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Black City Saint #1
Black City Saint
For more than sixteen hundred years, Nick Medea has followed and guarded the Gate that keeps the mortal realm and that of Feirie separate, seeking in vain absolution for the fatal errors he made when he slew the dragon. All that while, he has tried and failed to keep the woman he loves from dying over and over. Yet in the fifty years since the Night the Dragon Breathed over the city of Chicago, the Gate has not only remained fixed, but open to the trespasses of the Wyld, the darkest of the Feiriefolk. Not only does that mean an evil resurrected from Nick’s own past, but the reincarnation of his lost Cleolinda, a reincarnation destined once more to die. Nick must turn inward to that which he distrusts the the Dragon, the beast he slew when he was still only Saint George. He must turn to the monster residing in him, now a part of him...but ever seeking escape. The gang war brewing between Prohibition bootleggers may be the least of his concerns. If Nick cannot prevent an old evil from opening the way between realms...then not only might Chicago face a fate worse than the Great Fire, but so will the rest of the mortal realm. From the Trade Paperback edition.
380 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2016
79 people are currently reading
1748 people want to read
About the author
Richard A. Knaak
282 books1,477 followersRichard A. Knaak is the bestselling author of Dragonlance novels, the Dragonrealm and Black City Saint series (his own creations), six novels for Blizzard Entertainment's Diablo series, and six works in the Warcraft universe. He has also written several non-series fantasy books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews
March 27, 2016
Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths
Roaring Twenties Chicago. Prohibition gangsters like Al Capone rule the streets. Dirty politicians walk the halls of power. Flappers fill the dance halls. Model- Ts roar along city avenues. Radios blare out Jazz music. Tommie guns bark out street justice. And the gate between the mortal realm and Feirie lies hidden by it all, guarded by its sixteen hundred year old guardian.
This gatekeeper named Nick Medea is a strange, complicated man. On one hand, he lives a simple, solitary life as an exorcist of sorts. Only those with real problems with Feirie creatures able to contact him; his fee to rid these individuals of their specters zero. But his real job is far more serious, more important, more dangerous than hunting ghosts, as he stands alone between the world of Feirie and mankind; his eternal duty to keep the gate closed, because if the magical gateway ever opens it will destroy the modern world, crashing civilization back to the Dark Ages.
But Nick isn’t completely alone. There are a group of near constant companions who aid him along the way.
Most of these are outcast Feiries, trapped on the mortal plane. Fetch is the one who spends the most time with the eternal guardian. This lycanthrope posing as the gatekeeper’s faithful dog, albeit one who talks whenever he has the occasion (in a mixture of archaic Feirie and Twenties slang no less) and is more powerful than anyone would ever guess. Krayavik is the other; a humanoid Feirie who has converted to Christianity, spending his life posing as a priest in a catholic church, where his real duties remain a mystery for quite some time.
Nick Medea also has a ghostly haunt who appears to him whenever he enters upon holy ground. This specter is none other than the Roman Emperor Diocletian, who has been cursed to spend an eternity atoning for some sin or another, something related to Nick Medea’s execution sixteen centuries prior. And while he continually offers advice to and questions our gatekeeper’s actions, his relationship with Nick is strained at best.
The strangest and most powerful of Nick Medea’s cohorts, however, is the spirit of an ancient dragon. Centuries ago, Nick killed this creature, but in the process his and the dragon’s spirits became fused together. Their union a disagreeable one at best; the dragon granting Nick access to many amazing abilities while ever seeking to take control of their shared body and unleash destruction upon the world.
As Black City Saint opens, Nick and Fetch are attending to an ordinary exorcism. An older lady finding that ghosts are haunting her attic, causing her cats to disappear. These spirits turn out to be far worse that the lady, or even Nick Medea, initially suspected, being creatures of Feirie, and to vanquish them, Nick is forced to rely heavily on the dragon’s powers as well as the aid of Fetch.
Quickly, though, matters take a turn for the worst. A new client contacting Nick. This terrified young lady seeking help with her supernatural problem. Nothing out of the ordinary there, but when Nick meets this lady, our gatekeeper is shocked to find she is the reincarnation of his ancient beloved Cleolinda, who is destined (or cursed) to continually be reborn, enter his life, and die again . . . over and over again.
If this wasn’t enough to unnerve even an eternal guardian, Nick discovers that his reborn love is an unknowing pawn of a “Wyld” of Feirie: the darkest of the Feirie folk and the most feared adversaries. This particular one the most powerful and deadliest of them all; someone who should be dead, burned in the dragon’s flames fifty years prior when he almost succeeded in opening the gate. How he survived and how he remained hidden so long perplexes Nick, but why Oberon has remained on the mortal plane all this time terrifies Nick, because when the King of Feirie has been given that long to lay a plan to unleash hell on earth know fear!
Now, I’m not an urban fantasy expert like many of my reading friends. Sure, I’ve tried the
Dresden Files, The Iron Druid Chronicles, and Justis Fearson to name a few, and I’ve enjoyed them all, but I don’t think four or five reads has turned me into an aficionado of the genre. But what I am is a really critical reader, who demands entertaining stories, and with this in mind, I have to say that I loved Black City Saint.
Why I loved it is really simple: great characters, interesting plot, and an amazing setting.
For me, characters are the most important feature of any book. Without compelling ones, even the greatest stories will not work. And in Black City Saint, Mr. Knaak has gifted readers with a bevy of compelling ones. Every characters pulling you in, engaging you in their current trials and mesmerizing you with their past travails. They are interesting, complex, and thoroughly developed by Mr. Knaak (though, like all good authors, he holds some things back for future stories.) Nick Medea, obviously, gets the most love; his murky past gradually unveiled in interesting snippets, while his actions speak louder than words in his current situation; but his complex, symbiotic relationship with a dragon was the winning ingredient for me, turning him into an amazing lead. Fetch really was a close second however. Our resident, talking lycanthrope livening up any scene he was in. (Guess I just love wisecracking dog-like creatures. Sorry, Oberon, you have competition now.) Coming in last for me was Nick’s reincarnated love Cleolinda, whose tough, competent personality made her more than a damsel in distress, though this modern Twenties lady really didn’t get the chance to strut her full stuff in this tale.
As for the plot itself, it was a multi-threaded masterpiece, beginning with the simple exorcism and slowly building into a multi-dimensional tour de force of Feirie mayhem. Mr. Knaak’s brilliant use of sub-plots and shadowy mysteries definitely added a compelling undertone to the ongoing action-packed narrative, and his portrayal of the devious Oberon with his cunning and complex plots made every story revelation important and every scene count as you attempt to deduce where this tale is heading.
And that setting. Well, I really can’t emphasize enough how great it was to read about Roaring Twenties Chicago. This era in American history has always interested me; the narrative of a society gripped by monumental societal change peaking my interest (especially since I already know the Great Depression and World War II is right around the corner to dash everyone’s dreams of a new, better future for the world.) And while Mr. Knaak doesn’t turn Black City Saint into a history lesson, he crafts the picture of this time so lovingly, so expertly that it all comes to life before your eyes, reminding me very much of a far different novel about the same time period: The Great Gatsby.
Black City Saint is, without a doubt, the best urban fantasy novel which I personally have read. Great characters, interesting plot, and a fully developed setting turning this tale into a real page turner. Probably there were a few missteps along the way from the beginning to the end, but I didn’t notice them, because I was too engaged in Nick Medea and his friends trying to keep Oberon from destroying the world. And that my friends means this was a damn fine story.
I received this book from Pyr in exchange for a fair and honest review. I’d like to thank the publisher for allowing me to receive this review copy and inform everyone that the review you have read is my opinion alone.
Roaring Twenties Chicago. Prohibition gangsters like Al Capone rule the streets. Dirty politicians walk the halls of power. Flappers fill the dance halls. Model- Ts roar along city avenues. Radios blare out Jazz music. Tommie guns bark out street justice. And the gate between the mortal realm and Feirie lies hidden by it all, guarded by its sixteen hundred year old guardian.
This gatekeeper named Nick Medea is a strange, complicated man. On one hand, he lives a simple, solitary life as an exorcist of sorts. Only those with real problems with Feirie creatures able to contact him; his fee to rid these individuals of their specters zero. But his real job is far more serious, more important, more dangerous than hunting ghosts, as he stands alone between the world of Feirie and mankind; his eternal duty to keep the gate closed, because if the magical gateway ever opens it will destroy the modern world, crashing civilization back to the Dark Ages.
But Nick isn’t completely alone. There are a group of near constant companions who aid him along the way.
Most of these are outcast Feiries, trapped on the mortal plane. Fetch is the one who spends the most time with the eternal guardian. This lycanthrope posing as the gatekeeper’s faithful dog, albeit one who talks whenever he has the occasion (in a mixture of archaic Feirie and Twenties slang no less) and is more powerful than anyone would ever guess. Krayavik is the other; a humanoid Feirie who has converted to Christianity, spending his life posing as a priest in a catholic church, where his real duties remain a mystery for quite some time.
Nick Medea also has a ghostly haunt who appears to him whenever he enters upon holy ground. This specter is none other than the Roman Emperor Diocletian, who has been cursed to spend an eternity atoning for some sin or another, something related to Nick Medea’s execution sixteen centuries prior. And while he continually offers advice to and questions our gatekeeper’s actions, his relationship with Nick is strained at best.
The strangest and most powerful of Nick Medea’s cohorts, however, is the spirit of an ancient dragon. Centuries ago, Nick killed this creature, but in the process his and the dragon’s spirits became fused together. Their union a disagreeable one at best; the dragon granting Nick access to many amazing abilities while ever seeking to take control of their shared body and unleash destruction upon the world.
As Black City Saint opens, Nick and Fetch are attending to an ordinary exorcism. An older lady finding that ghosts are haunting her attic, causing her cats to disappear. These spirits turn out to be far worse that the lady, or even Nick Medea, initially suspected, being creatures of Feirie, and to vanquish them, Nick is forced to rely heavily on the dragon’s powers as well as the aid of Fetch.
Quickly, though, matters take a turn for the worst. A new client contacting Nick. This terrified young lady seeking help with her supernatural problem. Nothing out of the ordinary there, but when Nick meets this lady, our gatekeeper is shocked to find she is the reincarnation of his ancient beloved Cleolinda, who is destined (or cursed) to continually be reborn, enter his life, and die again . . . over and over again.
If this wasn’t enough to unnerve even an eternal guardian, Nick discovers that his reborn love is an unknowing pawn of a “Wyld” of Feirie: the darkest of the Feirie folk and the most feared adversaries. This particular one the most powerful and deadliest of them all; someone who should be dead, burned in the dragon’s flames fifty years prior when he almost succeeded in opening the gate. How he survived and how he remained hidden so long perplexes Nick, but why Oberon has remained on the mortal plane all this time terrifies Nick, because when the King of Feirie has been given that long to lay a plan to unleash hell on earth know fear!
Now, I’m not an urban fantasy expert like many of my reading friends. Sure, I’ve tried the
Dresden Files, The Iron Druid Chronicles, and Justis Fearson to name a few, and I’ve enjoyed them all, but I don’t think four or five reads has turned me into an aficionado of the genre. But what I am is a really critical reader, who demands entertaining stories, and with this in mind, I have to say that I loved Black City Saint.
Why I loved it is really simple: great characters, interesting plot, and an amazing setting.
