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Ethan Banning #1
Undertow
PI Ethan Banning is a desperate man.
He’s desperate to rid himself of the demon possessing him. He’s desperate to stop the nightmares and the evil urges it fills him with. He’s so desperate, he’s agreed to quit smoking and drinking in exchange for help. Professor Benedict Walters thinks he can exorcise Ethan with clean living and ancient history, but he won’t do it for free. Ethan’s got to track down Heather, a missing colleague of Walters in the quaint and creepy seaside town of Beacon’s Point. It should be simple...
But the locals are hostile and Heather may not want to be found. Even if Ethan can crack the case, he’s still got to deal with a trainee necromancer, his own fading self-control, and an ancient entity that terrifies Ethan’s own personal demon.
Crack the case? He may not even survive it.
He’s desperate to rid himself of the demon possessing him. He’s desperate to stop the nightmares and the evil urges it fills him with. He’s so desperate, he’s agreed to quit smoking and drinking in exchange for help. Professor Benedict Walters thinks he can exorcise Ethan with clean living and ancient history, but he won’t do it for free. Ethan’s got to track down Heather, a missing colleague of Walters in the quaint and creepy seaside town of Beacon’s Point. It should be simple...
But the locals are hostile and Heather may not want to be found. Even if Ethan can crack the case, he’s still got to deal with a trainee necromancer, his own fading self-control, and an ancient entity that terrifies Ethan’s own personal demon.
Crack the case? He may not even survive it.
- GenresUrban Fantasy
235 pages, Paperback
First published August 24, 2014
37 people want to read
About the author
Naomi Clark
54 books71 followersNaomi Clark lives in Cambridge and is a mild-mannered office worker by day, but a slightly crazed writer by night. She has a perfectly healthy obsession with giant sea creatures and a preference for vodka-based cocktails. When she's not writing, Naomi is probably either reading or watching 80s cartoon shows, and sometimes she manages to do all three at once.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 3, 2014
Nothing like a good anti-hero to brighten up one’s day! And in the army of anti-heroes I’ve met in my life, Ethan Banning is, without doubt, one of the very best. He is private detective who constantly struggles with what he calls the Voice and what is in fact a demon that possessed him during one of his cases.
The Voice isn’t taking it easy on Ethan. It constantly whispers into his ear, telling him to hurt people and even kill them. The two are in a constant battle and make no mistake, Ethan is not winning. There are times when his plight is so terrible, so utterly humiliating, that we get a sudden ad strong urge to step in and put him out of his misery. Just imagine and evil creature living inside of you, able to use you as its mouthpiece and speak impossibly vile things with your very own lips. Poor Ethan, is he not? There is just enough shame and regret in him to make our guts clench in sympathy, although Ethan sometimes makes even that extremely hard.
But even demon-possessed and miserable, Ethan must do his job to survive, and his strength lies in finding missing persons. When a case lands on his table, a sort of quid-pro-quo arrangement, Ethan sets out to find a missing college professor. The investigation takes Ethan to Beacon’s Point, a small town by the ocean with a very xenophobic population. Beacon’s Point makes an extremely claustrophobic setting, and even though Ethan finds a sidekick of sorts (not counting his dog Mutt, of course), all doors are closed to him and his investigation is extremely difficult.
There are two prequel novellas you can read before going into this book – one before Ethan was possessed and one after – but it’s not necessary to read them in order to enjoy this novel. Ethan will tell you all you need to know, and truth be told, you don’t really need to know much. And anyway, the Voice will tell you more than you ever wanted to hear.
Naomi Clark is an experienced author, and it shows. This is dark urban fantasy folks, dark and depressing, but certainly worth your time.
The Voice isn’t taking it easy on Ethan. It constantly whispers into his ear, telling him to hurt people and even kill them. The two are in a constant battle and make no mistake, Ethan is not winning. There are times when his plight is so terrible, so utterly humiliating, that we get a sudden ad strong urge to step in and put him out of his misery. Just imagine and evil creature living inside of you, able to use you as its mouthpiece and speak impossibly vile things with your very own lips. Poor Ethan, is he not? There is just enough shame and regret in him to make our guts clench in sympathy, although Ethan sometimes makes even that extremely hard.
But even demon-possessed and miserable, Ethan must do his job to survive, and his strength lies in finding missing persons. When a case lands on his table, a sort of quid-pro-quo arrangement, Ethan sets out to find a missing college professor. The investigation takes Ethan to Beacon’s Point, a small town by the ocean with a very xenophobic population. Beacon’s Point makes an extremely claustrophobic setting, and even though Ethan finds a sidekick of sorts (not counting his dog Mutt, of course), all doors are closed to him and his investigation is extremely difficult.
There are two prequel novellas you can read before going into this book – one before Ethan was possessed and one after – but it’s not necessary to read them in order to enjoy this novel. Ethan will tell you all you need to know, and truth be told, you don’t really need to know much. And anyway, the Voice will tell you more than you ever wanted to hear.
Naomi Clark is an experienced author, and it shows. This is dark urban fantasy folks, dark and depressing, but certainly worth your time.
