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Eric Carter #7
Suicide Kings
The seventh book of this dark urban fantasy series follows necromancer Eric Carter through a world of vengeful gods and goddesses, mysterious murders, and restless ghosts.
Family is murder.
When Eric Carter helps a friend with a deadly ritual that could determine the fate of the most powerful mage family in Los Angeles he steps into the middle of centuries-long feuds with people who make the Borgias look like the Brady Bunch.
Eric's just fine with the murder, soul eaters, and death magic. He's just having trouble adjusting to being brought back from the grave.
If he's not careful, somebody's going to put him right back.
Family is murder.
When Eric Carter helps a friend with a deadly ritual that could determine the fate of the most powerful mage family in Los Angeles he steps into the middle of centuries-long feuds with people who make the Borgias look like the Brady Bunch.
Eric's just fine with the murder, soul eaters, and death magic. He's just having trouble adjusting to being brought back from the grave.
If he's not careful, somebody's going to put him right back.
297 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 22, 2022
59 people are currently reading
354 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Blackmoore
27 books798 followersStephen Blackmoore is the author of the noir / urban fantasy Eric Carter series (DEAD THINGS, BROKEN SOULS, HUNGRY GHOSTS, and FIRE SEASON), about a necromancer in modern-day Los Angeles.
You can find him online at stephenblackmoore.com, or follow him on Twitter at @sblackmoore.
You can find him online at stephenblackmoore.com, or follow him on Twitter at @sblackmoore.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
March 16, 2022
This new volume of the Eric Carter series picks up well after the nastiness of killing a few gods and waking up in his grandfather's corpse. These are little things that should never get in the way of a good, down-to-earth Noir mystery.
Indeed, getting to know this little nasty family makes me feel downright sorry for Carter. They're all seriously messed up.
Suffice to say, I enjoyed the tournament battles and infiltrating to the conclave and Eric as he attempted to work through his own extensive issues while keeping himself busy on all the rest.
Either we can call this an interlude between the big stuff or it's a firm re-establishment of the core of the Noir. I enjoy both, so I'm happy.
Indeed, getting to know this little nasty family makes me feel downright sorry for Carter. They're all seriously messed up.
Suffice to say, I enjoyed the tournament battles and infiltrating to the conclave and Eric as he attempted to work through his own extensive issues while keeping himself busy on all the rest.
Either we can call this an interlude between the big stuff or it's a firm re-establishment of the core of the Noir. I enjoy both, so I'm happy.
March 18, 2024
Some time has passed since Carter was pulled back from the dead and he’s dealing with the new body and new perspective. When Eric agrees to help with a ritual that could affect the fate of all mages, he finds himself in the middle of a centuries old dispute between two of the darkest families we have encountered. Eric has changed and dare I say he’s become more moral?
This audiobook in particular really captured the Noir flair of the series. I have loved Eric’s unapologetic attitude since the beginning. Listening to him interact with friends and foes as he works to solve several mysteries, while keeping himself from ending up back with the dead was a blast.
Now, most urban fantasy series end with a hook to get you excited for the next book, but this was a full cliffhanger. Yikes! I am glad the audiobooks are releasing in quick succession. Sometimes it pays to go for older series in a genre you love.
Suicide Kings was just under ten hours and I wanted more, like a thirty-one hour tome… but that’s just because I was so caught up in the characters, action-packed moments and near death excitement. Rudy Sanda is the voice of Eric and does a fantastic job with secondary characters making listening a joy. I highly recommend you check out this series on audio. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
This audiobook in particular really captured the Noir flair of the series. I have loved Eric’s unapologetic attitude since the beginning. Listening to him interact with friends and foes as he works to solve several mysteries, while keeping himself from ending up back with the dead was a blast.
Now, most urban fantasy series end with a hook to get you excited for the next book, but this was a full cliffhanger. Yikes! I am glad the audiobooks are releasing in quick succession. Sometimes it pays to go for older series in a genre you love.
Suicide Kings was just under ten hours and I wanted more, like a thirty-one hour tome… but that’s just because I was so caught up in the characters, action-packed moments and near death excitement. Rudy Sanda is the voice of Eric and does a fantastic job with secondary characters making listening a joy. I highly recommend you check out this series on audio. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
April 13, 2022
4 stars but damn it dropping one because only half of the story … cliffhangers are bad enough but this was ridiculous, and by the time the next book comes out with the rest of the story will struggle to remember the details of this one.
February 24, 2022
Sometimes, it's just nice to let lose with a protagonist who enjoys violence. Violence is abhorrent in real life, but I think writing or reading about it in an escapism read is a good way to vent. Our protagonist, Eric Carter, is good at placing himself in situations where he can let loose on people who are even more monstrous than he, without any of the angst that makes grimdark fantasy a little tough to get through.
In LA, a powerful mage princess named Amanda, hobbled by an ancient and misogynistic curse, hires (or tries to hire) Eric to champion her in a succession struggle. Eric's just like, "You're a good person, and you want me to hurt bad people? I'm in." There's a scene where Amanda tries to apologize to Eric for dragging him into such a dangerous scene, and you can practically hear him saying, "No please, this is fun. I like killing people." He doesn't actually say that, because that's too close to condoning violence for mass print, but you know he's thinking it.
I usually find myself bored by descriptive battle scenes, car cashes, and fist fighting, either because you always know how it will turn out - the good guy will win with a perfectly placed scrape across his cheekbone, and the bad guy will lose and get beat up, but not too badly that he won't recover and haunt the good guy from prison - or because it takes too much concentration to try to follow descriptions of fights where you spend so much time picturing the blow by blow it becomes work instead of fun. Stephen Blackmoore doesn't do that. He's good at filtering out the minutiae enough to just appreciate *insert fight here* without cheapening the moment.
We also get some unexpected, but high quality, character development in this book. Eric's connection to Mictlan and Mictlantecuhtli is still very much a part of the story, even if it's no longer center stage like the first four books (and wah, do I miss that plot). Eric is still coping with his resurrection in the previous book, and his complicated feelings for his friend Gabriela, who in the same stroke gave him another shot at life and stole his afterlife. I really appreciate how Blackmoore does not take for granted death's natural place in the lifecycle (especially for a necromancer), and the consequences of circumventing it.
Was not expecting this book to end on a cliffhanger though. No cool, Blackmoore!
Overall, a fantastic addition to this series. Highly recommended for fans of Sandman Slim by Richard Kadrey. Even if the main character's name still sounds like he should be a Backstreet Boy (yes, I know that's Nick Carter, not Eric Carter, but it's hardly a name that strikes you with terror).
In LA, a powerful mage princess named Amanda, hobbled by an ancient and misogynistic curse, hires (or tries to hire) Eric to champion her in a succession struggle. Eric's just like, "You're a good person, and you want me to hurt bad people? I'm in." There's a scene where Amanda tries to apologize to Eric for dragging him into such a dangerous scene, and you can practically hear him saying, "No please, this is fun. I like killing people." He doesn't actually say that, because that's too close to condoning violence for mass print, but you know he's thinking it.
I usually find myself bored by descriptive battle scenes, car cashes, and fist fighting, either because you always know how it will turn out - the good guy will win with a perfectly placed scrape across his cheekbone, and the bad guy will lose and get beat up, but not too badly that he won't recover and haunt the good guy from prison - or because it takes too much concentration to try to follow descriptions of fights where you spend so much time picturing the blow by blow it becomes work instead of fun. Stephen Blackmoore doesn't do that. He's good at filtering out the minutiae enough to just appreciate *insert fight here* without cheapening the moment.
We also get some unexpected, but high quality, character development in this book. Eric's connection to Mictlan and Mictlantecuhtli is still very much a part of the story, even if it's no longer center stage like the first four books (and wah, do I miss that plot). Eric is still coping with his resurrection in the previous book, and his complicated feelings for his friend Gabriela, who in the same stroke gave him another shot at life and stole his afterlife. I really appreciate how Blackmoore does not take for granted death's natural place in the lifecycle (especially for a necromancer), and the consequences of circumventing it.
Was not expecting this book to end on a cliffhanger though. No cool, Blackmoore!
Overall, a fantastic addition to this series. Highly recommended for fans of Sandman Slim by Richard Kadrey. Even if the main character's name still sounds like he should be a Backstreet Boy (yes, I know that's Nick Carter, not Eric Carter, but it's hardly a name that strikes you with terror).
February 24, 2022
Wow, this was such a fantastic read, loved what it added to the world, and that ending was evil, and I need book 8 now!
March 30, 2022
Mon avis en Français
My English review
C’était une série sympa et la mythologie est toujours géniale à suivre. Je me suis donc replongée dans les aventures d’Eric Carter avec grand plaisir.
Notre héros est revenu d’entre les morts et c’est une situation qu’il a du mal à gérer. C’est loin d’être simple, il faut le dire ! Alors quand Gabriela et son amie Amanda lui demandent de l’aide pour tuer quelqu’un, Eric n’y voit pas d’inconvénient, mais il ne s’attendait pas à se retrouver en plein milieu d’intrigues familiale dans une famille très puissante.
Entre assassinats et mensonges, Eric va devoir choisir la personne qu’il veut être et ce choix déterminera son futur.
C’était un nouveau tome sympa qui, s’il ne fait pas beaucoup avancer l’intrigue, nous propulse dans une toute nouvelle histoire. Eric est toujours génial et c’est un plaisir de le retrouver.
My English review
C’était une série sympa et la mythologie est toujours géniale à suivre. Je me suis donc replongée dans les aventures d’Eric Carter avec grand plaisir.
Notre héros est revenu d’entre les morts et c’est une situation qu’il a du mal à gérer. C’est loin d’être simple, il faut le dire ! Alors quand Gabriela et son amie Amanda lui demandent de l’aide pour tuer quelqu’un, Eric n’y voit pas d’inconvénient, mais il ne s’attendait pas à se retrouver en plein milieu d’intrigues familiale dans une famille très puissante.
Entre assassinats et mensonges, Eric va devoir choisir la personne qu’il veut être et ce choix déterminera son futur.
C’était un nouveau tome sympa qui, s’il ne fait pas beaucoup avancer l’intrigue, nous propulse dans une toute nouvelle histoire. Eric est toujours génial et c’est un plaisir de le retrouver.
January 14, 2022
Stephen Blackmoore continues his Eric Carter series with another page turning book. Absolutely love this series and think this author is the best at speculative fiction noir.
January 5, 2025
Hummmm, ok, there seems to be a bit of a shift here in book seven. Nothing bad, just different.
Now, before reading this review, bear in mind this is my opinion based upon the consistency of previous books in the series. Read this book as a standalone and none of my gripes would apply, although you’d end up pretty damn confused if you did that. And even with that, this is not bad, it’s just been given a different approach.
Through all the previous books, Eric Carter has always been the centre-point, the driving force. Everything revolves around him. He’s a take charge kind of guy. But in Suicide Kings, our lead is almost riding along in the passenger seat. Situations and people are influencing what he does, even telling him what he should be doing. And anyone who knows this guy knows the last thing he does is what he’s told. There is even a soft edge to his character in this instalment. Of course, there are still a lot of gruesome incidents as always, but he just never feels as if his approach is as graphic or brutal as usual. He’s even being tolerant of people! Perhaps the author was going through something when he wrote this one, I don’t know, but it’s just… tamer, if that’s the right word.
There aren’t even any monsters in this one. Ok, there is a scene with a Baba Yaga, but that feels very much like it was shoehorned in there, maybe even at the editor’s request after submission, it feels so off.
Even the story structure has taken a different path here, it’s more like a Poirot murder mystery instead of the balls-to-the-wall action horror we usually get. Again, this is not a bad thing, it’s just unexpected and a little hard to shift gears into for us series readers.
But, I have to admit, I’m not a fan of the whole, ‘tune in next time for the conclusion’ ending. This just isn’t the way these books go. All the books in the series progress along one timeline, yes, but we always get a satisfying ending at the end of each instalment. Being left smack dab in the middle of the plot was more of a gut punch than a cliffhanger.
Now, before reading this review, bear in mind this is my opinion based upon the consistency of previous books in the series. Read this book as a standalone and none of my gripes would apply, although you’d end up pretty damn confused if you did that. And even with that, this is not bad, it’s just been given a different approach.
Through all the previous books, Eric Carter has always been the centre-point, the driving force. Everything revolves around him. He’s a take charge kind of guy. But in Suicide Kings, our lead is almost riding along in the passenger seat. Situations and people are influencing what he does, even telling him what he should be doing. And anyone who knows this guy knows the last thing he does is what he’s told. There is even a soft edge to his character in this instalment. Of course, there are still a lot of gruesome incidents as always, but he just never feels as if his approach is as graphic or brutal as usual. He’s even being tolerant of people! Perhaps the author was going through something when he wrote this one, I don’t know, but it’s just… tamer, if that’s the right word.
There aren’t even any monsters in this one. Ok, there is a scene with a Baba Yaga, but that feels very much like it was shoehorned in there, maybe even at the editor’s request after submission, it feels so off.
Even the story structure has taken a different path here, it’s more like a Poirot murder mystery instead of the balls-to-the-wall action horror we usually get. Again, this is not a bad thing, it’s just unexpected and a little hard to shift gears into for us series readers.
But, I have to admit, I’m not a fan of the whole, ‘tune in next time for the conclusion’ ending. This just isn’t the way these books go. All the books in the series progress along one timeline, yes, but we always get a satisfying ending at the end of each instalment. Being left smack dab in the middle of the plot was more of a gut punch than a cliffhanger.
March 15, 2022
4/5
https://delivreenlivres.home.blog/202...
Ceux qui me suivent depuis un moment savent que j’apprécie beaucoup cette série de dark urban fantasy. Ce tome n’est pas une exception, même si il est a noté que pour la première fois de la série il se termine en cliffhanger.
Dans ce tome, Eric se retrouve embarqué dans des histoires de familles. En effet il s’est fait une amie récemment, Amanda, un jeune femme d’une des plus grandes familles de mages. Celle ci est l’héritière de son père qui contrôle la section étasunienne de la famille.
Normalement Eric évite comme la peste ce genre de contact parce qu’il sait que c’est un monde sans pitié ou tout le monde cherche à assassiner tout le monde. Mais Amanda n’a pas vraiment de lien affectif avec sa famille et on ne contrôle pas ses amitiés quand elles viennent.
Eric commence à se faire un vrai nom dans la région de Los Angeles. les gens le voient comme une force avec laquelle il ne faut pas plaisanter ce qui l’arrange. Mais ça n’arrange pas ses amitiés …
En effet voila qu’on cherche à l’assassiner juste parce qu’il est ami avec Amanda. Celle ci lui explique que sa famille est victime d’une malédiction très ancienne qui empêche ses membres de se combattre directement. Mais les duels par proxi ou par champions sont autorisés.
Tout les x années la famille se réunit lors d’un grand conseil qui redéfini les pouvoirs. Et il se trouve que cette réunion exceptionnelle va avoir lieu dans les jours à venir.
Un des oncles d’Amanda a déjà prévenu qu’il souhaitait devenir l’héritier et du coup défier la jeune femme pour prendre sa place. Il va profiter de la réunion pour avoir le droit de se battre lui même, et il est extrêmement puissant. Malheureusement cette malédiction étant très ancienne, Amanda n’a pas le droit de se battre elle même, étant une femme. Elle a donc toujours besoin d’un champion. C’est dommage parce qu’elle était également très puissante.
C’est à ce moment la que les événements se rapprochent d’Eric.
Qu’il soit ami avec Amanda est vu comme une menace pour le clan de l’oncle. Ceux ci décident de tenter de se débarrasser de lui pour être sur que celle ci n’ira pas le choisir comme champion …
Evidemment ça va le mettre en colère. Qu’on ose s’en prendre à lui alors qu’il a toujours dit et prouvé qu’il refusait de s’impliquer dans la politique des mages, c’est un affront personnel. Bien évidemment aussi le fait qu’Amanda soit en danger l’aide à prendre sa décision, et il se propose donc d’être son champion pendant la semaine que durera la réunion de famille …
Vous vous doutez bien que cette sympathique réunion sera le témoin de nombreuses tentatives de meurtre, de pièges, d’enlèvements, de disparitions mystérieuses … De quoi occuper Eric et le distraire un peu pendant qu’il tente en parallèle de ses propres problèmes liés à son association avec les dieux Aztec qui l’ont ramené d’entre les morts.
La grosse surprise de ce tome a été le cliffhanger. Je ne m’y attendais vraiment pas. L’intrigue de ce tome n’est donc pas terminée et j’ai hâte de lire la suite. C’est la première fois que ça arrive depuis le début de la série. Mais je ne suis pas vraiment déçue, ça ne change rien à mon envie de lire la suite. Il faudra juste de la patience.
Les deux éléments qui pour moi font que cette série se démarque sont les dialogues et le personnage principal.
L’ensemble est toujours aussi rempli de violences, vu sous l’œil sarcastique et un peu désabusé d’Eric pour qui les problèmes des mortels sont des fois un peu insignifiants quand on a des dieux à ses trousses et qu’on a déjà vu ce qui se trouvait de l’autre coté de la mort … Eric est du genre à ne pas s’occuper de ce qui ne le regarde pas, il trace son petit bout de chemin principalement en solitaire. Mais quand on le met en colère, les choses vont mal.
Les dialogues sont ce qui rend cette série dynamique et fun à lire, je compte dedans aussi les dialogues d’introspection d’Eric. Le genre de livre très décomplexé et plein d’action qui se lit d’une traite et offre un bon dépaysement.
Une lecture très agréable !
https://delivreenlivres.home.blog/202...
Ceux qui me suivent depuis un moment savent que j’apprécie beaucoup cette série de dark urban fantasy. Ce tome n’est pas une exception, même si il est a noté que pour la première fois de la série il se termine en cliffhanger.
Dans ce tome, Eric se retrouve embarqué dans des histoires de familles. En effet il s’est fait une amie récemment, Amanda, un jeune femme d’une des plus grandes familles de mages. Celle ci est l’héritière de son père qui contrôle la section étasunienne de la famille.
Normalement Eric évite comme la peste ce genre de contact parce qu’il sait que c’est un monde sans pitié ou tout le monde cherche à assassiner tout le monde. Mais Amanda n’a pas vraiment de lien affectif avec sa famille et on ne contrôle pas ses amitiés quand elles viennent.
Eric commence à se faire un vrai nom dans la région de Los Angeles. les gens le voient comme une force avec laquelle il ne faut pas plaisanter ce qui l’arrange. Mais ça n’arrange pas ses amitiés …
En effet voila qu’on cherche à l’assassiner juste parce qu’il est ami avec Amanda. Celle ci lui explique que sa famille est victime d’une malédiction très ancienne qui empêche ses membres de se combattre directement. Mais les duels par proxi ou par champions sont autorisés.
Tout les x années la famille se réunit lors d’un grand conseil qui redéfini les pouvoirs. Et il se trouve que cette réunion exceptionnelle va avoir lieu dans les jours à venir.
Un des oncles d’Amanda a déjà prévenu qu’il souhaitait devenir l’héritier et du coup défier la jeune femme pour prendre sa place. Il va profiter de la réunion pour avoir le droit de se battre lui même, et il est extrêmement puissant. Malheureusement cette malédiction étant très ancienne, Amanda n’a pas le droit de se battre elle même, étant une femme. Elle a donc toujours besoin d’un champion. C’est dommage parce qu’elle était également très puissante.
C’est à ce moment la que les événements se rapprochent d’Eric.
Qu’il soit ami avec Amanda est vu comme une menace pour le clan de l’oncle. Ceux ci décident de tenter de se débarrasser de lui pour être sur que celle ci n’ira pas le choisir comme champion …
Evidemment ça va le mettre en colère. Qu’on ose s’en prendre à lui alors qu’il a toujours dit et prouvé qu’il refusait de s’impliquer dans la politique des mages, c’est un affront personnel. Bien évidemment aussi le fait qu’Amanda soit en danger l’aide à prendre sa décision, et il se propose donc d’être son champion pendant la semaine que durera la réunion de famille …
Vous vous doutez bien que cette sympathique réunion sera le témoin de nombreuses tentatives de meurtre, de pièges, d’enlèvements, de disparitions mystérieuses … De quoi occuper Eric et le distraire un peu pendant qu’il tente en parallèle de ses propres problèmes liés à son association avec les dieux Aztec qui l’ont ramené d’entre les morts.
La grosse surprise de ce tome a été le cliffhanger. Je ne m’y attendais vraiment pas. L’intrigue de ce tome n’est donc pas terminée et j’ai hâte de lire la suite. C’est la première fois que ça arrive depuis le début de la série. Mais je ne suis pas vraiment déçue, ça ne change rien à mon envie de lire la suite. Il faudra juste de la patience.
Les deux éléments qui pour moi font que cette série se démarque sont les dialogues et le personnage principal.
L’ensemble est toujours aussi rempli de violences, vu sous l’œil sarcastique et un peu désabusé d’Eric pour qui les problèmes des mortels sont des fois un peu insignifiants quand on a des dieux à ses trousses et qu’on a déjà vu ce qui se trouvait de l’autre coté de la mort … Eric est du genre à ne pas s’occuper de ce qui ne le regarde pas, il trace son petit bout de chemin principalement en solitaire. Mais quand on le met en colère, les choses vont mal.
Les dialogues sont ce qui rend cette série dynamique et fun à lire, je compte dedans aussi les dialogues d’introspection d’Eric. Le genre de livre très décomplexé et plein d’action qui se lit d’une traite et offre un bon dépaysement.
Une lecture très agréable !
July 28, 2024
We return to the Eric Carter Takes A Shitkicking universe with book seven in the series and I gotta tell ya, true to form Eric takes a serious beating through this one. As usual, it’s pretty awesome.
Suicide Kings has Eric reluctantly acting as bodyguard, confidant and hired assassin to the most powerful mage family in America. Seems there’s a power struggle going on and the new heir needs our hero, necromancer and human(ish) punching bag Eric to find out who killed(ish) he father and which family member is actively trying to kill her. The ensuing action is whole heartedly satisfying and Blackmoore takes time to revisit plot elements he laid in previous books so that a series fan gets some answers to previous questions. Such as “is Eric still a death god?” “Does his grandfathers dead body his soul was resurrected in have memories?” “Is Eric’s mage friend Gabriella (who brought him back from the dead, to his angry surprise) still into him or does she like girls?” All answered in these pages. Plus there’s wizard mma fights, child eating Russian shape change monsters and a wildly fun and dangerous new straight razor causing carnage.
I figured out exactly why I like this series as much as I do three quarters of the way through Suicide Kings. Only took seven books and two out of series novels to get it figured. Eric has an accurate internal monologue that is extremely relatable. It’s full of curses and indecision and self doubt. A realistic running dialogue which makes him seem relatable and human when he kinda isn’t. It makes the series supremely likeable.
Another excellent entry in the Eric Carter books. Looking forward to the next book in Vegas….
Suicide Kings has Eric reluctantly acting as bodyguard, confidant and hired assassin to the most powerful mage family in America. Seems there’s a power struggle going on and the new heir needs our hero, necromancer and human(ish) punching bag Eric to find out who killed(ish) he father and which family member is actively trying to kill her. The ensuing action is whole heartedly satisfying and Blackmoore takes time to revisit plot elements he laid in previous books so that a series fan gets some answers to previous questions. Such as “is Eric still a death god?” “Does his grandfathers dead body his soul was resurrected in have memories?” “Is Eric’s mage friend Gabriella (who brought him back from the dead, to his angry surprise) still into him or does she like girls?” All answered in these pages. Plus there’s wizard mma fights, child eating Russian shape change monsters and a wildly fun and dangerous new straight razor causing carnage.
I figured out exactly why I like this series as much as I do three quarters of the way through Suicide Kings. Only took seven books and two out of series novels to get it figured. Eric has an accurate internal monologue that is extremely relatable. It’s full of curses and indecision and self doubt. A realistic running dialogue which makes him seem relatable and human when he kinda isn’t. It makes the series supremely likeable.
Another excellent entry in the Eric Carter books. Looking forward to the next book in Vegas….
March 26, 2022
Sometimes, the 5 star books are like buses. They all come at you at once.
I have been enjoying Mr Blackmoore's work since Richard Kadrey turned me on to him a while back. Which is kind of appropriate for this one as it had a lot of early Sandman Slim energy in it. I am going to suspect this was kind of done as homage (given Sandman Slim recently ended) but who cares, it totally added to the mix here.
Blackmoore's books, to date, have been (for me) solidly entertaining urban fantasy. This however, was the purest distillation of 'tough guy urban fantasy' I have ever seen. For being a perfect exemplar of a genre I would give it 5 stars alone but there is more to this book than that. Let alone the fact that book 7 of a series should not be the first 5 star one!
This is a short book, ends on a serious cliffhanger. Which is totally in keeping with the total vibe. There is a whole Agatha Christie locked room thing going on as well, very deftly executed I must say. This book was just really, really good. You probably do have to at least have skimmed a wiki on the previous books and maybe definitely have read book 6 but if urban fantasy can be your jam it is definitely worth it. This book is a serious recommend from me.
I have been enjoying Mr Blackmoore's work since Richard Kadrey turned me on to him a while back. Which is kind of appropriate for this one as it had a lot of early Sandman Slim energy in it. I am going to suspect this was kind of done as homage (given Sandman Slim recently ended) but who cares, it totally added to the mix here.
Blackmoore's books, to date, have been (for me) solidly entertaining urban fantasy. This however, was the purest distillation of 'tough guy urban fantasy' I have ever seen. For being a perfect exemplar of a genre I would give it 5 stars alone but there is more to this book than that. Let alone the fact that book 7 of a series should not be the first 5 star one!
This is a short book, ends on a serious cliffhanger. Which is totally in keeping with the total vibe. There is a whole Agatha Christie locked room thing going on as well, very deftly executed I must say. This book was just really, really good. You probably do have to at least have skimmed a wiki on the previous books and maybe definitely have read book 6 but if urban fantasy can be your jam it is definitely worth it. This book is a serious recommend from me.
July 5, 2024
Eh, it's competently written but it ends halfway through a story on a cliffhanger.
Also, the Werther family is nowhere near as formidable as they're built up to be. These people are built up as one of the most powerful magical families that have been scheming against each other for centuries. . . They also forget to factor in a magical security system in their scheme which is justified as them being 'idiots'. Why are they a threat again? Ah, right. Plot convenience.
At this point the series feels like a dumb action movie written by an angstly twelve year old. It's a bunch of action scenes strung together by a plot consisting of random new aspects of world building.
Also, the Werther family is nowhere near as formidable as they're built up to be. These people are built up as one of the most powerful magical families that have been scheming against each other for centuries. . . They also forget to factor in a magical security system in their scheme which is justified as them being 'idiots'. Why are they a threat again? Ah, right. Plot convenience.
At this point the series feels like a dumb action movie written by an angstly twelve year old. It's a bunch of action scenes strung together by a plot consisting of random new aspects of world building.
March 31, 2022
I am a fan of Stephen Blackmoore's urban fantasy series. Eric Carter, LA's angriest necromancer, consistently gets tangled up in problems that are page turners. So am sorry to write that this novel, more of a novella, was a disappointment for me. Especially when compared to the works that have come before.
The first 5 books go together in a grand arch. I'll avoid spoiler territory. But at the end of them, there is an end. In theory Stephen Blackmoore could have stopped there. (Don't get me wrong - I'm glad we're seeing more stories.)
Book 6 deals with the plots and counterplots between Eric's and his "frenemy" Darius. It wraps up a side thread from the first 5 books.
So at the start of Suicide Kings there's a real question of where Eric Carter would be going. He's in a position for something of a fresh start, just as in book 1. Stephen Blackmoore seems to want to shift toward stories about LA's ancient magical families, from stories about Eric's complicated relationship with Santa Muerte. Thats a huge shift. And the important parts felt rushed to me. I feel some things were "told" and not "shown," which surprises me. This is the shortest book about Eric Carter put out so far. There was room to expand if Blackmoore had wanted to. It also bothers me that important supporting characters barely (or never) cross Eric's mind as he wrestles with his second return to LA. His old girlfriend, the lamia, the clean up crew, the other big families beyond the Werthers.
Other elements of the of the book are on par for the series. Eric gets to run his mouth and fight in lots of very violent combats. That all works well. Stephen Blackmoore continues to write strong dialogue from both male and female characters. There is weird and imaginative "stuff" that makes for fantastic "locations" where the action takes place.
Suicide Kings ends on a cliffhanger. Though I thought this was a comparatively weaker offering I admit I'll buy the next volume as soon as it comes out.
The first 5 books go together in a grand arch. I'll avoid spoiler territory. But at the end of them, there is an end. In theory Stephen Blackmoore could have stopped there. (Don't get me wrong - I'm glad we're seeing more stories.)
Book 6 deals with the plots and counterplots between Eric's and his "frenemy" Darius. It wraps up a side thread from the first 5 books.
So at the start of Suicide Kings there's a real question of where Eric Carter would be going. He's in a position for something of a fresh start, just as in book 1. Stephen Blackmoore seems to want to shift toward stories about LA's ancient magical families, from stories about Eric's complicated relationship with Santa Muerte. Thats a huge shift. And the important parts felt rushed to me. I feel some things were "told" and not "shown," which surprises me. This is the shortest book about Eric Carter put out so far. There was room to expand if Blackmoore had wanted to. It also bothers me that important supporting characters barely (or never) cross Eric's mind as he wrestles with his second return to LA. His old girlfriend, the lamia, the clean up crew, the other big families beyond the Werthers.
Other elements of the of the book are on par for the series. Eric gets to run his mouth and fight in lots of very violent combats. That all works well. Stephen Blackmoore continues to write strong dialogue from both male and female characters. There is weird and imaginative "stuff" that makes for fantastic "locations" where the action takes place.
Suicide Kings ends on a cliffhanger. Though I thought this was a comparatively weaker offering I admit I'll buy the next volume as soon as it comes out.
August 31, 2025
V siedmom diele série už nekromant Eric nerieši žiadne prelomové a dejinné udalosti (tie sú, aspoň nazatiaľ, zdá sa vyriešené). Miesto toho sa nechá zatiahnuť do vysokej politickej hry o dedičstvo najmocnejšej mágskej rodiny na západnom pobreží. Asi jediný sympatický člen tejto kamarily zúfalo potrebuje jeho pomoc.
Popri tom mu nedá spať (a to doslova) "drobný problém v aztéckom podsvetí Mictlan.
Oproti predošlej nadupanej časti trošku slabšie, no stále dobré a prudko čitateľné. Trápi ma jedine to, že dopísaných knižiek v ságe mi ostáva menej a menej.
Popri tom mu nedá spať (a to doslova) "drobný problém v aztéckom podsvetí Mictlan.
Oproti predošlej nadupanej časti trošku slabšie, no stále dobré a prudko čitateľné. Trápi ma jedine to, že dopísaných knižiek v ságe mi ostáva menej a menej.
March 26, 2022
As usual with this phenomenal series, this book is just too short. I need, like, 800 pages in each to enjoy
September 24, 2023
Perfectly fine book, but a 2 star DNF for me. The author has veered too far in to adolescent humor and thin characters for my taste.
May 28, 2025
As mentioned in my previous reviews of the first few installments in Stephen Blackmoore's Eric Carter series, by and large they read like Jim Butcher's early Dresden Files books. Indeed, they're all short and episodic in format. It looked as though we'd reached the end of the first story arc by the end of the third volume, and there was real potential for bigger and better things to come. Then came Fire Season, which hinted that the author was ready to up his game. Followed by Ghost Money, which was Blackmoore's best novel yet.
The resolution of the Djinn's storyline in Bottle Demon left something to be desired. The rushed ending definitely didn't help, that's for sure. And since Darius' threat seemed to be the underlying arc of the entire series, I was wondering if the sixth volume would act as some sort of transition novel that would bridge what has gone before and what will come after. Impossible to tell after reading Suicide Kings, for Blackmoore's latest is only the first half of a two-book arc. And even though it was another entertaining read, it's obvious that the author isn't about to level up. If anything, Suicide Kings is kind of a step backward. This series isn't growing in scope quite as fast as other popular urban fantasy sequences and it's beginning to hurt it in myriad ways.
Here's the blurb:
The seventh book of this dark urban fantasy series follows necromancer Eric Carter through a world of vengeful gods and goddesses, mysterious murders, and restless ghosts.
Family is murder.
When Eric Carter helps a friend with a deadly ritual that could determine the fate of the most powerful mage family in Los Angeles he steps into the middle of centuries-long feuds with people who make the Borgias look like the Brady Bunch.
Eric's just fine with the murder, soul eaters, and death magic. He's just having trouble adjusting to being brought back from the grave.
If he's not careful, somebody's going to put him right back.
With Darius gone, I was expecting Stephen Blackmoore to elevate his game and take the Eric Carter series to another level, with more ambitious story arcs that would add layers to the plot. I was expecting this series to really open up and build on everything that has transpired so far. Hence, to see the author take the micro approach instead of a more macro perspective and have the main character become Amanda Werther's bodyguard during the family's conclave, while another fun and action-packed novel, wasn't exactly what the series needed to finally take off.
Thankfully, there is unanticipated character development in Suicide Kings. Eric's link to Mictlan and Mictlantecuhtli continues to be an important facet of this tale, and Eric will have to make a decision in that regard. One that could have crucial repercussions down the line. Still coping with his unexpected resurrection, Eric must also deal with his convoluted feelings for Gabriela, who's responsible for bringing him back to life and robbing him of the peaceful afterlife that was his. Amanda takes on a new role in the relationship between the two, one which will likely shape the way things are going to go in the future.
What truly hurts this seventh volume is the fact that it's essentially the first half of what should have been a single novel. Weighing in at barely 200 pages, there is no reason why Suicide Kings and Hate Machine couldn't have been published as one work. There is no endgame and finale to speak of, as the book ends with another major cliffhanger. When I said that this series needs to level up, I meant that like the Dresden Files, at some point it needs to start pushing the envelope and echo with more depth. To keep the Eric Carter books so short and episodic at this juncture prevents them from really taking off, methinks. Had Suicide Kings recounted the entire story, chances are it would have been the best of the bunch. But by telling only the first part of the tale, even if it turned out to be a fun and engaging read, something's definitely missing.
I'm aware that Daw Books will no longer publish new Eric Carter material. Which means that, for now at least, the ninth volume is the last one in the series. It will be interesting to discover where Hate Machine takes us in terms of plotlines. I know we're going to Las Vegas for that one. Hopefully Cult Classic will offer some sort of closure. It would be sad if this ends the same way it did for Harry Connolly and his Twenty Palaces series.
For more reviews, check out www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com
The resolution of the Djinn's storyline in Bottle Demon left something to be desired. The rushed ending definitely didn't help, that's for sure. And since Darius' threat seemed to be the underlying arc of the entire series, I was wondering if the sixth volume would act as some sort of transition novel that would bridge what has gone before and what will come after. Impossible to tell after reading Suicide Kings, for Blackmoore's latest is only the first half of a two-book arc. And even though it was another entertaining read, it's obvious that the author isn't about to level up. If anything, Suicide Kings is kind of a step backward. This series isn't growing in scope quite as fast as other popular urban fantasy sequences and it's beginning to hurt it in myriad ways.
Here's the blurb:
The seventh book of this dark urban fantasy series follows necromancer Eric Carter through a world of vengeful gods and goddesses, mysterious murders, and restless ghosts.
