Rainbow Brigade

Sarah Beauhall #5

by J.A. Pitts

When a rash of suicides strikes Bellingham, Washington, Sarah Beauhall finds herself embroiled in a conspiracy that involves long-dead gods, love-scorned ancients, dragons, witch feuds, and the rediscovery of a mysterious abandoned world.

Can Sarah put together the puzzle pieces before her world comes crashing down around her?

Genres: Fantasy

406 pages, Paperback

First published June 10, 2020

About the author

(from author's website) I learned to love science fiction at the knee of my grandmother, listening to her read authors like Edgar Rice Burroughs and Robert E. Howard during my childhood in rural Kentucky. My life has always been heavily influenced by strong women. My mother first among them: raising three boys after the death of my father, with grace and wit. There were always women coming and going in our house, friends, family, folks who needed a hand, and folks who had one to lend. All of my life has been steeped in the stories of average people doing extraordinary things — and most of them were women. That is why I was drawn to the character Sarah in my new novel. She embodies all the strength of the women who have influenced me over the years.

I can’t remember a time I wasn’t absorbing and creating story. I read early, and became a regular at my local library. There for a while, I thought the coolest thing in the world would be to grow up and be a librarian. I even got the degree. Once I hit the workforce, I discovered how poorly most librarians are paid, and I ended up in high tech instead.

But I live my life surrounded by books and story. Selling my own tales still comes as a surprise to me. The characters and worlds I build have been given loving care by some pretty spectacular editors. I’ve been very lucky. I continue to launch my words into the world, for all to read if they have the mind. I just hope you are entertained in the process. The opportunities for you to read my work has just gotten even better.

Tor Publishing has agreed to purchase the first three books in my Black Blade series. The first — BLACK BLADE BLUES — comes out in trade paperback and hardback April 27th, 2010.

Of course, if you want a sneak peak on the novel, you can read the short story which launched it all in the DAW anthology Swordplay, edited by Denise Little. It was released June 2, 2009.

My other short fiction can be found in such fine magazines as Fortean Bureau, Talebones magazine (issue 36 and forthcoming in issue 39) as well as two additional DAW anthologies Zombie Raccoons and Killer Bunnies (Oct 2009), and The Trouble with Heroes (Nov 2009).

I have a BA in English and a Masters of Library Science from University of Kentucky. In addition, I am a graduate of the Oregon Coast Writers Workshops with Kristine Kathryn Rusch and Dean Wesley Smith. When I’m not writing, you can find me practicing martial arts with my children or spending time with my lovely wife.

I am a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.

Reviews

[Tian Gao · Rating 4 out of 5]

So the author died before this book came out, the series was never too popular judging from how few copies were in stores and the fact that they switched publishers for the last two books but I liked this series and I was hoping that the author had planned for a five book series, alas that was not the case. There are some pretty big questions left unanswered still, Katie's parents and the diary being the biggest for me. It's a shame that they won't be answered now. The author apparently had planned for a ten book series, and knowing that there was a plan somehow made me feel better, even though no one will see those plans come to fruition. The book ended on a somewhat calm moment, when Sarah and Katie have found a moment's respite from all the craziness in their lives, it's not a resolution to the plot and conflict but it's something of a happy ending, and I can live with that.

[Warren Rochelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rest in Peace, J.A. Pitts.
You died too soon, with stories left to be told. You will be missed.
This is Book 5, in the Sarah Beauhall series. "...[A] rash of suicides strikes Bellingham Washington, [and] Sarah Beauhall finds herself embroiled in a conspiracy that involves long-dead gods, love-scorned ancients, dragons, witch feuds and the rediscovery of a mysterious abandoned worlds. Can Sarah put together the puzzle pieces before her world comes crashing down around her? (back cover)

Good questions. They are answered quite satisfactorily, but some were left open, for the next book. Sigh.

Dark urban fantasy fans, Sarah fans, take note. Recommended.

[Daniel Garff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been struggling with how I would write this review since I bought this book a year and a half ago. I thoroughly enjoy the Sarah Beauhall books by J.A. Pitts, and was sad to hear about the authors passing in late 2019. His books are very entertaining and Sarah is one of my most favorite protagonists in any medium. I mean how often do you read about dragon slaying, lesbian, blacksmith berzerkers who are chosen by Odin and struggling with a mountain of Catholic guilt?

I was pleasantly surprised when this book came out because I honestly didn't think we would get an ending to this series, and that the fate of Sarah and her friends and loved ones would be left to our imaginations forever. Now I do need to point out that this is clearly not the final draft of the story. Some chapters read like they are final drafts, some are obviously still rough drafts, and the majority are somewhere in between. It's also pretty obvious that this was not the intended ending point for the series, there are a lot of unanswered questions and many plotlines that are left unfinished. There was clearly at least one more book planned, but the author passed away before he could commit any of it to paper. However, disjointed as it feels, it IS an ending, and it is an ending I didn't believe we would ever get to read. It's enough, more than I thought we would get, and I can let my imagination take it from here.

[Natalie Corbett · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this book has a transgender side character. Our protagonist Sarah doesn't quite know how to be around a trans person and when the topic comes to the forefront about a third of the way through I had to start skipping whole paragraphs. It was incredibly tough to read as I've lived these experiences as a transgender woman.
I don't think the author is transphobic, just maybe not super in the know on how to talk about us because when Sarah's friends are explaining the difference between drag and trans they say "cisgendered" and "transgendered" when it's not an adverb just cisgender and transgender. I know it may seem like a minor quibble but when I hear people say transgendered in real life it's usually by people working to invalidate my existence.
I kind of sense that part of Sarah's character growth in this book will be in some part her understanding of the transgender community and people but I don't know if I have it in me to find out.