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The Burned Man #2
Dominion
Dobro opět stojí proti zlu. Ale která strana je která? Ani peklem si nemůžete být jisti, natož nebem, kde se nejspíš schyluje k válce…
V tunelech hluboko pod Londýnem hynou zemští elementálové — gnómové. Zabíjí je bytost známá jako Hnilobák. A gnómové se nemají na koho s důvěrou obrátit.
Na scéně se však objevuje diabolista a zpola napravený nájemný vrah Don Drake a téměř padlý anděl Trixie. Když se Drake dozví, že Hnilobák je vlastně arcidémon Bianakith, je mu ihned jasné, že nepůjde o snadnou prácičku. Bianakith je totiž nositelem nemoci a rozkladu a jeho aura poškozuje všechno, co se k němu byť jen přiblíží. Dokonce i starodávným londýnským základům hrozí zhroucení. Don, Trixie a Spálený muž tedy musejí vymyslet, jak Bianakithovi zabránit, aby vyhladil gnómy a zničil město.
Pomůže našim hrdinům při záchraně Londýna Trixiin dominion, nebo bude mít trochu jiné plány?
V tunelech hluboko pod Londýnem hynou zemští elementálové — gnómové. Zabíjí je bytost známá jako Hnilobák. A gnómové se nemají na koho s důvěrou obrátit.
Na scéně se však objevuje diabolista a zpola napravený nájemný vrah Don Drake a téměř padlý anděl Trixie. Když se Drake dozví, že Hnilobák je vlastně arcidémon Bianakith, je mu ihned jasné, že nepůjde o snadnou prácičku. Bianakith je totiž nositelem nemoci a rozkladu a jeho aura poškozuje všechno, co se k němu byť jen přiblíží. Dokonce i starodávným londýnským základům hrozí zhroucení. Don, Trixie a Spálený muž tedy musejí vymyslet, jak Bianakithovi zabránit, aby vyhladil gnómy a zničil město.
Pomůže našim hrdinům při záchraně Londýna Trixiin dominion, nebo bude mít trochu jiné plány?
328 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2016
16 people are currently reading
617 people want to read
About the author
Peter McLean
45 books1,047 followersPeter McLean was born near London in 1972, the son of a bank manager and an English teacher. He went to school in the shadow of Norwich Cathedral where he spent most of his time making up stories.
He has since grown up a bit, if not a lot, and spent 25 years working in corporate IT. He is married to Diane and is still making up stories.
He is the author of the War for the Rose Throne series, beginning with Priest of Bones, the Burned Man series, and numerous short stories for Warhammer.
Agent: Jennie Goloboy at DMLA
He has since grown up a bit, if not a lot, and spent 25 years working in corporate IT. He is married to Diane and is still making up stories.
He is the author of the War for the Rose Throne series, beginning with Priest of Bones, the Burned Man series, and numerous short stories for Warhammer.
Agent: Jennie Goloboy at DMLA
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
July 17, 2019
This was the second book in Peter McLean's The Burned Man UF fantasy series. It is a mix of modern day grimdark fantasy and old school crime noir all blended into a modern day supernatural London setting. The story itself is a mix of dark gritty happenings and laugh out loud comedy. The balance is pretty good. The best way to describe what you get with the Burned Man series is to imagine a hybrid of Terry Goodkind and Joe Abercrombie was hired to write a mashed together version of the Harry Dresden and Daniel Faust series with a bit of Eastenders and a London setting thrown into the mix. It is quite the blend!
The flaw of this series remains the fact that a lot of the "banter" is super cringey and that a lot of the grimdark moments feel like they are trying too hard to be cool and 'Ard. I've learned to tolerate Don Drake a bit more the longer I get into the story but I still feel like McLean made a mistake not making him a tiny bit less loathsome. A few tweaks and he would have worked better as an antihero. Less whinging and less sleaze and I could probably have warmed to him a bit more.
The upside to this series is the fact that Mclean is an engaging writer and a talented storyteller. The world is also a cool and interesting one and the plot is intriguing enough to hold my attention. The mix of dark happenings and laugh out loud hilarious moments is perfect.
How did this second tale compare to the first? The actual story was probably not quite as interesting as the story we got in the first book but on the whole I find I probably enjoyed this second book a lot more as I'd become used to Drake as a character and with what to expect from McLean as a writer so was more tolerate of the cringe-inducing stuff than I was in the first half of the first book because I knew there was going to be some good stuff in the story to help balance the bad stuff out.
I'll read the next book for sure.
Rating: 3.5 stars. I'm going to round up to 4 stars.
Audio Note: Mark Meadows might sound like a reject from Eastenders but he is really quite a talented audio performer. He brings the story to life and really nails those comedy moments as well as the more dramatic scenes. Even with the awful accent he is a 5 star narrator!
The flaw of this series remains the fact that a lot of the "banter" is super cringey and that a lot of the grimdark moments feel like they are trying too hard to be cool and 'Ard. I've learned to tolerate Don Drake a bit more the longer I get into the story but I still feel like McLean made a mistake not making him a tiny bit less loathsome. A few tweaks and he would have worked better as an antihero. Less whinging and less sleaze and I could probably have warmed to him a bit more.
The upside to this series is the fact that Mclean is an engaging writer and a talented storyteller. The world is also a cool and interesting one and the plot is intriguing enough to hold my attention. The mix of dark happenings and laugh out loud hilarious moments is perfect.
How did this second tale compare to the first? The actual story was probably not quite as interesting as the story we got in the first book but on the whole I find I probably enjoyed this second book a lot more as I'd become used to Drake as a character and with what to expect from McLean as a writer so was more tolerate of the cringe-inducing stuff than I was in the first half of the first book because I knew there was going to be some good stuff in the story to help balance the bad stuff out.
I'll read the next book for sure.
Rating: 3.5 stars. I'm going to round up to 4 stars.
Audio Note: Mark Meadows might sound like a reject from Eastenders but he is really quite a talented audio performer. He brings the story to life and really nails those comedy moments as well as the more dramatic scenes. Even with the awful accent he is a 5 star narrator!
April 10, 2019
Drake je vyvolávač démonov, ktorý sa špecializuje hlavne na vyvolávanie ľútosti. Okrem toho by mal byť aj nájomným vrahom, čo mi v minulom dieli nejak uniklo, ale predpokladám, že svoje obete proste unudí k smrti neustálym mrnčaním. Drake je zamilovaný do Trixie, padlého anjela s nadprirodzenými schopnosťami, z ktorých asi najvýraznejšia je schopnosť mať PMS 31 dní do mesiaca a to i vo februári a tiež má ochočeného démona, známeho ako Spálený muž, do ktorého vkladám veľké nádeje, že sa oslobodí, ovládne svet a dá ich tam všetkých do laty, na čele s editorom, ktorý mal vyškrtať všetky tie dookola sa opakujúce zbytočnosti a urobiť z toho o hviezdu lepšiu knihu, ale vybodol sa na to.
2.75* - inak pohodová oddychovka, so zreteľom na žáner a občasné vydarené hlášky som tomu ochotná odpustiť všeličo, vrátane absencie logiky, zmysluplného deja a sympatických postáv, ale proste toho opakovania (informácií, prúpovídek etc.) tam bolo za hranicu únosnoti.
2.75* - inak pohodová oddychovka, so zreteľom na žáner a občasné vydarené hlášky som tomu ochotná odpustiť všeličo, vrátane absencie logiky, zmysluplného deja a sympatických postáv, ale proste toho opakovania (informácií, prúpovídek etc.) tam bolo za hranicu únosnoti.
November 12, 2016
Dominion is the second in the Burned Man series by Peter Blake. The story picks up not long after Drake (the first in series) left off and the action is fairly intense from the get go. I thought Dominion was a solid instalment in the series, the characters have been fleshed out and added to and the dark side of London is explored further. Be warned, if you haven’t read the first in series there may be spoilers contained below.
Dominion, probably in the style of other UF stories, is a self contained instalment – it can probably be read as a stand alone although I would always suggest starting from the first so that you pick up more background to the characters.
At the start of the story our main protagonist, Don Drake, former hitman (or diabolist), has been roped into checking out a potential problem below the streets of London – in fact below the Tube. Basically, deep beneath the underground tunnels of London live the elementals, gnomes. It seems that their home is slowly being destroyed by something they know only as the ‘Rotman’. Everything is decaying, including those who lay eyes on this monster and the rot is becoming so overwhelming that parts of London could easily start to collapse. Unfortunately for Don and the gnomes the Rotman is much worse than they suspect. He is in fact a powerful archdemon known as Bianakith, He spreads disease and corrupts everything he comes into contact with. Don is going to need all the help he can conjure to help with this problem and, well, not to put to fine a point on it, Bianakith is actually the least of his worries.
I can’t really give too much away concerning the plot. Suffice to say there’s much more to it than I’ve made out above and there are plenty of twists in the tale, certainly enough surprises to keep this series going strong for a while yet! Like Don, you’re never really sure who to trust and who not to trust and there’s a lot of talking in riddles with some of the characters which adds to that dilemma.
In terms of characters. Well, obviously we have Don. He’s still not a totally lovable character nor is he an unlikable one. I think I mentioned in my review of Drake that he comes across as something of a coward, he makes poor decisions, spends a lot of his time drinking copious amounts of alcohol and can be a bit distracted quite easily by a good looking female. At the moment I would say that I like him with reservations. He hasn’t quite reached the stage yet of being a lovable rogue but he certainly grew on me a good deal more in this book than the first – saying that I sometimes wish he could perhaps cut down his sarcastic monologue a little. I suppose the thing with Don is he’s spent a lot of time with his own personal demon and maybe being around such a nasty little character doesn’t bring out the best in a person after so many years. The Burned Man (basically a demon who has been summoned and bound here on earth) is nobody’s friend. His aim is to be free and he will go to any length to achieve this. It would be easy to think of these two as a double act – and maybe even Don could fall into that trap – but they’re anything but. The Burned Man is a demon and a very powerful one at that and Don needs to always keep that in mind.
Trixie, or Meselandrarasatrixiel, is an almost fallen angel! She’s conflicted to say the least and her aura gives this away somewhat. Trixie was put on earth to banish the Furies, many moons ago – or perhaps she was put here to torment Don! Following the conclusion in Drake she’s currently residing at Don’s place – although this is a purely platonic arrangement – much to his despair. Of course, being an angel she has an ethereal quality, almost too beautiful, and Don can barely function every time he looks at her. She is however a fearless warrior and comes in very handy in a tight spot. Unfortunately she seems to have fallen in love with the wrong guy – to put it mildly. Adam.
Adam, better known as Lucifer, is the handsome rake of the piece. He has the creepy ability to materialise out of the shadows and to know everything about everything – at least that’s what his confident swagger seems to portray. You can’t help liking him somehow although, again, he isn’t a good guy – unless your aims happen to coincide with his.
On top of this we meet the usual crew at Wormwood’s. A supernatural club which acts as a neutral ground for all to come together – this is an invitation only admittance and in fact most of us would be unaware of it’s presence. Wormwoods is a great creation – for me I imagine it as something from the 50s, I’m not sure why, it just comes over as a glamorous club from an old noir movie and whenever Don and the others pay a visit you know you’re going to make the acquaintance of some interesting characters.
I think the other element that really helps to build this story is the setting, the City of London. It really does lend itself to the urban fantasy story and McLean makes great use of it’s underground tunnels, dark alleyways and criminal underbelly to give his story a dark and gritty feel. Think along the lines of Urban Fantasy meets Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. Bad language and a certain level of violence with angels and demons fighting it out instead of gangsters.
I thought this was a really firm instalment and definitely added some more meat to the bones of McLean’s world. It’s fast paced and entertaining with a conclusion that definitely makes me want to read more.
I received a copy courtesy of the publisher through Netgalley for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
Dominion, probably in the style of other UF stories, is a self contained instalment – it can probably be read as a stand alone although I would always suggest starting from the first so that you pick up more background to the characters.
At the start of the story our main protagonist, Don Drake, former hitman (or diabolist), has been roped into checking out a potential problem below the streets of London – in fact below the Tube. Basically, deep beneath the underground tunnels of London live the elementals, gnomes. It seems that their home is slowly being destroyed by something they know only as the ‘Rotman’. Everything is decaying, including those who lay eyes on this monster and the rot is becoming so overwhelming that parts of London could easily start to collapse. Unfortunately for Don and the gnomes the Rotman is much worse than they suspect. He is in fact a powerful archdemon known as Bianakith, He spreads disease and corrupts everything he comes into contact with. Don is going to need all the help he can conjure to help with this problem and, well, not to put to fine a point on it, Bianakith is actually the least of his worries.
I can’t really give too much away concerning the plot. Suffice to say there’s much more to it than I’ve made out above and there are plenty of twists in the tale, certainly enough surprises to keep this series going strong for a while yet! Like Don, you’re never really sure who to trust and who not to trust and there’s a lot of talking in riddles with some of the characters which adds to that dilemma.
In terms of characters. Well, obviously we have Don. He’s still not a totally lovable character nor is he an unlikable one. I think I mentioned in my review of Drake that he comes across as something of a coward, he makes poor decisions, spends a lot of his time drinking copious amounts of alcohol and can be a bit distracted quite easily by a good looking female. At the moment I would say that I like him with reservations. He hasn’t quite reached the stage yet of being a lovable rogue but he certainly grew on me a good deal more in this book than the first – saying that I sometimes wish he could perhaps cut down his sarcastic monologue a little. I suppose the thing with Don is he’s spent a lot of time with his own personal demon and maybe being around such a nasty little character doesn’t bring out the best in a person after so many years. The Burned Man (basically a demon who has been summoned and bound here on earth) is nobody’s friend. His aim is to be free and he will go to any length to achieve this. It would be easy to think of these two as a double act – and maybe even Don could fall into that trap – but they’re anything but. The Burned Man is a demon and a very powerful one at that and Don needs to always keep that in mind.
Trixie, or Meselandrarasatrixiel, is an almost fallen angel! She’s conflicted to say the least and her aura gives this away somewhat. Trixie was put on earth to banish the Furies, many moons ago – or perhaps she was put here to torment Don! Following the conclusion in Drake she’s currently residing at Don’s place – although this is a purely platonic arrangement – much to his despair. Of course, being an angel she has an ethereal quality, almost too beautiful, and Don can barely function every time he looks at her. She is however a fearless warrior and comes in very handy in a tight spot. Unfortunately she seems to have fallen in love with the wrong guy – to put it mildly. Adam.
Adam, better known as Lucifer, is the handsome rake of the piece. He has the creepy ability to materialise out of the shadows and to know everything about everything – at least that’s what his confident swagger seems to portray. You can’t help liking him somehow although, again, he isn’t a good guy – unless your aims happen to coincide with his.
On top of this we meet the usual crew at Wormwood’s. A supernatural club which acts as a neutral ground for all to come together – this is an invitation only admittance and in fact most of us would be unaware of it’s presence. Wormwoods is a great creation – for me I imagine it as something from the 50s, I’m not sure why, it just comes over as a glamorous club from an old noir movie and whenever Don and the others pay a visit you know you’re going to make the acquaintance of some interesting characters.
I think the other element that really helps to build this story is the setting, the City of London. It really does lend itself to the urban fantasy story and McLean makes great use of it’s underground tunnels, dark alleyways and criminal underbelly to give his story a dark and gritty feel. Think along the lines of Urban Fantasy meets Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. Bad language and a certain level of violence with angels and demons fighting it out instead of gangsters.
I thought this was a really firm instalment and definitely added some more meat to the bones of McLean’s world. It’s fast paced and entertaining with a conclusion that definitely makes me want to read more.
I received a copy courtesy of the publisher through Netgalley for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
March 21, 2023
McLean was creating fantastic characters before the War for the Rose Throne. So many to choose from but Papa Armand might have stolen the show.
August 21, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyes this second book in the Burned Man series. It felt like a step up from the first book to me. It was hard to put down.
We get the to know the main character better and see some of the characters in the first book again and meet new people. I love the diversity in the characters; angels, demons, gnomes, a voodoo priest, a goddess and then some.
