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The Immortal Vagabond Healer #2
Spitting Image
Immortal Sean Danet can heal others with a touch. Over centuries he's learned it's safer to hide in plain sight, moving and changing his identity often, but finally, after too long as a rootless vagabond, he's found a place he belongs. Friends he can trust and the love of an intelligent, beautiful woman. The life he dreamed of and never expected to attain.
When a sinister new adversary targets him for his abilities this tranquil existence is overturned––he finds himself unable to trust those closest to him, unable to trust what he sees. Can he untangle the mystery and outwit his latest foes? Or is his only hope of safety to return to a bleak and lonely fugitive existence?
Spitting Image is a tense, twisting, face-paced adventure which finds Sean confronting both deadly enemies and the consequences of his decisions as he chooses once and for all what is worth defending.
When a sinister new adversary targets him for his abilities this tranquil existence is overturned––he finds himself unable to trust those closest to him, unable to trust what he sees. Can he untangle the mystery and outwit his latest foes? Or is his only hope of safety to return to a bleak and lonely fugitive existence?
Spitting Image is a tense, twisting, face-paced adventure which finds Sean confronting both deadly enemies and the consequences of his decisions as he chooses once and for all what is worth defending.
- GenresUrban FantasyFantasy
223 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 27, 2016
8 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
About the author
Patrick LeClerc
11 books83 followersPatrick LeClerc makes good use of his history degree by working as a paramedic for an ever- changing parade of ambulance companies in the Northern suburbs of Boston. When not writing he enjoys cooking, fencing and making witty, insightful remarks with career-limiting candor.
In the lulls between runs on the ambulance --and sometimes the lulls between employment at various ambulance companies-- he writes fiction.
In the lulls between runs on the ambulance --and sometimes the lulls between employment at various ambulance companies-- he writes fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 18, 2019
Spitting Image has all the strengths and weakness of its earlier sibling - Out of Nowhere. It is a fun and short read which is fast paced and has enough action to keep the reader satisfied. But, at the same time, it does not really delve deeper into the mysterious life of the main character or his motivations. There isn't much of a character arc either.
The conclusion is the same as the previous book. Spitting Image is a fun time-filler (on a flight/commute/in a queue etc).
The conclusion is the same as the previous book. Spitting Image is a fun time-filler (on a flight/commute/in a queue etc).
October 1, 2021
Done with the second book! I do not want to appear ungrateful, it was good, quite good. It is always a tough act to follow on a successful first book and this almost does it. It is slightly less than the first book, but still the strengths of Out of Nowhere are there. Sean Denet the immortal healer this time is tackled by shapeshifters, of all the “gifted” possible clans which we have discovered in the first book wandering around the world, and still adhering to an archaic feudal behavioral code. Let me say that the book evolves quite nicely, the pace is as usual fast and appealing; the shapeshifter stuff threw me a little bit off, people who can mimic other people to the point of a woman resembling a man and viceversa, changing the body structure whilst saving the mass etc. Sean healing can be understood as being ( in a limited paranormal way) scientifically plausible, people canceling memories is on a par, teleporting is strained but can be put down to paranormal activity. Shapeshifters hint more at magic, shifting toward Urban Fantasy, mixed with some science. Maybe a more limited shape shifting could have made the tale more “balanced”, but it does not detract from the enjoyability which is still extremely high. I finished the book in 3 days, I bet it took a lot longer to write, and that tells a lot about rather readability. Maybe the telling of the tale was a bit like up and down, not totally linear, but it is a minor point
There are still a number of loose end which I’d like to read about, perhaps when Sean was actually born, some of the history he frequently hints about, the other clans etc. etc. A lot of possibilities, and if Leclerc keeps on writing this way it is going to be hugely entertaining.
There are still a number of loose end which I’d like to read about, perhaps when Sean was actually born, some of the history he frequently hints about, the other clans etc. etc. A lot of possibilities, and if Leclerc keeps on writing this way it is going to be hugely entertaining.
February 24, 2023
My mother was a history teacher, my father a Screaming Eagle, I work in an ER with friendly paramedics…
My mother was a history teacher, my father a Screaming Eagle, I work in an ER with friendly paramedics… I am also of Prussian derivation (i.e. raised with a specops operator drivenness from childhood, but w/o the cool toys). If any piece of my background fits and you have love of irreverence or enjoy witty, quippy snark right beside obscure history Easter eggs that are triple entendre? Well, pay for Mr.Leclerc’s books. You will have to have a tolerance for or at least withstand disregard for your personally sacred ‘isms.’
Mr LeClerc may be as clever as he thinks he is. I will enjoy his ongoing effort to prove it.
My mother was a history teacher, my father a Screaming Eagle, I work in an ER with friendly paramedics… I am also of Prussian derivation (i.e. raised with a specops operator drivenness from childhood, but w/o the cool toys). If any piece of my background fits and you have love of irreverence or enjoy witty, quippy snark right beside obscure history Easter eggs that are triple entendre? Well, pay for Mr.Leclerc’s books. You will have to have a tolerance for or at least withstand disregard for your personally sacred ‘isms.’
Mr LeClerc may be as clever as he thinks he is. I will enjoy his ongoing effort to prove it.
July 11, 2020
This was a good book. I think Shaun is a good character. I like the fact that he doesn’t like violence. He’s a very likable guy. I like the tension between him and Sarah. In the idea of people being able to shift into other people it’s very intriguing. I can’t wait to see where the series goes next. Overall rating eight out of 10. I also enjoyed hearing about the medical stuff in the book. The Kia is an interesting character. And I like that she and Shaun can be just friends. You don’t usually see that between men and women.
February 14, 2019
A great urban fantasy
The second is a terrific series that manages to be driven as much by relationships as plot. Continuing our immortal healer/paramedics rediscovery of a world in which certain families hAve gifts and downward his.
The second is a terrific series that manages to be driven as much by relationships as plot. Continuing our immortal healer/paramedics rediscovery of a world in which certain families hAve gifts and downward his.
August 1, 2019
Very enjoyable read in the series about an immortal healer/paramedic in modern times, characters and world building are good solid.
Read the first book in the SPFBO 2018, where it reached the last 10 in the competition.
Read the first book in the SPFBO 2018, where it reached the last 10 in the competition.
July 26, 2022
Book 2 of Sean and Sara was very good
Even though much of the action and drama revolves around supernatural abilities, this book comes across as that would be possible. Well done, Mr Author.
Even though much of the action and drama revolves around supernatural abilities, this book comes across as that would be possible. Well done, Mr Author.
August 15, 2018
Humour
What a great sense of fun in the characters or most of them also the history of Sean is interesting and leaves plenty of scope for other stories
What a great sense of fun in the characters or most of them also the history of Sean is interesting and leaves plenty of scope for other stories
January 17, 2017
Good stuff!
My initial impressions were that this was not as good as the first in the series, 'Out of Nowhere' - the concept of the face changers did not appeal to me. However, once past that little problem, this is a very good book!
The writing is well-paced, with a certain amount of action and some nice humour. The hero is about the most likeable guy in modern indie fiction (so if anyone has had enough of conflicted heroes, or even anti-heroes, and wants a bit of light relief - this is it!). The background will be very familiar to readers of modern Urban Fantasy (and check the author's website - much of this is his own background) - but this is a lighter, and much more appealing book than much of that genre.
Only two books in this series so far . . . and its NOT ENOUGH! (Author please note!)
My initial impressions were that this was not as good as the first in the series, 'Out of Nowhere' - the concept of the face changers did not appeal to me. However, once past that little problem, this is a very good book!
The writing is well-paced, with a certain amount of action and some nice humour. The hero is about the most likeable guy in modern indie fiction (so if anyone has had enough of conflicted heroes, or even anti-heroes, and wants a bit of light relief - this is it!). The background will be very familiar to readers of modern Urban Fantasy (and check the author's website - much of this is his own background) - but this is a lighter, and much more appealing book than much of that genre.
Only two books in this series so far . . . and its NOT ENOUGH! (Author please note!)
December 15, 2018
As good as the first book in the series. Read them - you won't be disappointed.
Write more in the series!
Write more in the series!
November 19, 2018
A solid entry in the Immortal Vagabond Healer series. Immortal Sean Danet can heal others with a touch. He keeps low-profile and doesn't focus on gaining wealth or power.
Unfortunately for him, his unique gifts are tempting to other supernatural beings. A family of shape-shifters wants to include Sean's genes to their genetic pool. Through seduction, force or any other means necessary.
Will you like it? Well...It depends. The focus on small-scale events, simple plot and slightly two-dimensional characters won't appeal to more ambitious readers. But they should appeal to those who seek easy and pleasant entertainment and have nothing against moderately improper banter.
At 223 pages the book can be easily read in one / two sittings.
Unfortunately for him, his unique gifts are tempting to other supernatural beings. A family of shape-shifters wants to include Sean's genes to their genetic pool. Through seduction, force or any other means necessary.
Will you like it? Well...It depends. The focus on small-scale events, simple plot and slightly two-dimensional characters won't appeal to more ambitious readers. But they should appeal to those who seek easy and pleasant entertainment and have nothing against moderately improper banter.
At 223 pages the book can be easily read in one / two sittings.
March 21, 2021
The premise was good, the issues the same as the previous book (already covered in my review there). I thought I'd give a second chance to this series but not going to read any more of it. Something that does annoy me as regards this book is the complete misunderstanding of what
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews