn out to be the case, it’s also good to see SPI evolving from literal monster-of-the-week plots to wider, more series-encompassing story arcs. For instance, Mac gets a special boost to her powers in The Brimstone Deception which allows her to see dimensional rifts, and this was a direct result of the events from the last novel.
Speaking of Mac, I’m also glad that she got a more active role in this book. She disappointed me in The Dragon Conspiracy, where she was more observer than actual player, and it had struck me as strange that the main character and narrator would have so little to do with the outcome of the story. Mac was a much more important presence in The Brimstone Deception, so that was great, though now I have to wonder if we’ve gone a little too far in the other direction. Our protagonist is starting to give me “special snowflake” vibes, being the darling of the entire SPI office. And now having the ultra-rare ability to see portals too, she has caught the interest of every supernatural in the country including the wealthy and ridiculously good-looking goblin sorcerer Rake Danescu, who now finds her even more irresistible. This aspect of Mac’s character still feels like it needs balance, but I admit it is an improvement over her passivity from the last book.
Ultimately, avid fans of urban fantasy might not find anything too new in the SPI Files, though you’ll certainly dig the earlier books if you enjoy seeing unique or underused monsters in action. It’s also perfect for readers looking for a lighter tone to their UF, since Mac’s bubbly personality and her conversations with her co-workers go a long way in brightening up the darker moments, especially when SPI is called to deal with some of the more violent and brutal aspects of the supernatural underworld. It’s good, fluffy entertainment and I’m still having a fun with this series. Recommended if you need a quick escape from the stresses of life, or if you need a break from your heavier reads.
March 14, 2021
Elves, goblins, and demons take center stage only two days after the thrilling climax of the previous SPI Files book, The Dragon Conspiracy, so it must be November 2 in good old New York,
The drug's called Brimstone, it's made by magic, and the essential ingredient is molten brimstone straight from Hell. Molten brimstone from Hell solidifies in an hour or so here on Earth, so the clandestine New York lab that makes the drug has to be close to the source. Tricky, tricky, because Hell is a dimension that doesn't interface directly with this one, you see--to go to Hell you have to go through a portal into an anteroom dimension and then through another portal into Hell.
But wait, there is a shortcut. A few times in the past a Hellpit has opened, and each time a mage with certain powers has managed to close it before it's fully open. So reason tells us they couldn't be making the drug without brimstone from a Hellpit, and of course SPI has to find it and close it before it's fully open and we literally get Hell on Earth. That's the time crunch this time around (in the series debut SPI's deadline was midnight on New Year's Eve, and last time it was midnight on Halloween).
Once again it's a thrilling adventure against impossible odds, with our SPI stalwarts caught up in the strife between goblins and elves and a rivalry between two powerful sorcerers. Our narrator again is Makenna Fraser, the new SPI agent whose talent as a Seer lets her identify rogue supernaturals who try to hide behind their glamor. She discovers that she can now see hidden portals too, so she's more valuable than ever to the SPI crew, and she takes a more active role than before.
All the way through, the spotlight falls on Rake Danescu, a wealthy and powerful goblin sorcerer who owns vast quantities of New York real estate, including all the locations where dreadful things are happening in connection with Hell and Brimstone.
There are plenty of strong scenes, starting with the gruesome murders of drug dealers that bear supernatural traces and suggest the Brimstone peddlers are clearing out their competition, but Makenna's sense of humor and forthright personality brighten the darkest moments. We see a good deal of her partner Ian Byrne and meet a couple of the higher-ups in the SPI agency, and SPI's founder and director Vivienne Sagadraco, dragon shifter, has some scenes. Lots of magical combat, and there's even help from a giant momma worm (as Makenna calls her). I really like this series.
home to the world's largest concentration of supernatural beings--unseen, unheard, unknown. And it's SPI's job to keep it that way.Suddenly the worldwide agency called Supernatural Protection and Investigations (SPI) has its hands full because there's a new drug on the illicit market, and it reveals those supernatural beings to anyone who takes it. People take the drug either for a high or because it lets you know what other people are really thinking (good for business negotiations etc.); then they see all the monsters and freak out. The only good thing is that it wipes their memory when they come off the high.
The drug's called Brimstone, it's made by magic, and the essential ingredient is molten brimstone straight from Hell. Molten brimstone from Hell solidifies in an hour or so here on Earth, so the clandestine New York lab that makes the drug has to be close to the source. Tricky, tricky, because Hell is a dimension that doesn't interface directly with this one, you see--to go to Hell you have to go through a portal into an anteroom dimension and then through another portal into Hell.
But wait, there is a shortcut. A few times in the past a Hellpit has opened, and each time a mage with certain powers has managed to close it before it's fully open. So reason tells us they couldn't be making the drug without brimstone from a Hellpit, and of course SPI has to find it and close it before it's fully open and we literally get Hell on Earth. That's the time crunch this time around (in the series debut SPI's deadline was midnight on New Year's Eve, and last time it was midnight on Halloween).
Once again it's a thrilling adventure against impossible odds, with our SPI stalwarts caught up in the strife between goblins and elves and a rivalry between two powerful sorcerers. Our narrator again is Makenna Fraser, the new SPI agent whose talent as a Seer lets her identify rogue supernaturals who try to hide behind their glamor. She discovers that she can now see hidden portals too, so she's more valuable than ever to the SPI crew, and she takes a more active role than before.
All the way through, the spotlight falls on Rake Danescu, a wealthy and powerful goblin sorcerer who owns vast quantities of New York real estate, including all the locations where dreadful things are happening in connection with Hell and Brimstone.
The goblin was capable of a lot, maybe even murder. Who was I kidding? Definitely murder. But what had been done...wasn't Rake's style. If he wanted someone dead, he'd just kill them, not make a B horror-movie production out of it.Rake is, of course, impossibly handsome and very interested in Makenna, but his motivations are highly questionable. The SPI agents have to reach an arrangement with him to get the job done, but surely Makenna's too smart to get personally involved...? Stay tuned.
There are plenty of strong scenes, starting with the gruesome murders of drug dealers that bear supernatural traces and suggest the Brimstone peddlers are clearing out their competition, but Makenna's sense of humor and forthright personality brighten the darkest moments. We see a good deal of her partner Ian Byrne and meet a couple of the higher-ups in the SPI agency, and SPI's founder and director Vivienne Sagadraco, dragon shifter, has some scenes. Lots of magical combat, and there's even help from a giant momma worm (as Makenna calls her). I really like this series.
January 29, 2016
*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 4.0
*My Thoughts*
The Brimstone Deception is the third installment in Lisa Shearin's SPI Files series. The series features Makenna Foster who is one of only 5 seers world wide. She has been apart of an organization called Supernatural Protection and Investigations for about a year now. The story actually picks up shortly after the finish of The Dragon Conspiracy. Mac and her SPI partner/bodyguard Ian Byrne don't get much time off to celebrate defeating yet another dangerous villain when all hell breaks out with the introduction of a drug called Brimstone into the NYC market.
*Full Review Posting @ Gizmos Reviews 01/28/2016*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
Expected publication: January 26th 2016 by Ace
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 4.0
*My Thoughts*
The Brimstone Deception is the third installment in Lisa Shearin's SPI Files series. The series features Makenna Foster who is one of only 5 seers world wide. She has been apart of an organization called Supernatural Protection and Investigations for about a year now. The story actually picks up shortly after the finish of The Dragon Conspiracy. Mac and her SPI partner/bodyguard Ian Byrne don't get much time off to celebrate defeating yet another dangerous villain when all hell breaks out with the introduction of a drug called Brimstone into the NYC market.
*Full Review Posting @ Gizmos Reviews 01/28/2016*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
Expected publication: January 26th 2016 by Ace
February 18, 2017
The Brimstone Deception is the weakest in the series so far. The case is interesting but not as overwhelmingly pressing as the problems with the grendels or what happened in The Dragon Conspiracy. You'd think that a rift to Hell would have more of an impact.
Furthermore, neither Makenna nor Ian are in the centre of the action. Nobody and nothing is. I think this is my main issue with this book. All the potential the story had was left unexplored.
The thing I liked the least, to put it mildly, are repetitions. Something happens and Makenna proceeds with an explanation of what it is or what she thinks of it. It happens more than once.
Then the action often stops so you can get yet another explanation. For example, in a situation where a person is climbing a vertical wall in a place where climbing would be almost impossible, I think the vertical wall plus that specific place are enough to show why that would be an extraordinary feat. Instead, you get a whole explanation.
Next, it is safe to say I am not a grammar Nazi but there are a couple of things that will take me out of whatever I am reading ('between he and' another person would be one of those pesky issues).
So, why and what did I like? Simple: Rake Danescu; and I am not talking about him as a potential romantic interest either. The Brimstone Deception was unfocused, but at least it showed this character in another light. Don't worry, they still don't know much about him.
November 1, 2023
Stars: 4 out of 5.
This series if finally finding its stride. The first book was lukewarm, and the second book was okay, but still lacked something, but this book really hit it out of the ballpark.
I think the biggest reason why this book worked for me so well is that the will they won't day tension between Mac and Ian is finally resolved. I honestly like them a lot more as partners, friends, as well as brother-sister relationship. They work so much better as characters and as partners like that. Plus, that leaves Mac free to explore her relationship with Rake, however strange and undefined it is. As someone who abhors love triangles in my books, I am a much happier reader now.
As for the story, it picks up almost immediately after the events of the last book, so tensions are running high. They defeated the mad dragon, but someone else had orchestrated all of this, and that someone got away. And now a new drug is hitting the streets that indicates that somebody has a direct line to Hell. What can go wrong with that?
I love the progression of Mac's character so far. She gained a lot of confidence in her abilities in the last two books, but she also gained a lot more confidence in herself and her place in the SPI. I like that she understands that she will never be a badass commando, that no matter how much she trains with Ian in hand to hand combat and shooting guns, she will loose a fight if she doesn't fight smart. And the smartest thing she can do is back away and let Ian and other commandos fight the battles for her. Though I must admit that she really did hold her own when that squid demon tried to drag her into the portal to Hell.
Mac is smart and has a good sense of humor, and it really shines now that she finally found her self-confidence. I love the commentary she has in her head about the events. She always tries to find a silver lining, even when horrible things happen around her, like finding a dozen demon hatchlings under her bed, who would have eater her alive if she hadn't been careful.
Heck, I even like the slow circling Mac and Rake do around each other, with Mac not sure of Rake's motives, and very aware of the reputation for deceit that goblins have. Despite that, I think they form a dynamic duo that is rather fun to watch.
I also love how the author throws hints about plotlines that will come to the forefront in consequent books. Like the mention of the ghoul that killed Ian's partner. It seems to have been lurking in the background since book 1. I am definitely picking up the next book in the series, because I want to know what happens to our SPI agents.
If you liked this review, check out my blog.
This series if finally finding its stride. The first book was lukewarm, and the second book was okay, but still lacked something, but this book really hit it out of the ballpark.
I think the biggest reason why this book worked for me so well is that the will they won't day tension between Mac and Ian is finally resolved. I honestly like them a lot more as partners, friends, as well as brother-sister relationship. They work so much better as characters and as partners like that. Plus, that leaves Mac free to explore her relationship with Rake, however strange and undefined it is. As someone who abhors love triangles in my books, I am a much happier reader now.
As for the story, it picks up almost immediately after the events of the last book, so tensions are running high. They defeated the mad dragon, but someone else had orchestrated all of this, and that someone got away. And now a new drug is hitting the streets that indicates that somebody has a direct line to Hell. What can go wrong with that?
I love the progression of Mac's character so far. She gained a lot of confidence in her abilities in the last two books, but she also gained a lot more confidence in herself and her place in the SPI. I like that she understands that she will never be a badass commando, that no matter how much she trains with Ian in hand to hand combat and shooting guns, she will loose a fight if she doesn't fight smart. And the smartest thing she can do is back away and let Ian and other commandos fight the battles for her. Though I must admit that she really did hold her own when that squid demon tried to drag her into the portal to Hell.
Mac is smart and has a good sense of humor, and it really shines now that she finally found her self-confidence. I love the commentary she has in her head about the events. She always tries to find a silver lining, even when horrible things happen around her, like finding a dozen demon hatchlings under her bed, who would have eater her alive if she hadn't been careful.
Heck, I even like the slow circling Mac and Rake do around each other, with Mac not sure of Rake's motives, and very aware of the reputation for deceit that goblins have. Despite that, I think they form a dynamic duo that is rather fun to watch.
I also love how the author throws hints about plotlines that will come to the forefront in consequent books. Like the mention of the ghoul that killed Ian's partner. It seems to have been lurking in the background since book 1. I am definitely picking up the next book in the series, because I want to know what happens to our SPI agents.
If you liked this review, check out my blog.
February 8, 2017
Finally caught up on this series, thanks to the magic of ordering stuff online and reading these relatively short novels back to back. The Brimstone Deception starts the day after The Dragon Conspiracy concludes. With such tight timing, it’s no coincidence that emotions and tensions continue to run high. Lisa Shearin advances Mac’s storyline even as she drops some more bombshells about the world of The SPI Files in general.
Already the plot of this book feels fresher than the previous two. Because of course if you have a direct line to Hell the first thing you’re going to do is synthesize a street drug from brimstone. I love the nuance that this plot brings to the book. Shearin brings in new characters with unique abilities and positions, such as Bert the necromancer, Marty the demonologist, and Fred the half-elf/half-human NYPD officer. And we get to learn a lot more about Rake Danescu, the sexy goblin who is, at the moment, the top contender on the short list of Mac’s love interests.
As I mentioned in the previous review, I’m happy with the way that Mac and Ian’s relationship has become more platonic, allowing each to pursue their own romances on the side. Romance takes a backseat in general here, however, and that’s fine too. While Mac acknowledges her attraction to Rake, and her discomfort with the opaqueness of her motives, she has far bigger problems at the moment. That’s a healthy stance to take. I’m hoping to see more emphasis on Mac’s work/life balance as the series progresses.
In place of romance, Shearin serves up a healthy dose of supernatural politics. We get a much richer glimpse into how SPI fits into the wider supernatural scene. SPI is clearly Vivienne Sagadraco’s show, and while it has international reach, I’m curious to find out if there are any competing outfits. It’s clear that as powerful as Sagadraco might be, the goblins, elves, et al have influence that make them formidable if crossed. Urban fantasy often features some of the best political intrigue I’ve come across in my fiction, with allegiances and loyalties falling across species and supernatural lines.
Also, The Brimstone Deception confirms, fairly blatantly, something that The Dragon Conspiracy hinted at: The SPI Files and Raine Benares series take place in the same universe! I tried googling about this for more information, but maybe I just don’t know the right fan sites. But this is a a huge deal for me, because it opens up the possibility of a Mac/Raine team-up. I am totally down for that.
That being said, Shearin does a great job balancing longtime fans like me with new readers ignorant of the backstory of the Seven Kingdoms. So while there are nice little references and a character crossover that’s rewarding for Raine Benares readers, if you’re literally just picking up this book and have never read any of Shearin’s other novels, you won’t in any way be lost.
And on a more serious note, while I’m happy about the potential for crossovers, I hope Shearin continues to exhibit the restraint she has thus far shown in keeping the two series mostly separate. Sitting down to write these reviews over the past week, I realize that I keep comparing these books to the Raine books—and these ones keep coming up short. Which isn’t their fault! I think that urge will continue to diminish as the series comes into its own.
Speaking of which, the intimations of bigger and better story arcs continue here. Once again we have a direct reference to the face-shifting ghoul terrorizing Ian. (According to the Goodreads series list, the next book is The Ghoul Vendetta, so I’m guessing we’ll soon get some pay-off on that arc!) And as Mac’s powers continue to grow, it’s being implied that she is catching the attention of beings that normally don’t bat an eye in Earth’s direction. I wonder what else is going to come out of the woodwork over the next couple of books!
Mac continues to get better as a protagonist with each book. I’m starting to feel more comfortable with her now. However, the exposition overload that front-loaded The Grendel Affair creeps back in here. It’s a case, sometimes, of wanting to show the research—but then, I’m reminded that Mac is a journalist by training, so maybe all this showing off is Shearin making Mac’s voice authentic….
*narrows eyes* You win this one, Shearin!
The Brimstone Deception is a lovely addition to The SPI Files. I wouldn’t recommend reading it first, just because it happens so soon after the previous book, but if you did happen to pick this up at the bookstore, you wouldn’t be too lost. Hopefully you’ll enjoy the way Shearin balances action sequences and literal visits to Hell (well, pocket dimensions and anterooms thereof) with questions of trust among the main characters, investigations into drug lords and kingpins, and concerns over whether Mac will have any wardrobe left by the end of this series.
The SPI Files is slowly but surely carving out a place for itself in urban fantasy with its acerbic but decidedly upbeat approach to magic and monsters. Against the larger, grittier backdrop of the genre, this series is a nice change of pace.
I was going to criticize the covers and complain about how they’re all different poses of Mac and Ian waving weapons around … but then again, The Dresden Files books have monotonously featured Harry Dresden on the cover for at least the last nine books—so I guess I won’t throw any stones. Plus, it’s nice that the covers acknowledge Mac and Ian’s partnership. Ian has Mac’s back in this book—hopefully in The Ghoul Vendetta we’ll see a little more vulnerability in him and Mac will really have a chance to shine.