August 26, 2014
4.5 of 5 Stars Review Copy
I am not a fan of jumping into a series of novels mid-stream. That being said, I was well into Undertow: An Ethan Banning Novel before realizing this was book three in an established series. But, by that time I was having so much fun, I couldn't put it down.
The previous books in the series are Ungrateful Dead and Demonized, just in case you want to start at the beginning. I will say this, it's not necessary to read those books first, as Naomi Clark does a nice job in getting the reader up to speed, it's just that every once in a while, I found myself wishing I had more on Ethan Banning's back story.
Undertow: An Ethan Banning Novel is told in a first person narrative with a super-snarky attitude and very colorful language. Ethan Banning is a Private Investigator and he's possessed by a demon who is constantly telling him what to do, sometimes out loud.
In this story, Banning and his dog, Mutt, take a job from a professor who may be able to help rid Ethan of his unwanted guest, but first he must find a missing person. The trail leads them to Beacon's Point and an apprentice necromancer who guards a portal to the other side and there are people in this town who are trying to bring over a sea demon to demon to do their bidding.
"Corey was young and shiny and full of idealism. It was kinda sweet. Me, I was...well, not young, rusted, and full of antipsychotics, so I figured my opinions on anything, never mind necromancy, didn't count for much."
It is a fine line that is walked when writing the fantastical and Naomi Clark walks it well, making the unbelievable believable. In Ethan Banning she has created a wonderful anti-hero who often does as much harm as good, but you can't help but cheer for the guy. At some point I'm going to have to go back and read the earlier books in the series and yes there are more adventures on the way.
Undertow: An Ethan Banning Novel is published by Ragnarok Publications and is available through Amazon.com.
Highly recommended.
I am not a fan of jumping into a series of novels mid-stream. That being said, I was well into Undertow: An Ethan Banning Novel before realizing this was book three in an established series. But, by that time I was having so much fun, I couldn't put it down.
The previous books in the series are Ungrateful Dead and Demonized, just in case you want to start at the beginning. I will say this, it's not necessary to read those books first, as Naomi Clark does a nice job in getting the reader up to speed, it's just that every once in a while, I found myself wishing I had more on Ethan Banning's back story.
Undertow: An Ethan Banning Novel is told in a first person narrative with a super-snarky attitude and very colorful language. Ethan Banning is a Private Investigator and he's possessed by a demon who is constantly telling him what to do, sometimes out loud.
In this story, Banning and his dog, Mutt, take a job from a professor who may be able to help rid Ethan of his unwanted guest, but first he must find a missing person. The trail leads them to Beacon's Point and an apprentice necromancer who guards a portal to the other side and there are people in this town who are trying to bring over a sea demon to demon to do their bidding.
"Corey was young and shiny and full of idealism. It was kinda sweet. Me, I was...well, not young, rusted, and full of antipsychotics, so I figured my opinions on anything, never mind necromancy, didn't count for much."
It is a fine line that is walked when writing the fantastical and Naomi Clark walks it well, making the unbelievable believable. In Ethan Banning she has created a wonderful anti-hero who often does as much harm as good, but you can't help but cheer for the guy. At some point I'm going to have to go back and read the earlier books in the series and yes there are more adventures on the way.
Undertow: An Ethan Banning Novel is published by Ragnarok Publications and is available through Amazon.com.
Highly recommended.
January 16, 2015
Take noir classic P.I. Sam Spade, mix in Lovecraft's The Shadow Over Innsmouth, and add a dash of The Exorcists, and you'll have an idea of what Undertow is like.
Here we meet Private Investigator Ethan Banning. Ethan is a down on his luck P.I., which means he's strapped for cash, drinks too much, and demonically possessed. The Voice, as Ethan calls it, is a nasty little demon that wants nothing more than to destroy him. Banning has tried and failed to rid himself of this horror and his newest case, to find a missing woman, promises to pay him with a successful exorcism.
The flow of the novel is very quick. Clark pulls no punches in bringing in the horror and Ethan Banning is a flawed and tortured hero (or anti-hero to but it more honestly). The Voice is delightfully ghoulish, and we get to follow Ethan's decent into madness as he struggles to suppress the monster inside him.
I was a bit worried that The Voice might be cute or serve as some comic relief, and was extremely happy to see that The Voice is exactly how a demon should be. Pure Damned Evil. If it says something funny (which does happen once or twice) it's seriously dark humor. Otherwise, The Voice is a pushing Ethan to kill, self mutilate, and flashes graphic horrors though Ethan's mind.
The story itself reads very smoothly. We meet a good, but small, cast of characters. The body count is high, and the end is a good surprise.
Here we meet Private Investigator Ethan Banning. Ethan is a down on his luck P.I., which means he's strapped for cash, drinks too much, and demonically possessed. The Voice, as Ethan calls it, is a nasty little demon that wants nothing more than to destroy him. Banning has tried and failed to rid himself of this horror and his newest case, to find a missing woman, promises to pay him with a successful exorcism.
The flow of the novel is very quick. Clark pulls no punches in bringing in the horror and Ethan Banning is a flawed and tortured hero (or anti-hero to but it more honestly). The Voice is delightfully ghoulish, and we get to follow Ethan's decent into madness as he struggles to suppress the monster inside him.
