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The Wisdom's Grave Trilogy #2
Detonation Boulevard
When NYPD detective Marie Reinhart met Nessa Roth, a Manhattan socialite and dabbler in the occult, sparks flew. Then came the gunfire. Nessa and Marie are the Witch and her Knight, characters from a fairy tale brought to life and trapped in an endless curse: to meet, fall in love, and be torn from each other’s arms by violent death, again and again for all eternity. Now they have one slim chance to escape their doom. It lies in Wisdom’s Grave, the resting-place of the first witch who ever lived, and the wellspring of magic.
To find it, they’ll have to cross over two thousand miles of hostile territory from New York to Las Vegas, pursued by the law, the criminal underworld, and a cult of demonic bounty hunters. Their enemies have political power and an army of ruthless assassins. They have a book of black magic, a Cadillac, and a gun.
The American heartland is about to become a war zone. And as portals to other worlds tear open, showing the way to secrets buried since the dawn of time, Nessa and Marie prepare to make their final stand.
To find it, they’ll have to cross over two thousand miles of hostile territory from New York to Las Vegas, pursued by the law, the criminal underworld, and a cult of demonic bounty hunters. Their enemies have political power and an army of ruthless assassins. They have a book of black magic, a Cadillac, and a gun.
The American heartland is about to become a war zone. And as portals to other worlds tear open, showing the way to secrets buried since the dawn of time, Nessa and Marie prepare to make their final stand.
388 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 13, 2018
151 people are currently reading
306 people want to read
About the author
Craig Schaefer
43 books1,332 followersCraig Schaefer's books have taken readers to the seamy edge of a criminal underworld drenched in shadow (the Daniel Faust series), to a world torn by war, poison and witchcraft (the Revanche Cycle), and across a modern America mired in occult mysteries and a conspiracy of lies (the Harmony Black series).
Despite this, people say he's strangely normal. Suspiciously normal, in fact. His home on the Web is www.craigschaeferbooks.com.
Despite this, people say he's strangely normal. Suspiciously normal, in fact. His home on the Web is www.craigschaeferbooks.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
August 14, 2019
This trilogy is a treat to all Schaefer's fans. It includes all the major characters from all of his previous books and series. A fan goes squee! sort of thing.
Highly recommended but with a little caveat - you must have read few other of his books - else you'd loose too much depth.
Highly recommended but with a little caveat - you must have read few other of his books - else you'd loose too much depth.
August 15, 2022
Why did I wait FOUR YEARS to continue with this trilogy, you ask? Because I'm a bloody shrimping idiot, that's why.
P.S. No, I still don't like Nessa and Marie (bad, bad Sarah) but Danny and This One andHarmony Jessie and Freddie and batshit crazy sociopaths galore and Most Scrumptious First Story Stuff (MSFSS™), oh my!
· Book 1: Sworn to the Night ★★★
· Book 3: Bring the Fire ★★★★
P.S. No, I still don't like Nessa and Marie (bad, bad Sarah) but Danny and This One and
· Book 1: Sworn to the Night ★★★
· Book 3: Bring the Fire ★★★★
August 21, 2020
*** 4.65 ***
"...“The first storyteller who ever lived wrote me to life. He gave me a role, a part to play. I wonder…do you think dangling true love before me and then tearing it away was meant to be a punishment for my wicked heart? Or was love meant to change me, to make me a better person? Well.” She chuckled, long and deep. “Moot point. ......... there’s nothing left but to see just how wicked I can be.”..."
I love every second of this convergence story! I can't get enough of it. Nessa is a monster, but as much as I hated her in The Revanche Cycle, I am totally rooting for her here! No, she hasn't turn nice and soft in this story, but the way this book finished, I expect her to really bring on the EVIL BITCH WITCH in next book and I can barely wait!!!
"..."He. Hurt. Marie. And in Nessa’s world, that was the one unpardonable and capital crime."..."
"...“The first storyteller who ever lived wrote me to life. He gave me a role, a part to play. I wonder…do you think dangling true love before me and then tearing it away was meant to be a punishment for my wicked heart? Or was love meant to change me, to make me a better person? Well.” She chuckled, long and deep. “Moot point. ......... there’s nothing left but to see just how wicked I can be.”..."
I love every second of this convergence story! I can't get enough of it. Nessa is a monster, but as much as I hated her in The Revanche Cycle, I am totally rooting for her here! No, she hasn't turn nice and soft in this story, but the way this book finished, I expect her to really bring on the EVIL BITCH WITCH in next book and I can barely wait!!!
"..."He. Hurt. Marie. And in Nessa’s world, that was the one unpardonable and capital crime."..."
September 9, 2019
This was the second book in Craig Schaefer's Wisdom's Grave Trilogy and I felt like it was an upgrade on the first instalment. The story was faster paced and more engaging and the cameos made by the characters from Schaefer's three other series (Faust, Harmony, and Revanche) all made more impactful impressions.
One of my big worries going into this book was that Nessa and Marie would slip too quickly down a dark path that would leave their characters too evil for me to be able to root for them. The good news is that while Nessa is definitely a bit evil she avoided going too nuts in this instalment and Marie is proving a slightly stronger character this time around than she was in the Revanche books. Hopefully that lasts into the final instalment of the series!
The story was a straight continuation of what we got in the last book. Nessa and Marie are on the run with a host of people/creatures on their tale and seeking a way to break their eternal curse. It was a fun enough tale as plenty of cool stuff happened to keep the story interesting. Both Daniel Faust and Harmony Black had better outings in this one than they did in the first book in the series but I have to admit I still think they feel a tiny bit lacking in the third person compared to the versions we get of them in the first person in their own series.
Most of the magic and fantasy stuff in this instalment was a lot of fun and I enjoyed how this book did a great job of tying together all the series that Schaefer has written in this fantasy world.
We even got a trip to the Bast Club in this story and that is always fun!
All in all I felt like this was an improvement in every area compared with the first book in the series so I enjoyed the story more. I'm still a little nervous about how Nessa and Marie will develop in the third and final book and about how Schaefer will deal with the wrap up of the story but the good news is I'm more into the tale after the happenings in this instalment of the series. I'm also glad I'm reading this series as it feels like essential reading for the next instalments of the Faust and Harmony books!
Rating: 4 stars. It was a solid 4 stars this time around. Schaefer's writing is always engaging but the story was a lot more fun in this book than the story we got in the first book in the series.
Audio Note:This was narrated by Susannah Jones. I felt like she did a decent job with the audio. Though it was weird to hear her voicing the likes of Faust and Harmony during that pairs cameo appearances in this one.
One of my big worries going into this book was that Nessa and Marie would slip too quickly down a dark path that would leave their characters too evil for me to be able to root for them. The good news is that while Nessa is definitely a bit evil she avoided going too nuts in this instalment and Marie is proving a slightly stronger character this time around than she was in the Revanche books. Hopefully that lasts into the final instalment of the series!
The story was a straight continuation of what we got in the last book. Nessa and Marie are on the run with a host of people/creatures on their tale and seeking a way to break their eternal curse. It was a fun enough tale as plenty of cool stuff happened to keep the story interesting. Both Daniel Faust and Harmony Black had better outings in this one than they did in the first book in the series but I have to admit I still think they feel a tiny bit lacking in the third person compared to the versions we get of them in the first person in their own series.
Most of the magic and fantasy stuff in this instalment was a lot of fun and I enjoyed how this book did a great job of tying together all the series that Schaefer has written in this fantasy world.
We even got a trip to the Bast Club in this story and that is always fun!
All in all I felt like this was an improvement in every area compared with the first book in the series so I enjoyed the story more. I'm still a little nervous about how Nessa and Marie will develop in the third and final book and about how Schaefer will deal with the wrap up of the story but the good news is I'm more into the tale after the happenings in this instalment of the series. I'm also glad I'm reading this series as it feels like essential reading for the next instalments of the Faust and Harmony books!
Rating: 4 stars. It was a solid 4 stars this time around. Schaefer's writing is always engaging but the story was a lot more fun in this book than the story we got in the first book in the series.
Audio Note:This was narrated by Susannah Jones. I felt like she did a decent job with the audio. Though it was weird to hear her voicing the likes of Faust and Harmony during that pairs cameo appearances in this one.
August 16, 2018
Craig Schaefer is a magician when it comes to not so subtle entertainment. His writing is action-packed, concise and the plot is constantly in motion. His books are addictive and hard to put down. Detonation Boulevard is simply brilliant. It develops events from Sworn to the Night, elegantly connects them with the mythos introduced in Daniel Faust and Harmony Black series. Additionally, it reintroduces some of the characters known from Schaefer's Revanche cycle.
A crazy mix.
And yet it works.
It's a sequel. If you've read and enjoyed Sworn to the Night I can't imagine you won't read Detonation Boulevard. If you haven't, you should. Or even better start with Daniel Faust series and progress from there.
A crazy mix.
And yet it works.
It's a sequel. If you've read and enjoyed Sworn to the Night I can't imagine you won't read Detonation Boulevard. If you haven't, you should. Or even better start with Daniel Faust series and progress from there.
January 3, 2020
Detonation Boulevard
The Wisdom's Grave Trilogy, Book 2
By: Craig Schaefer
Narrated by: Susannah Jones
There is so much that goes on in here but it is hard to give a review without spoiling it. Let's just say that the hunt for Wisdom's Grave takes our gals to otherworldly places! They end up on the run from more than one group.
Narration was great.
The Wisdom's Grave Trilogy, Book 2
By: Craig Schaefer
Narrated by: Susannah Jones
There is so much that goes on in here but it is hard to give a review without spoiling it. Let's just say that the hunt for Wisdom's Grave takes our gals to otherworldly places! They end up on the run from more than one group.
Narration was great.
June 13, 2023
4.5 stars
“I love this place.” Daniel waved an idle hand, taking in the empty shelves and the tangles of electrical cord. “It has everything. Dust bunnies, creepy dead people, white dudes running around and carving people up with Japanese swords. Who could ask for anything more?”
DanThe Man The Guy is here! We also got more Harmony and Jessie, Freddie (with a reference to something mentioned in the fourth Faust book, yeeears ago), and my darling Hedy. Still not sure about the whole Carlo-suit thing because although it rang bells for Marie, I have no recollection of it from anything previous. Dying to see what happens in the third book!
“I love this place.” Daniel waved an idle hand, taking in the empty shelves and the tangles of electrical cord. “It has everything. Dust bunnies, creepy dead people, white dudes running around and carving people up with Japanese swords. Who could ask for anything more?”
Dan
September 1, 2018
Read more reviews on my site Digital Amrit
tl:dr; Detonation Boulevard takes a while to get going, but boy, when it does, it is an unstoppable train of action & epicness.
The Shared Universe
Craig Schaeffer is one of the best creators of a shared universe (if not in the top 3). I mean, he even beats the MCU (not the comics though). I found his Revance Cycle to be one of the greatest fantasy series ever. His Harmony Black & Daniel Faust books have been decent urban fantasy. Obviously, they all share common themes - sort of like the stones of power which are a recurring theme in David Gemmel's books - and this theme is the cycle of love and death that keeps reoccuring. Now, the Wisdow's Grave Trilogy ties up all the ends together and, hopefully, will give us an epic conclusion that this multiverse requires.
The Series
The first book in this trilogy, Sworn to the Night, ended up being a disappointment. In my review of that book, I had mentioned that it acted more like a setup for shit to come together. Well, that has been proved correct in this one. Finally, the major actors come together and start figuring out what to do.
The Book
I found the first half of Destination Boulevard to be quite slow and I could not get into it. According to goodreads, I have taken a week to read this book which is abnormal for me. I mean I finished the entire Revanche Cycle in a couple of days. I guess this is due to two reasons - the first being that I am coming to this series after a while and second, the pacing is just that slow.
But, I persevered, and the second half, is epicness distilled into its purest form. The action is great and there is tonnes of it. We finally start getting some answers. The pacing improves. We see places that we have seen before. There are callbacks etc etc. So, yeah, the second half compensates for the first and it restores my faith in the author. And the ending is, by necessity, dark because as one of the characters says, this is the Empire Strikes Back of this series.
Welp, I am now looking forward to reading the conclusion when it comes.
Read more reviews on my site Digital Amrit
tl:dr; Detonation Boulevard takes a while to get going, but boy, when it does, it is an unstoppable train of action & epicness.
The Shared Universe
Craig Schaeffer is one of the best creators of a shared universe (if not in the top 3). I mean, he even beats the MCU (not the comics though). I found his Revance Cycle to be one of the greatest fantasy series ever. His Harmony Black & Daniel Faust books have been decent urban fantasy. Obviously, they all share common themes - sort of like the stones of power which are a recurring theme in David Gemmel's books - and this theme is the cycle of love and death that keeps reoccuring. Now, the Wisdow's Grave Trilogy ties up all the ends together and, hopefully, will give us an epic conclusion that this multiverse requires.
The Series
The first book in this trilogy, Sworn to the Night, ended up being a disappointment. In my review of that book, I had mentioned that it acted more like a setup for shit to come together. Well, that has been proved correct in this one. Finally, the major actors come together and start figuring out what to do.
The Book
I found the first half of Destination Boulevard to be quite slow and I could not get into it. According to goodreads, I have taken a week to read this book which is abnormal for me. I mean I finished the entire Revanche Cycle in a couple of days. I guess this is due to two reasons - the first being that I am coming to this series after a while and second, the pacing is just that slow.
But, I persevered, and the second half, is epicness distilled into its purest form. The action is great and there is tonnes of it. We finally start getting some answers. The pacing improves. We see places that we have seen before. There are callbacks etc etc. So, yeah, the second half compensates for the first and it restores my faith in the author. And the ending is, by necessity, dark because as one of the characters says, this is the Empire Strikes Back of this series.
Welp, I am now looking forward to reading the conclusion when it comes.
Read more reviews on my site Digital Amrit
January 2, 2019
This review also can be read on my blog with my choice of song :)
Detonation Boulevard starts off right where Sworn to the Night dropped the string of events. Nessa and Marie are on the run, some badass assassins on their heels hired by Anton Roth, the father of Nessa’s late husband. Jen and Tony right behind them, trying to help their friend against all odds. Harmony Black and Daniel Faust are also joining in the chase, trying to put the pieces together. Harmony Black and her team are still led to believe Daniel is responsible for some horrible mass attacks and murders, though Harmony knows better. Even so, she plays along just to see who moves the strings. Daniel is ordered by the Mourner to guide Nessa and Marie to her because she has an artifact to give to them.
Nessa and Marie are more or less clueless about who are behind them, they concentrate on staying alive long enough to figure out where exactly the Wisdom’s Grave is, as well as getting some answers about their situation, and how to break the curse they and several of their incarnations were punished with. The first person they turn to get answers from is the famous fantasy writer Carolyn Saunders who is apparently unavailable, but they find some clues in her house nonetheless, which leads them to a pub in Chicago that is only open to the magic wielders. They get a gift here which comes in handy later and also this is where some of the plotlines meets.
I’m not going to reveal any more about the plot, let’s just say we get another major player in the game named Ezra, who is also happens to be in a similar situation as Nessa and Marie. He tries to make them all work together to get to the end of matters, but things aren’t really going the way he expects. Also, none of them expected Savannah to turn up and shake things a bit just to make the game more interesting. At the same time, Ezra reveals some secrets and gives us some clues what is going on, and this is also where some science fiction elements are added to this already diverse world. But as many answers are given, just as many questions open up to us and we end up being none the wiser for it.
“Only a fool devalues the power of hope,” she told him. “When all else is lost, it’s the only thing worth clinging to.”
In Detonation Boulevard Schaefer levels up his game and gives us a wider glimpse of the world he built up for his characters. We have fighting scenes as well as funny or emotional ones, and they all fit well. He gives everyone something just to love in this trilogy. Personally I think the book is a bit unbalanced. While the first half focuses on the chase/running ending in a climatic fighting scene, where some plotlines are also dropped – hopefully to be picked up later. The second half is more about discoveries of unpleasant truths and existences. I would have liked this part to be longer to be able to immerse myself in these happenings rather than the chasing, even though there was no filler scenes or ones I’d rather cut, because they are all essential in one way or another. Maybe probably the hotel part, but I’m really just nitpicking here.
As for the characters, I still can’t find myself liking either Nessa or Marie. They are still the ultimate main POVs despite this story having multiple important characters. They are so different that I can’t see how their relationship could work. Nessa is bossy, rash, confident, clearly the stronger party, while Marie lets herself being led and kind of bossed around, even reshape her principles to better fit in the world Nessa imagines. At least we have Daniel Faust, who lightens the mood up with his sarcastic humor and ability to piss of anyone in about 5 minutes upon meeting them. Kudos for him handling the situation like a champ and not starting to ask question the moment they dump shit on him. But then he has bigger concerns than a few crazies chasing them.
“I love this place.” Daniel waved an idle hand, taking in the empty shelves and the tangles of electrical cord. “It has everything. Dust bunnies, creepy dead people, white dudes running around and carving people up with Japanese swords. Who could ask for anything more?”
Detonation Boulevard ends on a quite emotional note, and a bit of a cliffhanger which immediately makes you want to read the third and last book in the trilogy, Bring the Fire. Personally I can’t wait to find out how all the plotlines will meet/remeet and what conclusions Schaefer will draw to the series. At this point about anything can happen, and knowing the author, they will do happen. Detonation Boulevard is a fast paced, action packed middle book, which shows you just enough to make you want more, but holds off all the best parts to give an even bigger punch in the end. Highly imaginative, excellent world building and a story well worth your time.
Detonation Boulevard starts off right where Sworn to the Night dropped the string of events. Nessa and Marie are on the run, some badass assassins on their heels hired by Anton Roth, the father of Nessa’s late husband. Jen and Tony right behind them, trying to help their friend against all odds. Harmony Black and Daniel Faust are also joining in the chase, trying to put the pieces together. Harmony Black and her team are still led to believe Daniel is responsible for some horrible mass attacks and murders, though Harmony knows better. Even so, she plays along just to see who moves the strings. Daniel is ordered by the Mourner to guide Nessa and Marie to her because she has an artifact to give to them.
Nessa and Marie are more or less clueless about who are behind them, they concentrate on staying alive long enough to figure out where exactly the Wisdom’s Grave is, as well as getting some answers about their situation, and how to break the curse they and several of their incarnations were punished with. The first person they turn to get answers from is the famous fantasy writer Carolyn Saunders who is apparently unavailable, but they find some clues in her house nonetheless, which leads them to a pub in Chicago that is only open to the magic wielders. They get a gift here which comes in handy later and also this is where some of the plotlines meets.
I’m not going to reveal any more about the plot, let’s just say we get another major player in the game named Ezra, who is also happens to be in a similar situation as Nessa and Marie. He tries to make them all work together to get to the end of matters, but things aren’t really going the way he expects. Also, none of them expected Savannah to turn up and shake things a bit just to make the game more interesting. At the same time, Ezra reveals some secrets and gives us some clues what is going on, and this is also where some science fiction elements are added to this already diverse world. But as many answers are given, just as many questions open up to us and we end up being none the wiser for it.
“Only a fool devalues the power of hope,” she told him. “When all else is lost, it’s the only thing worth clinging to.”
In Detonation Boulevard Schaefer levels up his game and gives us a wider glimpse of the world he built up for his characters. We have fighting scenes as well as funny or emotional ones, and they all fit well. He gives everyone something just to love in this trilogy. Personally I think the book is a bit unbalanced. While the first half focuses on the chase/running ending in a climatic fighting scene, where some plotlines are also dropped – hopefully to be picked up later. The second half is more about discoveries of unpleasant truths and existences. I would have liked this part to be longer to be able to immerse myself in these happenings rather than the chasing, even though there was no filler scenes or ones I’d rather cut, because they are all essential in one way or another. Maybe probably the hotel part, but I’m really just nitpicking here.
As for the characters, I still can’t find myself liking either Nessa or Marie. They are still the ultimate main POVs despite this story having multiple important characters. They are so different that I can’t see how their relationship could work. Nessa is bossy, rash, confident, clearly the stronger party, while Marie lets herself being led and kind of bossed around, even reshape her principles to better fit in the world Nessa imagines. At least we have Daniel Faust, who lightens the mood up with his sarcastic humor and ability to piss of anyone in about 5 minutes upon meeting them. Kudos for him handling the situation like a champ and not starting to ask question the moment they dump shit on him. But then he has bigger concerns than a few crazies chasing them.
“I love this place.” Daniel waved an idle hand, taking in the empty shelves and the tangles of electrical cord. “It has everything. Dust bunnies, creepy dead people, white dudes running around and carving people up with Japanese swords. Who could ask for anything more?”
Detonation Boulevard ends on a quite emotional note, and a bit of a cliffhanger which immediately makes you want to read the third and last book in the trilogy, Bring the Fire. Personally I can’t wait to find out how all the plotlines will meet/remeet and what conclusions Schaefer will draw to the series. At this point about anything can happen, and knowing the author, they will do happen. Detonation Boulevard is a fast paced, action packed middle book, which shows you just enough to make you want more, but holds off all the best parts to give an even bigger punch in the end. Highly imaginative, excellent world building and a story well worth your time.
August 15, 2018
Read full review over at Fantasy Book Critic
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: Detonation Boulevard is a sequel that I’ve been wanting to read the moment I finished Sworn To The Night in January of this year. Sworn To The Night was the start of the culmination trilogy that focused on all of Craig Schaefer’s previous works (the Daniel Faust series, the Harmony Black series and the Revanche cycle). It’s safe to say Detonation Boulevard had to exceed (my) very high expectations, avoid the middle book syndrome and up the ante even more. For me to discuss things about this book even in the slightest will be spoilerific for the first book so bear that in mind. For those who don’t mind it, read ahead to know more
As with the first book, we are presented with two timelines. The first wherein Carolyn Saunders has been captured and interrogated by persons unknown and made to recount the modern day story of the Witch and The Knight. The second one focuses on Marie Reinhart and Nessa Fieri as they try to escape the clutches of the law, the chains of hellish bounty hunters, and also the machinations of the Universal Story. As with the preceding title, we are presented with a story wherein the tension is high strung throughout the entire plot and the pace is even better than its predecessor.
Since the characters of both Nessa and Marie are already established, the author is able to really let loose with the story in this one. Both Nessa and Marie are now fully aware of who they are and what they are. They are also on the run from the events of New York City which saw Nessa’s husband and his compatriots fall to their own rituals. Nessa and Marie don’t necessarily have a plan but what they do have is a destination of sorts. Unable to pick up any essential items from their homes, they have some cash and some specialized things that Nessa needs for her witchcraft. Focusing on finding Wisdom’s Grave, they soon learn that Carolyn Saunders can be of some help and drive off to Indiana to find her. Amidst the way they will learn more about the Universal Story, the existence and location of the Bast club in Chicago and hopefully a reunion with a daughter. All in all the story becomes pretty wild and the pace is set to match the best thrillers ever written.
I finished this book in less than a day, and I can honestly say this was one of those reads that I didn’t want to put it down until I reached the last page. This book is a crazy mix of references to the previous stories set within the same world as well as other worlds. It talks about the nature of things, people and why they possibly do the things that they do. Also the plot is an ingenious mix of interdimensional adventure, amazing character interactions and action sequences that will keep readers riveted.
For me the main reasons for why this book jived with me so much are:
- The amazingly, crazy plot that makes sense while being so twisted
- A mind-bending mix of Lovecraftian and aquatic horror that I’ll will never be able to forget
- A return to the world of the Revanche Cycle which I thoroughly enjoyed
Let’s start with the plot, when it comes to any Craig Schaefer book. I’ve come to expect grand plot designs and twists that will keep me guessing all the way till the end. The Wisdom’s Grave trilogy being the culmination saga that it’s meant to be, it takes all of the author’s skills to plan and then successfully portray it all. The plot of this book is really hard to describe without spoilers but the best blurb I can come up with is "Lost meets Thelma & Louise meets Fringe".
Craig Scahefer is also known to readers for his horror touches across all of his books (so far) and here he produces something that manages to combine Lovecraft and aquatic terror in the most unnerving way possible. Seriously if you are afflicted by Thalassophobia or were simply scared by Jaws, then be ready to get your wits blown by what Craig Schaefer unleashes. The action sequences are also amped accordingly and while there’s no all-out action, it’s solidly interspersed within the story.
The author has only so much room to get the story on the read and he does it with aplomb. Along the way, there’s some kinky romance, plenty of action and a lot of cameos by characters who will be known to Craig Schaefer fans. The story keeps on upping the ante and we also get a pseudo-sequel to the events of the Revanche cycle in this book. Best part about it, we get to see what that world is like afterwards and also meet a few characters who we last saw in the epilogue of Queen Of The Night.
The characters as ever are truly what make this book shine. Previously it was Nessa and Marie and in this book too, they are at the fore but the beauty is in the side character cast. Daniel Faust makes up a wonderful extended cameo as he’s once again tasked by the Mourner of The Red Rocks to help the cross-fated lovers. Faust is entirely hilarious and makes some subtle references to events in his previous series which are endearing and quirky at the same time. Seriously if I hadn’t read all of the Daniel Faust books, I would be hunting them down pronto as such is understated quirky awesomeness of Faust’s appearance. There’s another character (who shall remain unnamed) that makes a triumphant return and as such that person was one of my favourite non-POV characters and it’s a true joy to reunited with them after so long.
The world setting are expanded beyond belief as we get some crazy reveals and which unsurprisingly just lead to more questions. But the author has assured us that all will be answered in the final volume of the trilogy, In The Fire and I can’t wait to read it. The multiverse concept has been teased throughout all of Scahefer’s books and it’s in this volume that he really unloads on that phenomenon. Fans of DC comics will definitely find some fun parallels but the credit to Schaefer for not letting it go haywire. Lastly the prologue and interludes are very meta and it was fun to see that unfold.
Going on to the negatives of this book, I feel that the author managed to improve on the two pitfalls of Sworn To The Night, namely the slowburn pace and then end twist which seemed to be rehashed from another book of his. In this book he successfully negates both of those drawbacks by streamlined pace throughout as well as exploring & consolidating that climatic twist. The only thing I can choose to fault this book for, is the absence of the Enemy. I find it hard to believe that in a tale wherein the Story is the main plot element, the Enemy wouldn’t be meddling or be featured at all. Again this is a very personal observation with regards to this title and for many, this might not be a point to consider. Lastly for those who hate cliffhangers, the story ends on some big ones so there’s that to contend with.
CONCLUSION: Detonation Boulevard is a book that is incredible and better in almost every way to its preceding title. Craig Schaefer is on the verge of unveiling his zaniest story yet and Detonation Boulevard only proves that Schaefer is a talent unlike any other in the urban fantasy sub-genre. You should be reading the Wisdom’s Grave trilogy if you haven’t so far. This trilogy has all the hallmarks of a classic genre-bending fantasy story and the author is doing his hardest to make sure all the readers feel that way.
September 12, 2024
Showed up while I was looking for the Alastair Reynolds short story of the same name.