I like Don Drake his sarcasm and his remarks made me smile several times. I very much enjoy this kind of urban fantasy with a dark feel to it.
I will certainly pick up the next book, Damnation, soon!
We get the to know the main character better and see some of the characters in the first book again and meet new people. I love the diversity in the characters; angels, demons, gnomes, a voodoo priest, a goddess and then some.
I like Don Drake his sarcasm and his remarks made me smile several times. I very much enjoy this kind of urban fantasy with a dark feel to it.
I will certainly pick up the next book, Damnation, soon!
October 12, 2016
Don Drake is a magician – a diabolist, to be specific – and he takes care of the kind of business you’d rather not know about. A battle-mage of sorts, though he’s never enjoyed or been any good at punch-ups, his manner is the dark and dirty underbelly of London, and his watch never ends. Secretly in love with an out-of-favour angel, best mates with a magically bound demon who’s waiting for the chance to rip him several new ones, there are a lot of other things that Drake would rather be doing with his life. Like having a quiet pint with the newspaper instead of dealing with the supernatural and facing death on a daily bases. But everybody needs to earn a wage, even if the work keeps you knee-deep in blood.
Trouble brews afresh when Drake gets lumbered with a job for the goblins. Rotman, a particularly nasty and vile demon, is on the prowl in the goblin kingdom far below London. He is quite literally hell-bent on reducing everything in his path to a rancid goo which threatens to tip most of the capital into the mother of all sinkholes. But it’s Don Drake to the rescue! Reluctantly, clumsily, by hook or crook and desperately, he saves the goblin kingdom from a very sticky end. But Drake is too long in the tooth to believe that anything is ever that simple, and he knows deep down that defeating Rotman is the only beginning of the trouble.
And so Dominion begins in all its gruesome ickiness. This is the second book in McLean’s The Burned Man series, and follows infernally hot on the successful heels of Drake. Once again we’re immersed into the seedy shadows of a lesser seen London for a magical horror show that pokes at the unseen things in life that ought not to be poked, set among demonic gangsters and dodgy dealers of the supernatural kind. McLean keeps it real, though, showing us a gritty, recognisable world while revealing that the monsters under out beds are very, very real. Don Drake’s narration comes as the voice of the everyman who had been thrust into a situation way beyond his control. His conscience is as shattered as his soul.
The presence of Rotman refuses to let Drake rest, tapping at the back of his mind, telling him that what happened in the goblin kingdom points to a bigger and bleaker picture. Rotman was a powerful demon, and it would have taken someone infinitely more powerful to summon him. Drake is a diabolist himself, and he knows his shit. Even though he’s pretty sure he won’t like what he discovers, he conducts his investigation, with a little help from his dysfunctional friends, and finds some answers. And he was right. It really isn’t good news. There’s a frighteningly thin veil that protects the real world from the full force of the infernal realms. It’s threatening to rip open.
The character of Drake drives the story as only Drake could. His doubts and confusion make him likeable and vulnerable, pathetic at times, triumphant at others, and he’ll occasionally do things that’ll have you cursing him right off the page. Chocked full of sweary gangsters, snark and deadpan humour, thrills and spills and genuinely terrifying moments, this is smart and fun storytelling, a novel for the devil in us all. We never stop cheering for our bedraggled, put upon hero or hoping that he can find his way out of a questionable life. Said simply, Dominion is mad, bad, and glorious to read.
Trouble brews afresh when Drake gets lumbered with a job for the goblins. Rotman, a particularly nasty and vile demon, is on the prowl in the goblin kingdom far below London. He is quite literally hell-bent on reducing everything in his path to a rancid goo which threatens to tip most of the capital into the mother of all sinkholes. But it’s Don Drake to the rescue! Reluctantly, clumsily, by hook or crook and desperately, he saves the goblin kingdom from a very sticky end. But Drake is too long in the tooth to believe that anything is ever that simple, and he knows deep down that defeating Rotman is the only beginning of the trouble.
And so Dominion begins in all its gruesome ickiness. This is the second book in McLean’s The Burned Man series, and follows infernally hot on the successful heels of Drake. Once again we’re immersed into the seedy shadows of a lesser seen London for a magical horror show that pokes at the unseen things in life that ought not to be poked, set among demonic gangsters and dodgy dealers of the supernatural kind. McLean keeps it real, though, showing us a gritty, recognisable world while revealing that the monsters under out beds are very, very real. Don Drake’s narration comes as the voice of the everyman who had been thrust into a situation way beyond his control. His conscience is as shattered as his soul.
The presence of Rotman refuses to let Drake rest, tapping at the back of his mind, telling him that what happened in the goblin kingdom points to a bigger and bleaker picture. Rotman was a powerful demon, and it would have taken someone infinitely more powerful to summon him. Drake is a diabolist himself, and he knows his shit. Even though he’s pretty sure he won’t like what he discovers, he conducts his investigation, with a little help from his dysfunctional friends, and finds some answers. And he was right. It really isn’t good news. There’s a frighteningly thin veil that protects the real world from the full force of the infernal realms. It’s threatening to rip open.
The character of Drake drives the story as only Drake could. His doubts and confusion make him likeable and vulnerable, pathetic at times, triumphant at others, and he’ll occasionally do things that’ll have you cursing him right off the page. Chocked full of sweary gangsters, snark and deadpan humour, thrills and spills and genuinely terrifying moments, this is smart and fun storytelling, a novel for the devil in us all. We never stop cheering for our bedraggled, put upon hero or hoping that he can find his way out of a questionable life. Said simply, Dominion is mad, bad, and glorious to read.
April 24, 2017
I was lucky enough to get an arc of Dominion through Netgalley, hence I already had the pleasure of reading it.
It is the second book in the Burning Man series - and if you haven't read the first, you should definitely start with that one, as a lot of the second book is based on things that happened in the first installment. If you already liked the first: You'll enjoy this one just as much!
This was an really fast paced and action packed read! I had to pace myself, or I would have devoured the whole thing in a day. We get to meet old friends and enemies again in this one - and I love the amount of diverse magics and creatures in this series. There's angels, demons, voodoo priests, gnomes, Lucifer, diabolists, alchemists, magicians and there's also a burning sword, thrown flames and a ancient war goddess on the loose. Oh - and of course villains, and all sorts of human crooks and criminals.
I also simply love Don's witty and sarcastic narration. He may not be a perfect hero (at all... really rather kind of a sometimes good hearted asshole), but his banter and thoughts had me once again smile and laugh out loud at places. Be warned though - there is a LOT of swearing going on in this series - and quite some gore to boost. It's a bit like Harry Dresden with the alcohol, language, gore (and in book one sex) turned up ten notches.
I personally could have done without adoring a woman one can't have - but I am really overly sensitive to ANY loveplots in fantasy - so this might be no problem for anyone else. I know it is a natural part of life - I still just don't want to read about it in fantasy. (It isn't a romantic book at all btw if you are now afraid of that. Just mentions of wanting to go to bed with her / occasionally a thought of hating her being in love with someone else. But as I said- even one such things does make me roll my eyes these days.)
There were some quite unexpected twists in this one. The plot felt a bit episodic - but the different parts get strung together over time and build up to something always growing bigger.
I love this noir like urban fantasy series and can't wait for book three already!
It is the second book in the Burning Man series - and if you haven't read the first, you should definitely start with that one, as a lot of the second book is based on things that happened in the first installment. If you already liked the first: You'll enjoy this one just as much!
This was an really fast paced and action packed read! I had to pace myself, or I would have devoured the whole thing in a day. We get to meet old friends and enemies again in this one - and I love the amount of diverse magics and creatures in this series. There's angels, demons, voodoo priests, gnomes, Lucifer, diabolists, alchemists, magicians and there's also a burning sword, thrown flames and a ancient war goddess on the loose. Oh - and of course villains, and all sorts of human crooks and criminals.
I also simply love Don's witty and sarcastic narration. He may not be a perfect hero (at all... really rather kind of a sometimes good hearted asshole), but his banter and thoughts had me once again smile and laugh out loud at places. Be warned though - there is a LOT of swearing going on in this series - and quite some gore to boost. It's a bit like Harry Dresden with the alcohol, language, gore (and in book one sex) turned up ten notches.
I personally could have done without adoring a woman one can't have - but I am really overly sensitive to ANY loveplots in fantasy - so this might be no problem for anyone else. I know it is a natural part of life - I still just don't want to read about it in fantasy. (It isn't a romantic book at all btw if you are now afraid of that. Just mentions of wanting to go to bed with her / occasionally a thought of hating her being in love with someone else. But as I said- even one such things does make me roll my eyes these days.)
There were some quite unexpected twists in this one. The plot felt a bit episodic - but the different parts get strung together over time and build up to something always growing bigger.
I love this noir like urban fantasy series and can't wait for book three already!
December 5, 2016
At the beginning of the year I read Drake by Peter McLean. If you are looking for a novel that perfectly straddles the line between dark urban fantasy and horror, then I would suggest you give it a go. Recently, I discovered that a sequel has been unleashed upon the world. I’ll admit I was more than a little intrigued.
In book two, Don Drake returns and his life is more complicated than ever. He is still living the slightly shabby existence he was before, but his roommates are causing him no end of grief. The only ones on Don’s side are Trixie, an almost fallen angel who is falling further by the minute, and the Burned Man, a powerful demon controlled by Don. The relationships that Don has with these two larger-than-life beings is what drives this novel forward. He is utterly besotted and terrified of Trixie in equal measure. Don doesn’t know which way to turn, and Trixie never makes it easy. Meanwhile the Burned Man continues to be convivial enough to his master. Underneath all the foul language and inappropriate suggestions, he appears happy to do Don’s bidding. That said, you get the feeling that the Burned Man is playing the long game. He comes across like a confined predator, constantly testing the bars of his cage, always looking for some way to escape.
On top of these complex living arrangements there are a whole host of demons, lords of Hell, angels, voodoo priests and ancient cross dimensional beings that want a piece of our erstwhile hero. Who can Don trust when he can hardly even trust his partners? The list appears to be getting shorter by the second.
I love Don Drake; he is such a huge mess as a human being. You can almost guarantee that if there is an incorrect decision to be made that’ll be the one he chooses. It makes his life consistently interesting. His heart is in the right place, good intentions and all that, but he has some properly questionable judgement. In Dominion, Mr Drake makes the biggest mistake of his entire career and watching how he tries to remedy this monumental cock-up is fascinating. This epic faux pas is going to have some serious consequences. I can’t wait to see how this is going to change his life long term. The status quo has been well and truly shifted.
Peter McLean’s vision of London continues to be a rare treat. We get to see the dark underbelly of the city, literally and metaphorically as it turns out. The denizens of McLean’s city are a suitably grubby bunch and they’re all great fun. It makes sense the Don Drake lives in a version of London that perfectly matches his downbeat character. Dilapidated old style boozers and dingy private member’s clubs are most definitely Don’s territory.
A word of warning for the delicate amongst you. The Burned Man continues to be a foul-mouthed creature and in all honesty, Don isn’t that far behind. If adult language makes you blush, then I rather suspect this book might not be for you. Personally, I loved it. I keep The Eloquent Page free from swears but I like nothing better than the odd expletive or two. People that know me in the real world can confirm this to be true.
In a nutshell then, Dominion has absolutely everything I am looking for in a good sequel. The main characters continue to evolve and the universe they inhabit grows with them. The plot whips along a cracking pace and there are enough twists and turns to keep any reader more than happy. I haven’t even gotten around to mentioning the gnomes. Yes, there are gnomes. Just go with it, trust me. You can thank me later.
Dominion is published by Angry Robot and is available now. I heartily recommend this book and its predecessor. Don, Trixie and the Burned Man will return next May with the release of book three, Damnation. I can’t wait. I want to read it immediately.
In book two, Don Drake returns and his life is more complicated than ever. He is still living the slightly shabby existence he was before, but his roommates are causing him no end of grief. The only ones on Don’s side are Trixie, an almost fallen angel who is falling further by the minute, and the Burned Man, a powerful demon controlled by Don. The relationships that Don has with these two larger-than-life beings is what drives this novel forward. He is utterly besotted and terrified of Trixie in equal measure. Don doesn’t know which way to turn, and Trixie never makes it easy. Meanwhile the Burned Man continues to be convivial enough to his master. Underneath all the foul language and inappropriate suggestions, he appears happy to do Don’s bidding. That said, you get the feeling that the Burned Man is playing the long game. He comes across like a confined predator, constantly testing the bars of his cage, always looking for some way to escape.
On top of these complex living arrangements there are a whole host of demons, lords of Hell, angels, voodoo priests and ancient cross dimensional beings that want a piece of our erstwhile hero. Who can Don trust when he can hardly even trust his partners? The list appears to be getting shorter by the second.
I love Don Drake; he is such a huge mess as a human being. You can almost guarantee that if there is an incorrect decision to be made that’ll be the one he chooses. It makes his life consistently interesting. His heart is in the right place, good intentions and all that, but he has some properly questionable judgement. In Dominion, Mr Drake makes the biggest mistake of his entire career and watching how he tries to remedy this monumental cock-up is fascinating. This epic faux pas is going to have some serious consequences. I can’t wait to see how this is going to change his life long term. The status quo has been well and truly shifted.
Peter McLean’s vision of London continues to be a rare treat. We get to see the dark underbelly of the city, literally and metaphorically as it turns out. The denizens of McLean’s city are a suitably grubby bunch and they’re all great fun. It makes sense the Don Drake lives in a version of London that perfectly matches his downbeat character. Dilapidated old style boozers and dingy private member’s clubs are most definitely Don’s territory.
A word of warning for the delicate amongst you. The Burned Man continues to be a foul-mouthed creature and in all honesty, Don isn’t that far behind. If adult language makes you blush, then I rather suspect this book might not be for you. Personally, I loved it. I keep The Eloquent Page free from swears but I like nothing better than the odd expletive or two. People that know me in the real world can confirm this to be true.
In a nutshell then, Dominion has absolutely everything I am looking for in a good sequel. The main characters continue to evolve and the universe they inhabit grows with them. The plot whips along a cracking pace and there are enough twists and turns to keep any reader more than happy. I haven’t even gotten around to mentioning the gnomes. Yes, there are gnomes. Just go with it, trust me. You can thank me later.
Dominion is published by Angry Robot and is available now. I heartily recommend this book and its predecessor. Don, Trixie and the Burned Man will return next May with the release of book three, Damnation. I can’t wait. I want to read it immediately.
March 25, 2018
Pokračování Drakových dobrodružství začíná přesně tam, kde první díl skončil. Ze začátku jsem měl pocit, že půjde spíš jen o lehce propojené příběhy, vše do sebe skvěle zapadne a kniha vám nedá možnost si oddechnout. Skvěle, lehce a svěže napsané, krásně se to čte a po poslední větě knihy nemůžu říct nic jiného než, že nutně potřebuji dalšího Drake a Spáleného muže. A to co nejrdříve.
March 12, 2018
Lehce koketuji s pěti hvězdami (v rámci žánru), nicméně nechám čtyři s tím, že jsem se skvěle bavil - dokonce více než u jedničky
February 2, 2018
Another good book with Don Drake, but, where's the rest of it? It felt like the ending was a cliffhanger with no follow up in sight!
March 12, 2021
Dark, but not weighty or brooding, and McLean maintains a twisted sense of humor through it all. Drake, our poor antihero, can't get a break, possibly because his closest acquaintances are an archdemon, an angel of death, and the devil. All he really wants to do is master magic, but the more powerful he becomes, the farther he sinks into the mire. I love this series!
November 4, 2016
Something rather unpleasant is lurking under London. Which is why Don Drake finds himself dealing with it on a rather too up close and personal basis. But in doing this good turn Don ends up in a whole pile of trouble, needing to dig deep into himself to resolve it.
Don Drake is not someone you would want your daughter to acquire an interest in. He might be a bit of a lad if he got half the chance, but it’s his heart of gold underneath that abrasive outer coating that’s the problem, because it never fails to land him in a pile of trouble or something nasty and revolting. Added to this he has an unrequited longing for Trixie, (Meselandrarasatrixiel if you're going for a formal introduction), a mind-blowing gorgeous half-fallen Angel. Trixie is in love with the ultimate bad boy, Adam who just happens to be Lucifer. And did I mention Don's sidekick (for want of a better word), the Burned Man, a fetish housing an archdemon, with a mouth on him that would make Gordon Ramsey blush?
You see Don’s not just your average guy or mediocre diabolist. He tends to be the only person standing between the world as we know it and Armageddon, carrying a whole load of emotional baggage from his past and a pile of demonic overkill with him. This time the Rotman (yep as vile and stinky as he sounds) is the least of Don's problems.
The characters are brilliantly drawn and fully formed. Peter McLean’s writing makes you care about the characters. You want to hug a gnome who looks like a cross between a bush baby and a giant bald molerat with the type of dress sense that would have a fashionista screaming her Jimmy Choos off. You want to scream yourself because the Rotman is simply too much to handle in close proximity with your eyes open.
This is the second book in the Burned Man series, but it works perfectly well as a standalone novel. With the engaging writing and the huge number of avenues Don Drake’s world offers in terms of exploration, this series has a long way to go before running out of steam.
Dominion was courtesy of Angry Robot via NetGalley.
Don Drake is not someone you would want your daughter to acquire an interest in. He might be a bit of a lad if he got half the chance, but it’s his heart of gold underneath that abrasive outer coating that’s the problem, because it never fails to land him in a pile of trouble or something nasty and revolting. Added to this he has an unrequited longing for Trixie, (Meselandrarasatrixiel if you're going for a formal introduction), a mind-blowing gorgeous half-fallen Angel. Trixie is in love with the ultimate bad boy, Adam who just happens to be Lucifer. And did I mention Don's sidekick (for want of a better word), the Burned Man, a fetish housing an archdemon, with a mouth on him that would make Gordon Ramsey blush?
You see Don’s not just your average guy or mediocre diabolist. He tends to be the only person standing between the world as we know it and Armageddon, carrying a whole load of emotional baggage from his past and a pile of demonic overkill with him. This time the Rotman (yep as vile and stinky as he sounds) is the least of Don's problems.
The characters are brilliantly drawn and fully formed. Peter McLean’s writing makes you care about the characters. You want to hug a gnome who looks like a cross between a bush baby and a giant bald molerat with the type of dress sense that would have a fashionista screaming her Jimmy Choos off. You want to scream yourself because the Rotman is simply too much to handle in close proximity with your eyes open.
This is the second book in the Burned Man series, but it works perfectly well as a standalone novel. With the engaging writing and the huge number of avenues Don Drake’s world offers in terms of exploration, this series has a long way to go before running out of steam.
Dominion was courtesy of Angry Robot via NetGalley.
November 9, 2016
Goodreads Win Copy
Deep in the tunnels of London, the Earth elements are being killed off by something called Rotman. The gnomes called for assistance but they have no one trustworthy to help them.
Enter a diabolist who is a reform hit man Don Drake with a fallen angel Trixie and the Burned Man. He soon learns that Rotman is actually the archdemon Bianakith and that this will not be an easy battle.
It is a race against time as others try to get in the way for power. Will they be able to prevent London from crumbling down from disease and decay that is foretold? Afas paced storyline.
Deep in the tunnels of London, the Earth elements are being killed off by something called Rotman. The gnomes called for assistance but they have no one trustworthy to help them.
Enter a diabolist who is a reform hit man Don Drake with a fallen angel Trixie and the Burned Man. He soon learns that Rotman is actually the archdemon Bianakith and that this will not be an easy battle.
It is a race against time as others try to get in the way for power. Will they be able to prevent London from crumbling down from disease and decay that is foretold? Afas paced storyline.
October 6, 2016
I was lucky enough to read this book pre release and I am so looking forward to the third in the series. Dominion is a fantastic follow up novel to Drake so if you enjoyed the first book in the Burned Man series This second novel will not disappoint.
June 13, 2017
Peter McLean, I think is a rockstar in this genre. The darker seedier side of urban fantasy - with a protagonist like Don Drake and his snarky archdemon The Burned Man - who are right up there, with say Miriam Black (Chuck Wendig) or the Sandman Slim series (Richard Kadrey). This series starts off in the best possible manner - introducing us to Drake and his pet archdemon in a gritty version of London – dark and violent like no man’s land. And Drake while not exactly a wall-flower, doesn’t really come across as a man you would consider making friends with soon. But for all his flaws, there is something redeemable about this crook who can summon demons from Hell to do his bidding as a ‘diabologist’ and has more to him than meets the eye, at first glance.
I have to warn you that if you haven’t read book-one, Dominion is a sequel and middle-book in a series, following up closely on the events that transpired from the first book. But if you want a swimmingly good dark urban fantasy that would blitz your mind away down dingy, dripping tunnels of London, a seedier underbelly where the supernatural co-exists with humans and where a war is brewing up slowly but surely, between Heaven and forces from Hell that you never knew existed, then this one’s for you. The series has a lot of things going for it, least of which is the brilliantly realized fantastical version of London. The writing is smack-down good, hitting you hard – and the series has some rogue characters you will grow to love and hate.
So after the dramatic incidents that transpire in ‘Drake’, our protagonist/anti-hero Drake has adjusted to living with the ‘girl’ of his dreams, a fallen angel Trixie [who by the way is pining for another angel Lucifer, also shunted out from the pearly gates] and is still addicted to gambling and remains a dastardly coward at heart. Nothing’s changed there. But when Drake gets conned into going underground, below the seedy underbelly of the London tubes, to investigate and contain certain rumours about a monster who can spread plague – summoned by someone for a specific reason, he realizes that the murky waters of this conspiracy run deep. In the meanwhile, Trixie is dealing with her own demons, a soldier in a war she no longer understands, reporting to her superior, this being called the Dominion, whose orders she no longer comprehends. Things get seedier when Lucifer or Adam as he makes his followers call him now, pops up in the neighbourhood with cryptic messages about a war that needs both Trixie and Drake to pick sides. Things go to hell in a handcart after that, no brakes, all cylinders firing.
So Dominion as a standalone story, is a very enjoyable read. Sure, Drake still is an asshole and the Burned Man remains a highly obnoxious jerk but the overall story-arc gets a shot in the arm with the introduction of newer characters – Gods and demons alike. Readers still might get turned off with the sheer amount of expletives in this book but then, that’s Drake for you revealed in his full guts and glory, no filters. Living life on the edge is not just a figurative term for him, it is his life. And hence, the whole narrative, balanced on a thin edge of a glass tightrope, romps along at a fairly good clip. Peter’s writing is magnetic, slams you up against the wall as strange events unfold in Drake’s life, pulling him deeper into a muck he doesn’t want to be a part of. Trixie has a much larger role in this book – and so does Lucifer. Because the evil that is brewing deep down in the abandoned tunnels of London is just a harbinger of bigger baddies about to swoop into Drake’s hapless life.
Pages are filled up with tension and there is no slacking, through and through – which keeps our reading at a breakneck pace. Peter bleeds that tension into the pages and the momentum just ups and ups to a breaking point. We never lose track of the main thread, which is of course the threat of a war brewing and the soldiers picking sides. The gritty feel never lets up and there are flashes from Drake’s past helping fill in some holes in the history of his relationship with The Burned Man. I feel Peter’s writing has become even better, if that’s possible. It’s a like knife sliding in through your guts and just pinning you down, for the length of the book.
My expectations from Damnation now are skyrocketing as I think the series is heading off a cliff for a mid-air cluster fuck. And man, is it going to be interesting. Highly recommended read. I think it’s a criminal offense not to read this one, if you like your urban fantasy.
I have to warn you that if you haven’t read book-one, Dominion is a sequel and middle-book in a series, following up closely on the events that transpired from the first book. But if you want a swimmingly good dark urban fantasy that would blitz your mind away down dingy, dripping tunnels of London, a seedier underbelly where the supernatural co-exists with humans and where a war is brewing up slowly but surely, between Heaven and forces from Hell that you never knew existed, then this one’s for you. The series has a lot of things going for it, least of which is the brilliantly realized fantastical version of London. The writing is smack-down good, hitting you hard – and the series has some rogue characters you will grow to love and hate.
So after the dramatic incidents that transpire in ‘Drake’, our protagonist/anti-hero Drake has adjusted to living with the ‘girl’ of his dreams, a fallen angel Trixie [who by the way is pining for another angel Lucifer, also shunted out from the pearly gates] and is still addicted to gambling and remains a dastardly coward at heart. Nothing’s changed there. But when Drake gets conned into going underground, below the seedy underbelly of the London tubes, to investigate and contain certain rumours about a monster who can spread plague – summoned by someone for a specific reason, he realizes that the murky waters of this conspiracy run deep. In the meanwhile, Trixie is dealing with her own demons, a soldier in a war she no longer understands, reporting to her superior, this being called the Dominion, whose orders she no longer comprehends. Things get seedier when Lucifer or Adam as he makes his followers call him now, pops up in the neighbourhood with cryptic messages about a war that needs both Trixie and Drake to pick sides. Things go to hell in a handcart after that, no brakes, all cylinders firing.
So Dominion as a standalone story, is a very enjoyable read. Sure, Drake still is an asshole and the Burned Man remains a highly obnoxious jerk but the overall story-arc gets a shot in the arm with the introduction of newer characters – Gods and demons alike. Readers still might get turned off with the sheer amount of expletives in this book but then, that’s Drake for you revealed in his full guts and glory, no filters. Living life on the edge is not just a figurative term for him, it is his life. And hence, the whole narrative, balanced on a thin edge of a glass tightrope, romps along at a fairly good clip. Peter’s writing is magnetic, slams you up against the wall as strange events unfold in Drake’s life, pulling him deeper into a muck he doesn’t want to be a part of. Trixie has a much larger role in this book – and so does Lucifer. Because the evil that is brewing deep down in the abandoned tunnels of London is just a harbinger of bigger baddies about to swoop into Drake’s hapless life.
Pages are filled up with tension and there is no slacking, through and through – which keeps our reading at a breakneck pace. Peter bleeds that tension into the pages and the momentum just ups and ups to a breaking point. We never lose track of the main thread, which is of course the threat of a war brewing and the soldiers picking sides. The gritty feel never lets up and there are flashes from Drake’s past helping fill in some holes in the history of his relationship with The Burned Man. I feel Peter’s writing has become even better, if that’s possible. It’s a like knife sliding in through your guts and just pinning you down, for the length of the book.
My expectations from Damnation now are skyrocketing as I think the series is heading off a cliff for a mid-air cluster fuck. And man, is it going to be interesting. Highly recommended read. I think it’s a criminal offense not to read this one, if you like your urban fantasy.
June 16, 2017
I received this book as part of a Good Reads giveaway. I'd give it 3.5 stars but I did enjoy it more than the first one, so 4 it is. Although I would prefer more complexity in the plot and character development, I did like a few of the subplots and back stories. The series is progressing well and I will continue with it.
September 21, 2017
Continúan las (des)venturas de Don Drake, "diabolista" y asesino a sueldo, junto a Trixie, un ángel semi-caída con la obligación de permanecer en la Tierra para vigilar a El Hombre Quemado, un demonio atado a una estatua en posesión de nuestro antihéroe Drake.
Al igual que la 1a parte nos encontramos con un libro ligero, fácil de leer y lo más importante para mí, divertido y con ese humor irónico que tanto me hace disfrutar. De hecho ya me he metido de cabeza en la 3a parte, Damnation, que con este título ya os podéis imaginar por donde van los tiros :)
Al igual que la 1a parte nos encontramos con un libro ligero, fácil de leer y lo más importante para mí, divertido y con ese humor irónico que tanto me hace disfrutar. De hecho ya me he metido de cabeza en la 3a parte, Damnation, que con este título ya os podéis imaginar por donde van los tiros :)
June 12, 2017
Better than the first in the series, which I liked quite a lot, this second book sets up Don Drake for an almost impossible task, and further develops his relationships with various denizens of Heaven and Hell. Really enjoyed this one, and have just started the third in the series.
May 10, 2021
It doesn't happen often that when it comes to urban fantasy detective type stories that I like the second book, but Peter McLean has created such lively and fun characters that you just want to keep reading/listening.
The narration by Mark Meadows is a big part of that. He is excellent! So many clear distinct characters, all with their own quirks and style. I just loved the narration.
The narration by Mark Meadows is a big part of that. He is excellent! So many clear distinct characters, all with their own quirks and style. I just loved the narration.
November 15, 2016
A very well-written and interesting book. It's a book that sparks my imagination. I truly enjoyed reading this book. Would love to read more from the Burned Man series.
I received a free paperback from the Goodreads First Reads program. Thanks for sending me this.
I received a free paperback from the Goodreads First Reads program. Thanks for sending me this.
November 28, 2016
4GR* (Very good. I loved it.) - My actual rating is 8 out of 10.
Great fantasy noir. Recommended for all the fans of Sandman Slim, Harry Dresden, Daniel Faust,... Hopefully this will be a long series.
Great fantasy noir. Recommended for all the fans of Sandman Slim, Harry Dresden, Daniel Faust,... Hopefully this will be a long series.
August 22, 2017
This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 2.0 of 5
I wasn't particularly impressed with the first book in The Burned Man series by Peter McLean, but being behind in my ARC reading, I already had the second (and third) books on my Kindle for reading and review. Dominion is the second book in the series.
There's nothing particularly new here in the second book. This is still an urban fantasy with a lot of the typical urban fantasy tropes. And if Drake (the first book in the series) felt like a rehash of a lot of popular fantasy, then Dominion is even more so.
Don Drake, supernatural hitman, has a job to take care of Rotman, a being who is hunting down the Earth elementals. But Rotman is really the archdemon Bianakith, which means that this is going to be a tougher job than Drake would like because Bianakith is "the foretold spirit of disease and decay whose aura corrupts everything it comes near."
In my review of Drake I wrote: "Drake comes across as a Harry Dresden type - male, about the same age (?) with a talent for magic and putting demons in their place. But Don Drake isn’t quite as smooth as Harry Dresden. Drake is an alcoholic gambler who gets lucky more often than not." This continues to hold true and if anything, he has become even less likable. And when you are a mostly character-driven series, having an unlikable protagonist is not helpful.
Let's talk a little bit about profanity....
I typically don't mind profanity in the literature I read. I work in professional theatre and anytime a company I work with gets a letter from a patron complaining about the profanity on stage, I tend to roll my eyes and say, "Get real." I use profanity in my own writing and in my everyday speech. Not a lot, but more than my wife would like! But this is all to say that I'm not against the use of swear words or curse words or however you might want to define some language (and the only reason I'm not giving examples is because Amazon will not let me post a review with profanity in it).
The use of profanity will go a long way in establishing what sort of character someone is and in this case, Don Drake's use of profanity goes a very long way in making me not like him. In particular, the use of the 'C' word (a vulgar term to describe a particular part of the female anatomy) was so off-putting that it took me out of the story. I immediately wanted nothing more to do with these characters.
And this made me think about the use of profanity and I realized that in my everyday life, I would not sit around with people who speak this way. I would not go out and have a drink with someone who talks about someone being a 'c***ing b**ch". In fact, I would make excuses to leave if I were with someone who spoke this way. And if I wouldn't associate with people like this, why would I ever enjoy reading a book about people like this? Perhaps, if the people in the book in question were SUPPOSED to be despicable and unlikable, then yes, but when they are the 'heroes' of the story ... ? No.
I get that there are plenty of readers out there who don't mind this. Possibly even relish it. But I'm not one and this book just doesn't appeal.
These characters don't need to be my friends, but I do need to find a reason to get behind them and root for them if I am going to read about their adventures.
Looking for a good book? Dominion, by Peter McLean is the second book in the Burned Man series with an unlikable main character in a setting that struggles to stand apart from other urban fantasies.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
I wasn't particularly impressed with the first book in The Burned Man series by Peter McLean, but being behind in my ARC reading, I already had the second (and third) books on my Kindle for reading and review. Dominion is the second book in the series.
There's nothing particularly new here in the second book. This is still an urban fantasy with a lot of the typical urban fantasy tropes. And if Drake (the first book in the series) felt like a rehash of a lot of popular fantasy, then Dominion is even more so.
Don Drake, supernatural hitman, has a job to take care of Rotman, a being who is hunting down the Earth elementals. But Rotman is really the archdemon Bianakith, which means that this is going to be a tougher job than Drake would like because Bianakith is "the foretold spirit of disease and decay whose aura corrupts everything it comes near."
In my review of Drake I wrote: "Drake comes across as a Harry Dresden type - male, about the same age (?) with a talent for magic and putting demons in their place. But Don Drake isn’t quite as smooth as Harry Dresden. Drake is an alcoholic gambler who gets lucky more often than not." This continues to hold true and if anything, he has become even less likable. And when you are a mostly character-driven series, having an unlikable protagonist is not helpful.
Let's talk a little bit about profanity....
I typically don't mind profanity in the literature I read. I work in professional theatre and anytime a company I work with gets a letter from a patron complaining about the profanity on stage, I tend to roll my eyes and say, "Get real." I use profanity in my own writing and in my everyday speech. Not a lot, but more than my wife would like! But this is all to say that I'm not against the use of swear words or curse words or however you might want to define some language (and the only reason I'm not giving examples is because Amazon will not let me post a review with profanity in it).
The use of profanity will go a long way in establishing what sort of character someone is and in this case, Don Drake's use of profanity goes a very long way in making me not like him. In particular, the use of the 'C' word (a vulgar term to describe a particular part of the female anatomy) was so off-putting that it took me out of the story. I immediately wanted nothing more to do with these characters.
And this made me think about the use of profanity and I realized that in my everyday life, I would not sit around with people who speak this way. I would not go out and have a drink with someone who talks about someone being a 'c***ing b**ch". In fact, I would make excuses to leave if I were with someone who spoke this way. And if I wouldn't associate with people like this, why would I ever enjoy reading a book about people like this? Perhaps, if the people in the book in question were SUPPOSED to be despicable and unlikable, then yes, but when they are the 'heroes' of the story ... ? No.
I get that there are plenty of readers out there who don't mind this. Possibly even relish it. But I'm not one and this book just doesn't appeal.
These characters don't need to be my friends, but I do need to find a reason to get behind them and root for them if I am going to read about their adventures.
Looking for a good book? Dominion, by Peter McLean is the second book in the Burned Man series with an unlikable main character in a setting that struggles to stand apart from other urban fantasies.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
November 3, 2016
Dominion is the second book in McLean's 'Burned Man' series but is contained enough to work as a stand-alone novel (and I know because I hadn't read the first, 'Drake', when this popped through the letter box.
The 'hero' of Dominion is Don Drake, a diabolist and former hitman who is conned into going up against The Rotman, an entity that is destroying the underparts of London. When Rotman turns out to be the archdemon Bianakith Drake soon realises he is out of his depth - and Bianakith is only the beginning. With his unrequited love interest, his Guardian Angel (almost fallen Angel) Trixie and his patron, The Burned Man he still needs every trick up his sleeve to save the day.
Drake is an interesting lead, a mix of Harry Dresden and Felix Dexter with maybe a bit of Bobby Dollar thrown. He seems a bit worn down by life and having Trixie living with him is affecting him (he seems equal parts in love and in fear of her), as is keeping The Burned Man in a 9 inch tall fetish in a spare room. Drake likes a drink and swears a lot but, for me, that makes him more believable. Events later in the story leave him even more 'put upon' but I'm not going into those here - wouldn't want to spoil the fun for you.
With stories like this the supporting cast are essential to get right and McLean has done just that. The crowd in Wormwood's club, a supernatural meeting place, for example, are various shades of grey, any of them could be friend or foe. Even Drake isn't sure who he can and can't trust.
Dominion is very much a Dark Urban Fantasy tale and the London setting, as it usually does, serves the story well. The city is dark and grimy, the lower levels, below the Underground and populated by Gnomes, is even darker and grimier and is also rotting away (thanks to The Rotman). Will Drake and friends save the day, save the Gnomes and save the city? That's for you to find out but you'll enjoy the journey - I know I did
As I said at the beginning of this review Dominion is the second book in the series but, and this is where it feels Peter McLean has been really clever, there is enough here to inform you of past events (in 'Drake') but not enough to make reading the previous novel unnecessary - in fact I'm planning on reading 'Drake' as soon as I get chance. I also feel that, with everything that is going on in the backstory, the whole tale of Don Drake has a lot more to offer and more surprises to reveal
Highly Recommended
The 'hero' of Dominion is Don Drake, a diabolist and former hitman who is conned into going up against The Rotman, an entity that is destroying the underparts of London. When Rotman turns out to be the archdemon Bianakith Drake soon realises he is out of his depth - and Bianakith is only the beginning. With his unrequited love interest, his Guardian Angel (almost fallen Angel) Trixie and his patron, The Burned Man he still needs every trick up his sleeve to save the day.
Drake is an interesting lead, a mix of Harry Dresden and Felix Dexter with maybe a bit of Bobby Dollar thrown. He seems a bit worn down by life and having Trixie living with him is affecting him (he seems equal parts in love and in fear of her), as is keeping The Burned Man in a 9 inch tall fetish in a spare room. Drake likes a drink and swears a lot but, for me, that makes him more believable. Events later in the story leave him even more 'put upon' but I'm not going into those here - wouldn't want to spoil the fun for you.
With stories like this the supporting cast are essential to get right and McLean has done just that. The crowd in Wormwood's club, a supernatural meeting place, for example, are various shades of grey, any of them could be friend or foe. Even Drake isn't sure who he can and can't trust.
Dominion is very much a Dark Urban Fantasy tale and the London setting, as it usually does, serves the story well. The city is dark and grimy, the lower levels, below the Underground and populated by Gnomes, is even darker and grimier and is also rotting away (thanks to The Rotman). Will Drake and friends save the day, save the Gnomes and save the city? That's for you to find out but you'll enjoy the journey - I know I did
As I said at the beginning of this review Dominion is the second book in the series but, and this is where it feels Peter McLean has been really clever, there is enough here to inform you of past events (in 'Drake') but not enough to make reading the previous novel unnecessary - in fact I'm planning on reading 'Drake' as soon as I get chance. I also feel that, with everything that is going on in the backstory, the whole tale of Don Drake has a lot more to offer and more surprises to reveal
Highly Recommended
May 16, 2017
Book two!!! And I love it. This is such a terrific series and I am totally hooked.
Oh Don-boy… It seems each decision leads to a worse situation.
Drake is back and this time he has Trixie by his side, well sort of, okay… not really. She is The Burned Man’s guardian, but as The Burned Man still works for Drake so does she, sort of. But The Burned Man has a mind of it’s own… and it’s not staying put.
Drake, trying to do good, only seems to dig himself into deeper holes. I’m not sure if he can get out of this latest one. He accepts two jobs, one pro bono and one as a favor to Wormwood. Help an old man with his ill wife, and help the gnomes with a little underground problem. Both cases lead Drake to decisions that will change everything… And there is a bloody creepy cat lurking around!
Trixie, the almost, kinda, fallen Angel (and one of my favorite characters) is back as the warrior / protector. She is dealing with the fallout of the events of Book One and is battling her own internal demons while having to help Drake with his very physical ones. (if you haven’t read Book One – go on then).
Once again, Peter McLean puts Don Drake into impossible situations and boy does Drake seem to make a mess of things. The action is terrific, intense and fast paced. The depth of the characterizations of Drake and Trixie are great. The introduction of new characters are a treat, particularly Janice, who I believe is a new favorite of mine. The plot moves along quickly with a few curve balls for the hero to overcome, a well developed story that twists and turns, digging deeper and deeper into the muck (a bit like Drakes trips underground). A cracking good story. I didn’t want it to end but luckily for me, book three has just come out.
Oh Don-boy… It seems each decision leads to a worse situation.
Drake is back and this time he has Trixie by his side, well sort of, okay… not really. She is The Burned Man’s guardian, but as The Burned Man still works for Drake so does she, sort of. But The Burned Man has a mind of it’s own… and it’s not staying put.
Drake, trying to do good, only seems to dig himself into deeper holes. I’m not sure if he can get out of this latest one. He accepts two jobs, one pro bono and one as a favor to Wormwood. Help an old man with his ill wife, and help the gnomes with a little underground problem. Both cases lead Drake to decisions that will change everything… And there is a bloody creepy cat lurking around!
Trixie, the almost, kinda, fallen Angel (and one of my favorite characters) is back as the warrior / protector. She is dealing with the fallout of the events of Book One and is battling her own internal demons while having to help Drake with his very physical ones. (if you haven’t read Book One – go on then).
Once again, Peter McLean puts Don Drake into impossible situations and boy does Drake seem to make a mess of things. The action is terrific, intense and fast paced. The depth of the characterizations of Drake and Trixie are great. The introduction of new characters are a treat, particularly Janice, who I believe is a new favorite of mine. The plot moves along quickly with a few curve balls for the hero to overcome, a well developed story that twists and turns, digging deeper and deeper into the muck (a bit like Drakes trips underground). A cracking good story. I didn’t want it to end but luckily for me, book three has just come out.
May 11, 2017
It is dark, violent and contains a fair amount of swearing - right up my street!
Dominion is the second title in Peter McLean’s The Burned Man series. A substance known only as Rotman is hunting the Elementals, and they need help to stop it. This is a dark, dank and foul mouthed journey to find out what the Rotman is and stop it from destroying all.
Don Drake is the main protagonist. He is a partially reformed killer for hire and at times can be just as bad as the bad guys. Drake has a lot of selfish desires; self-preservation, self-gratification, self-seduce-every-hot-girl-he-can-get-near, but he also tries to do good. The problem is, he is not very good at being good and often makes the wrong choices with disastrous consequences.
Drake has two companions of sorts, an almost fallen angel called Trixie and a demon called the Burned Man who is under Drake’s control. The relationship between these three is brilliant and complicated and I loved seeing it progress. Especially as it was aided by some very interesting language choices. This is not a book for those who only say ‘ouch’ when their stub their toe.
I thought this book was simple fun. I enjoyed the darkness, relished in the language and merrily sauntered along with Drake and his buddies as they consorted with gnomes and demons and all other such fantastical creatures.
A book I would absolutely ‘insert expletive of choice’ recommend.
Lisa Jane
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
Dominion is the second title in Peter McLean’s The Burned Man series. A substance known only as Rotman is hunting the Elementals, and they need help to stop it. This is a dark, dank and foul mouthed journey to find out what the Rotman is and stop it from destroying all.
Don Drake is the main protagonist. He is a partially reformed killer for hire and at times can be just as bad as the bad guys. Drake has a lot of selfish desires; self-preservation, self-gratification, self-seduce-every-hot-girl-he-can-get-near, but he also tries to do good. The problem is, he is not very good at being good and often makes the wrong choices with disastrous consequences.
Drake has two companions of sorts, an almost fallen angel called Trixie and a demon called the Burned Man who is under Drake’s control. The relationship between these three is brilliant and complicated and I loved seeing it progress. Especially as it was aided by some very interesting language choices. This is not a book for those who only say ‘ouch’ when their stub their toe.
I thought this book was simple fun. I enjoyed the darkness, relished in the language and merrily sauntered along with Drake and his buddies as they consorted with gnomes and demons and all other such fantastical creatures.
A book I would absolutely ‘insert expletive of choice’ recommend.
Lisa Jane
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
December 22, 2016
Dominion, the second Burned Man novel from Peter McLean, takes the relationships between scruffy diabolist Don Drake and partly fallen angel Meselandrarasatrixiel (call her Trixie) and between Don and the Burned Man (an archdemon), to screwy and scary new places - as they deal with a new threat that may free a goddess of war; the possibility that Trixie's dominion (a sort of father/mentor/commanding officer as a Warrior of the Word) seems to be more than a bit off; the introduction of a weird (relatively speaking) new character who is frequently a one-eye ginger cat, and the return of Adam (Luciphor, a duke of Hell).
The humor is dark and weird; the drama is heightened, and hey! Gnomes!
Don is continuing to develop as a kind of the anti-Dresden (Harry Dresden, that is) and it's very interesting to follow. I can't wait to see where he goes next.
The humor is dark and weird; the drama is heightened, and hey! Gnomes!
Don is continuing to develop as a kind of the anti-Dresden (Harry Dresden, that is) and it's very interesting to follow. I can't wait to see where he goes next.
September 5, 2018
Druhý díl Spáleného muže. Smradlavější, temnější a osudovější!
McLean po Drakeovi získal pevnější půdu pod nohama a Dominionovi to jednoznačně prospívá. Jede se takřka bez výdechu, od začátku víme, že se bude hrát o hodně, jen nevíme o kolik přesně. Don se tady taky vyprofiluje jako o něco menší všivák než v první knížce a řekla bych že osobnosti většiny hlavních postav získají trochu nový rozměr, což jim jednoznačně prospěje.
Celkově určitě zlepšení. To se bohužel nedá říct o překladu který trpí naprosto ale naprosto stejnými neduhy jako u první knížky. Dokonce je tady i ten medvěd katolík, takže za překlad zase -1* a fakt mě mrzí že budu muset koupit i třetí díl česky protože maminka anglicky neumí a na další pokračování už se těší. Doufám že se jedná v rámci nakladatelství o výjimku, brzy se pustím do Problému tří těles, tak snad to bude lepší.
McLean po Drakeovi získal pevnější půdu pod nohama a Dominionovi to jednoznačně prospívá. Jede se takřka bez výdechu, od začátku víme, že se bude hrát o hodně, jen nevíme o kolik přesně. Don se tady taky vyprofiluje jako o něco menší všivák než v první knížce a řekla bych že osobnosti většiny hlavních postav získají trochu nový rozměr, což jim jednoznačně prospěje.
Celkově určitě zlepšení. To se bohužel nedá říct o překladu který trpí naprosto ale naprosto stejnými neduhy jako u první knížky. Dokonce je tady i ten medvěd katolík, takže za překlad zase -1* a fakt mě mrzí že budu muset koupit i třetí díl česky protože maminka anglicky neumí a na další pokračování už se těší. Doufám že se jedná v rámci nakladatelství o výjimku, brzy se pustím do Problému tří těles, tak snad to bude lepší.
July 22, 2018
Ze začátku jsem měl sice trochu problém s jazykem – Don totiž místy dost nepřirozeně osciluje mezi hovorovou češtinou, nadávkami a knižními výrazy – ale zvykl jsem si. A pak už bylo všechno v pořádku: Dominion navazuje na předchozí díl takřka okamžitě a zachycuje Drakea na cestě zoufalou friendzone. Mimo to se ale několikrát pokusí zhroutit svět, staré postavy se objeví v nových rolích, tu a tam vyskočí nějací nováčci… Děj krásně odsýpá, události jsou přehledné. Ačkoliv se jedná o druhý díl trilogie, nedá se říct, že by přešlapoval na místě, a tím vytvářel půdu pro finále. Za mě lepší než jednička.
October 16, 2023
Having started this book under false pretences (the cover had led me to believe it was a haha-funny book, in line with the style of Charles Stross' Laundry books: nothing was further from the truth), I was fuming through the first chapter. Then I got to grips with McLean's style, and it was smooth sailing from there.
Great gritty supernatural whodunit. In a pinch it can be used for literary analysis in high school, as there's a great multi-faceted theme throughout.
The author keeps you guessing as to where the story is going, and as long as you don't realise the entire story would play out the same without the protagonist, it's a smooth ride.
Highly recommended!
Great gritty supernatural whodunit. In a pinch it can be used for literary analysis in high school, as there's a great multi-faceted theme throughout.
The author keeps you guessing as to where the story is going, and as long as you don't realise the entire story would play out the same without the protagonist, it's a smooth ride.
Highly recommended!
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