I was a bit worried that The Voice might be cute or serve as some comic relief, and was extremely happy to see that The Voice is exactly how a demon should be. Pure Damned Evil. If it says something funny (which does happen once or twice) it's seriously dark humor. Otherwise, The Voice is a pushing Ethan to kill, self mutilate, and flashes graphic horrors though Ethan's mind.
The story itself reads very smoothly. We meet a good, but small, cast of characters. The body count is high, and the end is a good surprise.
September 1, 2014
Originally published at Risingshadow.
Naomi Clark's Undertow was a nice surprise for me, because it turned out to be good entertainment. It's a surprisingly good and entertaining urban fantasy novel.
I've often mentioned to people that I'm difficult to please when it comes to urban fantasy. I confess that I tend to be very skeptical concerning the quality and style of modern urban fantasy novels. Fortunately every once in a while I've come across a few interesting and well written modern urban fantasy novels that have had quality and style in them. Undertow is one of these novels, because - in my opinion - it proudly stands head and shoulders above what has become the norm for modern urban fantasy novels. There's enough style, brutality, surprises and dark humour in it to please even a jaded and skeptical urban fantasy reader like me.
I've heard that Naomi Clark has previously written two stories about Ethan Banning. These stories are called Ungrateful Dead and Demonized. I haven't read them, so I can't say anything about them, but I'm tempted to take a look at them, because I liked this novel. It's good that you don't necessarily have to read them in order to understand what's happening in this novel, because this novel can be read as a standalone novel.
Here's information about the story:
Ethan Banning (a demon-possessed private investigator) accepts a job from Professor Benedict Walters. The professor may be able to assist Ethan in getting rid of the demon. Unfortunately Ethan has to find a missing person - a colleague of the professor, Heather Brooke-Blair - first before the professor will do anything. Ethan will also have to give up drinking and smoking, because the professor believes that it will be good for him and will help him to get rid of the demon. Ethan's assignment takes him and his dog to Beacon's Point where strange things happen. Ethan thinks that the assignment will be easy, but he soon finds out that things aren't as simple as he thought they'd be...
Here's a bit more information about Ethan Banning:
Ethan is a delightfully bad-ass private investigator who's possessed by a demon. The Voice constantly tells Ethan what to do. He's tired of hearing the Voice and he wants to get rid of it, but the demon is strong and getting rid of it isn't easy. Ethan uses drinks, porn and sleeping pills to keep bursts of anger and violence locked inside him. Although Ethan is a bad-ass private investigator, he also has a tender side, because he loves his dog, Mutt, very much.
The demon's opinions and suggestions are morbid and wickedly funny, because it tries to get Ethan to do things that he doesn't want to do. It was enjoyable to read about how Ethan fought against the Voice and tried to stop it from overpowering his self-control. Ethan uses medication (antipsychotics) to control the urges to hurt other people (if Ethan doesn't control himself, he's able to hurt and even kill other people).
I have to mention that it was a pleasure to read about the demon's thoughts when Ethan arrived in Beacon's Point. The demon's thoughts about the place were darkly funny. I won't say what kind of thoughts the demon has, but I'm sure that all readers who love dark and black humour will enjoy reading about them.
Corey Decker, a young necromancer, is an interesting character who dresses as a Goth. I enjoyed reading about his conversations with Ethan, because they were very entertaining, because they talked about all kinds of things, including supernatural entities.
The author uses first person narrative mode in this novel. This narrative mode works perfectly, because Ethan is a flawed person and has quite an attitude. His opinions and thoughts about things are fantastically sarcastic, funny and even offensive (he easily insults people).
As you may have already guessed, this novel contains quite a lot of dark and sarcastic humour. I think it's great that the author has had courage to add this kind of humour to the novel. I've always loved dark and sarcastic humour, so it was very entertaining for me to read this novel.
Most of the happenings take place in Beacon's Point, which is an interesting place, because the houses and stores look weathered and shabby. Although the place is quaint, it seems to have an atmosphere of decay and depression. What makes Beacon's Point an especially interesting place is that it's a portal to the Pale World that allows spirits etc to enter this world.
There are interesting references to Lovecraftian names and elements in this novel, and there are even references to Väinämöinen and Iku-Turso from The Kalevala in this novel. As a Finn I found it interesting that the author used names from The Kalevala. (There are probably readers out there who are unfamiliar with The Kalevala, so it's good to mention that The Kalevala is a 19th-century work of epic poetry compiled by Elias Lönnrot from Karelian and Finnish oral folklore and mythology.)
Because I enjoyed reading this novel, I look forward to reading the sequel, Descent. It'll be fun to read what happens next to Ethan.
Naomi Clark's Undertow is good escapism for everybody who enjoyes reading urban fantasy novels. It's a novel that it is very difficult to put down once you've started reading it, because the story moves fast forward and the protagonist is flawed in an interesting way. It's an entertaining urban fantasy novel.
My final words are: Naomi Clark's Undertow is surprisingly entertaining and gripping urban fantasy!
Naomi Clark's Undertow was a nice surprise for me, because it turned out to be good entertainment. It's a surprisingly good and entertaining urban fantasy novel.
I've often mentioned to people that I'm difficult to please when it comes to urban fantasy. I confess that I tend to be very skeptical concerning the quality and style of modern urban fantasy novels. Fortunately every once in a while I've come across a few interesting and well written modern urban fantasy novels that have had quality and style in them. Undertow is one of these novels, because - in my opinion - it proudly stands head and shoulders above what has become the norm for modern urban fantasy novels. There's enough style, brutality, surprises and dark humour in it to please even a jaded and skeptical urban fantasy reader like me.
I've heard that Naomi Clark has previously written two stories about Ethan Banning. These stories are called Ungrateful Dead and Demonized. I haven't read them, so I can't say anything about them, but I'm tempted to take a look at them, because I liked this novel. It's good that you don't necessarily have to read them in order to understand what's happening in this novel, because this novel can be read as a standalone novel.
Here's information about the story:
Ethan Banning (a demon-possessed private investigator) accepts a job from Professor Benedict Walters. The professor may be able to assist Ethan in getting rid of the demon. Unfortunately Ethan has to find a missing person - a colleague of the professor, Heather Brooke-Blair - first before the professor will do anything. Ethan will also have to give up drinking and smoking, because the professor believes that it will be good for him and will help him to get rid of the demon. Ethan's assignment takes him and his dog to Beacon's Point where strange things happen. Ethan thinks that the assignment will be easy, but he soon finds out that things aren't as simple as he thought they'd be...
Here's a bit more information about Ethan Banning:
Ethan is a delightfully bad-ass private investigator who's possessed by a demon. The Voice constantly tells Ethan what to do. He's tired of hearing the Voice and he wants to get rid of it, but the demon is strong and getting rid of it isn't easy. Ethan uses drinks, porn and sleeping pills to keep bursts of anger and violence locked inside him. Although Ethan is a bad-ass private investigator, he also has a tender side, because he loves his dog, Mutt, very much.
The demon's opinions and suggestions are morbid and wickedly funny, because it tries to get Ethan to do things that he doesn't want to do. It was enjoyable to read about how Ethan fought against the Voice and tried to stop it from overpowering his self-control. Ethan uses medication (antipsychotics) to control the urges to hurt other people (if Ethan doesn't control himself, he's able to hurt and even kill other people).
I have to mention that it was a pleasure to read about the demon's thoughts when Ethan arrived in Beacon's Point. The demon's thoughts about the place were darkly funny. I won't say what kind of thoughts the demon has, but I'm sure that all readers who love dark and black humour will enjoy reading about them.
Corey Decker, a young necromancer, is an interesting character who dresses as a Goth. I enjoyed reading about his conversations with Ethan, because they were very entertaining, because they talked about all kinds of things, including supernatural entities.
The author uses first person narrative mode in this novel. This narrative mode works perfectly, because Ethan is a flawed person and has quite an attitude. His opinions and thoughts about things are fantastically sarcastic, funny and even offensive (he easily insults people).
As you may have already guessed, this novel contains quite a lot of dark and sarcastic humour. I think it's great that the author has had courage to add this kind of humour to the novel. I've always loved dark and sarcastic humour, so it was very entertaining for me to read this novel.
Most of the happenings take place in Beacon's Point, which is an interesting place, because the houses and stores look weathered and shabby. Although the place is quaint, it seems to have an atmosphere of decay and depression. What makes Beacon's Point an especially interesting place is that it's a portal to the Pale World that allows spirits etc to enter this world.
There are interesting references to Lovecraftian names and elements in this novel, and there are even references to Väinämöinen and Iku-Turso from The Kalevala in this novel. As a Finn I found it interesting that the author used names from The Kalevala. (There are probably readers out there who are unfamiliar with The Kalevala, so it's good to mention that The Kalevala is a 19th-century work of epic poetry compiled by Elias Lönnrot from Karelian and Finnish oral folklore and mythology.)
Because I enjoyed reading this novel, I look forward to reading the sequel, Descent. It'll be fun to read what happens next to Ethan.
Naomi Clark's Undertow is good escapism for everybody who enjoyes reading urban fantasy novels. It's a novel that it is very difficult to put down once you've started reading it, because the story moves fast forward and the protagonist is flawed in an interesting way. It's an entertaining urban fantasy novel.
My final words are: Naomi Clark's Undertow is surprisingly entertaining and gripping urban fantasy!
September 7, 2014
Undertow is the first novel in Naomi Clark’s Ethan Banning series, published by Ragnarok Publication. It’s a fast-paced and stylish mix of Urban Fantasy and Lovecraftian horror, with a hint of Supernatural (the show) in it. The setting is well-realised and authentic, and the characters are charming enough to win you over and keep you turning the pages. The novel’s most memorable feature? Mutt the Dog – hands down!
Undertow follows Private Investigator Ethan Banning as he struggles to find a way to rid himself of the demon possessing him. He has already tried everything from an old-fashioned exorcism through voodoo to witchcraft and nothing has helped. He’s desperate to stop the nightmares and the evil urges that fill him.
Professor Benedict Walters thinks he can exorcise Ethan with clean living and ancient history, but he won’t do it for free. Ethan’s got to track down Heather, a missing colleague of Walters in the quaint and creepy seaside town of Beacon’s Point. It should be simple...but Heather may not want to be found.
Even if Ethan can crack the case, he’s still got to deal with a trainee necromancer, his own fading self-control, and an ancient entity that terrifies Ethan’s own demonic denizen…
To be perfectly honest, Undertow left me feeling a little conflicted. There’s a lot to enjoy in the novel – the writing, the mythology, the character interactions, all is top-notch. The main protagonist, Ethan, is a likeable character with a distinctive voice, and the relationship he shares with his dog, Mutt, is sure to make you feel all fuzzy inside, even if you’re a die-hard cats’ lover.
Then there’s the Voice – the name Ethan uses for the demon possessing him. Naomi Clark has done a great job of making the demon both menacing and somewhat comical, with his constant taunts, insults and violent urges, all of which made me laugh on more than one occasion. (Okay, maybe I have a sadistic sense of humour, who knows?) Point is, the Voice has some of the best one-liners in the novel! In fact, at times I found myself wishing I could read a verbal sparring match between the Voice and True Blood’s Pam… Just for the giggles
Another highlight for me was the necromancer Gabriel Gravebane (not his real name, so don’t roll your eyes!) who pretty much plays Watson to Ethan’s unconventional Sherlock. The two develop a fast friendship and share a number of exciting adventures that will surely appeal to fans of Supernatural. A lot of the banter is classic Sam and Dean… Which surely is a good thing?
Characters aside, Naomi Clark has an excellent sense of humour. On more than one occasion while reading the novel, I found myself thinking, “Well, this sounds like H. P. Lovecraft” or “And here comes Cthulhu!” (My inner dialogue is lame like that, deal with it). Funnily enough, Ethan seems to think the same thing and even points it out, which I thought was brilliant. Call it a little ‘geek-out’ moment…
Two other things about Undertow I liked: the genuine description of Ethan’s struggle with his nicotine and alcohol addiction, and with trying to stay clean of both, and the fact that unlike most Urban Fantasy heroes he actually has a reason to say the dumb things he says. Let me explain: from time to time, the Voice would take over Ethan’s vocal cords and insult people, who he really shouldn't be messing with. Yes, just like Harry Dresden, and Anita Blake, and… Well, pretty much all the snarky, smartass protagonists in Urban Fantasy. Maybe it’s just me, but that’s always bothered me. Why would you deliberately provoke people into punching you? What happened with good old-fashioned self-preservation? The way I see it, Naomi Clark has found an excellent explanation: the demon did it!
Unfortunately, not everything about Undertow is perfect. For starters, the villain (or villains) is rather predictable and easy-to-guess, and some of the supporting characters could have used more ‘screen time’, so to speak. Also, I felt that the ending was somewhat rushed and came off as a bit of a letdown, after all the build-up throughout the novel.
To be perfectly honest, I have a couple of other issues with the last third of Undertow, but can’t really talk about them without giving away important plot points… Besides, since this is the first novel in a series, I'm willing to give Naomi Clark the benefit of the doubt and wait to see if some of my lingering questions won’t be answered in the second instalment.
Bottom line is, I enjoyed reading Undertow and will definitely be checking out the next Ethan Banning novel, Descent. Naomi Clark is a talented writer and her world-building is vivid and complex, hinting at much bigger and scarier things to come. Both Ethan and Mutt are wonderful and exciting characters, and the Voice is sure to stay with you long after the final pages… Just make sure you don’t pay too much attention to whatever it is he’s whispering. It won’t end well…
Undertow by Naomi Clark is another great novel by Ragnarok Publications and a worthy edition to their ever-growing catalogue. To learn more, check out the publisher’s website and make sure to follow Naomi Clark on twitter.
Undertow follows Private Investigator Ethan Banning as he struggles to find a way to rid himself of the demon possessing him. He has already tried everything from an old-fashioned exorcism through voodoo to witchcraft and nothing has helped. He’s desperate to stop the nightmares and the evil urges that fill him.
Professor Benedict Walters thinks he can exorcise Ethan with clean living and ancient history, but he won’t do it for free. Ethan’s got to track down Heather, a missing colleague of Walters in the quaint and creepy seaside town of Beacon’s Point. It should be simple...but Heather may not want to be found.
Even if Ethan can crack the case, he’s still got to deal with a trainee necromancer, his own fading self-control, and an ancient entity that terrifies Ethan’s own demonic denizen…
To be perfectly honest, Undertow left me feeling a little conflicted. There’s a lot to enjoy in the novel – the writing, the mythology, the character interactions, all is top-notch. The main protagonist, Ethan, is a likeable character with a distinctive voice, and the relationship he shares with his dog, Mutt, is sure to make you feel all fuzzy inside, even if you’re a die-hard cats’ lover.
Then there’s the Voice – the name Ethan uses for the demon possessing him. Naomi Clark has done a great job of making the demon both menacing and somewhat comical, with his constant taunts, insults and violent urges, all of which made me laugh on more than one occasion. (Okay, maybe I have a sadistic sense of humour, who knows?) Point is, the Voice has some of the best one-liners in the novel! In fact, at times I found myself wishing I could read a verbal sparring match between the Voice and True Blood’s Pam… Just for the giggles
Another highlight for me was the necromancer Gabriel Gravebane (not his real name, so don’t roll your eyes!) who pretty much plays Watson to Ethan’s unconventional Sherlock. The two develop a fast friendship and share a number of exciting adventures that will surely appeal to fans of Supernatural. A lot of the banter is classic Sam and Dean… Which surely is a good thing?
Characters aside, Naomi Clark has an excellent sense of humour. On more than one occasion while reading the novel, I found myself thinking, “Well, this sounds like H. P. Lovecraft” or “And here comes Cthulhu!” (My inner dialogue is lame like that, deal with it). Funnily enough, Ethan seems to think the same thing and even points it out, which I thought was brilliant. Call it a little ‘geek-out’ moment…
Two other things about Undertow I liked: the genuine description of Ethan’s struggle with his nicotine and alcohol addiction, and with trying to stay clean of both, and the fact that unlike most Urban Fantasy heroes he actually has a reason to say the dumb things he says. Let me explain: from time to time, the Voice would take over Ethan’s vocal cords and insult people, who he really shouldn't be messing with. Yes, just like Harry Dresden, and Anita Blake, and… Well, pretty much all the snarky, smartass protagonists in Urban Fantasy. Maybe it’s just me, but that’s always bothered me. Why would you deliberately provoke people into punching you? What happened with good old-fashioned self-preservation? The way I see it, Naomi Clark has found an excellent explanation: the demon did it!
Unfortunately, not everything about Undertow is perfect. For starters, the villain (or villains) is rather predictable and easy-to-guess, and some of the supporting characters could have used more ‘screen time’, so to speak. Also, I felt that the ending was somewhat rushed and came off as a bit of a letdown, after all the build-up throughout the novel.
To be perfectly honest, I have a couple of other issues with the last third of Undertow, but can’t really talk about them without giving away important plot points… Besides, since this is the first novel in a series, I'm willing to give Naomi Clark the benefit of the doubt and wait to see if some of my lingering questions won’t be answered in the second instalment.
Bottom line is, I enjoyed reading Undertow and will definitely be checking out the next Ethan Banning novel, Descent. Naomi Clark is a talented writer and her world-building is vivid and complex, hinting at much bigger and scarier things to come. Both Ethan and Mutt are wonderful and exciting characters, and the Voice is sure to stay with you long after the final pages… Just make sure you don’t pay too much attention to whatever it is he’s whispering. It won’t end well…
Undertow by Naomi Clark is another great novel by Ragnarok Publications and a worthy edition to their ever-growing catalogue. To learn more, check out the publisher’s website and make sure to follow Naomi Clark on twitter.
January 18, 2016
I didn't know what to expect from Undertow when I picked it up. I'd heard it was a well-regarded urban fantasy novel but knew nothing about the premise, characters, or setting. Much to my surprise, it turned out to be one of the better ones I've read this year. It's easily up there with Damoren and some of the mid-level Dresden Files books. I think this is a series I'll follow and review as I do so.
The premise is Ethan Banning is a private investigator who, through some fault of his own, has gotten himself possessed by a demon. This is not a suave or charming tempter but a disgusting beast which constantly encourages Ethan to torture and murder. Ethan, being a working class stiff, usually manages to tune him out the same way I do the offensive background noise of my life.
Which ticks the demon off something fierce.
Despite the fact he's a got a handle on keeping it from killing people randomly, Ethan still wants it out of his head. To that end, he seeks out a university professor who is an expert on the occult. The professor wants Ethan to do him a favor first, however, and that ticks the whole ball rolling for our plot. A plot which will involve ancient sea gods, lovable teenage necromancers, and virgin sacrifice.
Ethan is a likable enough lead as we see how his condition is a curse rather than a blessing in disguise. He suffers diarrhea of the mouth and must keep a constant check on his emotions lest he Hulk-out with uncontrollable rage. The demon is one-dimensional but, occasionally, shows signs of having been something more once. I like that hint as it offers a chance for the creature to grow.
Undertow has strong H.P. Lovecraft influences which get lampshaded later in the story. There's a small New England town with a dark secret, an ancient slumbering sea god, and a cult out to bring him back to the world of the living. It isn't directly set in the Cthulhu Mythos, primarily due to the Christian influences of Ethan's possession, but incorporates something similar with ease. I hope we'll see more use of these ancient evils as the fact they terrify Ethan's demon is excellent build-up.
The supporting cast is excellent with a collection of oddballs and weirdos who are all entertaining to read about. I liked everyone and wanted to see more books about their interaction with Ethan. I was especially fond of his pseudo-Goth sidekick and hoped they'd become permanent partners at the end. Ethan, himself, is a cheerfully unlikable lead with a lot of hangups which get him in trouble with the locals (even without a demon egging him on).
If I have one complaint about Undertow, it's the ending. The book is funny, entertaining, and light-hearted before suddenly swerving into territory similar to Hellblazer. The ending body-count is huge and removes a lot of characters from play I'd grown attached to. Some may find this to be a good thing but I found it to be jarring.
Pick this up if you like the Dresden Files or Mercedes Thompson.
9/10
The premise is Ethan Banning is a private investigator who, through some fault of his own, has gotten himself possessed by a demon. This is not a suave or charming tempter but a disgusting beast which constantly encourages Ethan to torture and murder. Ethan, being a working class stiff, usually manages to tune him out the same way I do the offensive background noise of my life.
Which ticks the demon off something fierce.
Despite the fact he's a got a handle on keeping it from killing people randomly, Ethan still wants it out of his head. To that end, he seeks out a university professor who is an expert on the occult. The professor wants Ethan to do him a favor first, however, and that ticks the whole ball rolling for our plot. A plot which will involve ancient sea gods, lovable teenage necromancers, and virgin sacrifice.
Ethan is a likable enough lead as we see how his condition is a curse rather than a blessing in disguise. He suffers diarrhea of the mouth and must keep a constant check on his emotions lest he Hulk-out with uncontrollable rage. The demon is one-dimensional but, occasionally, shows signs of having been something more once. I like that hint as it offers a chance for the creature to grow.
Undertow has strong H.P. Lovecraft influences which get lampshaded later in the story. There's a small New England town with a dark secret, an ancient slumbering sea god, and a cult out to bring him back to the world of the living. It isn't directly set in the Cthulhu Mythos, primarily due to the Christian influences of Ethan's possession, but incorporates something similar with ease. I hope we'll see more use of these ancient evils as the fact they terrify Ethan's demon is excellent build-up.
The supporting cast is excellent with a collection of oddballs and weirdos who are all entertaining to read about. I liked everyone and wanted to see more books about their interaction with Ethan. I was especially fond of his pseudo-Goth sidekick and hoped they'd become permanent partners at the end. Ethan, himself, is a cheerfully unlikable lead with a lot of hangups which get him in trouble with the locals (even without a demon egging him on).
If I have one complaint about Undertow, it's the ending. The book is funny, entertaining, and light-hearted before suddenly swerving into territory similar to Hellblazer. The ending body-count is huge and removes a lot of characters from play I'd grown attached to. Some may find this to be a good thing but I found it to be jarring.
Pick this up if you like the Dresden Files or Mercedes Thompson.
9/10
January 11, 2016
This is fun story while also being incredibly dark. Ethan Banning is a PI trying to do the right thing. I say trying because his copilot reading around with him is a nasty demon straight outta the bad place telling him to do all sorts of bad things. He wants to be rid of the monster inside of him, but exorcism has failed. To keep this thing at bay, he self harms, abuses smoking and alcohol and watches porn that goes beyond what is fun.
So when one of his only friends suggest that a professor might be able to help him in exchange for a job to find a missing colleague, he takes the job. He needs the money and if he can stop this demon, it'll be worth it all.
Reading this book felt like something Lovecraft would have tackled in the modern day. The story has a sleepy town that is run down, but everyone seems to be doing fine. They don't take kindly to strangers and Ethan isn't exactly the most pleasant of people. But there is more going on here than a simple disappearance. Here lies something sinister, evil and perhaps even SUPERNATURAL!
It was hard to put this book down, I finished it in a few hours. I grabbed it after reading about it on the publisher's website and it seemed pretty cool. It definitely is cool, but I was not prepared for how dark this is. The demon riding in Ethan's head is not a funny guy. He is evil and he gives visions of disgusting, deplorable acts and Ethan is traumatized by it all. It would have been easy to make this into more a buddy comedy with some turns to horror, but the author made this into a dark thrill ride, akin to watching someone suffer from intense mental illness.
There is some graphic violence and no one is here to hold your hand. The only bright side to this book is Than's only companion, his dog who knows his master is a good boy and only wants to play with Ethan. What the devil inside of Ethan makes him see when he looks at his pooch is downright horrifying and made me turn my head for a few moments to regain myself.
One thing I will note is that this is not Ethan's first adventure. The author introduces him in an entirely different book, one I have not read and has had some short stories from earlier in his career available. This is Ethan's big one though. The author does a good job of showing us somethings from the past, but doesn't infodump everything on our plate.
So when one of his only friends suggest that a professor might be able to help him in exchange for a job to find a missing colleague, he takes the job. He needs the money and if he can stop this demon, it'll be worth it all.
Reading this book felt like something Lovecraft would have tackled in the modern day. The story has a sleepy town that is run down, but everyone seems to be doing fine. They don't take kindly to strangers and Ethan isn't exactly the most pleasant of people. But there is more going on here than a simple disappearance. Here lies something sinister, evil and perhaps even SUPERNATURAL!
It was hard to put this book down, I finished it in a few hours. I grabbed it after reading about it on the publisher's website and it seemed pretty cool. It definitely is cool, but I was not prepared for how dark this is. The demon riding in Ethan's head is not a funny guy. He is evil and he gives visions of disgusting, deplorable acts and Ethan is traumatized by it all. It would have been easy to make this into more a buddy comedy with some turns to horror, but the author made this into a dark thrill ride, akin to watching someone suffer from intense mental illness.
There is some graphic violence and no one is here to hold your hand. The only bright side to this book is Than's only companion, his dog who knows his master is a good boy and only wants to play with Ethan. What the devil inside of Ethan makes him see when he looks at his pooch is downright horrifying and made me turn my head for a few moments to regain myself.
One thing I will note is that this is not Ethan's first adventure. The author introduces him in an entirely different book, one I have not read and has had some short stories from earlier in his career available. This is Ethan's big one though. The author does a good job of showing us somethings from the past, but doesn't infodump everything on our plate.
September 21, 2014
A natural follow up to the Sandman Slim series of books by Richard Kadrey for readers who aren't sure what to read after that, "Undertow" by Naomi Clark is urban fantasy that's heavy on the world-building, the monsters, and the characterization and less on the romance (which, to my delight, was pretty much non-existent, especially considering the kind of whackjob Ethan Banning is).
Ethan Banning is an honest, self-deprecating, self-loathing main character who is upfront about his shortcomings and his struggle with the cacodemon stuck inside his head that interferes in his every waking moment (and in his dreams). He's also hilarious, like an edgier version of John Taylor from the Nightside series by Simon R. Green, so fans of that will like Banning.
The plot and pacing were great, and although the book is heavy on the dark humour, the story is compelling and will keep readers turning the pages to unravel the mystery of what the heck is going on with this unusual missing persons case.
Ethan's troubles with the Voice/demon could function as a metaphor for people who struggle with thoughts of suicide as well as extreme self-doubt taken to dangerous proportions, something I think everyone struggles with but especially creative types.
Although I'm a reader who prefers neat resolutions and for loose ends to be tied up, the author leaves the reader hanging on a few details that leave the potential open for more unresolved conflict to come through in a future volume of the series.
Overall, a highly recommended urban fantasy read that die-hard fans of the genre must add to their bookshelves.
Ethan Banning is an honest, self-deprecating, self-loathing main character who is upfront about his shortcomings and his struggle with the cacodemon stuck inside his head that interferes in his every waking moment (and in his dreams). He's also hilarious, like an edgier version of John Taylor from the Nightside series by Simon R. Green, so fans of that will like Banning.
The plot and pacing were great, and although the book is heavy on the dark humour, the story is compelling and will keep readers turning the pages to unravel the mystery of what the heck is going on with this unusual missing persons case.
Ethan's troubles with the Voice/demon could function as a metaphor for people who struggle with thoughts of suicide as well as extreme self-doubt taken to dangerous proportions, something I think everyone struggles with but especially creative types.
Although I'm a reader who prefers neat resolutions and for loose ends to be tied up, the author leaves the reader hanging on a few details that leave the potential open for more unresolved conflict to come through in a future volume of the series.
Overall, a highly recommended urban fantasy read that die-hard fans of the genre must add to their bookshelves.
September 9, 2014
I will occasionally venture into Urban fantasy for an easier read, straightforward plot, and a nice change from epic fantasy. Undertow did not disappoint. About halfway through I found out that there are previous Ethan Banning related novels but Undertow is so self sufficient that it made no difference by not reading them. Undertow is Book 1 in the new Banning series and it weaves the story well. It follows a PI on a case to find a missing person in some eerie town near the ocean. What makes things interesting is that Ethan is possessed by a demon. One that tries to make him do the most incomprehensible things you could imagine. Without giving away spoilers suffice it to say that Naomi Clark delivers a fine UF that makes the reader yearn for more Banning. It, of course leaves the plot wide open at the end to make one anxious to venture back into Ethans distorted mind. Naomi expertly details the environment without making it slow down the plot. You could almost taste the sea or feel the ocean breeze. Only downfall would be that the pacing seemed a bit odd and might benefit from a quicker pace. Other than that, it was a fun, easy read, and I look forward to following Banning around as he attempts to solve the case.
January 5, 2015
This is my absolute favorite book by Naomi Clark. Ethan Banning is one of my favorite (anti-)heroes of all time and Mutt is the best fictional dog on the planet. This novel has everything you could ask for--demonic possession, dark humor, monsters and bloodshed. I've been a fan of Naomi's works for a long time and she seamlessly weaves a fascinating tale of a private investigator (literally) tortured by his demons, trying to stay above water while fate keeps dragging him down. The one-liners are golden and the coastal setting gives the novel a Lovecraftian vibe. Also, the optimistic necromancer, Corey Decker, was a nice contrast to Ethan's jaded personality. Undertow was an entertaining read all around and I highly recommend it if you're into dark urban fantasy with a hint of horror, mystery, and humor.
Definitely looking forward to the next novel in the series, Descent!
Definitely looking forward to the next novel in the series, Descent!
November 28, 2014
Undertow is remarkably well-written with a unique voice and an engaging plot.
I didn't realize that this was part of a series at first. The book stands very well on its own, and it was such a complete and well-written story that I will go back and read the previous books as well.
Some bonuses are that it deals with self-destruction very well, and there's even an asexual character that is a well-rounded person and a well-developed character. I've never seen that. Good job, author.
I didn't realize that this was part of a series at first. The book stands very well on its own, and it was such a complete and well-written story that I will go back and read the previous books as well.
Some bonuses are that it deals with self-destruction very well, and there's even an asexual character that is a well-rounded person and a well-developed character. I've never seen that. Good job, author.
September 3, 2014
This book is fantastic! I was a little adrift in the beginning, but that's my own fault -- I just have to buy all the Ethan books.
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