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Eric Carter #5
Ghost Money
The fifth book of this dark urban fantasy series follows necromancer Eric Carter through a world of vengeful gods and goddesses, mysterious murders, and restless ghosts.
The Los Angeles Firestorm killed over a hundred thousand people, set in revenge against necromancer Eric Carter for defying the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl. Carter feels every drop of that blood on his hands. But now there's a new problem.
Too many ghosts in one spot and the barrier separating them from the living cracks. And when they cross it, they feed off all the life they can get hold of. People die. L.A. suddenly has a lot more ghosts.
But it's not just one or two ghosts breaking through: it's dozens. Another mage is pulling them through the cracks and turning them into deadly weapons. Eric follows a trail that takes him through the world of the Chinese Triads, old associates, old crimes. And a past that he thought he was done with.
Carter needs to find out how to get things under control, because if more ghosts break through, there's going to be even more blood on his hands.
The Los Angeles Firestorm killed over a hundred thousand people, set in revenge against necromancer Eric Carter for defying the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl. Carter feels every drop of that blood on his hands. But now there's a new problem.
Too many ghosts in one spot and the barrier separating them from the living cracks. And when they cross it, they feed off all the life they can get hold of. People die. L.A. suddenly has a lot more ghosts.
But it's not just one or two ghosts breaking through: it's dozens. Another mage is pulling them through the cracks and turning them into deadly weapons. Eric follows a trail that takes him through the world of the Chinese Triads, old associates, old crimes. And a past that he thought he was done with.
Carter needs to find out how to get things under control, because if more ghosts break through, there's going to be even more blood on his hands.
Audible Audio
First published April 28, 2020
85 people are currently reading
467 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Blackmoore
27 books798 followersStephen Blackmoore is the author of the noir / urban fantasy Eric Carter series (DEAD THINGS, BROKEN SOULS, HUNGRY GHOSTS, and FIRE SEASON), about a necromancer in modern-day Los Angeles.
You can find him online at stephenblackmoore.com, or follow him on Twitter at @sblackmoore.
You can find him online at stephenblackmoore.com, or follow him on Twitter at @sblackmoore.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
November 21, 2023
Actual rating: 2.25689765941 stars.
Why this blatantly shameless (and shamelessly blatant) Sandman Slim rip-off is so bloody shrimping popular is and forever shall be one of the greatest mysteries of the universe.
Why this second-rate Jimmy Stark has so many fans befuddles the fish out of me.
The similarities between the two series were there from the start and didn't bother me that much at first (I did give the first three installments in this series 4 stars after allI must have been drunk on really good quality stuff at the time) but things got slightly out of hand in the fourth book, and became downright ridiculous in this one.
But hey, it's not ALL bad. I mean, the great thing about this installment is that it badly made me want to reread my boyfriend Jimmy Stark's adventures, so yay and stuff!
[Pre-review nonsense]
I am done done done with this puny Sandman Slim wannabe.
➽ Review to come and stuff.
· Book 1: Dead Things ★★★★
· Book 2: Broken Souls ★★★★
· Book 3: Hungry Ghosts ★★★★
· Book 4: Fire Season ★★★
Why this blatantly shameless (and shamelessly blatant) Sandman Slim rip-off is so bloody shrimping popular is and forever shall be one of the greatest mysteries of the universe.
Why this second-rate Jimmy Stark has so many fans befuddles the fish out of me.
The similarities between the two series were there from the start and didn't bother me that much at first (I did give the first three installments in this series 4 stars after all
But hey, it's not ALL bad. I mean, the great thing about this installment is that it badly made me want to reread my boyfriend Jimmy Stark's adventures, so yay and stuff!
[Pre-review nonsense]
I am done done done with this puny Sandman Slim wannabe.
➽ Review to come and stuff.
· Book 1: Dead Things ★★★★
· Book 2: Broken Souls ★★★★
· Book 3: Hungry Ghosts ★★★★
· Book 4: Fire Season ★★★
February 21, 2021
If, by any chance, you like your Noir necromancers all beat up to hell in fascinatingly grotesque ways while they STILL feel the need to set some wrongs right and pull in a little revenge on the side, then this guy is absolutely your guy.
The Noir LA feel is coming through STRONG. And with all the burning and homelessness and sheer "let's demolish it all and get started with something new" attitude, I think it's fitting quite well for our own zeitgeist.
So let's get beat up along with him and play with some ghosts, shall we? Hooohaaaa!
The Noir LA feel is coming through STRONG. And with all the burning and homelessness and sheer "let's demolish it all and get started with something new" attitude, I think it's fitting quite well for our own zeitgeist.
So let's get beat up along with him and play with some ghosts, shall we? Hooohaaaa!
September 23, 2024
Necromancy ain't no laughing matter
January 23, 2024
Audiobooks have become my preferred method of listening to urban fantasy even if I eventually also end up reading them. I had postponed the Eric Carter series for this reason, pushing it further down my to be read pile, so I am delighted Tantor Audio is publishing the series. Rudy Sanda has been narrating the books and does a fantastic job of capturing the personality of necromancer Eric Carter. He also gives voice to the gods, mages, and other characters surrounding Eric. I love the unique voices and he makes listening a pleasure.
Ghost Money revealed a lot about Eric and what he is going through physically from his battles to deals with gods. Things are taking a toll. Eric blames a lot of what is happening on himself.
Events have caused a thinning between our world and that of the dead. Cracks appear and ghosts are slipping through. An encounter with one has Eric realizing someone is pushing them through and turning them into deadly weapons.
All of this has Eric relying on the help of old friends and getting up close and personal with his past. The story that unfolds was tight, action-packed and full of memorable scenes. I devoured this fairly quickly as the story and his motley crew of mages and friends pulled me in.
Fans of urban fantasy, mythology and snarky male protagonists will want to dive into this world. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
Ghost Money revealed a lot about Eric and what he is going through physically from his battles to deals with gods. Things are taking a toll. Eric blames a lot of what is happening on himself.
Events have caused a thinning between our world and that of the dead. Cracks appear and ghosts are slipping through. An encounter with one has Eric realizing someone is pushing them through and turning them into deadly weapons.
All of this has Eric relying on the help of old friends and getting up close and personal with his past. The story that unfolds was tight, action-packed and full of memorable scenes. I devoured this fairly quickly as the story and his motley crew of mages and friends pulled me in.
Fans of urban fantasy, mythology and snarky male protagonists will want to dive into this world. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
April 9, 2020
Yet again, twice in a month, and this never happens to me, I ended a book speechless. However, let’s start at the beginning. This is the fifth book in the Eric Carter series, and boy has he been through the wringer in every single book including this one. There are some strange ghosts killing people and Eric has to get to the bottom of what’s going on because he feels partly at fault since the killings, hence the new ghosts, happened under his watch. This was a non-stop action, angst-filled book, and Eric learns some terrible news right in the middle of the mayhem. I can’t say much because it will spoil the book, but I didn’t take it seriously; I really should have. Love this dark urban fantasy series, and I hope to see more in the future. Highly recommend! I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
September 10, 2020
ANOTHER CLIFFHANGER. GRRRRRRRRRRRR.
September 5, 2022
Ghost Money
(Eric Carter #5)
by Stephen Blackmoore
I think this is my favorite book so far up until the very end...then a cliffhanger! Urg! NO! I don't do cliffhangers well! I don't have anymore of his books and out of money and the library doesn't carry them! So, I guess I will be watching for sales on Chirp again!
This series has the best characters, action, fantasy, although slightly dark, but tempered with wit and humor. I love it! No explicit sexy scenes is also a big bonus!
Eric, our necromancer hero, is somehow always in trouble while trying to do what is right. Now, he is turning into a jade statue. He is in a life struggle with a god or two! 😊
(Eric Carter #5)
by Stephen Blackmoore
I think this is my favorite book so far up until the very end...then a cliffhanger! Urg! NO! I don't do cliffhangers well! I don't have anymore of his books and out of money and the library doesn't carry them! So, I guess I will be watching for sales on Chirp again!
This series has the best characters, action, fantasy, although slightly dark, but tempered with wit and humor. I love it! No explicit sexy scenes is also a big bonus!
Eric, our necromancer hero, is somehow always in trouble while trying to do what is right. Now, he is turning into a jade statue. He is in a life struggle with a god or two! 😊
May 3, 2020
Sometimes I begin reading a book by Blackmoore and I think Man this is great, its all gonna wrap up and Ill be happy.. then I get to the end and I'm like.. Oh yeah! I forgot and I've had my feelings kicked, a dozen types of horror implanted in my brain, and I wanna thrash Blackmoore for making me want more of this bloody, dark and twisted series.
Eric Carter takes more abuse than anyone. He does it to himself, goons beat him, gods beat him, monsters and demons beat him.. but he is his own worst enemy. The story is excellent, the characters interesting. The universe Blackmoore has built is fantastic and seems to have a pretty good balance with reality.
I want a 6th book, maybe I'm a sucker for suffering, A sadist or a masochist (is it Eric's suffering I enjoy reading about, or my own?). some of the story hit a little close to home (CTE, massive list of injuries, main character is a sarcastic dick..) but I loved it.
Blackmoore, you're a monster.. And I love it.
Eric Carter takes more abuse than anyone. He does it to himself, goons beat him, gods beat him, monsters and demons beat him.. but he is his own worst enemy. The story is excellent, the characters interesting. The universe Blackmoore has built is fantastic and seems to have a pretty good balance with reality.
I want a 6th book, maybe I'm a sucker for suffering, A sadist or a masochist (is it Eric's suffering I enjoy reading about, or my own?). some of the story hit a little close to home (CTE, massive list of injuries, main character is a sarcastic dick..) but I loved it.
Blackmoore, you're a monster.. And I love it.
October 19, 2024
The fifth in the Eric Carter series and the best so far.
The story was great, as always, but that’s not what gained it the five-star rating. In my opinion, what makes this book so enjoyable is the way Blackmoore has pulled everything together so tightly. It feels like the author was completely relaxed and fully laid back when he wrote this one. His prose also feels like it's levelled up a notch. At this point, given the choice, I’d pick up an Eric Carter book before a Harry Dresden.
A small but big thing, if that makes sense, was the climax, the catching up to the bad guy and giving him the old heave-ho. There’s no lingering on this. We get there, everything happens pretty quick and we’re done, and it works perfectly.
I think the thing that edged this book over into that five-star tier for me was the revelation that our main character is mortal! In most series the hero simply can’t die, well, maybe not until the end of the series, but here Eric’s life is in real danger, and not from the usual life and limb antics. His life has taken a toll and his body is paying the price. We feel an actual threat from internal damage the guy has suffered, that all these past injuries are going to kill him, and it’s going to happen inevitably and soon. Yes, of course he’s going to live, there’s another four books in the series, but that’s not the point, the point is the author has made Eric Carter human. And this, to me, is a stroke of genius.
If you’re considering diving into this series but don’t want to start at the beginning, start here!
Excellent stuff! I’m itching to get to the next instalment, Bottle Demon.
The story was great, as always, but that’s not what gained it the five-star rating. In my opinion, what makes this book so enjoyable is the way Blackmoore has pulled everything together so tightly. It feels like the author was completely relaxed and fully laid back when he wrote this one. His prose also feels like it's levelled up a notch. At this point, given the choice, I’d pick up an Eric Carter book before a Harry Dresden.
A small but big thing, if that makes sense, was the climax, the catching up to the bad guy and giving him the old heave-ho. There’s no lingering on this. We get there, everything happens pretty quick and we’re done, and it works perfectly.
I think the thing that edged this book over into that five-star tier for me was the revelation that our main character is mortal! In most series the hero simply can’t die, well, maybe not until the end of the series, but here Eric’s life is in real danger, and not from the usual life and limb antics. His life has taken a toll and his body is paying the price. We feel an actual threat from internal damage the guy has suffered, that all these past injuries are going to kill him, and it’s going to happen inevitably and soon. Yes, of course he’s going to live, there’s another four books in the series, but that’s not the point, the point is the author has made Eric Carter human. And this, to me, is a stroke of genius.
If you’re considering diving into this series but don’t want to start at the beginning, start here!
Excellent stuff! I’m itching to get to the next instalment, Bottle Demon.
April 27, 2020
Mon avis en Français
My English review
I always have a very good time with this series and I was very curious to see what the author was going to propose in this volume. I must say that Eric has an extraordinary gift for getting into trouble and each volume proves it to us.
Our hero has to face the consequences of the events that took place previously, and it is not simple. And to top it all off, new problems arise in the form of ghosts. Indeed, it seems that someone is bringing them into the world of the living to be able to kill people. But our hero is determined to find out what’s going on. This investigation will force him to face the triads, but also to find people from his past.
I had a good time with this novel. Eric’s life is really not simple and there are several very touching moments in the story, especially with Vivian. And then this ending? I’m really looking forward to find out what happens next!
Eric is a wounded, cynical, dark and sarcastic character but also damaged by life. A character we love to follow!
My English review
I always have a very good time with this series and I was very curious to see what the author was going to propose in this volume. I must say that Eric has an extraordinary gift for getting into trouble and each volume proves it to us.
Our hero has to face the consequences of the events that took place previously, and it is not simple. And to top it all off, new problems arise in the form of ghosts. Indeed, it seems that someone is bringing them into the world of the living to be able to kill people. But our hero is determined to find out what’s going on. This investigation will force him to face the triads, but also to find people from his past.
I had a good time with this novel. Eric’s life is really not simple and there are several very touching moments in the story, especially with Vivian. And then this ending? I’m really looking forward to find out what happens next!
Eric is a wounded, cynical, dark and sarcastic character but also damaged by life. A character we love to follow!
May 26, 2020
Dresdenesque (which is a compliment). Deeply unfortunate cliffhanger ending (also, damn it, Dresdenesque). Book six please, stat.
November 2, 2025
all reviews in one place:
night mode reading
; skaitom nakties rezimu
My Opinion: Eric was fun from the start, but I can’t say I cared much about the man. Now I do. Now I really do. Both his trauma and the guilt caught up with him, as he must face all the people, at least those who still live, whom he either failed to protect, or did it so poorly that they think him an asshole, not a savior. One of them is a medic with magic abilities, and if she’s concerned, well, we should be too. The character development for everyone involved was something to behold. Very well written, if still not very smooth read through some dark and gritty urban fantasy. Oh, and it ends with a cliffhanger, because of course it does.
A 5 out of 5, and I’ve already got the next one ready. Funny how sometimes people can do the greatest, kindest things, and still walk away like the bad guys due to such simple factors not being met as communication.
My Opinion: Eric was fun from the start, but I can’t say I cared much about the man. Now I do. Now I really do. Both his trauma and the guilt caught up with him, as he must face all the people, at least those who still live, whom he either failed to protect, or did it so poorly that they think him an asshole, not a savior. One of them is a medic with magic abilities, and if she’s concerned, well, we should be too. The character development for everyone involved was something to behold. Very well written, if still not very smooth read through some dark and gritty urban fantasy. Oh, and it ends with a cliffhanger, because of course it does.
A 5 out of 5, and I’ve already got the next one ready. Funny how sometimes people can do the greatest, kindest things, and still walk away like the bad guys due to such simple factors not being met as communication.
November 19, 2023
Meh. Richard Kadrey did it better. Read Sandman Slim instead. 💀
July 22, 2020
My favorite one yet.
If you haven't read this series yet, you're only five books behind, and they keep getting better. So if you're in the mood for a self-destructive potty-mouth anti-hero necromancer, I know a guy.
My criticisms of the four earlier books was that Eric Carter was a little too much of a jerk for me and was a little too cavalier in the face of collateral damage. In this story, he's redeemed a bit. Well, not redeemed. More like I got a better understanding of why he is the way he is.
It ends on a massive cliffhanger, so it's safe to say there are more books coming in the series.
Recommended for fans of hero-driven urban fantasy or dark adventure. Eric Carter reminds me a bit of Harry Dresden, if Harry was less worried about fighting his dark impulses and just leaned into them instead.
If you haven't read this series yet, you're only five books behind, and they keep getting better. So if you're in the mood for a self-destructive potty-mouth anti-hero necromancer, I know a guy.
My criticisms of the four earlier books was that Eric Carter was a little too much of a jerk for me and was a little too cavalier in the face of collateral damage. In this story, he's redeemed a bit. Well, not redeemed. More like I got a better understanding of why he is the way he is.
It ends on a massive cliffhanger, so it's safe to say there are more books coming in the series.
Recommended for fans of hero-driven urban fantasy or dark adventure. Eric Carter reminds me a bit of Harry Dresden, if Harry was less worried about fighting his dark impulses and just leaned into them instead.
December 31, 2020
Some books capture the anguish of a certain place and time in a particularly poignant way. For post-Hurricane-Katrina New Orleans it was James Lee Burke's The Tin Roof Blowdown; for post-economic-crash Ireland it was Tana French's Broken Harbour. For 2020 -- an unmitigated disaster for so much of the United States, including Los Angeles -- it's Ghost Money. In a way that makes the reader think, Blackmoore deftly incorporates commentary on privilege and status, as well as devastation and hope, in this latest installment -- possibly the best -- of his urban fantasy series.