December 29, 2023
3.5 stars (rounded up because I couldn't, in good conscience, rate a book like this 3 stars).
My expectations were very high this time and I wasn’t disappointed, but the narrative flow wasn’t as smooth as it could be. Anyway, starting book #3 right now and looking forward to a “real barn-burner of a climax”!
My expectations were very high this time and I wasn’t disappointed, but the narrative flow wasn’t as smooth as it could be. Anyway, starting book #3 right now and looking forward to a “real barn-burner of a climax”!
January 22, 2020
I do not have proper words to tell you how much I loved this book. To tell you the specific things that made me laugh or squeezed my heart would spoil the book for you. So I won't. But there were so many things. All the things. This series is just so good. Craig Schaefer writes the most amazing characters and then gets them all into glorious trouble. I love it all.
***REREAD: still amazing. I love these characters even more now that I've read all the backstory out there. Is this one of my all-time favorite trilogies ever? Why yes, yes it is.
***REREAD: still amazing. I love these characters even more now that I've read all the backstory out there. Is this one of my all-time favorite trilogies ever? Why yes, yes it is.
July 21, 2020
I was hesitant to read these at first because my favorite series is the Daniel Faust series, but once I realized these were all connected and it would fill in some of the gaps from the book I just read, I had to read them. And they did fill in a lot of the gaps that I was missing. Although Nessa and Marie aren't my favorite characters, I did like them, the cameos of the other characters were my favorite. Even though Daniel wasn't the main character, he was hilarious all throughout. Overall, it was a really fun read.
November 15, 2019
This just gets better and better! I need the third book now!!
Read
May 4, 2023This trilogy is trying my patience and I'm literally only reading it so I can get back to Harmony Black and Daniel Faust. Damn you, tie-ins
October 23, 2018
SO FANTASTIC!!! NEED THE NEXT BOOK!
This is a fantastic story and I think I loved it more than the first! Craig Schaefer is a master at world building and I especially loved how much we get to see of Daniel, Harmony and even Freddie. A lot happens in this book that really moves the story forward with so many twists and turns along the way. I want to say so much more but want to avoid any spoilers!
I first found the Daniel Faust series through Kindle Unlimited. I was shocked to find such high quality writing for practially free! I quickly started buying each book for two reasons. One, I wanted to support one of my favorite new authors and secondly, I like to re-read each series when a new addition is published. I realize that you can probably read this series as a stand alone series but it's so much richer and satisfying knowing all of the multiple back stories and awesome characters. In his blog, Mr. Schaefer says he's hoping for a Halloween release of the third book. I'll be watching for it!!! He mentions that there will be a lot of big payoffs that will affect all of the series, I can't wait!!! Read this book and all the others, you won't regret a single page!!!!
This is a fantastic story and I think I loved it more than the first! Craig Schaefer is a master at world building and I especially loved how much we get to see of Daniel, Harmony and even Freddie. A lot happens in this book that really moves the story forward with so many twists and turns along the way. I want to say so much more but want to avoid any spoilers!
I first found the Daniel Faust series through Kindle Unlimited. I was shocked to find such high quality writing for practially free! I quickly started buying each book for two reasons. One, I wanted to support one of my favorite new authors and secondly, I like to re-read each series when a new addition is published. I realize that you can probably read this series as a stand alone series but it's so much richer and satisfying knowing all of the multiple back stories and awesome characters. In his blog, Mr. Schaefer says he's hoping for a Halloween release of the third book. I'll be watching for it!!! He mentions that there will be a lot of big payoffs that will affect all of the series, I can't wait!!! Read this book and all the others, you won't regret a single page!!!!
August 28, 2018
Another masterwork!
What Craig does well, really well is build a world. I’m not saying that the book gives you each and every detail; he uses words that spark your imagination and let you see the world in vivid reality. And it’s a lot bigger than we realized. Can’t wait for book 3!
What Craig does well, really well is build a world. I’m not saying that the book gives you each and every detail; he uses words that spark your imagination and let you see the world in vivid reality. And it’s a lot bigger than we realized. Can’t wait for book 3!
November 19, 2018
Wow, this was one hell of a ride! All of my favourite characters in one book what more can a reader want? And I love them more and more in every installment. Excellent book, so far the best of his work in my opinion.
May 17, 2021
An action-packed picaresque ride with a kind of neo-noir seasoning that spices up the narrative. The story adopts the technique of chase, hide, and strike of a crime caper, but embellished with supernatural elements and some esoteric science. As usual with a Schaefer novel, the pacing was brilliant, scattered with enough thrills and surprises along the course of the story.
I enjoyed the multiverse hopping parts, as it showed how vast the cosmos is, and what threats plague it. The story begins right after the ending of the first book. And, we get to know the big players who are manipulating the cosmic chess-game, though their motives are not yet fully revealed. The part where Nessa gets to meet her daughter in another world was quite awesome to read.
Nessa and Marie has grown as characters. I love Nessa, and her dark nature, which she hones to a fine edge to cut her enemies down. Marie is the one who balances her. They're sort of light and shadow to each other. And, I also kinda love the kinky romance between them, which was exciting. Besides them, we also see Faust and Harmony Black stepping into the game, and their interactions were interesting. Also, both Alton Roth and Calypso are opportunistic douchebags. I detest them in this story.
There are more corpses in this book, and Schaefer doesn't shy away to give the macabre details. The action was good, and Nessa is at the heart of it along with Marie. I loved how the disparate parties came together to support the duo and even the field. I enjoyed this installment, although the ride was a little bumpy in places, but, Schaefer always delivers an entertaining story that has an energy of its own. I'm content.
I enjoyed the multiverse hopping parts, as it showed how vast the cosmos is, and what threats plague it. The story begins right after the ending of the first book. And, we get to know the big players who are manipulating the cosmic chess-game, though their motives are not yet fully revealed. The part where Nessa gets to meet her daughter in another world was quite awesome to read.
Nessa and Marie has grown as characters. I love Nessa, and her dark nature, which she hones to a fine edge to cut her enemies down. Marie is the one who balances her. They're sort of light and shadow to each other. And, I also kinda love the kinky romance between them, which was exciting. Besides them, we also see Faust and Harmony Black stepping into the game, and their interactions were interesting. Also, both Alton Roth and Calypso are opportunistic douchebags. I detest them in this story.
There are more corpses in this book, and Schaefer doesn't shy away to give the macabre details. The action was good, and Nessa is at the heart of it along with Marie. I loved how the disparate parties came together to support the duo and even the field. I enjoyed this installment, although the ride was a little bumpy in places, but, Schaefer always delivers an entertaining story that has an energy of its own. I'm content.
November 30, 2023
Good prose, ho-hum characterization, ho-hum world building, ho-hum story, no theme. Simply a ho-hum side quest. 2.5 ho-hums rounded down.
Do I have to read the next one? Not looking forward to it.
The Faust series is fantasy-noir. I miss the noir.
Do I have to read the next one? Not looking forward to it.
The Faust series is fantasy-noir. I miss the noir.
August 15, 2018
I am in awe...
This book is such a revelation. As a fan of Daniel Faust and Harmony Black I was excited to see their parts in this book. I must say, Nessa and Marie have grown on me.
I loved the world from DF and HB, and this series has only expanded that world.
I am waiting impatiently for book three!
This book is such a revelation. As a fan of Daniel Faust and Harmony Black I was excited to see their parts in this book. I must say, Nessa and Marie have grown on me.
I loved the world from DF and HB, and this series has only expanded that world.
I am waiting impatiently for book three!
September 2, 2018
I'm obsessed with this story!
I absolutely adore everything Craig Schaeffer writes. This series had me so enamored. Following Marie and Ness has been an amazing journey. They are such full, well developed characters, and I always love a villain in the lead. I can't wait for book three.
I absolutely adore everything Craig Schaeffer writes. This series had me so enamored. Following Marie and Ness has been an amazing journey. They are such full, well developed characters, and I always love a villain in the lead. I can't wait for book three.
April 4, 2020
Oh the turns and twists this makes!! I’m so pumped for the next one!
September 20, 2023
Generally, I am not a big proponent of what is called “middle book syndrome”, where the second part of a trilogy is weaker than both the starting and endpoints. For the most part, the second book in a series feels like a growth from part one, where the characters have already been established and general ideas for the series do not need to be introduced, but can get developed instead. Book two doesn’t have to do work allowing me to get to know characters or what is going on in the story- that groundwork was laid already. This is a long way of saying that while this isn’t an opinion I really subscribe to, Detonation Boulevard really did come off as a middle book syndrome experience for me.
The primary reason I feel that way is not because of characters, but due to the plotting. Like book one, there were some plot threads that felt unfinished here, but there’s a lot more of it this time around. There are characters and POVs that are built up in the first 100 pages or so who do not show up again for the rest of the book. While this is clearly Nessa & Marie’s book (and all the other POVs are about how these characters relate to their situation), it does feel rather unsatisfying that characters and threads were just dropped. It's as if these people serve no other purpose to the story, which is doubly frustrating because the biggest example of this issue centers around one of the standouts from book one. I am sure that these characters will be back for the finale, but it didn’t sit right, as it felt like they lost their importance.
There was more than one plot thread handled this way, though there were better explanations as to why others were put on pause. At the same time, this is a frustration as well, because it's like a plot stuck in neutral for some of these- the characters have to face off to keep the tension that has been established, but Schaefer plays it to a draw until book three comes along. Plots like that always bug me, there are ways to handle a plot thread where it doesn’t feel so obvious that the showdown is being delayed, but it really does here.
Despite these plotting issues, there’s plenty here that is still very enjoyable. This book has a lot more of Daniel Faust, and while his gimmick feels a bit corny at times, he’s a fun character, especially when he’s brought into the main plot. He brings a lot of world building with him as well, and while there’s a good bit of tell-not-show involved, it's really pretty fascinating, the kind that gives you all you need to know that second, but leaves you wanting everything else as well. Maybe the execution of that could have been handled better, but what you learn is good enough that it's hard to care much how it is delivered.
Additionally, the relationship between Marie and Nessa, which is the most important thing in this whole series, continues to be done well. Which may not sound like much, but it is very easy to envision a version of the story that makes their relationship beyond toxic. Nessa is a really difficult character, with a lot of really negative personality traits- a lesser writer would have basically made Marie into her submissive/subordinate, and while there are plenty of glimpses of her ugly qualities throughout the story, the relationship between the 2 protagonists is never presented as anything other than as equals. Nessa can bully and use everyone around her, but Marie will call her on it if she tries with her, and more than that, Nessa will listen to Marie. It humanizes her, and keeps her from going over the edge a number of times. I still expect she is a ticking time bomb, but we don’t get to the point where she feels more like the villain than someone to root for here.
The story does take a pretty sharp left turn about ⅔ of the way in, and while this does contribute to why other plot threads are dropped, most of it works. I wasn’t a huge fan of the action climax here (not sure if there are odes to other Schaefer stories if that would help), but what is set up for the final book is certainly intriguing. Still, I feel like this book feels like one that would have benefitted from another draft, as it feels like there are parts of this book that could have been cleaned up and gotten this close to the level of Sworn to the Night. (Grade:7.5/10)
The primary reason I feel that way is not because of characters, but due to the plotting. Like book one, there were some plot threads that felt unfinished here, but there’s a lot more of it this time around. There are characters and POVs that are built up in the first 100 pages or so who do not show up again for the rest of the book. While this is clearly Nessa & Marie’s book (and all the other POVs are about how these characters relate to their situation), it does feel rather unsatisfying that characters and threads were just dropped. It's as if these people serve no other purpose to the story, which is doubly frustrating because the biggest example of this issue centers around one of the standouts from book one. I am sure that these characters will be back for the finale, but it didn’t sit right, as it felt like they lost their importance.
There was more than one plot thread handled this way, though there were better explanations as to why others were put on pause. At the same time, this is a frustration as well, because it's like a plot stuck in neutral for some of these- the characters have to face off to keep the tension that has been established, but Schaefer plays it to a draw until book three comes along. Plots like that always bug me, there are ways to handle a plot thread where it doesn’t feel so obvious that the showdown is being delayed, but it really does here.
Despite these plotting issues, there’s plenty here that is still very enjoyable. This book has a lot more of Daniel Faust, and while his gimmick feels a bit corny at times, he’s a fun character, especially when he’s brought into the main plot. He brings a lot of world building with him as well, and while there’s a good bit of tell-not-show involved, it's really pretty fascinating, the kind that gives you all you need to know that second, but leaves you wanting everything else as well. Maybe the execution of that could have been handled better, but what you learn is good enough that it's hard to care much how it is delivered.
Additionally, the relationship between Marie and Nessa, which is the most important thing in this whole series, continues to be done well. Which may not sound like much, but it is very easy to envision a version of the story that makes their relationship beyond toxic. Nessa is a really difficult character, with a lot of really negative personality traits- a lesser writer would have basically made Marie into her submissive/subordinate, and while there are plenty of glimpses of her ugly qualities throughout the story, the relationship between the 2 protagonists is never presented as anything other than as equals. Nessa can bully and use everyone around her, but Marie will call her on it if she tries with her, and more than that, Nessa will listen to Marie. It humanizes her, and keeps her from going over the edge a number of times. I still expect she is a ticking time bomb, but we don’t get to the point where she feels more like the villain than someone to root for here.
