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Black City Saint #3
Black City Dragon
A historical urban fantasy set in Prohibition-era Chicago, which combines action, mystery, and romance against a backdrop of gangland wars and the threat of supernatural horror.
For sixteen hundred years, Nick Medea has guarded the gate between our world and Feirie, preventing the Wyld--the darkest Feirie of all--from coming into Chicago to find human prey. But since he defeated Oberon, more and more Wyld have been slipping through. Nick and his Feirie companion, the shapeshifter, Fetch, have been busy hunting them down.
Nick keeps coming across the Dacian Draco, the sign of his ancient enemy Galerius, including a tattoo worn by a human thug. Unfortunately, every trail ends as if years old. Claryce, Nick's reincarnated love, has narrowly escaped two attempts on her life, and when Nick sees her wearing a broach with the Draco on it, he knows they must look more deeply into her former lives.
With Wyld and gangsters wreaking havoc in Chicago, Nick and Claryce must confront the secrets of their pasts if they are to have any hope of finding out Galerius's plans before it's too late to stop them. Nick will need the help of all his friends, both human and Feirie, and the powers of the dragon within him, to keep Galerius from endangering the gate, Chicago, and all of humanity.
For sixteen hundred years, Nick Medea has guarded the gate between our world and Feirie, preventing the Wyld--the darkest Feirie of all--from coming into Chicago to find human prey. But since he defeated Oberon, more and more Wyld have been slipping through. Nick and his Feirie companion, the shapeshifter, Fetch, have been busy hunting them down.
Nick keeps coming across the Dacian Draco, the sign of his ancient enemy Galerius, including a tattoo worn by a human thug. Unfortunately, every trail ends as if years old. Claryce, Nick's reincarnated love, has narrowly escaped two attempts on her life, and when Nick sees her wearing a broach with the Draco on it, he knows they must look more deeply into her former lives.
With Wyld and gangsters wreaking havoc in Chicago, Nick and Claryce must confront the secrets of their pasts if they are to have any hope of finding out Galerius's plans before it's too late to stop them. Nick will need the help of all his friends, both human and Feirie, and the powers of the dragon within him, to keep Galerius from endangering the gate, Chicago, and all of humanity.
378 pages, Paperback
Published March 26, 2019
11 people are currently reading
1348 people want to read
About the author
Richard A. Knaak
266 books1,490 followersRichard A. Knaak is the bestselling author of Dragonlance novels, the Dragonrealm and Black City Saint series (his own creations), six novels for Blizzard Entertainment's Diablo series, and six works in the Warcraft universe. He has also written several non-series fantasy books.
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March 27, 2019
Enter the giveaway (ends 4/4/19) and check out my interview with Richard A. Knaak about the Black City Saint series @ Metaphors and Moonlight!
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4 Stars
Review:
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher. This has not influenced my review.*
Every time I read a book in this series, I feel the need to bring up how much I absolutely love what a unique combination of elements it has. Fae, Catholic saints, the Prohibition Era, reincarnation---it even has a dragon! It's such a strange and unexpected combination, but one that the author really makes work. Plus there was another interesting mystery to solve, another nefarious villain to beat, and the same group of characters I've come to really root for.
Nick was his usual hard-boiled self, Claryce was her usual feisty self, and both were stubborn as mules. Almost every dangerous situation they went into, Nick would tell her to stay put outside or attempt to keep her away, and then she'd show up anyway, just in time to save him. But they both have a lot of strength and don't back down from things, so they make a good pair. And Nick seemed a little less hard-boiled and disenchanted this time. I think having Claryce around has been good for him. He seems like he might be subtly changing over the course of the series, but he still has the occasional quip of dry humor born of exasperation/resignation. Of course there was Fetch too, who was sometimes more dog than... whatever he is. He's frustrated me at times in the past, but he's grown on me. You gotta love him, despite his constant use of slang and his attempts to eat everything in the Kelvinator. Even Diocles and Kravayik got in on the action a bit more this time.
And there was more dragon in this one! Not just his snide remarks, though I do love those (as evidenced by the status update below that I made while reading), but also Nick actually letting him out, using his powers, letting his body transform. And, I mean, who doesn't like reading about dragons? I always like it a little too much when Nick and the dragon work together because I'm like, "Awww, they're buddies!" but then the dragon goes and says something terrible or tries to take over, and I'm like, "Oh yeah, that's why they're not buddies." But really, the dragon is so interesting to me. Also I think he's starting to rub off on me because there was one point during the story when Nick was trying to figure out a solution for something, and my immediate idea was to burn. Turns out that was actually not the right solution. I guess that's why Nick is the saint and the guardian of the gate to Feirie and not me.
This book also had some twists that I really did not see coming. I wonder now if there were hints of one of them before and I just hadn't realized.
I'll admit that the details while Nick is trying to piece everything together and figure out what's going on sometimes elude me, but that never makes me enjoy the books any less. I trust that I'll understand the important parts and the actual stuff that happens, and I always do. I can appreciate how complex the plots of these books are and how, despite having separate plots for each book, there are still bits and pieces that connect. It makes me wonder where the series is headed.
Overall, this was another highly enjoyable, complexly plotted book in a great 1920s urban fantasy series!
Recommended For:
Fans of Books 1 and 2 in Richard A. Knaak's Black City Saint series. Anyone who likes urban fantasy, fae, dragons, Catholicism, the Prohibition Era, and complex relationships.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
----------------------
4 Stars
Review:
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher. This has not influenced my review.*
Every time I read a book in this series, I feel the need to bring up how much I absolutely love what a unique combination of elements it has. Fae, Catholic saints, the Prohibition Era, reincarnation---it even has a dragon! It's such a strange and unexpected combination, but one that the author really makes work. Plus there was another interesting mystery to solve, another nefarious villain to beat, and the same group of characters I've come to really root for.
Nick was his usual hard-boiled self, Claryce was her usual feisty self, and both were stubborn as mules. Almost every dangerous situation they went into, Nick would tell her to stay put outside or attempt to keep her away, and then she'd show up anyway, just in time to save him. But they both have a lot of strength and don't back down from things, so they make a good pair. And Nick seemed a little less hard-boiled and disenchanted this time. I think having Claryce around has been good for him. He seems like he might be subtly changing over the course of the series, but he still has the occasional quip of dry humor born of exasperation/resignation. Of course there was Fetch too, who was sometimes more dog than... whatever he is. He's frustrated me at times in the past, but he's grown on me. You gotta love him, despite his constant use of slang and his attempts to eat everything in the Kelvinator. Even Diocles and Kravayik got in on the action a bit more this time.
And there was more dragon in this one! Not just his snide remarks, though I do love those (as evidenced by the status update below that I made while reading), but also Nick actually letting him out, using his powers, letting his body transform. And, I mean, who doesn't like reading about dragons? I always like it a little too much when Nick and the dragon work together because I'm like, "Awww, they're buddies!" but then the dragon goes and says something terrible or tries to take over, and I'm like, "Oh yeah, that's why they're not buddies." But really, the dragon is so interesting to me. Also I think he's starting to rub off on me because there was one point during the story when Nick was trying to figure out a solution for something, and my immediate idea was to burn. Turns out that was actually not the right solution. I guess that's why Nick is the saint and the guardian of the gate to Feirie and not me.
This book also had some twists that I really did not see coming. I wonder now if there were hints of one of them before and I just hadn't realized.
I'll admit that the details while Nick is trying to piece everything together and figure out what's going on sometimes elude me, but that never makes me enjoy the books any less. I trust that I'll understand the important parts and the actual stuff that happens, and I always do. I can appreciate how complex the plots of these books are and how, despite having separate plots for each book, there are still bits and pieces that connect. It makes me wonder where the series is headed.
Overall, this was another highly enjoyable, complexly plotted book in a great 1920s urban fantasy series!
Recommended For:
Fans of Books 1 and 2 in Richard A. Knaak's Black City Saint series. Anyone who likes urban fantasy, fae, dragons, Catholicism, the Prohibition Era, and complex relationships.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
March 28, 2019
http://booknest.eu/reviews/charles/14...
4.5/5
BLACK CITY DRAGON is the third book of Richard Knaak's Black City series, which I've been enjoying since the first volume of BLACK CITY SAINT. It is an urban fantasy series that centers around Nick Medea, the 1920s incarnation of Saint George, who investigates the supernatual during the Great Depression while protecting the gateway to Fairyland. It's a unique series that I really love the quirky and oddball cast of. It reminds me a bit of the Dresden Files but Nick is a much more serious character who has lived millennia of tragedy.
The premise of Black City Dragon is that Nick has recently discovered that he may have been viewing his immortality the wrong way. For Claryce, the reincarnation of his long lost love, has recently discovered that her endless tragic deaths may not have something related to her constant re-entering Nick's life. Indeed, it was (as Al Capone would say) enemy action. Worse, the city is being overrun with invaders from Fairyland. Despite Nick's victories over Oberon and other forces, he's made it even harder for Chicago's inhabitants as there is now no one keeping them in line.
Anyone who had read Richard Knaak's previous work know that he's a master of combining oddball bands of misfits into functional groups that play off one another. Here, Nick Medea is about the only sane man in a group full of fairy dogs, ghosts, and the dragon that lives inside his head. However, compared to Claryce, he's about as odd as everyone else in his collection. After two books, we've got a pretty established cast and can now get into the deep backstory that affects the setting.
I think what I like most about the Black City series is that Richard Knaak manages to combine ancient Roman history with a period snapshot of the Roaring Twenties. The use of accurate research is something that I don't necessarily demand from my urban fantasy but helps enrich the storytelling here. Historical figures are used but sparingly, not overwhelming the narrative with Capone or Elliot Ness, but letting you know events are happening outside of the hero's activities. We also have a similar use of things like the Great Chicago Fire, Iroquois Theater Fire, and other disasters.
World-building wise, I have to say I really enjoyed the combination of Christian, Anglo-Shakespearian, and Roman mythology that permeates the series. Richard doesn't try to replace what he established in the first book but keeps working on expanding existing concepts. I mention this because I felt like the Dresden Files got overwhelmed with things like demons, outsiders, and more. Ditto the Southern Vampire Mysteries once fairies were introduced. Here, it's mostly focused on the original threats Nick was fighting and questions like, "can he ever forgive the man who betrayed him and is literally haunting him?"
Action-wise, this book doesn't disappoint but I should note that it's actually a fairly book series. While so many others are doubling down on the gore and violence, this still feels like a PG series. I really liked the villain this time around and felt that the events in previous books made an excellent build-up to give a personal connection to Nick. I've mentioned I really enjoy the supporting cast and everyone gets a much needed dose of the spotlight. I think the dragon (or perhaps "Eye I think the dragon") may be the smartest person in the group, though, since most of the problems could be solved by copious use of fire.
In conclusion, I strongly recommend Black City Dragon. Obviously, you should read the previous volumes of the series but I detect no sign of the typical sophomore slump that usually accompanies trilogies. If you liked the first two books of the series then you'll probably like the third book. In fact, I think it's probably better than the previous two as the previous villains were a bit too removed from Nick's personal comfort zone while this feels much more intense. This series is an obvious labor of love and has two thumbs up.
4.5/5
BLACK CITY DRAGON is the third book of Richard Knaak's Black City series, which I've been enjoying since the first volume of BLACK CITY SAINT. It is an urban fantasy series that centers around Nick Medea, the 1920s incarnation of Saint George, who investigates the supernatual during the Great Depression while protecting the gateway to Fairyland. It's a unique series that I really love the quirky and oddball cast of. It reminds me a bit of the Dresden Files but Nick is a much more serious character who has lived millennia of tragedy.
The premise of Black City Dragon is that Nick has recently discovered that he may have been viewing his immortality the wrong way. For Claryce, the reincarnation of his long lost love, has recently discovered that her endless tragic deaths may not have something related to her constant re-entering Nick's life. Indeed, it was (as Al Capone would say) enemy action. Worse, the city is being overrun with invaders from Fairyland. Despite Nick's victories over Oberon and other forces, he's made it even harder for Chicago's inhabitants as there is now no one keeping them in line.
Anyone who had read Richard Knaak's previous work know that he's a master of combining oddball bands of misfits into functional groups that play off one another. Here, Nick Medea is about the only sane man in a group full of fairy dogs, ghosts, and the dragon that lives inside his head. However, compared to Claryce, he's about as odd as everyone else in his collection. After two books, we've got a pretty established cast and can now get into the deep backstory that affects the setting.
I think what I like most about the Black City series is that Richard Knaak manages to combine ancient Roman history with a period snapshot of the Roaring Twenties. The use of accurate research is something that I don't necessarily demand from my urban fantasy but helps enrich the storytelling here. Historical figures are used but sparingly, not overwhelming the narrative with Capone or Elliot Ness, but letting you know events are happening outside of the hero's activities. We also have a similar use of things like the Great Chicago Fire, Iroquois Theater Fire, and other disasters.
World-building wise, I have to say I really enjoyed the combination of Christian, Anglo-Shakespearian, and Roman mythology that permeates the series. Richard doesn't try to replace what he established in the first book but keeps working on expanding existing concepts. I mention this because I felt like the Dresden Files got overwhelmed with things like demons, outsiders, and more. Ditto the Southern Vampire Mysteries once fairies were introduced. Here, it's mostly focused on the original threats Nick was fighting and questions like, "can he ever forgive the man who betrayed him and is literally haunting him?"
Action-wise, this book doesn't disappoint but I should note that it's actually a fairly book series. While so many others are doubling down on the gore and violence, this still feels like a PG series. I really liked the villain this time around and felt that the events in previous books made an excellent build-up to give a personal connection to Nick. I've mentioned I really enjoy the supporting cast and everyone gets a much needed dose of the spotlight. I think the dragon (or perhaps "Eye I think the dragon") may be the smartest person in the group, though, since most of the problems could be solved by copious use of fire.
In conclusion, I strongly recommend Black City Dragon. Obviously, you should read the previous volumes of the series but I detect no sign of the typical sophomore slump that usually accompanies trilogies. If you liked the first two books of the series then you'll probably like the third book. In fact, I think it's probably better than the previous two as the previous villains were a bit too removed from Nick's personal comfort zone while this feels much more intense. This series is an obvious labor of love and has two thumbs up.
September 12, 2018
In the third appearance of Nick Medea, in the Black City Series, Nick not only takes on the Dragon he killed in his incarnation as Saint George. He also takes on the emperor Galerius who was instrumental and responsible for his death two-hundred years ago. Nick enlists the beloved cast of helpful compatriots Fetch, Claryce, and the recovering Kravayik to assist him in his quest to keep Chicago and Its environs safe from the fae escaping through the gaps in the gates between the land of Faery and the Humans.
If Galerius gets his way both worlds will be one once more. Nick must do everything in his power to make sure that does not happen. He has to give into his instincts, and let some powers of the Dragon free. But how does he do that without causing another "disaster" like the Great Fire? And imagine this is all happening in the midst of the gang war between the likes of Bugs Moran, Hymie Weiss, and Scarface Al Capone. Who wins this war? The Dragon, Nick, or Galerius?