For me, characters are the most important feature of any book. Without compelling ones, even the greatest stories will not work. And in Black City Saint, Mr. Knaak has gifted readers with a bevy of compelling ones. Every characters pulling you in, engaging you in their current trials and mesmerizing you with their past travails. They are interesting, complex, and thoroughly developed by Mr. Knaak (though, like all good authors, he holds some things back for future stories.) Nick Medea, obviously, gets the most love; his murky past gradually unveiled in interesting snippets, while his actions speak louder than words in his current situation; but his complex, symbiotic relationship with a dragon was the winning ingredient for me, turning him into an amazing lead. Fetch really was a close second however. Our resident, talking lycanthrope livening up any scene he was in. (Guess I just love wisecracking dog-like creatures. Sorry, Oberon, you have competition now.) Coming in last for me was Nick’s reincarnated love Cleolinda, whose tough, competent personality made her more than a damsel in distress, though this modern Twenties lady really didn’t get the chance to strut her full stuff in this tale.
As for the plot itself, it was a multi-threaded masterpiece, beginning with the simple exorcism and slowly building into a multi-dimensional tour de force of Feirie mayhem. Mr. Knaak’s brilliant use of sub-plots and shadowy mysteries definitely added a compelling undertone to the ongoing action-packed narrative, and his portrayal of the devious Oberon with his cunning and complex plots made every story revelation important and every scene count as you attempt to deduce where this tale is heading.
And that setting. Well, I really can’t emphasize enough how great it was to read about Roaring Twenties Chicago. This era in American history has always interested me; the narrative of a society gripped by monumental societal change peaking my interest (especially since I already know the Great Depression and World War II is right around the corner to dash everyone’s dreams of a new, better future for the world.) And while Mr. Knaak doesn’t turn Black City Saint into a history lesson, he crafts the picture of this time so lovingly, so expertly that it all comes to life before your eyes, reminding me very much of a far different novel about the same time period: The Great Gatsby.
Black City Saint is, without a doubt, the best urban fantasy novel which I personally have read. Great characters, interesting plot, and a fully developed setting turning this tale into a real page turner. Probably there were a few missteps along the way from the beginning to the end, but I didn’t notice them, because I was too engaged in Nick Medea and his friends trying to keep Oberon from destroying the world. And that my friends means this was a damn fine story.
I received this book from Pyr in exchange for a fair and honest review. I’d like to thank the publisher for allowing me to receive this review copy and inform everyone that the review you have read is my opinion alone.
September 23, 2015
I've been meaning to read Richard A. Knaak for ages, especially his Dragonrealm books. He writes a whole slew of the WarCraft books as well and I've only heard good things. He did not disappoint.
From what I know, Black City Saint is a bit outside Knaak's normal wheelhouse, opting for Urban Fantasy instead of Epic Fantasy and he proves he can handle this genre quite deftly.
We start out with your typical exorcism where Nick Medea's got to get rid of some paranormal problems from a lady's house. I was instantly drawn in when he mentions that only people with an actual magical problem, someone who's been touched by magic, could even contact Nick.
He does the deed and we quickly find out he's actually a 1600 year old gatekeeper between the realms of the real world and faerie. He received this position by slaying the dragon, but the problem came when the dragon fused with him in the process leaving Nick with a constant companion ... who is always trying to control him and pretty much destroy everything.
I thought the dragon was a really great touch, though at times it almost focuses too much on how the dragon needs to be kept in check. Nick is constantly fighting him, especially in the most difficult moments, and often gives in only to have to real him back.
As if Nick doesn't have enough problems, but the gate is open and the darkest part of Faerie, the Wyld, is making its way into the real world.
Oh, and did I mention this was all set in the prohibition era where rival gangs lead by the likes of Al Capone are thriving?
But Nick is not alone, he has companions, outcasts from Faerie who owe Nick their lives to assist. A lycanthrope named Fetch, a fawning almost-human exile named Kravayik, and a few more and some ghosts too.
The action really gets going when a new job comes in and the client happens to be the reincarnation of his love, Cleolinda, who happens to die horribly each and every time she is reincarnated. Nick would prefer that not happen this time.
With this eclectic cast of characters and almost-constant action, Black City Saint was an absolute blast to read from the very first page. I knew it was going to be good when I was glued to that first scene where Nick was casting out the Wyld in his first client's house and it only got better from there.
Black City Saint is the Dresden Files meets The Great Gatsby. The setting is perfect for a supernatural battle amidst bootlegging underground bars and rival gang shoot-outs. What could possibly be better than that?!
4 out of 5 Stars (highly recommended)
From what I know, Black City Saint is a bit outside Knaak's normal wheelhouse, opting for Urban Fantasy instead of Epic Fantasy and he proves he can handle this genre quite deftly.
We start out with your typical exorcism where Nick Medea's got to get rid of some paranormal problems from a lady's house. I was instantly drawn in when he mentions that only people with an actual magical problem, someone who's been touched by magic, could even contact Nick.
He does the deed and we quickly find out he's actually a 1600 year old gatekeeper between the realms of the real world and faerie. He received this position by slaying the dragon, but the problem came when the dragon fused with him in the process leaving Nick with a constant companion ... who is always trying to control him and pretty much destroy everything.
I thought the dragon was a really great touch, though at times it almost focuses too much on how the dragon needs to be kept in check. Nick is constantly fighting him, especially in the most difficult moments, and often gives in only to have to real him back.
As if Nick doesn't have enough problems, but the gate is open and the darkest part of Faerie, the Wyld, is making its way into the real world.
Oh, and did I mention this was all set in the prohibition era where rival gangs lead by the likes of Al Capone are thriving?
But Nick is not alone, he has companions, outcasts from Faerie who owe Nick their lives to assist. A lycanthrope named Fetch, a fawning almost-human exile named Kravayik, and a few more and some ghosts too.
The action really gets going when a new job comes in and the client happens to be the reincarnation of his love, Cleolinda, who happens to die horribly each and every time she is reincarnated. Nick would prefer that not happen this time.
With this eclectic cast of characters and almost-constant action, Black City Saint was an absolute blast to read from the very first page. I knew it was going to be good when I was glued to that first scene where Nick was casting out the Wyld in his first client's house and it only got better from there.
Black City Saint is the Dresden Files meets The Great Gatsby. The setting is perfect for a supernatural battle amidst bootlegging underground bars and rival gang shoot-outs. What could possibly be better than that?!
4 out of 5 Stars (highly recommended)
Read
March 15, 2017Reviewed by: Rabid Reads
DNF at 16%.
BLACK CITY SAINT was one of my most anticipated new UFs. With a description involving Fae, dragons, and prohibition era Chicago, how could it not be?
However . . . A lot of you already know that I majored in English, more specifically literature, and even more specifically, British literature. Most of my required reading was wonderful.
Most.
But after Chaucer's TROILUS AND CRESSIDA, my least favorite work was Spenser's THE FAERIE QUEENE. It was terribly boring, and oh so very loooooong.
Guess which book BLACK CITY SAINT has as its foundation: THE FAERIE QUEENE.
Holy knights and dragons and cat-eating wolfy changelings and BLAH.
The story itself had tremendous potential, even after I figured out (no hard task, the hints were obvious) that George was indeed St. George, but 16% felt like 40 - 50%, and I'm finding that I loathe plots focused on a cursed individual forced to relive the death of his reincarnated One True Love over and over again.
Stahp.
DNF at 16%.
BLACK CITY SAINT was one of my most anticipated new UFs. With a description involving Fae, dragons, and prohibition era Chicago, how could it not be?
However . . . A lot of you already know that I majored in English, more specifically literature, and even more specifically, British literature. Most of my required reading was wonderful.
Most.
But after Chaucer's TROILUS AND CRESSIDA, my least favorite work was Spenser's THE FAERIE QUEENE. It was terribly boring, and oh so very loooooong.
Guess which book BLACK CITY SAINT has as its foundation: THE FAERIE QUEENE.
Holy knights and dragons and cat-eating wolfy changelings and BLAH.
The story itself had tremendous potential, even after I figured out (no hard task, the hints were obvious) that George was indeed St. George, but 16% felt like 40 - 50%, and I'm finding that I loathe plots focused on a cursed individual forced to relive the death of his reincarnated One True Love over and over again.
Stahp.
November 1, 2015
Whatever I thought (good or not) at different times while reading this book, it all came to one thing: the moment I finished reading the book and checked whether there was an instalment was followed by my disappointment. I want to know what's next for the main character. There are so many unresolved issues (not a bad thing in this case).
The antagonist is always two or ten steps ahead of Nick. If Harry Dresden's way of solving cases doesn’t bother you, then Nick's way of dealing with problems won't either. Next, Claryce (what an unfortunate name; every time I saw it I heard Anthony Hopkins' voice) didn't get too many opportunities to be more than a reincarnated lost love, so it's hardly fair to talk about her development (or the lack of it) as a flaw. It isn't. She still manages to grow above that simple role. She never stays where she is supposed to. It can be frustrating at times.
Considering the focus of the story is on action, action and only action, I'm guessing the characters will have their opportunities in future books. Speaking of action, Black City Saint doesn't give its characters a single moment of piece. Even when the protagonist tries to pray, something or someone interrupts him.
The best part is the time setting combined with mythological creatures and Christian themes. At first you might think it wouldn't work. You'd be wrong. Nothing preachy in the story whatsoever. The Wyld (fae), the Prohibition-era Chicago, St. George and the dragon should be enough to keep anyone's attention.
There are some grammatical errors in the book but since this is an uncorrected ARC, I won't bother listing them. It will probably be corrected.
Uncorrected ARC provided by Pyr®/Prometheus Books via Edelweiss
August 18, 2017
Another corker from Knaak. Much different to those of his I have read and re-read in the past, but thoroughly enjoyed this urban historical fantasy come paranormal fae tale.
A great sense of realism in its historical setting - much research has clearly been carried out. The cityscape lent itself well to the shadowy demons and shape shifting beasts, the magic and the swords and sorcery. There was action throughout, whether spears, spells or tommy guns, and a wide variety of colourful characters to love and despise in equal measure.
I'm happy to hear there's to be more books in this series and I for one will be looking forward to reading them all!
A great sense of realism in its historical setting - much research has clearly been carried out. The cityscape lent itself well to the shadowy demons and shape shifting beasts, the magic and the swords and sorcery. There was action throughout, whether spears, spells or tommy guns, and a wide variety of colourful characters to love and despise in equal measure.
I'm happy to hear there's to be more books in this series and I for one will be looking forward to reading them all!
June 15, 2018
4 Stars
Review:
This was a book I had been wanting to read for a while because I love sci-fi/fantasy that's set in the Prohibition Era, so I was pleasantly surprised when I realized my library had a copy! And I'm going to keep this review nice and simple by using some lists.
Things I Liked:
- I liked the Feirie and Catholicism aspects, both separately and the way they combined (although I admit I'm not very knowledgeable about Catholicism, so don't worry, you don't need to know about it in order to enjoy the book). The main character, Nick, is actually Saint George, and when he slayed the dragon, he didn't realize the dragon was guarding the Gate to Feirie. Now the dragon is a part of him, sharing a body, and they are both charged with guarding the Gate. So while this book absolutely was not preachy in any way, there were Catholic references sprinkled throughout, as well as plenty of fae stuff.
- Nick's relationship with the dragon was super interesting. They basically hated each other, and the dragon was always trying to find a way to take control of the body and be the dominant one, but they were stuck together whether they liked it or not, and they also relied on each other and were allies in some ways... so it was a very complex, tenuous relationship. (P.S. There is a reason the dragon refers to himself as 'Eye' that gets explained a little ways into the book, so don't worry about that if it seems weird when you start reading.)
- Speaking of the dragon, I think he was my favorite character. I don't know, I found him really fascinating! And to be quite honest, I can't say I blame him for wanting freedom and for being angry about his forced servitude. He was forced to guard the Gate for who knows how long, then he was killed by Nick and is now forced to be trapped inside a body he can't even control. I'd be angry too.
- I found some of the side characters interesting as well, like Diocles, Fetch, and Kravayik. And the relationship Nick had with Diocles was also a complex one. On the one hand, it seemed harsh the way Nick treated him. On the other hand, I could understand why he still couldn't forgive him (Diocletian was the emperor who had Saint George executed).
- While I didn't like everything about Claryce, I did like how she handled herself in fight situations. She didn't stand around like a damsel in distress---she jumped right in to shoot someone or stab someone or do something in order to help Nick, oftentimes giving him the opening he needed and making all the difference in how the fight ended.
- I loved the Prohibition Era setting! I've just always found that time period interesting. And I liked that the book was actually set in Chicago and included gangsters. Like, it really used the setting rather than making it just a random backdrop.
Things I Disliked:
- Maybe it made sense to the author, but the magic seemed pretty random and deus ex machina to me. Nick would get into a sticky situation, and then some weird, new magic would show up (whether it was something he, his sword/dagger, or another character did) and fix the problem. Or vice versa.
- I didn't feel super connected to the main characters. I got more invested as the story went on, but I guess it took me a bit to kind of get used to the dryness of Nick's POV. I liked him and was rooting for him, but the way he was written didn't make me feel that much emotion or depth from him. I feel like he has emotion and depth, you just have to look some to find it. As for Claryce, she never seemed quite realistic. She jumped into things too quickly, immediately insisting on being a part of everything Nick was doing, always insisting on going with him even when it was dangerous, etc. But the real problem with her was that she didn't really have much character development other than being feisty and headstrong.
So overall, I definitely liked more than I disliked about this book (requested the next book from my library already and am crossing my fingers they'll get it because I want to continue!), and I thought the Feirie aspects, the Catholicism aspects, the Prohibition Era setting, and the complex relationships made for an interesting and unique read!
Recommended For:
Anyone who likes urban fantasy, fae, dragons, Catholicism, the Prohibition Era, and complex relationships.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
Review:
This was a book I had been wanting to read for a while because I love sci-fi/fantasy that's set in the Prohibition Era, so I was pleasantly surprised when I realized my library had a copy! And I'm going to keep this review nice and simple by using some lists.
Things I Liked:
- I liked the Feirie and Catholicism aspects, both separately and the way they combined (although I admit I'm not very knowledgeable about Catholicism, so don't worry, you don't need to know about it in order to enjoy the book). The main character, Nick, is actually Saint George, and when he slayed the dragon, he didn't realize the dragon was guarding the Gate to Feirie. Now the dragon is a part of him, sharing a body, and they are both charged with guarding the Gate. So while this book absolutely was not preachy in any way, there were Catholic references sprinkled throughout, as well as plenty of fae stuff.
- Nick's relationship with the dragon was super interesting. They basically hated each other, and the dragon was always trying to find a way to take control of the body and be the dominant one, but they were stuck together whether they liked it or not, and they also relied on each other and were allies in some ways... so it was a very complex, tenuous relationship. (P.S. There is a reason the dragon refers to himself as 'Eye' that gets explained a little ways into the book, so don't worry about that if it seems weird when you start reading.)
- Speaking of the dragon, I think he was my favorite character. I don't know, I found him really fascinating! And to be quite honest, I can't say I blame him for wanting freedom and for being angry about his forced servitude. He was forced to guard the Gate for who knows how long, then he was killed by Nick and is now forced to be trapped inside a body he can't even control. I'd be angry too.
- I found some of the side characters interesting as well, like Diocles, Fetch, and Kravayik. And the relationship Nick had with Diocles was also a complex one. On the one hand, it seemed harsh the way Nick treated him. On the other hand, I could understand why he still couldn't forgive him (Diocletian was the emperor who had Saint George executed).
- While I didn't like everything about Claryce, I did like how she handled herself in fight situations. She didn't stand around like a damsel in distress---she jumped right in to shoot someone or stab someone or do something in order to help Nick, oftentimes giving him the opening he needed and making all the difference in how the fight ended.
- I loved the Prohibition Era setting! I've just always found that time period interesting. And I liked that the book was actually set in Chicago and included gangsters. Like, it really used the setting rather than making it just a random backdrop.
Things I Disliked:
- Maybe it made sense to the author, but the magic seemed pretty random and deus ex machina to me. Nick would get into a sticky situation, and then some weird, new magic would show up (whether it was something he, his sword/dagger, or another character did) and fix the problem. Or vice versa.
- I didn't feel super connected to the main characters. I got more invested as the story went on, but I guess it took me a bit to kind of get used to the dryness of Nick's POV. I liked him and was rooting for him, but the way he was written didn't make me feel that much emotion or depth from him. I feel like he has emotion and depth, you just have to look some to find it. As for Claryce, she never seemed quite realistic. She jumped into things too quickly, immediately insisting on being a part of everything Nick was doing, always insisting on going with him even when it was dangerous, etc. But the real problem with her was that she didn't really have much character development other than being feisty and headstrong.
So overall, I definitely liked more than I disliked about this book (requested the next book from my library already and am crossing my fingers they'll get it because I want to continue!), and I thought the Feirie aspects, the Catholicism aspects, the Prohibition Era setting, and the complex relationships made for an interesting and unique read!
Recommended For:
Anyone who likes urban fantasy, fae, dragons, Catholicism, the Prohibition Era, and complex relationships.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
April 19, 2016
THIS REVIEW FIRST APPEARED ON FANTASY-FACTION.COM
I received an ARC for a fair review.
Prohibition is in full swing. The cops are scrambling around, closing down speakeasies and arresting gangsters whenever they can – those that aren’t on the take that is. And in Chicago, Al Capone is about to make his move.
To Nick Medea this is all background noise, a fact of life in the roaring ‘20s. He has a much larger role to play, a bigger job to handle. He has ghosts to hunt. The phone rings, a number that only those who really have a ghost problem can see, and another job begins. This one could kill him.
Richard A Knaak is an author of many more books than you probably realise. Not only did he create, and continue to write about, the world of Dragonrealm, but he has written books in the worlds of Warcraft, Dragonlance, Diablo and Age of Conan. By my count, and not including Black City Saint, that is 56 books.
Black City Saint is an Urban-Gangster-Fantasy, set in the 1920s. Against this background of gang warfare, Model T Fords, racism and Tommy-guns, a much larger battle is taking place and Nick is right in the middle of it all. The Lord and Lady of Feire are fighting each other for the future of our world and theirs.
There is a lot of history to come to grips with in this war and the story drops hints left, right and centre. Our main character has been around for a long time, a very long time, and has a raft of contacts, friends and enemies that he uses, protects, and kills as the story progresses.
However, Nick has principles and responsibilities. He is driven to do the right thing, to protect those too weak to look after themselves, to work with the law and within the boundaries of his own moral code. There are times when Nick’s behaviour borders on saintly, but there is a strong counter-point of darkness to his character. He is not alone in his body, nor is he at peace. At constant war with the other spirit, Nick struggles to stay in control of his actions, and though an uneasy alliance is struck it is always under tension, threatening to crack at any moment.
Nick is haunted by the past, and he has a lot of past to be haunted by. Ghosts offer him advice in the hopes of forgiveness, shape shifters alternatively protect and then try to kill him, and there is a girl to protect. Faced with many choices and a villain that seems always three steps ahead of our hero struggles to protect everyone he cares about.
Inhabiting the grubby side of 1920s Chicago, there are no flapper girls, no Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dance routines, no posh clubs, no jazz bands, tuxedo’s or posh dresses. Richard A Knaak gives us the underbelly, the seedier side of the age and then combines it with an almost Lovecraftian, Cthuluistic variety of globular, tentacle festooned monsters.
You can tell that Richard A Knaak is an accomplished author because the tale grabs you and moves you along at a fair clip. Little snippets of foreshadowing are dropped into the narrative flow without causing much of ripple, but later these little pebbles splash the cold water of realisation into the reader’s face. Hints of a long, dark and deep history are scattered throughout the story, and the ensemble of characters suggest that many more books could be written and we would still have the wonderful sense that there is more to learn.
Fast paced and full of twists and turns, Black City Saint is urban fantasy with a 20s twist.
I received an ARC for a fair review.
Prohibition is in full swing. The cops are scrambling around, closing down speakeasies and arresting gangsters whenever they can – those that aren’t on the take that is. And in Chicago, Al Capone is about to make his move.
To Nick Medea this is all background noise, a fact of life in the roaring ‘20s. He has a much larger role to play, a bigger job to handle. He has ghosts to hunt. The phone rings, a number that only those who really have a ghost problem can see, and another job begins. This one could kill him.
Richard A Knaak is an author of many more books than you probably realise. Not only did he create, and continue to write about, the world of Dragonrealm, but he has written books in the worlds of Warcraft, Dragonlance, Diablo and Age of Conan. By my count, and not including Black City Saint, that is 56 books.
Black City Saint is an Urban-Gangster-Fantasy, set in the 1920s. Against this background of gang warfare, Model T Fords, racism and Tommy-guns, a much larger battle is taking place and Nick is right in the middle of it all. The Lord and Lady of Feire are fighting each other for the future of our world and theirs.
There is a lot of history to come to grips with in this war and the story drops hints left, right and centre. Our main character has been around for a long time, a very long time, and has a raft of contacts, friends and enemies that he uses, protects, and kills as the story progresses.
However, Nick has principles and responsibilities. He is driven to do the right thing, to protect those too weak to look after themselves, to work with the law and within the boundaries of his own moral code. There are times when Nick’s behaviour borders on saintly, but there is a strong counter-point of darkness to his character. He is not alone in his body, nor is he at peace. At constant war with the other spirit, Nick struggles to stay in control of his actions, and though an uneasy alliance is struck it is always under tension, threatening to crack at any moment.
Nick is haunted by the past, and he has a lot of past to be haunted by. Ghosts offer him advice in the hopes of forgiveness, shape shifters alternatively protect and then try to kill him, and there is a girl to protect. Faced with many choices and a villain that seems always three steps ahead of our hero struggles to protect everyone he cares about.
Inhabiting the grubby side of 1920s Chicago, there are no flapper girls, no Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dance routines, no posh clubs, no jazz bands, tuxedo’s or posh dresses. Richard A Knaak gives us the underbelly, the seedier side of the age and then combines it with an almost Lovecraftian, Cthuluistic variety of globular, tentacle festooned monsters.
You can tell that Richard A Knaak is an accomplished author because the tale grabs you and moves you along at a fair clip. Little snippets of foreshadowing are dropped into the narrative flow without causing much of ripple, but later these little pebbles splash the cold water of realisation into the reader’s face. Hints of a long, dark and deep history are scattered throughout the story, and the ensemble of characters suggest that many more books could be written and we would still have the wonderful sense that there is more to learn.
Fast paced and full of twists and turns, Black City Saint is urban fantasy with a 20s twist.
February 11, 2016
Quite fun! Lots of 20's references and historical bits woven into an urban fantasy plot. The dragon does feature prominently, which I loved! The writing is a bit stilted at times, but by the second half I was used to it and tearing through the pages.
December 30, 2022
Richard K. Knaak was first introduced to me during my early days as a fantasy fan with the 1988 novel, The Legend of Huma. I didn't get to red it until I was about ten (1990) but in my limited experience, it was probably the best of the Dragonlance novels. When I re-read it in college, my opinion was cemented and if you ever wanted to read the Dragonlance saga then I recommend the two main trilogies as well as it. Later, I would enjoy Richard K. Knaak's World of Warcraft novels which ranged from the cheesy fun at worst to the really-really entertaining. So, I was intrigued by the possibility of him doing his own urban fantasy novel set in 1930s Chicago.
So what did I think?
Quite good.
Nick Medea is a occult detective, which is nothing new to the genre, but one who is very well realized. I can't reveal much about this story since a major part of the book's appeal is the fact it's very cautious about revealing facts about its protagonist. Despite being a first person novel, Nick is very guarded about his past and there's a "shrouded in myth" sort of attitude to the character which allows little bits to dribble down to the reader.
By the end of the book, we get a full sense of who Nick was as well as how much his life has sucked for his unnaturally prolonged life and I give Richard K. Knaak credit--he managed to strike a very good balance between keeping me in suspense versus rewarding my patience. I don't know if he'll be able to do this in any sequels but I felt the major "mystery" of the novel wasn't any of Nick's cases but who he was.
Nick Medea is much more Raymond Chandler than Sam Spade. He's a charming, reserved, and pleasant man versus the brutish thug variant of the P.I. Despite this, he's a figure who is bundled with an epic amount of Catholic guilt, appropriate for a saint. Aside from longevity and the ability to perceive the supernatural, Nick doesn't appear to have any special abilities. This increases the sense
of danger when he's facing an endless variety of monsters.
The world the author has created is a mixture of noir detective fiction with fairies and Christian mythology playing a big role. Interestingly, demons don't appear to exist or are important in the grand scheme of things. Instead, the primary supernatural threat appears to be the Fair Folk. Oberon, of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, is the big bad of this book and does a surprisingly good job of being terrifying despite his original role as a side character in a romantic comedy.
Like all good noir protagonists, Nick has severe issues with one particular woman and I was intrigued by his particular curse. I've always been more partial to the femme fatale like Breathless Mahoney versus the good girls like Tess Trueheart. Still, the romantic interest of this book works quite well for her story. Her story is every bit as spoilerific as Nick Medea's so I'll avoid talking about it but it remained intriguing throughout.
There's a lot of twists and turns with this novel and I definitely recommend it. I think the author could have done a bit more with the mundane side of Chicago during this time period but the atmosphere was still seedy and authentic.
9/10
So what did I think?
Quite good.
Nick Medea is a occult detective, which is nothing new to the genre, but one who is very well realized. I can't reveal much about this story since a major part of the book's appeal is the fact it's very cautious about revealing facts about its protagonist. Despite being a first person novel, Nick is very guarded about his past and there's a "shrouded in myth" sort of attitude to the character which allows little bits to dribble down to the reader.
By the end of the book, we get a full sense of who Nick was as well as how much his life has sucked for his unnaturally prolonged life and I give Richard K. Knaak credit--he managed to strike a very good balance between keeping me in suspense versus rewarding my patience. I don't know if he'll be able to do this in any sequels but I felt the major "mystery" of the novel wasn't any of Nick's cases but who he was.
Nick Medea is much more Raymond Chandler than Sam Spade. He's a charming, reserved, and pleasant man versus the brutish thug variant of the P.I. Despite this, he's a figure who is bundled with an epic amount of Catholic guilt, appropriate for a saint. Aside from longevity and the ability to perceive the supernatural, Nick doesn't appear to have any special abilities. This increases the sense
of danger when he's facing an endless variety of monsters.
The world the author has created is a mixture of noir detective fiction with fairies and Christian mythology playing a big role. Interestingly, demons don't appear to exist or are important in the grand scheme of things. Instead, the primary supernatural threat appears to be the Fair Folk. Oberon, of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, is the big bad of this book and does a surprisingly good job of being terrifying despite his original role as a side character in a romantic comedy.
Like all good noir protagonists, Nick has severe issues with one particular woman and I was intrigued by his particular curse. I've always been more partial to the femme fatale like Breathless Mahoney versus the good girls like Tess Trueheart. Still, the romantic interest of this book works quite well for her story. Her story is every bit as spoilerific as Nick Medea's so I'll avoid talking about it but it remained intriguing throughout.
There's a lot of twists and turns with this novel and I definitely recommend it. I think the author could have done a bit more with the mundane side of Chicago during this time period but the atmosphere was still seedy and authentic.
9/10
July 5, 2018
A very enjoyable mix of genres, especially well written by a good writer.
A mix of historical urban fantasy with elements of film noir, Micky Spillane and Irish/British mythology.
Looking forward to reading the next 📖 in this promising series.
It’s different.
A mix of historical urban fantasy with elements of film noir, Micky Spillane and Irish/British mythology.
Looking forward to reading the next 📖 in this promising series.
It’s different.
November 7, 2017
Let’s keep it short, shall we? If you like the combination of historical-urban-fantasy, stop reading this review and start reading the book.
Still not convinced? Let me share some more details then.
What to Expect
Black City Saint is the first novel in the series from Richard Knaak. Set against the back-drop of Prohibition-era Chicago, Nick Medea is a private detective of sorts, dealing with paranormal cases.
Not that it’s as straightforward as that. Nick has a checkered past, and some unusual companions. He’s also tasked (cursed?) with a larger-than-life role in this universe, which is built up and explained as the novel progresses.
What I liked
The attention to detail. If you know me, you know my love of little historical trivia that goes into world-building. Black City is rife with such details, to the point that even though the date is not specified you can get a pretty exact estimate based on what is happening in the bootlegger wars in the background. There are also plenty of other little tidbits – such as arts, architecture, sports, politics, slang – that makes you love the realism and richness of the setting.
The pacing is wonderful. The plot slowly builds up over the course of the novel, continually picking up pace through twists and reveals, till you just can’t let go. Between the bootlegger wars of Capone, Bugs Moran, et al, purloined Christian hagiography, and Feirie Court politics there is plenty of material to provide unexpected developments.
What to be aware of
This is a noir mystery, set in the classical era for such stories. It’s written in first-person POV with the protagonist narrating events. Don’t expect the touchy-feely characters in contact with their inner child. Men were men, and women wore skirts. (Not that the women in the story lack spunk – but the story and characters fits the era and genre.)
The foremost topic are the Feirie creatures – this isn’t the place to learn about the gang wars of the Outfit, nor about Christian mythology. Those play an important role, but not the main one.
Summary
Unsurprisingly, I love the combination of history, mystery, and fantasy. The 1920’s were a fascinating era, and Mr Knaak makes full use of that background. From the Art Deco elevator doors on the cover, to the slang of the low-lifes, the world in Black City Saint is alive.
Amongst the ranks of historical-fantasy-detectives (or any two out of the three – you know I’ll read anything from Ruth Downie’s Medicus Roman Mysteries to Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files), Nick Medea and Richard Knaak deserve a place of honour. This is fast becoming one of my favourite series.
So what are you waiting for? yourself a favour, and get a copy Black City Saint now. You won’t regret it. Me, I’m just going to keep on reading with Black City Demon.
---
Assaph Mehr, author of Murder In Absentia: a story of Togas, Dagger, and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Urban Fantasy, and Detective mysteries.
Still not convinced? Let me share some more details then.
What to Expect
Black City Saint is the first novel in the series from Richard Knaak. Set against the back-drop of Prohibition-era Chicago, Nick Medea is a private detective of sorts, dealing with paranormal cases.
Not that it’s as straightforward as that. Nick has a checkered past, and some unusual companions. He’s also tasked (cursed?) with a larger-than-life role in this universe, which is built up and explained as the novel progresses.
What I liked
The attention to detail. If you know me, you know my love of little historical trivia that goes into world-building. Black City is rife with such details, to the point that even though the date is not specified you can get a pretty exact estimate based on what is happening in the bootlegger wars in the background. There are also plenty of other little tidbits – such as arts, architecture, sports, politics, slang – that makes you love the realism and richness of the setting.
The pacing is wonderful. The plot slowly builds up over the course of the novel, continually picking up pace through twists and reveals, till you just can’t let go. Between the bootlegger wars of Capone, Bugs Moran, et al, purloined Christian hagiography, and Feirie Court politics there is plenty of material to provide unexpected developments.
What to be aware of
This is a noir mystery, set in the classical era for such stories. It’s written in first-person POV with the protagonist narrating events. Don’t expect the touchy-feely characters in contact with their inner child. Men were men, and women wore skirts. (Not that the women in the story lack spunk – but the story and characters fits the era and genre.)
The foremost topic are the Feirie creatures – this isn’t the place to learn about the gang wars of the Outfit, nor about Christian mythology. Those play an important role, but not the main one.
Summary
Unsurprisingly, I love the combination of history, mystery, and fantasy. The 1920’s were a fascinating era, and Mr Knaak makes full use of that background. From the Art Deco elevator doors on the cover, to the slang of the low-lifes, the world in Black City Saint is alive.
Amongst the ranks of historical-fantasy-detectives (or any two out of the three – you know I’ll read anything from Ruth Downie’s Medicus Roman Mysteries to Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files), Nick Medea and Richard Knaak deserve a place of honour. This is fast becoming one of my favourite series.
So what are you waiting for? yourself a favour, and get a copy Black City Saint now. You won’t regret it. Me, I’m just going to keep on reading with Black City Demon.
---
Assaph Mehr, author of Murder In Absentia: a story of Togas, Dagger, and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Urban Fantasy, and Detective mysteries.
October 28, 2015
3.5/5 Rating Originally posted at MyLifeMyBooksMyEscape
Control the dragon within
*Disclaimer: I was provided with an early copy from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.
I don't read much urban fantasy, so I can't say how well Black City Saint stacks up against other novels in the genre with certain elements and tropes it used. I do, however, read a lot of books, and know a good book when I read one. When Black City Saint had me up until 2 a.m. the first two nights reading it, that's how I knew I had a good book!
Nick Medea is a detective of the paranormal - or that's what his clients think, at least. In truth, he is actually a guardian of The Gate which separates the world of humans, from that of the Feirie. Not anyone has access to him; only for those who have a creature of the Feirie haunting their house will Nick's number appear. It's then Nick's job to go in, destroy the trespasser from the Feirie - a creature from the Wyld - before they tear the balance between the two realms apart.
One evening he gets a call from a women by the name of Claryce. Upon seeing her, Nick realizes that it's actually another reincarnation of Cleolinda. A women whom he loved when he was known by the name of Georgius in the time of the ancient Romans.
Upon investigating her "paranormal" disturbance, he begins to sense that her boss may not be whom he claims. Nick believes that Mr. Delke may in fact have actually been taken over Oberon - the ex-ruler of the Feiriefolk who tried to unit the two realms. Oberon is supposed to be dead though. Killed in the Great Fire by Nick and the dragon when he lasted attempted it.
It is now up to Nick to find out if Oberon is actually still alive, to prevent the two realms from combining again, and to save Claryce - aka. Cleolinda - from being killed again. Like she has every time before...
From what I've heard, a lot times the main protagonist in UF are the mysterious type who is either a detective or someone who is solving the mystery. At first, that was sort of the vibe I was getting from Nick. Quickly into the story though, any chance of him feeling like a stock character was thrown out the window when you realize that his part dog, part wolf pet, Fetch, can talk back to him; he is not actually hunting ghosts but these Wyld creatures from the Feirie realm; he was originally born in time of ancient Rome; and he shares his body with dragon. Awesome, right?
Nick's character is surrounded by intrigue and mystery: Why does Fetch feel like he owes Nick? Who is this Vladimir and why does he too devote himself to Nick? What's up Diolces and why can't Nick forgive him? Claryce is Cleolinda resurrected? Nick has a dragon in him? All these questions lead to back to Nick's - or should I say, Georgiues' - history, and the realm of the Feirfolk for the answers.
As for the Feirie realm - is not a Disney wonderland. Oh, no. This is a dark, scary world. The creatures of the Wyld come into the human realm and inhabit the shadows as theses horrid, shape-shifting, tentacle creatures. I've never read any Lovecraft stores, but for some reason, I really want to say this has some Lovecraftian influence. Wether its Lovecraftian influence of not, these Wyld creatures add a nice touch of horror.
I feel I should clarify what I mean by "mysteries" surrounding Nick's character: aside from he main main plot, these unknown answers and background information of characters and events that have already happened, before the book started, that we as readers are not privy to, kept my mind constantly racing. In that sense, you are kind of thrown into the middle of the overall story arc, but you do NOT feel lost reading. (It's not like epic fantasy where I have to suddenly memorize 100+ characters and their family background and current political situation). Knaak does a great job at incorporating the reader in the story. I wasn't wondering who the heck these characters were, but instead realized that Nick has an important history with each of these characters, that some big event happened that lead him to this moment, and this helped fueled me to keep reading.
The amount of information revealed about Nick's past with all these characters is not completely revealed. Some of the mysteries do get fully explained, but not all. It's only the first book is the series, so I wouldn't want them to all be - however, those that weren't, I felt I still needed to know more. Knack makes it apparent quickly what question you should be asking with each characters, and what their relationship with each other is like, but with most of the character's history, we only get told what feels like a 1/4 of the truth or get told what the final answer was, but with all the details left out. No, it didn't take away from my enjoyment while reading it, but when it was over, I just wanted a little more from the characters to hold me over until the next book.
The supporting characters were all good, and because you are only learning little bits of each of their personal stories, here and there, as the main plot progresses, I really couldn't be sure whom I could or couldn't trust, and this caused me to start to question whose side they are really on. I thought Fetch, the talking dog, was hilarious, and the dynamic between Nick and the dragon was very good, but I think my favorite character was actually the Mexican cop, Alejandro Cortez. Cortez did fit his role almost too perfectly, but it didn't bother me much. Still was my favorite. And developed was good for most of other supporting characters too, but the one character I did have an issue with was Claryce. She was only one who I felt needed a tad bit more. Her actions and attitudes at the beginning didn't make sense to me. I was missing a connection to her. Aside from furthering the plot, I didn't see the influence for her to do what she was doing. Her character didn't seem to take shape until towards the end, after I had had more time with her.
All in all, Black City Saint is a face-paced read, with a plot that hooked me in from the opening scene, and has more depth and background to the story than you first expect. Really, the biggest shock was realizing how deep and complex this series is actually going to be. It started off seeming very straight forward, but then I started to learn how complicated all the character's pasts are and then how complex the overall plot gets... Impressive.
Yes, a few more answers and explanations to some things would have satisfied me a bit more, but that might just be me. Regardless though, the main plot itself is already great, and would have kept me reading, but the amount of mystery surrounding these characters and the Feirie realm - that extra layer to the story - compelled me to keep reading and not take any breaks.
There is still a lot to be told about this story about Nick's character, and I'll be looking forward to reading more of it in the next book!
3.5/5 Rating
-DJ
Control the dragon within
*Disclaimer: I was provided with an early copy from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.
I don't read much urban fantasy, so I can't say how well Black City Saint stacks up against other novels in the genre with certain elements and tropes it used. I do, however, read a lot of books, and know a good book when I read one. When Black City Saint had me up until 2 a.m. the first two nights reading it, that's how I knew I had a good book!
Nick Medea is a detective of the paranormal - or that's what his clients think, at least. In truth, he is actually a guardian of The Gate which separates the world of humans, from that of the Feirie. Not anyone has access to him; only for those who have a creature of the Feirie haunting their house will Nick's number appear. It's then Nick's job to go in, destroy the trespasser from the Feirie - a creature from the Wyld - before they tear the balance between the two realms apart.
One evening he gets a call from a women by the name of Claryce. Upon seeing her, Nick realizes that it's actually another reincarnation of Cleolinda. A women whom he loved when he was known by the name of Georgius in the time of the ancient Romans.
Upon investigating her "paranormal" disturbance, he begins to sense that her boss may not be whom he claims. Nick believes that Mr. Delke may in fact have actually been taken over Oberon - the ex-ruler of the Feiriefolk who tried to unit the two realms. Oberon is supposed to be dead though. Killed in the Great Fire by Nick and the dragon when he lasted attempted it.
It is now up to Nick to find out if Oberon is actually still alive, to prevent the two realms from combining again, and to save Claryce - aka. Cleolinda - from being killed again. Like she has every time before...
From what I've heard, a lot times the main protagonist in UF are the mysterious type who is either a detective or someone who is solving the mystery. At first, that was sort of the vibe I was getting from Nick. Quickly into the story though, any chance of him feeling like a stock character was thrown out the window when you realize that his part dog, part wolf pet, Fetch, can talk back to him; he is not actually hunting ghosts but these Wyld creatures from the Feirie realm; he was originally born in time of ancient Rome; and he shares his body with dragon. Awesome, right?
Nick's character is surrounded by intrigue and mystery: Why does Fetch feel like he owes Nick? Who is this Vladimir and why does he too devote himself to Nick? What's up Diolces and why can't Nick forgive him? Claryce is Cleolinda resurrected? Nick has a dragon in him? All these questions lead to back to Nick's - or should I say, Georgiues' - history, and the realm of the Feirfolk for the answers.
As for the Feirie realm - is not a Disney wonderland. Oh, no. This is a dark, scary world. The creatures of the Wyld come into the human realm and inhabit the shadows as theses horrid, shape-shifting, tentacle creatures. I've never read any Lovecraft stores, but for some reason, I really want to say this has some Lovecraftian influence. Wether its Lovecraftian influence of not, these Wyld creatures add a nice touch of horror.
I feel I should clarify what I mean by "mysteries" surrounding Nick's character: aside from he main main plot, these unknown answers and background information of characters and events that have already happened, before the book started, that we as readers are not privy to, kept my mind constantly racing. In that sense, you are kind of thrown into the middle of the overall story arc, but you do NOT feel lost reading. (It's not like epic fantasy where I have to suddenly memorize 100+ characters and their family background and current political situation). Knaak does a great job at incorporating the reader in the story. I wasn't wondering who the heck these characters were, but instead realized that Nick has an important history with each of these characters, that some big event happened that lead him to this moment, and this helped fueled me to keep reading.
The amount of information revealed about Nick's past with all these characters is not completely revealed. Some of the mysteries do get fully explained, but not all. It's only the first book is the series, so I wouldn't want them to all be - however, those that weren't, I felt I still needed to know more. Knack makes it apparent quickly what question you should be asking with each characters, and what their relationship with each other is like, but with most of the character's history, we only get told what feels like a 1/4 of the truth or get told what the final answer was, but with all the details left out. No, it didn't take away from my enjoyment while reading it, but when it was over, I just wanted a little more from the characters to hold me over until the next book.
The supporting characters were all good, and because you are only learning little bits of each of their personal stories, here and there, as the main plot progresses, I really couldn't be sure whom I could or couldn't trust, and this caused me to start to question whose side they are really on. I thought Fetch, the talking dog, was hilarious, and the dynamic between Nick and the dragon was very good, but I think my favorite character was actually the Mexican cop, Alejandro Cortez. Cortez did fit his role almost too perfectly, but it didn't bother me much. Still was my favorite. And developed was good for most of other supporting characters too, but the one character I did have an issue with was Claryce. She was only one who I felt needed a tad bit more. Her actions and attitudes at the beginning didn't make sense to me. I was missing a connection to her. Aside from furthering the plot, I didn't see the influence for her to do what she was doing. Her character didn't seem to take shape until towards the end, after I had had more time with her.
All in all, Black City Saint is a face-paced read, with a plot that hooked me in from the opening scene, and has more depth and background to the story than you first expect. Really, the biggest shock was realizing how deep and complex this series is actually going to be. It started off seeming very straight forward, but then I started to learn how complicated all the character's pasts are and then how complex the overall plot gets... Impressive.
Yes, a few more answers and explanations to some things would have satisfied me a bit more, but that might just be me. Regardless though, the main plot itself is already great, and would have kept me reading, but the amount of mystery surrounding these characters and the Feirie realm - that extra layer to the story - compelled me to keep reading and not take any breaks.
There is still a lot to be told about this story about Nick's character, and I'll be looking forward to reading more of it in the next book!
3.5/5 Rating
-DJ
April 12, 2016
I hit this lull in books. You know, where all the series that you're reading are currently still on hiatus in the short or long (Looking your way Pat Rothfuss) term. So I begin to look over my wishlist on Amazon where I tag books that have caught my interest one way or another over the years. Conversely, I start looking at the Amazon or Goodreads recommendations for me. Then, when those fail, I go back to the authors I enjoyed in days long past to see what they're up to, which brings me to Black City Saint. I've always been a Knaak fan from his Dragonlance days. Kaz the Minotaur was a great character and I always considered Knaak's Huma story as canon. I also dipped into his other stuff as well, which I always enjoyed, but I hadn't looked him up in a while. And that, my friends, is how I ended up with Black City Saint. Long time readers of my reviews know that I am a swords and spells type of Fantasy reader as opposed to fantasy set in more recent time periods. Knaak had enough cache, however, to get me over the hump.
This book tells the story of Nick Madea who works as a sort of private detective of paranormal activity in Prohibition-Era Chicago. He does this work because he is the guardian of The Gate, the passage between our world and that of the Feirie (yeah, it's one of those stories) or "Wyld". Without getting into any spoilers, there's a lot of magic, a lot of 1920's slang, and a lot of discussion of the gangs running alcohol in Chicago in this book. Obviously, something is messing with the Gate and it is Nick's job to figure out what and stop it.
That's a very, very vague description because I found a lot of the reveals of the book to be pretty cool and I'd hate to ruin that. There are a few characteristics of this story that I think I can talk about though. One is an interesting blend of Christian theology/mythology and typical Feirie stuff. Heaven seems to be in opposition (Maybe just keeping the balance?) with the Wyld with no mention of Satan or Hell. Churches and holy sites have power against the Wyld. Also, Knaak writes this story with quite a bit of backstory, enough to make me look to see if there was a "Book 1" I had missed somewhere. And, not surprisingly for Knaak, there's a dragon. Sort of.
I had my doubts about this book, but I came around fairly quickly. The whole 1920's Chicago setting was a little off-putting for me simply out of personal taste, but I got over it. Also, I tend to shy away from stories with any iteration of Faerie in it, but, again, it didn't stop me from enjoying this book. While there is a solid conclusion to this book, many of the subplots are left quite open, leaving promise of a sequel I presume, even though there isn't the prequel that there sometimes seems like should be. This book was a departure for me in terms of my usual Fantasy tastes, but I enjoyed it and will be watching for the next one.
This book tells the story of Nick Madea who works as a sort of private detective of paranormal activity in Prohibition-Era Chicago. He does this work because he is the guardian of The Gate, the passage between our world and that of the Feirie (yeah, it's one of those stories) or "Wyld". Without getting into any spoilers, there's a lot of magic, a lot of 1920's slang, and a lot of discussion of the gangs running alcohol in Chicago in this book. Obviously, something is messing with the Gate and it is Nick's job to figure out what and stop it.
That's a very, very vague description because I found a lot of the reveals of the book to be pretty cool and I'd hate to ruin that. There are a few characteristics of this story that I think I can talk about though. One is an interesting blend of Christian theology/mythology and typical Feirie stuff. Heaven seems to be in opposition (Maybe just keeping the balance?) with the Wyld with no mention of Satan or Hell. Churches and holy sites have power against the Wyld. Also, Knaak writes this story with quite a bit of backstory, enough to make me look to see if there was a "Book 1" I had missed somewhere. And, not surprisingly for Knaak, there's a dragon. Sort of.
I had my doubts about this book, but I came around fairly quickly. The whole 1920's Chicago setting was a little off-putting for me simply out of personal taste, but I got over it. Also, I tend to shy away from stories with any iteration of Faerie in it, but, again, it didn't stop me from enjoying this book. While there is a solid conclusion to this book, many of the subplots are left quite open, leaving promise of a sequel I presume, even though there isn't the prequel that there sometimes seems like should be. This book was a departure for me in terms of my usual Fantasy tastes, but I enjoyed it and will be watching for the next one.
February 20, 2016
Nick Medea lives in Chicago during the Prohibition years but he is not quite what he seems. Some 1600 years ago, his name was Georgius and he fought and defeated a dragon. The dragon’s consciousness was trapped within Georgius’ mind and body and constantly struggles to get out. Then Georgius, in turn, was slain by the Roman Emperor Diocletian for refusing to revoke his religion but gained immortality. Georgius became known as St George and Diocletian’s ghost haunts him, begging for forgiveness which Georgius/Nick refuses to give. Nick is now the Gatekeeper between the human and fairy realms and he earns a living by helping people rid themselves of what they think are ghosts but which in fact are evil denizens of Feirie who have managed to breach the Gate.
But now Oberon, former Lord of Feirie has plans to merge the two realms which will have devastating consequences for both and it is up to Nick with the aid of Fetch, a shapeshifter from Feirie who passes as a dog and Claryce who, in many incarnations, has been Nick’s lover through the ages, to stop him.
Black City Saint by author Richard A. Knaak is a fun urban fantasy with plenty of action. Nick is, for the most part, typical of the heroes of urban fantasies but without the humour that usually marks them - I guess one can’t expect a saint to be all sarcastic wit but given that the time and place seems to demand a noir treatment including the cynical witty inner dialogue that is the trademark of noir, the lack of it seems particularly unfortunate. Oberon is sufficiently evil. Claryce, on the other hand, seems to have very little purpose except as love interest throughout the ages at least until the end. The most interesting characters, though, are Fetch and the dragon and they definitely make up for what is lacking in the rest.
In fairness, this feels very much like the beginning of a series. We are introduced to the characters and given their somewhat complicated backstories, but, with all the action and general mayhem, there is little time to flesh them out. That goes for the era as well. On the upside, there are hints, by the end of the book, that this will be rectified in future installments of the series. Overall, I quite enjoyed this story and would recommend it to fans of the Dresden Files or urban fantasies in general.
3.5
But now Oberon, former Lord of Feirie has plans to merge the two realms which will have devastating consequences for both and it is up to Nick with the aid of Fetch, a shapeshifter from Feirie who passes as a dog and Claryce who, in many incarnations, has been Nick’s lover through the ages, to stop him.
Black City Saint by author Richard A. Knaak is a fun urban fantasy with plenty of action. Nick is, for the most part, typical of the heroes of urban fantasies but without the humour that usually marks them - I guess one can’t expect a saint to be all sarcastic wit but given that the time and place seems to demand a noir treatment including the cynical witty inner dialogue that is the trademark of noir, the lack of it seems particularly unfortunate. Oberon is sufficiently evil. Claryce, on the other hand, seems to have very little purpose except as love interest throughout the ages at least until the end. The most interesting characters, though, are Fetch and the dragon and they definitely make up for what is lacking in the rest.
In fairness, this feels very much like the beginning of a series. We are introduced to the characters and given their somewhat complicated backstories, but, with all the action and general mayhem, there is little time to flesh them out. That goes for the era as well. On the upside, there are hints, by the end of the book, that this will be rectified in future installments of the series. Overall, I quite enjoyed this story and would recommend it to fans of the Dresden Files or urban fantasies in general.
3.5
April 27, 2016
I thoroughly enjoyed Black City Saint. The combination of 1920s Chicago and the world of the Fae was unique, and the two were enmeshed into a consistent, believable world. I think I have read other references to this as urban fantasy, and that description is spot on. I thought the story was engaging, and importantly, I really did not know what was going to happen. The characters were interesting, and I ended up googling and reading some more about some of the legend and history interwoven in this story. The progression of the relationship between Nick and the dragon was interesting...no spoilers here...
I saw another review where they questioned why Claryce was in the book but I totally disagree. I liked her character and thought she was pretty competent for a woman from the 1920s (go, Claryce!). I liked the hints of romance but I'm not a romance fan, so it was the perfect amount with more focus on intrigue and adventure. The use of language to establish era was perfect as well--just enough without being over the top.
I was introduced to the work of Mr. Knaak via the Warcraft books, but I am glad I took a chance with this book. I'll be seeking out the sequel on day one!
I loved Fetch; who wouldn't want their own Fetch? I'm pretending my dog is Fetch right now. More Fetch please! (Yeah, I totally want to see Fetch happen.)
I saw another review where they questioned why Claryce was in the book but I totally disagree. I liked her character and thought she was pretty competent for a woman from the 1920s (go, Claryce!). I liked the hints of romance but I'm not a romance fan, so it was the perfect amount with more focus on intrigue and adventure. The use of language to establish era was perfect as well--just enough without being over the top.
I was introduced to the work of Mr. Knaak via the Warcraft books, but I am glad I took a chance with this book. I'll be seeking out the sequel on day one!
I loved Fetch; who wouldn't want their own Fetch? I'm pretending my dog is Fetch right now. More Fetch please! (Yeah, I totally want to see Fetch happen.)
January 26, 2016
This book, for me, was an awesome twist on a well known historical time. I enjoyed this book since I read the very first page. I loved the adventure, and the excitement of the whole book. Usually, you read and think to yourself- " I'll get through this good part then put it down and start dinner." I never got past the good part because the that was the entire book!
It takes the Chicago Fire, Al Capone, and the roaring twenties to a new level. The main character, Nick Medea, fights for the city and for the people without them ever knowing. With all great heroes, he has things that can be dark inside, but for him, it's so much more.
To read more of my review on this book you can go here: http://www.ashleyblodgett.blogspot.co...
It takes the Chicago Fire, Al Capone, and the roaring twenties to a new level. The main character, Nick Medea, fights for the city and for the people without them ever knowing. With all great heroes, he has things that can be dark inside, but for him, it's so much more.
To read more of my review on this book you can go here: http://www.ashleyblodgett.blogspot.co...
May 14, 2016
Finally getting the hang of these reviews! :) I really liked this. An unusual setting with interesting characters. I found Nick to be very driven by his past failure to save his love while being forced to guard the gate between our world and Feirie. The Roaring 20s setting made for a nice contrast. I like the suspense and background stories. We don't learn everything about everybody, but I understand that this is a part of a series so that makes sense.
You will also really like Fetch, a new favorite of mine!
You will also really like Fetch, a new favorite of mine!
January 7, 2021
A Dresdenesque, noir-like tale set in prohibition Chicago.
Dames, dragons, and world-ending doom.
Dames, dragons, and world-ending doom.
March 1, 2016
I received this book from the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.
Urban Fantasy went a long way, lately, to disavow readers about the beauty and charm of the Fae world, and while Black City Saint is no exception, this book manages to bring the concept several steps further into darkness – and terror. If we had any residual delusion about these creatures, after reading this novel we will never look at queen Titania or king Oberon in the same way: at some point their Shakespearian counterparts are mentioned, but only to stress they are as far from the characters portrayed here as possible, and the Bard is shown as the fallible reporter of imperfect information.
The Gate separating Faerie from the mortal world used to be guarded by a powerful creature, a dragon, the very same that was slain by legendary Saint George who, in so doing, exposed the world of men to the dangers of contact with Faerie: the dragon slayer, now forever joined to the creature he vanquished – or what remains of it – is now both duty-bound and cursed to guard the portal between the two realms and as the story opens lives as occult investigator Nick Medea in the Chicago of the ‘20s, keeping watch for the creatures escaping though some crack in the Gate and hunting them without mercy.
There is a fascinating juxtaposition here between the fell denizens of Faerie and the Chicago underworld of gangsters and bootleggers, giving the story a peculiar noir feeling with a twist, a danger that remains unseen to most of the population but still affects their lives and the destiny of their city: the terrible fire that consumed most of it in the second half of the 19th century, for example, was in truth due to the dragon’s fiery breath as Nick battled with Oberon, king of Faerie, and destroyed him – or so he thought.
As the story opens, Nick Medea perceives that something is terribly wrong, that darkness and danger are looming over his city, and the terrifying discovery is that Oberon survived and has been planning his return for long decades, intending to use Chicago as the battleground for his clash with queen Titania: here lies the true horror of the premise, that humanity is nothing more than collateral damage between two opposing forces of evil, one bent on conquest and the other driven to maintain her power, no matter the cost. Nick must act both as guardian and as balance between those powers, but he’s dangerously distracted by the re-appearance of his love Cleolinda, the woman he already lost to death several times over the course of the centuries. When she contacts him to engage his professional skills, she appears as Claryce, a young woman worried about some strange events she witnessed, but Nick sees behind the façade and recognizes his many-times-lost love, deciding that this incarnation must survive, no matter what.
Despite the “damsel in distress” premise, Claryce is anything but: strong and determined she constantly refuses to be left behind or to stay safe, on the contrary she demands to be part of the action, especially when her feelings for Nick start surfacing. This is indeed a refreshing approach both for the genre and for the time period chosen as background: even when the truth about her nature and the past she doesn’t remember are revealed, she wastes no time in needless lamentations, showing a remarkable backbone that makes her stand out in interesting light and ultimately reveals her for the bold fighter she is, a true warrior princess of old.
Curiously enough, the main character Nick Medea is less defined than his companions: apart from his history, that comes up in bits and pieces over the course of the book, little is revealed about him beyond his determination to fulfill his task and the terrible memories that haunt his days and his tormented nights. Moreover, events tend to depict him as somewhat easily deceived, since more than once he falls prey to others' machinations: true, heroes don't have necessarily to be perfect, but poor Nick Medea sometimes fails to connect the dots…
Much more interesting is Fetch, his lycanthrope side-kick, an exile from Faerie who can talk when in proximity with Nick and expresses himself in an entertaining mix of old-fashioned language and contemporary slang that manages to define his mercurial personality in sharp relief: I can say with certainty that he’s the character that most appealed to me, the one that felt more real and three-dimensional, even in the surprising developments centered around him in the course of the story.
Equally interesting – in a disquieting sort of way – are Diocles (the ghost of former emperor Diocletianus, and Saint George’s executioner) and Kravayik, another exile from Faerie: this creature, draping himself in human form that can barely disguise his otherwordly origins, is one of the most intriguing figures, a staunch observer of the commandments of the Church after his conversion to religion. His total devotion and subservience to Nick, coupled with hints about his true nature, make him one of the creepiest figures in this novel, as fascinating as a caged anaconda - a creature best observed from a safe distance.
The story is an absorbing and swift read, and only sags slightly in the central segment, where the narrative hits a sort of repetitive loop: it takes flight again shortly after, though, and reaches its apex in the last fifty-odd pages, where the action speeds up at a breakneck pace through sudden betrayals, about-faces and the climax of Oberon's decades-long plan for conquest, closing the book with a very satisfying ending that hints at possible sequels. Something I would be quite interested in…
My thanks to Pyr Books and Edelweiss for the opportunity to read and review this novel.
