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Lark Case Files #2
Devil City
Bad times for Lark.
Once, he used to work for the Library, the heaviest racket in a city filled with cults, magic and monstrosity.
But a job went wrong. About as wrong as it gets and now he's alone and hunted by the freaks and sorcerers he used to police. And his old allies have turned their backs. The only one still talking to him is Bettina, the undead muscle girl who kicks heads for him and she's in her grave.
Then a gig falls into Lark's lap. Some famous actress is getting stalked. By the Devil, she says. Easy money. 'There's no such thing as the devil'. That's what Lark thinks.
He's wrong.
Once, he used to work for the Library, the heaviest racket in a city filled with cults, magic and monstrosity.
But a job went wrong. About as wrong as it gets and now he's alone and hunted by the freaks and sorcerers he used to police. And his old allies have turned their backs. The only one still talking to him is Bettina, the undead muscle girl who kicks heads for him and she's in her grave.
Then a gig falls into Lark's lap. Some famous actress is getting stalked. By the Devil, she says. Easy money. 'There's no such thing as the devil'. That's what Lark thinks.
He's wrong.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 2, 2014
6 people want to read
About the author
Christian Read
37 books14 followersI'm Christian Read.
I've written a few novels, a few comics and a few video games.
I enjoy whisky.
I've written a few novels, a few comics and a few video games.
I enjoy whisky.
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 4, 2015
Brainycat's 5 "B"s:
blood: 3
boobs: 3
bombs: 0
bondage: 0
blasphemy: 4
Bechdel Test: FAIL
Deggan's Rule: FAIL
Gay Bechdel Test: FAIL
I finished this book a few weeks ago, and to be completely honest I'm having a hard time recalling any details of it. I remember the first book in the series, and I remember reading this book and thinking, "Where did the awesome go?" My recollection of this book is of some ridiculous plot twists and a Mary Sue revenant coming to save the day too often. Where the first book was gloriously dark and dystopic and our intrepid hero was properly cynical and jaded, this book just felt like it was full of whiny characters who were being shuffled from one plot twist to another. I just didn't like it nearly as much as the first.
I hope this is just the "second book slump", and the series continues to a third edition to wrap up the Big Boss Fight that's been lurking on the horizon. I'll definitely buy the next book in the series, but I'll be reading it with a healthy dose of trepidation rather than the unbridled optimism I had when I started this book.
blood: 3
boobs: 3
bombs: 0
bondage: 0
blasphemy: 4
Bechdel Test: FAIL
Deggan's Rule: FAIL
Gay Bechdel Test: FAIL
Please note: I don't review to provide synopses, I review to share a purely visceral reaction to books and perhaps answer some of the questions I ask when I'm contemplating investing time and money into a book.
I finished this book a few weeks ago, and to be completely honest I'm having a hard time recalling any details of it. I remember the first book in the series, and I remember reading this book and thinking, "Where did the awesome go?" My recollection of this book is of some ridiculous plot twists and a Mary Sue revenant coming to save the day too often. Where the first book was gloriously dark and dystopic and our intrepid hero was properly cynical and jaded, this book just felt like it was full of whiny characters who were being shuffled from one plot twist to another. I just didn't like it nearly as much as the first.
I hope this is just the "second book slump", and the series continues to a third edition to wrap up the Big Boss Fight that's been lurking on the horizon. I'll definitely buy the next book in the series, but I'll be reading it with a healthy dose of trepidation rather than the unbridled optimism I had when I started this book.
January 23, 2016
Through Lark, his magician-detective protagonist, Read states several times that this is not a Faust story. The devil turns up, sure (along with his wife and mother-in-law), but this is first and foremost a story about stories. Being a magician, Lark knows he's the protagonist of his own story: he just can't control it how he'd like. If he could, there'd be a lot less bruising, blood and betrayal, and probably less of the Gas Mask Macquillage. So the reader, at least, may be glad. Like Black City before it, this is a wonderfully agile and erudite romp through some very dark streets indeed.
Merged review:
Through Lark, his magician-detective protagonist, Read states several times that this is not a Faust Story. The devil turns up, sure, but this a story about stories. Being a magician, Lark knows he's the protagonist of his own story: he just can't control it how he'd like. If he could, there'd be a lot less bruising, blood and betrayal, and probably fewer human mole rats. So the reader, at least, may be glad.
Merged review:
Through Lark, his magician-detective protagonist, Read states several times that this is not a Faust Story. The devil turns up, sure, but this a story about stories. Being a magician, Lark knows he's the protagonist of his own story: he just can't control it how he'd like. If he could, there'd be a lot less bruising, blood and betrayal, and probably fewer human mole rats. So the reader, at least, may be glad.
July 17, 2014
A smart & researched urban fantasy that's fast-paced and character-driven at the same time. Go read these books, they're amazing (this is a sequel to Black City). Christian Read has a voice that complements the material and atmosphere perfectly. Magic based on symbolism, history and ritual, a Devil that's actually pretty scary, and this time around we also meet the creepiest octopods you'll ever encounter. Can't wait for the next one!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews