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Broken Mirrors #2
Lightning Rod
Always stand. Never fall.
Broken Mirrors, Book 2
If I could offer one piece of advice now, as I fall past the eighty-fourth floor of Victory Tower, with the sky above me the swirling eye of a crimson hurricane, the blade of a goddess stuck in my thigh, and a man I used to love preparing to end the world, it would be Magic is not the answer to your problems.
Sorcerers have always been feared in the City, their origins as unknown as the nature and extent of their power. When James Black, a young man fleeing an abusive lover, becomes a sorcerer, his old life is erased from existence, and his new life is indebted to powerful entities.
Escaping the man who abused him was supposed to be the end, but the very magic that freed him has put him on a collision course with the gods and the Sorcerer King himself.
And only one of them can survive.
Product Warnings
This is a work of urban fantasy featuring a gay male protagonist, with a romantic subplot and focus on magic, dragons, tricksters, sorcerers, and survival of domestic abuse. Please adjust expectations accordingly.
Broken Mirrors, Book 2
If I could offer one piece of advice now, as I fall past the eighty-fourth floor of Victory Tower, with the sky above me the swirling eye of a crimson hurricane, the blade of a goddess stuck in my thigh, and a man I used to love preparing to end the world, it would be Magic is not the answer to your problems.
Sorcerers have always been feared in the City, their origins as unknown as the nature and extent of their power. When James Black, a young man fleeing an abusive lover, becomes a sorcerer, his old life is erased from existence, and his new life is indebted to powerful entities.
Escaping the man who abused him was supposed to be the end, but the very magic that freed him has put him on a collision course with the gods and the Sorcerer King himself.
And only one of them can survive.
Product Warnings
This is a work of urban fantasy featuring a gay male protagonist, with a romantic subplot and focus on magic, dragons, tricksters, sorcerers, and survival of domestic abuse. Please adjust expectations accordingly.
312 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 9, 2012
14 people are currently reading
323 people want to read
About the author
Vaughn R. Demont
19 books153 followersWriter, Scorpio, and self-professed waffle-addict, Vaughn R. Demont received his Bachelor of Arts from Oswego State University, and his Master of Fine Arts from Goddard College, where he studied Creative Writing and being poor. He has published several novelettes and novellas, including The Last Paladin series, House of Stone, the Broken Mirrors series, and the new Blackwarren Heists series.
Vaughn currently lives in Central New York, where he is working on his next novel.
Vaughn currently lives in Central New York, where he is working on his next novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
November 10, 2014
too much, and too little.
i haz disappoint.
demont was unable to reproduce the remarkable feat of juggling that kept all the, uh, balls in the air last time out.
where all the crazy and disparate elements of the story were remarkably balanced in coyote's creed, they're slightly out-of-whack here, with long stretches that had little energy to them followed by hectic pandemonium that simply wasn't as fun as it was in the first book.
i had minor problems with various aspects of the MC's dialogue and behavior and rationale; niggles turned into distractions, and by the end i didn't really believe in either his competence or his love for cale.
worst of all was a very heavy reliance on the whole previously-undisclosed-aspects-of-this-universe-suddenly-becoming-critical-to-the-plot-and-then-also-immediately-explained-at-length thing, which demont successfully used often in the previous book, but which felt like a real cop-out, here, owing to it being deployed far too often throughout.
which leaves me with a sexy romantic urban fantasy novel that was, frustratingly, neither romantic nor all that adventurous. or sexy. or fantastic.
so: two stars, which means "it was okay."
i couldn't believe in the characters, and wasn't engaged by the plot.
(when it finally arrived, i mean.)
i haz disappoint.
demont was unable to reproduce the remarkable feat of juggling that kept all the, uh, balls in the air last time out.
where all the crazy and disparate elements of the story were remarkably balanced in coyote's creed, they're slightly out-of-whack here, with long stretches that had little energy to them followed by hectic pandemonium that simply wasn't as fun as it was in the first book.
i had minor problems with various aspects of the MC's dialogue and behavior and rationale; niggles turned into distractions, and by the end i didn't really believe in either his competence or his love for cale.
worst of all was a very heavy reliance on the whole previously-undisclosed-aspects-of-this-universe-suddenly-becoming-critical-to-the-plot-and-then-also-immediately-explained-at-length thing, which demont successfully used often in the previous book, but which felt like a real cop-out, here, owing to it being deployed far too often throughout.
which leaves me with a sexy romantic urban fantasy novel that was, frustratingly, neither romantic nor all that adventurous. or sexy. or fantastic.
so: two stars, which means "it was okay."
i couldn't believe in the characters, and wasn't engaged by the plot.
(when it finally arrived, i mean.)
January 22, 2014
I had to get past my initial disappointment of finding myself in a different POV than Spencer's and two years further down the road from Coyote's Creed. At the end of the first book, I'd thought we might see the gradual evolution of the relationship of Spencer and Rourke through the series, but this is pretty much a new story with only a tangential relationship to the first. Spencer appears briefly, but not in his relationship at all, and the stories are not headed where I expected. This is not necessarily a bad thing.
Once I realized I needed to set Spencer and Rourke aside, I was drawn into the story of James, the abused guy whom Spencer sent off on the bus in book 1. That wasn't just a chance meeting, and James isn't just any guy. He turns out to be a sorcerer, and a powerful one. And in the process of making that discovery, he meets up with dragons, and the Recluse himself, Cale, the sorcerer whom the rest of the supernatural world is gunning for. But Cale is nothing like the overlord James would have expected. And there is a lot more to James than he realized.
This is a darker, tougher book than the first. There is abuse and loss, both emotional and real. There is growing love, but again this is not headed for a romantic HEA. The characters are intensely drawn and interesting. The plot is a bit convoluted, and the motivations sometimes seemed murky. This is a series that might improve on a second or more close reading, with better attention to detail than I'm giving it. I've tended to skim over details and read for the gestalt. But even at that level, it was an absorbing read, with an ending that again completed an arc but frustrated the romantic in me, and I immediately plunged into the third one.
Once I realized I needed to set Spencer and Rourke aside, I was drawn into the story of James, the abused guy whom Spencer sent off on the bus in book 1. That wasn't just a chance meeting, and James isn't just any guy. He turns out to be a sorcerer, and a powerful one. And in the process of making that discovery, he meets up with dragons, and the Recluse himself, Cale, the sorcerer whom the rest of the supernatural world is gunning for. But Cale is nothing like the overlord James would have expected. And there is a lot more to James than he realized.
This is a darker, tougher book than the first. There is abuse and loss, both emotional and real. There is growing love, but again this is not headed for a romantic HEA. The characters are intensely drawn and interesting. The plot is a bit convoluted, and the motivations sometimes seemed murky. This is a series that might improve on a second or more close reading, with better attention to detail than I'm giving it. I've tended to skim over details and read for the gestalt. But even at that level, it was an absorbing read, with an ending that again completed an arc but frustrated the romantic in me, and I immediately plunged into the third one.
April 18, 2013
Really fun, and engaging sequel. I wasn't sure I would like the change in main characters, but I ended up liking James very much. His sense of humor, and inner strength made him an interesting, and well rounded character. The secondary characters were a varied bunch, and added so much life to the story. I love that magic isn't easy, nor is it a simple solution to all of James's problems. I also love that this series is not about a simple struggle between right and wrong, but about different factions and their differing goals. There is no hard and fast black and white, and I appreciate that. It made it feel much more real to me. I look forward to the next book, and seeing how James and Spencer end up working together (I'm thinking it's going to be intense.)
January 8, 2014
This was a great sequel. It wasn't the light, fun read of Coyote's Creed but it was amazing in its own way. A fair bit darker than the first, it packed in a lot more feels. There was still that Demont humor I've come to love scattered around amongst the drama so I didn't feel cheated. It even brought tears to my eyes near the end!
Highly recommended series.
January 22, 2016
3.5 Star Reviewage on Prism Book Alliance®
The way this story begins, I was wearing my “WTF” face, no joke. We’re dropped right into the fray, emotions and bodies flying this way and that. My “WTF” face was accompanied by a slight grin and, huh, I wonder if this, whatever ‘this’ is, will succeed.
I decided I wanted to find out.
I’m thrilled I made that choice by chapter two. That WTF feeling, a result of extreme randomness, started morphing into OMG, no way. I was feeling the desperation, the confusion, fragile hope, and the drive to survive. I was feeling Miles, and how deeply he was being scarred by life, while having no clue about what was to come. I was already wishing for his safety and happiness.
A bit of time passes and we get James. He’s experiencing what could be described as rescue, but at a great cost. Could he live with that? Could he change it? All the while, my emotional investment was being matched by the high level of creativity.
And the writing, yo, the writing.
”They’re red dragons. They wouldn’t save me.”
The voice behind the screen gets a bit huffy. “And why is that?”
“They’re red dragons. They’re evil.”
A silver-scaled snout pokes over the top of the screen, a plume of smoke issuing from his nostrils with a snort. “Now that’s just racist. I’ve got two cousins who’re reds that donate to Greenpeace.”
This passage demonstrates the modern world accoutrement that fills in the layers of magic, paranormal (granted, it’s all normal to them), olde world rules and mysterious creatures, some created millennia ago, and fabled enemies that inform most of the emotion experienced while reading this story.
There are some disjointed junctures throughout this story, some major points that turn on a dime or life-altering events that seem to be ignored in the immediate aftermath. That some of them do get a payoff later on is great, but the impact of those resolutions is somewhat dampened.
But then I’d remember “dragons” and let it go.
Demont once again does so well in tossing about the cultural references and, not just in offhanded comments or snarky comebacks but, the roles they’ve played in molding some of these characters and their personalities, and approaches to living life.
This story feels to me like the author is exploring themes, like grief, changing perspective, trust, loss, self-worth and whether you have it, lose it, or want it, and how to go about getting it, how it’s not always pretty while it’s happening. This book, compared to Coyote’s Creed, felt more internalized in some ways, particularly with James being our narrator throughout.
Possibly the most enjoyable, and realistic, relationship portrayed in this story is the friendship shared between James and Dave. I think it’s safe to say that, for each of them, one is the other’s best friend in a long time, maybe ever. They care about each other, want to look out for one another and actually do it, going beyond just declaration. They know each other pretty well and it shows in a number of rewarding ways.
Somewhere around the halfway point and this story hops off the rails somewhat. A catastrophic event, brought about by one or more characters, is deemed nearly impossible to conquer. Ok, I can understand that, unintended consequences and all, but still. Further, one of the major supporting characters keeps popping up again and again and again, always bringing death and anguish with him, stymieing a lot of the progress made throughout the story, at least for me. By the sixth or so time, I was done. One too many times to that well did we go. And, except for a single reference, we’re never really told why he feels so strongly the way he does, his motivation never adequately explained. His gleeful spewing of the hate and physical violence became an unnecessary frustration. You guys know me, I try not to judge characters, as they are all living and making their own decisions about their realities – ‘good guy’ shouldn’t be treated any more favorably than ‘bad guy’, in my world. I think I’m more passing judgement on the usage of him more than I am for how often he upends James at every important turn.
I’m also dubious of the way a major character from book one, Coyote's Creed, is used. For most of his page time, until the end, he’s portrayed by mostly highlighting his less important characteristics. It feels like he was carrying around a sign saying “sidekick here” and could therefore be treated casually, which doesn’t fit his character at all.
Despite this final lament, most of the scenes between that character and James are impactful, exciting, and kept me riveted. Make of that what you will. I would love to see more of that partnership developed. Is it even possible?
This book was an uneven ride, even herky jerky here and there, but I still enjoyed more than I didn’t. And I sure as heck will continue on in the series with book three, Community Service. Oh and the title of this book, and the next? I had to laugh at myself as to how long it took me to figure out the references.
The way this story begins, I was wearing my “WTF” face, no joke. We’re dropped right into the fray, emotions and bodies flying this way and that. My “WTF” face was accompanied by a slight grin and, huh, I wonder if this, whatever ‘this’ is, will succeed.
I decided I wanted to find out.
I’m thrilled I made that choice by chapter two. That WTF feeling, a result of extreme randomness, started morphing into OMG, no way. I was feeling the desperation, the confusion, fragile hope, and the drive to survive. I was feeling Miles, and how deeply he was being scarred by life, while having no clue about what was to come. I was already wishing for his safety and happiness.
A bit of time passes and we get James. He’s experiencing what could be described as rescue, but at a great cost. Could he live with that? Could he change it? All the while, my emotional investment was being matched by the high level of creativity.
And the writing, yo, the writing.
”They’re red dragons. They wouldn’t save me.”
The voice behind the screen gets a bit huffy. “And why is that?”
“They’re red dragons. They’re evil.”
A silver-scaled snout pokes over the top of the screen, a plume of smoke issuing from his nostrils with a snort. “Now that’s just racist. I’ve got two cousins who’re reds that donate to Greenpeace.”
This passage demonstrates the modern world accoutrement that fills in the layers of magic, paranormal (granted, it’s all normal to them), olde world rules and mysterious creatures, some created millennia ago, and fabled enemies that inform most of the emotion experienced while reading this story.
There are some disjointed junctures throughout this story, some major points that turn on a dime or life-altering events that seem to be ignored in the immediate aftermath. That some of them do get a payoff later on is great, but the impact of those resolutions is somewhat dampened.
But then I’d remember “dragons” and let it go.
Demont once again does so well in tossing about the cultural references and, not just in offhanded comments or snarky comebacks but, the roles they’ve played in molding some of these characters and their personalities, and approaches to living life.
This story feels to me like the author is exploring themes, like grief, changing perspective, trust, loss, self-worth and whether you have it, lose it, or want it, and how to go about getting it, how it’s not always pretty while it’s happening. This book, compared to Coyote’s Creed, felt more internalized in some ways, particularly with James being our narrator throughout.
Possibly the most enjoyable, and realistic, relationship portrayed in this story is the friendship shared between James and Dave. I think it’s safe to say that, for each of them, one is the other’s best friend in a long time, maybe ever. They care about each other, want to look out for one another and actually do it, going beyond just declaration. They know each other pretty well and it shows in a number of rewarding ways.
Somewhere around the halfway point and this story hops off the rails somewhat. A catastrophic event, brought about by one or more characters, is deemed nearly impossible to conquer. Ok, I can understand that, unintended consequences and all, but still. Further, one of the major supporting characters keeps popping up again and again and again, always bringing death and anguish with him, stymieing a lot of the progress made throughout the story, at least for me. By the sixth or so time, I was done. One too many times to that well did we go. And, except for a single reference, we’re never really told why he feels so strongly the way he does, his motivation never adequately explained. His gleeful spewing of the hate and physical violence became an unnecessary frustration. You guys know me, I try not to judge characters, as they are all living and making their own decisions about their realities – ‘good guy’ shouldn’t be treated any more favorably than ‘bad guy’, in my world. I think I’m more passing judgement on the usage of him more than I am for how often he upends James at every important turn.
I’m also dubious of the way a major character from book one, Coyote's Creed, is used. For most of his page time, until the end, he’s portrayed by mostly highlighting his less important characteristics. It feels like he was carrying around a sign saying “sidekick here” and could therefore be treated casually, which doesn’t fit his character at all.
Despite this final lament, most of the scenes between that character and James are impactful, exciting, and kept me riveted. Make of that what you will. I would love to see more of that partnership developed. Is it even possible?
This book was an uneven ride, even herky jerky here and there, but I still enjoyed more than I didn’t. And I sure as heck will continue on in the series with book three, Community Service. Oh and the title of this book, and the next? I had to laugh at myself as to how long it took me to figure out the references.
Want to read
August 20, 2012This one is not about Spence (aaaah) but a new protagonist (oooh) and both will be starring in the next book (yaaaaaaaaay).
More info here.
More info here.
October 9, 2012
Vaughn R. Demont once again returns to the City, his default setting for his array of urban fantasy stories, though Lightning Rod is a decidedly more mature entry in his Broken Mirrors series, taking a step back from the rogue's gallery to instead introduce a survivor. As is common with his works, Lightning Rod reveals another kind of supernatural denizen of his setting, though in this entry it's the kind that he's alluded to in all of his stories: sorcerers.
I believe that the first thing that needs to be said about Lightning Rod (besides that the title could be better) is that it's definitely not a romance, but an urban fantasy. To be perfectly honest, I read it more as an allegory for the aftermath of domestic abuse, and a well-done one at that, but I'll get into that when I do the "spoilers" section. The plot is split into four parts, covering almost three years of time, focusing on James's escape, recovery, training as a sorcerer, and his final battle with the antagonist. However, I do respect that James was written as a rookie, someone who fumbles and makes mistakes, and doesn't always make the perfect decisions. It can be frustrating for the reader, much like yelling at the screen when a TV character makes an obvious bad choice, but at the same time I feel it grounds him and makes him a hell of a lot more realistic.
The writing itself is solid, painting a very believable character and tracking James's moods and thought processes, showing us his vision of the world and the creatures that inhabit it. However, readers might get a little lost, as pure expository passages are at a premium, and while the references are plenty as in Coyote's Creed, they're much more specific here and might require an open window at Wikipedia, though he doesn't reference obscura. There's a Whedonesque influence here, with the protagonist struggling with morality, I'm curious to see what Demont does with it in future books.
As for the ending, I'd say it squeaks under the HFN wire, though the appearances of Spencer Crain hopefully ensure a continuation of the dynamic James and Spencer share.
Now onto the spoilers, which might get a little literary, but this is what drove my reading of the book by reading it as an allegory for surviving domestic abuse. Hey, some of us want to feel our English degrees serve a purpose, okay? ;)
Misc.
- Dave the dragon is probably one of my favorite characters in the City, followed only by Hades, who is just as much of a dick in Lightning Rod as he was in Last Paladin.
- A couple sex scenes, but they're disparate in tone. The romance is well-written, but it's certainly not the focus here. If you're only looking for M/M, you might have to adjust your expectations, as the book's warning puts it.
- I'd say that Lightning Rod can be read without reading Coyote's Creed first, but personally, I'd rather read them in order to get the full payoff from the scenes where Spencer guest stars.
Bottom Line: I lost sleep and called in sick to finish this one. That's definitely a 5 of 5 in my book. A fine work of urban fantasy.
I believe that the first thing that needs to be said about Lightning Rod (besides that the title could be better) is that it's definitely not a romance, but an urban fantasy. To be perfectly honest, I read it more as an allegory for the aftermath of domestic abuse, and a well-done one at that, but I'll get into that when I do the "spoilers" section. The plot is split into four parts, covering almost three years of time, focusing on James's escape, recovery, training as a sorcerer, and his final battle with the antagonist. However, I do respect that James was written as a rookie, someone who fumbles and makes mistakes, and doesn't always make the perfect decisions. It can be frustrating for the reader, much like yelling at the screen when a TV character makes an obvious bad choice, but at the same time I feel it grounds him and makes him a hell of a lot more realistic.
The writing itself is solid, painting a very believable character and tracking James's moods and thought processes, showing us his vision of the world and the creatures that inhabit it. However, readers might get a little lost, as pure expository passages are at a premium, and while the references are plenty as in Coyote's Creed, they're much more specific here and might require an open window at Wikipedia, though he doesn't reference obscura. There's a Whedonesque influence here, with the protagonist struggling with morality, I'm curious to see what Demont does with it in future books.
As for the ending, I'd say it squeaks under the HFN wire, though the appearances of Spencer Crain hopefully ensure a continuation of the dynamic James and Spencer share.
Now onto the spoilers, which might get a little literary, but this is what drove my reading of the book by reading it as an allegory for surviving domestic abuse. Hey, some of us want to feel our English degrees serve a purpose, okay? ;)
Misc.
- Dave the dragon is probably one of my favorite characters in the City, followed only by Hades, who is just as much of a dick in Lightning Rod as he was in Last Paladin.
- A couple sex scenes, but they're disparate in tone. The romance is well-written, but it's certainly not the focus here. If you're only looking for M/M, you might have to adjust your expectations, as the book's warning puts it.
- I'd say that Lightning Rod can be read without reading Coyote's Creed first, but personally, I'd rather read them in order to get the full payoff from the scenes where Spencer guest stars.
Bottom Line: I lost sleep and called in sick to finish this one. That's definitely a 5 of 5 in my book. A fine work of urban fantasy.
November 14, 2012
The blurb is accurate, so I’m not going to sum the story up. I like this series very much, but I think this installment is a little less impressive than the first book in the series. The not so good things first:
In the previous book there isn’t a real romance between Spence and Rourke, but I could feel the connection between the two characters, they sizzled when they were together on the page. James and Cale are not so hot together, even if they clearly love each other. Their love was beyond my reach. I think it depends on the kind of love they shared. Spence and Rourke’s relationship was much more earthly, while this main couple’s is more ethereal, it’s more a union of minds than an union of bodies, and that’s difficult to convey. Also I think that James is one of the least forthcoming narrators I’ve ever met, but more about this later.
Another thing which was not so easy to follow was the magic and the Keth mythology. I confess I was confused, especially at the beginning. The second part, where the confrontation between our hero and his enemy became more prominent, was more interesting and easier to follow: the magic became real in the world and it wasn’t only theory or bad practice. James grows into his powers always by chance, he gets this illuminating moments when it comes to him, and it became a bit frustrating for me as a reader, it seemed a bit too convenient. I liked it more when James used his brain to get out of the occasional mess he gets in.
I said before that James is not a forthcoming narrator. This was also engaging and very interesting for me, because I really like to work with the main character to understand what’s going on and I like to be surprised by the main character. There is a lot that James doesn’t tell the reader and you find out abruptly sooner or later in the book, shedding a different light on what you’ve learned so far. One thing that comes to my mind is when James thinks of things Cale does with a warmth that reveals something of their relationship and something James feels deep inside. I found myself staring at my kindle in awe. That’s why I blame James for not giving me a chance to really get into his relationship with Cale. I get that he’s such in a deep sh!t, with an abuse relationship in the past and a general disquiet that he never really explains. James IS a scared rabbit at the beginning, but it’s not easy to understand the reasons why he got into that downward spiral. What I liked though was that he doesn’t become a fearless and invincible hero: his weaker and humane core always remains.
In the book James and Spence bands together and those are the funniest moments, really brilliant: the zombies, the train come to life, Spence’s unquenchable libido, they promise great things for the sequel. I look forward to reading it.
In the previous book there isn’t a real romance between Spence and Rourke, but I could feel the connection between the two characters, they sizzled when they were together on the page. James and Cale are not so hot together, even if they clearly love each other. Their love was beyond my reach. I think it depends on the kind of love they shared. Spence and Rourke’s relationship was much more earthly, while this main couple’s is more ethereal, it’s more a union of minds than an union of bodies, and that’s difficult to convey. Also I think that James is one of the least forthcoming narrators I’ve ever met, but more about this later.
Another thing which was not so easy to follow was the magic and the Keth mythology. I confess I was confused, especially at the beginning. The second part, where the confrontation between our hero and his enemy became more prominent, was more interesting and easier to follow: the magic became real in the world and it wasn’t only theory or bad practice. James grows into his powers always by chance, he gets this illuminating moments when it comes to him, and it became a bit frustrating for me as a reader, it seemed a bit too convenient. I liked it more when James used his brain to get out of the occasional mess he gets in.