October 9, 2024
5 books in and I swear each story gets better and better every time. I enjoyed the first 2-3 books, but 4 and 5 just leave you wanting more and more and more. The god damn the cliff hangers at the ends of these books!!! I'm ready for book 6 now!
July 8, 2020
Every time I start an Eric Carter book I'm reminded how much I love the Eric Carter series and Stephen Blackmoore's writing. There have to be more books because I'm obsessed with Eric Carter.
May 12, 2021
This series is absolutely addicting. I'm glad I've been able to get to these one right after another. I can't wait to see what happens in book six!
May 13, 2025
L.A. je po veľkej katastrofe v podstate zrovnaná so zemou a preživší buď odchádzajú, alebo sa snažia dať dohromady čo im ostalo.
Nekromant Eric by možno tiež rád začal zbierať rozbité čriepky svojho života, no ani v tomto poapokalyptickom prostredí na to nemá priestor. Niekto začne spoza opony na svet preťahovať duchov, ktorí vznikli pri zničení mesta a Eric ho musí nájsť a zastaviť, aby sa veci ešte viac nezhoršili.
Okrem toho ho trápi veľmi nebezpečná, no zatiaľ dobre ukrytá fľaša a sľub, ktorý musel dať jednej staronovej bohyni.
Parádna a čítavá jazda, ako vždy.
Nekromant Eric by možno tiež rád začal zbierať rozbité čriepky svojho života, no ani v tomto poapokalyptickom prostredí na to nemá priestor. Niekto začne spoza opony na svet preťahovať duchov, ktorí vznikli pri zničení mesta a Eric ho musí nájsť a zastaviť, aby sa veci ešte viac nezhoršili.
Okrem toho ho trápi veľmi nebezpečná, no zatiaľ dobre ukrytá fľaša a sľub, ktorý musel dať jednej staronovej bohyni.
Parádna a čítavá jazda, ako vždy.
April 11, 2020
Loved this book, dealt directly with the consequences of the previous book! Great book, more developments with the bottle, and the "novels by author" page has book 6, so I'm excited for that!
December 29, 2024
The first couple of books in Stephen Blackmoore's Eric Carter series more or less read like Jim Butcher's early Dresden Files installments. Meaning that they were short and episodic in format. Having said that, it sure looked as though we'd reached the end of the first story arc of this paranormal and gritty noir murder mystery series and there was definite potential for bigger and better things to come.
But could Blackmoore up his game and elevate this series to another level? Fire Season was clearly a step in the right direction. And even if this series is not growing in scope quite as quickly as the Dresden Files did, Ghost Money is another solid effort. Indeed, this fifth volume just might be Blackmoore's best novel yet.
Here's the blurb:
The fifth book of this dark urban fantasy series follows necromancer Eric Carter through a world of vengeful gods and goddesses, mysterious murders, and restless ghosts.
The Los Angeles Firestorm killed over a hundred thousand people, set in revenge against necromancer Eric Carter for defying the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl. Carter feels every drop of that blood on his hands. But now there's a new problem.
Too many ghosts in one spot and the barrier separating them from the living cracks. And when they cross it, they feed off all the life they can get hold of. People die. L.A. suddenly has a lot more ghosts.
But it's not just one or two ghosts breaking through: it's dozens. Another mage is pulling them through the cracks and turning them into deadly weapons. Eric follows a trail that takes him through the world of the Chinese Triads, old associates, old crimes. And a past that he thought he was done with.
Carter needs to find out how to get things under control, because if more ghosts break through, there's going to be even more blood on his hands.
As you know, I hate the fact that the market demands that urban fantasy books be short and relatively fast-paced works. Hence, with the 300 pages or so that Stephen Blackmoore gets to work with, the first few Eric Carter titles were parsimonious on the worldbuilding front. Things took a turn for the better in Hungry Ghosts and once more in Fire Season. Just like the fourth volume mostly dealt with the aftermath of what took place in Mictlan, the Aztec land of the dead, Ghost Money focuses on the aftermath of the fiery destruction of vast swathes of Los Angeles. The veil between our world and that of the dead has unraveled in certain areas and ghosts are slipping through. If that wasn't problematic enough, Eric soon realizes that something or someone is pushing them through to the living side and turning them into weapons. There were mentions of Eric's time spent in Hong Kong years before in Fire Season and I was wondering why the author made a point of letting us know. But since the Hong Kong Triads are part of the plot in Ghost Money, we now understand why. Five installments into this series and I still have no clear idea where the story is going. It looks as though Darius and his escape from the bottle holding him prisoner just might be the underlying plotline, yet it's impossible to tell at this juncture.
As before, everything Eric Carter touches turns to shit. He's a foul-mouthed smartass who gets beaten to a pulp way too many times in the span of such a short novel, but there is still something about him that makes you care for the poor fool. Time and time again, he is his own worst enemy. Even though he should know better by now, he continues acts like an idiot for the most part because he's trying to protect those he loves without realizing that he's alienating them in the process. He has been running from his past for a long time and now it's finally caught up with him. But there's only so much abuse one man, even if he's a powerful necromancer, can take, and it was nice to see that his body has taken a toll from everything that's been happening to him since he first left LA. King of the Dead he may be, yet he may not have to worry about being married to a goddess and the fate of Los Angeles and everyone he cares for for much longer. He just might die and that would be the end of it. Say one thing about Eric Carter, say he won't take that lying down and he'll continue to make everything go from bad to worse as he does his best to save the day. I was glad to see that Gabriella, Vivian, and Letitia are once again part of the supporting cast. Although there is only one perspective, it's always nice to have other people sharing the spotlight with Eric.
