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The Unquiet Dead
Pre-med student Tyler Dufresne is way too inexperienced to deal with this magical crap. The spectre he finds after exploring a strange mausoleum linked to the inexplicable suicides of two of his relatives scares the hell out of him. Then, within days, he's lied to by a priest, attacked by a knife-wielding madman, and accosted by a psychic who hates him just because she met him. Seriously.
Ty needs to focus on his own life, and not becoming a redshirt in someone else's story. Besides, countless Dungeons & Dragons games have taught him that newbie adventurers get stabbed more often than not. Problem is, he may be a novice, but he is a real-life necromancer, making it hard to ignore the storm of the Afterwold's spirits growing in the sky. The trauma of the accident which incited his magical powers has held him back for years, but now he needs to learn about his abilities. Fast.
Worse, the rest of Toronto's supernatural underside is apathetic to the threat. Ty knows he's no big damn hero, but wilfull blindness is something Ty just can't stomach. The only clues are a haunted misericorde and three surivors of the cult it once belonged to. The misericorde's also the most recent murder weapon, and - of course - it's missing.
Meanwhile, the spectre grows stronger with every 'suicide' it causes. With All Souls' Day fast approaching, there isn't much time left before the cult survivors gain absolute power over a force of Death unequalled this side of the Veil.
And, as if threatening the friends, family, and city he loves wasn't enough, they also want Ty as its host. Yeah, over his dead body - but that's kind of the point.
Ty needs to focus on his own life, and not becoming a redshirt in someone else's story. Besides, countless Dungeons & Dragons games have taught him that newbie adventurers get stabbed more often than not. Problem is, he may be a novice, but he is a real-life necromancer, making it hard to ignore the storm of the Afterwold's spirits growing in the sky. The trauma of the accident which incited his magical powers has held him back for years, but now he needs to learn about his abilities. Fast.
Worse, the rest of Toronto's supernatural underside is apathetic to the threat. Ty knows he's no big damn hero, but wilfull blindness is something Ty just can't stomach. The only clues are a haunted misericorde and three surivors of the cult it once belonged to. The misericorde's also the most recent murder weapon, and - of course - it's missing.
Meanwhile, the spectre grows stronger with every 'suicide' it causes. With All Souls' Day fast approaching, there isn't much time left before the cult survivors gain absolute power over a force of Death unequalled this side of the Veil.
And, as if threatening the friends, family, and city he loves wasn't enough, they also want Ty as its host. Yeah, over his dead body - but that's kind of the point.
333 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 26, 2016
1 person is currently reading
362 people want to read
About the author
Chris Dubecki
1 book8 followersChris grew up in a quaint old town nestled in a valley deep in the Oak Ridges Moraine, in a house that was probably haunted. They have been writing fantastical stories since they were able to hold a pencil, and dabbled with high fantasy, cyberpunk, and other genres – completing their first 175k word fantasy novel at 15, which will never the light of day.
Now, they live in Toronto, and spend their non-day job time engaged in all manner of geekery, from praising the Gods of Chaos in Warhammer 40k, to playing rascally thieves in tabletop RPGs, to repeatedly blatting their face with a rake in an attempt to beat Dark Souls 3.
They hold Neil Gaiman and Brandon Sanderson in the highest of esteem and thinks Mistborn might be one of their favourite books ever, but other books they’ve been known to love include Neverwhere and The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman, Good Omens by Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke, and The Hitch-Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. They're also a fan of Jim Butcher, R. Scott Bakker, Robert Jordan, Julia Grey, Terry Brooks, and many others.
They love cats, cooking, and have a deep, abiding fondness in their alien psyche for all things Fey, Lovecraftian horrors, and other such inhuman monstrosities of the Blue-and-Orange Morality kind. Like cats.
Now, they live in Toronto, and spend their non-day job time engaged in all manner of geekery, from praising the Gods of Chaos in Warhammer 40k, to playing rascally thieves in tabletop RPGs, to repeatedly blatting their face with a rake in an attempt to beat Dark Souls 3.
They hold Neil Gaiman and Brandon Sanderson in the highest of esteem and thinks Mistborn might be one of their favourite books ever, but other books they’ve been known to love include Neverwhere and The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman, Good Omens by Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke, and The Hitch-Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. They're also a fan of Jim Butcher, R. Scott Bakker, Robert Jordan, Julia Grey, Terry Brooks, and many others.
They love cats, cooking, and have a deep, abiding fondness in their alien psyche for all things Fey, Lovecraftian horrors, and other such inhuman monstrosities of the Blue-and-Orange Morality kind. Like cats.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
July 16, 2016
This is an amazing urban fantasy debut novel by Chris Dubecki set in Toronto. It is hilarious and features a host of supernatural characters from diverse backgrounds. Our central character is Tyler Dufresne, he is 19 years old, bisexual, a pre-med student and necromancer with a terrific sense of humour laced with sarcasm. His circle of friends include his ex Cassie with her new boyfriend Juan, complex Trish, his brother Zach, Kyle, and I cannot not mention Davy Jones, his irregular cat.
At a funeral, Tyler finds himself in a mausoleum with a strange statue that has a bizarre and weird energy coming from it. It turns out Father Young knows a lot more than he is willing to admit. The mausoleum has dark forces within it and connections with a mass suicide pact in the past. It becomes clear that someone wishes to set free the trapped spirit free. It is down to Tyler and his assortment of friends to prevent this happening despite the apathy of a number of supernatural entities. We are with Tyler and his friends as he embarks on this quest and becomes better acquainted with the paranormal world.
The author has a wonderful writing style that just draws in the reader. The novel is intense, dark, funny and beautifully and intricately plotted. I found it entertaining and effortlessly engaging. I particularly liked the cast of characters. Highly recommended read. Thanks to Curiousity Quills Press for an ARC.
At a funeral, Tyler finds himself in a mausoleum with a strange statue that has a bizarre and weird energy coming from it. It turns out Father Young knows a lot more than he is willing to admit. The mausoleum has dark forces within it and connections with a mass suicide pact in the past. It becomes clear that someone wishes to set free the trapped spirit free. It is down to Tyler and his assortment of friends to prevent this happening despite the apathy of a number of supernatural entities. We are with Tyler and his friends as he embarks on this quest and becomes better acquainted with the paranormal world.
