Review: Bloody Good by Georgia Evans

Bloody Good

Author: Georgia Evans

Although I have known Rosemary Laurey (the author behind "Georgia Evans") for several years, Bloody Good is the first book by her that I have read. It won't be the last, though, as I thoroughly enjoyed this one. It also bodes well for the remaining two volumes in the Brytewood trilogy - and I appreciate the fact that it is a trilogy. As in, a beginning, a middle, and an end. Thank you.

Evans uses World War II as the backdrop for this particular story. Nazi spies have invaded England - and not all of them are human. Luckily, some of Britain's "concerned citizens" aren't quite human, either. When they become alert to the traitors in their midst, the good guys race to ferret out the vampire spy and uncover his motivations. Bloody Good is fresh, fun, and charming, but the wartime setting gives it enough weight to keep it from being fluff. And the vampires herein have teeth - pun fully intended.

The book's set-up is simple - vampire spies land in England (during a spectacular opening sequence), and the rest of the book revolves around the heroes discovering and reacting to the menace. Evans wisely focuses on the characters rather than shoving them through a pre-ordained "plot." The village of Brytewood contains a number of interesting and colorful inhabitants, and it's entertaining just to follow them about as they uncover the mystery. The two main protagonists are so likable, in fact, that I even enjoyed the romance that develops between them. Romanceophobes take note, though - while there is romance, it enhances rather than drives the primary story.

Most of the vampires in this novel are despicable - they are Nazi spies, so what else do you expect? The vampires have their own agenda apart from serving the Axis, and how much of it they accomplish will be one of the trilogy's more interesting storylines. There are supernatural beings among the good guys as well, but it would be a shame to reveal too much about them. That being said, the battle between good and evil has the potential to be really fun as tensions escalate.

I hope that this isn't a lazy comparison, due to the similar cover art, but Bloody Good strongly reminded me of Charlaine Harris' "Sookie Stackhouse" series. Not so much because of the content (even if both series revolve around supernatural creatures), but because of the overall vibe. I can easily see fans of the Sookie novels enjoying this one as well.

This will sound trite, but Bloody Good lives up to its title. Let's hope that the second installment, Bloody Awful, doesn't live up to its title!

The Dead Grey Eye: Vampires are hawt... and have been for decades

This one's going out to Marta Acosta over at Vampire Wire. The other day she wryly commented on the numerous "Vampires are hawt" articles that have been popping up all over the news media as of late. What I want to know is, when have vampires not been hot?

In 1989, Dr. Katherine Ramsland wrote an article for Psychology Today titled "Pop Culture's Occult Boom: The Sudden, Curious Allure of Vampires." If you want to read it for yourself, you can find it right here over at the website Vampire Junction. On a personal level, this article was influential to me because it was when I began to consider myself a "vampire fan" specifically. Sure, I had always liked monsters - vampires included - but this article was the first time I had begun to see vampire fiction as a subgenre unto itself. It was also the first time I had seen a mainstream publication run a serious look at the explosion of vampire pop culture. Sure, there had been waves of interest in the past, but it was the late 1980's when things began to coalesce - and Dr. Ramsland's article was a harbinger of what was to come in the 1990's.

The early 1990's saw a fallout in the horror publishing business, but vampire novels kept going as if nothing happened. It became difficult to find horror novels that were not written by the "big name" authors, but vampire books were still being published. Many were lousy, and many were just riding Anne Rice's coattails, but there were a number of interesting variations on the theme during this decade as well.

The 1990's were also a big era for vampires in film. Francis Ford Coppola's lavish Bram Stoker's Dracula arrived during 1992's holiday season, accompanied by an array of tie-in merchandise. Two years later in 1994, Neil Jordan's big-screen adaptation of Anne Rice's Interview With The Vampire arrived, prompting a new wave of articles spotlighting, once again, the "sudden" interest in the subject.

While all of this was going on in the mainstream, White Wolf's role-playing game Vampire: The Masquerade was garnering a cult fanbase. The world of The Masquerade flirted with a wider audience in 1996 when the short-lived Fox television series Kindred: The Embraced aired.

In 1997, vampires were deemed hot again when Joss Whedon's Buffy the Vampire Slayer television series debuted to critical acclaim. Buffy ran for seven seasons, and even had it's own spin-off, Angel, which focused on a vampire lead. While I consider Buffy and Angel to be more "general supernatural" series rather than "vampire" series, they kept the undead in the public eye.

The 21st century continued the interest in vampires. At the movies, Underworld won both fans and detractors, but it was successful enough to launch its own franchise. Writers like Sherrilyn Kenyon and Laurell K. Hamilton had been writing about vampires for years, but it was in the '00's that their work began to overtly influence a number of other writers in both the fantasy and romance genres. Some vampire book series became so popular that they made the leap from paperback originals to hardcover; even Charlaine Harris' "Sookie Stackhouse" novels graduated to hardcover status long before the TV series True Blood aired. Elizabeth Kostova's The Historian landed on the bestseller charts in 2005, prompting yet another round of articles about - you guessed it - the explosion of interest in vampires.

And now, in 2009, vampires are hot. Again. Sheesh. Next time someone mentions it, just nod sagely and wait two more years before the media "discovers" that there is an interest in the subject.

Review: Soultaker by Bryan Smith

Soultaker

Author: Bryan Smith

Every so often, I come across essays by well-meaning writers who attempt to bring legitimacy to horror fiction. All too often, these essays ignore the primary reason most people read horror - namely, people being menaced by monsters or madmen. These writers will argue that horror should not be a genre unto itself, and then talk about their favorite favorite works of horror. Invariably, they name-check some literary novel that deals with tragedy of some sort - the loss of a loved one, life-altering accidents, and things of that nature. This, they claim, is proof that horror can be found outside the "horror genre" proper, and that horror novels should be classed with non-genre fiction, alongside Irving and Joyce.

I bet the people who write those essays hate Bryan Smith.

You see, when those writers bring up the literary merits of the class acts of horror fiction, they go out of their way to dismiss the books out there that rely on cheap shocks and gore-on-the floor. And Bryan Smith, well... cheap shocks and gore-on-the-floor are his primary stock-in-trade. His books are the prose equivalent of an ultra-trashy grindhouse horror flick. Not film, but flick.

It's time for me to dust off the ol' Standard Disclaimer; in fact, Smith thanks me on the acknowledgements page. But as with all of my "reviews," I hope to let you all know why I enjoyed a certain book. You may agree with my opinion, or you may not, but I hope that you are able to make an informed decision whether or not something will be to your tastes after reading my posts.

Soultaker is about what happens when horror writer Jake McAllister returns to the town he grew up in when his brother Trey gets into trouble. And in a Bryan Smith novel, "trouble" is going to involve violence and deviant sex. The main antagonist here is Lamia, the predatory spirit of Greek legend. Many modern writers have retconned Lamia into vampire folklore, though Smith doesn't delve into this connection.

While Soultaker has the requisite scare tactics, it's also the best of Smith's novels that I have read to date. I chalk it up to stronger writing and better characterizations. Soultaker isn't as gonzo as The Freakshow, nor is it as apocalyptic as Deathbringer, but its improved writing and oddball cast makes for an entertaining read.

I guess the short version is, like Smith's previous novels, Soultaker is not a work of high art. But it isn't meant to be. Smith is, at heart, a horror fan like the readers his books appeal to. His self-awareness of this fact, along with his genuine love for the genre, brings a no-frills, unpretentious flair to his work that suits it perfectly. If you are looking for a book that is bloody, sleazy, but also a lot of fun... check out Soultaker. It's horror without apologies.

Review: Vicious Circle by Linda Robertson

Vicious Circle

Author: Linda Robertson

A world where the supernatural is acknowledged (if not necessarily accepted). A world-changing destiny for the heroine. An earthy werewolf love interest and a seductive vampire homme fatale. Linda Robertson uses standard urban fantasy tropes, but her breezy style and approach to characterization helps make Vicious Circle a quick, enjoyable read.