With Ghost Money being yet another short work, there are no pacing issues to report. Once again, this book reads more like a thriller than an urban fantasy book. And with the ultimate cliffhanger ending, I'm happy I don't have to wait a year to read the next one. I have to admit that I never saw the end coming, so kudos to Blackmoore for kicking us in the balls like that!
As I've said before, if you are looking for a gritty urban fantasy series featuring a deeply flawed male lead, the Eric Carter books are definitely for you. Fans of Jim Butcher, Simon R. Green, and Richard Kadrey will definitely find a lot to like about these novels.
For more reviews, check out www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com
But could Blackmoore up his game and elevate this series to another level? Fire Season was clearly a step in the right direction. And even if this series is not growing in scope quite as quickly as the Dresden Files did, Ghost Money is another solid effort. Indeed, this fifth volume just might be Blackmoore's best novel yet.
Here's the blurb:
The fifth book of this dark urban fantasy series follows necromancer Eric Carter through a world of vengeful gods and goddesses, mysterious murders, and restless ghosts.
The Los Angeles Firestorm killed over a hundred thousand people, set in revenge against necromancer Eric Carter for defying the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl. Carter feels every drop of that blood on his hands. But now there's a new problem.
Too many ghosts in one spot and the barrier separating them from the living cracks. And when they cross it, they feed off all the life they can get hold of. People die. L.A. suddenly has a lot more ghosts.
But it's not just one or two ghosts breaking through: it's dozens. Another mage is pulling them through the cracks and turning them into deadly weapons. Eric follows a trail that takes him through the world of the Chinese Triads, old associates, old crimes. And a past that he thought he was done with.
Carter needs to find out how to get things under control, because if more ghosts break through, there's going to be even more blood on his hands.
As you know, I hate the fact that the market demands that urban fantasy books be short and relatively fast-paced works. Hence, with the 300 pages or so that Stephen Blackmoore gets to work with, the first few Eric Carter titles were parsimonious on the worldbuilding front. Things took a turn for the better in Hungry Ghosts and once more in Fire Season. Just like the fourth volume mostly dealt with the aftermath of what took place in Mictlan, the Aztec land of the dead, Ghost Money focuses on the aftermath of the fiery destruction of vast swathes of Los Angeles. The veil between our world and that of the dead has unraveled in certain areas and ghosts are slipping through. If that wasn't problematic enough, Eric soon realizes that something or someone is pushing them through to the living side and turning them into weapons. There were mentions of Eric's time spent in Hong Kong years before in Fire Season and I was wondering why the author made a point of letting us know. But since the Hong Kong Triads are part of the plot in Ghost Money, we now understand why. Five installments into this series and I still have no clear idea where the story is going. It looks as though Darius and his escape from the bottle holding him prisoner just might be the underlying plotline, yet it's impossible to tell at this juncture.
As before, everything Eric Carter touches turns to shit. He's a foul-mouthed smartass who gets beaten to a pulp way too many times in the span of such a short novel, but there is still something about him that makes you care for the poor fool. Time and time again, he is his own worst enemy. Even though he should know better by now, he continues acts like an idiot for the most part because he's trying to protect those he loves without realizing that he's alienating them in the process. He has been running from his past for a long time and now it's finally caught up with him. But there's only so much abuse one man, even if he's a powerful necromancer, can take, and it was nice to see that his body has taken a toll from everything that's been happening to him since he first left LA. King of the Dead he may be, yet he may not have to worry about being married to a goddess and the fate of Los Angeles and everyone he cares for for much longer. He just might die and that would be the end of it. Say one thing about Eric Carter, say he won't take that lying down and he'll continue to make everything go from bad to worse as he does his best to save the day. I was glad to see that Gabriella, Vivian, and Letitia are once again part of the supporting cast. Although there is only one perspective, it's always nice to have other people sharing the spotlight with Eric.
With Ghost Money being yet another short work, there are no pacing issues to report. Once again, this book reads more like a thriller than an urban fantasy book. And with the ultimate cliffhanger ending, I'm happy I don't have to wait a year to read the next one. I have to admit that I never saw the end coming, so kudos to Blackmoore for kicking us in the balls like that!
As I've said before, if you are looking for a gritty urban fantasy series featuring a deeply flawed male lead, the Eric Carter books are definitely for you. Fans of Jim Butcher, Simon R. Green, and Richard Kadrey will definitely find a lot to like about these novels.
For more reviews, check out www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com
June 26, 2020
So what else can happen to Eric Carter after everything from the previous books - he got married to Santa Muerte (twice), almost got turned into jade, saved Mictlan(or started to anyway), got beaten more often than you would expect possible, lost the last of his family, saved a lot of souls, killed some others, burned down most of Los Angeles. Admittedly he was not the one who burned the city technically but if you ask him, he is the one to blame. Did I mention that he is also a necromancer and he can see ghosts?
This novel opens a short while after the previous one closed, in the aftermath of the near destruction of the city. Somehow the world managed to accept that it was a natural phenomenon and noone thinks it has anything to do with magic. But as it actually did, and some very powerful magic, things are going from bad to worse before your eyes.
Ghosts are usually annoying but as long as you are staying on this side of the barrier, they are mostly harmless. Until someone weaponize them of course and the resident necromancer needs to figure what is going on and stop it. Add a broken promise that really needs to be fulfilled, a jinn who really wants his bottle and the regular cast of helpers who really do not like him either (not very surprising considering what they all went through last time) and Eric is way over his head. Again.
One of the things that always gets me in this series is the fact that despite it being one of the most violent urban fantasy series out there, most of the regular characters are female -- the tough cop, La Bruja (now not hiding who she really is), the doctor (who is also his ex), even Santa Muerte. And here we add one more to the group - Indigo, one of the twins who lost their mother to the feral ghosts. And while they all collectively can handle (and administer) all the violence you can think of, it is also different because each of them also cares in her own way.
By the end of the novel, Eric had managed to put himself into a corner that may be too tight even for him. On the other hand though, he is also Mictlantecuhtli these days so it is unclear if the next book will be set in Mictlan or if Blackmoore will find a way to keep it in our world. Knowing Eric, it is far from the over.
This novel opens a short while after the previous one closed, in the aftermath of the near destruction of the city. Somehow the world managed to accept that it was a natural phenomenon and noone thinks it has anything to do with magic. But as it actually did, and some very powerful magic, things are going from bad to worse before your eyes.
Ghosts are usually annoying but as long as you are staying on this side of the barrier, they are mostly harmless. Until someone weaponize them of course and the resident necromancer needs to figure what is going on and stop it. Add a broken promise that really needs to be fulfilled, a jinn who really wants his bottle and the regular cast of helpers who really do not like him either (not very surprising considering what they all went through last time) and Eric is way over his head. Again.
One of the things that always gets me in this series is the fact that despite it being one of the most violent urban fantasy series out there, most of the regular characters are female -- the tough cop, La Bruja (now not hiding who she really is), the doctor (who is also his ex), even Santa Muerte. And here we add one more to the group - Indigo, one of the twins who lost their mother to the feral ghosts. And while they all collectively can handle (and administer) all the violence you can think of, it is also different because each of them also cares in her own way.
By the end of the novel, Eric had managed to put himself into a corner that may be too tight even for him. On the other hand though, he is also Mictlantecuhtli these days so it is unclear if the next book will be set in Mictlan or if Blackmoore will find a way to keep it in our world. Knowing Eric, it is far from the over.
August 8, 2022
Ghost Money by Stephen Blackmoore: Riveting
The Los Angeles Firestorm killed over a hundred thousand people, set in revenge against necromancer Eric Carter for defying the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl. Carter feels every drop of that blood on his hands. But now there's a new problem.
Too many ghosts in one spot and the barrier separating them from the living cracks. And when they cross it, they feed off all the life they can get hold of. People die. L.A. suddenly has a lot more ghosts.
But it's not just one or two ghosts breaking through: it's dozens. Another mage is pulling them through the cracks and turning them into deadly weapons. Eric follows a trail that takes him through the world of the Chinese Triads, old associates, old crimes. And a past that he thought he was done with.
Carter needs to find out how to get things under control, because if more ghosts break through, there's going to be even more blood on his hands.
Consequences. That’s the theme of this fifth novel in the urban fantasy series by Stephen Blackmoore. Of the authors I like the best, it is the ones that can deal with the consequences of previous novels in a realistic and authentic way that are among the best. That is exactly what Stephen Blackmoore does here, presenting the consequences of not only the previous book but the series and how those events affect his protagonist Eric Carter. Some of those consequences are physical, the injuries Eric has accrued over the years and some are emotional, like how Eric’s allies interact with him.
While there is some set up inherent in any series, the action keeps the pace up and the page turning. The action is riveting but it is the consequences of previous novels and the emotional weight of those events that makes the novel so engaging. And while the book is dark, the humor of Eric keeps the story from being too dark. While fifth in the series, this book is as good as the previous ones and if you like Stephen Blackmoore’s style, this won’t disappoint. I do recommend a read through of the other novels, as it will help with understanding the events in this book.
My only slight disappointment, this ends on a bit of a cliffhanger ending and I really hate to wait to find out what happens next.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
The Los Angeles Firestorm killed over a hundred thousand people, set in revenge against necromancer Eric Carter for defying the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl. Carter feels every drop of that blood on his hands. But now there's a new problem.
Too many ghosts in one spot and the barrier separating them from the living cracks. And when they cross it, they feed off all the life they can get hold of. People die. L.A. suddenly has a lot more ghosts.
But it's not just one or two ghosts breaking through: it's dozens. Another mage is pulling them through the cracks and turning them into deadly weapons. Eric follows a trail that takes him through the world of the Chinese Triads, old associates, old crimes. And a past that he thought he was done with.
Carter needs to find out how to get things under control, because if more ghosts break through, there's going to be even more blood on his hands.
Consequences. That’s the theme of this fifth novel in the urban fantasy series by Stephen Blackmoore. Of the authors I like the best, it is the ones that can deal with the consequences of previous novels in a realistic and authentic way that are among the best. That is exactly what Stephen Blackmoore does here, presenting the consequences of not only the previous book but the series and how those events affect his protagonist Eric Carter. Some of those consequences are physical, the injuries Eric has accrued over the years and some are emotional, like how Eric’s allies interact with him.
While there is some set up inherent in any series, the action keeps the pace up and the page turning. The action is riveting but it is the consequences of previous novels and the emotional weight of those events that makes the novel so engaging. And while the book is dark, the humor of Eric keeps the story from being too dark. While fifth in the series, this book is as good as the previous ones and if you like Stephen Blackmoore’s style, this won’t disappoint. I do recommend a read through of the other novels, as it will help with understanding the events in this book.
My only slight disappointment, this ends on a bit of a cliffhanger ending and I really hate to wait to find out what happens next.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
May 8, 2020
Stephen Blackmoore's writing continues to get stronger, and the relationships started in earlier books continue to pay dividends.
Ghost Money could have almost been titled Consequences. While the book's villain is new to us as readers, much of the actions and impacts are driven by the results of the first four books. Eric now has various (shaky and sketchy) allies he can go to for help. And some people who have expectations of him in return. And he has a few knick knacks that might be termed legacies from his dead family. He's no longer a solo act picking up threads of an old life. That's all to the good and the writing is richer for it, especially since his "friends" are a diverse lot that all have their own agendas that overlap but don't completely synch up.
Speaking of consequences, the impacts of the great fire in LA are front and center. Eric Carter has won two big fights with ancient Aztec powers...but they weren't freebies. As the back cover notes, LA gained a lot of new ghosts. That's causing problems and creates a new opportunity for villainy. Sounds like a job for our Necromancer!
Blackmore has a grittier take on violence than many urban fantasy writers, and one other consequence worth noting is that some of Eric's injuries that have been racked up over the last several books...linger. He has magical tattoos to help him heal and manage pain, but they have their limits. In this book we find out a little about where those are...and Eric is given some things to worry about in his future. Assuming he lives long enough to have a long one.
Bottom line: the pages kept turning. I was sorry when I was done.
Ghost Money could have almost been titled Consequences. While the book's villain is new to us as readers, much of the actions and impacts are driven by the results of the first four books. Eric now has various (shaky and sketchy) allies he can go to for help. And some people who have expectations of him in return. And he has a few knick knacks that might be termed legacies from his dead family. He's no longer a solo act picking up threads of an old life. That's all to the good and the writing is richer for it, especially since his "friends" are a diverse lot that all have their own agendas that overlap but don't completely synch up.
Speaking of consequences, the impacts of the great fire in LA are front and center. Eric Carter has won two big fights with ancient Aztec powers...but they weren't freebies. As the back cover notes, LA gained a lot of new ghosts. That's causing problems and creates a new opportunity for villainy. Sounds like a job for our Necromancer!
Blackmore has a grittier take on violence than many urban fantasy writers, and one other consequence worth noting is that some of Eric's injuries that have been racked up over the last several books...linger. He has magical tattoos to help him heal and manage pain, but they have their limits. In this book we find out a little about where those are...and Eric is given some things to worry about in his future. Assuming he lives long enough to have a long one.
Bottom line: the pages kept turning. I was sorry when I was done.
May 12, 2020
Ghost Money is the fifth book in the Eric Carter series written by Stephen Blackmoore. It centers on Eric Carter, a necromancer, who embraces his powers over the dead.
More than 100,000 people died in the firestorm that ravaged Los Angeles and was sent to punish necromancer Eric Carter for defying the demands of the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl and a new threat emerges from the devastation left behind.
A mage has found a way to weaponize the sudden influx of ghosts, yanking the spirits through the barrier that separates the living from the dead and in so doing threatening the stability of both worlds and Eric Carter is the only one with the power to stop him. Tracking down the mage takes Carter into the world of a Chinese Triad and forces him to confront the otherworldly destiny that he’s been trying to escape for years.
Ghost Money is written rather well. Carter's wry voice is amusing as ever, but the grief he carries is palpable, adding depth and a sense of desperation to this action-packed adventure. The narrative is snappy and well paced. Blackmoore writes Carter as both a character who grows and changes and exists as a constant and yet, no matter what happens to him, no matter what he takes on, Carter is always fundamentally himself.
All in all, Ghost Money is written rather well and is a wonderful continuation to what would hopefully be a wonderful series, which I plan to continue in the very near future.
More than 100,000 people died in the firestorm that ravaged Los Angeles and was sent to punish necromancer Eric Carter for defying the demands of the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl and a new threat emerges from the devastation left behind.
A mage has found a way to weaponize the sudden influx of ghosts, yanking the spirits through the barrier that separates the living from the dead and in so doing threatening the stability of both worlds and Eric Carter is the only one with the power to stop him. Tracking down the mage takes Carter into the world of a Chinese Triad and forces him to confront the otherworldly destiny that he’s been trying to escape for years.
Ghost Money is written rather well. Carter's wry voice is amusing as ever, but the grief he carries is palpable, adding depth and a sense of desperation to this action-packed adventure. The narrative is snappy and well paced. Blackmoore writes Carter as both a character who grows and changes and exists as a constant and yet, no matter what happens to him, no matter what he takes on, Carter is always fundamentally himself.
All in all, Ghost Money is written rather well and is a wonderful continuation to what would hopefully be a wonderful series, which I plan to continue in the very near future.
April 3, 2021
Riveting
Consequences. That’s the theme of this fifth novel in the urban fantasy series by Stephen Blackmoore. Of the authors I like the best, it is the ones that can deal with the consequences of previous novels in a realistic and authentic way that are among the best. That is exactly what Stephen Blackmoore does here, presenting the consequences of not only the previous book but the series and how those events affect his protagonist Eric Carter. Some of those consequences are physical, the injuries Eric has accrued over the years and some are emotional, like how Eric’s allies interact with him.
While there is some set up inherent in any series, the action keeps the pace up and the page turning. The action is riveting but it is the consequences of previous novels and the emotional weight of those events that makes the novel so engaging. And while the book is dark, the humor of Eric keeps the story from being too dark. While fifth in the series, this book is as good as the previous ones and if you like Stephen Blackmoore’s style, this won’t disappoint. I do recommend a read through of the other novels, as it will help with understanding the events in this book.
My only slight disappointment, this ends on a bit of a cliffhanger ending and I really hate to wait to find out what happens next.
Consequences. That’s the theme of this fifth novel in the urban fantasy series by Stephen Blackmoore. Of the authors I like the best, it is the ones that can deal with the consequences of previous novels in a realistic and authentic way that are among the best. That is exactly what Stephen Blackmoore does here, presenting the consequences of not only the previous book but the series and how those events affect his protagonist Eric Carter. Some of those consequences are physical, the injuries Eric has accrued over the years and some are emotional, like how Eric’s allies interact with him.
While there is some set up inherent in any series, the action keeps the pace up and the page turning. The action is riveting but it is the consequences of previous novels and the emotional weight of those events that makes the novel so engaging. And while the book is dark, the humor of Eric keeps the story from being too dark. While fifth in the series, this book is as good as the previous ones and if you like Stephen Blackmoore’s style, this won’t disappoint. I do recommend a read through of the other novels, as it will help with understanding the events in this book.
My only slight disappointment, this ends on a bit of a cliffhanger ending and I really hate to wait to find out what happens next.