Family is murder.
When Eric Carter helps a friend with a deadly ritual that could determine the fate of the most powerful mage family in Los Angeles he steps into the middle of centuries-long feuds with people who make the Borgias look like the Brady Bunch.
Eric's just fine with the murder, soul eaters, and death magic. He's just having trouble adjusting to being brought back from the grave.
If he's not careful, somebody's going to put him right back.
With Darius gone, I was expecting Stephen Blackmoore to elevate his game and take the Eric Carter series to another level, with more ambitious story arcs that would add layers to the plot. I was expecting this series to really open up and build on everything that has transpired so far. Hence, to see the author take the micro approach instead of a more macro perspective and have the main character become Amanda Werther's bodyguard during the family's conclave, while another fun and action-packed novel, wasn't exactly what the series needed to finally take off.
Thankfully, there is unanticipated character development in Suicide Kings. Eric's link to Mictlan and Mictlantecuhtli continues to be an important facet of this tale, and Eric will have to make a decision in that regard. One that could have crucial repercussions down the line. Still coping with his unexpected resurrection, Eric must also deal with his convoluted feelings for Gabriela, who's responsible for bringing him back to life and robbing him of the peaceful afterlife that was his. Amanda takes on a new role in the relationship between the two, one which will likely shape the way things are going to go in the future.
What truly hurts this seventh volume is the fact that it's essentially the first half of what should have been a single novel. Weighing in at barely 200 pages, there is no reason why Suicide Kings and Hate Machine couldn't have been published as one work. There is no endgame and finale to speak of, as the book ends with another major cliffhanger. When I said that this series needs to level up, I meant that like the Dresden Files, at some point it needs to start pushing the envelope and echo with more depth. To keep the Eric Carter books so short and episodic at this juncture prevents them from really taking off, methinks. Had Suicide Kings recounted the entire story, chances are it would have been the best of the bunch. But by telling only the first part of the tale, even if it turned out to be a fun and engaging read, something's definitely missing.
I'm aware that Daw Books will no longer publish new Eric Carter material. Which means that, for now at least, the ninth volume is the last one in the series. It will be interesting to discover where Hate Machine takes us in terms of plotlines. I know we're going to Las Vegas for that one. Hopefully Cult Classic will offer some sort of closure. It would be sad if this ends the same way it did for Harry Connolly and his Twenty Palaces series.
For more reviews, check out www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com
March 21, 2022
Thrilling Action
The seventh book of this dark urban fantasy series follows necromancer Eric Carter through a world of vengeful gods and goddesses, mysterious murders, and restless ghosts.
Family is murder.
When Eric Carter helps a friend with a deadly ritual that could determine the fate of the most powerful mage family in Los Angeles he steps into the middle of centuries-long feuds with people who make the Borgias look like the Brady Bunch.
Eric's just fine with the murder, soul eaters, and death magic. He's just having trouble adjusting to being brought back from the grave.
If he's not careful, somebody's going to put him right back.
One of the first things you notice as you begin reading, is Stephen Blackmoore doesn’t waste time. The story and plot pick up right away, the action exploding off the page. There is not a wasted moment or page in the novel and Eric Carter gets swept up into the machinations and political maneuvering of others. On top of the politics, he’s still struggling with having been brought back from the grave. The two are both important to the character and the story.
One of the things I love the most is how much the character stays consistent to his core personality even through death but still continues to grow. We still get snappy dialogue, humor dripping out of Eric’s mouth at every interaction, but he does have moments of introspection. His tendency to be a jerk wars with his desire to help others but helping defines the character far more which makes him far more relatable to readers. And his desire to stay out of trouble even when he is being dragged once more into the middle of danger.
Stephen Blackmoore's ability to write thrilling action and mystery, political intrigue, and a main character that is completely engrossing is why this book is so good. If you like action, paranormal intrigue with political overtones, and family drama, this book is for you. I find I can follow the story easily. I think readers who haven’t read the series will like it but I do recommend the entire series.
Rating: 5 out 5 family deaths
The seventh book of this dark urban fantasy series follows necromancer Eric Carter through a world of vengeful gods and goddesses, mysterious murders, and restless ghosts.
Family is murder.
When Eric Carter helps a friend with a deadly ritual that could determine the fate of the most powerful mage family in Los Angeles he steps into the middle of centuries-long feuds with people who make the Borgias look like the Brady Bunch.
Eric's just fine with the murder, soul eaters, and death magic. He's just having trouble adjusting to being brought back from the grave.
If he's not careful, somebody's going to put him right back.
One of the first things you notice as you begin reading, is Stephen Blackmoore doesn’t waste time. The story and plot pick up right away, the action exploding off the page. There is not a wasted moment or page in the novel and Eric Carter gets swept up into the machinations and political maneuvering of others. On top of the politics, he’s still struggling with having been brought back from the grave. The two are both important to the character and the story.
One of the things I love the most is how much the character stays consistent to his core personality even through death but still continues to grow. We still get snappy dialogue, humor dripping out of Eric’s mouth at every interaction, but he does have moments of introspection. His tendency to be a jerk wars with his desire to help others but helping defines the character far more which makes him far more relatable to readers. And his desire to stay out of trouble even when he is being dragged once more into the middle of danger.
Stephen Blackmoore's ability to write thrilling action and mystery, political intrigue, and a main character that is completely engrossing is why this book is so good. If you like action, paranormal intrigue with political overtones, and family drama, this book is for you. I find I can follow the story easily. I think readers who haven’t read the series will like it but I do recommend the entire series.
Rating: 5 out 5 family deaths
October 17, 2023
Based on the fact that I read this book in a total of 2 day, I guess you could say that I enjoyed it! I always adore reading the books in this series.
Eric has to be one of my favourite protagonists in a series. Thinking about my favourite characters leads me to the conclusion that I love asshole characters. But despite what he may think, Eric is just an asshole.
I enjoyed his existential crisis. Not knowing who or what he was considering all of the things that he has been. Perhaps a little longer could have been spent on that, especially considering how big of a deal Mictlan has been in the past novels. It is sad that Eric finally felt like he had found where he belonged, but in the end, he can never go back to being what he once was. It also would have been interesting to delve more into the past with Helga, but I can understand why that wasn't really explored.
I understand that the segment with the Baba Yaga was built up so that Eric could figure out the truth about Liam, but it felt kind of rushed. It would have been interesting to see more of Eric interacting with normals. But in the end, it did a good job of isolating Eric away from them.
Lots of gruesome murders and Eric giving as good as he gets - excellent as always.
No enjoying the cliffhanger though. I've always liked Gabriela, and then THAT happens to her. Hopefully it can be fixed in the next book!
The only thing that could/would have made the book easier for me to follow along with is if there was a family tree or something similar so that I could remember how the family was related. When there are a lot of characters, I tend to forget how people are related. But that might just be a problem with my brain rather than the book.
I also missed Santa Muerte, but she doesn't fit into the book so it wouldn't have made sense for her to have a cameo.
Eric has to be one of my favourite protagonists in a series. Thinking about my favourite characters leads me to the conclusion that I love asshole characters. But despite what he may think, Eric is just an asshole.
I enjoyed his existential crisis. Not knowing who or what he was considering all of the things that he has been. Perhaps a little longer could have been spent on that, especially considering how big of a deal Mictlan has been in the past novels. It is sad that Eric finally felt like he had found where he belonged, but in the end, he can never go back to being what he once was. It also would have been interesting to delve more into the past with Helga, but I can understand why that wasn't really explored.
I understand that the segment with the Baba Yaga was built up so that Eric could figure out the truth about Liam, but it felt kind of rushed. It would have been interesting to see more of Eric interacting with normals. But in the end, it did a good job of isolating Eric away from them.
Lots of gruesome murders and Eric giving as good as he gets - excellent as always.
No enjoying the cliffhanger though. I've always liked Gabriela, and then THAT happens to her. Hopefully it can be fixed in the next book!
The only thing that could/would have made the book easier for me to follow along with is if there was a family tree or something similar so that I could remember how the family was related. When there are a lot of characters, I tend to forget how people are related. But that might just be a problem with my brain rather than the book.
I also missed Santa Muerte, but she doesn't fit into the book so it wouldn't have made sense for her to have a cameo.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 13, 2025
Eric Carter, now with more depth and character. I'm still wishing for those lost years he spent as a god, but this book I blew through even faster than the previous one. It helped to have so much intrigue and politics. Really my interest here without getting too bogged in it. A good balance of politics and good old magic slinging. The start of the book gave me a bit of apprehension that it was really going to go in a new direction after the wrapping up of the Santa Muerte/afterlife storyline. Thankfully it was just a hint of what was to come.
Speaking of which, I really enjoyed how much Eric was more and more creative with killing mages and taunting their relatives about it here. As a sidenote, it's refreshing to read an urban fantasy story where the main focus of the magic slingers isn't keeping the non-magical safe. Regular people both exist but also aren't a factor at all.
Which is how the final result of this entire plot was obvious from the very beginning when the conditions to the whole family conclave/death matches were explained. It was a matter of just waiting to see how it would end up being that person. Not the method I thought of ahead of time, but how we got there was only the means to the end.
Speaking of the end, I'm kind of mad that as soon as maybe another interesting layer seemed to be getting added to Eric's relationships, the rug gets pulled out from under. That awkward conversation in the hallway was, well, awkward. It seemed a bit shoe-horned in to set up the cliffhanger for the next book. I'm also kind of mad at the loss of Attila, or seeming loss. I'll be REALLY mad if the other character eats it too. It seems if one gets saved from death, both should be?
Overall, great. Less chaos agent, more politics really kept me turning the pages. I look forward to the next level of the maturation of Eric Carter.
Speaking of which, I really enjoyed how much Eric was more and more creative with killing mages and taunting their relatives about it here. As a sidenote, it's refreshing to read an urban fantasy story where the main focus of the magic slingers isn't keeping the non-magical safe. Regular people both exist but also aren't a factor at all.
Which is how the final result of this entire plot was obvious from the very beginning when the conditions to the whole family conclave/death matches were explained. It was a matter of just waiting to see how it would end up being that person. Not the method I thought of ahead of time, but how we got there was only the means to the end.
Speaking of the end, I'm kind of mad that as soon as maybe another interesting layer seemed to be getting added to Eric's relationships, the rug gets pulled out from under. That awkward conversation in the hallway was, well, awkward. It seemed a bit shoe-horned in to set up the cliffhanger for the next book. I'm also kind of mad at the loss of Attila, or seeming loss. I'll be REALLY mad if the other character eats it too. It seems if one gets saved from death, both should be?
Overall, great. Less chaos agent, more politics really kept me turning the pages. I look forward to the next level of the maturation of Eric Carter.
April 3, 2022
He is Eric Carter, necromancer, smart ass, maker of poor life choices. He looked into a god’s eyes as he murdered him. He is Mictlantecuhtli, Aztec god of the dead, guardian of Mictlan, thousands of years old in one incarnation or another. He looked into a man’s eyes as he was murdered. He's a man, a god, he's even his own grandfather. Who is he? What is he? It’s hard to deny his own humanity considering that he is, for all intents and purposes, human. But that’s just meat.
Blackmoore is back with another page-turning adventure. After a universe-shattering battle, it's nice to go back to a down-to-earth Noir mystery. For everyone who's coming from Bottle Demon to this, it's probably going to seem tame, but that's the point. It's not about the climax it's about the ride. And what a bloody and fun ride it was. You got dysfunctional family drama, murder mysteries, self-identity crises, and more in this new Chapter of the Eric Carter series. And the ending will make you wish that Book 8 would come out sooner. But for now, this book will help tide my impatience for the next Eric Carter adventure.
4.5 stars out of 5.
Blackmoore is back with another page-turning adventure. After a universe-shattering battle, it's nice to go back to a down-to-earth Noir mystery. For everyone who's coming from Bottle Demon to this, it's probably going to seem tame, but that's the point. It's not about the climax it's about the ride. And what a bloody and fun ride it was. You got dysfunctional family drama, murder mysteries, self-identity crises, and more in this new Chapter of the Eric Carter series. And the ending will make you wish that Book 8 would come out sooner. But for now, this book will help tide my impatience for the next Eric Carter adventure.
Nothing lasts and everything breaks. But right now we’re here and for a little while, at least, nothing else matters.
4.5 stars out of 5.
January 22, 2025
Точно това чаках от три книги насам - Ерик да се забърка в нова каша, с нов антагонист (все още неизвестен) и да се отърсим от цялата Санта Муерте вълна от предишните книги (не беше лоша. Просто се изчерпа).
Та тъй, докато Ерик се е пуснал по течението след унищожаването на Дарий и все още се чувства като гъз, заради подпалването на Ел Ей, му се предоставя възможност. Аманда, дъщеря в една от водещите магьоснически фамилии, го моли да и стане кавалер в древен ритуален дуел за наследство, защото баща ѝ е почти поумрял. Докато разплитаме ситуацията около таткото, Ерик може да прави това, което прави най-добре – да осакатява и убива магьоснически задници.
Естествено, каквато си е марката на Блекмор, нещата изобщо не са такива, каквито изглеждат и Ерик Картър ев воден за носа от вздесъщ противник. Което води до много отворен финал, но аз така или иначе възприемам тези поредици като една голяма книга, разделена на части и си чаках новата арка да се завърже с пълна сила.
Мислещият бръснач от склада с магични артефакти ми допада повече от кръвожадния нацистки револвер (ама аз си падам по хладни оръжия), макар последния да изчезна без да развие пълния си потенциал.
Малко ми стана тъпо за Габриела, надявам се да я върне по-нататък, защото книгите ще изгубят от коматозното ѝ състояние.
Продължаваме нататък със сигурност.
Та тъй, докато Ерик се е пуснал по течението след унищожаването на Дарий и все още се чувства като гъз, заради подпалването на Ел Ей, му се предоставя възможност. Аманда, дъщеря в една от водещите магьоснически фамилии, го моли да и стане кавалер в древен ритуален дуел за наследство, защото баща ѝ е почти поумрял. Докато разплитаме ситуацията около таткото, Ерик може да прави това, което прави най-добре – да осакатява и убива магьоснически задници.
Естествено, каквато си е марката на Блекмор, нещата изобщо не са такива, каквито изглеждат и Ерик Картър ев воден за носа от вздесъщ противник. Което води до много отворен финал, но аз така или иначе възприемам тези поредици като една голяма книга, разделена на части и си чаках новата арка да се завърже с пълна сила.
Мислещият бръснач от склада с магични артефакти ми допада повече от кръвожадния нацистки револвер (ама аз си падам по хладни оръжия), макар последния да изчезна без да развие пълния си потенциал.
Малко ми стана тъпо за Габриела, надявам се да я върне по-нататък, защото книгите ще изгубят от коматозното ѝ състояние.
Продължаваме нататък със сигурност.
January 19, 2022
(spoilers ahead for previous books, but nothing that would spoil Suicide Kings)
I'm still a big fan of Eric Carter and look forward to seeing the next title.
arc received for review
I'm still a big fan of Eric Carter and look forward to seeing the next title.
arc received for review
September 10, 2022
I did not like SUCIDE KINGS as much as the other Eric Carter books, and the reason for that is that there is kind of a Jack Reacher vibe going on. A lot of the Jack Reacher books involve him latching on to someone who's in some kind of trouble and getting tossed into a situation that's none of his business. This is like that; Carter gets involved in an internecine feud with some Eurotrash mages who are trying to strong-arm a pretty young girl who is the heir to an immense store of magic. Other than turning Carter into an MMA fighter, there isn't much interesting happening here; most of this book is sweeping up the loose ends from the prior book and setting up the next. Even the villains are dull.
But you still have Eric Carter, and that inimitable narrative voice, which ought to be more than enough.
But you still have Eric Carter, and that inimitable narrative voice, which ought to be more than enough.
January 4, 2024
I tweeted the author to see if there are going to be any more Eric Carter books coming out, but I haven't heard anything (yet).
I will be very sad if #9 is the last book.
This series has given me reading life again. I was at a loss for a while. My favorite author up and died (Tim Dorsey), and with him, my fave sociopath MC. I plowed through all the Sookie Stackhouse books for a second time to get my fantasy fix. Then I finally started this series (I've been slowly collecting Eric Carter over the years so I could read them all in one go), even though I wasn't sure the series was done.
What if it's DONE?!?!?!?! THEN what am I gonna do??
Yes in the Big Scheme of the Universe it's a very teensy weensy problem to have but STILL. Le sigh.
TL; DR: get the Graphic Audiobooks for this series if you can. They're really excellent.
I will be very sad if #9 is the last book.
This series has given me reading life again. I was at a loss for a while. My favorite author up and died (Tim Dorsey), and with him, my fave sociopath MC. I plowed through all the Sookie Stackhouse books for a second time to get my fantasy fix. Then I finally started this series (I've been slowly collecting Eric Carter over the years so I could read them all in one go), even though I wasn't sure the series was done.
What if it's DONE?!?!?!?! THEN what am I gonna do??
Yes in the Big Scheme of the Universe it's a very teensy weensy problem to have but STILL. Le sigh.
TL; DR: get the Graphic Audiobooks for this series if you can. They're really excellent.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 14, 2022
I’ve been reading this author for a while, and I think this is my favorite book yet. Eric is still dealing with the consequences of coming back in his new “home” in interesting ways, and he is trying to help a friend at the same time. I still hate that he can take a licking and keep on ticking, but I find Eric a little more mellow than he was before. I came to also really like Amanda and Gabriella in this one and the intriguing dynamic the three of them have. This was a well-written book which was full of action and an interesting universe. After the end of this one, I’m really looking forward to the next book in the series. Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
January 10, 2023
While this book felt a little incomplete, it was a good time. Ghost Money really put a damper on my outlook of the series. Bottle Demon fixed it, and this book solidified the Eric Carter series once again as one of my favorite series to date.
It seems that since he's , the series has started to swing closer to parallel with the Sandman Slim series. They could very easily be in the same setting and I wouldn't bat an eye.
I'm not going to go into detail on what happens in the plot, but it's definitely interesting! Seems like the most "mystery" plotline we've had since Eric tried to figure out who killed his sister. Riddled with fast paced action bullet holes, of course.
It seems that since he's , the series has started to swing closer to parallel with the Sandman Slim series. They could very easily be in the same setting and I wouldn't bat an eye.
I'm not going to go into detail on what happens in the plot, but it's definitely interesting! Seems like the most "mystery" plotline we've had since Eric tried to figure out who killed his sister. Riddled with fast paced action bullet holes, of course.
March 19, 2024
(2.75 Stars rounded up to 3)
This was probably my favorite book of the series so far, but I really wouldn't say I "love" the series. I do like it, but I just can't shake the feeling that the books seem "forced". At least the author stopped trying to make so many puns and awkward attempts at humor.
I read the audiobook version and the narrator is fine, but I can't help thinking that two of the characters, one Black and the other LatinX, are a little cringe to listen to. Maybe it is just me, but they sound more like parody voices.
After finishing Kadrey's Sandman Slim, I started reading this book series, mostly because Kadrey said how good this series was. And while it is similar, it just doesn't compare.
This was probably my favorite book of the series so far, but I really wouldn't say I "love" the series. I do like it, but I just can't shake the feeling that the books seem "forced". At least the author stopped trying to make so many puns and awkward attempts at humor.
I read the audiobook version and the narrator is fine, but I can't help thinking that two of the characters, one Black and the other LatinX, are a little cringe to listen to. Maybe it is just me, but they sound more like parody voices.
After finishing Kadrey's Sandman Slim, I started reading this book series, mostly because Kadrey said how good this series was. And while it is similar, it just doesn't compare.
March 23, 2022
“You son of a bitch, I’m in.” Not from the book but it felt appropriate. He’s frickin done it again. Written a book that I VERY much enjoyed then it ended in a place to guarantee I want the next one immediately.
Eric Carter is back in his hood amidst the destruction (see prior books) and feeling broken and without his own sense of identity. I think the moral ambiguity is my favorite facet of the character and that certainly continues in this book. Do yourself a favor. If you’re sick of try-hard, nice guy heroes, go get book 1. If you’re a fan of Wendig’s Miriam, Hearne’s Atticus, or Syke’s Sal the Cacophony - wait till you get a hold of Blackmoore’s Eric Carter.
Eric Carter is back in his hood amidst the destruction (see prior books) and feeling broken and without his own sense of identity. I think the moral ambiguity is my favorite facet of the character and that certainly continues in this book. Do yourself a favor. If you’re sick of try-hard, nice guy heroes, go get book 1. If you’re a fan of Wendig’s Miriam, Hearne’s Atticus, or Syke’s Sal the Cacophony - wait till you get a hold of Blackmoore’s Eric Carter.
March 22, 2022
Another highly entertaining, fast paced, and action packed dark fantasy series that I thoroughly enjoyed.
It starts with a BANG and never stops serving action and twists.
There's not a good/bad side, there's a set of faulted characters and you root for those you found more likeable.
Eric is an action man, he's back to life but someone is trying to cut it short.
The world building and plot development are excellent, the characters are interesting.
Cant' wait to read the next story.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
It starts with a BANG and never stops serving action and twists.
There's not a good/bad side, there's a set of faulted characters and you root for those you found more likeable.
Eric is an action man, he's back to life but someone is trying to cut it short.
The world building and plot development are excellent, the characters are interesting.
Cant' wait to read the next story.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
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