by Stephen Blackmoore
Paperback, 272 pages
Expected publication: August 5th 2014 by DAW
When necromancer Eric Carter returned to Los Angeles after fifteen years on the run he knew things were bad, but he never imagined how bad they could get. Sister murdered, best friend dead, married to the patron saint of death, Santa Muerte.
And things are just getting worse.
His link to the Aztec death goddess is changing his powers, changing him, and he’s not sure how far it will go. He’s starting to question his own sanity, wonder if he’s losing his mind. No mean feat for a guy who talks to the dead on a regular basis.
While searching for a way to break Santa Muerte’s hold over him, Carter finds himself the target of a psychopath who can steal anyone’s form, powers and memories. Identity theft is one thing, but the guy does it by killing his victims and wearing their skins like a suit. He can be anyone. He can be anywhere.
Now Carter has to change the game, go from hunted to hunter. All he has for help is a Skid Row Bruja and a ghost who’s either his dead friend Alex or Carter’s own guilt-fueled psychotic break.
If things go right, he just might survive a week where everything is trying to kill him and nothing is as it seems.
In Broken Souls, we start right where Dead Things left off. Eric’s sister is dead and his friends have written him off because he shot his best friend. We now know that his sister’s killer is an Aztec death goddess, who also just happens to be Eric’s new wife. Since his marriage, his powers are starting to change and maybe not in a good way. Eric is seriously messed up.
In the past, Eric might have run from his problems, but not this time. Too bad there are still so many people who would prefer him dead. Just as action packed as the first novel, you have to wonder how much one person can take. Eric gets beat up and I love every minute of it. Is that wrong of me?
Eric does find some help in a new character known as the bruja. Oh and she is fun, feisty, mean and definitely a match for Eric. As Stephen Blackmoore puts it in his book, “She has the coolest toys.” However, if I’m going to start quoting lines, there are some doozies. This one is a particular favorite of mine, “And who the #*%@ sets off an earthquake in Los Angeles? That’s just rude.” I left out the profanity but you get the picture. You got to love the sarcasm.
Dead Things was good, and believe it or not, Broken Souls is even better. I can’t wait for the next installment. This is definitely going to be one of my favorite urban fantasy series and I may even have to check out his other books.
5 Entertaining But Badly Beaten Sheep
LisaA
His first novel, a dark urban fantasy titled CITY OF THE LOST is out through DAW Books and is available at all the fashionable bookstores. Hopefully some of the seedier ones, too. He would, after all, like to buy a copy.
His short stories and poetry have appeared in magazines like Plots With Guns, Needle, Spinetingler, and Thrilling Detective, as well as the anthologies UNCAGE ME and DEADLY TREATS.
He is represented by Allan Guthrie at Jenny Brown Associates.
Despite evidence to the contrary, he does not have rabies.
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When necromancer Eric Carter returned to Los Angeles after fifteen years on the run he knew things were bad, but he never imagined how bad they could get. Sister murdered, best friend dead, married to the patron saint of death, Santa Muerte.
And things are just getting worse.
His link to the Aztec death goddess is changing his powers, changing him, and he’s not sure how far it will go. He’s starting to question his own sanity, wonder if he’s losing his mind. No mean feat for a guy who talks to the dead on a regular basis.
While searching for a way to break Santa Muerte’s hold over him, Carter finds himself the target of a psychopath who can steal anyone’s form, powers and memories. Identity theft is one thing, but the guy does it by killing his victims and wearing their skins like a suit. He can be anyone. He can be anywhere.
Now Carter has to change the game, go from hunted to hunter. All he has for help is a Skid Row Bruja and a ghost who’s either his dead friend Alex or Carter’s own guilt-fueled psychotic break.
If things go right, he just might survive a week where everything is trying to kill him and nothing is as it seems.
In Broken Souls, we start right where Dead Things left off. Eric’s sister is dead and his friends have written him off because he shot his best friend. We now know that his sister’s killer is an Aztec death goddess, who also just happens to be Eric’s new wife. Since his marriage, his powers are starting to change and maybe not in a good way. Eric is seriously messed up.
In the past, Eric might have run from his problems, but not this time. Too bad there are still so many people who would prefer him dead. Just as action packed as the first novel, you have to wonder how much one person can take. Eric gets beat up and I love every minute of it. Is that wrong of me?
Eric does find some help in a new character known as the bruja. Oh and she is fun, feisty, mean and definitely a match for Eric. As Stephen Blackmoore puts it in his book, “She has the coolest toys.” However, if I’m going to start quoting lines, there are some doozies. This one is a particular favorite of mine, “And who the #*%@ sets off an earthquake in Los Angeles? That’s just rude.” I left out the profanity but you get the picture. You got to love the sarcasm.
Dead Things was good, and believe it or not, Broken Souls is even better. I can’t wait for the next installment. This is definitely going to be one of my favorite urban fantasy series and I may even have to check out his other books.
5 Entertaining But Badly Beaten Sheep
LisaA
About the Author:
Stephen Blackmoore is a pulp writer of little to no renown who once thought lighting things on fire was one of the best things a kid could do with his time. Until he discovered that eyebrows don't grow back very quickly.His first novel, a dark urban fantasy titled CITY OF THE LOST is out through DAW Books and is available at all the fashionable bookstores. Hopefully some of the seedier ones, too. He would, after all, like to buy a copy.
His short stories and poetry have appeared in magazines like Plots With Guns, Needle, Spinetingler, and Thrilling Detective, as well as the anthologies UNCAGE ME and DEADLY TREATS.
He is represented by Allan Guthrie at Jenny Brown Associates.
Despite evidence to the contrary, he does not have rabies.
GIVEAWAY
US only
This sounds like an interesting and multi level series. I would love to read this series. I've put it on my Amazon wish list.
ReplyDeleteI recently picked up Dead Things and am very glad to hear that the series will bring good UF feels. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us :)
ReplyDeleteDead things is on my list, I'll wait some to read it, but I will ;)
ReplyDeleteI know! I love this type of story, now I have to find a way to work it into my TBR pile
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