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The Darkness Calling by Joe Coates

SPFBO Status: Cut

Blurb: 

When a contract goes out on the head of a human-trafficker living in one of London’s most exclusive suburbs, romantically deprived hitman, Archie Nyx, assumes it’s just another day at the office. In a profession that usually comes with minimal moral high ground, being paid a hefty sum to expunge an excrescence like Andras Janos is as close to a good day at work as Archie gets. It’s a nice thought, but when the hit goes south and the unexpected elements rear their heads, Archie must track down the mysterious client who seems to want more than just Janos dead.

Beautiful but hard-boiled Detective Inspector Valentina Galanti is back at work at the Met after an accident that tore her life apart. Her old friend and boss, Detective Superintendent Jack McNeill, assigns Val to a brutal multiple homicide by way of a welcome back. Val embraces the carnage as a pleasing escape from the grief and fury that are threatening to overwhelm her.

By chance, or so it seems, Archie and Val meet one afternoon. Lies and deceptions breed more lies and deceptions, with the assassin and copper having no idea that they are both working towards the middle of the same problem from opposite sides.

Set in a near-future London not too dissimilar to the one we know, The Darkness Calling is a soft sci-fi novel that explores whether any silver lining can be found in the midst of a son’s hatred for his father, a mother’s heart-crushing grief, and the place where the bullets fly.

General Thoughts: 

I could not put down The Darkness Calling during my initial screening of 20% of my Phase One batch. I loved the futuristic style and the mystery surrounding the main characters. Despite how much I was enjoying this read, the lack of fantasy was evident. After completing my initial screening, I looked up the blurb associated with The Darkness Calling (something I never do)  and found that this novel is described as ‘soft science fiction’. So, while Coates has a fantastic start in The Darkness Calling, it does not belong in SPFBO. 

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Deathless Beast by Andrew D. Meredith

SPFBO Status: Cut

Blurb: 

Fates intertwine – Pantheon calls – Darkness Grows

Far too many blame their own bad luck on Hanen and Rallia Clouw. When opportunity knocks, they leap to put their past behind them.

In the turmoil of a holy order fraught with lies, frustration, and heresy, the paladin Jined Brazstein is called to deeper faith.

When Katiam takes up a seemingly ageless seed pod from a botanist’s desk, she cannot imagine the change it will bring.

Life stirs within that seed, the path to deeper faith beckons, profits are made upon the road, darkness moves-a winged, deathless wrath invisible to the gods.

For those who seek the heroes path,

Fate takes more than bargained for.

Hubris breeds a deathless wrath,

That always hungers after more.

General Thoughts: 

Deathless Beast is a slow burn, filled with detail. Up to the 20% mark, we had followed a caravan and encountered some alarming beasts, but in general the plot was still unfolding. Conflict was looming between two countries behind the scenes, causing some inconvenience for our travelers, but the stage was still zoomed in. Aside from the caravan, we also were gradually being introduced to the Paladin Jined, a religious, military order. While character personalities were bright and they piqued my interest, the slow progression of the plot kept me from completely falling into this material. 

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The Blood-Born Dragon by JC Rycroft

SPFBO Status: Cut

Blurb: 

A bond she didn’t choose.

A love she can’t escape.

A creature so powerful it bends the limits of time…

Smart, sassy, and sanguine, Des Mildue is a traveling sellsword in Rescalin, a dry and dusty kingdom full of rogues, opportunists, and thieves. She keeps her nose clean, brazens it out with a blade when she can’t, and keeps others at arm’s length where they can’t mess up her plans.

That is, until a sword fight gone wrong leaves her tied by blood to the first dragon hatched in centuries. Suddenly, Des has to contend with a new voice in her head: haughty, willful Esquidamelion. Des wants to leave Squid by the roadside, but the blood bond has other ideas.

With half the world on their tail – including Liv, her beautiful, faithless ex who Des is definitely over – Des must search for answers for why so many are willing to kill, maim and torture to get their hands on Squid. But she’s beginning to suspect her blood bond has tied her not only to a dragon, but to a fight for Rescalin’s future…

…and no one else even knows it’s at risk.

General Thoughts:

The Blood-Born Dragon had so much potential with a bad ass, versatile female protagonist who just happens to hatch a dragon. However, Des’ constant thoughts of her ex (who conveniently shows up and desperately needs Des’ help) led me to DNF this novel at 22%. Despite hatching a talking dragon, Des hardly spared a thought for the miracle, too caught up in the politics at the moment.  

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The Quavering Air by Simone Snaith

SPFBO Status: Cut

Blurb: 

All that divides Span from its dark sister world, Avid, are two extraordinary clocks set an hour apart.

When a mysterious shapeshifter alters their settings, Avid’s beasts start slipping through rifts in the air, wreaking havoc on the many species of Span.

Despite her insecurities and fresh heartbreak, the young human Renna answers a summons by the wise founders known as the Appon, to join a motley crew of champions chosen to save Span from destruction. On a journey riddled with attacks from otherworldly creatures, the team must put aside their prejudices and dark suspicions . . . because they dare not abandon the mission.

From the author of Between The Water & The Woods comes a new adventure in a strange world full of magic and wonder, danger and humor, and unexpected romance.

General Thoughts: 

The Quavering Air has an ambitious start, with many different and detailed magical creatures all on a quest to save the world. Given the many moving pieces and magical beings with their own backstories, the mission felt rushed and was hard to buy into while keeping the worldbuilding details in proper order. 

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