Fire Season

Eric Carter #4

by Stephen Blackmoore

The fourth book of this dark urban fantasy series follows necromancer Eric Carter through a world of vengeful gods and goddesses, mysterious murders, and restless ghosts.

Los Angeles is burning.

During one of the hottest summers the city has ever seen, someone is murdering mages with fires that burn when they shouldn't, that don't stop when they should. Necromancer Eric Carter is being framed for the killings and hunted by his own people.

To Carter, everything points to the god Quetzalcoatl coming after him, after he defied the mad wind god in the Aztec land of the dead. But too many things aren't adding up, and Carter knows there's more going on.

If he doesn't figure out what it is and put a stop to it fast, Quetzalcoatl won't just kill him, he'll burn the whole damn city down with him.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Paranormal, Fiction, Audiobook, Horror, Ebooks

294 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 16, 2019

About the author

Stephen Blackmoore is the author of the noir / urban fantasy Eric Carter series (DEAD THINGS, BROKEN SOULS, HUNGRY GHOSTS, and FIRE SEASON), about a necromancer in modern-day Los Angeles.

You can find him online at stephenblackmoore.com, or follow him on Twitter at @sblackmoore.

Reviews

[✘✘ Sarah ✘✘ (former Nefarious Breeder of Murderous Crustaceans) · Rating 3 out of 5]

As much as I enjoyed the first three books in this series, this is beginning to feel like The Adventures of a Second-Rate Sandman Slim: similar narrative style, similar MC voice, similar MC behavior, similar secondary characters, similar setting...similar everything 🙄. Like a Jimmy Stark rip-off this is clearly beginning to feel.



The installment isn’t bad, it’s just that try as he might Eric Carter is assuredly NOT as deliciously demented as my boyfriend Jimmy Stark. His antics are definitely NOT as gloriously over-the-top entertaining (or scrumptiously gripping) as Jimmy's either…To the point that I found myself shamelessly skimming over the last part of the book to get it over with, yay.

I guess those who aren’t familiar with Sandman Slim’s world will probably enjoy the fish out of this installment, but I have so I didn’t. Now, to continue or not to continue with this series, that is the question. The only reason I’m considering it is that Mesoamerican mythology = 😍😍😍 (this is a scientifically proven fact, in case you didn't know). Oh, and also I might or might not have developed a moderate crush on a machete-wielding, trigger-happy damsel called Gabriella. Soooo...



· Book 1: Dead Things ★★★★
· Book 2: Broken Souls ★★★★
· Book 3: Hungry Ghosts ★★★★

[Montzalee Wittmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fire Season
(Eric Carter #4)
by Stephen Blackmoore
This book combines most of Eric's foes all fighting against him at the same time. Using his own smarts and skills, and a handful of tough characters. It cuts close to home with all the fires around the US! I am so enjoying this series!

[Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this one better than all the previous Eric Carter novels. I think it's the "time spent with the character" effect. Maybe not. But I did enjoy it more.

The fact that it's a little on the nose with California burning all the time helps a lot.

These are very UF. All action, all quip, all magic. The plot is still pretty Noir, but these days it's all about having everyone come out of the woodwork to get a piece of him. Such a thing has its place in literature, no? Simple, fun.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first read by Stephen Blackmoore but I’m sure it won’t be my last. Although, I’m jumping into this series four books in, I was quickly sweep away into the marvelous world Blackmoore created for Eric Carter.

Carter has been framed for gruesome murders while he hunts for the deity causing all this mayhem.

The story proceeds at manic pace keeping you riveted to every single word.

I received this ARC copy of Fire Season from Berkley Publishing Group - DAW. This is my honest and voluntary review. Fire Season is set for publication on April 16, 2019.

My Rating: 5 stars
Written by: Stephen Blackmoore
Series: Eric Carter (Book 4)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: DAW
Publication Date: April 16, 2019
ISBN-10: 0756412943
ISBN-13: 978-0756412944
Genre: Dark Fantasy

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Fire-Season-Er...
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fire...
Itunes: https://books.apple.com/bo/book/fire-...

[Magdalena aka A Bookaholic Swede · Rating 3 out of 5]

FIRE SEASON is the fourth book in the Eric Carter series and my introduction to the series. Starting with book four may be a bit unwise since that means I've missed a lot of events in Eric Carter's life. On the plus side, I found the book to be easy to get into, and I loved that it was action from page one to the very end. In this book, Eric Carter is framed for murdering mags with fire, and he's quite sure that the god Quetzalcoatl is behind it all. Soon it goes from killing mags to setting buildings in Los Angeles on fire and Eric must find a way to stop Quetzalcoatl for good!

READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!

[Melliane · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5

Mon avis en Français

My English review

I really enjoyed the previous volumes, and I rushed to this sequel as soon as I had the opportunity.

After the clashes with the gods, Eric tries to understand the consequences, although none of this is simple. He doesn’t know what happened with Santa Muerte or what became of her, just like Tabitha, and it seems like new problems are coming up! Indeed, it seems that someone is trying to blame him for the death of several mages. Everyone thinks that it’s him and everyone wants to kill him. But that’s not all, the gods are back, and some are willing to do anything to make Eric pay! Our hero will have to do everything possible to save his city, and especially to save himself!

I really had a great time, once again, and I was delighted to see all the characters again! This novel allows us to understand a little more about Darius for example or other points discussed. The author’s universe is really interesting and unique. Eric always does everything to save himself, and the others come after him. He will have to use his power to the maximum of his abilities, and he will discover more about his past and his family, and above all he will make new agreements, the continuation of which I am curious to see!

[☕️Kimberly (Caffeinated Reviewer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a fun series with mythology, magic and snark. Each story has its own case/issue, but the overall arc of the series has me recommending you listen to the series in order. In Fire Season, Eric is being accused of burning mags with fire. His own people are after him, but Eric is convinced it’s the god Quetzalcoatl framing him. He’ll need to stop him and convince his people before the entire city burns.

I love the world-building and mythology in this series, not to mention that Eric is a necromancer. The magic is cool, from a mix of magic devices to runes tattooed on his body. Eric isn’t exactly the most likeable guy, but in his odd way, he cares when he isn’t too busy being determined to win. Blackmoore continues to peel back his layers and I look forward to continuing this journey.

To stop the city from burning, he’ll need the help of allies and that help comes from the witch La Bruja, his ex wife and a police detective, named Letitia. The story is evenly paced with a high body count and a touch of Noir flair.

Fans of gritty, urban fantasy with a Noir will want to grab the Eric Carter series. I am excited they’ve come to audio and Rudy Sanda has captured Eric from his complexities to his snark. He gives voice to all the characters and enhances the overall telling. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer

[Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so happy to see this next installment in the Eric Carter series. I love pure urban fantasy, and this series more than fits the bill. This latest is filled with the pulse-pounding action, explosion-laden plot we’ve come to expect with our not-very-nice protagonist Eric. He isn’t sure if his “wife” survived the events of the last book, but he wonders if it is his wife’s other husband who’s setting fires all over LA and setting Eric up. Buy why? I loved this book, but I do kinda wish at times we could slow down a little bit and have more character interaction. Don’t get me wrong as I love all the action. I’d just like to get to know the characters a little more. I am very intrigued with where the next book is going to go after Eric made his deal. I don’t want to say too much to spoil it, but this changes the surroundings. Curious? Read the book to find out what I mean! Great urban fantasy! I recommend this book highly and was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

[jess ~has abandoned GR~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this fourth installment of Stephen Blackmoore's series about LA necromancer Eric Carter, Carter is again on the run after antagonizing a vengeful deity. (He still hasn't learned from his mistakes.) To complicate things, he's also being framed for a series of grisly murders, there's a crazy sicaria running around lighting everything on fire, and the families of the murder victims have put a bounty on his head. Luckily, he knows some powerful people -- namely, a dangerous witch called "La Bruja," a police detective named Letitia, and his complicated wife, Santa Muerte herself.

If it sounds like there's a lot going on, it's because there is. You might need to take some notes.

Eric Carter is a jerk -- he's irreverent, rude, and indifferent towards the innocent deaths he leaves in his wake, hellbent on winning every Pyrrhic victory he can. And I'm eagerly reading these books, rooting for him. What is wrong with me? I liked it, and I will keep reading the books in the series, but I can't help but wonder when La Bruja, Letitia, or some other character will wise up to the fact that LA would be a lot safer if Carter joined his wife down in the Aztec underworld.

arc received from the publisher

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book in a goodreads drawing.

The usual hipster anti-social urban wizard finds himself in real trouble when an ancient Aztec god decides to start a bunch of fires in LA during Fire Season.

Not bad, but nothing special. Read it if you're into this kind of thing.

[Lauren Stoolfire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't resist speeding through this series.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one hits pretty hard with all the fires in California right now. Also ends on a cliffie, which makes me cranky.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why are the best books always the shortest (or the quickest reads)? I tore through this in two days, and I want more! I absolutely love the worldbuilding, the charaters and the story itself, and I hope there are more books to come in the series.

[Jenny - Book Sojourner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great addition to the series

Action-packed. Filled with Eric Carter's dry humor, sarcasm, and one-liners. The setting of Los Angeles perfectly portrayed. A crazy journey of highs and lows. Excellent writing. Can't wait for the next book.

[Vakaris the Nosferatu · Rating 4 out of 5]

all reviews in one place: night mode reading ; skaitom nakties rezimu

My Opinion: Carter is a sassy asshole, like Dr. House, but a necromancer, not a doctor. So very talented from birth that everyone, friends, family, enemies, and even gods, at the same time hate him, fear him, and love him. To a degree where he never fails to find help, support, even if followed by a condition to never show his face there again. He too loves and hates everyone, sometimes even stabbing people for it, just so you don’t forget: Carter is not a good guy, he just does a lot of good, and tries to save the world, but that’s beside the point. He even killed the Goddess of Death who, by the way, tricked him into marrying her, because, as I said, he’s just that impressive. Aside from all that, take it however you will, the book was eerie with its depiction of human nature. How easy it is to manipulate and affect it. Especially when there’s already a soil ready to be sowed, with a bit of disappointment here, a little anger there, a dash of envy… At some point even the most illogical lies are enough to motivate someone into action against someone they already deeply disliked. And here we have it, Carter’s trying to clear his already poor reputation. Book reads like a comic book, where all events are exaggerated and concentrated. Sadly, they didn’t leave any lasting impressions. Instead, we the readers are being asked to trust the process, and I did just that. Won’t pretend it wasn’t easy, because it really was. It’s very easy to read, and that Supernatural series vibe – helped a lot.

A solid 4 out of 5. Can’t give it less due to personal preferences, especially as I did enjoy it.

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blackmoore is back at the top of his game! After the disappointment of book three in the Eric Carter series, book four hits all the right buttons. As usual, we have a familiar cast of characters and locations supplemented by some nice new additions along the way. We are taken on a whirlwind tour of Los Angeles which offers just the kind of depth and texture I love in a story. So much so I spent a lot of time looking up locations and historic buildings from the city on the internet, giving me much more visual depth and a great insight into the world Carter inhabits.

We even get to experience a little compassion from Carter in this outing. Not too much of course, he is still the foul-mouthed, murderous, couldn't-care-less douchebag we love. But the little bit of heart we are made privy to adds a nice new level to the character which I definitely appreciated.

Another new aspect we're introduced to is Carter's lineage. We enjoy a brief encounter with his grandmother, hear tales of his grandfather and learn a little history about his parents. All of this, I hope, is backstory for upcoming adventures where we'll see these nefarious aspects of his family's past come back to haunt our anti-hero. At least I hope so. It could develop into some very interesting storylines and introduce something quite fresh to this world I love so much.

Fire Season wraps up with a superb finale. Paced perfectly, with a great balance of action, character and info. It rips along at a blistering pace and makes it impossible for the reader not to keep turning pages, refusing to take a breather even between the short chapters. This is definitely the best ending in the series so far.

[Derpa]

DNF at 25%.

This just feels so indistinct. We are running the same circles (Vivian hates Eric and "never wants to see him again" even though she said that a million times and they still see each other again, Eric's Nazi gun just feeeeels so wrooooong, the same not friends thing with Gabriela), almost like no development is happening, and we are on book 4.
Of course, new mysteries are happening, but they are all buried under the same old, same old. Besides, even the mysteries feel kind of samey. No emotional involvement, just same murders that all feel the same.
We get a new character, called Letitia, whom Eric is supposed to already know, but we never met her before and she was never mentioned, just feels tacked on. Also, she doesn't sound in any way distinguished from the other characters.
I don't know why, but it all feels like a lot of the information about the world building is an afterthought that we get told about. Even the South American flare is mostly just the characters listing the names of the different gods. I can't help rolling my eyes when in this book Eric outright states "we are very diverse here!!!", like this is even more of an intentional thing. (Using Che Guevara as a way to say a character has a cool and badass persona is also a... choice.)

I think I gave this series a chance to draw me in. It never really happened.

[Anomander Rake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keď prežijete aj pobyt v aztéckom podsvetí Mictlan a pokus jedného z bohov záhrobia spraviť si z vás záhradnú dekoráciu, myslíte si, že už vás nič neprekvapí.
No a potom sa veterný boh Quetzalcoatl spojí so šialenou mexickou sicariou, aby na vás narafičili sériu vrážd miestnych mágov.
A Los Angeles horí a horí... (trochu viac, než sú tam zvyknutí)
Čítavé, ako celá séria a čoraz lepšie.

[Sandy Schleich · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this book in the series the thing I didn’t like the most was the fact that he is always using drugs.

[Mary Saha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this

Can't wait for the next one! So mean to end it in that note! Eric Carter is always getting himself in horrible situations. This book opened up all sorts of new bad things with the introduction of a family storage locker full of magical objects and a pocket dimension overlooking Lovecraft style horrors. Add to that the mentions in previous books of other pantheons and monsters and this series could go on forever. I hope it does.

[Sheryl Slavensky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series

This series is well written and complex but still so fun to read. I enjoy watching Eric's relationships evolve. Can't wait to see how he spends his 3 months in Mictlan. My only complaint is that they don't come out more often!

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great series. Each installment just gets better and better.

[Lianne Pheno · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un tome toujours aussi intéressant dans cette série à la mythologie très originale.

Eric Carter pensait pouvoir reprendre sa vie d'avant maintenant que ses ennemis sont mis de coté. Mais c'était sans compter un de ses grosses erreurs : il a perdu le briquet magique que lui avait remis Quetzalcoatl pour qu'il brûle l'au-delà !

Et voici qu'un assassin s'en sert pour éliminer des sorciers ...
Maintenant tout le monde est persuadé qu'il est le responsable de tout les violents incendies qui ravagent Los Angeles !

Chaud bouillant, ce tome nous laisse avec une odeur de brûlé dans les narines !
Eric essaye de traquer son adversaire alors que la ville, et pas mal de ses habitants, crament sous ses yeux.

Franchement c'était un plaisir à lire. Eric est l'exemple même du héros sarcastique et blasé, qui a un coté téméraire qui frise avec le suicidaire à certains moments vu les situations dans lesquelles il plonge.
Ce n'est pas comme si son adversaire n'était pas un dieu en colère équipé d'un artefact magique, pas du tout :P

On a vraiment pas le temps de s'ennuyer dans ce tome, tout se déroule a un bon rythme sans période de répit.
Les personnages secondaires trouvent une bonne place et sont toujours aussi efficaces.

Ce livre faisait bien écho à toutes les peurs que les incendies ont causé dans la région il y a quelques temps.

Bref, un excellent tome, comme d'habitude avec cette série !

16/20

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

So much of this series is a rip off of other series: Eric Carter looks like Constantine, is a badass mofo ahole like Sandman Slim (also in LA), is the human chosen of a very powerful, cold god-figure (like Harry Dresden), and a character is even named Kevin Hearne. Which is so annoying it makes me want to stop reading. But all the parts that have to do with Aztec gods are so original and creative, I just want more of that! I love the Santa Muerte plots, and I like how it's evolving in this book. I really feel like the series had plenty of closure after book 3 and I really didn't feel the need for a book 4. Still didn't, until maybe 2/3 of the way through this book, when it finally started cementing a new direction for the arc outside the original Mictlan adventure.

First 2/3: 2 stars
Last 1/3: 4 stars

[Patrick St-Denis · Rating 4 out of 5]

As mentioned in my review of Hungry Ghosts, the first three installments in Stephen Blackmoore's Eric Carter series mostly read like Jim Butcher's episodic early Dresden Files books. But it looked as though we'd reached the end of the first story arc of this paranormal and gritty noir murder mystery series. There was potential for bigger and better things to come, and the ending of Hungry Ghosts certainly left the door open for much more.

As I said before, it remains to be seen whether or not Blackmoore can up his game and elevate this series to another level. Fire Season is definitely a step in the right direction, yet this series is not growing in scope quite as rapidly as the Dresden Files did. Though this fourth volume takes Eric beyond what was meant to be the first act in this story, I can't say that the plot is progressing at a good clip. Every novel thus far has been quite short, which limits the amount of progress the author can come up with with each new title. Still, Fire Season has been the best one yet.

Here's the blurb:

The fourth book of this dark urban fantasy series follows necromancer Eric Carter through a world of vengeful gods and goddesses, mysterious murders, and restless ghosts.

Los Angeles is burning.

During one of the hottest summers the city has ever seen, someone is murdering mages with fires that burn when they shouldn't, that don't stop when they should. Necromancer Eric Carter is being framed for the killings and hunted by his own people.

To Carter, everything points to the god Quetzalcoatl coming after him, after he defied the mad wind god in the Aztec land of the dead. But too many things aren't adding up, and Carter knows there's more going on.

If he doesn't figure out what it is and put a stop to it fast, Quetzalcoatl won't just kill him, he'll burn the whole damn city down with him.

My main gripe with urban fantasy works is that the market demands that they be short and relatively fast-paced works. Exactly why, I've never been able to say. But until an author achieves a certain level of commercial success, it feels as though editors won't allow them a larger page count. Hence the 300 pages or so that Stephen Blackmoore gets to work with. Understandably, the first few books were parsimonious on the worldbuilding front. However, in Hungry Ghosts the author finally unveiled many secrets pertaining to magic in general and Aztec/Mexican mythology. Having such Mayan and Mexican cultural influences gives the Eric Carter books a somewhat unique flavor and that's what I like the most about them. Fire Season mostly deals with the aftermath of what took place in Mictlan, the Aztec land of the dead. It now looks like Eric has a vengeful Aztec god coming after him for not upholding his part of their bargain and he's burning down Los Angeles in retribution. Trouble is, four volumes into this series and I still have no idea where the story is going. Whether he likes it or not, Eric has become the King of the Dead, and it's now evident that Darius and how he's planning to escape from his prison have become an integral part of the tale. And yet, even though each new installment adds layers to the plot, we still don't have a clear idea as to what this series really is about. It would be a major problem if the books were not entertaining, no doubt about it. But I feel that by now readers should have a better understanding of the overall plot and what Blackmoore is actually planning.

Basically everything Eric Carter touches turns to shit, which makes him an easy protagonist to root for. As always, he's a foul-mouthed smartass who gets beaten to a pulp way too many times in the span of such a short novel, but there is still something about him that makes you care for the poor fool. Again, he acts like an idiot for the most part because he's trying to protect those he loves without realizing that he's alienating them in the process. He has been running from his past for a long time and now it's finally caught up with him. As mentioned in my review of Hungry Ghosts, as entertaining as he is, I was hoping for some character growth to help him become a more balanced individual. Well, with LA burning down around him and mages trying to kill him for murders he hasn't committed, there is very little room for growth. I was glad to see Gabriella return in this fourth volume. Vivian and Letitia, a mage who went to school with Eric and who's now a police officer and a secret member of the Cleanup Crew, made for a nice addition to the supporting cast. Although there is only one POV, it's nice to have other people sharing the spotlight with Eric.

With Fire Season being such a short work, there are no pacing issues from start to finish. With a vindictive god and a ruthless sicaria wielding a god-created weapon coming after him, this latest Eric Carter book reads more like a thriller than an urban fantasy novel. And since I'm almost done with the fifth volume, Ghost Money, it's also obvious that Fire Season sets the stage for yet more troubling times for the necromancer. Given that his plate is already quite full, it will be interesting to see what Blackmoore has in store for him. Especially since Santa Muerte, his wife and patron saint of death, who is and isn't who she used to be since the events that occurred in Mictlan, is also seeking attention.

If you are looking for a gritty urban fantasy series featuring a deeply flawed male lead, the Eric Carter books are definitely for you. How this series has flown under the radar for all these years, I'll never know. But fans of Jim Butcher, Simon R. Green, and Richard Kadrey will definitely find a lot to like about these novels.

For more reviews, check out www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com

[Enfys · Rating 5 out of 5]

NON-STOP, PULSE-POUNDING, URBAN FANTASY ADVENTURE
I stayed up too late reading this book, because holy heck can Stephen Blackmoore write a page-turner. After the last book, I couldn't imagine where the story could go without seeming like a let-down in comparison, but this book definitely keeps the intensity going. Heavily influenced by the recent California fires, this book pits our (anti)hero against magical assassins and gods as he tries to get to the heart of a conspiracy. It's a magical thriller with plenty of dark humor and great characters.

[Vintagebooklvr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Action-packed and fun. Eric doesn't think he has many friends but he just might have more than he expects as it seems everyone is after him. When the city is on fire and vengeful spirits or demigods seek to fan the fire, there are people who will try to help him stop this. But are they really trying to help him...

[Abe · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Andrea Rittschof · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I saw this was available, I immediately jumped at the chance to read it. I’d read Dead Things, the first in the Eric Carter series and had enjoyed the gritty feel of the storytelling. “Fire Season” is the latest in the series and the premise is intriguing. The action flows and the characters are engaging. Before you even realize what’s going on, you’re deeply immersed in the story and won’t come up to breath until you finish.
First, I love that Stephen Blackmoore isn’t trying to write the typical mage series. Eric Carter is grittier and darker than that and following a necromancer much more interesting than the typical urban fantasy. Don’t get me wrong, I love most urban fantasy but I like that the premise is different and the story darker than the typical story out there. I also appreciate the refreshing lack of romance or at least not anything overt.
The main character, Eric Carter is engaging. You can’t ever quite decide if you like him or not but while you’re waiting, he grabs your attention and never lets go, almost like a punch to the guts. The story is visceral since it’s told in first person point of view and in present tense. The decision to use first person immerses the reader in the story and never lets them escape. Much like Eric, you’re along for the ride but unlike him, you’ll enjoy every moment of figuring out what Eric will do next and if he’ll figure out what to do about Quetzalcoatl and the mad assassin he’s enlisted to light the city of LA on fire. That level of engagement in a book is rare and I give kudos to Stephen Blackmoore. The pacing kept me turning the page and reading as quickly as I could so I would find out what happened next.
Beyond the main character, the other secondary characters are equally interesting, from the antagonists to the people Eric recruits to help him along the way. No one is black and white and so few are pristine or perfectly good. This is a dark story but there are those you empathize with along the way, even Eric.
The world building is awesome, every detail shining a light on either the main character, the secondary characters or the plot, with every detail mattering. We even get to delve into Eric’s family history, with more details about his family, some of their collection of artifacts and how his Browning works. I loved the attention to detail and the work that went into this, including the development of Eric with his language choices, dialogue, his tattoos and all the little quirks that make up the character.
The plot is intriguing, with enough mystery to hold your attention. I loved the flow. The only detail that took me by surprise and took me a bit to get used to was the use of the extreme first person, present tense. But overall, the end result was a very immersive story so the technique works well for this novel.
In my opinion, the author gets better and better. I loved the story and look forward to more.

[Иван Величков · Rating 5 out of 5]

Макар да ми се струва, че Блекмор вече изцежда историята със Санта Муерте и малкия остатък от мезоамериканския пантеон и беше по-добре да затвори арката след третата част, книгата направо ме разби. Защо? Най-вече заради развитието на героите и най-вече Ерик. Тук, когато всичките му противници се изправят срещу него в един том, напред изпъква точно какво безскруполно, безморално и манипулативно копеленце е и това ми допадна безкрайно.
След като в предходната книга Ерик най-после успя да се отърве от проклятието на ацтекския бог на мъртвите, да реши проблемите си със Санта Муерте и Табита и да тегли една майна на Куедзалкоатл, би трябвало да му остане време да подреди личния си живот. За негово нещастие, някой започва да трепе магьосници по начин, който сочи към него. Това ще доведе до доста неприятности из скритото им общество. Ерик като че ли е наясно кой му крои шапка, но няма как да го докаже. А когато тръгва да разплита пъзела, Ел Ей е погълнат от пламъците, които трянваше да изгорят Миктлан, според уговорката му с пернатата змия, по съвместимост бог на вятъра. Като добавим и една луда мексиканска сикария, нещата много бързо излизат извън контрол. А, и Дарий май е на ясно кой крие бутилката му, което не е ОК, защото ние знаем кой е, нали?
Все още се усещат епигонствата към Саандман Слим, но Блекмор стъпва върху тях и скача нагоре. Серията се засилва и, надявам се, започне ли нова арка ще избухне.
Разкриваме повече и за миналото на Дарий, Куезакоатл и Кортез, както и за дядото на Ерик.