I said before that James is not a forthcoming narrator. This was also engaging and very interesting for me, because I really like to work with the main character to understand what’s going on and I like to be surprised by the main character. There is a lot that James doesn’t tell the reader and you find out abruptly sooner or later in the book, shedding a different light on what you’ve learned so far. One thing that comes to my mind is when James thinks of things Cale does with a warmth that reveals something of their relationship and something James feels deep inside. I found myself staring at my kindle in awe. That’s why I blame James for not giving me a chance to really get into his relationship with Cale. I get that he’s such in a deep sh!t, with an abuse relationship in the past and a general disquiet that he never really explains. James IS a scared rabbit at the beginning, but it’s not easy to understand the reasons why he got into that downward spiral. What I liked though was that he doesn’t become a fearless and invincible hero: his weaker and humane core always remains.
In the book James and Spence bands together and those are the funniest moments, really brilliant: the zombies, the train come to life, Spence’s unquenchable libido, they promise great things for the sequel. I look forward to reading it.
November 23, 2015
The plot was kind of a mess in this one, and I was never convinced about the love between James and Cale, but Demont's writing still drew me in. And I loved Spence, as always, and Hades was great!
This is more like a 3-3.5 than a real 4, but the overall style entices me to round up to 4. And I'm looking forward to the rest of the series. :-)
This is more like a 3-3.5 than a real 4, but the overall style entices me to round up to 4. And I'm looking forward to the rest of the series. :-)
October 22, 2012
I cannot begin to express how much I love this series - this book was the perfect continuation. The world building is amazing and the story just sucks you in. I need the next installment now!
November 10, 2012
3.5 stars
While I liked the book, I didn't enjoy it as much as Coyote's Creed. The reason is partly because the book wasn't as humorous as the first one, which is understandable because abuse is the major theme in the book. Part of it is the lack of clear laws of magic, which makes some of the stuff James does rather unconvincing.
As a story of abuse victim and his recovery, Lighting Rod works really well. The opening scenes were very powerful. James' reactions are authentic and heartbreaking and while symbolism is rather obvious, it's also spot-on. I liked how James gradually gains self-confidence and strength and hearing him say "I am no longer afraid of you" was uplifting.
I also liked the secondary characters, especially Dave and Hades (who is a dick, but a likable dick). It was also great to see Spencer again. I couldn't really feel the connection between James and Cale, but considering that this isn't really a romance, it didn't matter so much. Though I would really like the resolution of some romance in this series (I liked Roarke and Spencer in the first book, but the resolution of that relationship is also left pretty open).
What makes this book less enjoyable than the previous one is author's undecided approach to magic and world's laws. In a fast-paced novel like this, where there is not enough time for the reader to absorb the changes and explanations (when they are given), this is rather unfortunate and often irritating. It diminished my enjoyment in the book and investment in James' character, because, after a while, it became obvious that James, who could barely manage a few spells, would just pull the solution out of his ass (sorry!). Like with Spencer's mother, the loss of James' family is a heartbreaking consequence of author's world, though I hope James will have some kind of relationship with his brother in the future books.
All this said, Lightning Rod was still an enjoyable, quick read and I'm looking forward to Community Service in which both James and Spencer will be protagonists. The business of collecting souls for Hades will be interesting. ^^
While I liked the book, I didn't enjoy it as much as Coyote's Creed. The reason is partly because the book wasn't as humorous as the first one, which is understandable because abuse is the major theme in the book. Part of it is the lack of clear laws of magic, which makes some of the stuff James does rather unconvincing.
As a story of abuse victim and his recovery, Lighting Rod works really well. The opening scenes were very powerful. James' reactions are authentic and heartbreaking and while symbolism is rather obvious, it's also spot-on. I liked how James gradually gains self-confidence and strength and hearing him say "I am no longer afraid of you" was uplifting.
I also liked the secondary characters, especially Dave and Hades (who is a dick, but a likable dick). It was also great to see Spencer again. I couldn't really feel the connection between James and Cale, but considering that this isn't really a romance, it didn't matter so much. Though I would really like the resolution of some romance in this series (I liked Roarke and Spencer in the first book, but the resolution of that relationship is also left pretty open).
What makes this book less enjoyable than the previous one is author's undecided approach to magic and world's laws. In a fast-paced novel like this, where there is not enough time for the reader to absorb the changes and explanations (when they are given), this is rather unfortunate and often irritating. It diminished my enjoyment in the book and investment in James' character, because, after a while, it became obvious that James, who could barely manage a few spells, would just pull the solution out of his ass (sorry!). Like with Spencer's mother, the loss of James' family is a heartbreaking consequence of author's world, though I hope James will have some kind of relationship with his brother in the future books.
All this said, Lightning Rod was still an enjoyable, quick read and I'm looking forward to Community Service in which both James and Spencer will be protagonists. The business of collecting souls for Hades will be interesting. ^^
October 16, 2012
4.5 stars
This one was quite a bit different than the previous book, but just as good.
The story follows Miles/James/Lightning Rod on his road to becoming the Sorcerer King. And there are plenty of bumps along that road. At times I didn't think he'd make it but somehow he always came out alive and hopefully a bit smarter than he was going in. It was interesting seeing him navigate a world he knew nothing about until he was thrust into it, and despite the fact it was annoying to have a hero with self esteem issues it was refreshing to see him still scared of Heath. After all he was victimised by him for a while so it's natural his fear didn't just disappear because he's now a Keth.
There was one thing that bugged me a bit.
Also, Yeah I get that technically there was the decree, but if Cale though it didn't have to happen that way why make it so? I know this is my inner romance reader speaking, and this is not a romance, but I'll still miss his character. I have to say this put a bit of a damper on my enjoyment of the book.
Now I just have to wait for the next book to see what havoc a Coyote and the Sorcerer King can wreak when they join forces. Just saying it sounds ominous.
This one was quite a bit different than the previous book, but just as good.
The story follows Miles/James/Lightning Rod on his road to becoming the Sorcerer King. And there are plenty of bumps along that road. At times I didn't think he'd make it but somehow he always came out alive and hopefully a bit smarter than he was going in. It was interesting seeing him navigate a world he knew nothing about until he was thrust into it, and despite the fact it was annoying to have a hero with self esteem issues it was refreshing to see him still scared of Heath. After all he was victimised by him for a while so it's natural his fear didn't just disappear because he's now a Keth.
There was one thing that bugged me a bit.
Also, Yeah I get that technically there was the decree, but if Cale though it didn't have to happen that way why make it so? I know this is my inner romance reader speaking, and this is not a romance, but I'll still miss his character. I have to say this put a bit of a damper on my enjoyment of the book.
Now I just have to wait for the next book to see what havoc a Coyote and the Sorcerer King can wreak when they join forces. Just saying it sounds ominous.
April 21, 2013
This second instalment in the "Broken Mirrors" series highlights both the assets and the problems of the first one, "Coyote's Creed"; the same problems are to be found in the enjoyable House of Stone as well.
Mr Demont's talent as a storyteller cannot be denied even if the tone here is much darker and makes for a slower pace.
James is a very different character: while Spencer is a young man facing difficult external circumstances who can rely on his inner strength, James is a victim of abuse. He has huge self esteem issues that cripple him even while he is trying to move on; he is not whole and sound, his set of values appear much more shaky.
The author does not shy away from his pain and he actually manages to make it convincing. The author also realises that such a different character needs a different treatment but he does not really strike the exact tone and balance to portray James' inner journey and growth. He never confides in his friends but neither does he muse about himself for us to see his thoughts. He is so deeply hurt and so deep in denial about it that his struggles not only escape his friends' attention but also the reader's awareness: we can imagine them but we never understand why he befriends Dave and why he falls in love with *** (no spoilers from me).
Such a different lead implies a more sombre tone but this is fine as nobody really would wish a clone of Spencer.
We are not denied the fun Mr Demont excels at: setting is inventive as ever, action scenes are quick and well done, many dialogues sparkle with humour.
Side characters are nice enough even if Dave and Marvin are not fully rounded nor exploited as they could have been.
My qualm here is the same as in book one, only raised to power: the treatment of the supernatural lore.
I imagine the author must have a general picture of the powers that be in his world but such picture is impervious to our scrutiny. Magic and world building (literally: worlds get destroyed and built again in this book) are unclear and confusing.
It was a problem in Coyote's Creed but it is damning here as the whole of the plot revolves about a set of supernatural laws the reader cannot really understand. The gods are very vulnerable to man's magic but at the same time they always end having the upper hand, human magicians have the power to break the pillars of the universe but die because of wound.
In book one magic was just an added component that spurred a breathtaking action further so that it was easy to set misgivings aside but here magic is at the core of the plot and the result is messy. When James is on the road the story works just fine, when he is dealing with the supernatural things turn sour.
I will read book three because I love the story and its characters but as of now I hope Mr Demont will reconsider his whole supernatural lore and either make it simpler or less relevant to the plot. Possibly both, as nobody really likes lengthy asides to explain how complicated things work.
A second edition of his best works (House of Stone and Broken Mirrors) would be more than welcome.
Mr Demont's talent as a storyteller cannot be denied even if the tone here is much darker and makes for a slower pace.
James is a very different character: while Spencer is a young man facing difficult external circumstances who can rely on his inner strength, James is a victim of abuse. He has huge self esteem issues that cripple him even while he is trying to move on; he is not whole and sound, his set of values appear much more shaky.
The author does not shy away from his pain and he actually manages to make it convincing. The author also realises that such a different character needs a different treatment but he does not really strike the exact tone and balance to portray James' inner journey and growth. He never confides in his friends but neither does he muse about himself for us to see his thoughts. He is so deeply hurt and so deep in denial about it that his struggles not only escape his friends' attention but also the reader's awareness: we can imagine them but we never understand why he befriends Dave and why he falls in love with *** (no spoilers from me).
Such a different lead implies a more sombre tone but this is fine as nobody really would wish a clone of Spencer.
We are not denied the fun Mr Demont excels at: setting is inventive as ever, action scenes are quick and well done, many dialogues sparkle with humour.
Side characters are nice enough even if Dave and Marvin are not fully rounded nor exploited as they could have been.
My qualm here is the same as in book one, only raised to power: the treatment of the supernatural lore.
I imagine the author must have a general picture of the powers that be in his world but such picture is impervious to our scrutiny. Magic and world building (literally: worlds get destroyed and built again in this book) are unclear and confusing.
It was a problem in Coyote's Creed but it is damning here as the whole of the plot revolves about a set of supernatural laws the reader cannot really understand. The gods are very vulnerable to man's magic but at the same time they always end having the upper hand, human magicians have the power to break the pillars of the universe but die because of wound.
In book one magic was just an added component that spurred a breathtaking action further so that it was easy to set misgivings aside but here magic is at the core of the plot and the result is messy. When James is on the road the story works just fine, when he is dealing with the supernatural things turn sour.
I will read book three because I love the story and its characters but as of now I hope Mr Demont will reconsider his whole supernatural lore and either make it simpler or less relevant to the plot. Possibly both, as nobody really likes lengthy asides to explain how complicated things work.
A second edition of his best works (House of Stone and Broken Mirrors) would be more than welcome.
June 20, 2014
3.5
Hmmm, how to start with this one. You see, I'm a little uncertain of my footing. I really enjoyed book one of this series (as well as House of Stone, by the same author) and, while this seemed an OK read, it just didn't stand up to the other two books by Demont that I've just plowed through. So where does that leave me and my need to review it?
Mostly I feel that the book didn't have that certain something special the other books did. The main character was a victim, and while he grew in strength and determination, he didn't have the humor I loved in some of Demont's other characters. In fact, I found that James never particularly endeared himself to me. I cared little for him by the end of the book.
I also thought the weave of the plot wasn't as tight. There were a lot of times that I either couldn't quite visualise what was going on or wondered how something happened. An example: at one point James had to cross into a magical circle and in order to do so he had to go through a fairly elaborate ritual. Shortly thereafter, someone else crossed the same circle with no such ritual. How? Similarly, Heath is stated to have been untrained, however, a very short while later he showed some pretty impressive skills. How?
In every Demont book I've read, the side characters haven't been as richly tapestried as the main ones. No real problem, that's just the way it is. But here it felt extreme. The primary antagonist only showed up sporadically, had no depth, was unilaterally evil and prone to evil villain speech. I didn't find him particularly believable.
Then there was the sex...or not sex as it would appear. I've really enjoyed Demont's ability to write a sex scene that is both gratifying and not overly pornographic...no that's not quite right (I don't mind pornographic), rather I mean, sexy without also stretching the realms of erotic possibilities to the point of fantasy. However, here the sex was rushed and undetailed. We were essentially just left knowing it happened. Meh.
Now, having said all that, the book does still have Demont's trademark geektastic comic streak. There's a Marvin (though I think I would have appreciated him more if the character hadn't felt the need to explain the reference to the reader). There were Dungeon's and Dragon's references. There were potshots at the LARPers. The book is still a fun read. But, honestly, I don't think it stood up to Demont's other works. I'm told that the series redeems itself in book three though. So there's still hope.
Hmmm, how to start with this one. You see, I'm a little uncertain of my footing. I really enjoyed book one of this series (as well as House of Stone, by the same author) and, while this seemed an OK read, it just didn't stand up to the other two books by Demont that I've just plowed through. So where does that leave me and my need to review it?
Mostly I feel that the book didn't have that certain something special the other books did. The main character was a victim, and while he grew in strength and determination, he didn't have the humor I loved in some of Demont's other characters. In fact, I found that James never particularly endeared himself to me. I cared little for him by the end of the book.
I also thought the weave of the plot wasn't as tight. There were a lot of times that I either couldn't quite visualise what was going on or wondered how something happened. An example: at one point James had to cross into a magical circle and in order to do so he had to go through a fairly elaborate ritual. Shortly thereafter, someone else crossed the same circle with no such ritual. How? Similarly, Heath is stated to have been untrained, however, a very short while later he showed some pretty impressive skills. How?
In every Demont book I've read, the side characters haven't been as richly tapestried as the main ones. No real problem, that's just the way it is. But here it felt extreme. The primary antagonist only showed up sporadically, had no depth, was unilaterally evil and prone to evil villain speech. I didn't find him particularly believable.
Then there was the sex...or not sex as it would appear. I've really enjoyed Demont's ability to write a sex scene that is both gratifying and not overly pornographic...no that's not quite right (I don't mind pornographic), rather I mean, sexy without also stretching the realms of erotic possibilities to the point of fantasy. However, here the sex was rushed and undetailed. We were essentially just left knowing it happened. Meh.
Now, having said all that, the book does still have Demont's trademark geektastic comic streak. There's a Marvin (though I think I would have appreciated him more if the character hadn't felt the need to explain the reference to the reader). There were Dungeon's and Dragon's references. There were potshots at the LARPers. The book is still a fun read. But, honestly, I don't think it stood up to Demont's other works. I'm told that the series redeems itself in book three though. So there's still hope.
February 27, 2013
A significant shift in mythology from the last as the focus of the narrative turns to the much-maligned race of sorcerers. Here we meet James, the abuse survivor on the run that was featured in Coyote's Creed, and learn more of his story.
The themes are similar to those of the first book, i.e. young man whose supernatural inheritance alienates him from the mundane world, and is forced to find a way to survive in the supernatural world and ultimately triumph. Spencer's journey was learning to stand on his own feet and live by his wits while separating himself from the attachment to his mentally challenged mother that holds him back, yet drives him forward. James follows a similar path, learning to find his birthright of power and wield it responsibly, though his psych-lim is decidedly darker: the pall of his abusive and domineering boyfriend, Heath, that shadows his steps even after Heath is apparently out of the picture. James is dominated by fear and timidity, and the power his magic offers is seductive, offering him a way to make others hurt and perpetuate the cycle of abuse he has sustained.