If Galerius gets his way both worlds will be one once more. Nick must do everything in his power to make sure that does not happen. He has to give into his instincts, and let some powers of the Dragon free. But how does he do that without causing another "disaster" like the Great Fire? And imagine this is all happening in the midst of the gang war between the likes of Bugs Moran, Hymie Weiss, and Scarface Al Capone. Who wins this war? The Dragon, Nick, or Galerius?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 15, 2018
I love these books. Adventure, fantasy, a love story, all with funny characters and interesting villains. I can't wait to see what happens to Nick Medea next!
April 13, 2019
Richard Knaak is back and at the top of his game again with the urban fantasy Black City series. Nick Medea returns as a combination of Phillip Marlow and Harry Dresden, a “ghostbuster “ in an alternate Prohibition Era Chicago where the Fae mingle with the mob. Quick moving and with a great feel for the era it represents, it’s a joy to see another book in this series. Recommended!
April 9, 2019
Centuries have gone by and you would think that things would be getting easier for Nick Medea. Protector of the Gate to Faerie...hunter of the Wyld...conqueror of the Dragon, that SHOULD bring with it some form of respect. But...recently... he has battled, and defeated, Oberon, the King of the Faerie and then confronted H.H. Holmes, the Beast of Chicago, stopping his apocalyptic plans.
Now, perhaps the most evil and dangerous enemy from his past has returned...the one who was ultimately responsible for what Nick is today...and he's not sure if he can stop that evil from changing the human world and destroying the land of Faerie forever. To make matters worse, everything that Nick believed about his life may have all been a lie. The answer to it all may come down to the turn of a card.
Richard Knaak returns once more to the terrifying world of the BLACK CITY - Chicago of the 1920s and gives us the third story in the history of NICK MEDEA. Knaak combines myth and legend in an alternate world where Saints walk the earth, creatures of faerie stalk humanity to eat, love survives death, and hate not only never dies but only grows stronger.
Richard Knaak is the best selling author of such iconic stories as the Legend of Huma and Kaz the Minotaur in the DRAGONLANCE world; creator of the long running and amazing DRAGONREALM; the new universe of REX DRACONIS; and now the world of the Black City Saint - NICK MEDEA.
Richard's abilities as a story teller and world builder are showcased in these books and will entertain and capture your imagination.
Note: This series relies heavily on characters and encounters that take place in the first two books...as well as throwing in many references to activities in the past that are the background to much of the ongoing story. I would definitely recommend reading the first two books in the series to give you a much broader understanding of the story foundations and the overall world going forward.
Now, perhaps the most evil and dangerous enemy from his past has returned...the one who was ultimately responsible for what Nick is today...and he's not sure if he can stop that evil from changing the human world and destroying the land of Faerie forever. To make matters worse, everything that Nick believed about his life may have all been a lie. The answer to it all may come down to the turn of a card.
Richard Knaak returns once more to the terrifying world of the BLACK CITY - Chicago of the 1920s and gives us the third story in the history of NICK MEDEA. Knaak combines myth and legend in an alternate world where Saints walk the earth, creatures of faerie stalk humanity to eat, love survives death, and hate not only never dies but only grows stronger.
Richard Knaak is the best selling author of such iconic stories as the Legend of Huma and Kaz the Minotaur in the DRAGONLANCE world; creator of the long running and amazing DRAGONREALM; the new universe of REX DRACONIS; and now the world of the Black City Saint - NICK MEDEA.
Richard's abilities as a story teller and world builder are showcased in these books and will entertain and capture your imagination.
Note: This series relies heavily on characters and encounters that take place in the first two books...as well as throwing in many references to activities in the past that are the background to much of the ongoing story. I would definitely recommend reading the first two books in the series to give you a much broader understanding of the story foundations and the overall world going forward.
September 7, 2018
There are distinct disadvantages to being late to the party in terms of reading a series, and with this series in particular, I found myself flailing around trying to deal with the author's frequent references to events of previous books, people who never appear in this volume but who apparently play huge parts in the first two, and so on.
Yes, you can read this and get the story straight, but it does take some extra effort to grasp the deeper implications of the events here. That's fine, the only thing Knaak is responsible for is writing a book that can be read on its own. Whether it can be truly enjoyed and appreciated as a stand-alone is another thing entirely.
We are introduced to Nick Medea who, we are told, is St. George of St. George and the dragon fame. But instead of simply killing the dragon and becoming a saint, Nick and the dragon merged, and for 1600 years, they've battled for control. We meet Claryce, a woman who has shared dozens, perhaps hundreds of her incarnations with Nick. And there's where the confusion began for me because her previous incarnations are often referenced by name: Cleolinda, Clarissa, Claudette, and more, turning one person into an entire cast of characters. There's Fetch, who appears to be a large dog, but who can talk, but only in Nick's presence, there's Diocles, a ghost who haunts Nick because in his life he killed him, and now can't rest until Nick forgives him, which he won't do, and yet he hates having Diocles around. Diocles can only materialize on holy ground, so I'm not entirely certain why Nick doesn't just avoid places like that as much as possible, or just forgive and say "Get out of my face!" It's been 1600 years after all. Nick knows how to hold a grudge.
They're trying to stop an old enemy of them all from... well I'm not entirely sure what his endgame is except to change reality. He does manage to do some of that with the help of a magical deck of cards, but the result is that the anchors to this universe become confusing when Galerius changes parts of their reality into our own. And for me the word that best describes this book really is "confusing." I spent a lot of time muttering "What?" or "Wait who is that?" or "When did that happen?" I figured it'd all come together eventually, and to be fair, much of it did, but not enough to satisfy me. But there are so many characters with so many stories which are supposed to be important that the overall effect is to muddle what should have been a more straightforward fantasy/thriller.
So, will I read the first two? The first one? I'm not sure. I got enough out of this one to finish reading, which is something, and I rather liked the universe even if I found Nick to be surprisingly bland. Possibly I'll read the first and everything will fall into place, and convert me to a rabid fan of the series.
Stranger things have happened.
Yes, you can read this and get the story straight, but it does take some extra effort to grasp the deeper implications of the events here. That's fine, the only thing Knaak is responsible for is writing a book that can be read on its own. Whether it can be truly enjoyed and appreciated as a stand-alone is another thing entirely.
We are introduced to Nick Medea who, we are told, is St. George of St. George and the dragon fame. But instead of simply killing the dragon and becoming a saint, Nick and the dragon merged, and for 1600 years, they've battled for control. We meet Claryce, a woman who has shared dozens, perhaps hundreds of her incarnations with Nick. And there's where the confusion began for me because her previous incarnations are often referenced by name: Cleolinda, Clarissa, Claudette, and more, turning one person into an entire cast of characters. There's Fetch, who appears to be a large dog, but who can talk, but only in Nick's presence, there's Diocles, a ghost who haunts Nick because in his life he killed him, and now can't rest until Nick forgives him, which he won't do, and yet he hates having Diocles around. Diocles can only materialize on holy ground, so I'm not entirely certain why Nick doesn't just avoid places like that as much as possible, or just forgive and say "Get out of my face!" It's been 1600 years after all. Nick knows how to hold a grudge.
They're trying to stop an old enemy of them all from... well I'm not entirely sure what his endgame is except to change reality. He does manage to do some of that with the help of a magical deck of cards, but the result is that the anchors to this universe become confusing when Galerius changes parts of their reality into our own. And for me the word that best describes this book really is "confusing." I spent a lot of time muttering "What?" or "Wait who is that?" or "When did that happen?" I figured it'd all come together eventually, and to be fair, much of it did, but not enough to satisfy me. But there are so many characters with so many stories which are supposed to be important that the overall effect is to muddle what should have been a more straightforward fantasy/thriller.
So, will I read the first two? The first one? I'm not sure. I got enough out of this one to finish reading, which is something, and I rather liked the universe even if I found Nick to be surprisingly bland. Possibly I'll read the first and everything will fall into place, and convert me to a rabid fan of the series.
Stranger things have happened.
April 14, 2019
Black City Dragon is the third installment in the series, one I have been waiting for since I first came across it. Nor was I disappointed.
What to Expect
This novel deal a lot with the protagonist's past (Nick Medea, aka St George). As such it is imperative to read the first two volumes first - just so you'd get that the build-up of excitement to the backstory dealt with in this volume. Here we learn more about Nick's past, with his relationship of the dragon and Cleolinda as well as more about the complex world he lives in. As more is revealed about the world, about Feirie and other powers, it also raises new questions - a perfect setup for the next book in the series.
There is also an extra short story at the end, Black City Shadows, which was originally published in Grimdark Magazine. Who doesn't love great bonus material?
What I liked
I absolutely love the hardboiled detective style first-person narration mixed in with high and mighty fantasy elements. The fact that it is on the background of an exciting historical period is just the cherry on top. Speaking of which, Knaak certainly brings Chicago of the 1920's to life with amazing research and trivia (from slang, to gangs, to architecture). This all gels together for a rich and immersive world in which his wonderful and unique characters thrive.
What to be aware of
There are definite elements of alternate history (besides the obvious inclusion of magic), so bear with the author. However, the period is depicted extremely well which includes the attitudes of the protagonist towards women. Don't mistake them for the attitudes of the author - all his characters are strong and capable - but some might find issues with it.
As this is book three and references previous events, I would strongly recommend you read them in order.
Summary
If the idea of a noir-historical-fantasy-detective blend appeals to you, this is definitely a good read. It does a great job of bringing together elements of urban fantasy into the historically-accurate 1920's Chicago setting. An excellent novel - which you would know if you read the first two (and you should read in order).
--
Assaph Mehr, author of Murder In Absentia: A story of Togas, Daggers, and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.
What to Expect
This novel deal a lot with the protagonist's past (Nick Medea, aka St George). As such it is imperative to read the first two volumes first - just so you'd get that the build-up of excitement to the backstory dealt with in this volume. Here we learn more about Nick's past, with his relationship of the dragon and Cleolinda as well as more about the complex world he lives in. As more is revealed about the world, about Feirie and other powers, it also raises new questions - a perfect setup for the next book in the series.
There is also an extra short story at the end, Black City Shadows, which was originally published in Grimdark Magazine. Who doesn't love great bonus material?
What I liked
I absolutely love the hardboiled detective style first-person narration mixed in with high and mighty fantasy elements. The fact that it is on the background of an exciting historical period is just the cherry on top. Speaking of which, Knaak certainly brings Chicago of the 1920's to life with amazing research and trivia (from slang, to gangs, to architecture). This all gels together for a rich and immersive world in which his wonderful and unique characters thrive.