The story does take a pretty sharp left turn about ⅔ of the way in, and while this does contribute to why other plot threads are dropped, most of it works. I wasn’t a huge fan of the action climax here (not sure if there are odes to other Schaefer stories if that would help), but what is set up for the final book is certainly intriguing. Still, I feel like this book feels like one that would have benefitted from another draft, as it feels like there are parts of this book that could have been cleaned up and gotten this close to the level of Sworn to the Night. (Grade:7.5/10)
November 12, 2018
Summary: Good pulpy novels with flashes of something truly great that ultimately doesn't come to pass.
Note: this review is inclusive of both Detonation Boulevard and Bring the Fire, as these two books are clearly of a set.
Reviews of books like this are the most difficult to write, the 3 to 4 star range of quality, a solid showing mechanically that can only be docked points for subjective reception. I can't claim to know Schaefer's thoughts, but these books feel like pulp, and unabashedly so. Yet even as a lover of pulpy novels I'm left a little disappointed at the end.
The good? It's got an interesting cosmology, good character dynamics, snappy dialogue, good action, ensemble characters that're compelling. But most compelling of all is a deeply feminist, deeply queer reading of what stories mean to women in a society steeped in misogyny; what does it mean to be a witch, a knight, a lover. All these labels women carry like so many scars and masks.
That is the framework of something truly deeply engaging, and yet, it's sadly used mostly as dressing for a fairly conventional plot. There's dimension hopping and demons and fallen angels (not the same), but none of that really seems to matter beyond motivation to move between action set pieces and character moments. There's a profound disinterest in exploring other worlds that show up in the story, lengthy exposition dumps near the end where they don't matter (at one point I literally rolled my eyes and said to myself "This is so boring and I don't care"), and unnecessary focus on ensemble characters in Schaefer's universe that don't need to be in the story and add little to it beyond serving as a plot conveyor.
Schaefer knows gay women, and consulted them when writing this. But Schaefer is not a gay woman (to my knowledge) and that changes the potential of that narrative. A romance between women written by gay women will always resonate more to gay women than the best story written by a man, no matter how much he consults. There's ways to how women love each other and live together than go deeper than an ability to explain; it's something that permeates a story on a deep fundamental level in a way this story lacks. It's the difference between a photograph of a place and going there for yourself.
The books are good, everything considered. It's good and it's fun, and it has a good ending, well, good-ish. The plot's a little formula at places. I don't know when "lesbians killing god" became routine but as fun as that narrative is you can only read it so many times. The action trilogy creep was a little meh, and I swear only a man could literally make a story about lesbians fighting against cosmically systemic misogyny with deep personal character arcs across thousands of lifetimes and decide “yeah but this needs a cool wizard gangster dude who fucks a demon”
Perhaps I'm more critical of this simply because it has great potential, and sparks of something truly brilliant. But I'm also like, a radical transgender lesbian so my opinion's kind of outside the norm and just as some pulpy fun novels, they're good.
Note: this review is inclusive of both Detonation Boulevard and Bring the Fire, as these two books are clearly of a set.
Reviews of books like this are the most difficult to write, the 3 to 4 star range of quality, a solid showing mechanically that can only be docked points for subjective reception. I can't claim to know Schaefer's thoughts, but these books feel like pulp, and unabashedly so. Yet even as a lover of pulpy novels I'm left a little disappointed at the end.
The good? It's got an interesting cosmology, good character dynamics, snappy dialogue, good action, ensemble characters that're compelling. But most compelling of all is a deeply feminist, deeply queer reading of what stories mean to women in a society steeped in misogyny; what does it mean to be a witch, a knight, a lover. All these labels women carry like so many scars and masks.
That is the framework of something truly deeply engaging, and yet, it's sadly used mostly as dressing for a fairly conventional plot. There's dimension hopping and demons and fallen angels (not the same), but none of that really seems to matter beyond motivation to move between action set pieces and character moments. There's a profound disinterest in exploring other worlds that show up in the story, lengthy exposition dumps near the end where they don't matter (at one point I literally rolled my eyes and said to myself "This is so boring and I don't care"), and unnecessary focus on ensemble characters in Schaefer's universe that don't need to be in the story and add little to it beyond serving as a plot conveyor.
Schaefer knows gay women, and consulted them when writing this. But Schaefer is not a gay woman (to my knowledge) and that changes the potential of that narrative. A romance between women written by gay women will always resonate more to gay women than the best story written by a man, no matter how much he consults. There's ways to how women love each other and live together than go deeper than an ability to explain; it's something that permeates a story on a deep fundamental level in a way this story lacks. It's the difference between a photograph of a place and going there for yourself.
The books are good, everything considered. It's good and it's fun, and it has a good ending, well, good-ish. The plot's a little formula at places. I don't know when "lesbians killing god" became routine but as fun as that narrative is you can only read it so many times. The action trilogy creep was a little meh, and I swear only a man could literally make a story about lesbians fighting against cosmically systemic misogyny with deep personal character arcs across thousands of lifetimes and decide “yeah but this needs a cool wizard gangster dude who fucks a demon”
Perhaps I'm more critical of this simply because it has great potential, and sparks of something truly brilliant. But I'm also like, a radical transgender lesbian so my opinion's kind of outside the norm and just as some pulpy fun novels, they're good.
January 14, 2020
The second part of the Wisdom's Grave Trilogy is one hell of a ride and the payoff is especially great if you have read Schaefer's other series. And let's be honest, you clearly should at least read the Daniel Faust series and the first four Harmony Black novels before even thinking about tackling the Wisdom's Grave Trilogy because a) these are great books and b) so much stuff that is happening here will just go over your head, in book 2 even more so than in book 1. I guess having read the Revanche Cycle also helps especially during the last third of the book, although I haven't read that (yet) myself and I feel like it's the Schaefer series where you will miss out the least.
While Nessa and Marie are far away from being my favourite Schaefer characters , the sheer amount of fan service and awesome cameos from the other series is just brilliant. The middle part of the book is just epic and it feels a bit like Craig Schaefer's version of the Avengers . The last third felt a bit lackluster to me, but again, that might be because I haven't read the Revanche Cyle.
Nevertheless, this is a great book that is surprisingly only mildly hampered by it's two not exactly likable protagonists. You'd think that this would be more of a problem, but the tie-in with Schaefer's other series makes up for that and "Detonaion Boulevard" easily tops the first book.
While Nessa and Marie are far away from being my favourite Schaefer characters , the sheer amount of fan service and awesome cameos from the other series is just brilliant. The middle part of the book is just epic and it feels a bit like Craig Schaefer's version of the Avengers . The last third felt a bit lackluster to me, but again, that might be because I haven't read the Revanche Cyle.
Nevertheless, this is a great book that is surprisingly only mildly hampered by it's two not exactly likable protagonists. You'd think that this would be more of a problem, but the tie-in with Schaefer's other series makes up for that and "Detonaion Boulevard" easily tops the first book.
November 8, 2020
Man, am I in the minority with this one. This is my opinion and the thoughts I had reading this book. Craig Scheaffer is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors, so I was very sad to rate this book so low.
It was a struggle to finish this one. I hit the “exciting” end and found myself skimming just to get to the end. It hurts to say that because I love Craig Schaeffer and his Daniel Faust series. I picked up the Wisdom’s Grave trilogy to shed some light on the confusion I had when I picked up Locust Job (Daniel Faust #9)
Nessa and Marie simply annoyed me in this book. Marie felt like too much of a “yes-man” to Nessa’s commands, which felt at odds with the tough NYPD Detective we saw in Book one. Nessa crosses over to villain, and Marie makes some mild protests before simply following her lover’s commands. By the end of the book, I simply didn’t care about either of these characters.
Daniel still feels shoehorned into the story. Besides his confrontation with Scott at the Mall, he doesn’t add anything to the story except to link it to the Daniel Faust series.
Minor spoilers ahead:
What really lost me in this one is the alternate dimensions. Toward three quarters of the way through, Nessa and Marie escape to an alternate dimension where the Witch and the Knight have already lived out their roles. They are quickly welcomed by The Owl of that world’s coven. It is way too easy and these people don’t question anything. I got very angry at this and debated putting the book down.
The alternate dimensions and the multiverse were built up in several previous books, so I didn’t have a problem with that idea. It was just the reaction to the arrival of Nessa and Marie that really, really, really bugged me.
Yes, I’ll read the third book. I’m hoping it's better than this one. I want to finish this trilogy and get back to the Faust series.
Check out more of my reviews on cestokes.com
It was a struggle to finish this one. I hit the “exciting” end and found myself skimming just to get to the end. It hurts to say that because I love Craig Schaeffer and his Daniel Faust series. I picked up the Wisdom’s Grave trilogy to shed some light on the confusion I had when I picked up Locust Job (Daniel Faust #9)
Nessa and Marie simply annoyed me in this book. Marie felt like too much of a “yes-man” to Nessa’s commands, which felt at odds with the tough NYPD Detective we saw in Book one. Nessa crosses over to villain, and Marie makes some mild protests before simply following her lover’s commands. By the end of the book, I simply didn’t care about either of these characters.
Daniel still feels shoehorned into the story. Besides his confrontation with Scott at the Mall, he doesn’t add anything to the story except to link it to the Daniel Faust series.
Minor spoilers ahead:
What really lost me in this one is the alternate dimensions. Toward three quarters of the way through, Nessa and Marie escape to an alternate dimension where the Witch and the Knight have already lived out their roles. They are quickly welcomed by The Owl of that world’s coven. It is way too easy and these people don’t question anything. I got very angry at this and debated putting the book down.
The alternate dimensions and the multiverse were built up in several previous books, so I didn’t have a problem with that idea. It was just the reaction to the arrival of Nessa and Marie that really, really, really bugged me.
Yes, I’ll read the third book. I’m hoping it's better than this one. I want to finish this trilogy and get back to the Faust series.
Check out more of my reviews on cestokes.com
November 7, 2022
Welp, I finished the second book and am still unable to read about Nessa without lyrics from Wicked popping into my head. Despite that, I enjoyed this book about the wicked witch of the east coast and her knight much more than the first in the trilogy. I admittedly almost skipped it, thinking I could just read the third one and get the gist of what happened enough to get back to the two main series, but after reading a bit of Bring the Fire I decided to go back, and I’m glad I did.
This book is much richer than the first. We jump around less and focus more closely on the main characters, while still adding new faces. I really liked the introduction of the new “coven” and the world building for their universe; we get an idea of what it is like there less through the author’s descriptions and more through the character’s reactions and behavior. The villains really worked for me, and the action is great.
There’s an overarching theme in this universe, something about what people are called and how it conflicts with how a person acts or is: Daniel Faust is a self-described villain despite not actually doing anything particularly evil for the first 5ish books except out of necessity; Harmony Black is the super straight-laced square rule-following goody-two-shoes who is 2nd in command of a team that intentionally concludes every case with either extra-judicial execution or indefinite imprisonment. We get into that again with Nessa and Marie (although maybe less about contradictions and more about “what does being a witch/knight mean”), but the change to a third person perspective on the other main characters (Black and Faust) had me thinking about this again. And I like thinking about things, so that was nice.
Absolutely 4-4.5 for the genre, 3.5-4 overall. Really enjoyable read.
This book is much richer than the first. We jump around less and focus more closely on the main characters, while still adding new faces. I really liked the introduction of the new “coven” and the world building for their universe; we get an idea of what it is like there less through the author’s descriptions and more through the character’s reactions and behavior. The villains really worked for me, and the action is great.
There’s an overarching theme in this universe, something about what people are called and how it conflicts with how a person acts or is: Daniel Faust is a self-described villain despite not actually doing anything particularly evil for the first 5ish books except out of necessity; Harmony Black is the super straight-laced square rule-following goody-two-shoes who is 2nd in command of a team that intentionally concludes every case with either extra-judicial execution or indefinite imprisonment. We get into that again with Nessa and Marie (although maybe less about contradictions and more about “what does being a witch/knight mean”), but the change to a third person perspective on the other main characters (Black and Faust) had me thinking about this again. And I like thinking about things, so that was nice.
Absolutely 4-4.5 for the genre, 3.5-4 overall. Really enjoyable read.
September 25, 2021
I blew through this series so quickly that I finished this book as it has a small cliffhanger of sorts and dived into the next right away so in my head, they are pretty intertwined. Marie and Nessa are on the run together. They are looking for Wisdom’s Grave and a power source to be able to save themselves and the world possible. What they need to find is a few friends to help them out.
Enter some of the other characters from Craigs other series. I’m familiar with these characters but I’m only caught up on the Harmony Black series. Still, it was great fun to visit the Bast club and see Daniel Faust through some of his magic around.
I was a little concerned that Nessa would go full tilt evil in this book but so far, the characters walk the line really well. They are not all good but they are definitely not as evil as in other incarnations. It was fun to wander the country with them looking for Carolyn and a few of the other characters of the first story doomed to relive their lives and mistakes.
This as a great ride with a good blend of story and action. I really like Marie and Nessa together and I’m rooting for them ultimately. But I also still worry they will go full tilt evil at some point. Here is hoping they can get off their tragic wheel of meet, fall in love and die a horrible death to their enemies.
Enter some of the other characters from Craigs other series. I’m familiar with these characters but I’m only caught up on the Harmony Black series. Still, it was great fun to visit the Bast club and see Daniel Faust through some of his magic around.
I was a little concerned that Nessa would go full tilt evil in this book but so far, the characters walk the line really well. They are not all good but they are definitely not as evil as in other incarnations. It was fun to wander the country with them looking for Carolyn and a few of the other characters of the first story doomed to relive their lives and mistakes.
This as a great ride with a good blend of story and action. I really like Marie and Nessa together and I’m rooting for them ultimately. But I also still worry they will go full tilt evil at some point. Here is hoping they can get off their tragic wheel of meet, fall in love and die a horrible death to their enemies.
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