Persephone Alcmedi is a witch who also gives werewolves a place to crash during the full moon. But when a friend is killed, and a particularly infamous vampire is singled out as the murderer, Alcmedi must use her abilities to make sure that justice is done.

While people die and innocents suffer in Vicious Circle, overall it has a breezy tone that goes down well. It is a fast-paced read with a lighter-than-expected touch that doesn't try to be DARKER THAN DARK. The writing is natural and unforced, partially because Robertson isn't trying to be more outre than the rest of the urban fantasy pack.

Vicious Circle succeeds as well as it does due to Robertson's knack for creating likable characters. In fact, I felt like the actual plot got in the way of just spending time with the book's colorful cast. But to Robertson's credit, she keeps things subdued even when the plot moves to the front of the narrative. Despite the de rigueur "Chosen One" prophecy, the action mostly takes place around Persephone's home. I like world-spanning action as much as the next reader, but this was a nice change of pace.

My goodwill towards the characters even extends to Johnny, the werewolf frontman for a "techno-metal-goth" band. Now you all know that describing a character as a goth is like a lightning rod for my ire. But Robertson sidesteps Bad Goth Depiction Syndrome by making Johnny so darned likable. I didn't see anything particularly goth about the character, but at least he wasn't depicted as a nitwit. He's a nice, funny guy in a genre overrun with moody trenchcoat ninjas. I liked him.

For me, the star of the book was Demeter Alcmedi, aka "Nana." She's loud, she's crass, she unwittingly brings home a Great Dane puppy she names "Poopsie." Nana's attitude changes as the threat level rises, but she steals the book. I wish that the marketplace could support a paranormal novel where a cranky senior citizen was the protagonist - I'd read it!

The principal threat in Vicious Circle are the vampires, and we meet two of them - Goliath and Menessos. Goliath is a bit of an enigma; he obviously has a violent temper, but he was more multifaceted than I expected at first. Menessos the local vampire master, and he fills the role of the dangerous "bad-for-you" character that is popular in this genre. I really hope that Robertson resists the urge to soften him up somehow. Characters like Menessos are at their best when they remain unsavory.

Robertson is not reinventing the wheel with Vicious Circle. But she does come up with a few interesting wrinkles that explain how things like lycanthropy and magic could function in the world she has created. Now that the perfunctory "introductory" novel is out of the way, I am curious to see where Robertson takes these characters next.

Taking A Few Days Off

In case you were wondering, I am going to be taking a few days off to finish my Dragon*Con programming. This is the final week to submit my schedule, and it's important that I get it done. I just wanted to drop in and let you know that I am working on some things to post here at Mondo Vampire when I get time to write them. So hang in there - I haven't abandoned this blog.

Biteline: Newly Released Stuff 07/09/2009

This is far from a comprehensive list of newly released items. Far, far from it. But they are things I wanted to draw your attention to.

The first installment of Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark-Hunters manga has finally been released. I am not a huge fan of manga, but I bought this because it is an important project for Sherri. She's the biggest anime and manga fan that I know, and this is a lifelong dream for her. Besides, it is really pretty nifty to see her characters interpreted in this style. Sherri took her time assembling the right team to put this together; the last thing she wanted was for some rush job. Claudia Campos has done a terrific job with the artwork, and I hope this is a successful venture for all involved. Cool stuff.

Near Dark is a movie that needs no introduction. Long hailed as one of the greatest vampire movies in cinematic history, this 1987 film has just been reissued on DVD. The new DVD cover takes advantage of Adrian Pasdar's starring role, which has never been played up before. Come to think of it, the same can be said about Jenny Wright, who plays his love interest in the film. This is a great, great film. Lance Henriksen gives one of his better performances, but Bill Paxton completely steals the show as the violent hellraiser Severin. I don't know if this edition has much in the way of special features (I have the loaded edition from years ago), but regardless - this movie belongs on the shelf of every vampire fan.

I just bought Robert M. Place's The Vampire Tarot deck the other day. I first saw his art in Rosemary Ellen Guiley's The Vampire Companion, but was not aware that he was working on a tarot deck. I don't read tarot, but I like the cards on an aesthetic level (aka "I like the pretty pictures"). This deck could have been called "The Dracula Tarot," as Place uses Stoker's novel as his focal point. There are other vampire elements present, but Dracula is the nexus that ties them all together in this deck. The characters and themes of Dracula lend themselves very well to tarot imagery; this is a beautiful work.

The Dead Grey Eye: Thoughts on "Dark Shadows"

Welcome to The Dead Grey Eye, my new editorial column. Yeah, I know I tend to editorialize anyway, but The Dead Grey Eye is going to be the place where you can get even more of it. The Dead Grey Eye is named after one of Lord Ruthven's more physical notable features. Lord Ruthven was the first vampire to appear in the English language, and has served as my nick-name/online handle for many, many years.

Depending on which sources you read, Johnny Depp and Tim Burton's big-screen adaptation of the cult soap opera Dark Shadows is either "on" or "off." The last thing I had heard about it was that it was "on" again, but it has been kicking around for so long that I will believe it when pre-production is officially announced. While I wish major studios would fund more Burton films that were not remakes, I would really like to see a good Dark Shadows movie. Burton typically has the golden touch anyway, especially when teamed with Depp. Throw vampires into that mix and they might as well start printing money right now. And while merchandising is never an artistic reason to make a movie, think about all the cool schwag that would come out!

But while that is all well and good, I want to see a Dark Shadows movie for a purely selfish reason: I just want a jumping-on point to an important vampire franchise that I keep missing out on.

I was born in April 1973, two years to the month after Dark Shadows went off the air. As a result, I never experienced the craze that the show generated in its heyday. I have friends who vividly remember running home after school so they could watch it on weekday afternoons. But my favorite Dark Shadows story by far involves one of my elderly relatives (who died before I was born) was going progressively blind. In order to "save her eyesight up" so she could watch the show, she would shut her eyes until the program started. That, my friends, is dedication.

Admittedly, watching a Depp-Burton adaptation would not be the same thing as experiencing the show at the peak of its popularity. I've just never had a wholly satisfying experience with the Dark Shadows franchise. But as an outsider looking in, I've always liked the supernatural "kitchen-sink" approach the Dark Shadows world had. Barnabas Collins is the type of old school "man in a black cloak" vampire that I enjoy. And Burton's pop-gothic sensibilities would wonderfully fit the subject matter, including its unintentional camp value; I doubt he would unnecessarily update the setting or characters just to "keep current."

But until then, Dark Shadows will probably remain a bit impenetrable to me. I tried to watch some of the episodes on cable many years ago, but I gave up because I hadn't started the storyline at the beginning. Yeah, the DVDs are available, but I do not have the money, time, or frankly the endurance to sit through the entire run. House of Dark Shadows was a movie adaptation of the first Barnabas Collins storyline, featuring several members of the original cast. While this film might be a good way to get acquainted with Barnabas and co., it is unavailable on DVD. I loved the 1991 primetime revival, but it was cancelled and ended on a cliffhanger. Another revival was slated for 2004, but never got past the "unaired pilot" phase. Last year I read the tie-in novel Dreams of the Dark, but it left me cold - despite being written by the acclaimed writers Stephen Mark Rainey and Elizabeth Massie.

So come on, guys...make this movie!

Clutch of Vampires 07/05/2009

I considered changing the name of this feature to "Coven of Vampires," until I remembered that there was a recent Brian Lumley short story collection by that same name. By trying to avoid looking like I was ripping off one book (though I consider it more of "an homage"), I inadvertently took the name of another. So "Clutch" remains - which is fine, since it is the term I use for a gathering of vampires anyway.

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A Clutch of Vampires, edited by Raymond T. McNally. I'll admit that these days, I have a difference of opinion with Raymond McNally and Radu Florescu regarding the importance of Vlad Tepes to Stoker's Dracula. But I'll also be the first to give them credit for being a major influence during my early days of vampire fandom; they were writing serious non-fiction about vampires that was popular enough to get into the hands of impressionable youngsters like myself. And this 1974 book edited by McNally, well, you can see why it is being mentioned - it was a direct influence on this feature! McNally did a terrific job gathering together short fiction, accounts from folklore, and even artwork depicting the undead. And I don't think you can ever go wrong with a cover by Edward Gorey. And speaking of the 1970's...

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The 1970's. People might think that the '00's are the Golden Age of Vampires, but we are still coasting on the innovations of the 1970's. Want proof? The "heroic vampire" archetype that is so popular today was created during the '70's. Yeah, the seeds were laid during the '60's by Barnabas Collins on Dark Shadows, but Fred Saberhagen's Dracula (first appearance: The Dracula Tape, 1975) and Chelsea Quinn Yarbro's Saint-Germain (first appearance: Hôtel Transylvania, 1978) were two of the earliest unashamedly "good guy" vampires to appear in novel-length fiction. And before that, Warren publications published the comics magazine Vampirella - she got her start in Sept. 1969, but that's close enough. Marvel Comics' Tomb of Dracula ran from 1972 to 1979, which introduced the vampire hunter Blade in 1973. Of course, Anne Rice's genre stalwart Interview With The Vampire was initially published in 1976, leading to a flurry of imitators. If your tastes run towards horror, Stephen King's stone-cold classic Salem's Lot was published in 1975, with a television miniseries based on it arriving in 1979. Intrepid reporter Carl Kolchak faced vampires in the 1972 made-for-TV movie The Night Stalker, and again on the short lived series Kolchak: The Night Stalker. At the movies, the decade opened with Christopher Lee's Taste The Blood of Dracula and closed with Frank Langella's Dracula (or George Hamilton's Love At First Bite, depending on your preference). Speaking of Langella, between his performance as Dracula and Yarbro's Saint-Germain novels, the groundwork was set for paranormal romance. The arthouse crowd got Werner Herzog's eerie remake of Nosferatu. But the best thing about the vampires of the '70's? There was variety but the characters were still recognizable as vampires. I could go on and on but you get the idea. I'll probably start a new feature devoted to vampire entertainment from the 1970's.

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Vampire Hunter D - The Movie. I am not really much of an anime fan, though I enjoy some of it - and Vampire Hunter D is the most prominent example. Although, in honesty, I am attracted more to the subject matter more than the form itself. Vampire Hunter D was one of the first movies that I saw where a vampire hero was placed in an action-adventure context. Kind of hard to believe in this post-Blade era, huh? The first time I saw Vampire Hunter D was back in the 1980's, on a bootleg videotape. And it was in Japanese, with no subtitles! However, the story was visual enough that I got the overall gist of things, even if I thought that the villainous Count Lee was Dracula himself. And I have to say, I still don't know what to make of D's talking hand. I really enjoyed the 2000 sequel, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust, and I should read more of the Hideyuki Kikuchi novels that serve as the franchise's source material.

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Vampire Themes. This is a compilation that Cleopatra records put out in 1997 - not only to coincide with the 100th anniversary of Dracula, but also the 75th anniversary of Murnau's Nosferatu and the 150th anniversary of Bram Stoker's birth! The idea behind the album was terrific - gather together a host of goth and industrial bands to cover songs and musical pieces from various vampire films. In execution, however, things got a little...wonky. There are some good pieces here and there - Leæther Strip's cover of Woljclech Kilar's iconic "Vampire Hunters" from Bram Stoker's Dracula comes to mind, and Fahrenheit 451's take on "Beach House" from The Hunger is suitably creepy. I even dig Bell, Book & Candle's extrapolation of the opening theme music from the television series Forever Knight. But things start to go off the rails with the songs that are allegedly "based on" the films. Some of these songs aren't too bad, but I suspect it was more of a case of the bands having a song ready that they could vaguely tie in to a movie. And for some reason, there is a cover of David Bowie's song "Cat People (Putting Out Fire)." No one is going to accuse this album of being a top-tier goth/industrial compilation, despite the presence of several dependable acts. If this sounds like a bit of a dis, it really shouldn't - this album is one of those very nostalgic things for me, warts and all. The scattershot approach makes it all the more lovable. I would, however, like to know what ol' Bram would have thought of this tribute.

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The fact that unabridged editions of Bram Stoker's Dracula can be found in the Children's Classics section at bookstores. Complete with the infamous "blood baptismal" scene which, to me, cuts straight to the heart of the queasy eroticism that lurks in vampire fiction. Of course, there is also the encounter between Jonathan Harker and Dracula's brides. And let's not forget all the violence! To me, having copies of Dracula in the children's section is wonderfully subversive.

Mondo Vampire Glossary

I tend to use the same lingo over and over, so rather than explain those terms and phrases each and every time, I thought it would make sense to create a glossary. I'll doubtless be adding to it as time goes on.

Bad Goth Depiction Syndrome - when a writer makes references to Goth culture without "getting it." These "Goth" characters will usually be comedy relief poseurs or willing vampire bait, or depicted listening to radio hard rock bands that the author thinks are "edgy." The end result is clueless and/or patronizing towards a community that the author didn't bother to research.

Brütal - me being completely blunt, or honestly expressing my opinion, depending on how you look at it.

The Cape and Fangs Crowd (or Society) - an affectionate nickname I use for fans and writers of "old-school" vampire entertainment. The Cape and Fangs Crowd typically love vampire stuff that dates back to the 1970's, and is so-named for the standard "outfit" that vampires were depicted with on book covers in those days. In case you hadn't noticed, I am a proud member of the Cape and Fangs Crowd.

Full speed ahead - a phrase I use when I fully support a particular direction.

"I don't like vampires" - a frequently heard proclamation by horror writers, who, when asked, will readily admit to liking Black Sunday, Cronos, Dracula, From Dusk Till Dawn, Hammer horror movies, I Am Legend, Let The Right One In, The Light At The End, Live Girls, Near Dark, Necroscope, The Night Stalker, Nosferatu, Salem's Lot, They Thirst, 30 Days Of Night, Tomb of Dracula, The Traveling Vampire Show, and Universal monster movies. But they don't like vampires - just so we're clear on that.

Non-alcoholic beer - the Twilight "saga."

Seattle Mafia/Mob - the frankly awesome bunch of writers who live up in the Pacific Northwestern United States.

Sherrilyn Kenyon fanfiction - every series about a Dark Brotherhood of Conflicted Bad Boys that mysteriously followed in the wake of Sherrilyn Kenyon's success. I avoid these books like the plague. I already like Sherrilyn Kenyon...what use do I have for Sherrilyn Kenyon, Jr.?

The Standard Disclaimer - I know and socialize with the author, artist, or other creator whose work is being discussed.

Straight no-chaser horror - what most people think of when they think of the horror genre. Stephen King's early works are the most popular examples of straight no-chaser horror.

$3.95 horror novel (or the Zebra horror novel) - a go-for-broke, paperback original horror novel that has no lofty ambitions; the extreme end of "straight no-chaser horror" novels. This term comes from the price found on many novels published (often by Zebra) during the late '80's/early '90's horror boom. While paperback novels have doubled in price since then, the aesthetic lives on; Bryan Smith is the current king of the $3.95 horror novel. Credit goes to Rev. Bob for coining the "$3.95 horror novel" phrase.

Trenchcoat Ninja (or Wolverine MacLeod)- a trenchcoated thug - complete with stubble, swords, and paint-by-numbers "attitude" - who also happens to be a vampire (or some other supernatural being). Trenchcoat Ninjas come off like an unasked-for cross between Wolverine, Highlander, and a ninja. Oh yeah, and a vampire, too. This character type is beloved by unimaginative romance writers and role-playing gamers alike, despite being every bit as hoary a cliché as the Count with an opera cape and funky accent.

True 2 Da Game - describes a romance author who has a vested interest in vampires, werewolves, and the supernatural beyond what currently sells in the marketplace. These authors are able to have great conversations about non-romantic supernatural fiction.

Review: Street Magic by Caitlin Kittredge

Street Magic: A Black London Novel

Author: Caitlin Kittredge

I am not going to pretend that I don't know Caitlin Kittredge. I don't know her very well, mind you, but she is a friend of friends, which makes her cool by extension. And yeah, I know that my first comments about her in public were about how cute she was on a message board (before I found out that she was a friend of a friend). She has also become one of my "go to" people for my Dragon*Con programming. The upshot to all this is, some people may be inclined to dismiss this review altogether as being biased. Then again, that is why I am writing for a blog named "Mondo Vampire" and not the "New York Times Review of Books."

Some bloggers try not to review books by their acquaintances. In my case, this would be next to impossible. If you can take my word for it, I hate, I really hate name-droppers who try to use good reviews to suck up to this or that author. So while this is a very positive review, I hope that I do a good job explaining why I am giving Street Magic such high marks.

Street Magic is one of the best opening novels to an urban fantasy series that I have read since Tanya Huff's Blood Price. In fact, this novel is so potent that I would recommend it to fantasy and horror fans who typically write off contemporary urban fantasy as being "too girly." Street Magic is urban fantasy, but it has more in common with Vertigo comics and Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere than it does with the post-Laurell K. Hamilton Girl Power! style that is currently prevalent.

Caitlin Kittredge is best-known for her "Nocturne City" series. While I have read and enjoyed all of the "Nocturne City" books, they felt like Kittredge was playing in someone else's sandbox. Bending the rules somewhat, yeah, but they were still pretty conventional urban fantasy novels. Street Magic is on another level entirely; it reads like a more personal effort, and Kittredge really brings her "A" game to it.

Just by looking at Street Magic, I could tell that this was going to be different than many of the urban fantasies out right now. The Chris McGrath cover is, as can be expected, awesome and captures the flavor of the book. It depicts the novel's stars, Jack Winter and Pete Caldecott - but Jack isn't a bare-chested hunk, and Pete isn't shoving a dagger and/or stiletto heel in your face. While the back copy promises that Jack is a "gorgeous...mage," don't be misled; that was probably a marketing decision designed to make the book more appealing to the audience who expects beefcake heroes with their urban fantasies.

Jack Winter is, hands down, one of the most charismatic characters I have ever encountered in urban fantasy - or any kind of fantasy for that matter. He reminded me of Hellblazer's John Constantine - both the comic and the film version, interestingly. Jack is a mage whose abilities have led to a life of personal problems. His foil is Pete Caldecott, a female inspector with Scotland Yard who knew Jack years prior to the book, but believed that he was dead. The relationship between these two is handled adroitly and unexpectedly. Some readers may be surprised by the lack of sex between Jack and Pete, but Kittredge's restraint frankly makes their relationship a lot more believable. And while Jack, with Pete's help, starts to get his life in order by the end of the book, he remains a scruffy ne'er-do-well; don't expect Jack to get a haircut and start wearing a letterman jacket to impress her. These two are characters that I look forward to spending more time with.

Street Magic is the first in a series dubbed "Black London." "The Black" is a shadowy netherworld that parallels London; those who know how to can slip between it and the real world. The Black drips with atmospheric touches - an encounter with an otherworldly taxi stands out to me - but Kittredge avoids spelling everything out. She lets the reader discover the world of the Black by way of the story rather than exposition.

Perhaps the thing that I liked the most about Street Magic is that it felt like a complete experience. Even if there were no follow-ups planned, I would not have felt ripped off. Street Magic reads like a novel, not the latest episode of an ongoing television series. Time will tell if Kittredge manages to keep this approach in subsequent volumes, but I hope that she does. Another thing to note is that Street Magic is written in third person, which is very rare in contemporary urban fantasy. It may be a personal choice, but I prefer third person writing and am glad that Kittredge utilized it.

In short, don't miss this book.