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Ultrahumans #8
Royal Flush
Trouble brews on the west coast as Mink’s real identity is revealed and the villains crawl out of the woodwork to get her. But is this the opportunity she, Cygnus, and Twilight need to finally take care of California’s criminal royalty?
203 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 25, 2019
31 people are currently reading
7 people want to read
About the author
Niall Teasdale
73 books293 followersI was born in the vicinity of Hadrian's Wall so perhaps a bit of history rubbed off. Ancient history obviously, and border history, right on the edge of the Empire. I always preferred the Dark Ages anyway; there’s so much more room for imagination when people aren’t writing down every last detail. So my idea of a good fantasy novel involved dirt and leather, not shining plate armour and Hollywood-medieval manners. The same applies to my sci-fi, really; I prefer gritty over shiny.
Oddly, then, one of the first fantasy novels I remember reading was The Dark Is Rising, by Susan Cooper (later made into a terrible juvenile movie). These days we would call Cooper’s series Young Adult Contemporary Fantasy and looking back on it, it influenced me a lot. It has that mix of modern day life, hidden history, and magic which failed to hit popular culture until the early days of Buffy and Anne Rice. Of course, Cooper’s characters spend their time around places I could actually visit in Cornwall, and South East England, and mid-Wales. In fact, when I went to university in Aberystwyth, it was partially because some of Cooper’s books were set a few miles to the north around Tywyn.
I got into writing through roleplaying, however, so my early work was related to the kind of roleplaying game I was interested in. I wrote “high fantasy” when I was playing Dungeons & Dragons. I wrote a lot of superhero fiction when I was playing City of Heroes. I still loved the idea of a modern world with magic in it and I’ve been trying to write a novel based on this for a long time. As with any form of expression, practice is the key and I can look back on all the aborted attempts at books, and the more successful short stories, as steps along the path to the Thaumatology Series.
As of 2015, I have thrown in my lot with writing. After thirty years of being a computer programmer I am making enough money to quit the day job and write full time. Dreams, occasionally, come true. My favourite authors are Terry Pratchett, Susan Cooper, and (recently) Kim Harrison. Kim’s Hollows books were what finally spurred me to publish something, even if the trail to here came by way of Susan, back in school, several decades ago.
Oddly, then, one of the first fantasy novels I remember reading was The Dark Is Rising, by Susan Cooper (later made into a terrible juvenile movie). These days we would call Cooper’s series Young Adult Contemporary Fantasy and looking back on it, it influenced me a lot. It has that mix of modern day life, hidden history, and magic which failed to hit popular culture until the early days of Buffy and Anne Rice. Of course, Cooper’s characters spend their time around places I could actually visit in Cornwall, and South East England, and mid-Wales. In fact, when I went to university in Aberystwyth, it was partially because some of Cooper’s books were set a few miles to the north around Tywyn.
I got into writing through roleplaying, however, so my early work was related to the kind of roleplaying game I was interested in. I wrote “high fantasy” when I was playing Dungeons & Dragons. I wrote a lot of superhero fiction when I was playing City of Heroes. I still loved the idea of a modern world with magic in it and I’ve been trying to write a novel based on this for a long time. As with any form of expression, practice is the key and I can look back on all the aborted attempts at books, and the more successful short stories, as steps along the path to the Thaumatology Series.
As of 2015, I have thrown in my lot with writing. After thirty years of being a computer programmer I am making enough money to quit the day job and write full time. Dreams, occasionally, come true. My favourite authors are Terry Pratchett, Susan Cooper, and (recently) Kim Harrison. Kim’s Hollows books were what finally spurred me to publish something, even if the trail to here came by way of Susan, back in school, several decades ago.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 3, 2019
Another outing for Cygnus, Twilight, Astraea & co. I've enjoyed this series a lot, but sadly, it’s starting to go downhill in a way that's all too familiar for Mr. Teasdale's books: the characters have become so powerful that there's nothing left that can seriously challenge them. It happened to the Thaumatology series and to the Aneka Jansen series, and now it's happening here too. After a multi-book buildup, the villains go down almost ridiculously easily.
There's still a lot of fun here, and some appealing new characters, but the main action of the book is just a little bit boring because the characters never have to break a sweat to win. I come away thinking that the best thing Mr Teasdale could do is to seriously depower his heroines.
There's still a lot of fun here, and some appealing new characters, but the main action of the book is just a little bit boring because the characters never have to break a sweat to win. I come away thinking that the best thing Mr Teasdale could do is to seriously depower his heroines.
September 2, 2019
Not really a novel
The whole series has become more episodic in nature. A touch MarySue, as the MCs have gotten pretty powerful over previous books, but it is handled well as their powers mainly stay ‘in their lane’ and it does cause some disquiet among their supporters.
The sex action was pretty subdued and largely off-screen
Seeds of future novels are evident, but not cliffhanger-y. There was one minor character who had a scene that did not truly fit the novel.
I will continue following the series.
The whole series has become more episodic in nature. A touch MarySue, as the MCs have gotten pretty powerful over previous books, but it is handled well as their powers mainly stay ‘in their lane’ and it does cause some disquiet among their supporters.
The sex action was pretty subdued and largely off-screen
Seeds of future novels are evident, but not cliffhanger-y. There was one minor character who had a scene that did not truly fit the novel.
I will continue following the series.
August 28, 2019
Another good sequel
That was a good, I hope to see more of that series in the future. The author has been dealing with loose ends from the alien invasion from two years ago. I ask myself what is gonna be the next challenge.
That was a good, I hope to see more of that series in the future. The author has been dealing with loose ends from the alien invasion from two years ago. I ask myself what is gonna be the next challenge.
September 6, 2019
Oh yeah!
Another of Teadale's amazing Ultra-human books. Believe me, this is a series that I definitely recommend for everyone to read.
Another of Teadale's amazing Ultra-human books. Believe me, this is a series that I definitely recommend for everyone to read.
October 11, 2019
Another enjoyable read from Niall Teasdale.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews