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Book Log 11/2009 - When Demons Walk
Feb. 4th, 2009 04:42 pm11) Patricia Briggs: When Demons Walk
This gives the impression of being a slight book (slighter than it actually is) from Patricia Briggs early work (1998). It's set in the Sianim universe though with no crossover characters from Steal the Dragon except for the Prophet of Altis (who's mentioned but doesn't appear on the page). It's slight but it's absorbing, a crossover between fantasy, murder mystery and romance. Sham, sorceress and thief was exiled to Purgatory (the bad part of the bad part of town) when the hated Cybellians invaded Southwood and killed her family (minor nobles). When her mentor is killed, she accepts a job to tackle the demon responsible on behalf of Lord Kerim, the Cybellian Reeve of Southwood, now ensconced in the castle where her parents were slaughtered during Southwood's last defensive action. Despite their differences Kerim is not at all what she expected and suddenly the fact that the demon is sucking the life and health out of him makes it a lot more personal.
Briggs misses some opportunities for angst and conflict. Sham seems to put the past behind her very quickly, once she gets inside the castle and gets a sniff at Kerim's testosterone, but that's only a slight quibble. This fairly rolls along, making each page a pleasure to turn. It may be early Patricia Briggs, but she's already got a sure touch.
This gives the impression of being a slight book (slighter than it actually is) from Patricia Briggs early work (1998). It's set in the Sianim universe though with no crossover characters from Steal the Dragon except for the Prophet of Altis (who's mentioned but doesn't appear on the page). It's slight but it's absorbing, a crossover between fantasy, murder mystery and romance. Sham, sorceress and thief was exiled to Purgatory (the bad part of the bad part of town) when the hated Cybellians invaded Southwood and killed her family (minor nobles). When her mentor is killed, she accepts a job to tackle the demon responsible on behalf of Lord Kerim, the Cybellian Reeve of Southwood, now ensconced in the castle where her parents were slaughtered during Southwood's last defensive action. Despite their differences Kerim is not at all what she expected and suddenly the fact that the demon is sucking the life and health out of him makes it a lot more personal.
Briggs misses some opportunities for angst and conflict. Sham seems to put the past behind her very quickly, once she gets inside the castle and gets a sniff at Kerim's testosterone, but that's only a slight quibble. This fairly rolls along, making each page a pleasure to turn. It may be early Patricia Briggs, but she's already got a sure touch.