The author has a wonderful writing style that just draws in the reader. The novel is intense, dark, funny and beautifully and intricately plotted. I found it entertaining and effortlessly engaging. I particularly liked the cast of characters. Highly recommended read. Thanks to Curiousity Quills Press for an ARC.
August 24, 2016
4 Stars
Full Review:
*I received a free ecopy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
I can summarize in one simple sentence what made this book stand out for me:
The characters and their situations were so realistic, relatable, and normal.
And when I say normal, I mean it in a great way. I think Tyler was the closest I’ve ever found to a character who was actually an average, everyday, just-like-you-and-me person and who acted the way an average person would to the supernatural stuff that was thrust upon him. The way he and his friends got involved actually felt believable.
But everything was realistic period, not just the way Tyler reacted to the supernatural. I feel like everyone could find something to relate to in this book. From the anger and confusing residual feelings Tyler still had for his ex, to the feelings of betrayal when he found out one of his best friend had been lying to him, to the pain and anger he felt toward his not-there father, to the worry that his other-ex-turned-friend’s new boyfriend was harboring a grudge against him, to the way he eventually got overwhelmed by everything and sank into a haze and hole of despair, to the relationship problems between him and his current girlfriend—I keep using the word realistic, but that’s truly what it was.
The characters were also three-dimensional, and even the side/background characters seemed like they had their own lives going on. There was a lot of diversity too—different genders, sexual orientations, races, and even mental and physical health problems (Tyler had panic attacks and needed sleeping pills, one of his friends used a wheelchair, and his friend’s brother had some sort of mental health disorder, though I have a feeling that last one might turn out to be supernatural-related).
I also thought all the stuff about the necromantic magic and wild magic was intriguing and worked really well. Magic in books has a tendency to get out of control and just change depending on what the author feels like, but this actually made sense.
The only problem I had was that the book lacked urgency. There was a clear goal, stakes, etc., and the plot was intricate and flowed well, but I guess it felt kind of slow moving. So it was a great story, just not quite un-put-down-able for me.
Overall though, I loved how relatable and three-dimensional the characters were and how fascinating the magic was, and I’m looking forward to reading more about Tyler and his friends!
Recommended For:
Urban fantasy readers who like necromancy and a well explained magic system, slow to moderate pace, and realistic, relatable, you-and-me type characters.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
Full Review:
*I received a free ecopy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
I can summarize in one simple sentence what made this book stand out for me:
The characters and their situations were so realistic, relatable, and normal.
And when I say normal, I mean it in a great way. I think Tyler was the closest I’ve ever found to a character who was actually an average, everyday, just-like-you-and-me person and who acted the way an average person would to the supernatural stuff that was thrust upon him. The way he and his friends got involved actually felt believable.
But everything was realistic period, not just the way Tyler reacted to the supernatural. I feel like everyone could find something to relate to in this book. From the anger and confusing residual feelings Tyler still had for his ex, to the feelings of betrayal when he found out one of his best friend had been lying to him, to the pain and anger he felt toward his not-there father, to the worry that his other-ex-turned-friend’s new boyfriend was harboring a grudge against him, to the way he eventually got overwhelmed by everything and sank into a haze and hole of despair, to the relationship problems between him and his current girlfriend—I keep using the word realistic, but that’s truly what it was.
The characters were also three-dimensional, and even the side/background characters seemed like they had their own lives going on. There was a lot of diversity too—different genders, sexual orientations, races, and even mental and physical health problems (Tyler had panic attacks and needed sleeping pills, one of his friends used a wheelchair, and his friend’s brother had some sort of mental health disorder, though I have a feeling that last one might turn out to be supernatural-related).
I also thought all the stuff about the necromantic magic and wild magic was intriguing and worked really well. Magic in books has a tendency to get out of control and just change depending on what the author feels like, but this actually made sense.
The only problem I had was that the book lacked urgency. There was a clear goal, stakes, etc., and the plot was intricate and flowed well, but I guess it felt kind of slow moving. So it was a great story, just not quite un-put-down-able for me.
Overall though, I loved how relatable and three-dimensional the characters were and how fascinating the magic was, and I’m looking forward to reading more about Tyler and his friends!
Recommended For:
Urban fantasy readers who like necromancy and a well explained magic system, slow to moderate pace, and realistic, relatable, you-and-me type characters.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
September 4, 2019
I got my hands on the ARC of this amazing debut novel thanks to the publisher, who sent me one in exchange for an honest review :) and I have to say that I absolutely loved it :) it was another example of a newbie author, who totally surprised me with his fantastic writing style... :) unfortunately there will be no quotes today for you, cause it was really hard for me to pick something short, and not like three whole pages ;) that would show you the banter between characters and at the same time wouldn't spoil you some pretty improtant things :) but trust me when I say, that it was absolutely entertaining :) and since it's a debut novel, for now it's a standalone, so don't worry about cliffhangers and such, the... let's just call it "situation" is resolved in this book, but there are definitely open doors for future installments... and I am hoping there will be more :) and after you have a chance of reading about these characters, you'll want more too :)
So let me tell you a bit more about the cast of characters :) Tyler is definitely the main one :) the whole book is told from his perspective after all :) he is 19, and have been a necromancer for the last four years... there is actually a very... I wanted to say cool, but let's go with interesting or unusual instead ;) way of becoming one :) I'm not gonna tell you what it is... mainly because I don't want to spoil you stuff and also, because the explanations in the book are really good :) Ty is also a pre-med student, but what I think I love the most about him, beside his sarcastic humor ;) is that he is an openly bi character... and it's just... there... :) there are no struggles, no coming to terms with that... it's just one more feature about him... at one point in the book he says... and I just love this quote... "I'm attracted to people, not genders" :) you have no idea how happy that made me :)
Besides Tyler, there is a bunch of other characters... and they are definitely a diverse and very interesting bunch, let me tell you that... :) I'm not gonna tell you about every one... especially since we discover how important some of them are late in the book, but I will mention a few :) so we have Cassie, Ty's ex and current friend and Juan, her new boyfriend... there's also Kyle, another one of Ty's friend and his younger brother Zach... and I absolutely have to mention Trish... she's... well... it's complicated :) all of the people I mentioned are interesting for very different reasons... and we discover quite a few of those reasons throughout the book... that is why I will say nothing more about them here, so you'll have surprises along the way... and believe me, those few are just a part of a very large and diverse cast of characters... :) oh, I almost forgot about Davy Jones... :) he's Tyler's cat... well... not just a regular cat, but... again, no spoilers from me, you'll find out once you read the book :)
