Dead Man

Black Magic Outlaw #1

by Domino Finn

I'm Cisco Suarez­ necromancer, shadow charmer, black magic outlaw. Sounds kinda cool, doesn't it? It was, right until I woke up half dead in a dumpster. Did I say half dead? Because I meant 100% dead. Full on. I don't do things halfway. So here I am, alive for some reason, just another sunny day in Miami. It's a perfect paradise, except I'm into something bad. Wanted by police, drenched in the stink of dark magic, nether creatures coming out of the woodwork, and don't get me started on the Haitian voodoo gang. Trust me, it's all fun and games until there's a zombie pit bull on your tail. I'm Cisco necromancer, shadow charmer, black magic outlaw, and totally screwed.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Paranormal, Magic, Audiobook, Zombies, Fiction

322 pages, Paperback

First published December 24, 2015

About the author

Domino Finn is an entertainment industry veteran, a contributor to award-winning video games, and the grizzled Urban Fantasy author of the best-selling Black Magic Outlaw series. His stories are equal parts spit, beer, and blood, and are notable for treating weighty issues with a supernatural veneer. If Domino has one rallying cry for the world, it's that fantasy is serious business.

Take up arms at DominoFinn.com

Reviews

[Montzalee Wittmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dead Man (Black Magic Outlaw #1) by Domino Finn is a pretty good fantasy book. Lots of action, magic, necromancy, suspense, and plenty of twists and turns. I had the audio narration and the narrator was pretty good.

[✘✘ Sarah ✘✘ (former Nefarious Breeder of Murderous Crustaceans) · Rating 2 out of 5]

💀 DNF at 28%.

The hunt for tolerable UF with a male lead is paved with good intentions ever-so-slightly underwhelming crap stuff. And sometimes, when you're really lucky, like I was here, said underwhelming crap stuff is also boring as fish. And also also headache-inducing. Quite the feat, is it not? And who do we have to thank for such a dazzling accomplishment, you ask? Why Cisco Whatever-His-Last-Name Is, aka our Dead Man in residence, aka the main character of this delightful little romp. And they say women are chatterboxes?! Bloody shrimping hell, Cisco's mostly pointless, incessant inner dialogue would give any self-respected estrogen-laden blabbermouth a run for their money. Damn. The guy should come with extra strength Tylenol. Or a bottle of whisky. Or better yet, both.



Right you are, Theodore Dear.

This Deadly Blah Blah Blah Fest (DB³F™) quite logically resulted in me getting somewhat a little increasingly disinterested in the story as it didn't progress, doing the Skim Skim Skim of Doom and Oblivion (S³oDaO™), and finally making a deliciously illegal u-turn and heading over to my most beloved DNF Graveyard. The End and stuff.

[Gavin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm Cisco Suarez: necromancer, shadow charmer, black magic outlaw. Sounds kinda cool, doesn't it? It was, right until I woke up half dead in a dumpster.
Did I say half dead? Because I meant 100% dead. Full on. I don't do things halfway.

I'm not going to lie, I was totally sucked in by the cool sounding blurb of this book. Did the story live up to the promise of the blurb? Probably not, but this still turned out to be an entertaining enough read. It was an action UF with a slightly unique feel.

The story was quite intriguing. Cisco wakes up in a dumpster 10 years after being murdered and has no idea how he is back in the world of the living or who killed him. To complicate things he immediately finds himself being hunted by a street gang with ties to voodoo magic

Cisco Suarez was not a perfect character, he could be a bit selfish at times, but he was just likeable enough to have me rooting for him. It helped that the story was told from a first person POV as Cisco had a good "voice". He could be quite funny at times.

There was a good mix of humour, action, and mystery to keep things interesting. I liked the Miami setting, and the magic did have a unique feel to it, but I still think a better job could have been done with the world building in general. Though that might yet develop as this was a fairly short book.

All in all this was a fun read. Entertaining but not overly memorable. Though I did enjoy it enough that I'll likely give the sequel a go.

Rating: 3.5 stars.

Audio Note: I thought Neil Hellegers gave an excellent performance of this story.

[Constance Burris · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Good try.

I was mostly entertained. Writing style was good. It had a latino lead and he was crushing on a curvy latino chick. The bad buys were Haitian and Nigerian and there was a reference to an African Vampire. I cringed at the term "black on black" crime. I think the author could have used a racial sensitivity reader, but I have to give him points for trying. Good story over, even if it parts were predictable.

I'd read the next one if only to see what happens with the African vampire "asanbosam" is all about.

[Karen ⚜Mess⚜ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliantly written.

I'm having that moment where I kick myself in the pants for sitting on this book for a year before reading it. What a waste of a year! Don't sit on a treasure like this. Open it up and IMMEDIATELY begin to enjoy it!

Domino Finn (The Magnificent and Talented) has wrapped up all the loves I have involving magic and action into this fantastic novel. This world of necromancy, zombies and voodoo was creatively written. I've already started book 2 because I just saw how big the Domino Finn world is and I have a lot of catching up to do.

[Kenny Soward · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun magic system, great atmosphere and setting, and a heroic yet tarnished protagonist who finds some pretty creative ways to defeat his enemies. There was just enough betrayal, dark humor, and action without making my head spin in circles like with some books. There were some parts where I thought he emotion was drummed up, but otherwise good stuff. I will be checking out the rest of the series.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dead Man by Domino Finn
Cisco Suarez, necromancer and a wee bit of a dumb ass, wakes up in  a dumpster. Wait. Can the dead wake? Cisco is full on dead and he’s none too happy to learn about it, especially since a variety of folks are set on seeing him dead. Again.
The Miami heat can be harsh, especially if you’re already prone to giving off body odor. Cisco needs info and the first person he runs into that he knows is Milena, who was his sister Seleste’s BFF. Cisco soon learns what tragedy befell his family and he’s heart broken and ticked off all at the same time.
The Haitian gang, The Bone Saints, are after him and he’s not too sure why.  They have a new leader, Baptiste, who is dead set on ending Cisco’ second life. Cisco has few options so he calls upon his friends for info and aide. There’s the Norwegian biker tattoo artist Kasper, his boyhood school friend Evan Cross (who’s as straight laced as you can get), and his buddy in studying the dark arts Martine. Unfortunately, Cisco will get less aide tham he hoped for and more info than he can easily handle.
This is a wonderful nitty gritty urban fantasy detective story. Miami provides the author with the opportunity to mix in several cultures and languages. Of course, I loved all the food references. Cisco has that interesting mix of boyish charm, machismo, underdog, do-gooder, and more power than he can easily handle. It made for a fascinating character set in a place that ties together several cultures, and hence, several mythologies.
I often found myself cheering on this necromancer, which is not something I have done often. I mean, it’s just wrong to mess with the dead, right? But Cisco made me see the right of it. After all, there’s utilizing the dead for a higher purpose and then there’s abusing your necromancer privileges. Cisco sometimes walks a fine line, but that only added to the tension and enjoyment of the story.
My one quibble is the ladies. They are few and far between and mostly are comforters and sex objects. Now part of that is how Cisco sees the world, so I can see that adding to the character’s personality, but the ladies as a whole aren’t well represented. Martine has some skills in necromancy, but she has a pretty small role. Max, a body guard, I think has like 5 lines for the entire book and is one-dimensional. Seleste gets a nod and Milena has the largest role mostly because Cisco spends plenty of time admiring her figure. There’s an od girlfriend who also gets a nod but must be protected from the truth as she’s too fragile to handle it. It’s modern-day Miami, which is known for a lot of things, including their bad ass women (for example the numerous ladies from the series Dexter). Alas, this book was lacking in this regard.
With that said, it was still a very engaging story and an excellent addition to the urban fantasy genre. Apparently, the dead can be used more creatively than I expected. The balance of humor and serious points kept me on Cisco’s side throughout the book.

I received this book as a gift from the author with no strings attached.

[AudioBookReviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

My original Dead Man audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.

Cisco Suarez wakes up in a dumpster after being killed 10 years ago.  He remembers none of the last decade, how he died, or how he got many of the skills and strength he now has.  After tracking down a couple of friends, he is able to piece together enough details to follow a trail toward his killers.  More questions arise as he finds out someone slaughtered his family and a Hattian voodoo gang wants him dead.

The action continues non-stop throughout the story, voodoo, necromancy, the occult, potions, and more fill the tale with magical violence.  The story is written in the first person, so the listener is inside Cisco’s head throughout; reliving his fears, insecurities, slowly returning memories and newly discovered abilities.  He is a self-taught necromancer and wielder of magic, so most of his skills are sometimes a surprise to him.

As the listener rediscovers Cisco’s lost 10 years, we relive his emotions with him, lost friendships, family, and lover.  It gets claustrophobic and redundant at times but remains generally entertaining.  The plot is less about making sense than following Cisco’s stumbling luck as an amateur occult detective.

Neil Hellegers performs the story well, giving it a personality.  His voice gets into the listeners head as he becomes Cisco.  A solid performance that is pleasant to listen to and gets out of the way when the action gets hot.

Dead Man is a detective story wrapped in the shell of magic and the occult.  There are enough dead bodies, zombies, and wizards to fill a small stadium.  Strange that the non-magic people don’t seem to notice much of it.  Never mind, that’s not the point.  It is Cisco’s world and you are invited to share it intimately as you ride on his shoulder.  While there is plenty of violence and most of it horrific, it is cartoonish and won’t give you nightmares.  The story is entertaining enough, fast paced and inventive.  Listen to the sample, it will give you enough to decide if the style is your taste.

Audiobook was provided for review by the narrator.

[Ludovica Ponzo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Il successo di questo libro, secondo me, non è lo stile, seppur serrato e concitato, né la trama, seppur avventurosa ed originale, né il linguaggio, seppur così dinamico, quasi cinematografico, no, il successo di questo libro è lui, Cisco Suarez.

«Cisco è più breve e musicale di Francisco, e mi fa pensare all’eroe di un fumetto.
Quale ragazzino non vorrebbe essere un supereroe?
Mi piaceva come suonava, così ho cominciato a riferirmi a me stesso in terza persona.
Abituatevici.»

Raramente ho trovato un protagonista con la capacità di affascinare dalle prime righe il lettore, e non per la sua vita interessante, perché essere un animista e negromante provoca in me più paura che attrazione, ma per la sua facoltà di catapultare l’attenzione su di lui, e basta. Dotato di magia nera, anzi, cresciuto con la smania della magia nera, Cisco è proprio un incantatore di anime, e non perché ammalia la tua mente, al contrario, perché rivolgendosi apertamente al lettore, in modo scarno e diretto, risveglia proprio il tuo spirito ed incatena il tuo sguardo al suo! Non ti lascia scelta: o lo segui o lo segui!
Ed è così che il lettore si ritrova senza sapere come quando e perché in un cassonetto o in un cimitero o nell’alcova di un’altra negromante come lui, a vivere le scene più assurde e temerarie, senza potersi ribellare minimamente agli eventi che prendono il sopravvento, ma affidandosi completamente alla Magia.

«La magia è spirituale.
Non religiosa.
Non degli illuminati. Ma degli spiriti.
Gli spiriti sono energia.
La magia è un complesso intreccio di materie e opinioni.
Qualcosa di completamente diverso a seconda della persona cui lo si domanda.»

Lo dico, non è molto il mio genere, nel senso che mi ha procurato uno stato di ansia continuo e viscerale, per cui ogni tanto dovevo fermarmi e leggere altro per riprendermi da alcune scene, ma davvero credo che dovrò, necessariamente, leggere gli altri libri!
Niente da rimproverare o recriminare alla narrazione che, per tutto il libro, mantiene un ritmo serrato, da rischio infarto perenne, è un susseguirsi di eventi sanguinosi, truci, a volte anche macabri, a cui si alternano anche molti momenti intimi, di Cisco che parla con Cisco e cerca di dare le risposte ai mille dubbi che si affollano nella sua, povera, mente.

Cisco è in grado di far emergere molti stati d’animo diversi, ho condiviso il suo sgomento quando si è reso conto di cosa gli fosse davvero successo al di fuori di quel cassonetto dove si risveglia, e la sua inquietudine quando, in pochissimi giorni, è riuscito a rimettere insieme tutti i tasselli della sua vita e a ricostruire il suo passato, ho sofferto con lui per tutti i suoi momenti, e sono stati davvero molti, in cui si è sentito solo ed abbandonato, in cui sapeva di essere solo e di non poter cambiare la sua situazione.

La scrittura è davvero interessante, molto maschile, se così posso definirla, dura e violenta e vera e realista, senza fronzoli o giri di parola.
La narrazione ha la voce di Cisco, sono i suoi i pensieri che riempiono le pagine, è lui il protagonista indiscusso dell’intero libro, ma questo non toglie niente agli altri personaggi che, seppur minori, riescono comunque a trovare un loro perché ed una loro dimensione.

Iniziando il libro non avevo capito che molte domande non avrebbero trovato risposta e che molte cose, anche personali non avrebbero visto la luce.... beh, un motivo in più per leggere gli altri libri della serie che, in inglese, sono arrivati a quota 6!!

[Sadie Forsythe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining overall, but there was a slow start with far too many info drops and the plot was a tad on the thin side. There were also a couple inconsistencies, like someone walking to work and saying they'd get a ride home and then Cisco showing up at work to borrow her car, which is there. However, I liked Cisco and was invested in what happened to him. I'd be willing to read the next in the series.

[Cronache di Betelgeuse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recensione pubblicata su Cronache di Betelgeuse

Se adorate i protagonisti divertenti e le storie con il giusto pizzico di mistero allora la prima avventura di Cisco Suarez è l’ideale come prossima lettura.

Abbiamo infatti un protagonista che sembra un ero macho, con stivali di coccodrillo rossi e canottiera bianca per incorniciare i suoi muscoli. Ha l’aria da cattivo ragazzo, con le sue conoscenze di negromanzia, ma non lasciatevi ingannare dalle apparenze, perché ha un cuore d’oro. Il suo passato è avvolto nel mistero perché lui non ricorda quasi nulla degli ultimi anni. Si ritrova però a combattere contro nemici che lo vorrebbero morto, che lo hanno già ucciso una volta o che vogliono da lui qualcosa che neanche Cisco sa di possedere.

Nei suoi scontri il protagonista deve affrontare creature diverse, legate alla magia Voodoo oppure a tradizioni ancora più antiche. I suoi metodi sono piuttosto sbrigativi: o riesce a trovare un modo per sopraffare in fretta il suo opponente oppure è meglio darsela a gambe. Trae grande forza dall’ombra e dalle tenebre, ma purtroppo non tutti gli scontri si svolgono di notte, obbligando Cisco a essere più creativo nei suoi attacchi.

Al suo fianco troviamo personaggi del suo passato, che cercano di aiutarlo come possono oppure rappresentano degli ostacoli da superare. Cisco è veramente un solitario, che deve riuscire a cavarsela da solo per non mettere in pericolo altre persone. Solo quando ha estremo bisogno di aiuto decide di rivolgersi a qualcuno a lui caro. Le arti magiche che lui pratica sono molto complicate e solo poche persone conoscono realmente la portate della negromanzia. Cisco cerca di proteggere le persone che lo circondano senza rivelare mai troppo su ciò che compie, ma quando la polizia inizia a darti la caccia è veramente difficile rimanere nascosto a lungo.

I dialoghi e le riflessioni del protagonista sono la parte migliore del libro. Scanzonato e ironico, riesce sempre a trovare una spinta per andare avanti. Vuole vendetta per quello che gli è stato fatto e non si arrenderà fino a quando non sarà sicuro di averla ottenuta.

[Tarl · Rating 1 out of 5]

I made it exactly 15% into this book before I decided to close it forever. I actually got this for free, an enticement to read the rest of the series. But unfortunately where other urban fantasies tend to create an interesting protagonist who is relatable to on some level, Finn did nothing of the sort here. To even get 15% into this book was a slog, and not one I enjoyed. I thought that maybe the action scenes would help drive the story, but they don't.

There was some potential in this novel, and maybe I am missing it by not continuing to read it, and maybe one day I will pick it up again. But sadly, for now, I am done with this book. I hoped it would have been good, but instead I got a slog that I honestly left sitting in my 'currently reading' pile for two years before finally nailing this necromatic coffin shut.

If you are looking for an urban fantasy that does it different, look elsewhere. This probably isn't the book for you.

[K.M. Carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

After devouring the entire Dresden series by Jim Butcher, I've been dabbling with other series here and there, trying to find other urban fantasy that serves up non-stop action, plausible mystery, solid world building, and a hero with a (somewhat) moral core.

Imagine my surprise to find it in a black magic outlaw.

Our hero wakes up dead--or alive, we're not sure--in a dumpster, and his day goes downhill from there. Miami is painted in vivid prose, from the slang to the pink sidewalks. There are Cuban gangs, zombies, thralls, giant spiders, and a seriously badass African vampire. (Hint: they don't sparkle.)

The mystery unfolds with more twists than a Norse runic tattoo, and kept me reading straight through with few breaks. At the end, I put it down with a satisfied sigh. This is what I've wanted since I finished Skin Game. Spiffy urban fantasy. I eagerly await further books!

[Ami · Rating 3 out of 5]

I took a chance with this new-to-me author because I always crave for urban fantasy with male protagonist. While it took me quite a whole to finish it but I guess I liked it enough. I wasn't completely invested with the voodoo ritual part of the book -- I mean, I enjoy urban fantasy stories with magic, but voodoo (with their rituals and their gods) is something different altogether. Which was why I was keep being distracted with romance books instead.

However, I liked Cisco's 'voice'. I also found his backstory and what happened to him with the losing memories to be quite appealing. To think that he killed his own family because he was turned into a killing machine zombie!!!. Think of the atonement he could make *lol*. So yeah, I thought this could be a potential for good urban fantasy series.

So I probably check the second book.

[D-Ray · Rating 1 out of 5]

I stuck with this one till the end against my better judgement, but it never really improved.

Pros: Domino Finn writes action really well. I liked the detailed combat portions which were the highlight to the novel. Also the world and the world building had some fascinating lore which is what drew me to the book in the first place. I liked how he ended the book "Finn."

Cons: The lead character who narrates is pretty unlikable. Far too often the book attempts humour and never succeds. Not once. In fact some of the side dialogue and exchanges are so cringe-worthy they distract from the story. The main female character is handled so poorly that she reads like something out of a Michael Bay movie.

Look I know this wasn't trying to reinvent the wheel, but I was looking for something fun, dumb, and entertaining -- something similar to Larry Correia's Monster Hunter books, but this just didn't do for me. It was just plain old dumb. I found it really obnoxious and I won't be revisiting the Black Magic Outlaw series any time soon.

[Britney (AudioShelf) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook and while I loved the narrator, Neil Hellegers, I just couldn't really get into the story. At certain points it would hook me, but then most of the time the plot dragged. I do give props for the big twist, which totally took me by surprise. However, a lot of the little twists in the story were predictable and then never really addressed later on. One in particular really annoyed me because the secret was revealed and then NEVER spoken of again. I wish that there was a focus on the actual development of the story and the characters instead of just packing in as much angst, fighting, and undead as possible. Thank goodness for the narrator, because I do not think I would have been able to finish this book without him.

[Aleksandar Sogno tra i libri Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recensione completa qui: Sogno tra i libri

https://sognotrailibri.blogspot.com/2...

Fra scontri e combattimenti, con l'uso della magia nera, Cisco scoprirà cose che mi hanno scioccato. L'autore è stato in grado di guidare il lettore nella lettura senza che questi possa immaginare i colpi di scena che lo aspettano dietro l'angolo.  Un romanzo ricco di suspense, magia, combattimenti, e tanti pezzi di cuore (e sicuramente molti cadaveri) lasciati in giro.

[J. Sharp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great start to the series!

Dead Man is a superb book with an excellent main character. Cisco Suarez is exactly what I needed in a great hero, haunted by his past, and strong enough to go out to figure out the mystery surrounding his life. I will not give any storyline in this review, but will say if you like snarky characters and black magic, plus surprises galore in your urban fantasy, Finn is your man, and Dead Man is your book.

[Melindeeloo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Resurrected Necromancer

[Floriana Amoruso]

Abbandonato, non fa per me!!!!

[Jerry · Rating 2 out of 5]

One and done with this series (this was a mediocre slog).

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Warning: some spoilers ahead.

The Urban Fantasy market is saturated with copycats. There I said it, so you don't have to feel bad about thinking it. ;)

In all fairness though, I kind of understand the reasoning. The Dresden Files kind of set the bar for Urban Fantasy since its initial publication. An entire generation of geeks grown up on the titular geek wizard and his adventures. It stands to reason that so many writers are going to think imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. It's also become the reason why when I dig into UF, I try to look for books that BUCK that trend, even in small ways. I don't ask for much. Just some actual fucking creativity and originality.