My reviews of The SPI Files:
← The Dragon Conspiracy | The Ghoul Vendetta →
Already the plot of this book feels fresher than the previous two. Because of course if you have a direct line to Hell the first thing you’re going to do is synthesize a street drug from brimstone. I love the nuance that this plot brings to the book. Shearin brings in new characters with unique abilities and positions, such as Bert the necromancer, Marty the demonologist, and Fred the half-elf/half-human NYPD officer. And we get to learn a lot more about Rake Danescu, the sexy goblin who is, at the moment, the top contender on the short list of Mac’s love interests.
As I mentioned in the previous review, I’m happy with the way that Mac and Ian’s relationship has become more platonic, allowing each to pursue their own romances on the side. Romance takes a backseat in general here, however, and that’s fine too. While Mac acknowledges her attraction to Rake, and her discomfort with the opaqueness of her motives, she has far bigger problems at the moment. That’s a healthy stance to take. I’m hoping to see more emphasis on Mac’s work/life balance as the series progresses.
In place of romance, Shearin serves up a healthy dose of supernatural politics. We get a much richer glimpse into how SPI fits into the wider supernatural scene. SPI is clearly Vivienne Sagadraco’s show, and while it has international reach, I’m curious to find out if there are any competing outfits. It’s clear that as powerful as Sagadraco might be, the goblins, elves, et al have influence that make them formidable if crossed. Urban fantasy often features some of the best political intrigue I’ve come across in my fiction, with allegiances and loyalties falling across species and supernatural lines.
Also, The Brimstone Deception confirms, fairly blatantly, something that The Dragon Conspiracy hinted at: The SPI Files and Raine Benares series take place in the same universe! I tried googling about this for more information, but maybe I just don’t know the right fan sites. But this is a a huge deal for me, because it opens up the possibility of a Mac/Raine team-up. I am totally down for that.
That being said, Shearin does a great job balancing longtime fans like me with new readers ignorant of the backstory of the Seven Kingdoms. So while there are nice little references and a character crossover that’s rewarding for Raine Benares readers, if you’re literally just picking up this book and have never read any of Shearin’s other novels, you won’t in any way be lost.
And on a more serious note, while I’m happy about the potential for crossovers, I hope Shearin continues to exhibit the restraint she has thus far shown in keeping the two series mostly separate. Sitting down to write these reviews over the past week, I realize that I keep comparing these books to the Raine books—and these ones keep coming up short. Which isn’t their fault! I think that urge will continue to diminish as the series comes into its own.
Speaking of which, the intimations of bigger and better story arcs continue here. Once again we have a direct reference to the face-shifting ghoul terrorizing Ian. (According to the Goodreads series list, the next book is The Ghoul Vendetta, so I’m guessing we’ll soon get some pay-off on that arc!) And as Mac’s powers continue to grow, it’s being implied that she is catching the attention of beings that normally don’t bat an eye in Earth’s direction. I wonder what else is going to come out of the woodwork over the next couple of books!
Mac continues to get better as a protagonist with each book. I’m starting to feel more comfortable with her now. However, the exposition overload that front-loaded The Grendel Affair creeps back in here. It’s a case, sometimes, of wanting to show the research—but then, I’m reminded that Mac is a journalist by training, so maybe all this showing off is Shearin making Mac’s voice authentic….
*narrows eyes* You win this one, Shearin!
The Brimstone Deception is a lovely addition to The SPI Files. I wouldn’t recommend reading it first, just because it happens so soon after the previous book, but if you did happen to pick this up at the bookstore, you wouldn’t be too lost. Hopefully you’ll enjoy the way Shearin balances action sequences and literal visits to Hell (well, pocket dimensions and anterooms thereof) with questions of trust among the main characters, investigations into drug lords and kingpins, and concerns over whether Mac will have any wardrobe left by the end of this series.
The SPI Files is slowly but surely carving out a place for itself in urban fantasy with its acerbic but decidedly upbeat approach to magic and monsters. Against the larger, grittier backdrop of the genre, this series is a nice change of pace.
I was going to criticize the covers and complain about how they’re all different poses of Mac and Ian waving weapons around … but then again, The Dresden Files books have monotonously featured Harry Dresden on the cover for at least the last nine books—so I guess I won’t throw any stones. Plus, it’s nice that the covers acknowledge Mac and Ian’s partnership. Ian has Mac’s back in this book—hopefully in The Ghoul Vendetta we’ll see a little more vulnerability in him and Mac will really have a chance to shine.
My reviews of The SPI Files:
← The Dragon Conspiracy | The Ghoul Vendetta →
February 23, 2016
3.5 stars
The Brimstone Deception started only a few days after the event from The Dragon Conspiracy. This time Makenna Fraser, his partner Ian Byrne, and the rest of SPI agents are facing another threat-to-the-world when dead supernatural citizens of New York City are found with their hearts ripped out. Duly noted that those citizens were crime lords (and ladies) but the smell of brimstone on the crime scenes might meant one thing ... that demon is involved
Well, for the most part, I enjoyed this book. I like Makenna and the rest of the New Supernatural Protection & Investigations agents, like for example Martin DiMatteo, "Director of Demonology", who this time had more page time due to his expertise. I was amused with the progress of Mac's relationship with Rake Danescu, a goblin dark mage, who is mysterious and charming. I am not one of the Mac/Ian shippers anyway. I thought Ian is a good partner and might have a protective attitude of a big brother, but I didn't get the romantic vibe between the two of them.
The last several chapters where Mac, Ian, Rake, Martin, and Fred Ash (one of NYPD detectives who knows about supernatural beings, being an elf/human hybrid himself) must go and face the villain while stopping Hell breaks loose is fast-paced, action heavy, and page-turning. There is one "Holy Sh*t" moment, which you could see clearly from my status. So yes, I loved that!
Having said that, I remember a friend of mine who disliked book #2 because of the info-dump. It didn't really bother me in that book, and it wasn't in the beginning of this one as well. Being a reader who have a bad memory, sometimes I need "reminders" about what has happened in the previous book.
However, I thought that the info-dump here were starting to feel repetitive after several chapters. For example the part with Mac being a Southern girl, the information was laying it too thick. Or the event with Dragon Eggs from book #2. Or other things about our characters. It was dragging the pace of the book down. Besides, this is book #3 ... I assume that readers who read this one have been around since the beginning so it was a bit frustrating.
Other than that, since only few days have passed since "The Dragon Conspiracy", I didn't feel like a lot of character growth have developed too.
I'm still going to read the next book of course, but hopefully the repetitiveness feel will not be too prominent.
The Brimstone Deception started only a few days after the event from The Dragon Conspiracy. This time Makenna Fraser, his partner Ian Byrne, and the rest of SPI agents are facing another threat-to-the-world when dead supernatural citizens of New York City are found with their hearts ripped out. Duly noted that those citizens were crime lords (and ladies) but the smell of brimstone on the crime scenes might meant one thing ... that demon is involved
Well, for the most part, I enjoyed this book. I like Makenna and the rest of the New Supernatural Protection & Investigations agents, like for example Martin DiMatteo, "Director of Demonology", who this time had more page time due to his expertise. I was amused with the progress of Mac's relationship with Rake Danescu, a goblin dark mage, who is mysterious and charming. I am not one of the Mac/Ian shippers anyway. I thought Ian is a good partner and might have a protective attitude of a big brother, but I didn't get the romantic vibe between the two of them.
The last several chapters where Mac, Ian, Rake, Martin, and Fred Ash (one of NYPD detectives who knows about supernatural beings, being an elf/human hybrid himself) must go and face the villain while stopping Hell breaks loose is fast-paced, action heavy, and page-turning. There is one "Holy Sh*t" moment, which you could see clearly from my status. So yes, I loved that!
Having said that, I remember a friend of mine who disliked book #2 because of the info-dump. It didn't really bother me in that book, and it wasn't in the beginning of this one as well. Being a reader who have a bad memory, sometimes I need "reminders" about what has happened in the previous book.
However, I thought that the info-dump here were starting to feel repetitive after several chapters. For example the part with Mac being a Southern girl, the information was laying it too thick. Or the event with Dragon Eggs from book #2. Or other things about our characters. It was dragging the pace of the book down. Besides, this is book #3 ... I assume that readers who read this one have been around since the beginning so it was a bit frustrating.
Other than that, since only few days have passed since "The Dragon Conspiracy", I didn't feel like a lot of character growth have developed too.
I'm still going to read the next book of course, but hopefully the repetitiveness feel will not be too prominent.
March 15, 2016
This is my last SPI novel. It has lost the fun of the first novella and novel but never transitioned to a more serious urban fantasy. The whole series just flopped.
Makenna Fraser was a small town girl with a gift of seeing through glamours which hid the supernaturals from the humans that shared the city with them. When we started the series, there was a definite fish-out-of-water spin to the series. Not only was Makenna new to New York City but she was now exposed to even more supernaturals and some of those were the reason humans feared the night.
It is has been a year that Makenna has been here and part of SPI (Supernatural Protection and Investigation) and she no longer has the green of a small town girl, but she hasn’t progressed to a kick-ass agent either. That leaves us in the same dead zone as the last book, especially since this book takes up about 20 minutes after the last book ended. Even though it has been a year since the last book was released, we are expected to remember everything that happened “the day before.”
In this novel, someone has opened up a pit to Hell somewhere below Manhattan in order to use Brimstone for a drug. The humans who have been given a sample can suddenly read minds and see through glamours, leaving them screaming when they figure out that their boss is actually a vampire and their next door neighbor is a goblin.
SPI needs to find this pit and close it before the next full moon or the pit remains open and the demons from Hell can escape into our world and kill us all. That sums it up and is about as exciting as the whole book gets.
While the introduction novella gave a scene with Makenna and her now partner, Ian, making out as a cover and getting a little too distracted by it, the author has been shying away from any romantic attachment between these two and Ian’s reaction to Makenna’s date is being given as the actions of her new “big brother.” That would be fine, especially considering that we also met sexy goblin Rake Danescu in that initial novella, who has been trying to seduce MaKenna through all the books. Except we had more sex appeal in the initial novella than now while he is taking her to dinner and working with SPI on their last two investigations. Even if she doesn’t trust the magically gifted and seductive Rake, since he wants to hire Makenna for her seer talents, there could be a lot more sexual tension between them while she tries to determine if she can trust him. So we have a change from our initial love interest and now a love interest with no sexual chemistry. I am not even certain she has kissed Rake in any of the stories. Make the romance good or don’t put it in at all.
Not only has Ian taken a step back in the love interest department, he didn’t seem to be needed much in this book at all. It is hard to express how utterly uninteresting this entire story was and how I just continued listening in order to finish it and do a review and to debate how sucky the series has become with my friend.
One thing I did find irritating is the constant repetition of the author trying to get her points across, such as Makenna telling us often that she has never been able to see portals before, and she doesn’t think anyone else in her family ever has, and how she is in danger because people will want her for her portal seeing abilities. I can see portals. I can see portals. Now that I can see portals… Or goblins are beautiful. Goblins are attractive. Goblins are hot. (But apparently not hot enough to kiss.)
A better repetition would have been to remind us about the end of the last book since it might be why she suddenly can see portals.
THOUGHTS:
After the first two stories, I thought I had a new light-hearted urban fantasy series to replace my lost Sophie Lawson (Underworld Detection Agency series by Hannah Jayne). Yet the second and third novels simply fizzled both in the characterization, the change of non-sexual tension filled love interest and the bland story plots.
I am definitely done with the SPI series.
Makenna Fraser was a small town girl with a gift of seeing through glamours which hid the supernaturals from the humans that shared the city with them. When we started the series, there was a definite fish-out-of-water spin to the series. Not only was Makenna new to New York City but she was now exposed to even more supernaturals and some of those were the reason humans feared the night.
It is has been a year that Makenna has been here and part of SPI (Supernatural Protection and Investigation) and she no longer has the green of a small town girl, but she hasn’t progressed to a kick-ass agent either. That leaves us in the same dead zone as the last book, especially since this book takes up about 20 minutes after the last book ended. Even though it has been a year since the last book was released, we are expected to remember everything that happened “the day before.”
In this novel, someone has opened up a pit to Hell somewhere below Manhattan in order to use Brimstone for a drug. The humans who have been given a sample can suddenly read minds and see through glamours, leaving them screaming when they figure out that their boss is actually a vampire and their next door neighbor is a goblin.
SPI needs to find this pit and close it before the next full moon or the pit remains open and the demons from Hell can escape into our world and kill us all. That sums it up and is about as exciting as the whole book gets.
While the introduction novella gave a scene with Makenna and her now partner, Ian, making out as a cover and getting a little too distracted by it, the author has been shying away from any romantic attachment between these two and Ian’s reaction to Makenna’s date is being given as the actions of her new “big brother.” That would be fine, especially considering that we also met sexy goblin Rake Danescu in that initial novella, who has been trying to seduce MaKenna through all the books. Except we had more sex appeal in the initial novella than now while he is taking her to dinner and working with SPI on their last two investigations. Even if she doesn’t trust the magically gifted and seductive Rake, since he wants to hire Makenna for her seer talents, there could be a lot more sexual tension between them while she tries to determine if she can trust him. So we have a change from our initial love interest and now a love interest with no sexual chemistry. I am not even certain she has kissed Rake in any of the stories. Make the romance good or don’t put it in at all.
Not only has Ian taken a step back in the love interest department, he didn’t seem to be needed much in this book at all. It is hard to express how utterly uninteresting this entire story was and how I just continued listening in order to finish it and do a review and to debate how sucky the series has become with my friend.
One thing I did find irritating is the constant repetition of the author trying to get her points across, such as Makenna telling us often that she has never been able to see portals before, and she doesn’t think anyone else in her family ever has, and how she is in danger because people will want her for her portal seeing abilities. I can see portals. I can see portals. Now that I can see portals… Or goblins are beautiful. Goblins are attractive. Goblins are hot. (But apparently not hot enough to kiss.)
A better repetition would have been to remind us about the end of the last book since it might be why she suddenly can see portals.
THOUGHTS:
After the first two stories, I thought I had a new light-hearted urban fantasy series to replace my lost Sophie Lawson (Underworld Detection Agency series by Hannah Jayne). Yet the second and third novels simply fizzled both in the characterization, the change of non-sexual tension filled love interest and the bland story plots.
I am definitely done with the SPI series.
February 14, 2016
Squeeeee! I was quoted in this book from my review of "The Dragon Conspiracy"!
In this installment, Shearin dials down the threat level; instead of possible global destruction, it's more localized. I was happy to see that as it's a challenge to successfully and believably have a constant of world-threatening events. That said, the stakes are still high; Brimstone is a drug designed by supernaturals that only works on humans, with devastating consequences.
The story is basically a mystery as Mak and Ian try to track down the source of the drug, the person killing witnesses, and stopping a potential invasion. Shearin weaves in her usual humor and action, a bit of romance, and further character development of both Mak and Ian. Mak's abilities are growing, which I have mixed feelings about; I don't want to see her become some rare, all-powerful being. Rake, her goblin suitor seems to be softening a bit; I hope Shearin lets him keep his edges as he's a delightful devil with a skewed perspective who's already pretty well-developed.
While this story didn't grab me as much as the first two., I enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to the next book. And I still want to go out for drinks with the characters. :)
Some favorite quotes:
Magic exists, monsters are real, and fighting the forces of is a full-time job. At least there's hazard pay.
"Expanding one's knowledge is good." "So is being able to eat lunch." I said. "Fill us with knowledge when we're not standing over the visual aid." "Where's your curiosity?" "Hiding behind the remains of my appetite."
"Isn't anyone going to tell me I'm wrong?" "I make it a point never to lie to my agents," Ms. Sagadraco said. "Ma'am, I wouldn't mind the occasional happy, fluffy, white one."
In this installment, Shearin dials down the threat level; instead of possible global destruction, it's more localized. I was happy to see that as it's a challenge to successfully and believably have a constant of world-threatening events. That said, the stakes are still high; Brimstone is a drug designed by supernaturals that only works on humans, with devastating consequences.
The story is basically a mystery as Mak and Ian try to track down the source of the drug, the person killing witnesses, and stopping a potential invasion. Shearin weaves in her usual humor and action, a bit of romance, and further character development of both Mak and Ian. Mak's abilities are growing, which I have mixed feelings about; I don't want to see her become some rare, all-powerful being. Rake, her goblin suitor seems to be softening a bit; I hope Shearin lets him keep his edges as he's a delightful devil with a skewed perspective who's already pretty well-developed.
While this story didn't grab me as much as the first two., I enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to the next book. And I still want to go out for drinks with the characters. :)
Some favorite quotes:
Magic exists, monsters are real, and fighting the forces of is a full-time job. At least there's hazard pay.
"Expanding one's knowledge is good." "So is being able to eat lunch." I said. "Fill us with knowledge when we're not standing over the visual aid." "Where's your curiosity?" "Hiding behind the remains of my appetite."
"Isn't anyone going to tell me I'm wrong?" "I make it a point never to lie to my agents," Ms. Sagadraco said. "Ma'am, I wouldn't mind the occasional happy, fluffy, white one."
September 19, 2018
Pretty good paranormal romance series about a Southern seer who works as an agent for Supernatural Protection and Investigation in New York City. Her boss is a vampire, his boss is a dragon, and her wanna be boyfriend is a goblin dark mage.
November 10, 2018
Ce troisième tome a vraiment bien marché avec moi. J'ai trouvé qu'il avait plus d'humour que les précédents ce qui a compensé le fait que l'intrigue était peut-être un peu plus simple à suivre.
Alors que Mac et Ian, son partenaire, sont au restaurant, un homme se met à hurler qu'il voit des monstres partout. Mac comprend tout de suite qu'en fait il voit à travers le glamour, comme elle. Mais comment est-ce possible? Ils sont bien entendu immédiatement mis sur l'affaire par le SPI.
Après investigation ils se rendent compte qu'il s'agit en fait d'une nouvelle drogue appelée Brimstone et qui est sur le marché depuis peu. Cette drogue à la base n'était pas prévu pour les humains, mais elle commence à se répandre de partout, causant pas mal de problèmes.
Mac et Ian vont avoir fort à faire pour trouver la source du trafic ...
****
Comme dit plus haut, ce qui a distingué ce tome pour moi a clairement été l'humour. Dés la toute première scène j'ai éclaté de rire devant le comique de situation des deux couples qui se retrouvent par hasard dans le même restaurant et qui s'espionnent mutuellement en essayant de ne pas se faire remarquer pour savoir ce que fait l'autre. Le tome entier est régulièrement émaillé de ces scènes qui sont la pour alléger l’atmosphère. J'ai trouvé l'ensemble vraiment réussi.
L'enquête sur le trafic de drogue était finalement très proche d'une enquête policière classique, avec plein de pistes à remonter, des petits dealer à interroger en essayant de leur faire peur pour qu'ils parlent ... Évidemment empêcher la vrai police de faire des découvertes fait aussi parti de leur boulot. Et j'ai bien aimé parce que ça fait un peu comme une partie de cache-cache, ou ils doivent jongler entre les deux.
C'est vrai que cette enquête au final était moins surprenante dans l'ensemble que les précédentes car on savait dés le début vers quoi on courait. Il n'y a pas vraiment eu de gros retournements de situations ou de pistes qui ne menaient à rien. Mais ça ne m'a pas empêché de l'apprécier du début à la fin.
Mais en plus de tout ça ce qui fait vraiment l'attrait de cette série sur le long terme ce sont clairement les personnages. Mac évolue de plus en plus. De "bleue" sans expérience qui se raccrochait toujours à Ian dans le premier tome, elle devient confirmée et arrive à prendre ses décisions seules même en situation critique. En gros elle prend vraiment sa place et n'est plus la timide jeune femme qui se met toujours en arrière au moment difficile qu'elle était au début.
Évolution aussi du coté de Ian, au début il était le mentor, le protecteur. Il décidait quasiment de tout les faits et gestes de Mac. Mais avec le temps il s'adoucit et comment à lui faire confiance comme membre à part entière de leur équipe, et pas juste fardeau qu'il doit maintenir en vie malgré elle.
J'apprécie aussi le fait qu'il n'y a pas vraiment de romance dans cette série. Alors certes des pistes sont ouvertes, je suis sure que beaucoup de monde pensait qu'il y aurait une romance entre Mac et Ian dans les premiers tomes, mais en fait pas du tout, ils sont plus comme frère et sœurs et partent chacun de leur coté trouver des relations ailleurs. C'est vraiment une petite touche en plus qui arrondit l'ensemble sans prendre une place en trop.
Au final j'ai bien apprécié ce tome, j'espère que les suivants arriveront aussi à trouver le bon équilibre entre action, humour et intrigue pour continuer à me faire passer un excellent moment !
16.5/20
Alors que Mac et Ian, son partenaire, sont au restaurant, un homme se met à hurler qu'il voit des monstres partout. Mac comprend tout de suite qu'en fait il voit à travers le glamour, comme elle. Mais comment est-ce possible? Ils sont bien entendu immédiatement mis sur l'affaire par le SPI.
Après investigation ils se rendent compte qu'il s'agit en fait d'une nouvelle drogue appelée Brimstone et qui est sur le marché depuis peu. Cette drogue à la base n'était pas prévu pour les humains, mais elle commence à se répandre de partout, causant pas mal de problèmes.
Mac et Ian vont avoir fort à faire pour trouver la source du trafic ...
****
Comme dit plus haut, ce qui a distingué ce tome pour moi a clairement été l'humour. Dés la toute première scène j'ai éclaté de rire devant le comique de situation des deux couples qui se retrouvent par hasard dans le même restaurant et qui s'espionnent mutuellement en essayant de ne pas se faire remarquer pour savoir ce que fait l'autre. Le tome entier est régulièrement émaillé de ces scènes qui sont la pour alléger l’atmosphère. J'ai trouvé l'ensemble vraiment réussi.
L'enquête sur le trafic de drogue était finalement très proche d'une enquête policière classique, avec plein de pistes à remonter, des petits dealer à interroger en essayant de leur faire peur pour qu'ils parlent ... Évidemment empêcher la vrai police de faire des découvertes fait aussi parti de leur boulot. Et j'ai bien aimé parce que ça fait un peu comme une partie de cache-cache, ou ils doivent jongler entre les deux.
C'est vrai que cette enquête au final était moins surprenante dans l'ensemble que les précédentes car on savait dés le début vers quoi on courait. Il n'y a pas vraiment eu de gros retournements de situations ou de pistes qui ne menaient à rien. Mais ça ne m'a pas empêché de l'apprécier du début à la fin.
Mais en plus de tout ça ce qui fait vraiment l'attrait de cette série sur le long terme ce sont clairement les personnages. Mac évolue de plus en plus. De "bleue" sans expérience qui se raccrochait toujours à Ian dans le premier tome, elle devient confirmée et arrive à prendre ses décisions seules même en situation critique. En gros elle prend vraiment sa place et n'est plus la timide jeune femme qui se met toujours en arrière au moment difficile qu'elle était au début.
Évolution aussi du coté de Ian, au début il était le mentor, le protecteur. Il décidait quasiment de tout les faits et gestes de Mac. Mais avec le temps il s'adoucit et comment à lui faire confiance comme membre à part entière de leur équipe, et pas juste fardeau qu'il doit maintenir en vie malgré elle.
J'apprécie aussi le fait qu'il n'y a pas vraiment de romance dans cette série. Alors certes des pistes sont ouvertes, je suis sure que beaucoup de monde pensait qu'il y aurait une romance entre Mac et Ian dans les premiers tomes, mais en fait pas du tout, ils sont plus comme frère et sœurs et partent chacun de leur coté trouver des relations ailleurs. C'est vraiment une petite touche en plus qui arrondit l'ensemble sans prendre une place en trop.
Au final j'ai bien apprécié ce tome, j'espère que les suivants arriveront aussi à trouver le bon équilibre entre action, humour et intrigue pour continuer à me faire passer un excellent moment !
16.5/20
August 3, 2019
I really enjoy this series!
February 4, 2016
*screams* My library copy was "shipped" nine days ago!! I need my Mac fix!! The book finally got to the library yesterday, and the library was closed due to water main issues. But I picked it up tonight!!
Shearin does not disappoint in the third installment of her SPI Files! Only a few days after the events in The Dragon Conspiracy, Mac and her "crew" are exposed firsthand to the effects of a new drug that turns out to have more dangerous implications than allowing humans to see supernaturals. The new SPI people are hilarious, especially Martin the demon expert. Several secondary characters become more important in this book, and I like them. The story is fast-paced but tight and enthralling. Mac continues doing her job to the best of her ability; the scene between Mac and Moreau is a stellar explanation for why she does her job. I highly recommend this series!
Shearin does not disappoint in the third installment of her SPI Files! Only a few days after the events in The Dragon Conspiracy, Mac and her "crew" are exposed firsthand to the effects of a new drug that turns out to have more dangerous implications than allowing humans to see supernaturals. The new SPI people are hilarious, especially Martin the demon expert. Several secondary characters become more important in this book, and I like them. The story is fast-paced but tight and enthralling. Mac continues doing her job to the best of her ability; the scene between Mac and Moreau is a stellar explanation for why she does her job. I highly recommend this series!
Read
January 31, 2016I unfortunately had to dnf this arc. The formatting is atrocious. While I expect a certain amt of editing and formatting issues with arcs, this particular draft is a mess. Random line breaks, random paragraph separations, words running together, no chapter identifiers, and the color pink used to denote number line breaks and bled over onto the text at times. It is unreadable without significant effort.
August 21, 2022
Not bad, but not in the Raine Benares and Tam Nathrach league. While Mackenna grew - a lot - in this book, she's still a walking fount of stereotypes at times.
February 5, 2016
2016????? *weeps*
March 30, 2017
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: The gang is back and this time they are searching for a drug that allows humans to see the supernaturals and a demon who is murdering drug lords.
Opening Sentence: I wasn’t sure if this qualified as a first date.
Excerpt: No
The Review:
Mac is in a restaurant on her date with Rake trying to ignore her partner when a man starts screaming about monsters. As they try to hush him up they realize he can see all the supernaturals, and when they talk to the NYPD they find out that there is a new drug on the scene called Brimstone. Before they can even make it back to the office they are called to a murder scene since they are the closest agents. What they find there shocks them to the core.
An elven drug lord has been brutally murdered and what’s worse is there is a portal in his apartment and Mac discovers that she can see it. When Bert, the necromancer, arrives on the scene they soon find out his soul has been ripped out of his body as well as his heart. When Bert attempts to see what the victim last saw he is sucked into a trap and Mac is able to help him break free. Before the night is over Mac is attacked by a squid demon and sees another portal.
The agency brings in their foremost demonologist and soon they are in a race against time, before someone releases more of this drug into the human population and before they literally open a pit into hell. Will Mac and Ian be able to find out who is behind this? Will they be able to do it before Mac is killed? Will they even be strong enough to close the portal before hell is unleashed upon earth?
Wow, this series is amazing! I couldn’t stop reading this book. I was on the edge of my seat about Mac and Rake, about the brimstone, about the demons and the hellpit. So much was going on, it just hit the ground running and didn’t stop until the last page. Mac continues to grow in her powers and I love how she is trying to figure out Rake’s motivation for wanting to date her. I especially love how determined she is to stay alive.
The demons just kept coming at her and I was dying to see how it would all turn out. I am super excited that I got asked to review this series and I am more than a little sad that the next book is the last one. Not the last in the series, just the most current release. I know at the rate these books have being going, I will not be happy to not have another one to read. Hands down this has to be the best urban fantasy series I have read in a long time.
Notable Scene:
A pocket dimension is attached to a larger dimension like a coat closet off a ballroom. Though depending on the talent of the mage who did the construction, not all pocket dimensions are small. Like coat closests, pocket dimensions have a door–otherwise known as a portal. The big difference between the portal to Alastar Molvesia’s office and the two portals to Hell’s anteroom that I’d seen yesterday is an actual, physical connection.
FTC Advisory: Ace/Penguin provided me with a copy of The Brimstone Deception. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: The gang is back and this time they are searching for a drug that allows humans to see the supernaturals and a demon who is murdering drug lords.
Opening Sentence: I wasn’t sure if this qualified as a first date.
Excerpt: No
The Review:
Mac is in a restaurant on her date with Rake trying to ignore her partner when a man starts screaming about monsters. As they try to hush him up they realize he can see all the supernaturals, and when they talk to the NYPD they find out that there is a new drug on the scene called Brimstone. Before they can even make it back to the office they are called to a murder scene since they are the closest agents. What they find there shocks them to the core.
An elven drug lord has been brutally murdered and what’s worse is there is a portal in his apartment and Mac discovers that she can see it. When Bert, the necromancer, arrives on the scene they soon find out his soul has been ripped out of his body as well as his heart. When Bert attempts to see what the victim last saw he is sucked into a trap and Mac is able to help him break free. Before the night is over Mac is attacked by a squid demon and sees another portal.
The agency brings in their foremost demonologist and soon they are in a race against time, before someone releases more of this drug into the human population and before they literally open a pit into hell. Will Mac and Ian be able to find out who is behind this? Will they be able to do it before Mac is killed? Will they even be strong enough to close the portal before hell is unleashed upon earth?
Wow, this series is amazing! I couldn’t stop reading this book. I was on the edge of my seat about Mac and Rake, about the brimstone, about the demons and the hellpit. So much was going on, it just hit the ground running and didn’t stop until the last page. Mac continues to grow in her powers and I love how she is trying to figure out Rake’s motivation for wanting to date her. I especially love how determined she is to stay alive.
The demons just kept coming at her and I was dying to see how it would all turn out. I am super excited that I got asked to review this series and I am more than a little sad that the next book is the last one. Not the last in the series, just the most current release. I know at the rate these books have being going, I will not be happy to not have another one to read. Hands down this has to be the best urban fantasy series I have read in a long time.
Notable Scene:
A pocket dimension is attached to a larger dimension like a coat closet off a ballroom. Though depending on the talent of the mage who did the construction, not all pocket dimensions are small. Like coat closests, pocket dimensions have a door–otherwise known as a portal. The big difference between the portal to Alastar Molvesia’s office and the two portals to Hell’s anteroom that I’d seen yesterday is an actual, physical connection.
FTC Advisory: Ace/Penguin provided me with a copy of The Brimstone Deception. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
March 1, 2018
This is the third installment of the SPI series. In this book Mac and Ian are out on dates (with other people not each other) and a man starts screaming about seeing monsters. Since Mac is a seer she realizes he is actually seeing under the glamour of the supernatural beings in the cafe. After they figure out that it’s a type of drug made from brimstone that lets the user see through glamours and veils SPI tries to figure out where it’s coming from. Plus, all the dead bodies that keep appearing is making life in NYC pretty difficult.
This was another quick read and a definite page turner. Mac has really grown from the first book and seems to understand more about the supernatural world around her. I like that she’s so confident and doesn’t ask for help unless she knows she needs it. Her relationship with Ian was explained a few times throughout this book as a brother/sister dynamic and not a romantic one. Sorry to the shippers out there. But instead we get Rake! Which I’m super happy about. They had some good banter and I love their chemistry. He also brings an interesting twist to the storyline in general because you never know what that sneaky goblin is hiding or withholding. Plus he’s a sexy goblin who risks his life for Mac.
I’m definitely interested in seeing where else this series goes.
This was another quick read and a definite page turner. Mac has really grown from the first book and seems to understand more about the supernatural world around her. I like that she’s so confident and doesn’t ask for help unless she knows she needs it. Her relationship with Ian was explained a few times throughout this book as a brother/sister dynamic and not a romantic one. Sorry to the shippers out there. But instead we get Rake! Which I’m super happy about. They had some good banter and I love their chemistry. He also brings an interesting twist to the storyline in general because you never know what that sneaky goblin is hiding or withholding. Plus he’s a sexy goblin who risks his life for Mac.
I’m definitely interested in seeing where else this series goes.
August 20, 2018
Fun and easy to read - this is what I say about all of Lisa Shearin's books. Not wild about the pacing on this one; for some reason it felt a little slow, or off somehow. There was a lot of running around in circles until they figured out what the Big Problem was, and then there was a lot of clash-bang-splosion at the Final Showdown. There were also maybe too many supporting characters introduced in this one, many of whom were only around for a line or two, whereas characters who deserved more attention (for example, ) didn't feel like fully-fleshed characters. I do like the way Shearin has created a fully-realized world whose people interact with one another outside the purview of the main character, not just romantically but socially (e.g. Yasha the werewolf and Kitty the baker are apparently friends - who knew?).
December 10, 2020
As a Romance (smut) lover. This is one of those series, that I need to be in a certain mood to read. I love Supernatural police agencies. This is a really good series. Good mystery.
March 5, 2021
Rake! Wooohooo. We finally got to see more of Rake. Love him, so glad for Mac.
March 20, 2021
Fun read! I got a kick out of the characters!
May 30, 2021
DNF after the horrible fatphobia. Will not be reading this author again.
February 29, 2016
Audiobook: Started listening 2/10/2016 and finished 2/28/2016. For my review of the audiobook, see the Audible Audio addition.
------
Book Review:
Read from 12/18/15 to 1/2/16:
Picking up immediately after the conclusion of the previous book, The Brimstone Deception opens with Mak on a date with Rake and Ian on date with Kylie. At the same restaurant. Were Ian is convinced that Mak is only with Rake because the gorgeous goblin enthralled her. However, before anyone can enjoy themselves, another patron suddenly realizes he can see monsters all around him. This puts SPI into action, discovering there is a new drug called Brimstone being circulated around town, and it’s leaving a path of dead dealers in its wake.
Lisa Shearin’s SPI Files is a wonderfully adventurous series, pairing dangerous mystery-solving with the bizarre and supernatural. The Brimstone Deception starts with a jolt and the action is nearly non-stop as SPI seer Mak and her partner, Ian, try to find the open hellpit in New York before it destroys the city. I loved trying to piece together the clues as Mak and Ian uncover them bit by bit.
While the series is by no means a romance, I found myself hoping for a Mak-Ian pairing because the two make such a great team. However, Ms. Shearin makes it clear from the get go that they are strictly partners, and Mak has eyes for Rake. While I was personally bummed by this, I will admit that by the conclusion of the book, Rake was winning me over. Just a little.
Having listened to the audiobook of the first two titles in the series, I felt like I was missing something by reading this one. (I have already purchased the audiobook and will be listening to it soon.) I don’t know if it was that, or the fact that I read the book over the Christmas holidays, and it was difficult to carve out a solid block of time to read, but I never really got into the overall story. It was interesting, but I failed to connect with the tale on an emotional level.
One of the things that bothered me was the fact that this book takes place only one day after the prior book, and the SPI agents didn’t have anytime to recover, yet they were ready to go for another round of crime-solving. Additionally, Mak discovers a new aspect to her seer-abilities, and it was never really explained why it happened. It almost felt contrived, but not quite. I suppose it’s just one of those things readers are meant to just accept. Additionally, one of the best aspects of the earlier titles was the camaraderie and humor of the developing friendships between Mak and her follow agents, as well as some folks outside SPI. Unfortunately, instead of fostering and growing the friendships and bonds that were strengthening in the previous two titles, the story instead focused on new characters and friendships.
Although I did enjoy reading The Brimstone Deception, I found that the story didn’t hold up to the previous two titles. The book felt smaller and simpler than the first two, which is something I appreciated, but I also found that I need more. The mystery had some twists, but everything was pretty much straight forward and spelled out for the reader. There was a lot less of SPI and more focus on just Mak and Ian solving the case. I really think I need to reread this one via my audiobook to get a better sense of where The Brimstone Deception fits in the big picture of the SPI Files, and I look forward to it!
My Rating: B- Liked It, but I had a few small issues
Review copy provided by publisher.
------
Book Review:
Read from 12/18/15 to 1/2/16:
Picking up immediately after the conclusion of the previous book, The Brimstone Deception opens with Mak on a date with Rake and Ian on date with Kylie. At the same restaurant. Were Ian is convinced that Mak is only with Rake because the gorgeous goblin enthralled her. However, before anyone can enjoy themselves, another patron suddenly realizes he can see monsters all around him. This puts SPI into action, discovering there is a new drug called Brimstone being circulated around town, and it’s leaving a path of dead dealers in its wake.
Lisa Shearin’s SPI Files is a wonderfully adventurous series, pairing dangerous mystery-solving with the bizarre and supernatural. The Brimstone Deception starts with a jolt and the action is nearly non-stop as SPI seer Mak and her partner, Ian, try to find the open hellpit in New York before it destroys the city. I loved trying to piece together the clues as Mak and Ian uncover them bit by bit.
While the series is by no means a romance, I found myself hoping for a Mak-Ian pairing because the two make such a great team. However, Ms. Shearin makes it clear from the get go that they are strictly partners, and Mak has eyes for Rake. While I was personally bummed by this, I will admit that by the conclusion of the book, Rake was winning me over. Just a little.
Having listened to the audiobook of the first two titles in the series, I felt like I was missing something by reading this one. (I have already purchased the audiobook and will be listening to it soon.) I don’t know if it was that, or the fact that I read the book over the Christmas holidays, and it was difficult to carve out a solid block of time to read, but I never really got into the overall story. It was interesting, but I failed to connect with the tale on an emotional level.
One of the things that bothered me was the fact that this book takes place only one day after the prior book, and the SPI agents didn’t have anytime to recover, yet they were ready to go for another round of crime-solving. Additionally, Mak discovers a new aspect to her seer-abilities, and it was never really explained why it happened. It almost felt contrived, but not quite. I suppose it’s just one of those things readers are meant to just accept. Additionally, one of the best aspects of the earlier titles was the camaraderie and humor of the developing friendships between Mak and her follow agents, as well as some folks outside SPI. Unfortunately, instead of fostering and growing the friendships and bonds that were strengthening in the previous two titles, the story instead focused on new characters and friendships.
Although I did enjoy reading The Brimstone Deception, I found that the story didn’t hold up to the previous two titles. The book felt smaller and simpler than the first two, which is something I appreciated, but I also found that I need more. The mystery had some twists, but everything was pretty much straight forward and spelled out for the reader. There was a lot less of SPI and more focus on just Mak and Ian solving the case. I really think I need to reread this one via my audiobook to get a better sense of where The Brimstone Deception fits in the big picture of the SPI Files, and I look forward to it!
My Rating: B- Liked It, but I had a few small issues
Review copy provided by publisher.
March 17, 2016
My review and an extended sample of the audiobook are posted at Hotlistens.com.
This is a series that I’ve enjoyed from when I first read the prequel novella in Night Shift two years ago. I find it to be a fun paranormal investigation story. Mac is a seer. So while she is human, she can see through glamour of other species, which makes her invaluable to an investigation team. She has a partner who is also human and a former NYPD detective, Ian Byrne.
Mac is out on a lunch date with goblin billionaire Rake Danescu. Ian just so happens to be out to lunch at the same overpriced restaurant and Mac and Rake on his own date with Kylie O’Hara. Kylie is a dryad and also works at SPI as director of media and public relations. The fact that they were all at the restaurant when a human just happens to take a new designer drug that allows him to see through glamor, is a convenience and a curse. They are able to help tamp down the situation with the media and the local police.
This was a fun story where we get to watch Mac and Ian investigate the new drug and track down dealers, murderers and manufacturers of the drug. It is probably the closest thing to a “normal” police case that we’ve seen Mac and Ian work. Except where the drug is made from a substance from Hell and the people involved are not human. Oh, and everything seems to point towards Rake, who Ian is really not a fan of anyway.
I liked that we got to see how SPI has to run interference with the local NYPD to try to keep the supernatural creatures out of the public eye. Anything from completely covering up the crime for the local police, only so that they can investigate and charge the supernatural criminals themselves. Also, getting supernaturals entrenched into the local police, morgue and other aspects to help cover up the supernatural aspects, if the locals find the crime first.
When I first read the prequel novella, I was all for Ian and Mac romance. As I read more of this book and learn more about Rake, I’m starting to root more for him. I know that many people will disagree with me, but I saw a different side to Rake in this book. I’m not all in, but I’m willing to give him a shot.
I should also add that I love the humor in these books. There are several pop culture references including Mr. Burns of The Simpsons and Yoda’s “Do or do not, there is no try”. There are also several Southern references, which I love, being from Georgia. Things like the hot light at Krispy Kreme and tea so sweet you can stand a spoon up in it.
Narration
Johanna Parker is a narrator that I’ve enjoyed for some time. I like the way she narrates books with a lot of humor. I think she is able to bring out that extra bit of humor I’m expecting from a book like this one. I also like her Southern accent. I think it is perfect for Mac’s North Carolina heritage.
This is a series that I’ve enjoyed from when I first read the prequel novella in Night Shift two years ago. I find it to be a fun paranormal investigation story. Mac is a seer. So while she is human, she can see through glamour of other species, which makes her invaluable to an investigation team. She has a partner who is also human and a former NYPD detective, Ian Byrne.
Mac is out on a lunch date with goblin billionaire Rake Danescu. Ian just so happens to be out to lunch at the same overpriced restaurant and Mac and Rake on his own date with Kylie O’Hara. Kylie is a dryad and also works at SPI as director of media and public relations. The fact that they were all at the restaurant when a human just happens to take a new designer drug that allows him to see through glamor, is a convenience and a curse. They are able to help tamp down the situation with the media and the local police.
This was a fun story where we get to watch Mac and Ian investigate the new drug and track down dealers, murderers and manufacturers of the drug. It is probably the closest thing to a “normal” police case that we’ve seen Mac and Ian work. Except where the drug is made from a substance from Hell and the people involved are not human. Oh, and everything seems to point towards Rake, who Ian is really not a fan of anyway.
I liked that we got to see how SPI has to run interference with the local NYPD to try to keep the supernatural creatures out of the public eye. Anything from completely covering up the crime for the local police, only so that they can investigate and charge the supernatural criminals themselves. Also, getting supernaturals entrenched into the local police, morgue and other aspects to help cover up the supernatural aspects, if the locals find the crime first.
When I first read the prequel novella, I was all for Ian and Mac romance. As I read more of this book and learn more about Rake, I’m starting to root more for him. I know that many people will disagree with me, but I saw a different side to Rake in this book. I’m not all in, but I’m willing to give him a shot.
I should also add that I love the humor in these books. There are several pop culture references including Mr. Burns of The Simpsons and Yoda’s “Do or do not, there is no try”. There are also several Southern references, which I love, being from Georgia. Things like the hot light at Krispy Kreme and tea so sweet you can stand a spoon up in it.
Narration
Johanna Parker is a narrator that I’ve enjoyed for some time. I like the way she narrates books with a lot of humor. I think she is able to bring out that extra bit of humor I’m expecting from a book like this one. I also like her Southern accent. I think it is perfect for Mac’s North Carolina heritage.
March 4, 2016
I originally read and reviewed The Brimstone Deception earlier this year. At that time I wrote of the book:
"Although I did enjoy reading The Brimstone Deception, I found that the story didn’t hold up to the previous two titles. The book felt smaller and simpler than the first two, which is something I appreciated, but I also found that I need more. The mystery had some twists, but everything was pretty much straight forward and spelled out for the reader. There was a lot less of SPI and more focus on just Mak and Ian solving the case. I really think I need to reread this one via my audiobook to get a better sense of where The Brimstone Deception fits in the big picture of the SPI Files, and I look forward to it!"
Since I had listened to and enjoyed the audiobook versions of the first two SPI Files, I wanted to re-read The Brimstone Deception via audiobook, and I'm very glad I did. I found myself much more engaged in the book and story when shared via Ms. Parker's superb narration. I didn't consider the story "smaller and simpler" as I wrote in my earlier review. Rather, it was on par with the first two mysteries. While, I still wanted to see more of the characters we met in the previous book, I found that I didn't realize they weren't present because I was more engaged in the "here and now" of the story.
I credit my enjoyment of the story to the narration. Ms. Parker truly brings Mak to life for me, making her more three-dimensional and real. She breathes life into each character, effectively adding emotion into her performance, making me care what happens to the characters, especially Mak. And due to the added emotional factor, I found myself much more on board with the Mak-Rake romantic pairing than I was when reading the book.
The only downside to listening to The Brimstone Deception is I found that the repetition returned. I must zone-out when I read, because I did not notice the constant use and reuse of certain phrases and terms. But when listening, I seem to pick up on every single word, and there is a lot of repetition, just as I found in the previous two books. After a while it was bothersome.
In the end, I am very glad I took the time to listen to The Brimstone Deception. For me, the SPI Files series is clearly a must listen to (rather than read) series. The narration by Johanna Parker adds tremendously to my enjoyment of the books.
Rating: B
Narration: A-
"Although I did enjoy reading The Brimstone Deception, I found that the story didn’t hold up to the previous two titles. The book felt smaller and simpler than the first two, which is something I appreciated, but I also found that I need more. The mystery had some twists, but everything was pretty much straight forward and spelled out for the reader. There was a lot less of SPI and more focus on just Mak and Ian solving the case. I really think I need to reread this one via my audiobook to get a better sense of where The Brimstone Deception fits in the big picture of the SPI Files, and I look forward to it!"
Since I had listened to and enjoyed the audiobook versions of the first two SPI Files, I wanted to re-read The Brimstone Deception via audiobook, and I'm very glad I did. I found myself much more engaged in the book and story when shared via Ms. Parker's superb narration. I didn't consider the story "smaller and simpler" as I wrote in my earlier review. Rather, it was on par with the first two mysteries. While, I still wanted to see more of the characters we met in the previous book, I found that I didn't realize they weren't present because I was more engaged in the "here and now" of the story.
I credit my enjoyment of the story to the narration. Ms. Parker truly brings Mak to life for me, making her more three-dimensional and real. She breathes life into each character, effectively adding emotion into her performance, making me care what happens to the characters, especially Mak. And due to the added emotional factor, I found myself much more on board with the Mak-Rake romantic pairing than I was when reading the book.
The only downside to listening to The Brimstone Deception is I found that the repetition returned. I must zone-out when I read, because I did not notice the constant use and reuse of certain phrases and terms. But when listening, I seem to pick up on every single word, and there is a lot of repetition, just as I found in the previous two books. After a while it was bothersome.
In the end, I am very glad I took the time to listen to The Brimstone Deception. For me, the SPI Files series is clearly a must listen to (rather than read) series. The narration by Johanna Parker adds tremendously to my enjoyment of the books.
Rating: B
Narration: A-
February 9, 2016
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy.
Oh SPI Files, how do I love you? Let me count the ways! You've got action to keep me occupied, sexual tension for me to swoon about, snappy dialogue to keep me laughing out loud and a cast of characters I can't help but love. THE BRIMSTONE DECEPTION is no exception to the rule, and for me, is a perfect urban fantasy read.
I know that I've gushed about this series and Shearin before, but honestly, it's hard not to. SPI Files are the perfect books for me - combining action with mystery and witty comebacks, not too gory or violent and with a great "ensemble cast" as it were. From Makenna, to her human partner Ian, their Russian werewolf driver, and their vampire and dragon bosses, we've got all kinds of creatures and fun mythology to learn about. The interplays and dialogue between the various combinations of characters are some of my favorite parts of the book. Ian and Makenna's relationship has certainly evolved in the three books, and I love reading Makenna talk herself out of situations she maybe shouldn't have been in to begin with.
My one complaint about THE BRIMSTONE DECEPTION was the slow advance of the romance. Don't get me wrong - it did progress, but I would have liked to see it progress further. However, the slow burn makes this series a good one to recommend to readers who don't want any serious intimate scenes in their urban fantasy at all. Here's hoping we get more screen time with Makenna and Rake in the next book! (Pretty please!)
Like I've said before, if this isn't a series you're reading, you should definitely check it out! Totally worth the time, and with three books that's a weekend binge right there! If you like lighthearted urban fantasy, that can still pull off a good plot and mythology, then give the SPI Files a try!
Sexual content: Kissing
Oh SPI Files, how do I love you? Let me count the ways! You've got action to keep me occupied, sexual tension for me to swoon about, snappy dialogue to keep me laughing out loud and a cast of characters I can't help but love. THE BRIMSTONE DECEPTION is no exception to the rule, and for me, is a perfect urban fantasy read.
I know that I've gushed about this series and Shearin before, but honestly, it's hard not to. SPI Files are the perfect books for me - combining action with mystery and witty comebacks, not too gory or violent and with a great "ensemble cast" as it were. From Makenna, to her human partner Ian, their Russian werewolf driver, and their vampire and dragon bosses, we've got all kinds of creatures and fun mythology to learn about. The interplays and dialogue between the various combinations of characters are some of my favorite parts of the book. Ian and Makenna's relationship has certainly evolved in the three books, and I love reading Makenna talk herself out of situations she maybe shouldn't have been in to begin with.
My one complaint about THE BRIMSTONE DECEPTION was the slow advance of the romance. Don't get me wrong - it did progress, but I would have liked to see it progress further. However, the slow burn makes this series a good one to recommend to readers who don't want any serious intimate scenes in their urban fantasy at all. Here's hoping we get more screen time with Makenna and Rake in the next book! (Pretty please!)
Like I've said before, if this isn't a series you're reading, you should definitely check it out! Totally worth the time, and with three books that's a weekend binge right there! If you like lighthearted urban fantasy, that can still pull off a good plot and mythology, then give the SPI Files a try!
Sexual content: Kissing
February 3, 2016
I love Lisa Shearin, from the Raine Benares days through the SPI files, I'll say that upfront.
The Brimstone Deception (TBD) is the third installment in the SPI Files series, and it doesn't disappoint. It keeps up the momentum of the first two books (lots of action) and grows the character arcs of both Mackenna and Ian. In the "not-sure-I'm-buying-this" dept, Mackenna is increasingly interested in Rake, who is turning into a total GOOD guy (well, I knew that was coming but mildly disappointed at how tame he's becoming). Ian's relationship with Mackenna is depicted as brotherly by various other folks from the peanut gallery (hoping this is temporary!!).
There is someone pushing a very dangerous drug around the city, and while it doesn't affect supernaturals in this book, it does allow humans to see past their glamors, which might be even more dangerous for the supernatural community overall. There's the requisite running around but there was more of a murder mystery feel than doomsday apocalypse with requisite terrifying obstacle and villian to overcome. I'd say the overall threat level just seemed lower, but that didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story. There are more peripheral characters who become interesting, and I found that I liked the comfort level everybody has (they all seem like good friends and a great team) with each other.
I might be the only person hoping to see an eventual pairing of Makenna and Ian, but it's still a fun read, and an enjoyable series.
The Brimstone Deception (TBD) is the third installment in the SPI Files series, and it doesn't disappoint. It keeps up the momentum of the first two books (lots of action) and grows the character arcs of both Mackenna and Ian. In the "not-sure-I'm-buying-this" dept, Mackenna is increasingly interested in Rake, who is turning into a total GOOD guy (well, I knew that was coming but mildly disappointed at how tame he's becoming). Ian's relationship with Mackenna is depicted as brotherly by various other folks from the peanut gallery (hoping this is temporary!!).
There is someone pushing a very dangerous drug around the city, and while it doesn't affect supernaturals in this book, it does allow humans to see past their glamors, which might be even more dangerous for the supernatural community overall. There's the requisite running around but there was more of a murder mystery feel than doomsday apocalypse with requisite terrifying obstacle and villian to overcome. I'd say the overall threat level just seemed lower, but that didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story. There are more peripheral characters who become interesting, and I found that I liked the comfort level everybody has (they all seem like good friends and a great team) with each other.
I might be the only person hoping to see an eventual pairing of Makenna and Ian, but it's still a fun read, and an enjoyable series.
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