IT TAKES A KILLER TO CATCH A KILLERWhen magic spread from the nobility to the masses, crime rates skyrocketed in the Las Lilte Empire. Rogue Macabesta is a detective known for overwhelming magic-wielding perps with his physical strength. After all his hard work putting criminals behind bars, he’s more than ready for the quiet desk-job promotion he’s been promised. However, when he arrives at the top secret Sixth Precinct, he learns he’ll have to work alongside convicted witches to track down a mysterious figure called the Lifetaker, who’s using time magic to kill. The witches may be bound with collars that restrict their power, but the detective’s not sure if they’ll help him solve the case...or compete with the Lifetaker to see who gets rid of him first!
Rogue is a detective and in a world where practically everyone can use magic his job is deadly. Because of this constant to his mortality all he really wants is to get a nice cushy desk job in management and it finally looks like he may be getting it. One afternoon his boss calls him and lets him know that not only is he getting his desk job, he's going to the head of the 6th Precinct. Unfortunately, there's a catch. The 6th Precinct isn't just any police force; it is compromised of Witches, the deadliest beings on the planet, in exchange for assisting the police these women are given a little more freedom than they normally would. Rogue has zero decision in this assignment either, he either takes it and allows these serial killers to assist him in catching a serial killer or he gets sent off to some remote island for the rest of his career.
This was a lot of fun. Rogue is definitely prejudiced against the witches from the very beginning, which at first seems kind of out of line, I mean yes they are definitley violent but since we never really get to hear what their crimes actually are, it seems wrong of him to dislike them so much. However, by the time we get to the end of book, and when we finally hear what Catherine's crime is his fears and judgement of them see pretty justified. It's not even really the crime though, it's the why of the crime. Each witch seems to have something broken in them, a lack of empathy for their fellow humans that is just unhinged. Catherine's "quirk" I guess for a better term especially was really messed up, it's not that she killed people it's the why and how she did it. I don't want to explain too much because it would be a huge spoiler but needless to say she's extremely messed up in one very specific way.
There seems to be some political side to this as well, which I think will be interesting. There are two Noble Houses that appear to be at each other's throats and they are of course in charge of everything so it'll be interesting to see if this effects the story going forward as it does in this volume. Don't get me wrong serial killing witches tracking down criminals with the police is a fantastic story in it's own right but a little political intrigue never hurt anyone.
World building in this was really well done as well, since it's a series we don't get everything in this volume but enough to get us through at least this volume. The magic system is interesting as well. While it seems to be pretty standard (spells, incantations, the use of sigils, etc.) there seems to be certain spells that are secret and the only people allowed to use them are those of the two Noble Houses. People can also merge or meld with certain spells which I found to be some interesting. It was explained on a pretty surface level on this one and apparently the reason Witches are so powerful is because of this melding, I'm hoping it's explained in a little more detail in the next book.
My only small complaint here is the bad guys motivation. Like I understand what he was trying to do but how he would accomplish it by murdering a bunch of people. I mean this is really a very small complaint. Because bottom line not only was he deranged but he does allow for a glimpse into just how powerful the two Noble Houses are.
I will definitely be continuing this series it's just a fun little detective novel with some super interesting characters!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Battler from Umineko no Naku Koro ni, but instead of solving his family's mass murder, he is instead solving a serial killer who is a witch, from the help of witches
Feat. Kotomine Kirei
It was an okay read. I didn't feel attached to the characters at all. But it could make for a great anime given how action packed it was. Story was fun, but felt basic.
One of my favorite starts to a series I've read. So much happens in this book and I want to know immediately whats next for Detective Rogue and the witches, especially after that ending.