Well now I can add the Black Magic Outlaw books to that list and say "YEAH! LIKE FUCKING THAT!"

The setup is simple. Cisco Suarez has woken up in a dumpster after being missing for over a decade. In his past life, he was a necromancer/shadow mage who pissed about with things he didn't really understand. But now people are trying to kill him and he doesn't understand why. So he's going to find out.

So I'll start with the writing first. Overall it's decent. The action is crisp and quick, with the fight choreography feeling like something you can actually imagine instead of a string of combat words you have to take a course in Sun Tzu's The Art of War to understand. There's adequate downtime between fights and coflicts to allow the characters time to grow and be fleshed out. I will say however that there are moments of the time-dishonoured tradition of info-dumps that Independent authors seem to love/are unable to stop fucking doing. Seriously, if you're going to explain the mechanics of how magic works in your world, incorporate it into the narrative, don't stop the fucking plot for five pages so you can pull out a whiteboard and pen!

On the characters, we have Cisco and on the surface, he shares some of the qualities you would associate with Harry Dresden. He was a nerd who played D&D, video games and can rattle off nerd references with the best of them. But there's a lot more originality to Cisco to many of the other Dresden imitators. Cisco is Cuban, something of which you don't see in this genre too much. In addition, the magic he uses comes from Taino mythology and the exploration of the Shadow Dog as a Magical Patron was interesting to read about. Also, Cisco is not some overpowered wish fulfilment fantasy, but rather his own independent character. He's an amnesiac with no idea of what has happened to the world he knew. He's on the backfoot against enemies he doesn't understand. So while his array of magic feels a little overpowered, Finn remembers to make his opponents still challenging and dangerous.

Then there's the matter of

Spoilers in....

3....


2...


1..

Are they gone? What?! They're still here?! FUCK OFF ALREADY!!!

Cisco's kid. The kid he never knew he had with his Australian ex (An Australian in an American UF story WTF?!). Now to some readers, this felt silly and melodramatic and I totally get that response. Personally though, I liked it. This is a genre that is saturated with laidback protagonists with no cares in the world. So to have UF protagonist actually be a father that has to take responsibility for his daughter is something I can get behind. It's DIFFERENT.

As for the rest of the cast, they're a mixed bag. Cisco's best mate is a little too happy to welcome him back after a decade's absence but it's a nice surprise to see a cop in a UF series that isn't a complete douchenozzle for no apparent reason. His ex - the aforementioned Aussie - is gorgeous and radiant, but also a little paranoid and reserved around Cisco. She also isn't immediately looking to bump uglies with him upon seeing him again because, you know, she's a wife and mother. The villains of the story are a little stereotyped. I don't remember the main villain all that well - I read the book over a year ago - but I do remember the Bokor being a little too on the nose in terms of Voodoo stereotypes. Would've been nice to see one that wasn't so typical of the genre.]

But overall I do recommend Dead Man. It's a solid opener to the Black Magic Outlaw series and while the book does suffer from some info-dumping and some flat characters, it's a decent read.

Now what's next on my list.....Mercy Thompson and Kate Daniels......

(Imagines the hordes of frothing fan-ladies ready to tear me a new arsehole if I don't like it.....)

Oh fu.....................

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good urban fantasy with an original take on the main character. The title says it all.

If I have a quibble it's that the action scenes didn't seem to let up and sometimes they just seemed to be there because, ya know, action. I guess I'm saying that maybe some of them didn't serve the story so much as just provide an excuse to have some violence. But looking back on it, I can't put my finger on one that did this particularly. I just had a continuing sense of it as I read the book.

All in all, it was a lot of fun and I'll probably move on to book 2 to see where it goes.

[Phillip III · Rating 5 out of 5]

I discovered Domino Finn when he released the first book in the Sycamore Moon series. I thought the three books in the trilogy were some of the best supernatural thrillers I'd read in a long time. Recently, Finn sent me the first two books in the Black Magic Outlaw series. Although I was in the middle of reading two other books, I set them aside, and delved into DEAD MAN.

I am thankful I did. (If you want the book synopsis, read it on Goodreads/Amazon). Basically, Cisco Suarez has been dead for ten years, that is until one day he wakes up at the bottom of a Dumpster in Miami. He has no recollection of where he's been, or what he has been up to. As soon as he climbs out of the Dumpster one thing is clear. Someone still wants him dead.

The dark fantasy revolves around two cases. Cisco wants to know who killed him, and why, and who killed his family. As a back-from-the-dead man, he has nothing to lose. Calling on his practiced magic, he will use all of his power to unravel the mysteries.

Finn's writing is outstanding. The character development is some of the best I've read in a while. I hate comparing books to books by other authors. However, if you are a fan of Jim Butcher's Dresden novels, and/or Steven Kozeniewski's BRAINEATER JONES, then you have some idea of what you are in for with DEAD MAN. Lots of magic, but from an array of sources. I feel like I learned a thing or two about the different practices.

The dialogue is spot on, and the action is non-stop. During the times of day when I couldn't be reading, I spent time thinking about Cisco and his predicament. The tension just kept building, and building, and the twist at the end . . . well, it left me speechless, a bit breathless. I did not see it coming.

Cisco's learned that the world moves on after one dies. And as much as you might hope things stay the same, they don't. The realization is painfully obvious. The magical outlaw is on his own, and I am anxious to see where Finn takes me next . . . thankfully, SHADOW PLAY (Book 2), is right here next to me. I am ready to read more!

Phillip Tomasso,
Author of Severed Empire: Wizard's Rise

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an urban fantasy. No sex, plenty of death, blood and gore. Voodoo ritual, gang violence and black magic. There is a satisfying ending, but it took a lot of blood and tears to get there. Seriously.

Cisco is a typical 24 year old kid/man. He thinks he knows everything. Playing with black magic is a game . . . until it isn’t. Someone or someones are trying to kill him. He is at times arrogant, self pitying and cold blooded. He’s an assassin albeit involuntarily.

This story has more twists and turns to it than the back roads of the Missouri Ozarks. I could never tell if Cisco’s friends were really his friends or if they were an enemy in disguise. The same with his enemies. You know the saying: enemy of my enemy is my friend . . . for now.

I listened to the audio and read the book. I liked both, but I did enjoy reading better than listening. The narrator was fine, but he didn’t differentiate much between characters. It won’t stop me from trying another audio of his, though.

Will I listen or read to book #2? Hell, yes. I enjoyed Mr. Finn’s writing and the characters were very colorful and animated (heehee . . . see what I did there? No? Read the book. You’ll get it.). I am not all that keen on Cisco’s attitude, but since this is the first book, there always needs to be room for growth. I have faith that Cisco will grow up and take more responsibility for his actions. I believe that is going to be true because of the last few words in the book: “With a checkered past and a decade of bad deeds, I had a lot to atone for.” I am looking forward to #2. Bring it on.

[Dustin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice action, decent dialogue, likable protagonist, but a little weak on the plot.

There were a few points of eye-rolling drama "...she's your daughter!" Really? but I think my biggest issue with the story (and admittedly the most nit-picky thing ever) is the author only seems to introduce the few rules of an otherwise vaguely defined magic system to comment on how someone or other has broken them.

Not a bad read but I'm most likely going to pass on the rest of the series.

[Milan · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a decent start of a series. The beginning had issues but beginnings are usually the hardest. This book did a good job introducing the main character and the world and it set up the major plotline I'm sure will carry on through the series.
Lile I mentioned before I had some issues with the book but it drew me in eventually and I'll definitely read the next installment of the series which will hopefully be better.

[DoodleBug · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF'd after Chapter 5.

I just couldn't read anymore. Overexplaining, the main character referring to himself in the third person (really???), the contradictions and confusing back and forth. Whiplash! Poorly written and crafted. I tried, though. This is the second or third time I've picked this one up and put it down again. I really want to like it. The story world is really cool, but ugh. I just can't make it past the writing.

[J.G. Gatewood · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very fast read, and an interesting concept. I thought the main character, Cisco, was very well developed. I thought a few things were a little rushed, but I liked the overall outcome of the story. I will pickup the next book in the series very soon.

[Johnny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well done!

A necromancer that is about more than just amassing power. Character build that really seems to bring even side characters to life.
I didn't find any errors either. Only complaint is, I wish it was longer.
I recommend this book.