April 13, 2021
The story continues.
These books build on the ones before and should be read in order.
There is not an abundance of character development or world building (bit of world destroying maybe) in these individual books. It is more of a cumulative effect of all the books that gives the reader a fuller sense of the people and places. Eric Carter is a full tilt antihero who generally tries to do what is right, but does not mind stepping on toes or pissing off others, especially those he considers to be less than stellar citizens (politicians, the rich and famous, other mages, someone who cut him off in traffic, etc). He has made decisions that have brought death and destruction to those around him, mostly brought on by gods and people who want to use and/or control him. While some of this is due to his “screw it all” attitude, enough of it is done to him by others being bad that you are still able to feel somewhat sorry for him as a character, and actually like him despite his many flaws.
The story is dark and gritty and bloody, but surprisingly lite on foul language considering the atmosphere. It is there, but I have read much tamer stories with far (unnecessarily) worse language.
Eric Carter fits right in with Sandman Slim and Daniel Faust.
These books build on the ones before and should be read in order.
There is not an abundance of character development or world building (bit of world destroying maybe) in these individual books. It is more of a cumulative effect of all the books that gives the reader a fuller sense of the people and places. Eric Carter is a full tilt antihero who generally tries to do what is right, but does not mind stepping on toes or pissing off others, especially those he considers to be less than stellar citizens (politicians, the rich and famous, other mages, someone who cut him off in traffic, etc). He has made decisions that have brought death and destruction to those around him, mostly brought on by gods and people who want to use and/or control him. While some of this is due to his “screw it all” attitude, enough of it is done to him by others being bad that you are still able to feel somewhat sorry for him as a character, and actually like him despite his many flaws.
The story is dark and gritty and bloody, but surprisingly lite on foul language considering the atmosphere. It is there, but I have read much tamer stories with far (unnecessarily) worse language.
Eric Carter fits right in with Sandman Slim and Daniel Faust.
February 26, 2024
Installment five in the “Eric Carter Takes a Shitkicking” series picks up where the other novels in the series do, with Eric taking a shitkicking. A ghostly one, from the over possessed which makes total sense in the LA urban fantasy landscape of the series.
In Ghost Money Eric is attempting to stop a criminal organization from using stolen ghosts as blind assassins. Which is actually well explained using cultural folklore around the narrative itself.
This works surprisingly well although I will say Blackmoore continues to expand on his own lore by using a convenient magical artefact or heretofore unknown power to bail himself out of a corner. Hes clearly making it up sometimes as he goes along which comes across slightly lazy. I mean I get that magic is kinda the point in fantasy novels but suddenly having a portal ring is a bit too much outside help to be believable.
Ghost Money also furthers along a few background series narratives, including the all powerful genie trapped in a pocket universe as well as the accumulated damage that Eric has taken over the five books.
An excellent entry in the ongoing series. Sign yourself up for some ghost fights, some demon fights and some gun fights. Oh my…..
In Ghost Money Eric is attempting to stop a criminal organization from using stolen ghosts as blind assassins. Which is actually well explained using cultural folklore around the narrative itself.
This works surprisingly well although I will say Blackmoore continues to expand on his own lore by using a convenient magical artefact or heretofore unknown power to bail himself out of a corner. Hes clearly making it up sometimes as he goes along which comes across slightly lazy. I mean I get that magic is kinda the point in fantasy novels but suddenly having a portal ring is a bit too much outside help to be believable.
Ghost Money also furthers along a few background series narratives, including the all powerful genie trapped in a pocket universe as well as the accumulated damage that Eric has taken over the five books.
An excellent entry in the ongoing series. Sign yourself up for some ghost fights, some demon fights and some gun fights. Oh my…..
November 22, 2024
Още в миналата книга писах, че Блекмор изцежда излишно арката със Санта Муерте. Тук това правило също важи, само че успява леко да измести фокуса към Дариус.
Въпреки това вдигам звезда, защото авторът надига завесата към миналото на Ерик и виждаме, че е живял интересно и преди завръщането си в Ел Ей. Другото е, че тук Картър е изцеден психически (след събитията от предишната книга), а физически буквално се разпада и не му дават кой знае колко време. Което беше свеж полъх в иначе сякаш изпълненото със супергерои ърбън фентази. И последно, да, всичко гореизброено е вярно, ама не очаквах точно този брутален финал.
Ерик се бори с последствията от големия пожар в миналата книга. На съвестта му тежат хиляди смъртни случаи, а започват да се появяват и прекалено много духове, които като некромансър трябва да отпрати. За капак някой ги превръща в гладни духове гранати и съвсем не знае какво прави. В един момент се появява и човек от миналото на Картър в Китай. Нашият некромансър вече има проблеми не само с ацтекския пантеон и личния си живот, а и с Триадите.
Екшънът отново е на необходимото ниво. Хуморът също.
Да видим нататък.
Въпреки това вдигам звезда, защото авторът надига завесата към миналото на Ерик и виждаме, че е живял интересно и преди завръщането си в Ел Ей. Другото е, че тук Картър е изцеден психически (след събитията от предишната книга), а физически буквално се разпада и не му дават кой знае колко време. Което беше свеж полъх в иначе сякаш изпълненото със супергерои ърбън фентази. И последно, да, всичко гореизброено е вярно, ама не очаквах точно този брутален финал.
Ерик се бори с последствията от големия пожар в миналата книга. На съвестта му тежат хиляди смъртни случаи, а започват да се появяват и прекалено много духове, които като некромансър трябва да отпрати. За капак някой ги превръща в гладни духове гранати и съвсем не знае какво прави. В един момент се появява и човек от миналото на Картър в Китай. Нашият некромансър вече има проблеми не само с ацтекския пантеон и личния си живот, а и с Триадите.
Екшънът отново е на необходимото ниво. Хуморът също.
Да видим нататък.
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