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The Arcane Irregulars #1
Curse of the Phoenix
When a trail of magical murders follow a stolen statue, Lieutenant Danny Pak and FBI Agent Buddy Redhorn have to get it back, before its dire curse falls on the city.
New York Police Lieutenant Danny Pak has a problem. When one of his officers calls him out to an unusual crime scene, Danny realizes that it’s terrifyingly similar to something the department thought was dead and buried. Now he has to find a madman before the story hits the papers and the city explodes into chaos.
Across town, Agent William “Buddy” Redhorn of the FBI has two problems. He’s been assigned a potentially career-ending case with magical ties, and his sorceress boss is out of town. The case involves a stolen statue that belongs to the government of Brunei, but the more he chases the thieves, the more bodies begin to drop. Bodies affected by a strange, unknown magic.
Resolving to work together, Danny and Redhorn have to catch a cold-blooded killer, recover a stolen artifact, all while keeping everything out of the press. If they don’t, it will be more than their careers that will die when the curse of the Jade Phoenix descends on New York.
Important Note: Curse of the Phoenix takes place in the Arcane Casebook universe. If you haven't read any of those, you might want to start there.
New York Police Lieutenant Danny Pak has a problem. When one of his officers calls him out to an unusual crime scene, Danny realizes that it’s terrifyingly similar to something the department thought was dead and buried. Now he has to find a madman before the story hits the papers and the city explodes into chaos.
Across town, Agent William “Buddy” Redhorn of the FBI has two problems. He’s been assigned a potentially career-ending case with magical ties, and his sorceress boss is out of town. The case involves a stolen statue that belongs to the government of Brunei, but the more he chases the thieves, the more bodies begin to drop. Bodies affected by a strange, unknown magic.
Resolving to work together, Danny and Redhorn have to catch a cold-blooded killer, recover a stolen artifact, all while keeping everything out of the press. If they don’t, it will be more than their careers that will die when the curse of the Jade Phoenix descends on New York.
Important Note: Curse of the Phoenix takes place in the Arcane Casebook universe. If you haven't read any of those, you might want to start there.
280 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 26, 2021
197 people are currently reading
175 people want to read
About the author
Dan Willis
61 books315 followersDan is an award-winning, best-selling author who has been writing for most of his life. He wrote for the long running DragonLance series and has worked in the board game and video game industries as well. His current work is the Arcane Casebook series, a fantasy twist on the 1930’s noir detective story.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
November 4, 2021
Great addition to the Arcane Case files
I'll admit I love Alex and the Arcane Case files. Danny is a longtime character, but I honestly wasn't that excited about him having his own story, I didn't think it would be that interesting. Boy am I glad I was wrong! Agent Redhorn and agent Mendes also played a large part in this story as well, and we got to know the sorcerer John Rockefeller. Even more interesting than your typical second line character side story was the number of ways it will impact the Arcane Case File series. I'm very excited about as this really opens up the world Alex and Danny live in and set the stage for some very interesting books to come.
I'll admit I love Alex and the Arcane Case files. Danny is a longtime character, but I honestly wasn't that excited about him having his own story, I didn't think it would be that interesting. Boy am I glad I was wrong! Agent Redhorn and agent Mendes also played a large part in this story as well, and we got to know the sorcerer John Rockefeller. Even more interesting than your typical second line character side story was the number of ways it will impact the Arcane Case File series. I'm very excited about as this really opens up the world Alex and Danny live in and set the stage for some very interesting books to come.
April 26, 2023
In this first book featuring the supporting cast of Willis's Arcane Casebook series there are some odd crimes taking place, seemingly involving magic.
At the same time the FBI is investigating the theft of a sculpture called the Jade Phoenix.
An excellent tale set in the 1930's with sleuthing, magic, adventure and death
At the same time the FBI is investigating the theft of a sculpture called the Jade Phoenix.
An excellent tale set in the 1930's with sleuthing, magic, adventure and death
October 7, 2021
I wouldn’t say I was skeptical when I started reading this first spin-off of the main Alex Lockerby tales, with his team of Arcane Irregulars having to work the streets of a magical pre-WWII New York all by themselves, but I was a little concerned that it wouldn’t pack the same punches, wouldn’t be as powerful or maybe as interesting as the previous stories.
I needn’t have worried.
I should have known that Dan Willis would never let his loyal readership down in that, or any other, way.
The Irregulars and the support crew around each of them came to life seemingly effortlessly, fleshed out and whole and more than capable of handling the many challenges that flew their way. Did I miss Alex and Sorsha and the rest of the so-called A Team? Sure. But there were enough familiar faces and new surprises to keep me turning pages while at the same time hoping it would never end.
There’s supposed to be a new “main” Lockerby novel coming soon, and I can’t wait for it. After that, when the next Irregulars appears, skeptical is the last thing I’ll be.
I needn’t have worried.
I should have known that Dan Willis would never let his loyal readership down in that, or any other, way.
The Irregulars and the support crew around each of them came to life seemingly effortlessly, fleshed out and whole and more than capable of handling the many challenges that flew their way. Did I miss Alex and Sorsha and the rest of the so-called A Team? Sure. But there were enough familiar faces and new surprises to keep me turning pages while at the same time hoping it would never end.
There’s supposed to be a new “main” Lockerby novel coming soon, and I can’t wait for it. After that, when the next Irregulars appears, skeptical is the last thing I’ll be.
October 19, 2021
Neat spin off
The arcane casebooks world is fully fleshed out. Talking a new approach with some secondary characters is an interesting path. I liked this story and will definitely continue reading the adventures.
The arcane casebooks world is fully fleshed out. Talking a new approach with some secondary characters is an interesting path. I liked this story and will definitely continue reading the adventures.
October 6, 2021
Incredible series.
As soon as I started reading this series I was hooked. The author pulls you into the world he's created like not many can. Incredibly excited for what comes next!
As soon as I started reading this series I was hooked. The author pulls you into the world he's created like not many can. Incredibly excited for what comes next!
August 21, 2023
4.5 stars
A great compliment to the Arcane Casebook series, but maybe not a book to grab if you really have no clue who Alex Lockerby is and why his absence in this book is a thing.
(In other words: Start with the Arcane Casebook books.)
As a big fan of both Dan Willis' Alex Lockerby and the narrator, Alex Nox, I was completely onboard with this story and found it very entertaining.
It is fast-paced, fun, creatively tricksy, and really likeable.
The only reason why it's not a perfect 5 stars?
Well ... No matter how much I like Danny and Buddy, they are not main character material in the same manner as Alex Lockerby - and I missed Lockerby (and Sorsha!) through out the entire book.
This is of course a good thing, too. It says a lot about how much I enjoy the Arcane Casebook books.
I have no doubt I will enjoy the 2nd companion story as well - and future ones!
A great compliment to the Arcane Casebook series, but maybe not a book to grab if you really have no clue who Alex Lockerby is and why his absence in this book is a thing.
(In other words: Start with the Arcane Casebook books.)
As a big fan of both Dan Willis' Alex Lockerby and the narrator, Alex Nox, I was completely onboard with this story and found it very entertaining.
It is fast-paced, fun, creatively tricksy, and really likeable.
The only reason why it's not a perfect 5 stars?
Well ... No matter how much I like Danny and Buddy, they are not main character material in the same manner as Alex Lockerby - and I missed Lockerby (and Sorsha!) through out the entire book.
This is of course a good thing, too. It says a lot about how much I enjoy the Arcane Casebook books.
I have no doubt I will enjoy the 2nd companion story as well - and future ones!
November 16, 2021
This is definitely a great world, and I've loved the main series. I didn't like this spin-off quite as much as the main one, but it has potential. It's still worth a read.
June 28, 2023
Exciting Read
Another exciting book in the series. Couldn’t put it down once I started. Dan Willis’ books just keep getting better and better.
Another exciting book in the series. Couldn’t put it down once I started. Dan Willis’ books just keep getting better and better.
July 24, 2023
I quite like this writer, in the sense that he puts together a decent mystery, and he can tell a good yarn. I think his main characters are very similar, although I would bet he thinks they are quite different. The issue here is that you cannot stick a tag on a character and have them seem like someone else without any further effort. The main character in this book is functionally identical to the one in the Arcane Casebook series. Telling us he is Korean does not, in and of itself, suddenly make him a different character. I mean, his culture is not explored and he behaves in no way that is different to any other American, and that raises two features which are co-incident amongst American hacks: white racism and a startling degree of ignorance about their own history.
Mr Willis would be best advised to look into the history of the 1930s where he might find that the view of Communism that he holds did not arise until twenty years later as a consequence of the aggression with China and especially Russia rose subsequent to World War II. If it were not for maniacs like J. Edgar Hoover and corrupt policies like McCarthyism, a more reasoned approach might have arisen out of US economic and international policy, but leave it to America to pervert "government by the people, for the people" into "tyranny by the aggressive and uneducated".
If Mr Willis is going to raise the spectres of Hoovervilles, then he needs to find some way to explain why the people in his "version" of recent American history came to think of communism as the sink of moral turpitude that it came to be thought of as under the influence of corrupt elected officials and mandarins in office who, having become unassailable, then became petty despots.
The American worker in the 1930s did not think of communism as people carrying code books who immigrated by means of submarines. They might not have agreed with their views, although to be sure, many did. But, this was a time when the gap between the rich and the poor was getting wider and wider, and more importantly, that the wealthy had done very little to deserve it. Look no further than the pulps of the day to find examples of this - Simon and Shuster's Superman was a classic example, and they were just a pair of teen-aged boys.
If one is going to use an historical milieu to tell one's story, and if that story is going to diverge from what is known, then there needs to be a good reason for it. You cannot just insert the aversion of 1950s America into the background and leave it unexplained, because it is jarring and destroys one's suspension of disbelief.
I give this book a 2 out of 5 and feel that I am being over-generous.
Mr Willis would be best advised to look into the history of the 1930s where he might find that the view of Communism that he holds did not arise until twenty years later as a consequence of the aggression with China and especially Russia rose subsequent to World War II. If it were not for maniacs like J. Edgar Hoover and corrupt policies like McCarthyism, a more reasoned approach might have arisen out of US economic and international policy, but leave it to America to pervert "government by the people, for the people" into "tyranny by the aggressive and uneducated".
If Mr Willis is going to raise the spectres of Hoovervilles, then he needs to find some way to explain why the people in his "version" of recent American history came to think of communism as the sink of moral turpitude that it came to be thought of as under the influence of corrupt elected officials and mandarins in office who, having become unassailable, then became petty despots.
The American worker in the 1930s did not think of communism as people carrying code books who immigrated by means of submarines. They might not have agreed with their views, although to be sure, many did. But, this was a time when the gap between the rich and the poor was getting wider and wider, and more importantly, that the wealthy had done very little to deserve it. Look no further than the pulps of the day to find examples of this - Simon and Shuster's Superman was a classic example, and they were just a pair of teen-aged boys.
If one is going to use an historical milieu to tell one's story, and if that story is going to diverge from what is known, then there needs to be a good reason for it. You cannot just insert the aversion of 1950s America into the background and leave it unexplained, because it is jarring and destroys one's suspension of disbelief.
I give this book a 2 out of 5 and feel that I am being over-generous.
May 19, 2025
4.2!
The best kind of pulp novels, where the action is fast and furious, the stakes are high and the people are real (mostly).
Lieutenant Daniel Pak ( Danny), Agents Redhorn (Buddy) and Ayissa Mendes ( just Agent Mendes) are hot on the trail of two interconnected cases. While one theft of art turns into smoke and mirrors, the Macguffin of this turn of phrase is.... well.... basically lime or jade green magical crack cocaine.
Not quite cocaine but the Limelight that plagued our heroes previously in the series. A massive block has been found of concentrated magic enhancing super drug.
From the power to make yourself or others stone, to artists becoming their work ( literally) can our heroes stop the carnage without letting our friend Alex Lockerby know? Spoilers, yeah they can.
My concern is a familiar one- the author Loves his twists, turns and side explanations. So don't I, but occasionally the meme of the one critical file comes into play and the whole structure shifts and wavers. Again, great noir constructs with the fate of innocents hanging as well as climatic showdowns, shouted threats, and good versus an anti-hero.
The real world invades with muttered references to Communism and or Marxism. No further discussion is needed from these red blooded Americans, Communism! That and the following is why the book gets a 4.2.
Right at the very end, we have another twist undertaken, a sort of proto- Illuminati secrets -within-secrets society. I get its for a hook but like, we couldn't have one nicely bound up escapade?
Overall clearly I do love this series.
The best kind of pulp novels, where the action is fast and furious, the stakes are high and the people are real (mostly).
Lieutenant Daniel Pak ( Danny), Agents Redhorn (Buddy) and Ayissa Mendes ( just Agent Mendes) are hot on the trail of two interconnected cases. While one theft of art turns into smoke and mirrors, the Macguffin of this turn of phrase is.... well.... basically lime or jade green magical crack cocaine.
Not quite cocaine but the Limelight that plagued our heroes previously in the series. A massive block has been found of concentrated magic enhancing super drug.
From the power to make yourself or others stone, to artists becoming their work ( literally) can our heroes stop the carnage without letting our friend Alex Lockerby know? Spoilers, yeah they can.
My concern is a familiar one- the author Loves his twists, turns and side explanations. So don't I, but occasionally the meme of the one critical file comes into play and the whole structure shifts and wavers. Again, great noir constructs with the fate of innocents hanging as well as climatic showdowns, shouted threats, and good versus an anti-hero.
The real world invades with muttered references to Communism and or Marxism. No further discussion is needed from these red blooded Americans, Communism! That and the following is why the book gets a 4.2.
Right at the very end, we have another twist undertaken, a sort of proto- Illuminati secrets -within-secrets society. I get its for a hook but like, we couldn't have one nicely bound up escapade?
Overall clearly I do love this series.
June 18, 2023
Curse of the Pheonix
Ok, this might be a bit convoluted, but stick with me to get what I am saying.
I had a bit of a hard time reading this one, not because of any failings on Mr. Willis' part, the story is his usual well written story! My issues came from how much I recognized the characters from the Arcane Casebook series & I kept waiting for Alex & Sorsha to enter the story.
Ok, on to all the good in the story, or as much as I can tell without spoilers, lol. It was nice seeing the usual stable of supporting characters get fleshed out & you get introduced to a new Sorcerer that has been mentioned in The Arcane Casebook series. This story doesn't have Alex's flair, it is more police procedural (I hope I am using the right word there), but it still has magic in it.
I was very happy to learn more about Agent "Buddy" Redhorn, I like him a whole lot more now & I understand why he is the way he is a bit better.
Ok, as usual, this is the part where I tell you to throw your money at the screen & buy the next book, so hop to it! You won't be disappointed in the least & it will give you a deeper understanding of the people that Alex chooses to surround himself with & a glimpse of how they see Alex.
Ok, this might be a bit convoluted, but stick with me to get what I am saying.
I had a bit of a hard time reading this one, not because of any failings on Mr. Willis' part, the story is his usual well written story! My issues came from how much I recognized the characters from the Arcane Casebook series & I kept waiting for Alex & Sorsha to enter the story.
Ok, on to all the good in the story, or as much as I can tell without spoilers, lol. It was nice seeing the usual stable of supporting characters get fleshed out & you get introduced to a new Sorcerer that has been mentioned in The Arcane Casebook series. This story doesn't have Alex's flair, it is more police procedural (I hope I am using the right word there), but it still has magic in it.
I was very happy to learn more about Agent "Buddy" Redhorn, I like him a whole lot more now & I understand why he is the way he is a bit better.
Ok, as usual, this is the part where I tell you to throw your money at the screen & buy the next book, so hop to it! You won't be disappointed in the least & it will give you a deeper understanding of the people that Alex chooses to surround himself with & a glimpse of how they see Alex.
February 28, 2023
This was a fun read that doesn't really reflect in the star rating.
I enjoyed getting to know Danny better, and seeing how he thinks about the characters in the Willis main stories. This is completely staffed by, hmmm, not exactly secondary characters but it deliberately omits Alix and Sorsha from the story with convenient lampshades of being out of town.
The part that left me not as excited about the otherwise 4 star book was the characterization of Buddy, the FBI agent. He's kind of a dick in most of the previous books. This story gives insight into why he's a dick and it does serve to personalize him, but I'm stuck with a conflict of coming in not liking him a lot, verses his portrayal as a dedicated and complex albeit rigid public servant. Makes me feel conflicted so three stars for that. I reserve the right to upgrade to 4 later if I'm able to internalize the feelings better.
I enjoyed getting to know Danny better, and seeing how he thinks about the characters in the Willis main stories. This is completely staffed by, hmmm, not exactly secondary characters but it deliberately omits Alix and Sorsha from the story with convenient lampshades of being out of town.
The part that left me not as excited about the otherwise 4 star book was the characterization of Buddy, the FBI agent. He's kind of a dick in most of the previous books. This story gives insight into why he's a dick and it does serve to personalize him, but I'm stuck with a conflict of coming in not liking him a lot, verses his portrayal as a dedicated and complex albeit rigid public servant. Makes me feel conflicted so three stars for that. I reserve the right to upgrade to 4 later if I'm able to internalize the feelings better.
February 5, 2022
A great spinoff
When I finished reading my last Dan Willis book I was disappointed. Not in the book, it was great. I was disappointed because the next one in the series wasn’t out yet. I love his writing. The characters are all first rate and the world he has created draws you in more with each book. You can imagine how happy I was to find out that he created this spinoff series in that world, with many of the same characters. I must admit that I was a little worried and this new series might just be second rate copy of the first. But my fears were unfounded. This was an excellent book. It has the all the things that I love from the original series but with a feel all of its own.
When I finished reading my last Dan Willis book I was disappointed. Not in the book, it was great. I was disappointed because the next one in the series wasn’t out yet. I love his writing. The characters are all first rate and the world he has created draws you in more with each book. You can imagine how happy I was to find out that he created this spinoff series in that world, with many of the same characters. I must admit that I was a little worried and this new series might just be second rate copy of the first. But my fears were unfounded. This was an excellent book. It has the all the things that I love from the original series but with a feel all of its own.
June 4, 2023
Curse of the Phoenix
Oh, boy Dan, now you are crushing me with agony. After I read the next Irregulars book......I have to wait a whole year for the next one.....plus the Arcane books too? You are so lucky that you're my second favorite author. Your books are absolutely wonderful, I've actually put out on Facebook for people to read your books. I've never done that before. You manage to intrigue and get me to stay up till 3am. to finish a book. They are real page turning books. I realize that this isn't actually what you wanted as a review....but to great of a book....not to praise the author. Thank you for writing these wonderful books.
Oh, boy Dan, now you are crushing me with agony. After I read the next Irregulars book......I have to wait a whole year for the next one.....plus the Arcane books too? You are so lucky that you're my second favorite author. Your books are absolutely wonderful, I've actually put out on Facebook for people to read your books. I've never done that before. You manage to intrigue and get me to stay up till 3am. to finish a book. They are real page turning books. I realize that this isn't actually what you wanted as a review....but to great of a book....not to praise the author. Thank you for writing these wonderful books.
September 30, 2021
A gripping and intriguing story
If you liked The Runewrite Detective series, this is definitely a must read. If you like stories of magic and action, this is a must read. If you like gumshoe stories set in the early industrial period, again a must read. If you like all of the above, this is an absolute must read! The characters are realistic, human, and relatable despite the magic in the story world. The action is paced just right. The story is superbly written.
This is a MUST READ. I cannot wait for the next one in the series
If you liked The Runewrite Detective series, this is definitely a must read. If you like stories of magic and action, this is a must read. If you like gumshoe stories set in the early industrial period, again a must read. If you like all of the above, this is an absolute must read! The characters are realistic, human, and relatable despite the magic in the story world. The action is paced just right. The story is superbly written.
This is a MUST READ. I cannot wait for the next one in the series
December 16, 2021
Very good - not great but very good. It has a frequent flaw of first volumes in a series- Too many characters and the desire to introduce everyone quickly and get them all moving at once. A bit too much is going on, it's hard to tell just who is who at times and sub plots get shoved to the side & wrapped up as an afterthought.
Good points - colorful writing, well paced action, interesting diverse characters.
I wasn't aware that this story fits into a pre-existing series. It stands well alone.
Good points - colorful writing, well paced action, interesting diverse characters.
I wasn't aware that this story fits into a pre-existing series. It stands well alone.
January 19, 2023
Fans of Sam Spade and Charmed will love this Book.
A blend of a good old who done it, Practical Magic and a thick dose of Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys' books. Not sluggish in tone but not so fast paced you get lost bouncing from changing perspectives of how the case is told. It unfolds like a classic noir mystery but has a modern feel with the alternate universe timeline setting of 1930's New York City. Descriptive and lush scenes bring the mind's eye to life. Can't wait for #2!
A blend of a good old who done it, Practical Magic and a thick dose of Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys' books. Not sluggish in tone but not so fast paced you get lost bouncing from changing perspectives of how the case is told. It unfolds like a classic noir mystery but has a modern feel with the alternate universe timeline setting of 1930's New York City. Descriptive and lush scenes bring the mind's eye to life. Can't wait for #2!
February 12, 2023
The secondary characters in Alex Lockerby's life have their own adventure while Alex is occupied. I really like this as a way to give deeper character development to the other people in Alex's life without bogging down one of his own adventures.
We also get to meet one of the New York Six, sorcerer John D Rockefeller, who helps the irregulars save the city from a potential magical disaster. It also sets up more adventures with all kinds of dangling plot threads for the group to tackle. Another fun yarn in the Arcane Casebook-verse.
April 17, 2024
What would you do for a taste of Magic? Lt. Danny Pak and F.B.I. agent Buddy Redhorn are on the trail of a madman who has unlimited access to limelight. Wizard John D. Rockefeller is tapped to help since being around limelight is very dangerous for Mages so Danny's friend Alex Lockerby is out of the question to ask for help. What do you do when someone can turn you to stone? try NOT to let yourself be touched of course....Danny and Buddy have a lot on their plates can they find the man and stop the madness without becoming his next victims??
October 2, 2021
Amazing new adventure in the arcane casebook universe
warning do not start to read this book if you have anything planned in near future,I could not put it down. Another example of how good the author is at spinning a tale that pulls you into the world of the story and will keep you awake until it is finished
Thank you Dan Willis
warning do not start to read this book if you have anything planned in near future,I could not put it down. Another example of how good the author is at spinning a tale that pulls you into the world of the story and will keep you awake until it is finished
Thank you Dan Willis
October 7, 2021
A great story continues in The Arcane Irregulars series!
This new series set in the Arcane Casebook universe takes us deeper into the lives of Alex Lockerby's friends and associates. The Curse of the Phoenix is a great detective story filled with magical twists and hardboiled adventure.
Fans of Alex Lockerby and the Arcane Casebook series will not be disappointed!
This new series set in the Arcane Casebook universe takes us deeper into the lives of Alex Lockerby's friends and associates. The Curse of the Phoenix is a great detective story filled with magical twists and hardboiled adventure.
Fans of Alex Lockerby and the Arcane Casebook series will not be disappointed!
October 11, 2021
great Twist on an Excellent Series
A strong supporting cast has a spin off series of their own. Same place, same time, same parallel universe. Good yarn, great, well-developed characters, strong plot. I enjoyed this initial foray and look forward to more in this series and in the Lockerby Runewright Detective series. More please. ASAP. Thanks for another enjoyable read.
A strong supporting cast has a spin off series of their own. Same place, same time, same parallel universe. Good yarn, great, well-developed characters, strong plot. I enjoyed this initial foray and look forward to more in this series and in the Lockerby Runewright Detective series. More please. ASAP. Thanks for another enjoyable read.
October 17, 2021
New Series
It was a great book. And I especially liked the original series. Now like the first series, I now have to wait for the next books to arrive. Boy I hate binge reading. Lol Hope you enjoy the books as much as I did. Thank you Dan Willis for a great new series. Looking forward to the next books to come.
It was a great book. And I especially liked the original series. Now like the first series, I now have to wait for the next books to arrive. Boy I hate binge reading. Lol Hope you enjoy the books as much as I did. Thank you Dan Willis for a great new series. Looking forward to the next books to come.
October 19, 2021
Amazing world building
As usual, Dan Willis' world building is the star. His magical 1930s New York feels like a parallel universe, but a neighboring one. His protagonists could be your coworkers or they guy you dated in college. They, with all their flaws, feel real. I can't wait for the next entry in this spinoff of Willis' Runewright Detective series.
As usual, Dan Willis' world building is the star. His magical 1930s New York feels like a parallel universe, but a neighboring one. His protagonists could be your coworkers or they guy you dated in college. They, with all their flaws, feel real. I can't wait for the next entry in this spinoff of Willis' Runewright Detective series.
January 15, 2022
Truly enjoyable
Dan Willis has opened a new chapter in his Urban Fantasy series..The Arcane Irregulars...playing on Conan Doyle's Baker Street Irregulars. The Irregulars are the side characters...Pak, Mendes, Redhorn...and all are more fleshed out.
Looking forward to seeing how these stories progress.
Dan Willis has opened a new chapter in his Urban Fantasy series..The Arcane Irregulars...playing on Conan Doyle's Baker Street Irregulars. The Irregulars are the side characters...Pak, Mendes, Redhorn...and all are more fleshed out.
Looking forward to seeing how these stories progress.
January 23, 2022
A satisfying spin-off
This is an excellent addition to the Arcane Casebook Universe. It allows for characters who ordinarily get less backstory and/or focus to be in the spotlight. I love how much depth this adds to the narrative of both series as a whole, and I eagerly await future novels.
This is an excellent addition to the Arcane Casebook Universe. It allows for characters who ordinarily get less backstory and/or focus to be in the spotlight. I love how much depth this adds to the narrative of both series as a whole, and I eagerly await future novels.
March 13, 2022
creative
I love a good murder mystery. Mr. Willis does not disappoint. The character development is steady and you get to know the people without a boring list of all their attributes. I like the gems of humor scattered around and the logic in the solving of the puzzles. Thank you for writing these books.
I love a good murder mystery. Mr. Willis does not disappoint. The character development is steady and you get to know the people without a boring list of all their attributes. I like the gems of humor scattered around and the logic in the solving of the puzzles. Thank you for writing these books.
June 3, 2022
A fun story set in 1930s New York where magic is real and known. This stars side characters from the series Arcane Casebook. It has the flavor of a kind of detective noir novel set in a magical/sort of steam-punk world. It isn't necessary to read the other series but it does give it some context.
August 6, 2022
Love these books!
These books have interesting, twisty plots with plenty of surprises and great characters. The characters are believable and well drawn. The imagination and sheer fun of the books keep drawing me back. I've read every one and am happily anticipating the next one.
These books have interesting, twisty plots with plenty of surprises and great characters. The characters are believable and well drawn. The imagination and sheer fun of the books keep drawing me back. I've read every one and am happily anticipating the next one.
August 21, 2022
A very good read and listen. The expanded selection of characters is refreshing and I like the inclusion of Rockefeller. The only "mystery" I find unresolved is the petrification and destruction and the concept of "death" and resurrection. Is there a soul? Still a good book. I look forward to the next
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