While many parts of the story are familiar, Joscelin’s point of view will revitalize fans of the series and draw new readers to this lush epic fantasy. Libraries should prepare for requests for the original series.
Recommended for readers of politically focused fantasy and those who enjoy seeing a good man fight the good fight, even if not with sharp-edged weapons.
The contemporary setting and unusual magical system create an intriguing beginning to this series from Vee and Bebelle, who also write the “Seattle Slayers” series together. Put this book in the hands of fans of Fonda Lee’s “Green Bone Saga.”
The first in the popular “Green Creek” tetralogy, reissued by Tor, pairs Ox, steady as a rock, with Joe, a tornado plagued by a demon from his past. Their contrasting natures and a pack split generate lots of tension between Joe and Ox and the members of their respective packs, for an exciting start to the series.
Those daunted by the 800+ pages of the first in this series, To Sleep in a Sea of Stars, will find this a comparably brief read, and it works well as an excellent starting point for the series as a whole.
There’s much to savor here for readers looking for a deeper dive into the same legends as those in The Witch and the Tsar by Olesya Salnikova Gilmore, but in a more contemporary setting. Also a good choice for readers seeking stories imbued with the sensibilities of urban fantasy, like The Book of Night by Holly Black.