What to be aware of
There are definite elements of alternate history (besides the obvious inclusion of magic), so bear with the author. However, the period is depicted extremely well which includes the attitudes of the protagonist towards women. Don't mistake them for the attitudes of the author - all his characters are strong and capable - but some might find issues with it.
As this is book three and references previous events, I would strongly recommend you read them in order.
Summary
If the idea of a noir-historical-fantasy-detective blend appeals to you, this is definitely a good read. It does a great job of bringing together elements of urban fantasy into the historically-accurate 1920's Chicago setting. An excellent novel - which you would know if you read the first two (and you should read in order).
--
Assaph Mehr, author of Murder In Absentia: A story of Togas, Daggers, and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.
October 11, 2019
Another entry with a good plot that I wish had been strung together by better writing. It also included a bonus prequel short story that seemed to give short shrift to a character who could have potentially offered a worthy antagonist for a full-length novel, so again I'm left both intrigued and disappointed.
This third novel in the "Black City" series follows Nick Medea, the pseudonym of the real Saint George the dragonslayer, once again in 1920s Chicago, as he battles the machinations of his old nemesis, Galerius, the very person who convinced emperor Diocletian to behead Saint George 16 centuries earlier. Nick is joined, as always, by his lady-love Claryce (the reincarnation of princess Cleolinda, whom he saved from the dragon) and his sidekick Fetch (a canine Feirie exile). The plan formed by Galerius touches upon the main storylines of the first two novels in interesting ways, showing how he's been manipulating events in order to draw power to effect further massive manipulations of the world's timeline, resulting in some surprising revelations about the main characters along the way. I found the plot to be quite compelling, but for the third time, I was really disappointed by the writing that connected those plot points.
Nick, the main character, can't seem to get out of the rut of paternalism, trying at every turn to exclude his paramour from participating in his investigations, even though she's both centrally involved and extremely capable of handling herself in dire circumstances (many times showing herself to be more capable than Nick himself) -- this was somewhat acceptable once or twice in the first novel, but when it happens 5 or 6 times in each of the 3 novels, it just becomes a tired motif. As with the first couple of books in this series, Nick seems to fall for just about every obvious ambush possible, only made worse because he hamstrings himself by excluding powerful allies from his plans. The system of magic -- which includes both Feirie-based magic and apparent Christian mythological/hagiographical/angelic-based miraculous intercession -- is STILL not entirely clear, as the magic of this world seems to work or fail to work depending solely on the needs of the plot of that particular page, rather than on any consistent rules, leaving the reader to wonder about the relationship between the Christian God's powers and the Feirie realm's powers. And I'll say it again, the author seems at times more interested in clumsily cramming into the narrative references to 1920s pop culture (cars, actors, appliances, sports teams, etc.) than setting the scene in any sort of organic or natural way.
And don't get me started on the writing mechanics and editing (or lack thereof). There's hardly a page without missing or misspelled words, inverted or awkward syntax, direct/indirect object confusion, punctuation errors -- pick a page of any grammar or style manual, any page at all, and the book violates one of the rules found therein. Knaak seems pathologically beholden to the use of contractions in narrative, so the instances of "I'd" or "we'd" (to contract "would," "did," "should," "had," and others) are legion and very distracting. A decent and inexpensive editorial review -- something that would take maybe a day or two -- would have cured most of these mistakes without sacrificing the author's voice or vision, and it's frustrating to see a novel with a plot I mostly like end up with my 3-star review because the author couldn't be bothered to take that editorial step.
With respect to the bonus short story, it clearly reflects an interlude from before the time of the first novel. While the first half of the short story is essentially a retread of information and activity that exists in other stories (Nick's backstory, Fetch's description, a standard fight with a Wyld that is no different from the 3 similar fights that occur in each of the 3 novels), the second half introduces an intriguing Big Bad character that I thought could have been respected enough by its own author to expand into a full novel. The character is a close connection to both Oberon and Titania, important characters from the other Nick Medea stories, and could have been a prime antagonist (or even anti-hero ally) for Nick, but in a few short pages is dispatched with seeming finality by Nick. Just when I was really getting into the story as a potential tease for a larger plotline in later novels, Knaak pulls that rug from under my reader's feet. So, thanks to the author for making me pleasantly surprised at the new character, and shame on him for creating a good character that gets thrown away in a 30-page short story that leaves a lot of her story unresolved.
TL;DR: Good plot, disappointing writing, for the third time. I may be interested in what happens with the 4th book (assuming there will be one, as the plot certainly didn't seem fully resolved by the end of this one), but it probably won't be at the top of my "to be read" stack.
Thanks to Pyr (and my favorite Book Fairy) for providing me with a copy of this book.
This third novel in the "Black City" series follows Nick Medea, the pseudonym of the real Saint George the dragonslayer, once again in 1920s Chicago, as he battles the machinations of his old nemesis, Galerius, the very person who convinced emperor Diocletian to behead Saint George 16 centuries earlier. Nick is joined, as always, by his lady-love Claryce (the reincarnation of princess Cleolinda, whom he saved from the dragon) and his sidekick Fetch (a canine Feirie exile). The plan formed by Galerius touches upon the main storylines of the first two novels in interesting ways, showing how he's been manipulating events in order to draw power to effect further massive manipulations of the world's timeline, resulting in some surprising revelations about the main characters along the way. I found the plot to be quite compelling, but for the third time, I was really disappointed by the writing that connected those plot points.
Nick, the main character, can't seem to get out of the rut of paternalism, trying at every turn to exclude his paramour from participating in his investigations, even though she's both centrally involved and extremely capable of handling herself in dire circumstances (many times showing herself to be more capable than Nick himself) -- this was somewhat acceptable once or twice in the first novel, but when it happens 5 or 6 times in each of the 3 novels, it just becomes a tired motif. As with the first couple of books in this series, Nick seems to fall for just about every obvious ambush possible, only made worse because he hamstrings himself by excluding powerful allies from his plans. The system of magic -- which includes both Feirie-based magic and apparent Christian mythological/hagiographical/angelic-based miraculous intercession -- is STILL not entirely clear, as the magic of this world seems to work or fail to work depending solely on the needs of the plot of that particular page, rather than on any consistent rules, leaving the reader to wonder about the relationship between the Christian God's powers and the Feirie realm's powers. And I'll say it again, the author seems at times more interested in clumsily cramming into the narrative references to 1920s pop culture (cars, actors, appliances, sports teams, etc.) than setting the scene in any sort of organic or natural way.
And don't get me started on the writing mechanics and editing (or lack thereof). There's hardly a page without missing or misspelled words, inverted or awkward syntax, direct/indirect object confusion, punctuation errors -- pick a page of any grammar or style manual, any page at all, and the book violates one of the rules found therein. Knaak seems pathologically beholden to the use of contractions in narrative, so the instances of "I'd" or "we'd" (to contract "would," "did," "should," "had," and others) are legion and very distracting. A decent and inexpensive editorial review -- something that would take maybe a day or two -- would have cured most of these mistakes without sacrificing the author's voice or vision, and it's frustrating to see a novel with a plot I mostly like end up with my 3-star review because the author couldn't be bothered to take that editorial step.
With respect to the bonus short story, it clearly reflects an interlude from before the time of the first novel. While the first half of the short story is essentially a retread of information and activity that exists in other stories (Nick's backstory, Fetch's description, a standard fight with a Wyld that is no different from the 3 similar fights that occur in each of the 3 novels), the second half introduces an intriguing Big Bad character that I thought could have been respected enough by its own author to expand into a full novel. The character is a close connection to both Oberon and Titania, important characters from the other Nick Medea stories, and could have been a prime antagonist (or even anti-hero ally) for Nick, but in a few short pages is dispatched with seeming finality by Nick. Just when I was really getting into the story as a potential tease for a larger plotline in later novels, Knaak pulls that rug from under my reader's feet. So, thanks to the author for making me pleasantly surprised at the new character, and shame on him for creating a good character that gets thrown away in a 30-page short story that leaves a lot of her story unresolved.
TL;DR: Good plot, disappointing writing, for the third time. I may be interested in what happens with the 4th book (assuming there will be one, as the plot certainly didn't seem fully resolved by the end of this one), but it probably won't be at the top of my "to be read" stack.
Thanks to Pyr (and my favorite Book Fairy) for providing me with a copy of this book.
May 3, 2019
This was an interesting read. This is the first book I’ve read from this author. It reminded me of a different time period with some magic mixed in. I found out after receiving and starting the book that it is in fact a third in a series. With that knowledge, I kept reading. The story is fantastic! Yes, there were times were I felt like I should have read the others prior to reading this one but I still enjoyed the book as is. The characters were unique and wonderfully written. I like the twists on different magical creatures and worlds. The beginning was a little slow. I also needed to get used to the way the characters talked. All that aside, the story is unique and did keep me engaged till the end. The author did a wonderful job in creating this fantasy world that I could escape to for just a little while. I look forward to reading more books by this author. If you’re a fan of fantasy and the likes, you have to read this series! I give this 5 stars!
April 4, 2019
My Review: This series has been one of my favs since I picked up the first book a while ago. I and die hard in love with the uniqueness that this series gives us readers and I just could not put it down. This one has to be the best yet I mean it has more DRAGON!! And who could say no to that one? The story was so good it had some great twists and turns that I didn't see coming and I thought that the pacing was really good. The only thing that bothered me in this one was that some of the plot points of the mystery aspect of this story were kind of off. I was very confused by the end and can't wait for another one to tie it all together.
If you are like me and die hard love the 1920's and fantasies then check this one out!
Go Into This One Knowing: Urban Fantasy, Fae, Dragons, Catholicism, the Prohibition Era, Relationships, Twists and Turns
If you are like me and die hard love the 1920's and fantasies then check this one out!
Go Into This One Knowing: Urban Fantasy, Fae, Dragons, Catholicism, the Prohibition Era, Relationships, Twists and Turns
November 9, 2019
In Black City Dragon, the Gatekeeper needs to show his mettle as never before when the puppet master behind a sixteen hundred year-old deception shows their face at last. The thing is, this adversary seems more intent on claiming Nick’s reincarnated lover – Claryce – than him.
That begs the question, why? What is it about Claryce and her connection to the Dacian Draco that’s holds the key to life and death, and ultimately, which reality will survive the coming upheaval?
Perhaps history has got it wrong, and our man isn’t so saintly after all.
Find out in this concluding book of the Black City trilogy that sees megalomaniacs square off against tyrants; humans against feirie; cops against gangsters, and of course, mutant monstrosities against legends made flesh.
This is one of the best blends of historical and mythological fantasy you’ll find. Treat yourself. You won’t regret it.
That begs the question, why? What is it about Claryce and her connection to the Dacian Draco that’s holds the key to life and death, and ultimately, which reality will survive the coming upheaval?
Perhaps history has got it wrong, and our man isn’t so saintly after all.
Find out in this concluding book of the Black City trilogy that sees megalomaniacs square off against tyrants; humans against feirie; cops against gangsters, and of course, mutant monstrosities against legends made flesh.
This is one of the best blends of historical and mythological fantasy you’ll find. Treat yourself. You won’t regret it.
June 20, 2019
Well written stories in the vein of this would have me reading more of this genre. The first two books in this series are equally well told tales of a 1600 year old knight/saint, his dragon alter ego, and reincarnated love.
Based in Chicago during the Roaring 20's, not is all that it seems to be with gangster's, pols, and the general populace. Some of the gangsters are creatures from another realm and our hero's side kicks include a werewolf (kind of), a Ferie assassin turned religious zealot, and the ghost of Diocletian Emperor. Yeah, now were getting somewhere. But not too much or the story could be ruined.
Highly recommended for fans of this type of fare.
Based in Chicago during the Roaring 20's, not is all that it seems to be with gangster's, pols, and the general populace. Some of the gangsters are creatures from another realm and our hero's side kicks include a werewolf (kind of), a Ferie assassin turned religious zealot, and the ghost of Diocletian Emperor. Yeah, now were getting somewhere. But not too much or the story could be ruined.
Highly recommended for fans of this type of fare.
December 30, 2019
The books in this series have all been very fun to read. Prohibition era Chicago, the Fae, and dragons what's not to love!? I really like a lot of the characters. Nick Medea, the main character, is the gatekeeper between our world and The Fae. He's a bit world-weary without being to cynical. His inner monologues with the dragon are sometimes funny, sometimes threatening. The only character I am not the biggest fan of is the love interest Claryce. I'm not sure why she sometimes annoys me but I find her mostly dull. Even so, she is mostly a neutral in my mind and doesn't detract from my enjoyment of the book.
I really liked this book, and am looking forward to any others in the series!
I really liked this book, and am looking forward to any others in the series!
Want to read
October 16, 2025Hi there! I just finished reading your story, and I have to say, I could visualize everything in my head while reading. You’ve created a story that feels really vivid, alive and expressive. I read very regularly and rarely come across such stories.
I’m a commission artist who creates Webtoons, manga, and comic for authors, and while reading your work, I immediately thought about how powerful it would look in visual form. The pacing, tone, and tension are already there.
If you're into the idea of converting the story into a comic or webtoon, I’d love to talk about how we could make that happen. Feel free to reach me on Discord (ava_crafts).
I’m a commission artist who creates Webtoons, manga, and comic for authors, and while reading your work, I immediately thought about how powerful it would look in visual form. The pacing, tone, and tension are already there.
If you're into the idea of converting the story into a comic or webtoon, I’d love to talk about how we could make that happen. Feel free to reach me on Discord (ava_crafts).
April 29, 2019
I enjoyed this book and it feels like its the last one in the series.... but it didn't give the reader any real sense of completion.
There are some interesting ideas here... but I couldn't enjoy it because of one aspect of the author's world which just felt wrong.... the underlying McGuffin that is the super powerful reality shifting cards felt like too much to me.... the reality shifts were done well, don't get me wrong, but left me feeling like there was no real ground to stand on.
There are some interesting ideas here... but I couldn't enjoy it because of one aspect of the author's world which just felt wrong.... the underlying McGuffin that is the super powerful reality shifting cards felt like too much to me.... the reality shifts were done well, don't get me wrong, but left me feeling like there was no real ground to stand on.
October 25, 2019
Ahh! I didn't realize this wasn't the first in the series! I didn't know it was number three. I read about 100 pages before realizing this, so I've put it down to go find and read 1 and 2 before I read any more of this. I hate reading books out of order. But based on what I've read so far, it's a solid 4*. I'll come back and change this review and potentially my rating after I've read the series proper.
March 28, 2026
I don't enjoy books that detail every thought the main character has and nothing else. There was a point in this story where the main characters needed to travel from the city to a lake and because there was no description of the journey or much of the location once they arrived it felt disjointed and boring.
March 24, 2026
Proof authors don’t need Ai to write slop.
June 5, 2020
I won a copy of this book.
i haven't read the other books in this series, but I very much enjoyed this story and will - for sure - go back and read the 2 previous ones now. Adventure and fantasy await you!
i haven't read the other books in this series, but I very much enjoyed this story and will - for sure - go back and read the 2 previous ones now. Adventure and fantasy await you!
May 12, 2025
This was my first Richard A. Knaak, and it was a fun right. If you like a fantasy read, check this out!
Want to read
October 30, 2018I won this book in a goodreads giveaway!
I'm really excited to start this book soon.
I'm really excited to start this book soon.
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