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SPI Files #8
The Gorgon Agenda
A planet-killing weapon, sinister sisters, and immortal monsters.
All in a day’s work for the agents of SPI.
I’m Makenna Fraser, seer for SPI (Supernatural Protection & Investigations). I knew SPI protected some of the world’s most dangerous relics, but I didn’t know our draconic founder, Vivienne Sagadraco, kept them in a vault deep below Manhattan.
Until the most lethal relic of all was stolen.
The Aegis is the shield once wielded by Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war. The center of the Aegis contains the head of Medusa, making it the ultimate weapon. All who look on it or its reflection are instantly turned to stone.
Old enemies and new adversaries have descended on New York—and one of them now has the Aegis:
Tiamat—Babylonian goddess of chaos, and Vivienne Sagadraco’s sister
Stheno and Euryale—Eight-foot-tall, snake-haired gorgons, granddaughters of the Titans, and Medusa’s sisters
The Sisterhood of Medusa—An ancient gorgon military order
The Cabal—A supernatural terrorist organization
Those behind the theft have declared war on humanity, with a hatred that was millennia in the making, and a heist that was centuries in the planning.
Our mission is simple yet impossible: Retrieve the Aegis and save the world. But we can’t do it alone. We’ll need our friends, family, and some unexpected new allies if we’re to stop this ancient evil once and for all.
All in a day’s work for the agents of SPI.
I’m Makenna Fraser, seer for SPI (Supernatural Protection & Investigations). I knew SPI protected some of the world’s most dangerous relics, but I didn’t know our draconic founder, Vivienne Sagadraco, kept them in a vault deep below Manhattan.
Until the most lethal relic of all was stolen.
The Aegis is the shield once wielded by Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war. The center of the Aegis contains the head of Medusa, making it the ultimate weapon. All who look on it or its reflection are instantly turned to stone.
Old enemies and new adversaries have descended on New York—and one of them now has the Aegis:
Tiamat—Babylonian goddess of chaos, and Vivienne Sagadraco’s sister
Stheno and Euryale—Eight-foot-tall, snake-haired gorgons, granddaughters of the Titans, and Medusa’s sisters
The Sisterhood of Medusa—An ancient gorgon military order
The Cabal—A supernatural terrorist organization
Those behind the theft have declared war on humanity, with a hatred that was millennia in the making, and a heist that was centuries in the planning.
Our mission is simple yet impossible: Retrieve the Aegis and save the world. But we can’t do it alone. We’ll need our friends, family, and some unexpected new allies if we’re to stop this ancient evil once and for all.
450 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 24, 2023
45 people are currently reading
178 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Shearin
22 books1,105 followersLisa is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Raine Benares novels and The SPI Files.
Lisa is a voracious collector of fountain pens, teapots & teacups both vintage and modern. She lives on a small farm in North Carolina with her husband, four spoiled-rotten retired racing greyhounds, and enough deer and woodland creatures to fill a Disney movie.
Lisa is a voracious collector of fountain pens, teapots & teacups both vintage and modern. She lives on a small farm in North Carolina with her husband, four spoiled-rotten retired racing greyhounds, and enough deer and woodland creatures to fill a Disney movie.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
March 17, 2025
I love Lisa Shearin's imaginative worlds and I am particularly fond of Makenna Fraser as a main character. So I admit to some concern when Shearin moved to self-publishing. I was even more worried when she let Makenna and her favourite goblin, Rake, hook up as a couple. I was afraid that it would suck all the tension out of the novels. I am relieved to report that Shearin can find other methods to keep the plot moving briskly, as this book proves.
Having said that, this book includes the end of the enemy that SPI has been fighting since book one. Shearin reminded me, right at the end, that the evil henchman is still out there and remains a threat. So there are still potential books to be written. Having checked Shearin's website, her next book will be book two of her Aurora Donati series (yay!). I assume she will alternate between the series to keep things fresh. She stated that she hopes to finish the first draft of The Embassy Reprisal by June, so that's fabulous news.
In the next installment of SPI, there will be a wedding (and one gets the impression that it will run along the lines of a Meg Langslow mystery, with plenty of nutty complications and twists and turns). There will undoubtedly be plenty of Southernisms from Mak's family and complications from Rake's. It will be fun, of that I have no doubt.
I am sorely tempted to go back to The Grendel Affair and re-read the whole series.
Having said that, this book includes the end of the enemy that SPI has been fighting since book one. Shearin reminded me, right at the end, that the evil henchman is still out there and remains a threat. So there are still potential books to be written. Having checked Shearin's website, her next book will be book two of her Aurora Donati series (yay!). I assume she will alternate between the series to keep things fresh. She stated that she hopes to finish the first draft of The Embassy Reprisal by June, so that's fabulous news.
In the next installment of SPI, there will be a wedding (and one gets the impression that it will run along the lines of a Meg Langslow mystery, with plenty of nutty complications and twists and turns). There will undoubtedly be plenty of Southernisms from Mak's family and complications from Rake's. It will be fun, of that I have no doubt.
I am sorely tempted to go back to The Grendel Affair and re-read the whole series.
February 8, 2023
What an EXCELLENT book this is!! I am just going to throw my ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ around this time because The Gorgon Agenda, the 8th installment of Lisa Shearin SPI Files series have everything that delights me.
Consider this:
- The Aegis that shields Medusa is missing
- Tiamat and Medusa's own sister, Stheno
- A great take of Greek mythology surrounding Medusa
- Threat to all man kind (well, at least those currently living in New York)
- This time, is the one succumbed to
- There are gorgons, gargoyles, hellhound, dragons, and so many other urban fantasy beings under the sun (including the )
- AMAZING FIGHTS - involving not just the SPI agents but also the big bad boss herself
- A proposal
Yep, this one is SO, FREAKING GOOD. Also, after meeting her own dad, Cernunnos, Mac has gained some extra 'gifts' and that's awesome. I love reading about female main characters in urban fantasy gaining powers bit by bit. The difference in this series is that Mac is still pretty much the "junior" agent compared to the rest of the SPI teams. And I love her for that, because she is not being arrogant, Ian (her work partner) still quite protective, and Mac respects that. At the same time, Mac can now carry herself in a fight.
And to my amazement, . So that's one big bad villain gone, after in the previous book. I am looking forward to other big baddies in the next books. And of course, the , because there's NO WAY, that one can go without a glitch 😂
Consider this:
- The Aegis that shields Medusa is missing
- Tiamat and Medusa's own sister, Stheno
- A great take of Greek mythology surrounding Medusa
- Threat to all man kind (well, at least those currently living in New York)
- This time, is the one succumbed to
- There are gorgons, gargoyles, hellhound, dragons, and so many other urban fantasy beings under the sun (including the )
- AMAZING FIGHTS - involving not just the SPI agents but also the big bad boss herself
- A proposal
Yep, this one is SO, FREAKING GOOD. Also, after meeting her own dad, Cernunnos, Mac has gained some extra 'gifts' and that's awesome. I love reading about female main characters in urban fantasy gaining powers bit by bit. The difference in this series is that Mac is still pretty much the "junior" agent compared to the rest of the SPI teams. And I love her for that, because she is not being arrogant, Ian (her work partner) still quite protective, and Mac respects that. At the same time, Mac can now carry herself in a fight.
And to my amazement, . So that's one big bad villain gone, after in the previous book. I am looking forward to other big baddies in the next books. And of course, the , because there's NO WAY, that one can go without a glitch 😂
February 10, 2023
It's kinda funny how quickly things spin out of control in these books. This one it was from page 1. It takes someone with a lot of confidence to steal from a dragon's horde and that is how this book started out. Vivienne Sagadraco wasn't about to play around, she wanted her treasure back and the ones that took it, they were going to be toast.
As things went on, the SPI group realized there was a group effort and the treasure that was stolen was just the start of some really bad things that were going to happen. With each new fact they learned, things got worse. There were some surprising allies that helped and some incredible battle grounds. In the end the SPI neutralized the threat and helped heal a person that has needed it for a long time.
As things went on, the SPI group realized there was a group effort and the treasure that was stolen was just the start of some really bad things that were going to happen. With each new fact they learned, things got worse. There were some surprising allies that helped and some incredible battle grounds. In the end the SPI neutralized the threat and helped heal a person that has needed it for a long time.
October 22, 2024
“How to Annoy Readers in Two Chapters or Less” is a subtitle of this book.
I simply forgot how annoying the author’s penchant for repeating the same thing over and other was. The repetitions sure beef up a word count, and I stopped reading authors who’re obnoxious with them (I stopped reading Seanan McGuire mid-series, even though I used to consider her one of my favorite writers).
Here, the author has become equally obnoxious. She treats her readers as complete morons, who wouldn’t notice and who just need the same thing explained to them over and over again. This book is full of summaries of previous books, summaries of previous chapters, and summaries of previous 10 sentences. In simple words. V-E-R-Y simple words.
The rest of her writing is choppy and, again, simplistic (anything to help readers understand the complexities of a plot, I guess)… She spends so much time explaining simple things, in excruciating detail, but zero time on the stuff that requires any real thinking, like a battle strategy.
A plot “twist” with Rake — seriously, not clear how/when he made himself such a target. The evening attack on a pocket dimension— why announce? just why? The announcement, if it must be had, should be followed by an attack immediately; otherwise, you just give your enemy time to prepare. Then, let’s stop to talk to Marek, but no, asking him about plans of a counter-attack is not useful…let’s have fun making him faint instead. Argh! Also, how quickly a gorgon can turn on and off her glare? During combat? Having her as a part of the whole attack force just puts everyone at risk, especially when you get moving/running targets all over the place. One stray glare and someone’s dead by a friendly fire. And lastly, the decision to have all teams running around the enemy lair as one big crowd was seriously brilliant. For the enemy. If that was Plan A with the least projected casualties, I really don’t want to know about Plan C.
I also found her humor annoying and mostly not funny. I remember laughing and having a good time while reading the first book in the series… However, as the series progressed, each consecutive book got less funny and enjoyable. This book cracked me up just a couple of times.
This was funny:
“He fell face down, and landed on his…shall we say, kickstand.”
What? Oh. “It didn’t break?”
“It did not.”
Even Rake was impressed.
Dang.
I simply forgot how annoying the author’s penchant for repeating the same thing over and other was. The repetitions sure beef up a word count, and I stopped reading authors who’re obnoxious with them (I stopped reading Seanan McGuire mid-series, even though I used to consider her one of my favorite writers).
Here, the author has become equally obnoxious. She treats her readers as complete morons, who wouldn’t notice and who just need the same thing explained to them over and over again. This book is full of summaries of previous books, summaries of previous chapters, and summaries of previous 10 sentences. In simple words. V-E-R-Y simple words.
The rest of her writing is choppy and, again, simplistic (anything to help readers understand the complexities of a plot, I guess)… She spends so much time explaining simple things, in excruciating detail, but zero time on the stuff that requires any real thinking, like a battle strategy.
A plot “twist” with Rake — seriously, not clear how/when he made himself such a target. The evening attack on a pocket dimension— why announce? just why? The announcement, if it must be had, should be followed by an attack immediately; otherwise, you just give your enemy time to prepare. Then, let’s stop to talk to Marek, but no, asking him about plans of a counter-attack is not useful…let’s have fun making him faint instead. Argh! Also, how quickly a gorgon can turn on and off her glare? During combat? Having her as a part of the whole attack force just puts everyone at risk, especially when you get moving/running targets all over the place. One stray glare and someone’s dead by a friendly fire. And lastly, the decision to have all teams running around the enemy lair as one big crowd was seriously brilliant. For the enemy. If that was Plan A with the least projected casualties, I really don’t want to know about Plan C.
I also found her humor annoying and mostly not funny. I remember laughing and having a good time while reading the first book in the series… However, as the series progressed, each consecutive book got less funny and enjoyable. This book cracked me up just a couple of times.
This was funny:
“He fell face down, and landed on his…shall we say, kickstand.”
What? Oh. “It didn’t break?”
“It did not.”
Even Rake was impressed.
Dang.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 18, 2024
5 Stars:)
February 9, 2023
The Gorgon Agenda is another exciting, non-stop adventure for Mak and the SPI gang. This time, SPI director Vivanne Sagadraco’s sister, Tia, is back and ready to destroy Vivanne, SPI, and the entire mortal world. And as if she wasn’t a dangerous threat on her own, she’s got the help of Medusa’s gorgon sister, Stheno.
Overall, The Gorgon Agenda is a solid addition to the SPI Files series. There has been a lot of action regarding the series-arching evil cabal in the most recent two titles, and I like that this book progresses the plotline for one of the components of said cabal. Additionally, the author adds new characters and background based on Greek mythology, which blends well with the existing world, expanding what the reader and Mak knows about the supernatural.
Mak has really come into her own since the start of this series. She learned some shocking details about her father in the previous title, and with that revelation comes additional abilities. She’s confident enough to test the limits of her powers, but she also recognizes when others need to take charge and do their thing. I also love the continued development of Mak’s relationship with boyfriend Rake. The author gives readers the perfect balance of romance and action. While the author continues to add a large number of unnecessary repetitive thoughts and phrases to Mak’s internal dialogue, I’m recognizing it as part of Mak’s personality, and it doesn’t bother me quite as much.
The Gorgon Agenda provides readers with a satisfactory ending, yet leaves the door open for future tales and continued romance development. I look forward to see what case comes next for Makenna Fraser and the SPI team.
My Rating: B
Review copy provided by author
Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About
Overall, The Gorgon Agenda is a solid addition to the SPI Files series. There has been a lot of action regarding the series-arching evil cabal in the most recent two titles, and I like that this book progresses the plotline for one of the components of said cabal. Additionally, the author adds new characters and background based on Greek mythology, which blends well with the existing world, expanding what the reader and Mak knows about the supernatural.
Mak has really come into her own since the start of this series. She learned some shocking details about her father in the previous title, and with that revelation comes additional abilities. She’s confident enough to test the limits of her powers, but she also recognizes when others need to take charge and do their thing. I also love the continued development of Mak’s relationship with boyfriend Rake. The author gives readers the perfect balance of romance and action. While the author continues to add a large number of unnecessary repetitive thoughts and phrases to Mak’s internal dialogue, I’m recognizing it as part of Mak’s personality, and it doesn’t bother me quite as much.
The Gorgon Agenda provides readers with a satisfactory ending, yet leaves the door open for future tales and continued romance development. I look forward to see what case comes next for Makenna Fraser and the SPI team.
My Rating: B
Review copy provided by author
Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About
May 30, 2024
Someone stole an Artifact from the boss, and she isn’t happy, both because how dare you touch her hoard, and because an ancient shield sporting Medusa’s actual head isn’t exactly something that should be left lying around.
Much investigating later…
Ok, I have only a passing knowledge about Greek myths, and don’t recall anything about why Medusa was the way she was. So…the idea that she had two sisters possessing titan blood is interesting. In any case one of the sisters has been driven mad by previous bad guys talking to her in her sleep. There’s also the boss’s sister.
This time nobody gets away…
Much investigating later…
Ok, I have only a passing knowledge about Greek myths, and don’t recall anything about why Medusa was the way she was. So…the idea that she had two sisters possessing titan blood is interesting. In any case one of the sisters has been driven mad by previous bad guys talking to her in her sleep. There’s also the boss’s sister.
This time nobody gets away…
December 6, 2023
An immensely dangerous relic is stolen from Vivienne Sagadraco's vault, the two oldest gorgons in the world - Medusa's sisters, cursed by Athena herself - are involved, and Vivienne's sister Tiamat appears to be behind it. Suffice it to say, none of this bodes well for the agents of SPI nor the people of New York.
Highly entertaining, as usual. The only complaint I have is that, having now caught up on this excellent series, I'll now have to wait for the next book to come out... gimme!
Highly entertaining, as usual. The only complaint I have is that, having now caught up on this excellent series, I'll now have to wait for the next book to come out... gimme!
February 25, 2023
Shearin never disappoints
This one was worth the wait. I’ve loved this series since the first book. Great characterization, creative worldbuilding. Each new book builds on those before it. I can’t wait to see where Shearin takes the series next!
This one was worth the wait. I’ve loved this series since the first book. Great characterization, creative worldbuilding. Each new book builds on those before it. I can’t wait to see where Shearin takes the series next!
June 14, 2024
Stars: 4 out of 5.
This book wraps up some of the stories started in previous books, but leaves enough threads for future installments.
Longer review to come.
This book wraps up some of the stories started in previous books, but leaves enough threads for future installments.
Longer review to come.
February 18, 2023
RATING:
5 STARS
It’s been two years since the release of the last book in Lisa Shearin’s SPI Files series, The Solstice Countdown, and it was well worth the wait for the sequel, The Gorgon Agenda. A humorous and heartfelt series complete with immersive worldbuilding and an incredibly detailed cast of characters, the adventures of Makenna Fraser and the rest of the team at SPI have come to be a comfort read for me over the years.
Coming off of a trip to her hometown of Weird Sisters, North Carolina, Makenna Fraser is back in the swing of things working as a seer for the Supernatural Protection and Investigations team. She’s pleased to have learned that she is the daughter of the God of the Wild Hunt, Cernunnos, and quite happily moved in with handsome goblin dark mage boyfriend Rake Danescu. There’s no rest for the weary however, as a theft from dragon boss lady Vivienne Sagadraco’s hoard has all of SPI on a high alert and hunting down one of the most legendary items of all time.
Ms. Shearin has pulled from various mythologies and legends from around the world to create this series, and The Gorgon Agenda in particular is a love letter to Greek Mythology. Gorgons, as you might have guessed from the title, feature heavily in the book’s action. The book pulls out all the stops with the different monsters and creatures that appear in the book but I want to acknowledge how the author took the time to acknowledge the darker side of the Greek myths. One example in particular I appreciated (and think more people should be aware of) is how the Greek gods had a penchant for punishing mortals who got in the middle of their fights (even unwittingly). They aren’t figures to be looked up to, and Athena’s faults are highlighted in particular.
The ensemble cast of characters featured in the SPI Files books have always been a highlight of the series for me, and Ms. Shearin continues the rotation by bringing back some old friends we haven’t seen in a couple of books. She also takes the time to introduce some new characters. I did guess correctly on some of the characters who make an appearance, but I was pleasantly surprised by others. I'm always happy to see how even the characters who make an appearance only for a page or two are well developed - no one ever appears simply as ‘window dressing’, for lack of a better word.
The SPI Files books continue to be one of my favorite urban fantasy series of all times, and The Gorgon Agenda was yet another entertaining and amazing book from Ms. Shearin. An auto-buy author for sure! If you like Lisa Shearin’s SPI Files series, I highly recommend checking out the Aurora Donati series and her Raine Benares books (which share a connection with the SPI Files books). The next book the author is working on is the second book in the Aurora Donati series, and the Raine Benares novel will follow (there is a three series rotation with her book releases).
Thank you the author for providing me with a complimentary review copy of the book. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review The Gorgon Agenda immensely! Please note - I voluntarily read and reviewed the book. All opinions expressed in the review are my own and not influenced in any way.
It’s been two years since the release of the last book in Lisa Shearin’s SPI Files series, The Solstice Countdown, and it was well worth the wait for the sequel, The Gorgon Agenda. A humorous and heartfelt series complete with immersive worldbuilding and an incredibly detailed cast of characters, the adventures of Makenna Fraser and the rest of the team at SPI have come to be a comfort read for me over the years.
Coming off of a trip to her hometown of Weird Sisters, North Carolina, Makenna Fraser is back in the swing of things working as a seer for the Supernatural Protection and Investigations team. She’s pleased to have learned that she is the daughter of the God of the Wild Hunt, Cernunnos, and quite happily moved in with handsome goblin dark mage boyfriend Rake Danescu. There’s no rest for the weary however, as a theft from dragon boss lady Vivienne Sagadraco’s hoard has all of SPI on a high alert and hunting down one of the most legendary items of all time.
Ms. Shearin has pulled from various mythologies and legends from around the world to create this series, and The Gorgon Agenda in particular is a love letter to Greek Mythology. Gorgons, as you might have guessed from the title, feature heavily in the book’s action. The book pulls out all the stops with the different monsters and creatures that appear in the book but I want to acknowledge how the author took the time to acknowledge the darker side of the Greek myths. One example in particular I appreciated (and think more people should be aware of) is how the Greek gods had a penchant for punishing mortals who got in the middle of their fights (even unwittingly). They aren’t figures to be looked up to, and Athena’s faults are highlighted in particular.
The ensemble cast of characters featured in the SPI Files books have always been a highlight of the series for me, and Ms. Shearin continues the rotation by bringing back some old friends we haven’t seen in a couple of books. She also takes the time to introduce some new characters. I did guess correctly on some of the characters who make an appearance, but I was pleasantly surprised by others. I'm always happy to see how even the characters who make an appearance only for a page or two are well developed - no one ever appears simply as ‘window dressing’, for lack of a better word.
The SPI Files books continue to be one of my favorite urban fantasy series of all times, and The Gorgon Agenda was yet another entertaining and amazing book from Ms. Shearin. An auto-buy author for sure! If you like Lisa Shearin’s SPI Files series, I highly recommend checking out the Aurora Donati series and her Raine Benares books (which share a connection with the SPI Files books). The next book the author is working on is the second book in the Aurora Donati series, and the Raine Benares novel will follow (there is a three series rotation with her book releases).
Thank you the author for providing me with a complimentary review copy of the book. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review The Gorgon Agenda immensely! Please note - I voluntarily read and reviewed the book. All opinions expressed in the review are my own and not influenced in any way.
July 28, 2023
This was another fun installment of the SPI Files! We're back in New York at the SPI headquarters and get to travel around to some fun locations. Portals also a thing here, so we get to see some locations outside of NY which was cool. This was definitely fast paced with lots of action with our characters trying to retrieve the aegis, fight enemies, and save humanity. I thought there was some interesting payoff for plot threads that have been around for a bit, and this also set up some new and exciting plot points for future books! Like the other books, this has a humorous/kinda snarky tone that I find entertaining, and I definitely laughed at some things that happened here. I felt like there were also some nice heartfelt moments, some of which made me feel the feels.
Mac continues to be great. She found some things out about her family history in the last book and is still trying to learn about her new abilities. Some of these are heavier things that she can do, emotionally speaking, but they seem like useful powers. Her seer powers continue to be helpful, though they put her in danger because of the particular enemies in this book. Mac has a bit of growth here and realizes that there are people she can’t live without, so that was rather exciting. She also bonds with some new characters which makes her cherish the people in her life even more.
We have several returning side characters here like Ian (her partner), Rake (her goblin boyfriend), and Vivienne (her dragon boss). All are great! I liked getting to see Vivienne throw down a bit more. Ian and Rake aren’t quite as present as some previous books, but I liked what we get to see of them. We also get to meet some new characters like some gorgon ladies who seem pretty badass, though some of them have gone crazy. A lot of their tale is pretty tragic and unfair, and I really liked learning about this and the choices that everyone makes. This book explores sisterly bonds and what happens when someone is evil; in particular, some characters have hard choices and sacrifices to make between protecting others and their own familial love.
I received a copy of this for review from the author - thank you! All opinions are my own.
Mac continues to be great. She found some things out about her family history in the last book and is still trying to learn about her new abilities. Some of these are heavier things that she can do, emotionally speaking, but they seem like useful powers. Her seer powers continue to be helpful, though they put her in danger because of the particular enemies in this book. Mac has a bit of growth here and realizes that there are people she can’t live without, so that was rather exciting. She also bonds with some new characters which makes her cherish the people in her life even more.
We have several returning side characters here like Ian (her partner), Rake (her goblin boyfriend), and Vivienne (her dragon boss). All are great! I liked getting to see Vivienne throw down a bit more. Ian and Rake aren’t quite as present as some previous books, but I liked what we get to see of them. We also get to meet some new characters like some gorgon ladies who seem pretty badass, though some of them have gone crazy. A lot of their tale is pretty tragic and unfair, and I really liked learning about this and the choices that everyone makes. This book explores sisterly bonds and what happens when someone is evil; in particular, some characters have hard choices and sacrifices to make between protecting others and their own familial love.
I received a copy of this for review from the author - thank you! All opinions are my own.
March 6, 2023
This book was so chock full of filler and repetitive descriptions of the same things over and over (and over again) that I would have tossed it aside had it not been a relatively interesting premise (I find the Medusa mythology fascinating). I normally quite enjoy this author’s books, but this one was terrible, so it makes me wonder if she was facing a deadline and just had to fill pages? Hopefully this book was an aberration, but sadly I really wouldn’t recommend reading it to find out.
January 26, 2023
Fast-paced adventure, supernatural and mythical creatures, and a side of humor (4.5 stars)
Lisa Shearin offers up another fast-paced supernatural adventure for Makenna Frasier and her SPI colleagues in The Gorgon Agenda, as they take on a seriously high-powered gorgon and a few old enemies. Seer and SPI agent Mac is as loyal, determined, compassionate, and dryly snarky as ever. I just love her and her “though she be but little, she is fierce” attitude. Her work partner, commando (and demigod) Ian, is adjusting well to the knowledge of his heritage. Her dragon shifter boss, Ms. Sagradraco, is more human than you’d think. And Rake, Mac’s high-powered hotelier fiance, remains my favorite goblin dark mage: suave, sexy, and dangerous, but utterly committed to Mac. My only complaint in the whole novel was that we didn’t see enough of him.
Shearin writes epic battle scenes and humorous banter with equal panache. The action is nearly nonstop, and cinematic in style and scale. The SPI Files series has been described as “Men in Black, but with supernatural elements,” but there’s definitely a bit of Avengers flavor in there as well, particularly in the large-scale battle scenes. For all the mayhem, danger, and potential-end-of-the-world suspense (and there is a lot), the books never lose track of the personal element, and Makenna’s often humorous first-person narration keeps things light enough to be fun instead of scary. In this case, that was a real challenge. With ancient gorgons, a draconic supervillain, and an almost-invincible weapon on the loose in New York City, there was plenty of scary to go around. Luckily, this wasn’t my first SPI Files rodeo, and I was confident things would work out in the end, but a few of the scenes still made me shudder.
As with every book in the SPI Files series, I had a hard time putting it down, even to go to sleep. The Gorgon Agenda ties up one story arc, but there are at least two or three other loose threads, so there’s still plenty of room for more sequels. Fingers crossed!
Review originally published on my blog, The Bookwyrm's Hoard.
FTC disclosure: I received a review copy from the author. All opinions are entirely my own.
Lisa Shearin offers up another fast-paced supernatural adventure for Makenna Frasier and her SPI colleagues in The Gorgon Agenda, as they take on a seriously high-powered gorgon and a few old enemies. Seer and SPI agent Mac is as loyal, determined, compassionate, and dryly snarky as ever. I just love her and her “though she be but little, she is fierce” attitude. Her work partner, commando (and demigod) Ian, is adjusting well to the knowledge of his heritage. Her dragon shifter boss, Ms. Sagradraco, is more human than you’d think. And Rake, Mac’s high-powered hotelier fiance, remains my favorite goblin dark mage: suave, sexy, and dangerous, but utterly committed to Mac. My only complaint in the whole novel was that we didn’t see enough of him.
Shearin writes epic battle scenes and humorous banter with equal panache. The action is nearly nonstop, and cinematic in style and scale. The SPI Files series has been described as “Men in Black, but with supernatural elements,” but there’s definitely a bit of Avengers flavor in there as well, particularly in the large-scale battle scenes. For all the mayhem, danger, and potential-end-of-the-world suspense (and there is a lot), the books never lose track of the personal element, and Makenna’s often humorous first-person narration keeps things light enough to be fun instead of scary. In this case, that was a real challenge. With ancient gorgons, a draconic supervillain, and an almost-invincible weapon on the loose in New York City, there was plenty of scary to go around. Luckily, this wasn’t my first SPI Files rodeo, and I was confident things would work out in the end, but a few of the scenes still made me shudder.
As with every book in the SPI Files series, I had a hard time putting it down, even to go to sleep. The Gorgon Agenda ties up one story arc, but there are at least two or three other loose threads, so there’s still plenty of room for more sequels. Fingers crossed!
Review originally published on my blog, The Bookwyrm's Hoard.
FTC disclosure: I received a review copy from the author. All opinions are entirely my own.
August 2, 2023
This makes me sad, because I love the series, but this one was difficult to get through. The writing felt choppy, with numerous one-sentence paragraphs (and when I say numerous, I mean basically ubiquitous), and Shearin introduces basically every character by full name. Two couriers the bad guy is using to pick up a package who will never be heard from again? Full names. Every single SPI employee? Full name. So, so many of these characters could have been introduced by their plot function without losing anything from the text - and to make matters worse, there are few if any character descriptions. Even for characters who play a significant role in the plot, all we actually know about them is their name. There’s a lot of telling rather than showing in general.
It’s unfortunate because the SPI series is so much fun - found family careening through New York in pursuit of magical creatures, trying to save the world. Shearin’s writing is often snappy and Makenna is an appealing, engaging narrator. It’s such a fun world in which to hang out and have adventures. And when Shearin actually invests in the characters they’re fun too. (A gorgon having tea: “You’ll like this… It’s become one of my and Alain’s favorites at breakfast.” “Breakfast?” Makenna thinks. “Alain Moreau had been born in the 1700s and had Old World manners to go with each and every year. But judging from the glance that had just passed between him and Helena [the gorgon], my vampire manager could and had set aside those impeccable manners and was equally good at being a bad boy. No, this wasn’t awkward for me at all.”)
Besides the digressions to name everyone, Shearin keeps a tight focus on the action, which is pretty fun. Once we have everyone named and things are moving right along the final climax is entertaining as always, and there’s some space for Makenna and pals to banter, also entertaining. At times these books do feel a bit like a novelization of a D&D campaign, but by the end I couldn't put it down.
It’s unfortunate because the SPI series is so much fun - found family careening through New York in pursuit of magical creatures, trying to save the world. Shearin’s writing is often snappy and Makenna is an appealing, engaging narrator. It’s such a fun world in which to hang out and have adventures. And when Shearin actually invests in the characters they’re fun too. (A gorgon having tea: “You’ll like this… It’s become one of my and Alain’s favorites at breakfast.” “Breakfast?” Makenna thinks. “Alain Moreau had been born in the 1700s and had Old World manners to go with each and every year. But judging from the glance that had just passed between him and Helena [the gorgon], my vampire manager could and had set aside those impeccable manners and was equally good at being a bad boy. No, this wasn’t awkward for me at all.”)
Besides the digressions to name everyone, Shearin keeps a tight focus on the action, which is pretty fun. Once we have everyone named and things are moving right along the final climax is entertaining as always, and there’s some space for Makenna and pals to banter, also entertaining. At times these books do feel a bit like a novelization of a D&D campaign, but by the end I couldn't put it down.
January 28, 2025
I finally finished this book. I picked it up shortly after its release in 2023. *sighs* No comment. I put it aside because I was afraid that I wouldn't get another SPI files fix and I was right. There has not been another release in this series. I believe the author is writing, but at one point life was lifeing and that threw a wrench in the progress etcetera etcetera.
This continues where we left off in book 7. Makenna now knows her dad is Cernunnos and is moving through the everyday knowing that her pre-existing and future abilities are most likely from her dad. The current plot against the world once again has to do with Vivienne's (Makenna's dragon boss) sister. She has paired up with a big bad from ancient Greece to punish and kill all mortals. *evil villain voice*
This book was so good. The way the author incorporated the story of the Aegis (a shield that Medusa's actual head is imprinted on), the creation of the gorgon sisterhood, and Medusa's sisters is absolutely heartbreaking. Thousands of years of sadness, hate, and isolation have done a number on Stheno making her a perfect candidate for Vivienne's sister's manipulation. We're on a race of time to save New York from Vivienne and Stheno and their intended use of the Aegis.
This continues where we left off in book 7. Makenna now knows her dad is Cernunnos and is moving through the everyday knowing that her pre-existing and future abilities are most likely from her dad. The current plot against the world once again has to do with Vivienne's (Makenna's dragon boss) sister. She has paired up with a big bad from ancient Greece to punish and kill all mortals. *evil villain voice*
This book was so good. The way the author incorporated the story of the Aegis (a shield that Medusa's actual head is imprinted on), the creation of the gorgon sisterhood, and Medusa's sisters is absolutely heartbreaking. Thousands of years of sadness, hate, and isolation have done a number on Stheno making her a perfect candidate for Vivienne's sister's manipulation. We're on a race of time to save New York from Vivienne and Stheno and their intended use of the Aegis.
January 31, 2023
This book is the Gorgon Agenda and it is book 8 in the SPI Files series. Gorgons were the people in Greek mythology who had snakes for hair and could turn people into stone with one glare. I really enjoy urban fantasy police procedurals! In this case, more like urban fantasy Men in Black (as it were).
Makenna Fraser is a seer. She is able to see through glamours/disguises. Her job is to fire her paintball gun and make targets visible to her alien monster fighting teammates. And, of course, the mundanes (non-magical folks) can't know anything about any of this.
Makenna's boss at Supernatural Protection & Investigations (SPI) is an eight-story-tall shapeshifting dragon. Werewolves & vampires are also on the SPI team, of course. And Makenna's boyfriend is a powerful goblin mage, actually goblin ruler of the colony on Earth (although his title is governor).
The bad guys have stolen a doomsday weapon and it is up to the SPI crew to get it back and avoid mass casualties in Manhattan / New York City!
Highly recommended for SPI Files fans, series fans, Men in Black fans, and fans who enjoy a fun story told well!
Makenna Fraser is a seer. She is able to see through glamours/disguises. Her job is to fire her paintball gun and make targets visible to her alien monster fighting teammates. And, of course, the mundanes (non-magical folks) can't know anything about any of this.
Makenna's boss at Supernatural Protection & Investigations (SPI) is an eight-story-tall shapeshifting dragon. Werewolves & vampires are also on the SPI team, of course. And Makenna's boyfriend is a powerful goblin mage, actually goblin ruler of the colony on Earth (although his title is governor).
The bad guys have stolen a doomsday weapon and it is up to the SPI crew to get it back and avoid mass casualties in Manhattan / New York City!
Highly recommended for SPI Files fans, series fans, Men in Black fans, and fans who enjoy a fun story told well!
August 8, 2023
Makenna Fraser is an agent for the Supernatural Protection and Investigations. The agency is there to protect people from crazy supernaturals.
Makenna's boss is a Dragon and has many magical but dangerous relics in her vault in Manhattan.
There most dangerous relic of all has been stolen, the thief burrowed through 40 feet of solid rock to get there.
The first job is to figure out who and how.
The relic is the shield of Medusa, anyone who looks at it will be turned to stone.
Just what the Babylonian Goddess of chaos wants. Only her plan is to kill all of humanity to get her revenge and create chaos.
But the Supernatural Protection agency has a lot of powerful people and magical beings on their side and can draw from others to help.
And the Military team is ready for a fight and anxious to get started.
Just another day at the office but the danger is real.
Great series.
Makenna's boss is a Dragon and has many magical but dangerous relics in her vault in Manhattan.
There most dangerous relic of all has been stolen, the thief burrowed through 40 feet of solid rock to get there.
The first job is to figure out who and how.
The relic is the shield of Medusa, anyone who looks at it will be turned to stone.
Just what the Babylonian Goddess of chaos wants. Only her plan is to kill all of humanity to get her revenge and create chaos.
But the Supernatural Protection agency has a lot of powerful people and magical beings on their side and can draw from others to help.
And the Military team is ready for a fight and anxious to get started.
Just another day at the office but the danger is real.
Great series.
October 31, 2023
I wish I could give this more than 5 stars just for the exciting, then sweet ending. Loved it!
Mac and Rake are home from a very exciting Christmas vacation visiting her family hometown and learning to adjust to knowing that she is the daughter of Cernunnos, the Master of the Wild Hunt.
Along with knowing from whom her powers come, she now has the protection of powerful supernatural and greater respect in the eyes of her colleagues.
But as soon as they return an extremely dangerous artifact is stolen from one of Ms. Sagadraco’s secure vaults by an even more dangerous evil: Medusa’s sisters, mercenary furies and Tiamat.
Fave scenes: Suzy mind linking with Mac, Mac’s pixie on steroids, Mac consoling Zyta and Ruby facing down the Cerberus.
Mac and Rake are home from a very exciting Christmas vacation visiting her family hometown and learning to adjust to knowing that she is the daughter of Cernunnos, the Master of the Wild Hunt.
Along with knowing from whom her powers come, she now has the protection of powerful supernatural and greater respect in the eyes of her colleagues.
But as soon as they return an extremely dangerous artifact is stolen from one of Ms. Sagadraco’s secure vaults by an even more dangerous evil: Medusa’s sisters, mercenary furies and Tiamat.
Fave scenes: Suzy mind linking with Mac, Mac’s pixie on steroids, Mac consoling Zyta and Ruby facing down the Cerberus.
March 4, 2024
What a wild ride! This was intense right from the get-go. Danger seemed to be coming from every direction. An old enemy returned with some seriously powerful and scary backup. The final clash had the potential for world-ending consequences.
I was so nervous for these characters. The odds were stacked against them, and I didn’t see a solution where they’d come out unscathed. I was turning the pages as fast as possible, hoping for the best but preparing for the worst.
I don’t want to say too much because of spoilers, but wow! This was an excellent addition to the series! I’m so eager for the next one. If you’re an urban fantasy fan, you’ll love this series. Be sure to start with book one, and you’ll be hooked.
I was so nervous for these characters. The odds were stacked against them, and I didn’t see a solution where they’d come out unscathed. I was turning the pages as fast as possible, hoping for the best but preparing for the worst.
I don’t want to say too much because of spoilers, but wow! This was an excellent addition to the series! I’m so eager for the next one. If you’re an urban fantasy fan, you’ll love this series. Be sure to start with book one, and you’ll be hooked.
May 2, 2025
This is the 8th book in this exceptionally well written urban fantasy (SPI Files) series by Lisa Shearin. Makenna Fraser is a seer working for Supernatural Protection & Investigations. The novel begins with a heist from a supernatural vault owned by her employer where a powerful artifact has been stolen. This relic is the Aegis, on which is mounted the head of Medusa. The enemy of the SPI’s founder has stolen the shield with the intention of using it to cause widespread death and destruction. It’s up to Makenna, her boyfriend Rafe, her partner Ian and the rest of the SPI team and other supernatural allies to stop them. The book has plenty of action and adventure but also a lot of humor. Great world building and the romance is lighthearted and clean.
February 17, 2023
2023 bk 66. Shearin has done it again. She does an excellent job of taking mythology's characters and bringing them and their descendants to life. Personification at its best. We still have our cast of evil characters, but they presented in all of their glory and weaknesses. In addition, we learn the story of Medusa and her Gorgon sisters in this tale of adventure. Time with Makenna and Rake are always delightful - but I will admit that I should have finished the Rake & Ruin series first before reading this one as the characters from each of her series bleeds into the other.
February 20, 2023
Mak has really grown into her roots and position in this novel. She still lacks the combat capabilities of Kate Daniels but she is no longer the neophyte fighter she was in the Grendal Affair. Still, what I like best about her is that she is not shy about showing her heart and by doing that, she manages to defeat a dragon and free a cursed soul. What a finale! I really hope that the author does not add to this series - I suspect that anything other than a spinoff would be a letdown from the wonderful thrillers this series has spawned.
September 16, 2024
Lisa Shearin does it again!! Another fabulous book!!
The Gorgon Agenda is wonderful! I have already reread it multiple times. She's e of the great story tellers of our time. She has created a world where you get so lost in reading the story. Each character is crafted with depth and layers so that you fall in love with them. I can't wait to see if there will be another book in this series! I look forward to the wedding of the century between Rake and Makenna! And all the family drama❣️😍
The Gorgon Agenda is wonderful! I have already reread it multiple times. She's e of the great story tellers of our time. She has created a world where you get so lost in reading the story. Each character is crafted with depth and layers so that you fall in love with them. I can't wait to see if there will be another book in this series! I look forward to the wedding of the century between Rake and Makenna! And all the family drama❣️😍
January 25, 2023
Another great read
The SPI series is a lot of fun with great characters and unique stories. I don't think I could choose a favorite character if I had to. It is always a surprise as to which direction the author is going to take us, so I am already looking forward to the next hook.
The SPI series is a lot of fun with great characters and unique stories. I don't think I could choose a favorite character if I had to. It is always a surprise as to which direction the author is going to take us, so I am already looking forward to the next hook.
January 27, 2023
A great entry in a fun series that's still going strong. There's humor and a wide range of like-able characters return from previous books. It felt like a long break between entries, but the author manages to reference earlier adventures without leaving a new reader lost in detail or a returning one bored. Already waiting for the next one.
February 1, 2023
Another fun instalment in this series that ties up a few loose ends neatly. It was a great, one-sitting read, but for me missed a little of the humour and snarkyness we’d had in previous books. Still compelling and I’m excited to see where the journey goes next, especially with what happens close to the end😉.
February 14, 2023
I love this series by Lisa Shearin. It's fast paced, exciting and has characters that are well developed and relatable. The main character grows and becomes more interesting with each successive novel. I love the paranormal aspects as well as the relationship aspects. In this novel someone has stolen from Makenna's Dragon employer and the item taken can cause casualties on a massive scale. It dives deep into greek mythos and brings back older villians. It was a highly enjoyable book.
June 13, 2023
A page turner
Following this series has been like being on a roller coaster, with twists and turns and non-stop excitement. If you haven't read any books by Ms. Shearin and like urban fantasy you have to try this series. The characters are interesting with a wide range of goblins, ghouls, dragons and so on! I can't wait for her next book.
Following this series has been like being on a roller coaster, with twists and turns and non-stop excitement. If you haven't read any books by Ms. Shearin and like urban fantasy you have to try this series. The characters are interesting with a wide range of goblins, ghouls, dragons and so on! I can't wait for her next book.
January 25, 2023
The latest entry in the SPI series is just as wonderful as all the rest. Everyone’s back in NYC, and the Cabal is being a pain again, this time with a distinctly Greek flair. With some unexpected new allies, the world is saved yet again. I look forward to reading more SPI adventures.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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