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Pactum
Society still finds itself reeling from magic coming out into the open. As the world comes to grips with the fact that old legends are true, Homicide Detective Alison Kaur still has a job to do. After the corpse of William Lanner is found, Alison must delve into the ugly world of prostitution, gangsters and murder. All while she and her partner deal with the dangers of Mages, Werewolves, Succubi and others. Will Alison be able to track down the killer of William Lanner? Or will she become a victim herself?
364 pages, Paperback
First published October 12, 2012
10 people are currently reading
259 people want to read
About the author
Nicholas Taylor
10 books180 followersNicholas Taylor is a fantasy and science fiction author. He was born in 1981 in Denver, Colorado, where he lives with his wife and family. Nicholas was an imaginative child who enjoyed writing stories and daydreaming about new worlds and places from a young age.
In his twenties, Nicholas rekindled a love for reading and consuming fantasy and science fiction. The culmination was his decision to write a novel in the winter of 2007. That first novel was Legon Awakening, which ran as a weekly podcast and was later released in print, digital, and audio editions that thousands have enjoyed.
Nicholas enjoys writing fiction that pulls readers into immersive worlds with likable and relatable characters. He strives to draw the reader into the scene with the characters, allowing them to explore magical realms or distant planets.
In his twenties, Nicholas rekindled a love for reading and consuming fantasy and science fiction. The culmination was his decision to write a novel in the winter of 2007. That first novel was Legon Awakening, which ran as a weekly podcast and was later released in print, digital, and audio editions that thousands have enjoyed.
Nicholas enjoys writing fiction that pulls readers into immersive worlds with likable and relatable characters. He strives to draw the reader into the scene with the characters, allowing them to explore magical realms or distant planets.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 13, 2017
I tried to like it. Neat concept. Liked the idea. But I kept having to pause and put it down from going cross eyed reading it.
The thing that bugged me the most was there was no adjective for the manic theory. It was vis this Vis that
It was like the super troopers meow scene. Just trying to see how many times in a paragraph it could be.
The thing that bugged me the most was there was no adjective for the manic theory. It was vis this Vis that
It was like the super troopers meow scene. Just trying to see how many times in a paragraph it could be.
February 8, 2013
Wow, wow, and more WOW! Pactum really blew me away!
First off...did you SEE the cover? Impressive! Something that would definitely turn my head in a book store. I'm going to take a guess that on the cover you see detective Kaur up top pointing her pretty little number right at YOU, the reader, and down below her is Gabriel, the mage pointing something just as deadly if not more at you...his Vis empowered mind!
At first, while reading Pactum, I would think of Mariska Hargitay's character Olivia on Law & Order SVU, when I thought of Alison Kaur. After though, if it is Kaur on the cover, it fits her even better! I was really digging Kaur's character, too. I was really into all the characters! I thought each and every person introduced into the book was well written, consistent, and believable...in a world where their was magic (or Viz). In Pactum, you got a pretty good look at both Alison and her partner, Sean. You got to see a little more of what made them tick and I liked that not necessarily one character took over and stole the show. By the end of the book, I felt like I could be either be friends with all characters or hate them as the “good guys” do.
Ahhh, and Gabriel. How do I describe Gabriel? Specosam et potens (beautiful and powerful). Even though Gabriel has a school boy crush on another, I am really hoping, in the coming books, that Alison and Gabriel become a love interest. I got the vibe that Alison was a little smitten though it wasn't really written anywhere that she was. To be honest, I felt a little crush budding between them. I mean, they spent a lot of time together trying to save Denver and all! Gabriel seems deep and wise beyond his years...whatever his age is.
I loved Faith too. How could you not love a chick in high heels fighting crime? Faith is Gabriel's seeker and sister. You will learn more about seekers and paladins and others as you read Pactum. It's all very interesting and makes me think of WoW or even Ultima Online, really. Faith is always hard at work looking for potential dangers and when they find them she hides who and what she needs to. Her concentration is always hard at work and because of this she's got this distant, bored, I-don't-care look on her face. I love her flippant responses to smart allecs like Sean. In the end she's still a woman and loves her time out with the gals and getting all glamoured up.
There were a couple points in the book that actually made me laughed out loud. Because Vis users have stayed secret from humans for years, they don't fully understand a lot of sayings and the human way of life!
“What's a prick?” “It means you're a great guy, James.” “Honey, it's a rude thing to call someone, though in the case of Detective Hughes, I think it fits.”
Taylor did a great job of describing all of the actions scenes as well. Using enough detail so the reader can visualize it all in their head but not enough that you get bored. The Guardians that James creates to protect the Decor grounds and the ones he makes for the final showdown to both attack and protect are pretty awesome and definitely intense!
I love how Pactum doesn't revolve solely on love interests but rather what would happen in the every day life of a Denver police officer. I think, along with the amazing writing, the plot, characters and everything else, that's what sets Pactum away from it's paranormal, romantic competitors.
Pactum was absolutely epic and I was kind of sad when it ended. I would love to see Pactum made into a hit TV Show. Maybe on HBO or AMC. I can see it in the same class as True Blood, Game of Thrones and even The Walking Dead. I would rather see it on television than the big screen because movies end....TV you can have seasons upon seasons and still be amazing!
Nicholas Taylor hit it out of the ball park with Pactum and I cannot wait to read it's sequel, Seeker! I am pretty confident you will feel the same way too!
For more great book reviews, author interviews, giveaways and more just check out my book blog, Book 2 Buzz at http://www.book2buzz.blogspot.com
First off...did you SEE the cover? Impressive! Something that would definitely turn my head in a book store. I'm going to take a guess that on the cover you see detective Kaur up top pointing her pretty little number right at YOU, the reader, and down below her is Gabriel, the mage pointing something just as deadly if not more at you...his Vis empowered mind!
At first, while reading Pactum, I would think of Mariska Hargitay's character Olivia on Law & Order SVU, when I thought of Alison Kaur. After though, if it is Kaur on the cover, it fits her even better! I was really digging Kaur's character, too. I was really into all the characters! I thought each and every person introduced into the book was well written, consistent, and believable...in a world where their was magic (or Viz). In Pactum, you got a pretty good look at both Alison and her partner, Sean. You got to see a little more of what made them tick and I liked that not necessarily one character took over and stole the show. By the end of the book, I felt like I could be either be friends with all characters or hate them as the “good guys” do.
Ahhh, and Gabriel. How do I describe Gabriel? Specosam et potens (beautiful and powerful). Even though Gabriel has a school boy crush on another, I am really hoping, in the coming books, that Alison and Gabriel become a love interest. I got the vibe that Alison was a little smitten though it wasn't really written anywhere that she was. To be honest, I felt a little crush budding between them. I mean, they spent a lot of time together trying to save Denver and all! Gabriel seems deep and wise beyond his years...whatever his age is.
I loved Faith too. How could you not love a chick in high heels fighting crime? Faith is Gabriel's seeker and sister. You will learn more about seekers and paladins and others as you read Pactum. It's all very interesting and makes me think of WoW or even Ultima Online, really. Faith is always hard at work looking for potential dangers and when they find them she hides who and what she needs to. Her concentration is always hard at work and because of this she's got this distant, bored, I-don't-care look on her face. I love her flippant responses to smart allecs like Sean. In the end she's still a woman and loves her time out with the gals and getting all glamoured up.
There were a couple points in the book that actually made me laughed out loud. Because Vis users have stayed secret from humans for years, they don't fully understand a lot of sayings and the human way of life!
“What's a prick?” “It means you're a great guy, James.” “Honey, it's a rude thing to call someone, though in the case of Detective Hughes, I think it fits.”
Taylor did a great job of describing all of the actions scenes as well. Using enough detail so the reader can visualize it all in their head but not enough that you get bored. The Guardians that James creates to protect the Decor grounds and the ones he makes for the final showdown to both attack and protect are pretty awesome and definitely intense!
I love how Pactum doesn't revolve solely on love interests but rather what would happen in the every day life of a Denver police officer. I think, along with the amazing writing, the plot, characters and everything else, that's what sets Pactum away from it's paranormal, romantic competitors.
Pactum was absolutely epic and I was kind of sad when it ended. I would love to see Pactum made into a hit TV Show. Maybe on HBO or AMC. I can see it in the same class as True Blood, Game of Thrones and even The Walking Dead. I would rather see it on television than the big screen because movies end....TV you can have seasons upon seasons and still be amazing!
Nicholas Taylor hit it out of the ball park with Pactum and I cannot wait to read it's sequel, Seeker! I am pretty confident you will feel the same way too!
For more great book reviews, author interviews, giveaways and more just check out my book blog, Book 2 Buzz at http://www.book2buzz.blogspot.com
Read
May 15, 2014Pactum is an example of the axiom of "Everyone has different tastes." I could only make it about halfway through the book, and even that was a bit of a struggle. The primary reason for that is because of the characters Nicholas Taylor chose to use. I'm a sucker for a good mystery, don't get me wrong, and I love urban fantasy as well. Combining the two is usually a surefire ticket to get me to like a book, and in terms of plot, I think it was handled pretty well. The world, too, was fairly believable, and I could tell that the author had thought through a fair amount of worldbuilding, and was building up to something.
The problem, for me, was the character of Gabriel. He's a kind of character who was very popular back in the late '90s- a colossus of power, who stands head and shoulders above his peers, who has a dark secret which fuels his never-ending quest for strength. He casually wipes out forces that normal people can do nothing against, he has a 'code of honor' which he follows, he is significantly stronger than anyone (other than, presumably, his designated nemesis) he runs across, he switches between a likable facade and a cold-hearted killer's gaze precisely when the situation requires, and he even has the required black long coat and named katana made infamous and ubiquitous in that era.
The other main characters are similarly pretty stock for the genre, but Gabriel flipped the switch of my Pavlovian dislike of that particular archetype. Those who like that kind of character, or who don't mind it, will likely find the book rather enjoyable. Unfortunately, for me, it's just not something I can enjoy.
The problem, for me, was the character of Gabriel. He's a kind of character who was very popular back in the late '90s- a colossus of power, who stands head and shoulders above his peers, who has a dark secret which fuels his never-ending quest for strength. He casually wipes out forces that normal people can do nothing against, he has a 'code of honor' which he follows, he is significantly stronger than anyone (other than, presumably, his designated nemesis) he runs across, he switches between a likable facade and a cold-hearted killer's gaze precisely when the situation requires, and he even has the required black long coat and named katana made infamous and ubiquitous in that era.
The other main characters are similarly pretty stock for the genre, but Gabriel flipped the switch of my Pavlovian dislike of that particular archetype. Those who like that kind of character, or who don't mind it, will likely find the book rather enjoyable. Unfortunately, for me, it's just not something I can enjoy.
May 16, 2015
If I could, I would rate this as a 4.4, but you know the limitations of the rating system.
A solid read, I recommend it for fans of magic and paranormal stories and also for fans of detective tales.
Vis (the "proper" name for the power that is responsible for magic users and all paranormal creatures) has come out of the closet after millenia of being the basis for rumors, speculation and myth. It's been that way now for four years and Humans are still resisting the very idea of magic.
Mages have been protecting humanity all through the years from troll's, werewolve's, etc., and have started to contract their services out to police agencies, as have other creatures (I.e., trolls make excellant personal guards).
The Denver Police Department gets a particular vicious murder that shows evidence of Vis usage and makes a contract with two Vis using mages. They are a brother and sister team. Gabriel is a Palladin and Faith is a Seeker. She tracks 'em, he attacks them.
The two detectives and detective sargent who have been working on the murder case are initially extremely resistant to the use of Manes, completely untrained in police procedure.
The book has a very good pace and the writer stays faithful to the premise. There is good use of the strengths of the characters and their weaknesses are also displayed. The Mages are not all powerful and can be killed. One character, a Succibus (don't have a spell check on this old tablet), has forever changed how I will look at their race in fantasy novels.
A solid read, I recommend it for fans of magic and paranormal stories and also for fans of detective tales.
Vis (the "proper" name for the power that is responsible for magic users and all paranormal creatures) has come out of the closet after millenia of being the basis for rumors, speculation and myth. It's been that way now for four years and Humans are still resisting the very idea of magic.
Mages have been protecting humanity all through the years from troll's, werewolve's, etc., and have started to contract their services out to police agencies, as have other creatures (I.e., trolls make excellant personal guards).
The Denver Police Department gets a particular vicious murder that shows evidence of Vis usage and makes a contract with two Vis using mages. They are a brother and sister team. Gabriel is a Palladin and Faith is a Seeker. She tracks 'em, he attacks them.
The two detectives and detective sargent who have been working on the murder case are initially extremely resistant to the use of Manes, completely untrained in police procedure.
The book has a very good pace and the writer stays faithful to the premise. There is good use of the strengths of the characters and their weaknesses are also displayed. The Mages are not all powerful and can be killed. One character, a Succibus (don't have a spell check on this old tablet), has forever changed how I will look at their race in fantasy novels.
January 31, 2013
As society is dealing with the fallout of magic coming out of the broom closet and the range of species Humans thought were just tall tales a very strange homicide comes across the desk of Detectives Kaur and Hughes. Based on the findings on the body, the police departments signs a contract (Pactum) with some Vis (magic) users to keep the detectives safe and perhaps assist them with the case. As the case deepens and more pieces fall into place, Alison and Sean may be caught in an all out war.
I was drawn into the author’s world with ease and as I followed Alison deeper down the rabbit hole, I enjoyed this story immensely. The varied species (Human, Mage, Succubi, Goblin, etc.) and the different twist on magic (called Vis) helped to paint a vivid picture of a world perhaps in the future. The plot flowed along, picking up steam along the way and you get caught up with all the action. I thought the character dynamics were great. I feel ‘Pactum’ is a great story blending both magic and police procedural. As the story goes on, the characters grow, develop, and reveal a lot of their pasts which enhances the plotline. I am very interested to see where this series goes next!
Contractor Series: Pactum (1)
I was drawn into the author’s world with ease and as I followed Alison deeper down the rabbit hole, I enjoyed this story immensely. The varied species (Human, Mage, Succubi, Goblin, etc.) and the different twist on magic (called Vis) helped to paint a vivid picture of a world perhaps in the future. The plot flowed along, picking up steam along the way and you get caught up with all the action. I thought the character dynamics were great. I feel ‘Pactum’ is a great story blending both magic and police procedural. As the story goes on, the characters grow, develop, and reveal a lot of their pasts which enhances the plotline. I am very interested to see where this series goes next!
Contractor Series: Pactum (1)
March 28, 2015
I like to pick up the occasional free ebook or self-published book with little background knowledge. Sometimes I am greatly rewarded like when I read Attrition. Other times the book just doesn't work. I seriously considered giving this book 1 star, but decided it wasn't that bad, just my personal opinion being colored. This isn't a terrible book. Rather it's a very mediocre book that is very poorly written with a weak plot as well. The ideas behind the book and the worldbuilding were what got me interested and enabled me to finish the book. However Taylor's plot was entirely too predictable and, with weak characterization for the few interesting characters, made this book an overall weak novel that fails to capitalize on the idea's promise.
January 13, 2015
*This book was won from a First Reads giveaway on goodreads.com*
I enjoyed this book. I wasn’t really sure what to think of it from the cover, but when I started to read it, I loved it, The only thing that was slightly annoying was that the author constantly used full names to start each new section, which drove me nuts after a while.
I do recommend this book, especially if you like Anita Blake, but with less sex and detectives that are human. Go for it.
I enjoyed this book. I wasn’t really sure what to think of it from the cover, but when I started to read it, I loved it, The only thing that was slightly annoying was that the author constantly used full names to start each new section, which drove me nuts after a while.
I do recommend this book, especially if you like Anita Blake, but with less sex and detectives that are human. Go for it.
February 21, 2014
very interesting read. I will finish this series.
February 17, 2015
Very well written book. I enjoyed how the human world and the world of magic were brought together. Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews