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The Demon's Dagger: A Noir Urban Fantasy Novella
Once he checked in, checking out became an obsession!
Crawford the were-rat checks into a shady hotel and promptly stumbles over a dead man. A mysterious troll is obsessed with finding the dagger that killed him—a dagger possessed by a demon! The demon denies that he is a demon and is obsessed with regaining his freedom. Meanwhile, the hotel’s night clerk is obsessed with the hooker on the third floor. Crawford is obsessed with what’s in the hooker’s room: a solid gold statuette of a demon-slaying goddess! Crawford has checked in, but, when obsessions collide, does he have any hope of checking out?
Content Advisory: This book is intended for a mature audience. It contains misogynistic characters, language, and acts. It also contains graphic violence (including violence against women), smoking, drinking, drug use, graphic sexual acts, and crude language and images.
Crawford the were-rat checks into a shady hotel and promptly stumbles over a dead man. A mysterious troll is obsessed with finding the dagger that killed him—a dagger possessed by a demon! The demon denies that he is a demon and is obsessed with regaining his freedom. Meanwhile, the hotel’s night clerk is obsessed with the hooker on the third floor. Crawford is obsessed with what’s in the hooker’s room: a solid gold statuette of a demon-slaying goddess! Crawford has checked in, but, when obsessions collide, does he have any hope of checking out?
Content Advisory: This book is intended for a mature audience. It contains misogynistic characters, language, and acts. It also contains graphic violence (including violence against women), smoking, drinking, drug use, graphic sexual acts, and crude language and images.
- GenresFantasyUrban FantasyNoir
130 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 8, 2022
28 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
About the author
Douglas Lumsden
14 books186 followersMy parents raised me right. Any mistakes I made were my own. Hopefully, I learned from them.
I earned a doctorate in medieval European history at the University of California Santa Barbara. Go Gauchos! I taught world history at a couple of colleges before settling into a private college prep high school in Monterey. After I retired, I began to write an urban fantasy series featuring hardboiled private eye Alexander Southerland as he cruises through the mean streets of Yerba City and interacts with trolls, femme fatales, shape-shifters, witches, and corrupt city officials.
I am happily married to my wife, Rita. The two of us can be found most days pounding the pavement in our running shoes. Rita listens to all of my ideas and reads all of my work. Her advice is beyond value. In return, I make her tea. It's a pretty sweet deal. We have two cats named Cinderella and Prince who are happy to stay indoors. They demand that we tell them how pretty they are.
See my blog at https://douglaslumsden.blogspot.com/
Visit my website at https://douglaslumsdenauthor.com
I earned a doctorate in medieval European history at the University of California Santa Barbara. Go Gauchos! I taught world history at a couple of colleges before settling into a private college prep high school in Monterey. After I retired, I began to write an urban fantasy series featuring hardboiled private eye Alexander Southerland as he cruises through the mean streets of Yerba City and interacts with trolls, femme fatales, shape-shifters, witches, and corrupt city officials.
I am happily married to my wife, Rita. The two of us can be found most days pounding the pavement in our running shoes. Rita listens to all of my ideas and reads all of my work. Her advice is beyond value. In return, I make her tea. It's a pretty sweet deal. We have two cats named Cinderella and Prince who are happy to stay indoors. They demand that we tell them how pretty they are.
See my blog at https://douglaslumsden.blogspot.com/
Visit my website at https://douglaslumsdenauthor.com
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
November 4, 2023
I received this novella to judge for SFINCS. Opinion is my own, and does not represent that made by the team. I did also happen to purchase this on audible, as I am busy, and audiobooks are helping me keep up. The narration is very solid.
This novella does one of my all-time favorite things: mixing genres. It is a fantasy world, with trolls, demons, elves, gods and shapeshifters. But it is also modernized, kind of like Netflix’s ‘Bright’, but with more of a gangster noir feel. It’s gritty and witty, exactly how noir should be. The trolls are the gang muscle, and shapeshifters thieves. It works well.
With that being said, this is part of the author’s Alexander Southerland, P.I. series, and although it is possible to read it as a standalone, it feels as if it would only be enhanced by reading the others first. I just feel like, on its own, the content is not necessarily focused on something I would typically chose to read. The use of sex work opens the story to lots of misogyny. Although it does include a very thought out, and thoughtful, content warning before the start of it.
Personally a 3.5/5* for me. I will definitely check out the series.
This novella does one of my all-time favorite things: mixing genres. It is a fantasy world, with trolls, demons, elves, gods and shapeshifters. But it is also modernized, kind of like Netflix’s ‘Bright’, but with more of a gangster noir feel. It’s gritty and witty, exactly how noir should be. The trolls are the gang muscle, and shapeshifters thieves. It works well.
With that being said, this is part of the author’s Alexander Southerland, P.I. series, and although it is possible to read it as a standalone, it feels as if it would only be enhanced by reading the others first. I just feel like, on its own, the content is not necessarily focused on something I would typically chose to read. The use of sex work opens the story to lots of misogyny. Although it does include a very thought out, and thoughtful, content warning before the start of it.
Personally a 3.5/5* for me. I will definitely check out the series.
December 8, 2023
Review originally on
JamReads
The Demon's Dagger: A Noir Urban Fantasy novella is a fun glimpse into the Alexander Southerland P.I.'s world, created by Douglas Lumsden. A complicated and messy story that allows centered around a dagger that appears in the chest of a dead man, and the obsession that Crawford the wererat gets with a golden goddess statue.
A story that features multiple characters all in the same hotel where this corpse has appeared; each one portraying their side of the story, soon unveiling that appearances are deceiving, such as the supposed demon inside the dagger just being an elf wanting freedom. While having many characters helps keeping this story fresh, it also becomes a big confusing at points, changing between POVs each few pages.
In terms of pacing, I found it to be really well balanced, in the style of what we would expect from a noir novella, a thriller that prefers to be shallow in details in favour of having a better pacing. It's perfect to be read in one sit.
The Demon's Dagger is a great way to have a first taste from Douglas Lumsden's urban fantasy series; if you like complex crime stories, this one is perfect for you.
Disclaimer: This novella has been read as part of the SFINCS. This review/rating only represents my personal opinion and it might differ with what the team decides.
The Demon's Dagger: A Noir Urban Fantasy novella is a fun glimpse into the Alexander Southerland P.I.'s world, created by Douglas Lumsden. A complicated and messy story that allows centered around a dagger that appears in the chest of a dead man, and the obsession that Crawford the wererat gets with a golden goddess statue.
A story that features multiple characters all in the same hotel where this corpse has appeared; each one portraying their side of the story, soon unveiling that appearances are deceiving, such as the supposed demon inside the dagger just being an elf wanting freedom. While having many characters helps keeping this story fresh, it also becomes a big confusing at points, changing between POVs each few pages.
In terms of pacing, I found it to be really well balanced, in the style of what we would expect from a noir novella, a thriller that prefers to be shallow in details in favour of having a better pacing. It's perfect to be read in one sit.
The Demon's Dagger is a great way to have a first taste from Douglas Lumsden's urban fantasy series; if you like complex crime stories, this one is perfect for you.
Disclaimer: This novella has been read as part of the SFINCS. This review/rating only represents my personal opinion and it might differ with what the team decides.
April 9, 2022
I find Lumsden's urban fantasy series one of the best out there, and I will never get tired of saying it. So obviously I was very excited to see a companion novella.
What to Expect
Expect something a little different that the usual Alex Southerland novel. This one is doesn't involve him, but one of the best side characters - Crawford the were-rat. It also spans several point-of-views, as opposed to Southerland's first-person story.
What I liked
I love Lumsden deft-touch in describing the unsavoury characters that make the underbelly of society. The transition from first-person to multiple POVs was expertly done, and each character has an immediately recognisable distinct voice.
I also love Lumsden original world-building, and the novella exposes more of the history and geo-politics of this complex world.
What to be aware of
This is dark-fantasy, with harsh themes. Petty criminals are never nice people, and there's a lot of misogyny and violence. (Never mistake an author for his characters, though - this is just the aspect of criminal society that Lumsden describes here). Still, it may be a rough read for some.
Felix's Review
Felix enjoyed this new take. He's familiar with the concepts of shapeshifters and were-creatures through antiquity's numerous works on metamorphoses, but Lumsden unique take on the subject was particularly appealing to him. He's used to dealing with rough characters and getting drawn as a pawn into the games of the mighty, so that was also a point of sympathy for him.
Summary
A highly recommended read. This is a companion novella, so a bit outside of the usual occult detective series. If you haven't read Lumsden's other works start there, but if you enjoyed them you will certainly get a kick out of this one.
Enjoying the reviews, but wondering who the heck is that Felix fellow? Glad you asked! He's the protagonist of the Togas, Daggers, and Magic series, an historical-fantasy blend of a paranormal detective on the background of ancient Rome.
Assaph Mehr, author of Murder In Absentia: A story of Togas, Daggers, and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.
What to Expect
Expect something a little different that the usual Alex Southerland novel. This one is doesn't involve him, but one of the best side characters - Crawford the were-rat. It also spans several point-of-views, as opposed to Southerland's first-person story.
What I liked
I love Lumsden deft-touch in describing the unsavoury characters that make the underbelly of society. The transition from first-person to multiple POVs was expertly done, and each character has an immediately recognisable distinct voice.
I also love Lumsden original world-building, and the novella exposes more of the history and geo-politics of this complex world.
What to be aware of
This is dark-fantasy, with harsh themes. Petty criminals are never nice people, and there's a lot of misogyny and violence. (Never mistake an author for his characters, though - this is just the aspect of criminal society that Lumsden describes here). Still, it may be a rough read for some.
Felix's Review
Felix enjoyed this new take. He's familiar with the concepts of shapeshifters and were-creatures through antiquity's numerous works on metamorphoses, but Lumsden unique take on the subject was particularly appealing to him. He's used to dealing with rough characters and getting drawn as a pawn into the games of the mighty, so that was also a point of sympathy for him.
Summary
A highly recommended read. This is a companion novella, so a bit outside of the usual occult detective series. If you haven't read Lumsden's other works start there, but if you enjoyed them you will certainly get a kick out of this one.
Enjoying the reviews, but wondering who the heck is that Felix fellow? Glad you asked! He's the protagonist of the Togas, Daggers, and Magic series, an historical-fantasy blend of a paranormal detective on the background of ancient Rome.
Assaph Mehr, author of Murder In Absentia: A story of Togas, Daggers, and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.
April 19, 2022
Good read.
This novella was scary, gross, and fun to read. It was fast paced and kept me riveted to the page right up until the unexpected ending. I hope we’re not left in the dark for too long about Crawford’s next move. And maybe he ought to buy a new suit.
This novella was scary, gross, and fun to read. It was fast paced and kept me riveted to the page right up until the unexpected ending. I hope we’re not left in the dark for too long about Crawford’s next move. And maybe he ought to buy a new suit.
April 14, 2022
Crawford is a great character
I am glad to see Crawford the wererat gets his own book. Maybe more since there is plenty to work with at the end. My favorite scene was the fight/brawl at the hotel because it was such a sloppy mess with most people having little to no fight training. A well written complete disaster.
As always looking forward to the next book from this world.
I am glad to see Crawford the wererat gets his own book. Maybe more since there is plenty to work with at the end. My favorite scene was the fight/brawl at the hotel because it was such a sloppy mess with most people having little to no fight training. A well written complete disaster.
As always looking forward to the next book from this world.
April 10, 2023
brutal, fun and inventive
This was a fab quick read. Dark and violent but imaginative and filled with fun and humour. If you’re not squeamish then I’d 100% recommend it if you like noir or urban fantasy or both - or just a bold and brutal bit of short fiction.
This was a fab quick read. Dark and violent but imaginative and filled with fun and humour. If you’re not squeamish then I’d 100% recommend it if you like noir or urban fantasy or both - or just a bold and brutal bit of short fiction.
May 14, 2022
Absolutely stunning.
Crawford was good but the "I'm a dagger, not a knife" imprisoned elf assassin Whitetooth deserves to be kept as an ongoing "character of interest".
I'm really impressed with Duffy Lumsden narration of this novella.
Keep writing Mr Lumsden, you're doing an excellent job.
Crawford was good but the "I'm a dagger, not a knife" imprisoned elf assassin Whitetooth deserves to be kept as an ongoing "character of interest".
I'm really impressed with Duffy Lumsden narration of this novella.
Keep writing Mr Lumsden, you're doing an excellent job.
April 13, 2022
I am a huge - HUGE - fan of the Alex Southerland series by Douglas Lumsden and this latest chapter/novella in that world is awesome. I loved it and I read it in one sitting, once I got started, I couldn't put it down until the end.
It is a much darker, more violent and sexually-charged novella and I loved it - the characters were interesting, colorful and regardless of their perspective or good guy/bad guy status; all were interesting and added so much to the novella.
I loved the multiple viewpoints and the story and setting - I am definitely looking forward to the next bit in the series.
I love the Alex Southerland series and am anxiously awaiting more but this novella was a great bridge that also leads into interesting territory.
Now the wait begins LOL
It is a much darker, more violent and sexually-charged novella and I loved it - the characters were interesting, colorful and regardless of their perspective or good guy/bad guy status; all were interesting and added so much to the novella.
I loved the multiple viewpoints and the story and setting - I am definitely looking forward to the next bit in the series.
I love the Alex Southerland series and am anxiously awaiting more but this novella was a great bridge that also leads into interesting territory.
Now the wait begins LOL
July 18, 2022
Dr Lumsden does it again!
Another great read by the good doctor. The world Dr Lumsden has created in the Alexander Southerland series is a fascinating. A mix noir and ancient Sourh American mythology makes for a great setting. In this novella, he extents the story of a secondary character in the original series and mixes in some Hindu mythology. I highly recommend this book and the original series!
Another great read by the good doctor. The world Dr Lumsden has created in the Alexander Southerland series is a fascinating. A mix noir and ancient Sourh American mythology makes for a great setting. In this novella, he extents the story of a secondary character in the original series and mixes in some Hindu mythology. I highly recommend this book and the original series!
August 12, 2022
A sex worker, a few trolls, a man made out of rats, and a goddess walk into a motel…
The Demon’s Dagger is a quirky and clever novella that you absolutely must read. I eagerly anticipated this release, and it surely did not disappoint. Even though this story contained a little less noir than Lumsden’s other novels, its quality did not suffer in the slightest.
The Demon’s Dagger is a quirky and clever novella that you absolutely must read. I eagerly anticipated this release, and it surely did not disappoint. Even though this story contained a little less noir than Lumsden’s other novels, its quality did not suffer in the slightest.
January 11, 2024
The last semi-finalist in Team Booktube's batch for SFINCs series.
The Demon's Dagger is a noir urban fantasy novel that includes trolls, elves, were-rats, humans, and maybe even a goddess.
This is a book that you will definitely want to check out the trigger warnings for first, before you start reading - there are a lot, and some, if not all, may affect how you read this novella. Luckily, the author has a very brief summary of them in the description on Goodreads: Content Advisory: This book is intended for a mature audience. It contains misogynistic characters, language, and acts. It also contains graphic violence (including violence against women), smoking, drinking, drug use, graphic sexual acts, and crude language and images. - If any of these are worrisome to you and you want more information, feel free to comment on this post or send me an email (theliteraryapothecary85@gmail.com) with the subject line as something like Content Warnings for Demon's Dagger.
I'm afraid that I was not the right reader or target audience for this book - so take my rating for it with a grain of salt, if you will. This novella has me still scratching my head, hours after finishing it. I know what happened, but I'm also still asking "what did I just read?" ... "what all happened here?" - IMO, it's the type of novella that has everything on the page, but you, the reader, have to put the words together to make it make sense. And I'm afraid my brain wasn't up to the task this time.
CAWPILE Breakdown:
Characters: 5 - Although the characters didn't really appeal to me at all, as a seasoned reader, I can acknowledge that they were full of life to say the least. I didn't reall see much development in them though.
Atmosphere/Setting: 8.5 - This was Lumsden's strongest category, IMO. Lumsden really captured that seedy, dirty, grimy feel of a shady hotel. The setting was also written well; I could see the hotel and rooms in my mind.
Writing Style: 6 - For my reading preference, the writing style was a bit hectic and all over the place. Just when I thought we were getting more plot, the author/characters got distracted with other details.
Plot: 4 - It felt like the plot was started but not yet finished. IMO, it could have used some polishing so that it was clear what the plot was from start to finish.
Intrigue: 5.5 - There was intrigue in the murder mystery, who done it. And kind of in the Demon's Dagger and Kali. The Demon's Dagger was explained so quickly though, that it killed that intrigue for me.
Logic/Relationships: 6 - The logic, for me, came at the end of the novella. Everything made sense, kind of, at the end. I felt the relationships could have been developed a bit more. They were there, face value, but the reader had really dig into them to see their values.
Enjoyment: 4 - I enjoyed the creativity of The Demon's Dagger, but it just wasn't the right book for me.
CAWPILE Total: 39/7 = 5.5 = 3 stars.
The Demon's Dagger is a noir urban fantasy novel that includes trolls, elves, were-rats, humans, and maybe even a goddess.
This is a book that you will definitely want to check out the trigger warnings for first, before you start reading - there are a lot, and some, if not all, may affect how you read this novella. Luckily, the author has a very brief summary of them in the description on Goodreads: Content Advisory: This book is intended for a mature audience. It contains misogynistic characters, language, and acts. It also contains graphic violence (including violence against women), smoking, drinking, drug use, graphic sexual acts, and crude language and images. - If any of these are worrisome to you and you want more information, feel free to comment on this post or send me an email (theliteraryapothecary85@gmail.com) with the subject line as something like Content Warnings for Demon's Dagger.
I'm afraid that I was not the right reader or target audience for this book - so take my rating for it with a grain of salt, if you will. This novella has me still scratching my head, hours after finishing it. I know what happened, but I'm also still asking "what did I just read?" ... "what all happened here?" - IMO, it's the type of novella that has everything on the page, but you, the reader, have to put the words together to make it make sense. And I'm afraid my brain wasn't up to the task this time.
CAWPILE Breakdown:
Characters: 5 - Although the characters didn't really appeal to me at all, as a seasoned reader, I can acknowledge that they were full of life to say the least. I didn't reall see much development in them though.
Atmosphere/Setting: 8.5 - This was Lumsden's strongest category, IMO. Lumsden really captured that seedy, dirty, grimy feel of a shady hotel. The setting was also written well; I could see the hotel and rooms in my mind.
Writing Style: 6 - For my reading preference, the writing style was a bit hectic and all over the place. Just when I thought we were getting more plot, the author/characters got distracted with other details.
Plot: 4 - It felt like the plot was started but not yet finished. IMO, it could have used some polishing so that it was clear what the plot was from start to finish.
Intrigue: 5.5 - There was intrigue in the murder mystery, who done it. And kind of in the Demon's Dagger and Kali. The Demon's Dagger was explained so quickly though, that it killed that intrigue for me.
Logic/Relationships: 6 - The logic, for me, came at the end of the novella. Everything made sense, kind of, at the end. I felt the relationships could have been developed a bit more. They were there, face value, but the reader had really dig into them to see their values.
Enjoyment: 4 - I enjoyed the creativity of The Demon's Dagger, but it just wasn't the right book for me.
CAWPILE Total: 39/7 = 5.5 = 3 stars.
February 17, 2023
I actually finished this one a loooong time ago and have been remiss in giving it official props. One of the biggest selling points of Douglas Lumsden's Alex Southerland series is the believable, fleshed out world building (if I may us that somewhat overused term). This shorter work proves the point. Crawford, the were-rat, one of the best characters in the Southerland series break off and gets a story of his own. No Alex to be seen. Yet, if you've read the main books, you know the world of this one, and it works just fine with or without Alex. It's a great gritty little read. Noir Urban Fantasy. Just as advertised.
July 18, 2022
Noir story with trolls, a hooker, and a wererat!
I've read the Alexander Sutherland books and thoroughly enjoyed them. This novella combines the same dark humor, action, and intrigue. If you haven't read the previous books this novella doesn't provide much background or world building, but it doesn't interfere with the story at all. In fact it's a great introduction for the other books.
I've read the Alexander Sutherland books and thoroughly enjoyed them. This novella combines the same dark humor, action, and intrigue. If you haven't read the previous books this novella doesn't provide much background or world building, but it doesn't interfere with the story at all. In fact it's a great introduction for the other books.
November 20, 2022
Another great Noir Urban Fantasy
I liked this character,Crawford, from the other books in this series. I think these are well written and keep me thinking and guessing. I like the fantasy aspect and the trolls and elves and trolls.
I liked this character,Crawford, from the other books in this series. I think these are well written and keep me thinking and guessing. I like the fantasy aspect and the trolls and elves and trolls.
December 6, 2022
A companion novella that occurs just after book four of the Alex Southerland series. We follow Crawford the were-rat as he checks into a seedy hotel to discover a prostitute with a golden statuette, her protection team across the hall, and a dead troll that has been stabbed by the Demon Dagger.
I envision we will be seeing a spin-off of Crawford's journey in the future.
I envision we will be seeing a spin-off of Crawford's journey in the future.
May 2, 2023
Gritty, sleazy, real.
Murder, hookers and blow, demons and goddesses. Guns, knives and fists. This short little book goes places the rest of the Southerland series hints at and it has potential to lead to a much bigger story.
Murder, hookers and blow, demons and goddesses. Guns, knives and fists. This short little book goes places the rest of the Southerland series hints at and it has potential to lead to a much bigger story.
March 31, 2024
Another fantastic entry into the world that Douglas has created. This is a dark tale with truly shady characters and I throughly enjoyed every word. A more detailed review will follow but this a hard recommend from me
March 13, 2024
Most excellent novella
Great fight scene at a great ending. Wrapped up rather nicely. Hope to see Crawford in future works by the Author.
Great fight scene at a great ending. Wrapped up rather nicely. Hope to see Crawford in future works by the Author.
April 23, 2024
Noir at it's best!
Likeable anti-hero characters in a gritty noir setting. Makes me hope this is the start of another series by Lumsden, (ya mug).
Likeable anti-hero characters in a gritty noir setting. Makes me hope this is the start of another series by Lumsden, (ya mug).
April 19, 2022
Another smooth as satin - and as dark and dirty as an unlit alleyway on the wrong side of town - contribution to the noir, smoke-filled bar of a world that is Alex Southerland's stomping ground. This is a sharp, grungy little jaunt in this parallel and fantastical place that will leave you only wanting - nay screaming for - more. The only problem you may have along the way is that this time everyone's square-jawed, ruggedly handsome-ish P.I. is no where to be found* to save the day ... which he usually manages to achieve despite his best efforts! (well, I guess technically* he's in a different city but that's beside the point)
Dr. DL let's us know before we get started that he recently challenged himself to write a "shorter" tale from his already fantastic (and fantastical) series. Yeah, these are the same books that I've been devouring over the past couple of years like a cop being offered free hot donuts and even hotter coffee during a break from patrolling a neighborhood that smells worse than a slaughterhouse. Seriously, the first four tales are just so freakin' good they should be illegal (and probably are in at least a few realms). If you haven't read them yet, well, either you been hit in the head a few too many times (put your hand down Ziggy) or you must be waitin' for Santy Claus to bring you the collection some day. Well, stop lazin' around puddin' brain and get your copies already, sheesh!
Anyway, getting back to the whole novella target: "The Demon's Dagger" is the outcome of his endeavours in this regard - and believe me, the results will not leave true blue fans disappointed. Granted, if you're new to the series and haven't already seen past the kingdom-wide facade of prosperity and peace that the Dragon Lord(s) would have you believing, then this tale will come out as a nasty piece of work. No, that's not a criticsm of the writing by any stretch of the imagination - just quite frankly there really aren't any "good" folks around to pull for in this gritty and grimy little segue!
I mean, I always liked Crawford and how he uses his natural "gifts" for the benefit of the common man's good (hint: that ain't the cops and it sure as hell ain't the bastards otherwise in charge), you know what with him and Alex bein' such good pals. But having our fave were-rat represent almost a moral high-bar for everyone else to reach, well, that should say enough about the other folks you're about to meet! Hey, to be fair, the author warns us before we open most of these doors! But damn, you still gotta hold your nose and work to keep your lunch down in spots! Skid row would be a step up for most of these mugs!
As usual, Lumsden's tale is filled with an assortment of imaginative characters as well as mind-boggling twists and turns that will leave even the most skilled amateur sleuth feeling dizzy! So yeah, you'll no doubt be projecting yourself into not only this Universe as you read along, but trying to guess what's coming up in future plots of what one can only hope will be a soon-to-be-released new chapter(s) in this on-going series as well. It's just that much fun to play along at home as the saying goes (does it go that way?)! Plus if you're like me and enjoy having a plethora of different "beings" facing off each other with only their darkest desires and intentions exposed, well, this is the right place to be! So pull down your fedora, make sure your pee-shooter (sic) is loaded and get out of town while the gettin' is good! Because folks, this ride is just gonna get wilder as we get further down the road on our way back - or not - to the pits of Hell!
Enjoy!
Dr. DL let's us know before we get started that he recently challenged himself to write a "shorter" tale from his already fantastic (and fantastical) series. Yeah, these are the same books that I've been devouring over the past couple of years like a cop being offered free hot donuts and even hotter coffee during a break from patrolling a neighborhood that smells worse than a slaughterhouse. Seriously, the first four tales are just so freakin' good they should be illegal (and probably are in at least a few realms). If you haven't read them yet, well, either you been hit in the head a few too many times (put your hand down Ziggy) or you must be waitin' for Santy Claus to bring you the collection some day. Well, stop lazin' around puddin' brain and get your copies already, sheesh!
Anyway, getting back to the whole novella target: "The Demon's Dagger" is the outcome of his endeavours in this regard - and believe me, the results will not leave true blue fans disappointed. Granted, if you're new to the series and haven't already seen past the kingdom-wide facade of prosperity and peace that the Dragon Lord(s) would have you believing, then this tale will come out as a nasty piece of work. No, that's not a criticsm of the writing by any stretch of the imagination - just quite frankly there really aren't any "good" folks around to pull for in this gritty and grimy little segue!
I mean, I always liked Crawford and how he uses his natural "gifts" for the benefit of the common man's good (hint: that ain't the cops and it sure as hell ain't the bastards otherwise in charge), you know what with him and Alex bein' such good pals. But having our fave were-rat represent almost a moral high-bar for everyone else to reach, well, that should say enough about the other folks you're about to meet! Hey, to be fair, the author warns us before we open most of these doors! But damn, you still gotta hold your nose and work to keep your lunch down in spots! Skid row would be a step up for most of these mugs!
As usual, Lumsden's tale is filled with an assortment of imaginative characters as well as mind-boggling twists and turns that will leave even the most skilled amateur sleuth feeling dizzy! So yeah, you'll no doubt be projecting yourself into not only this Universe as you read along, but trying to guess what's coming up in future plots of what one can only hope will be a soon-to-be-released new chapter(s) in this on-going series as well. It's just that much fun to play along at home as the saying goes (does it go that way?)! Plus if you're like me and enjoy having a plethora of different "beings" facing off each other with only their darkest desires and intentions exposed, well, this is the right place to be! So pull down your fedora, make sure your pee-shooter (sic) is loaded and get out of town while the gettin' is good! Because folks, this ride is just gonna get wilder as we get further down the road on our way back - or not - to the pits of Hell!
Enjoy!
December 9, 2023
Douglas Lumsden continues to go from strength to strength as he hones his craft and stretches his writing into new areas. I greatly enjoyed this high-action, gritty noire novella, with the welcome return of fan-favorite Crawford as the protagonist.
Set during Crawford's flight from Yerba City after aiding Alex in a case, the world expands, with new cultures and factions, as Crawford is drawn into the cloak-and-dagger plots spanning millennia that define the balance of power between dragons, old gods, and nearly extinct elves (with an interesting twist related thereto that I won't spoil). I'm excited to see what comes next for Crawford, and how the Mephistophelian machinations of the resistance (if I may use the term) against the powers that be are woven together in future installments.
I quite like the juxtaposition in Lumsden's stories between the cosmic and the mundane, between epic events spanning thousands of years between literal gods and demonic creatures alongside the regular struggles of ordinary humans (which shows, after all, that the "low" and the "high" in the world are really not that different after all, being driven as they are by the virtues and vices of their choice, whether courage or cowardice, intelligence or stupidity, goodness or evil, etc.)
Sensitive readers should note that this novella is darker and more "noir" than the Southerland novels, and contains some intense violence and some sexual content related to the exploitation of women -- and, as the author has explored in other entries, exposing the "banality of evil" innate in "men who hate women," to borrow Hannah Arendt's excellent phrase.
Because men who hate women are, ultimately, men who fear women, whose power is unmatched across history. Perhaps this is why men (and male-designed societies and religions across the globe) have striven so hard to suppress, oppress, and repress women; what an irony that I can't even reference the incisive work on repressive state apparatus as explored by Althusser without noting that the philosopher infamously murdered his own wife!
In some ways, this is a short tale in the vein of the "Girl with a Dragon Tattoo," at least in the sense that it starkly illustrates the very real danger, exploitation, and violence inflicted on women and girls at all levels of society, all over the globe, through the vivid lens of fiction that, all too often, bears painful redolence to the dark realities too many have witnessed or experienced in our own world (particularly in the case of a certain villainous "incel" character, whom I wish were a mere pastiche and caricature, but who sadly illustrates more than a little of what I have seen to be so very wrong in a lot of other men W.R.T. women.
To create objectively good, enjoyable art while balancing a hard look at the darker side of human nature (with a healthy dose of action, word play, and humor to boot) is no small task, and it takes courage to undertake, along with skill and discipline to execute. I respect and applaud Douglas for demonstrating both. I genuinely enjoyed this short story, as I have enjoyed all of his writing so far, and I cannot wait to read what comes next.
Oh, and I very much enjoyed the gentleman enforcer troll, who creatively expanded one of my favorite archetypes and reminded me of great favorites over the decades, including Croupe and Vandemar in "Neverwhere" and the assassin duo in Whiskey Leavins' excellent debut, "Murder in Greasepaint."
Set during Crawford's flight from Yerba City after aiding Alex in a case, the world expands, with new cultures and factions, as Crawford is drawn into the cloak-and-dagger plots spanning millennia that define the balance of power between dragons, old gods, and nearly extinct elves (with an interesting twist related thereto that I won't spoil). I'm excited to see what comes next for Crawford, and how the Mephistophelian machinations of the resistance (if I may use the term) against the powers that be are woven together in future installments.
I quite like the juxtaposition in Lumsden's stories between the cosmic and the mundane, between epic events spanning thousands of years between literal gods and demonic creatures alongside the regular struggles of ordinary humans (which shows, after all, that the "low" and the "high" in the world are really not that different after all, being driven as they are by the virtues and vices of their choice, whether courage or cowardice, intelligence or stupidity, goodness or evil, etc.)
Sensitive readers should note that this novella is darker and more "noir" than the Southerland novels, and contains some intense violence and some sexual content related to the exploitation of women -- and, as the author has explored in other entries, exposing the "banality of evil" innate in "men who hate women," to borrow Hannah Arendt's excellent phrase.
Because men who hate women are, ultimately, men who fear women, whose power is unmatched across history. Perhaps this is why men (and male-designed societies and religions across the globe) have striven so hard to suppress, oppress, and repress women; what an irony that I can't even reference the incisive work on repressive state apparatus as explored by Althusser without noting that the philosopher infamously murdered his own wife!
In some ways, this is a short tale in the vein of the "Girl with a Dragon Tattoo," at least in the sense that it starkly illustrates the very real danger, exploitation, and violence inflicted on women and girls at all levels of society, all over the globe, through the vivid lens of fiction that, all too often, bears painful redolence to the dark realities too many have witnessed or experienced in our own world (particularly in the case of a certain villainous "incel" character, whom I wish were a mere pastiche and caricature, but who sadly illustrates more than a little of what I have seen to be so very wrong in a lot of other men W.R.T. women.
To create objectively good, enjoyable art while balancing a hard look at the darker side of human nature (with a healthy dose of action, word play, and humor to boot) is no small task, and it takes courage to undertake, along with skill and discipline to execute. I respect and applaud Douglas for demonstrating both. I genuinely enjoyed this short story, as I have enjoyed all of his writing so far, and I cannot wait to read what comes next.
Oh, and I very much enjoyed the gentleman enforcer troll, who creatively expanded one of my favorite archetypes and reminded me of great favorites over the decades, including Croupe and Vandemar in "Neverwhere" and the assassin duo in Whiskey Leavins' excellent debut, "Murder in Greasepaint."
September 25, 2022
Fast reading. A lot of fun. Fleshes out a character from other books. Strong recommend.
November 11, 2023
The Demon's Dagger does a lot of things right. It's dark, gritty Urban Fantasy, and it doesn't shy away from the raw and the ugly. It's well-written, with interesting characters, and plot-twists I didn't see coming (and some I did). In many ways, it's just the kind of story I enjoy, and don't get me wrong, I did enjoy this one, but, there's a but...
Perhaps I'm making too much of it, but I believe it's down to the novella format.
The story didn't feel short. In fact, there's quite a lot going on, and maybe that's the issue? With so much happening, and with so many characters wanting to show their side of things, there's not much room to build a sense-of-place. It's clear that there is a world outside the hotel where the story plays out, and it has a lot of potential, but I never really got a good feel for it.
What's clear is that it's an Open Urban Fantasy world, though. The trolls and dragons and witches are out in the open, and they're a part of everyday life. This particular type of UF is one I'm especially interested in, so I'm happy to know there's an entire series where at least one of the characters from The Demon's Dagger appears.
Despite my musings on the flaws of the story, it's still a solid piece of writing, but what's it about?
Well, it all begins with a dagger. It's been thrust to the hilt into the chest of an unknown man in a locked room in the kind of hotel where you pay for the hour and no one asks any questions. We soon learn that the dagger is haunted, that it's extremely valuable, and that someone who won't take no for an answer expects to have it returned to them.
Someone on the hotel has the dagger. Someone else wants it.
Someone thrust the dagger into the man's chest, and someone else who's very much involved has no idea about any of it.
It's complicated and it's messy, and not everyone makes it out alive.
In short, it's a good read, but I wouldn't have minded if it were a bit longer.
I read this book as part of the Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship where I’m part of Team Jamreads. This review contains my own thoughts and may not reflect the opinion or final rating of the team.
Perhaps I'm making too much of it, but I believe it's down to the novella format.
The story didn't feel short. In fact, there's quite a lot going on, and maybe that's the issue? With so much happening, and with so many characters wanting to show their side of things, there's not much room to build a sense-of-place. It's clear that there is a world outside the hotel where the story plays out, and it has a lot of potential, but I never really got a good feel for it.
What's clear is that it's an Open Urban Fantasy world, though. The trolls and dragons and witches are out in the open, and they're a part of everyday life. This particular type of UF is one I'm especially interested in, so I'm happy to know there's an entire series where at least one of the characters from The Demon's Dagger appears.
Despite my musings on the flaws of the story, it's still a solid piece of writing, but what's it about?
Well, it all begins with a dagger. It's been thrust to the hilt into the chest of an unknown man in a locked room in the kind of hotel where you pay for the hour and no one asks any questions. We soon learn that the dagger is haunted, that it's extremely valuable, and that someone who won't take no for an answer expects to have it returned to them.
Someone on the hotel has the dagger. Someone else wants it.
Someone thrust the dagger into the man's chest, and someone else who's very much involved has no idea about any of it.
It's complicated and it's messy, and not everyone makes it out alive.
In short, it's a good read, but I wouldn't have minded if it were a bit longer.
I read this book as part of the Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship where I’m part of Team Jamreads. This review contains my own thoughts and may not reflect the opinion or final rating of the team.
May 22, 2024
A DOUBLE-BARRELED SAWED OFF SHOTGUN, a HINDU STATUETTE and a DEMON'S DAGGER Walk into a HOTEL.
And then: all shit breaks loose.
2 Thangs reading this book left me with. One, either DOUGLAS LUMSDEN does some of the best cocaine that he writes about in this joint OR his imagination knows no Bounds and is Unfettered like us Regular Folk. Because DEMON'S DAGGER is sum WILD shit. Ya got TROLL HITMEN and MOLLS aka HOES (dames), PIMPS/PUSHERS and GANGLAND BOSSES. And they are all after the SAME thang: That DEMON'S DAGGER. Turns out they all have to go to sum fucked up JOHN WICK (almost) kinda HOE-TEL where sum MISCHIEF named muthafucka is RATTED outta his mind about the Dagger. And he is prepared to go to any length to snatch it up--and KEEP IT.
This was a kool MASHUP by Brotha Lumsden. U had PROSE for the BROS plus nassy language n slanguage. These are characters who love the GUTTER. Ya got Ya Hopeless INCELS who WANT pussy butt are AFRAID of pussy.
Whole time this book is a CRIMINAL-Minded WHODUNNIT living in a Fantasy world.
Of course, this is the forte of DL...fantasy/world-building Noir (see his other books). Except, this one goes so hard in the DIRT. And the HUMAN element seemed 2 B more Pronounced here. Hell, DL may have even invented a new kinda Genre in this Mix-up. FANTASYSPLOITATION.
This was a Stand alone from one of the Characters in the Other books. And it WORKS!! Def wanna see more of this story. Git U sum.
And then: all shit breaks loose.
2 Thangs reading this book left me with. One, either DOUGLAS LUMSDEN does some of the best cocaine that he writes about in this joint OR his imagination knows no Bounds and is Unfettered like us Regular Folk. Because DEMON'S DAGGER is sum WILD shit. Ya got TROLL HITMEN and MOLLS aka HOES (dames), PIMPS/PUSHERS and GANGLAND BOSSES. And they are all after the SAME thang: That DEMON'S DAGGER. Turns out they all have to go to sum fucked up JOHN WICK (almost) kinda HOE-TEL where sum MISCHIEF named muthafucka is RATTED outta his mind about the Dagger. And he is prepared to go to any length to snatch it up--and KEEP IT.
This was a kool MASHUP by Brotha Lumsden. U had PROSE for the BROS plus nassy language n slanguage. These are characters who love the GUTTER. Ya got Ya Hopeless INCELS who WANT pussy butt are AFRAID of pussy.
Whole time this book is a CRIMINAL-Minded WHODUNNIT living in a Fantasy world.
Of course, this is the forte of DL...fantasy/world-building Noir (see his other books). Except, this one goes so hard in the DIRT. And the HUMAN element seemed 2 B more Pronounced here. Hell, DL may have even invented a new kinda Genre in this Mix-up. FANTASYSPLOITATION.
This was a Stand alone from one of the Characters in the Other books. And it WORKS!! Def wanna see more of this story. Git U sum.
February 15, 2023
ok but
Overall the tale was good, it’s nice to see Crawford on a adventure of his own, that will more that likely meet up with Alex - intellectually I understand the language used by the author, but I did not enjoy or appreciate the denigration of women. I guess it was give and take but it lost stars in MHO.
Overall the tale was good, it’s nice to see Crawford on a adventure of his own, that will more that likely meet up with Alex - intellectually I understand the language used by the author, but I did not enjoy or appreciate the denigration of women. I guess it was give and take but it lost stars in MHO.
October 11, 2024
Have read the main series of these books and was great fun to catch up with an old acquaintance in this short story which sets up the start of a new series.
What more could you want? A sleazy hotel, ladies of the night, hoodlums, murder, gods and a demonic dagger that is well endowed.
What more could you want? A sleazy hotel, ladies of the night, hoodlums, murder, gods and a demonic dagger that is well endowed.
August 14, 2025
A good but short read.
An elaborate setup to a developing storyline. None of the characters were true heroes or villains. Just regular joes living out poor decisions in an uncaring world. All of them caught up in something much bigger than themselves.
An elaborate setup to a developing storyline. None of the characters were true heroes or villains. Just regular joes living out poor decisions in an uncaring world. All of them caught up in something much bigger than themselves.
July 31, 2024
This series is peak Urban Fantasy. For me, it has all the best parts of Dresden Files but without the frustrating issues. Consistent quality across all seven entries plus one of the best novellas I’ve ever read. Pair that with the phenomenal range of Duffy P. Weber’s narration and you have an experience like no other.
For fans of: The Dresden Files (Jim Butcher); The Dark Profit Trilogy (J. Zachary Pike); Eric Carter (Stephen Blackmoore); The Stranger Times (C.K. McDonnell); The Green Bone Saga (Fonda Lee); Daniel Faust (Craig Schafer); Jack Bloodfist (J.A. Jakins).
For fans of: The Dresden Files (Jim Butcher); The Dark Profit Trilogy (J. Zachary Pike); Eric Carter (Stephen Blackmoore); The Stranger Times (C.K. McDonnell); The Green Bone Saga (Fonda Lee); Daniel Faust (Craig Schafer); Jack Bloodfist (J.A. Jakins).
January 11, 2024
Plans within plans
It took me forever to start reading this novella and I am not sure why. The were-rat is back and gets caught up in an unbelievable mess. Well worth the time to read. It helps to have read at least the first few Alex Southerland books but this can be read on its own.
It took me forever to start reading this novella and I am not sure why. The were-rat is back and gets caught up in an unbelievable mess. Well worth the time to read. It helps to have read at least the first few Alex Southerland books but this can be read on its own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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