Originally posted at SPACE AND SORCERY Blog
Urban Fantasy went a long way, lately, to disavow readers about the beauty and charm of the Fae world, and while Black City Saint is no exception, this book manages to bring the concept several steps further into darkness – and terror. If we had any residual delusion about these creatures, after reading this novel we will never look at queen Titania or king Oberon in the same way: at some point their Shakespearian counterparts are mentioned, but only to stress they are as far from the characters portrayed here as possible, and the Bard is shown as the fallible reporter of imperfect information.
The Gate separating Faerie from the mortal world used to be guarded by a powerful creature, a dragon, the very same that was slain by legendary Saint George who, in so doing, exposed the world of men to the dangers of contact with Faerie: the dragon slayer, now forever joined to the creature he vanquished – or what remains of it – is now both duty-bound and cursed to guard the portal between the two realms and as the story opens lives as occult investigator Nick Medea in the Chicago of the ‘20s, keeping watch for the creatures escaping though some crack in the Gate and hunting them without mercy.
There is a fascinating juxtaposition here between the fell denizens of Faerie and the Chicago underworld of gangsters and bootleggers, giving the story a peculiar noir feeling with a twist, a danger that remains unseen to most of the population but still affects their lives and the destiny of their city: the terrible fire that consumed most of it in the second half of the 19th century, for example, was in truth due to the dragon’s fiery breath as Nick battled with Oberon, king of Faerie, and destroyed him – or so he thought.
As the story opens, Nick Medea perceives that something is terribly wrong, that darkness and danger are looming over his city, and the terrifying discovery is that Oberon survived and has been planning his return for long decades, intending to use Chicago as the battleground for his clash with queen Titania: here lies the true horror of the premise, that humanity is nothing more than collateral damage between two opposing forces of evil, one bent on conquest and the other driven to maintain her power, no matter the cost. Nick must act both as guardian and as balance between those powers, but he’s dangerously distracted by the re-appearance of his love Cleolinda, the woman he already lost to death several times over the course of the centuries. When she contacts him to engage his professional skills, she appears as Claryce, a young woman worried about some strange events she witnessed, but Nick sees behind the façade and recognizes his many-times-lost love, deciding that this incarnation must survive, no matter what.
Despite the “damsel in distress” premise, Claryce is anything but: strong and determined she constantly refuses to be left behind or to stay safe, on the contrary she demands to be part of the action, especially when her feelings for Nick start surfacing. This is indeed a refreshing approach both for the genre and for the time period chosen as background: even when the truth about her nature and the past she doesn’t remember are revealed, she wastes no time in needless lamentations, showing a remarkable backbone that makes her stand out in interesting light and ultimately reveals her for the bold fighter she is, a true warrior princess of old.
Curiously enough, the main character Nick Medea is less defined than his companions: apart from his history, that comes up in bits and pieces over the course of the book, little is revealed about him beyond his determination to fulfill his task and the terrible memories that haunt his days and his tormented nights. Moreover, events tend to depict him as somewhat easily deceived, since more than once he falls prey to others' machinations: true, heroes don't have necessarily to be perfect, but poor Nick Medea sometimes fails to connect the dots…
Much more interesting is Fetch, his lycanthrope side-kick, an exile from Faerie who can talk when in proximity with Nick and expresses himself in an entertaining mix of old-fashioned language and contemporary slang that manages to define his mercurial personality in sharp relief: I can say with certainty that he’s the character that most appealed to me, the one that felt more real and three-dimensional, even in the surprising developments centered around him in the course of the story.
Equally interesting – in a disquieting sort of way – are Diocles (the ghost of former emperor Diocletianus, and Saint George’s executioner) and Kravayik, another exile from Faerie: this creature, draping himself in human form that can barely disguise his otherwordly origins, is one of the most intriguing figures, a staunch observer of the commandments of the Church after his conversion to religion. His total devotion and subservience to Nick, coupled with hints about his true nature, make him one of the creepiest figures in this novel, as fascinating as a caged anaconda - a creature best observed from a safe distance.
The story is an absorbing and swift read, and only sags slightly in the central segment, where the narrative hits a sort of repetitive loop: it takes flight again shortly after, though, and reaches its apex in the last fifty-odd pages, where the action speeds up at a breakneck pace through sudden betrayals, about-faces and the climax of Oberon's decades-long plan for conquest, closing the book with a very satisfying ending that hints at possible sequels. Something I would be quite interested in…
My thanks to Pyr Books and Edelweiss for the opportunity to read and review this novel.
Originally posted at SPACE AND SORCERY Blog
September 21, 2015
Originally Reviewed At: Mother/Gamer/Writer
Rating: 4 out of 5 Controllers
Review Source: Author Submitted
Reviewer: Ariel
BLACK CITY SAINT is the newest novel from fantasy author Richard A. Knaak. This story is action packed, set in Chicago in the roaring 20s, and is full of amazing characters. Who could ask for more?
Nick Medea is not exactly who he says he is. Sure, he goes to people’s homes and eradicates their paranormal problems, but he’s much more than that. Many, many years ago, Nick was St. George, dragon slayer. Now, it is his job as the Gatekeeper to make sure that creatures from the world of Feirie stay on their side of the Gate, not to interfere with the mortal world. However, when Nick starts to notice more and more unusual cases, it’s clear that something big is on its way. On top of trying to make sure the Gate stays safe, he also must attempt to keep Claryce safe, a woman who, although she has only met Nick once, is not entirely unfamiliar.
I really enjoyed the whole concept for this novel. Anytime there’s a rift between our world and the world of the Feirie/supernatural/what have you, I am sold. Luckily for me, Knaak did not disappoint. While the whole story is set in Chicago, with one very brief trip to Feirie, Knaak has managed to create an amazingly magical world. Along with Nick, there are several helpers who have been exiled from Feirie, plus a ghostly acquaintance who offers up his advice, whether Nick wants it or not. If I had one disappointment from the book, it’s that I wanted to know more about these other characters. I enjoyed Nick and Claryce, but the whole cast of characters was really amazing.
Nick was an interesting hero. He became the Gatekeeper when he slayed the dragon, who was the previous Gatekeeper. The only thing is, the dragon is now living within Nick, which provides some interesting conversations, to say the least. Nick, being immortal, has followed the Gate around for centuries, doing his duty to Feirie and Her Lady who rules it. Some other companions include Fetch, a lycanthrope who was exiled from Feirie, the ghost of Diocles, the emperor who originally killed Nick, and Kravayik, another Feirie exile. Of the three, Fetch was by far my favorite with his determination to use all of the hip new slang he picks up on. While Nick is extremely capable of taking care of himself, and the Gate, he always has Fetch at his side, ready to help when needed.
And then there’s Claryce. Claryce originally starts out as another one of Nick’s clients, but she becomes so much more. While she doesn’t know it, Claryce is a reincarnation of a woman Nick knew a long time ago. Unfortunately for Claryce, her past lives have died horribly every time. Nick is determined not to let that happen to her again. What I really loved about Claryce though? She wasn’t useless! Nick tries very hard to keep her out of harms way and protected, but Claryce is apparently not a very good listener. But when she does get in the middle of things, she can actually help! She can defend herself, and fight, and she doesn’t just cower in a corner and cry, and I loved that about her!
The book was well written, although I wish there had been a little more world building. Not to say that there wasn’t a lot, but I wanted to know more about the connection between our world and Feirie. Why does the Gate exist? How often have there been issues of this nature? Who was the Gatekeeper before the dragon? What is life like in Feirie vs our world? Things of that nature. But the action scenes were great, full of mobsters and Feirie creatures and easy to follow what was happening.
I am going to give BLACK CITY SAINT 4 out of 5 controllers. It was a great read that left me wanting more.
Rating: 4 out of 5 Controllers
Review Source: Author Submitted
Reviewer: Ariel
BLACK CITY SAINT is the newest novel from fantasy author Richard A. Knaak. This story is action packed, set in Chicago in the roaring 20s, and is full of amazing characters. Who could ask for more?
Nick Medea is not exactly who he says he is. Sure, he goes to people’s homes and eradicates their paranormal problems, but he’s much more than that. Many, many years ago, Nick was St. George, dragon slayer. Now, it is his job as the Gatekeeper to make sure that creatures from the world of Feirie stay on their side of the Gate, not to interfere with the mortal world. However, when Nick starts to notice more and more unusual cases, it’s clear that something big is on its way. On top of trying to make sure the Gate stays safe, he also must attempt to keep Claryce safe, a woman who, although she has only met Nick once, is not entirely unfamiliar.
I really enjoyed the whole concept for this novel. Anytime there’s a rift between our world and the world of the Feirie/supernatural/what have you, I am sold. Luckily for me, Knaak did not disappoint. While the whole story is set in Chicago, with one very brief trip to Feirie, Knaak has managed to create an amazingly magical world. Along with Nick, there are several helpers who have been exiled from Feirie, plus a ghostly acquaintance who offers up his advice, whether Nick wants it or not. If I had one disappointment from the book, it’s that I wanted to know more about these other characters. I enjoyed Nick and Claryce, but the whole cast of characters was really amazing.
Nick was an interesting hero. He became the Gatekeeper when he slayed the dragon, who was the previous Gatekeeper. The only thing is, the dragon is now living within Nick, which provides some interesting conversations, to say the least. Nick, being immortal, has followed the Gate around for centuries, doing his duty to Feirie and Her Lady who rules it. Some other companions include Fetch, a lycanthrope who was exiled from Feirie, the ghost of Diocles, the emperor who originally killed Nick, and Kravayik, another Feirie exile. Of the three, Fetch was by far my favorite with his determination to use all of the hip new slang he picks up on. While Nick is extremely capable of taking care of himself, and the Gate, he always has Fetch at his side, ready to help when needed.
And then there’s Claryce. Claryce originally starts out as another one of Nick’s clients, but she becomes so much more. While she doesn’t know it, Claryce is a reincarnation of a woman Nick knew a long time ago. Unfortunately for Claryce, her past lives have died horribly every time. Nick is determined not to let that happen to her again. What I really loved about Claryce though? She wasn’t useless! Nick tries very hard to keep her out of harms way and protected, but Claryce is apparently not a very good listener. But when she does get in the middle of things, she can actually help! She can defend herself, and fight, and she doesn’t just cower in a corner and cry, and I loved that about her!
The book was well written, although I wish there had been a little more world building. Not to say that there wasn’t a lot, but I wanted to know more about the connection between our world and Feirie. Why does the Gate exist? How often have there been issues of this nature? Who was the Gatekeeper before the dragon? What is life like in Feirie vs our world? Things of that nature. But the action scenes were great, full of mobsters and Feirie creatures and easy to follow what was happening.
I am going to give BLACK CITY SAINT 4 out of 5 controllers. It was a great read that left me wanting more.
April 3, 2016
I won my copy of Black City Saint through a giveaway at Tor.com.
Saint George did slay the dragon, but things didn’t work out quite the way he’d anticipated. Saint George has survived from ancient Rome to 1920s Chicago. He guards the Gate between Feirie and the “real” world. The thing is, the dragon has also survived and resides inside Saint George, who now goes by the name Nick Medea. Sometimes this can be of help to Nick in guarding the gate and tracking down and destroying things of Feirie that shouldn’t have crossed over. But sometimes the dragon has a mind of it’s own and acts against Nick’s will.
The previous ruler of Feirie, Oberon, is determined to bring the two worlds together. The current ruler, Her Lady, is determine to stop Oberon, but she can’t act directly. Sometimes she appears to be helping Nick, other times acting for her own good. Nick is determined to maintain the balance between the two realms, keeping the gate closed. He has some allies in his struggles, some from Feirie, some human, and others he’s not always sure about. He also has to figure out what to do about Claryce, someone he’s sure he’s known before in different incarnations, and each time in the past she has died. This time he is determined to keep her alive, even as she gets caught up in the conflicts between Oberon and Her Lady.
I enjoyed Black City Saint. There was a slow unravelling of mysteries as the book progressed. We learn more about Nick, his history, and that of his various companions and opponents. The main conflict builds slowly, but I didn’t think this was a bad thing. There was plenty of interest along the way. This was my first exposure to Richard A. Knaak, and I enjoyed his interpretation of Feirie and the story of Saint George and the dragon. The setting of 1920s Chicago worked well. It fit the story, and the language seemed to fit the setting. I’m not familiar with Chicago in that era, so I don’t know how accurate it was, but it felt accurate, which was enough for me. The book does come to a satisfying conclusion, but it also leaves the door wide open for a sequel and I’ve read elsewhere the author is planning one. I look forward to seeing where he takes the story in the future.
Saint George did slay the dragon, but things didn’t work out quite the way he’d anticipated. Saint George has survived from ancient Rome to 1920s Chicago. He guards the Gate between Feirie and the “real” world. The thing is, the dragon has also survived and resides inside Saint George, who now goes by the name Nick Medea. Sometimes this can be of help to Nick in guarding the gate and tracking down and destroying things of Feirie that shouldn’t have crossed over. But sometimes the dragon has a mind of it’s own and acts against Nick’s will.
The previous ruler of Feirie, Oberon, is determined to bring the two worlds together. The current ruler, Her Lady, is determine to stop Oberon, but she can’t act directly. Sometimes she appears to be helping Nick, other times acting for her own good. Nick is determined to maintain the balance between the two realms, keeping the gate closed. He has some allies in his struggles, some from Feirie, some human, and others he’s not always sure about. He also has to figure out what to do about Claryce, someone he’s sure he’s known before in different incarnations, and each time in the past she has died. This time he is determined to keep her alive, even as she gets caught up in the conflicts between Oberon and Her Lady.
I enjoyed Black City Saint. There was a slow unravelling of mysteries as the book progressed. We learn more about Nick, his history, and that of his various companions and opponents. The main conflict builds slowly, but I didn’t think this was a bad thing. There was plenty of interest along the way. This was my first exposure to Richard A. Knaak, and I enjoyed his interpretation of Feirie and the story of Saint George and the dragon. The setting of 1920s Chicago worked well. It fit the story, and the language seemed to fit the setting. I’m not familiar with Chicago in that era, so I don’t know how accurate it was, but it felt accurate, which was enough for me. The book does come to a satisfying conclusion, but it also leaves the door wide open for a sequel and I’ve read elsewhere the author is planning one. I look forward to seeing where he takes the story in the future.
February 21, 2016
You could call this book historical urban fantasy noir. Set in Chicago in the 1920s, the narrator is a sort of exorcist. He puts ads in papers that only those who need him can see, then goes and removes the ghosts and demons that are haunting them. His unusualness goes beyond this, though; his body is host to the dragon that he slew 1,600 years ago- he is, in fact, Saint George. He and the dragon share an uneasy alliance. Also, he is the guardian of the gate that separates our world from that of Feirie. His companion is a shapeshifter who can no longer shift, trapped in his canine form.
The hero finds himself set up against Oberon, long exiled from Feirie. Oberon plans on taking over again, conquering his former mate Titania. This will drag our world into the the fight, something Nick, the protagonist, must stop at all costs. He finds himself fighting demons, speaking with the ghost of the Emperor who ordered his execution, trying to avoid bootleggers and Al Capone’s gang members, trying to protect a woman from his past who won’t agree to stay where it’s supposed to be safe, and battling with magically enhanced goons before actually getting into it with Oberon.
Nick narrates almost like your typical hard-boiled noir detective, except he’s frequently talking about magical things. The pace moves quickly and never lets up; Nick can’t even sit down to rest without the house turning into something else or demons coming to the door. There is a lot we don’t find out about Nick, Claryce- she really doesn’t get a chance to develop her character-, Fetch, and the ghost of the Emperor Deocletian; the ending leaves it possible that there will be a sequel. I would definitely read a sequel; I liked the characters (particularly Fetch the shapeshifter) and like the era. It’s fast and fun.
The hero finds himself set up against Oberon, long exiled from Feirie. Oberon plans on taking over again, conquering his former mate Titania. This will drag our world into the the fight, something Nick, the protagonist, must stop at all costs. He finds himself fighting demons, speaking with the ghost of the Emperor who ordered his execution, trying to avoid bootleggers and Al Capone’s gang members, trying to protect a woman from his past who won’t agree to stay where it’s supposed to be safe, and battling with magically enhanced goons before actually getting into it with Oberon.
Nick narrates almost like your typical hard-boiled noir detective, except he’s frequently talking about magical things. The pace moves quickly and never lets up; Nick can’t even sit down to rest without the house turning into something else or demons coming to the door. There is a lot we don’t find out about Nick, Claryce- she really doesn’t get a chance to develop her character-, Fetch, and the ghost of the Emperor Deocletian; the ending leaves it possible that there will be a sequel. I would definitely read a sequel; I liked the characters (particularly Fetch the shapeshifter) and like the era. It’s fast and fun.
March 13, 2016
Richard A. Knaak’s Black City Saint combines 1920’s Chicago crime gangs with pre-Christian and early Christian mythology, serving up an exciting start to a new urban fantasy series. The setting is good and the hero is memorable.
Nick Medea is functionally an immortal. Under a different name, he became the guardian of the portal between the realms of the mundane world and that of Faerie. He is a man with many secrets, and the most deadly is the one he carries inside him, for he shares head-space with a creature he considers a monster.
As a “parapsychologist” Nick makes a living, and maintains the portal, by investigating reports of hauntings. Most so-called hauntings are creatures of faerie who have either slipped through in some way, or have lingered from a major battle fifty years earlier, when Oberon, King of Faerie, tried to ... Read More: http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
Nick Medea is functionally an immortal. Under a different name, he became the guardian of the portal between the realms of the mundane world and that of Faerie. He is a man with many secrets, and the most deadly is the one he carries inside him, for he shares head-space with a creature he considers a monster.
As a “parapsychologist” Nick makes a living, and maintains the portal, by investigating reports of hauntings. Most so-called hauntings are creatures of faerie who have either slipped through in some way, or have lingered from a major battle fifty years earlier, when Oberon, King of Faerie, tried to ... Read More: http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
May 26, 2016
big meh. protagonist is not very much of a hero: his love interest is more heroic, he spends far more passion fighting against the ghost of his ancient betrayal than any other foe of the story, he's duped a lot, he's pretty much usually one step behind everybody, and all while still continuing to bemoan his fate. no connection with him, no concern for him he beat it out of me, no interest in sequels or a continuing story. again the premise was pretty cool, and the era seemed to be pretty well written, and there are a couple interesting sub-characters and enemy minions, but nothing compelling. guess that could qualify this for a one-star, but I do have author loyalty for a previous series I really enjoyed that included an awesome character or two, so can't bring myself to do it.
July 9, 2016
This book is a welcome trip into an alternate Chicago full of gangsters, Fae, and other baddies. As a fan of both noir and fantasy, I loved the blend of genres. I see lots of cool possibilities in future installments. Memorable characters, an intriguing setting, and plenty of action make this a must-read for lovers of fantasy.
April 27, 2024
Ratings:-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
June 10, 2016
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy.
BLACK CITY SAINT is a dense urban fantasy that's got a lot going for it. It's fairly original, being set in the 1920s instead of modern day, and the juxtaposition of the Christian tradition with the fae mythology is interesting, to say the least. However, BLACK CITY SAINT was difficult to get through at times and where the world-building succeeded, the character development failed.
If you know me at all, you know I can't pass up any book set in Chicago. So when BLACK CITY SAINT came along, I knew I had to give it a try. And I wasn't disappointed - BLACK CITY SAINT uses Chicago scenery and history to its advantage, giving a reader familiar with Chicago the ability to place various scenes in the book.
Nick, as the main character, read like an old-school detective, only missing the typical office with his name on the door. And honestly, had the book been about Nick and his travails throughout Chicago banishing creatures of fairy, the book might have been better. The unfortunate addition was the wholly boring female love interest (I'm avoiding names to avoid spoilers). Mostly she was clingy and had little to no personality, with the only explanation of Nick's feelings for her that she was the reincarnation of his past love, Cleolinda. I could definitely have done without her.
BLACK CITY SAINT meanders along, managing to both have action and feel like nothing is happening at the same time, until about the last tenth of the book. I'll be honest, it did take me three months to read, but it held my interest and every time I picked it up it was easy to slip back into Nick's world. The thing that bothered me most about BLACK CITY SAINT was that I felt like it was trying to do and be too much. Urban fantasy is genre fiction, and BLACK CITY SAINT almost seemed like it was trying to be literary fiction (though I really have no evidence to suggest this, other than what I felt when I read the book).
I would suggest BLACK CITY SAINT to those who like their urban fantasy a bit more upscale, who value originality of world-building over character development, and who are looking for something a bit different in the crowded urban fantasy field. While I'll likely be sucked in to book two, (Chicago does it for me every time) it's not something I'm particularly waiting with bated breath for.
BLACK CITY SAINT is a dense urban fantasy that's got a lot going for it. It's fairly original, being set in the 1920s instead of modern day, and the juxtaposition of the Christian tradition with the fae mythology is interesting, to say the least. However, BLACK CITY SAINT was difficult to get through at times and where the world-building succeeded, the character development failed.
If you know me at all, you know I can't pass up any book set in Chicago. So when BLACK CITY SAINT came along, I knew I had to give it a try. And I wasn't disappointed - BLACK CITY SAINT uses Chicago scenery and history to its advantage, giving a reader familiar with Chicago the ability to place various scenes in the book.
Nick, as the main character, read like an old-school detective, only missing the typical office with his name on the door. And honestly, had the book been about Nick and his travails throughout Chicago banishing creatures of fairy, the book might have been better. The unfortunate addition was the wholly boring female love interest (I'm avoiding names to avoid spoilers). Mostly she was clingy and had little to no personality, with the only explanation of Nick's feelings for her that she was the reincarnation of his past love, Cleolinda. I could definitely have done without her.
BLACK CITY SAINT meanders along, managing to both have action and feel like nothing is happening at the same time, until about the last tenth of the book. I'll be honest, it did take me three months to read, but it held my interest and every time I picked it up it was easy to slip back into Nick's world. The thing that bothered me most about BLACK CITY SAINT was that I felt like it was trying to do and be too much. Urban fantasy is genre fiction, and BLACK CITY SAINT almost seemed like it was trying to be literary fiction (though I really have no evidence to suggest this, other than what I felt when I read the book).
I would suggest BLACK CITY SAINT to those who like their urban fantasy a bit more upscale, who value originality of world-building over character development, and who are looking for something a bit different in the crowded urban fantasy field. While I'll likely be sucked in to book two, (Chicago does it for me every time) it's not something I'm particularly waiting with bated breath for.
August 2, 2020
Review to come!
May 26, 2016
Terrific read, well paced urban fantasy and well worth your time
May 17, 2016
A stylish re-invention of the legend St. George as an immortal warrior standing against the deep laid plots of Fairie. There are certain weaknesses; some factual, some in style, some in plotting. Still this was a fun to read mashup of the The Fairy Queen and The Maltese Falcon
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