The action starts from the very first chapter... we are basically thrown right in the middle of it :) but fear not... :) Ty, even though he's been a necromancer for around four years, doesn't really know that much about this whole... paranormal side of the world :) so we kind of learn along with him :) and don't worry, the important informations are repeated a few times in the book, and not everything is dumped on you in the first chapters :) which is a very smart thing to do, cause it gives you time to absorb the informations... :) so just go with the flow and don't worry... you'll get everything at some point :) now about my impressions :) I really loved this book :) I adored the big and diverse cast of characters... the action... the rules of this world... well, the rules of the paranormal part of this world, cause the action takes place in Toronto, not in a mystical world :) I love how the story came together... and I especially love that after finishing it, I could see little things here and there that were put there for a reason... I know I'm being vague, but I don't want to spoil you accidentally... :) let me try again... :) for exmple a person is mentioned... or an event... and you think it's just there as part of a story that someone is telling, but it isn't until later that you discover how important it was... :) that is the best way I can describe it :) but I always love it when authors put something like that in their books... :) it really shows they do have a bigger picture in mind, and that everything is in its place for a reason :) I can wholeheartedly recommend this book, especially if you're in the mood for something with paranormal vibes, entertaining cast of characters and lots of action... then definitely give this book a try :)
XOXO
A
So let me tell you a bit more about the cast of characters :) Tyler is definitely the main one :) the whole book is told from his perspective after all :) he is 19, and have been a necromancer for the last four years... there is actually a very... I wanted to say cool, but let's go with interesting or unusual instead ;) way of becoming one :) I'm not gonna tell you what it is... mainly because I don't want to spoil you stuff and also, because the explanations in the book are really good :) Ty is also a pre-med student, but what I think I love the most about him, beside his sarcastic humor ;) is that he is an openly bi character... and it's just... there... :) there are no struggles, no coming to terms with that... it's just one more feature about him... at one point in the book he says... and I just love this quote... "I'm attracted to people, not genders" :) you have no idea how happy that made me :)
Besides Tyler, there is a bunch of other characters... and they are definitely a diverse and very interesting bunch, let me tell you that... :) I'm not gonna tell you about every one... especially since we discover how important some of them are late in the book, but I will mention a few :) so we have Cassie, Ty's ex and current friend and Juan, her new boyfriend... there's also Kyle, another one of Ty's friend and his younger brother Zach... and I absolutely have to mention Trish... she's... well... it's complicated :) all of the people I mentioned are interesting for very different reasons... and we discover quite a few of those reasons throughout the book... that is why I will say nothing more about them here, so you'll have surprises along the way... and believe me, those few are just a part of a very large and diverse cast of characters... :) oh, I almost forgot about Davy Jones... :) he's Tyler's cat... well... not just a regular cat, but... again, no spoilers from me, you'll find out once you read the book :)
The action starts from the very first chapter... we are basically thrown right in the middle of it :) but fear not... :) Ty, even though he's been a necromancer for around four years, doesn't really know that much about this whole... paranormal side of the world :) so we kind of learn along with him :) and don't worry, the important informations are repeated a few times in the book, and not everything is dumped on you in the first chapters :) which is a very smart thing to do, cause it gives you time to absorb the informations... :) so just go with the flow and don't worry... you'll get everything at some point :) now about my impressions :) I really loved this book :) I adored the big and diverse cast of characters... the action... the rules of this world... well, the rules of the paranormal part of this world, cause the action takes place in Toronto, not in a mystical world :) I love how the story came together... and I especially love that after finishing it, I could see little things here and there that were put there for a reason... I know I'm being vague, but I don't want to spoil you accidentally... :) let me try again... :) for exmple a person is mentioned... or an event... and you think it's just there as part of a story that someone is telling, but it isn't until later that you discover how important it was... :) that is the best way I can describe it :) but I always love it when authors put something like that in their books... :) it really shows they do have a bigger picture in mind, and that everything is in its place for a reason :) I can wholeheartedly recommend this book, especially if you're in the mood for something with paranormal vibes, entertaining cast of characters and lots of action... then definitely give this book a try :)
XOXO
A
July 29, 2019
*I received an e-arc of this wonderful book through the publisher on Netgalley in exchange of an honest review
It may have taken me quite some time get through and finish this book, but once I finished, I was left dying for more! I found Ty’s story so dark, original and just plain fascinating! I had never read a book involving necromancy or any of the things mentioned on this book and I was actually pretty surprised that I ended up loving it all! I admit that I was a little confused at the beginning with Ty’s necromancy abilities and the spectre and all that, but as the story continued and I got to understand everything that was happening, I couldn’t stop reading! I actually had to force myself to stop! This story was dark, fast-paced and full of action, mystery and intrigue! The twists were amazing and totally unexpected, and so was the ending! Looks like there are more than just necromancers, specters, chimeras, and were-cats on this side of the veil!
Now, if you ask me about the author’s writing, all I can say is that it was great! I loved how he brought Ty to life and how normal and easy it was to connect with him and understand his situation! As always, I’m not a big fan of urban fantasy, but this one was great! I loved how Toronto was big and full of dark deathly secrets around every corner. And damn that tower!
We don’t get to meet many characters through Tyler’s story, but even if they aren’t many, they all manage to make this story far more interesting, darker and gruesome. Besides Ty (our main character and favorite necromancer who owns a resurrected cat), we also get to meet Kyle (one of Ty’s best friends), Zach (Kyle’s younger brother), Casey, Juan, Trish, Father Yeung and many more I won’t mention in case of spoilers! They were all great, enjoyable, and they all had their own dark secrets (and interests)!
In the end, this was one of those books I ended up loving more than I thought I would! Everything developed perfectly, and after that amazing ending, I cannot wait for book 2 and see what happens next with Ty after all he went through (and let's not forget that little note at the end)!
It may have taken me quite some time get through and finish this book, but once I finished, I was left dying for more! I found Ty’s story so dark, original and just plain fascinating! I had never read a book involving necromancy or any of the things mentioned on this book and I was actually pretty surprised that I ended up loving it all! I admit that I was a little confused at the beginning with Ty’s necromancy abilities and the spectre and all that, but as the story continued and I got to understand everything that was happening, I couldn’t stop reading! I actually had to force myself to stop! This story was dark, fast-paced and full of action, mystery and intrigue! The twists were amazing and totally unexpected, and so was the ending! Looks like there are more than just necromancers, specters, chimeras, and were-cats on this side of the veil!
Now, if you ask me about the author’s writing, all I can say is that it was great! I loved how he brought Ty to life and how normal and easy it was to connect with him and understand his situation! As always, I’m not a big fan of urban fantasy, but this one was great! I loved how Toronto was big and full of dark deathly secrets around every corner. And damn that tower!
We don’t get to meet many characters through Tyler’s story, but even if they aren’t many, they all manage to make this story far more interesting, darker and gruesome. Besides Ty (our main character and favorite necromancer who owns a resurrected cat), we also get to meet Kyle (one of Ty’s best friends), Zach (Kyle’s younger brother), Casey, Juan, Trish, Father Yeung and many more I won’t mention in case of spoilers! They were all great, enjoyable, and they all had their own dark secrets (and interests)!
In the end, this was one of those books I ended up loving more than I thought I would! Everything developed perfectly, and after that amazing ending, I cannot wait for book 2 and see what happens next with Ty after all he went through (and let's not forget that little note at the end)!
August 14, 2016
3.5 Stars
Full review to come!
Full review to come!
March 6, 2019
This story pulled me in from page one and never let me go!
The Unquiet Dead is the first-person recounting of a modern necromancer's initial encounter with the darker side of Toronto's supernatural scene.
That description doesn't begin to capture the experience, though. Ty isn't at all what you would expect a necromancer to be, and this isn't a fantasy-shoehorned-into-modern-day kind of setting.
The characters are fully rounded, complete with fear and awkwardness and the complicated emotions of navigating past and present relationships. The reactions to the novelty and stress of the supernatural events feel utterly grounded and relatable.
Toronto is recognizable, but easily forgotten as characters go about their lives. The references are grounding and familiar when they arise. (Too often, real world settings in fantasy can quickly overshadow the story, but this is skillfully integrated.)
This review doesn't begin to capture the story. If you have any passing interest in fantasy, the paranormal, or nerd culture in general, you need to experience this first-hand!
The Unquiet Dead is the first-person recounting of a modern necromancer's initial encounter with the darker side of Toronto's supernatural scene.
That description doesn't begin to capture the experience, though. Ty isn't at all what you would expect a necromancer to be, and this isn't a fantasy-shoehorned-into-modern-day kind of setting.
The characters are fully rounded, complete with fear and awkwardness and the complicated emotions of navigating past and present relationships. The reactions to the novelty and stress of the supernatural events feel utterly grounded and relatable.
Toronto is recognizable, but easily forgotten as characters go about their lives. The references are grounding and familiar when they arise. (Too often, real world settings in fantasy can quickly overshadow the story, but this is skillfully integrated.)
This review doesn't begin to capture the story. If you have any passing interest in fantasy, the paranormal, or nerd culture in general, you need to experience this first-hand!
June 27, 2016
Full disclosure: I was the Acquisitions Editor for "The Unquiet Dead", so I may be a little biased.
Short review: READ THIS BOOK! Long review: Dubecki expertly weaves a tale of intensity, darkness, and yes, even humor in his debut "The Unquiet Dead". I was initially drawn to this book when I read the opening chapters. The first few scenes were epic, and Dubecki has a way with words that I hadn't seen come across my desk for a time. As the story continues, the twists and turns had me staying awake at night way longer than I should have been in order to reach the conclusion. And then that ending! Let's just say that this is only the beginning, folks.
Another huge draw for me was the characters. Not only are they characters that readers can relate to, but they're diverse -- both in terms of sexual orientation AND ability. I adore books that push boundaries, and "The Unquiet Dead" not only does this with its plot, but it does so in its unapologetic portrayal of persons from all walks of life. If you're interested in an urban fantasy that is much more than your average urban fantasy, Dubecki's debut is the book for you!
Short review: READ THIS BOOK! Long review: Dubecki expertly weaves a tale of intensity, darkness, and yes, even humor in his debut "The Unquiet Dead". I was initially drawn to this book when I read the opening chapters. The first few scenes were epic, and Dubecki has a way with words that I hadn't seen come across my desk for a time. As the story continues, the twists and turns had me staying awake at night way longer than I should have been in order to reach the conclusion. And then that ending! Let's just say that this is only the beginning, folks.
Another huge draw for me was the characters. Not only are they characters that readers can relate to, but they're diverse -- both in terms of sexual orientation AND ability. I adore books that push boundaries, and "The Unquiet Dead" not only does this with its plot, but it does so in its unapologetic portrayal of persons from all walks of life. If you're interested in an urban fantasy that is much more than your average urban fantasy, Dubecki's debut is the book for you!
August 5, 2016
*3-3.5/5 stars*
I appreciated this though it necessarily reach its full potential. Full review here!
I appreciated this though it necessarily reach its full potential. Full review here!
November 13, 2021
Tyler is a beginning necromancer ever since an accident a few years before. He goes to an uncle's funeral and weird things start happening. Then another suicide happens and then another. Now he is trying to figure out what the heck is happening. His friend Kyle introduces him to a necromancer to train him properly. Then all of a sudden someone or something is trying to kill him. Now he has to learn really fast and he and his friends need to save the world from a specter that is trying to escape after being imprisoned for hundreds of years.
I enjoyed this world and the way it was fleshed out little by little. I loved Tyler's undead cat Davey.
I hope this will be just the beginning of a series as it was very interesting and fun read.
I enjoyed this world and the way it was fleshed out little by little. I loved Tyler's undead cat Davey.
I hope this will be just the beginning of a series as it was very interesting and fun read.
January 26, 2017
Well written. There's a lot going on in this story. It took me a couple days to read it, because I had to take breaks to break it up. Overall was worth the read.
December 14, 2017
An excellent and clever amalgam of history, politics and mystery. Masterful in its weaving whilst adhering to the formulaic. Look forward to reading the next offering.
July 19, 2016
Oy. This was a slog, and for the life of me, I can't figure out why. On the surface, this is the kind of modern urban magic thing I tend to like, with enough interesting bits tossed in to make it fun.
But it was still a slog.
Oh, the book was good - make no mistake, this was an interesting story, well written, and a different look at magic. In short, The Unquiet Dead is the story of Tyler, a newish necromancer in Toronto, trying to learn his abilities, limits, and why there have been a rash of suicides of late, echoing a rash of suicides in the past.
In short order, we learn that his friends (a mix of magical and mundane) are all that stand between Toronto and a big bad from the other side getting loose, and killing...as I read it...Toronto. Through this, we get to learn more about the past of the city, the metaphysic of author Chris Dubecki's world, and how the CN Tower messes with magic too well to be an accident. I actually got a huge kick out of that - seems like a good hook for a follow-up novel. In this world, there are psychics, were, vampires, necromancers (which means ghosts, zombies, etc.), and wild talents (which seems to be the catch-all for any other magic).
The plot is introduced very quickly, and then shoved aside to focus more on exposition of the world, Tyler's training, and other aspects of the novel.
All things being equal, the measure of a book is 'did I enjoy it', and in that end, I did. I think it might have worked better as a 2-3 book arc, since it seemed like there was a lot of stuff crammed in that might have benefited from more exploration - or from trimming. This kind of thing goes both ways usually.
I opened with it being a slog, and as I write this, i can't help but wonder why that was. Some of it was the way the book was constructed, with the tangential aspects that make a book more than a mindless action thing, and those tangents being just (to me) exactly the wrong length and content. Some was the quantity and occasional sameness of the characters - several tertiary characters seemed to be the same person, which slowed things down. And then there is the part below, where some spoilers dwell.
Book reviews are almost all based on the reader's perception, so to is this one. And as such, any comments that are made are my own, and based solely on how I read the book. I know, right, a disclaimer? But there is a reason for this, and that reason is best summed up by comparing two characters, one from The Unquiet Dead, and one from Seanan McGuire's Velveteen series.
In The Unquiet Dead, Tyler is bisexual. Not like that matters - it does not - but my take on the writing was that it was supposed to. That was part of what made this one harder to read, my impression that his sexuality was supposed to matter somehow. It doesn't (not just to me) - not to the plot, to the other characters, to any aspect of the book. But it sure seemed like it was supposed to. It was introduced, and used, like a bit of a club - see, bi characters exist and you have to face it! It wasn't important in any way to the character, plot, side characters, bad guys, etc. It simply didn't matter, and that made the approach to it feel like it was shoved in to make some kind of statement. And that is just bad writing.
By way of comparison, in the Velveteen series, the superhero Princess (the living embodiment of young girls' dreams...think Disney times a million) is trans. And it not only doesn't matter, it feels like it doesn't matter. Of course she is. So? It isn't a hiccup in the story, it isn't a point that feels out of place, it simply is. Like Velveteen having brown hair. Kind of unimportant. There are also gay characters - same thing. Doesn't matter. It just is.
And that is the difference. I actually stopped The Unquiet Dead to read Velveteen vs The Seasons. The approach to (pardon the clunky phrasing here) non-hetero and trans characters was so vastly different... No, that isn't accurate. The approach was the same - it is not important to the story, to the character's motivation/interestingness/utility, but the presentation was different. In McGuire's work, it was seamless and smoothly done. In fact, as I recall, when the Princess was introduced, I had to back up to reread the intro, since her being born him was referred to, and I went right past it, not feeling thrown from the story. I was thrown when Tyler's bisexuality was introduced.
Message fiction is fine - but sacrificing story to message is not. It makes the book less than it could be otherwise. While there is nothing at all wrong with how Tyler is portrayed, the way his sexuality is brought up could have been far, far better.
But it was still a slog.
Oh, the book was good - make no mistake, this was an interesting story, well written, and a different look at magic. In short, The Unquiet Dead is the story of Tyler, a newish necromancer in Toronto, trying to learn his abilities, limits, and why there have been a rash of suicides of late, echoing a rash of suicides in the past.
In short order, we learn that his friends (a mix of magical and mundane) are all that stand between Toronto and a big bad from the other side getting loose, and killing...as I read it...Toronto. Through this, we get to learn more about the past of the city, the metaphysic of author Chris Dubecki's world, and how the CN Tower messes with magic too well to be an accident. I actually got a huge kick out of that - seems like a good hook for a follow-up novel. In this world, there are psychics, were, vampires, necromancers (which means ghosts, zombies, etc.), and wild talents (which seems to be the catch-all for any other magic).
The plot is introduced very quickly, and then shoved aside to focus more on exposition of the world, Tyler's training, and other aspects of the novel.
All things being equal, the measure of a book is 'did I enjoy it', and in that end, I did. I think it might have worked better as a 2-3 book arc, since it seemed like there was a lot of stuff crammed in that might have benefited from more exploration - or from trimming. This kind of thing goes both ways usually.
I opened with it being a slog, and as I write this, i can't help but wonder why that was. Some of it was the way the book was constructed, with the tangential aspects that make a book more than a mindless action thing, and those tangents being just (to me) exactly the wrong length and content. Some was the quantity and occasional sameness of the characters - several tertiary characters seemed to be the same person, which slowed things down. And then there is the part below, where some spoilers dwell.
Book reviews are almost all based on the reader's perception, so to is this one. And as such, any comments that are made are my own, and based solely on how I read the book. I know, right, a disclaimer? But there is a reason for this, and that reason is best summed up by comparing two characters, one from The Unquiet Dead, and one from Seanan McGuire's Velveteen series.
In The Unquiet Dead, Tyler is bisexual. Not like that matters - it does not - but my take on the writing was that it was supposed to. That was part of what made this one harder to read, my impression that his sexuality was supposed to matter somehow. It doesn't (not just to me) - not to the plot, to the other characters, to any aspect of the book. But it sure seemed like it was supposed to. It was introduced, and used, like a bit of a club - see, bi characters exist and you have to face it! It wasn't important in any way to the character, plot, side characters, bad guys, etc. It simply didn't matter, and that made the approach to it feel like it was shoved in to make some kind of statement. And that is just bad writing.
By way of comparison, in the Velveteen series, the superhero Princess (the living embodiment of young girls' dreams...think Disney times a million) is trans. And it not only doesn't matter, it feels like it doesn't matter. Of course she is. So? It isn't a hiccup in the story, it isn't a point that feels out of place, it simply is. Like Velveteen having brown hair. Kind of unimportant. There are also gay characters - same thing. Doesn't matter. It just is.
And that is the difference. I actually stopped The Unquiet Dead to read Velveteen vs The Seasons. The approach to (pardon the clunky phrasing here) non-hetero and trans characters was so vastly different... No, that isn't accurate. The approach was the same - it is not important to the story, to the character's motivation/interestingness/utility, but the presentation was different. In McGuire's work, it was seamless and smoothly done. In fact, as I recall, when the Princess was introduced, I had to back up to reread the intro, since her being born him was referred to, and I went right past it, not feeling thrown from the story. I was thrown when Tyler's bisexuality was introduced.
Message fiction is fine - but sacrificing story to message is not. It makes the book less than it could be otherwise. While there is nothing at all wrong with how Tyler is portrayed, the way his sexuality is brought up could have been far, far better.
August 27, 2016
***I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review. All of the opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s. ***
The Unquiet Dead by Chris Dubecki is a story about a young man by the man of Tyler who is…a necromancer. He survived a nasty accident at the age of 16 to find himself with the ability to utilize the powers of death. Strange things are happening around town…first his uncle passes away…apparent suicide and then not long after his aunt passes away as well…another suicide. It seems really strange. In the graveyard where his loved ones are buried is a strange mausoleum that is not visible during the daylight…it can only be found and see in the “Pale”, a strange place that is just on the other side of the mortal world. Something is trying to break through and come to our world and it is having some help stemming from a tragedy that happened years ago. Many will die if Tyler and his friends aren’t able to keep it locked away from crossing over. There are those who are trying to help it out under the pretense of wanting to move it but what is really the truth? Will Tyler and his friends succeed or will the city they know be destroyed by this entity that wishes to cross over?
When I first started reading The Unquiet Dead it was a bit here, there and a bit scattered in my opinion. You get introduced to several characters quickly which makes the story a bit difficult to grasp because the all the different characters have their different personalities and dynamics. First we meet Tyler who is a necromancer, then we meet Cassie and her boyfriend Juan, then we are introduced briefly to Father Yeung who is the priest who oversees the church and graveyard where Tyler comes across the mausoleum. You can immediately tell that Father Yeung knows something about the strangeness that is going on but he attempts to deceive the others.
As the story goes on we begin to piece things together as strange things start happening around Tyler. He’s attacked by a strange man, then strange creatures attempt to kill him as well. Once Tyler and his friends fully understand what is going on and everything that is at stake if they fail the story really begins to gain traction and become more interesting. Tyler has a presence, a force about him that pulls other into his wake and along with him so he gains some new allies in the process. He has to get stronger if he is going to keep this thing from crossing over and destroying the city.
When I first saw this book I was really intrigued and wanted to read it. Now when I first started reading it I began to question whether I would enjoy it or not but once I got about halfway through I really got into it and started wanting to know what was going to happen next in the story. I’ll admit that I read a few reviews that had me questioning whether I’d like it but I decided to make my own judgement call on it and continued on. The story is good. There were some spots of where I would have liked to know more but overall it’s good. The author leaves us with a bit of a hint at a book two which I would be interested in reading to see where things go.
Overall this is a pretty good book and once I got into it I really enjoyed it. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.
The Unquiet Dead by Chris Dubecki is a story about a young man by the man of Tyler who is…a necromancer. He survived a nasty accident at the age of 16 to find himself with the ability to utilize the powers of death. Strange things are happening around town…first his uncle passes away…apparent suicide and then not long after his aunt passes away as well…another suicide. It seems really strange. In the graveyard where his loved ones are buried is a strange mausoleum that is not visible during the daylight…it can only be found and see in the “Pale”, a strange place that is just on the other side of the mortal world. Something is trying to break through and come to our world and it is having some help stemming from a tragedy that happened years ago. Many will die if Tyler and his friends aren’t able to keep it locked away from crossing over. There are those who are trying to help it out under the pretense of wanting to move it but what is really the truth? Will Tyler and his friends succeed or will the city they know be destroyed by this entity that wishes to cross over?
When I first started reading The Unquiet Dead it was a bit here, there and a bit scattered in my opinion. You get introduced to several characters quickly which makes the story a bit difficult to grasp because the all the different characters have their different personalities and dynamics. First we meet Tyler who is a necromancer, then we meet Cassie and her boyfriend Juan, then we are introduced briefly to Father Yeung who is the priest who oversees the church and graveyard where Tyler comes across the mausoleum. You can immediately tell that Father Yeung knows something about the strangeness that is going on but he attempts to deceive the others.
As the story goes on we begin to piece things together as strange things start happening around Tyler. He’s attacked by a strange man, then strange creatures attempt to kill him as well. Once Tyler and his friends fully understand what is going on and everything that is at stake if they fail the story really begins to gain traction and become more interesting. Tyler has a presence, a force about him that pulls other into his wake and along with him so he gains some new allies in the process. He has to get stronger if he is going to keep this thing from crossing over and destroying the city.
When I first saw this book I was really intrigued and wanted to read it. Now when I first started reading it I began to question whether I would enjoy it or not but once I got about halfway through I really got into it and started wanting to know what was going to happen next in the story. I’ll admit that I read a few reviews that had me questioning whether I’d like it but I decided to make my own judgement call on it and continued on. The story is good. There were some spots of where I would have liked to know more but overall it’s good. The author leaves us with a bit of a hint at a book two which I would be interested in reading to see where things go.
Overall this is a pretty good book and once I got into it I really enjoyed it. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.
August 7, 2016
The storyline of this tale was fairly intriguing, filled with ghosts, cults, specters, and other supernatural beings. One rather intriguing plot device that the author made good use of was the fact that the main character supposedly was new to learning about his necromantic powers. So the reader was taken along for his tutoring sessions, and learned a lot about the world view of the main characters in this fashion.
The narrative itself was rather interesting, although there were a lot of convoluted schemes and intrigues that didn’t always make sense or seem to fully come together. However, there were many more things that bothered me about the book than impressed me.
If you have issues with the F-word then, seriously, do not read this book! Nearly every page had at least one instance of it, many had two or three. After a while, I started to speculate that the author maybe didn’t know any other words, different swear words included. I definitely would not let my kids read it, not even my teens.
There was an overuse of “yeah?” at the end of sentences. Apparently, it’s the author’s version of “eh?” I guess that’s a real Canadian thing? I always thought it was made up. Every time it was used, it reminded me of the two moose in Brother Bear. And it was nearly as annoying as them.
I also had a problem with how often it was mentioned that the main character was nauseous or sick to his stomach. I was starting to wonder if he was pregnant.
The thing that I disliked the most, however, was the ending. There were already a ton of questions left unanswered from the last action scene. Then the very last words of the tale are a total cliff-hanger, leading into a completely different topic that had only been hinted at earlier in the book. A cheap parting shot, if you ask me. I just hope that there is a planned sequel out there; I hate loose ends.
Despite all of the things that largely irritated me about the book, I did finish it through to the end. The characters weren’t magnificent, and quite frankly I had a hard time relating to them at first. Nonetheless, they did grow on me after a while, much as Trish developed a likely for Ty. It was quite interesting to find that many of the players were not what they seemed. I expect there will be more revelations in future books as well, as there were several suggestions of things not yet fully explored.
I received a pdf copy of this book free from Curiosity Quills in exchange for an honest review.
The narrative itself was rather interesting, although there were a lot of convoluted schemes and intrigues that didn’t always make sense or seem to fully come together. However, there were many more things that bothered me about the book than impressed me.
If you have issues with the F-word then, seriously, do not read this book! Nearly every page had at least one instance of it, many had two or three. After a while, I started to speculate that the author maybe didn’t know any other words, different swear words included. I definitely would not let my kids read it, not even my teens.
There was an overuse of “yeah?” at the end of sentences. Apparently, it’s the author’s version of “eh?” I guess that’s a real Canadian thing? I always thought it was made up. Every time it was used, it reminded me of the two moose in Brother Bear. And it was nearly as annoying as them.
I also had a problem with how often it was mentioned that the main character was nauseous or sick to his stomach. I was starting to wonder if he was pregnant.
The thing that I disliked the most, however, was the ending. There were already a ton of questions left unanswered from the last action scene. Then the very last words of the tale are a total cliff-hanger, leading into a completely different topic that had only been hinted at earlier in the book. A cheap parting shot, if you ask me. I just hope that there is a planned sequel out there; I hate loose ends.
Despite all of the things that largely irritated me about the book, I did finish it through to the end. The characters weren’t magnificent, and quite frankly I had a hard time relating to them at first. Nonetheless, they did grow on me after a while, much as Trish developed a likely for Ty. It was quite interesting to find that many of the players were not what they seemed. I expect there will be more revelations in future books as well, as there were several suggestions of things not yet fully explored.
I received a pdf copy of this book free from Curiosity Quills in exchange for an honest review.
August 17, 2016
Solid debut for an urban fantasy writer. I've been following some of his work on his website for a bit leading up to the book release.
I really appreciated how I could really feel which friend Ty was talking to given their speech habits/patterns and the subjects they were talking about. Kyle has this stupid habit of appending ",yeah?" to the end of sentences. Juan's facial expression and body language seem to play a big part in his 'voice' and both of the necromancy instructors have this sense of history, with each other and separately.
Something that really bothered me about the voices of these characters is the swearing. Ty is, apparently, foul-mouthed so if there's another character swearing as well it can get to be a bit much.
That said, it really feels like each of the supporting cast has a life going on outside the main story. We run into people doing errands, people seem to be surprised when they share mutual friends. I dig it.
I also really appreciated the descriptions of how Ty feels about things. I struggle a bit with anxiety so I can 100% relate to the sleeplessness but it seems like Ty really feels it in his guts. Like it's pretty clear there's some issues which require on-going medication. Which I think is cool. It's kind of surprising to me how many protagonists aren't seeing a professional or taking medication given what they've experienced.
As for the plot, it moves really fast in some places but some sections seem to focus a bit on world building so there's this rush/investigate tempo that sometimes feels weird. Even so, I managed to finish this book in a day or two so it worked, I suppose.
Overall, a solid read that I'd recommend to friends who like things like table-top role-playing games, video games, modern fantasy, urban fantasy, cats, YA fiction and such things.
This book set out an interesting world and I'm hoping that there's more from this author; specifically more in this setting.
I really appreciated how I could really feel which friend Ty was talking to given their speech habits/patterns and the subjects they were talking about. Kyle has this stupid habit of appending ",yeah?" to the end of sentences. Juan's facial expression and body language seem to play a big part in his 'voice' and both of the necromancy instructors have this sense of history, with each other and separately.
Something that really bothered me about the voices of these characters is the swearing. Ty is, apparently, foul-mouthed so if there's another character swearing as well it can get to be a bit much.
That said, it really feels like each of the supporting cast has a life going on outside the main story. We run into people doing errands, people seem to be surprised when they share mutual friends. I dig it.
I also really appreciated the descriptions of how Ty feels about things. I struggle a bit with anxiety so I can 100% relate to the sleeplessness but it seems like Ty really feels it in his guts. Like it's pretty clear there's some issues which require on-going medication. Which I think is cool. It's kind of surprising to me how many protagonists aren't seeing a professional or taking medication given what they've experienced.
As for the plot, it moves really fast in some places but some sections seem to focus a bit on world building so there's this rush/investigate tempo that sometimes feels weird. Even so, I managed to finish this book in a day or two so it worked, I suppose.
Overall, a solid read that I'd recommend to friends who like things like table-top role-playing games, video games, modern fantasy, urban fantasy, cats, YA fiction and such things.
This book set out an interesting world and I'm hoping that there's more from this author; specifically more in this setting.
July 3, 2016
Rating 3.5 stars.
The Unquiet Dead is a paranormal tale set in Toronto, Canada. Nineteen year old Tyler Dufresne is a Necromancer. At a funeral he is drawn to a mausoleum with an eerie statue which emits a fearful energy. Sharing his experience with his friends he is persuaded to visit an occult shop where Martin and his partner Thomas might be able to teach Tyler to use his own powers effectively.
Research finds that Father Yeung knows more about the evil bound in the mausoleum and its links with a past mass suicide pact. Someone is trying to release the bound spirit and Tyler and his friends must put a stop to it all.
There is a big cast of supernaturals in this book; Necromancers, eidolon, were-folk, sorcerers, psychics, ghosts and more for lovers of the paranormal theme. The story-line has great potential, I felt it needed more building of layers and depth of characters, characteristics and action scenes. This would have made each person more memorable and their purpose in the book more believable. Some of the dialogue didn't feel right, Police officer Mark Hennessey's use of the F-bombs when talking to an almost complete stranger just wasn't professional enough. There is also a time and place for f-bombs and generally over using them in writing robs an author of opportunities to show the reader his or her skills as a writer.
A good first attempt at a paranormal tale, it just needs more work to compete in this very competitive genre.
The Unquiet Dead is a paranormal tale set in Toronto, Canada. Nineteen year old Tyler Dufresne is a Necromancer. At a funeral he is drawn to a mausoleum with an eerie statue which emits a fearful energy. Sharing his experience with his friends he is persuaded to visit an occult shop where Martin and his partner Thomas might be able to teach Tyler to use his own powers effectively.
Research finds that Father Yeung knows more about the evil bound in the mausoleum and its links with a past mass suicide pact. Someone is trying to release the bound spirit and Tyler and his friends must put a stop to it all.
There is a big cast of supernaturals in this book; Necromancers, eidolon, were-folk, sorcerers, psychics, ghosts and more for lovers of the paranormal theme. The story-line has great potential, I felt it needed more building of layers and depth of characters, characteristics and action scenes. This would have made each person more memorable and their purpose in the book more believable. Some of the dialogue didn't feel right, Police officer Mark Hennessey's use of the F-bombs when talking to an almost complete stranger just wasn't professional enough. There is also a time and place for f-bombs and generally over using them in writing robs an author of opportunities to show the reader his or her skills as a writer.
A good first attempt at a paranormal tale, it just needs more work to compete in this very competitive genre.
June 27, 2016
Full disclosure: I was the Acquisitions Editor for "The Unquiet Dead", so I may be a little biased.
Short review: READ THIS BOOK! Long review: Dubecki expertly weaves a tale of intensity, darkness, and yes, even humor in his debut "The Unquiet Dead". I was initially drawn to this book when I read the opening chapters. The first few scenes were epic, and Dubecki has a way with words that I hadn't seen come across my desk for a time. As the story continues, the twists and turns had me staying awake at night way longer than I should have been in order to reach the conclusion. And then that ending! Let's just say that this is only the beginning, folks.
Another huge draw for me was the characters. Not only are they characters that readers can relate to, but they're diverse -- both in terms of sexual orientation AND ability. I adore books that push boundaries, and "The Unquiet Dead" not only does this with its plot, but it does so in its unapologetic portrayal of persons from all walks of life. If you're interested in an urban fantasy that is much more than your average urban fantasy, Dubecki's debut is the book for you!
Short review: READ THIS BOOK! Long review: Dubecki expertly weaves a tale of intensity, darkness, and yes, even humor in his debut "The Unquiet Dead". I was initially drawn to this book when I read the opening chapters. The first few scenes were epic, and Dubecki has a way with words that I hadn't seen come across my desk for a time. As the story continues, the twists and turns had me staying awake at night way longer than I should have been in order to reach the conclusion. And then that ending! Let's just say that this is only the beginning, folks.
Another huge draw for me was the characters. Not only are they characters that readers can relate to, but they're diverse -- both in terms of sexual orientation AND ability. I adore books that push boundaries, and "The Unquiet Dead" not only does this with its plot, but it does so in its unapologetic portrayal of persons from all walks of life. If you're interested in an urban fantasy that is much more than your average urban fantasy, Dubecki's debut is the book for you!
August 3, 2016
It doesn't start off great, just kind of throws you into it and left me a little confused as to what was going on. Though the more I read the better I liked the book.
The main Character of this story is a necromancer who, shockingly, has powers related with the death. He has more than just raising the dead back to life witch I really liked. I also liked how the author portrayed necromancers in his book. They weren't just the bad guys hell bent on taking over the world.
I didn't like the authors over use of cuss words, it hurts the story more then helps it. A few here and then aren't a big deal but more than three in one page is a bit excessive.
I like the authors few on romance and found it refreshing. The main character "likes people not genders".
I felt that the fight scenes could have had a little more detail to them seeing as how much lead up to them but over all the story was interesting. One that I haven't really read before and I liked the new angle on the undead story.
And I would also like to thank curiosity quills for sending me this book to read.
The main Character of this story is a necromancer who, shockingly, has powers related with the death. He has more than just raising the dead back to life witch I really liked. I also liked how the author portrayed necromancers in his book. They weren't just the bad guys hell bent on taking over the world.
I didn't like the authors over use of cuss words, it hurts the story more then helps it. A few here and then aren't a big deal but more than three in one page is a bit excessive.
I like the authors few on romance and found it refreshing. The main character "likes people not genders".
I felt that the fight scenes could have had a little more detail to them seeing as how much lead up to them but over all the story was interesting. One that I haven't really read before and I liked the new angle on the undead story.
And I would also like to thank curiosity quills for sending me this book to read.
July 2, 2016
I loved the hell out of this book! Every page was well-written and unique. Even though the author works within a certain genre, and certain tropes are used, I always loved it when he broke or twisted them, too. And the hilarious nerd-culture references were sweet, being a nerd myself. The characters felt like real people--even familiar, in some cases--and they made up such an interesting and diverse cast! I loved it that Tyler wasn't just another straight white male protagonist, and that none of it was a problem.
Can't wait for more books in this series, though I'd probably check out other stuff written by this author.
Can't wait for more books in this series, though I'd probably check out other stuff written by this author.
July 29, 2016
I really enjoyed the authors take on necrmancy though admittedly I haven't read too many books about this particular subject. I like the way that the author blended the mundane with the supernatural. For some reason to which I am not able to explain I enjoyed the way he described "The Pale". I just thought it was neat. The main character did annoy me in several instances. Though I liked that we learned wqith the character instead of the character explaining things to the reader. Wrapup was nice and tidy with a small cliffhanger. Another book perhaps? Good read. Thoroughly enjoyed it and I would recommend it.
August 1, 2016
I loved this book's "real" flavor, its characters with flaws and hardships (and a wheelchair), and especially cat Davy! Both the friendships and the matter-of-fact magic make the story ring true. It's even made Toronto seem like a more exciting place, even though of course it is fiction....
I received a free advance review copy from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received a free advance review copy from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 6, 2016
I received a free copy of this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Witty and gripping from the very beginning. I read the majority of this book in one sitting and then finished it in the second. A great book from Chris Dubecki.
Witty and gripping from the very beginning. I read the majority of this book in one sitting and then finished it in the second. A great book from Chris Dubecki.
September 24, 2016
For me, the most important element of a good book is the characters and this book has interesting characters that are diverse, interesting and believable. If you like interesting characters and urban fantasy this is a good book to read!
November 26, 2016
Great characters and an interesting plot. The chapters dealing with the metaphysics behind the world had me hooked. A great read and looking forward to further books.
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