He finds guidance in the friends and lovers he finds along the way. The shift in viewpoint makes for a refreshing read, without seeming repetitive of the first book, though Spencer's fourth wall asides about thematic tropes in fantasy and horror fiction are decidedly trumped by the even nerdier James' patterning of his magic against the mystic rules of D&D. The appearance of Spencer in the narrative at first seems unnecessary, but eventually his presence does serve a purpose, and possibly sets the stage for a closer relationship with James in future books.
All in all, I enjoyed the book, and stayed up late to read through to the end. The one element that doesn't ring true in all of this is the villain, whose twisted justification for his actions is not well enough established by his scattered appearances to be ultimately believable, rendering him something of a cardboard cut-out evil-doer with a long handlebar mustache. But it was still a good read in my view, despite its failings.
The themes are similar to those of the first book, i.e. young man whose supernatural inheritance alienates him from the mundane world, and is forced to find a way to survive in the supernatural world and ultimately triumph. Spencer's journey was learning to stand on his own feet and live by his wits while separating himself from the attachment to his mentally challenged mother that holds him back, yet drives him forward. James follows a similar path, learning to find his birthright of power and wield it responsibly, though his psych-lim is decidedly darker: the pall of his abusive and domineering boyfriend, Heath, that shadows his steps even after Heath is apparently out of the picture. James is dominated by fear and timidity, and the power his magic offers is seductive, offering him a way to make others hurt and perpetuate the cycle of abuse he has sustained.
He finds guidance in the friends and lovers he finds along the way. The shift in viewpoint makes for a refreshing read, without seeming repetitive of the first book, though Spencer's fourth wall asides about thematic tropes in fantasy and horror fiction are decidedly trumped by the even nerdier James' patterning of his magic against the mystic rules of D&D. The appearance of Spencer in the narrative at first seems unnecessary, but eventually his presence does serve a purpose, and possibly sets the stage for a closer relationship with James in future books.
All in all, I enjoyed the book, and stayed up late to read through to the end. The one element that doesn't ring true in all of this is the villain, whose twisted justification for his actions is not well enough established by his scattered appearances to be ultimately believable, rendering him something of a cardboard cut-out evil-doer with a long handlebar mustache. But it was still a good read in my view, despite its failings.
November 17, 2012
I devoured this book, much as I did Coyote's Creed, and all of Mr. Demont's other books, for that matter. I love his voice and his characters, whether they be stereotypes or too quirky to pin, they're all well-done.
The editing was good, with only a few typos, and there were some great one-liners. My fave is one of the coyote's, but James is an engaging character as well.
The only negative for me, was that I just didn't feel the relationship between Cale and his beloved. I mean, I liked both characters, and the idea of them together, but it felt like....words on a page to me. I kept feeling like it was just a dream or something. It kinda felt too sudden, or something. But it wasn't sudden! And if it had been, I would have believed it more. I'll probably reread this and see if I feel differently. There were some things which might repay a rereading, including that relationship.
Otherwise, great pacing, fantastic climax, and stellar story management (by which I mean the way in which events are managed so that the reader doesn't spend a bunch of time yelling at the protagonist about all of the obviously stupid blind spots he has that drive the action). All of the action was diven from events and forced errors, not plot manipulation.
I do think, however, that James should be owed some rather giant favors that no one ever acknowledges. I don't know how to hide spoilers so I won't go into it, but since it seems to set up a new story, it would be the one instance of plot contrivance I found.
I can't wait for the next installment!
The editing was good, with only a few typos, and there were some great one-liners. My fave is one of the coyote's, but James is an engaging character as well.
The only negative for me, was that I just didn't feel the relationship between Cale and his beloved. I mean, I liked both characters, and the idea of them together, but it felt like....words on a page to me. I kept feeling like it was just a dream or something. It kinda felt too sudden, or something. But it wasn't sudden! And if it had been, I would have believed it more. I'll probably reread this and see if I feel differently. There were some things which might repay a rereading, including that relationship.
Otherwise, great pacing, fantastic climax, and stellar story management (by which I mean the way in which events are managed so that the reader doesn't spend a bunch of time yelling at the protagonist about all of the obviously stupid blind spots he has that drive the action). All of the action was diven from events and forced errors, not plot manipulation.
I do think, however, that James should be owed some rather giant favors that no one ever acknowledges. I don't know how to hide spoilers so I won't go into it, but since it seems to set up a new story, it would be the one instance of plot contrivance I found.
I can't wait for the next installment!
September 10, 2015
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.75 stars
This is book two of the Broken Mirrors series. I read it before the first book, Coyote’s Creed, and although I expect I’d have enjoyed recognizing the persisting characters and their stories, Lightning Rod stood on its own very well.
The set up is classic hero’s journey, as is the tale itself, but told in Demont’s imaginative and sharply original voice. Miles, a young man, runs away from Heath, his violently abusive keeper (I won’t use the word lover here), and discovers he left his wallet in the apartment he dare not go back to. He can’t go back, and he can’t afford a ticket to anywhere else. At the bus station he meets a con man who calls himself Coyote. Coyote offers him a bus ticket north, with the ID of Jack Black. This is important. As in many great traditions of magic, knowing someone’s real name, or the true name of an object, gives power over that person or object. Nuanced deception surrounding identity of people and things runs through this story in the most delicious way.
Read Lloyd’s review in its entirety here.
4.75 stars
This is book two of the Broken Mirrors series. I read it before the first book, Coyote’s Creed, and although I expect I’d have enjoyed recognizing the persisting characters and their stories, Lightning Rod stood on its own very well.
The set up is classic hero’s journey, as is the tale itself, but told in Demont’s imaginative and sharply original voice. Miles, a young man, runs away from Heath, his violently abusive keeper (I won’t use the word lover here), and discovers he left his wallet in the apartment he dare not go back to. He can’t go back, and he can’t afford a ticket to anywhere else. At the bus station he meets a con man who calls himself Coyote. Coyote offers him a bus ticket north, with the ID of Jack Black. This is important. As in many great traditions of magic, knowing someone’s real name, or the true name of an object, gives power over that person or object. Nuanced deception surrounding identity of people and things runs through this story in the most delicious way.
Read Lloyd’s review in its entirety here.
January 4, 2013
Vaughn Demont just gets better and better. This second book in the Broken Mirrors series can stand on its own, but i recommend reading Coyote's Creed first (the first book in the series) because the main character from Coyote's has an important role in this one, so it's good and helpful to get to know him beforehand.
Lightening Rod is very intense. There's the story of an abusive relationship with its consequences reverberating throughout, but it is also a victory story and although the ending is very open to interpretation, it allows for one's imagination to run with different scenarios, which i found refreshing after crying quite a bit...
As with his other books, this one is so imaginative and wild, i highly recommend it (i recommend everything written by this author, but to read things in the order that he wrote them because everything improves with every one of them).
Lightening Rod is very intense. There's the story of an abusive relationship with its consequences reverberating throughout, but it is also a victory story and although the ending is very open to interpretation, it allows for one's imagination to run with different scenarios, which i found refreshing after crying quite a bit...
As with his other books, this one is so imaginative and wild, i highly recommend it (i recommend everything written by this author, but to read things in the order that he wrote them because everything improves with every one of them).
March 2, 2014
Spencer Crain, human/coyote hybrid extraordinaire, met Miles Canmore in a bus station late one night, and in a moment of unadulterated empathy, gifted Miles with a new identity and a means to escape his abusive boyfriend Heath. Or, rather, that’s what was supposed to happen. But you know what they say about the best laid plans of mice and men and tricksters and sorcerers, and before we know it, Heath has the newly minted James Black trapped in the bathroom of a moving bus, a bus that plunges James, the seventh son of a seventh son, straight into destiny and elevated this book, along with Coyote’s Creed, into the realms of some of the best Urban Fantasy I’ve ever read.
See the entire review at The Novel Approach: http://thenovelapproachreviews.com/20...
See the entire review at The Novel Approach: http://thenovelapproachreviews.com/20...
October 9, 2012
Vaughn's latest book is set in The City - but delves more into the magical nature of the Sorcerer Kings that we've heard mentioned of in other City books... but by way of a young guy in an abusive relationship.
Weaving top-notch urban fantasy thread through a quite tricky subject like gay domestic violence, Vaughn tells an excellent story, and that's before you even start on the dragon-bits ;)
Another excellent entry into the series!
Weaving top-notch urban fantasy thread through a quite tricky subject like gay domestic violence, Vaughn tells an excellent story, and that's before you even start on the dragon-bits ;)
Another excellent entry into the series!
October 14, 2012
brilliant!
November 9, 2012
Love this author but this story was just so cluttered with descriptions and magic using that I couldn't keep up.
April 3, 2022
It took me a week to get through the first half of this one, but then I gobbled up the second half in a couple of hours. The world building was a bit scattered and James was just too passive for my tastes, letting circumstances fling him about without really doing much for himself other than his initial escape.
And what became of Marvin?
I do love this series, so let's see if I can get to the next one before literally years have passed, hmmm?
And what became of Marvin?
I do love this series, so let's see if I can get to the next one before literally years have passed, hmmm?
July 29, 2021
doesn’t have the energy of the first book and has much more visible holes, but still overall a good time and intriguing enough to make continuing a sure thing.
April 21, 2014
I am the Lightning Rod. I will not fall.
James Black has a story to tell, don't beg me to do it for him . . .
I won't try and get you to read this yourself with the gasping, seemingly over exaggeration of tears because if you've read my other reviews or know me personally you would know that I'm incredibly emotional and pretty much cry at everything I read. However, I will say that the emotion in this book is ... well there's a hell of a lot of it -- understatement of the year. Let's just say I had my moments, and I'll spare you the ugly (crying) details.
I always, always say that if there is a bad book in the series it will be the second one. There is no argument. Always, always the second one. But boy is this one the exception; Lightning Rod is in every way better than Coyote's Creed. The first novel held potential and was granted with four stars, but put it aside the second and it seems like it deserved three, perhaps in two. Though I don't discredit the debut novel, as the Spencer parallel became not only incredibly important, but was overwhelmingly exciting. It was far more intoxicating to read from James' point of view than from Spencer's. The character in and of himself is so much more dynamic. Where Spencer came off as an impulsive liar and a complete jackass - with a weakness for his mother - James was more real. As real as a sorcerer guarded by a dragon who no longer uses his real name can be anyway.
Personally Vaughn's writing seemed to have improved. Honestly it didn't even feel like it was the same author the writing ability reached so much further than it had in Coyote's Creed. It may just be an easier concept to grasp, the world I mean is more ... universal. But either way, it was beautiful, and ultimately I find no flaws. There was not a moment in the book that I began to hate a character unless he/she was meant to be hated. A lot of the time I felt like the characters were very clean cut. Obviously they all have their flaws and whatever, and it's from first person so you can't really tell, but you sort of formed your own opinion about them. If he was swinging you one way or the other I prefer to think he wasn't, but if he was hell I didn't notice.
I found myself totally engulfed. I never wanted to put it down, and grew rather antsy to talk about nothing but whenever I had too (ask everyone I go to school with).
Also, in the first book the sex was overdone and difficult to deal with. It was incredibly awkward to read and made you feel sick rather than all gushy inside. That may have had something to do with the fact that it happened every fifty pages or so, but James does not have a relationship like that. It happens a total of three times and all three times it's not dwelled or detailed. It's like it's happening, but not happening. It's definitely his character that is changing to experience, but I was reading it at school, and I didn't even squirm. Like;
What ya readin'?
Gay porn, what else?
Okay no, when my friend walked up to me smack in the middle of it I slapped the book shut, but as I was personally reading it I didn't feel awkward by any means. If anything it was sort of adorable :)
But enough about sex, just speaking of it may as well be strange enough - hope you're not tuning out as a result of me getting over the ending and going on as many tangents as will distract me. But really, there was a complete one-eighty between book one of the trilogy and book two and I'm begging to get my hands on Community Service. Bravo. For God's sake no one else would've had the balls to write what this man did, it's unheard of.
James Black has a story to tell, don't beg me to do it for him . . .
I won't try and get you to read this yourself with the gasping, seemingly over exaggeration of tears because if you've read my other reviews or know me personally you would know that I'm incredibly emotional and pretty much cry at everything I read. However, I will say that the emotion in this book is ... well there's a hell of a lot of it -- understatement of the year. Let's just say I had my moments, and I'll spare you the ugly (crying) details.
I always, always say that if there is a bad book in the series it will be the second one. There is no argument. Always, always the second one. But boy is this one the exception; Lightning Rod is in every way better than Coyote's Creed. The first novel held potential and was granted with four stars, but put it aside the second and it seems like it deserved three, perhaps in two. Though I don't discredit the debut novel, as the Spencer parallel became not only incredibly important, but was overwhelmingly exciting. It was far more intoxicating to read from James' point of view than from Spencer's. The character in and of himself is so much more dynamic. Where Spencer came off as an impulsive liar and a complete jackass - with a weakness for his mother - James was more real. As real as a sorcerer guarded by a dragon who no longer uses his real name can be anyway.
Personally Vaughn's writing seemed to have improved. Honestly it didn't even feel like it was the same author the writing ability reached so much further than it had in Coyote's Creed. It may just be an easier concept to grasp, the world I mean is more ... universal. But either way, it was beautiful, and ultimately I find no flaws. There was not a moment in the book that I began to hate a character unless he/she was meant to be hated. A lot of the time I felt like the characters were very clean cut. Obviously they all have their flaws and whatever, and it's from first person so you can't really tell, but you sort of formed your own opinion about them. If he was swinging you one way or the other I prefer to think he wasn't, but if he was hell I didn't notice.
I found myself totally engulfed. I never wanted to put it down, and grew rather antsy to talk about nothing but whenever I had too (ask everyone I go to school with).
Also, in the first book the sex was overdone and difficult to deal with. It was incredibly awkward to read and made you feel sick rather than all gushy inside. That may have had something to do with the fact that it happened every fifty pages or so, but James does not have a relationship like that. It happens a total of three times and all three times it's not dwelled or detailed. It's like it's happening, but not happening. It's definitely his character that is changing to experience, but I was reading it at school, and I didn't even squirm. Like;
What ya readin'?
Gay porn, what else?
Okay no, when my friend walked up to me smack in the middle of it I slapped the book shut, but as I was personally reading it I didn't feel awkward by any means. If anything it was sort of adorable :)
But enough about sex, just speaking of it may as well be strange enough - hope you're not tuning out as a result of me getting over the ending and going on as many tangents as will distract me. But really, there was a complete one-eighty between book one of the trilogy and book two and I'm begging to get my hands on Community Service. Bravo. For God's sake no one else would've had the balls to write what this man did, it's unheard of.
June 11, 2013
This book is an emotional roller coaster that I find myself wanting to never get off of.
The characters, I have to say, make up a good portion of the book but the REAL killer would be the plot, the twists, and the mythology. I'm not even sure what kind of mythology this series follows, but that is what makes it unique, refreshing and interesting. I was just as enraptured in this installment than with the last one, Spencer's book.
Miles/James is such a strong protagonist, one of the strongest I've seen/read. I can't help but compare him to Rose from the Vampire Academy series which is uncanny because Richelle Mead, the author of said series, is one of many inspirations for Dermont. His strength despite--and maybe even due to--the fact that he often bursts into tears, has tantrums and is completely confused most of the time. He gets through all that PLUS all of the extra drama of this new world with dragons, Hades, gods, Fate, Keth, Coyotes and humans that don't take a second look.
Speaking of Coyotes... SPENCER. My goodness, he nearly gave me a heart attack but his presence in the book was sought after and appreciated!
Cale...... *sobs* *chokes* *dies*
Heath. Makes me so angry I could spit nearly as much as he does. I often found myself feeling sorry for him.... I still do, however, his experiences were no excuse for what he did to James and to plenty of other characters.
Dave. *smile* How can you not love him?
An excellent combination of words to invoke emotion and tell an interesting tale. I LOVE this world, mostly it's contemporaryness *not a word* but this book, I believe, had the wonderful moral of simply believing in yourself. Standing up for yourself and leaving the past behind.
A song is mentioned, near the decline of the climax. And I immediately played it, sobbing over my Kindle like a fool because after this wild ride this song just tears your soul in two.... Or a thousand.... Pieces.
"Its a new dawn, its a new day, it's a new life for me...... And I'm feeling good. "
*sobs* *sniffles* I'm sorry. I'll go cry off the internet now. :')
The point: READ IT. *And Spencer's story if you haven't.... I do wish there was more Rourke. I love he and Spencer together*
:)
The characters, I have to say, make up a good portion of the book but the REAL killer would be the plot, the twists, and the mythology. I'm not even sure what kind of mythology this series follows, but that is what makes it unique, refreshing and interesting. I was just as enraptured in this installment than with the last one, Spencer's book.
Miles/James is such a strong protagonist, one of the strongest I've seen/read. I can't help but compare him to Rose from the Vampire Academy series which is uncanny because Richelle Mead, the author of said series, is one of many inspirations for Dermont. His strength despite--and maybe even due to--the fact that he often bursts into tears, has tantrums and is completely confused most of the time. He gets through all that PLUS all of the extra drama of this new world with dragons, Hades, gods, Fate, Keth, Coyotes and humans that don't take a second look.
Speaking of Coyotes... SPENCER. My goodness, he nearly gave me a heart attack but his presence in the book was sought after and appreciated!
Cale...... *sobs* *chokes* *dies*
Heath. Makes me so angry I could spit nearly as much as he does. I often found myself feeling sorry for him.... I still do, however, his experiences were no excuse for what he did to James and to plenty of other characters.
Dave. *smile* How can you not love him?
An excellent combination of words to invoke emotion and tell an interesting tale. I LOVE this world, mostly it's contemporaryness *not a word* but this book, I believe, had the wonderful moral of simply believing in yourself. Standing up for yourself and leaving the past behind.
A song is mentioned, near the decline of the climax. And I immediately played it, sobbing over my Kindle like a fool because after this wild ride this song just tears your soul in two.... Or a thousand.... Pieces.
"Its a new dawn, its a new day, it's a new life for me...... And I'm feeling good. "
*sobs* *sniffles* I'm sorry. I'll go cry off the internet now. :')
The point: READ IT. *And Spencer's story if you haven't.... I do wish there was more Rourke. I love he and Spencer together*
:)
November 13, 2014
It's been awhile since I took this long reading a book.
It's a struggle. I even commented to a friend that James has more fortitude than I. I'd have just given up already.
Oh, this author is tricky though. This morning, while girding my loins for yet another attempt to struggle through this story, I was ruminating on the events our beleaguered hero James has already survived when it hit me. Sisyphus! Is it that simple? Is the author that devious? He is a trickster and there are several references to Sisyphean tasks throughout the story.
That's the rub though innit? Did the author have Sisyphus in mind when he wrote James' story? If he did, Har! Har! Jokes on us. Either way, he wrote a story that is very hard to struggle through, so he shot himself in the foot there. Most readers don't like a book they have to struggle through.
Don't get me wrong, I love a good intelligently written story. A story that makes you think, pay attention and get involved in. I really do! There is however truth in the saying, too much of a good thing. That's what we have here.
While part way through this book I was trying to explain to my husband why I was struggling and told him it's almost like an hallucination. Things are moving along nicely when out of nowhere you realize nothing is at seems. That's good at first. We have an Alternate Universe situation with magic, Dragons, gods and my favorite Coyote Spencer so yes, unexpected things will happen. But, after awhile I'm like, AGAIN? Seriously folks, there are only so many times that the bad guy can pop in out of nowhere before your going 'kill him, kill him dead' in your head.
Finally, FINALLY! I finished the book. (Gomehappybuttwiggledance) Yes, at the end I am satisfied with a good read, great world building, strong characters, humor and action. Plenty of action. Too much action. So, three stars. Would i recommend this? Only if they enjoyed the first book. Only if they were the type of reader who read a few minutes here and there. This isn't a Sunday afternoon type of read.
March 21, 2014
Just finished reading Lightning Rod, book two of the Broken Mirrors trilogy. Initially I felt a bit unsettled as the main character was no longer Spencer who I became completely enamored with form book one but Vaughn’s writing style is such that my period of grief was short lived. Wow, did it ever answer the question of whatever happened to that guy from the bus station in book one!
This volume was definitely of a darker nature than the first as it explores the psychological profile of a survivor of an abusive relationship…it also explores the ongoing triggers and coping mechanisms of someone who is attempting to build a new life only to encounter continual harassment form a persistent, vengeful ex.
I really love how the MC in this story evolves not only into his new identity as a keth, and eventual Sorcerer King. Moreover begins to own his new identity as he slowly sheds the shackles of his past as symbolized by letting go of his prior name, of Miles, as well as his past relationships and world view (for more on end of the world/letting go of world view symbolism must read book 2).
While our MC’s life journey is arduous and often dark Vaughn allows us intermittent reprieves in the form of visits from Spencer, beloved coyote, from book one and his humor is every bit as infectious . Several times I experienced the lol in its literal sense.
Well that’s all for now friends, I’m on to read book 3…
This volume was definitely of a darker nature than the first as it explores the psychological profile of a survivor of an abusive relationship…it also explores the ongoing triggers and coping mechanisms of someone who is attempting to build a new life only to encounter continual harassment form a persistent, vengeful ex.
I really love how the MC in this story evolves not only into his new identity as a keth, and eventual Sorcerer King. Moreover begins to own his new identity as he slowly sheds the shackles of his past as symbolized by letting go of his prior name, of Miles, as well as his past relationships and world view (for more on end of the world/letting go of world view symbolism must read book 2).
While our MC’s life journey is arduous and often dark Vaughn allows us intermittent reprieves in the form of visits from Spencer, beloved coyote, from book one and his humor is every bit as infectious . Several times I experienced the lol in its literal sense.
Well that’s all for now friends, I’m on to read book 3…
August 12, 2016
God, that was good! Wish there were more books like these, AMAZING world-building and characters. I wouldn't characterize this as a m/m romance, but as an extremely well-written urban fantasy series with MCs that happen to be gay. That way, the main focus is on the plot-which drew me in just as much as the first book did. A unique twist on sorcerors and magic, adventure, a well-rounded and colorful cast of intriguing characters from a short-statured and stingy diner owner dragon called Dave to the ever charming trickster and coyote Spencer, along with a dash of romance: definitely enjoyed this sequel!
4.5 stars rounded up!
Looking forward to the next book and getting back to Spencer! Disappointed we didn't see even a glimpse of Rourke! Where the heck was he when the world was crashing down? Left his lover to go fend for himself! >;( Though it was nice to see they're still roommates, unsure about this whole open relationship thing...but that's just the romance loving part of me complaining. Feel like re-reading the first book again!
4.5 stars rounded up!
Looking forward to the next book and getting back to Spencer! Disappointed we didn't see even a glimpse of Rourke! Where the heck was he when the world was crashing down? Left his lover to go fend for himself! >;( Though it was nice to see they're still roommates, unsure about this whole open relationship thing...but that's just the romance loving part of me complaining. Feel like re-reading the first book again!
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