Disclaimer # 1 -- I received a free advanced copy of this book for the purpose of writing an impartial review. After reading the book, though I also DID buy a copy of it as well.
Disclaimer # 2 -- This is first urban fantasy book I've read in a L-O-N-G time, for the simple reason that I normally don't enjoy fantasy that much. Not that the writing is bad, or I have anything against the story elements,it's just my ability to suspend disbelief is only able to stretch just so far. Example -- I might get into a story where some/all of the main characters are werewolves, but the moment those werewolves can fly I'm out of there. I can go along with a fantasy storyline, as long as the characters and the story still make sense to my science-inclined brain. Many fantasy and/or supernatural books are just a bridge too far for me to really enjoy the genre -- my problem, not the genre's. That being said, I took a chance on this book, and I don't regret it
Roku MacCormick is a hardworking detective on the San Francisco Police Department, based in the Chinatown precinct. In this "version" of San Fran magic (and magical beings) are real, and portions of thecity are guarded by dragons. Roku works in the Arcane Division, which investigates crimes in which the use of magic was involved. Just like a knife can be used for good (say, to cut a nice juicy steak) or for evil (stabbing someone) magic can likewise be either used or abused. When it's abused, it's up to the Arcane Division to catch the bad guys without getting caught up in the bad joo-joo themselves. The Chinatown Precinct’s Arcane Division has a nickname, the "Dim Sum Asylum".
In the very first scene Roku hero is chasing a suspect through the streets The suspect has stolen a clutch of dragon eggs. The eggs are valuable because this particular species of dragon are not only endangered, they have low reproduction rates. Nests, when found, are protected by law and are watched closely until the eggs hatch. The suspect, in this case, is Roku’s partner on the force, and Roku ends up having to shoot his own partner after the guy grabbed a hostage. Roku ends up on desk duty with Internal Affairs sniffing around, natural I suppose when one cop shoots another. But to cap off Roku’s crappy week, when Roku DOES get exonerated and put back on the streets, it’s with a partner (Trent Leonard) who is not only new Dim Sum Asylum he’s new to the Arcane Division period. Oh goody. Trent is totally green in terms of understanding how to investigate Arcane Crimes while trying to stay safe from the magic. And, just to complicate things, Roku is SERIOUSLY attracted to Trent (and vice versa)
Roku himself if half-fae and half-human. His mother was full-blooded fae, and his father a human of unpleasant family lineage. Since Roku’s mom was also a cop, the fact that Roku is a hybrid is common knowledge. What’s not so widely known is that Roku’s father is the son of Takahashi, a local Yakuza patriarch (equivalent to the Don of the Italian mafia). Trent’s background is a secret. Trent is a Splice. A Splice is a person whose two fully-human parents had fae genes spliced into their unborn child’s DNA in order to create a Designer Part Magical Baby. The creation of a Splice is supposed to be illegal, but it still happens, and Trent was one of those kids.
Roku and Trent start out investigating a ceramic sex idol that’s been magically animated, and is running around the streets of Chinatown creating lust-fueled havoc. The case gets more complicated by the fact that the sex idol turns out to be just the first in a series of animated objects, and the later objects are being used to kill people.
Without giving away the whole story I will say that Roku and Trent prove themselves to be a solid partnership on the force and (sorry, can’t resist the pun here) a force to be reckoned with in combating magical crime.
Rhys Ford’s usual humor is evident throughout the book, which probably went a long way towards me sticking with the book despite my normal dislike of the fantasy sub-genre. Rhys writes MC’s that suck you in and you just HAVE to know how it all works out. It’s Rhys Ford, so you KNOW that the destination is an HEA, but Rhys likes to keep you guessing as to how in the heck the guys are going to get there.
Bottom Line – While I probably wouldn’t have jumped on this book as an insta-buy , I’m giving it 5 out of 5. Fantasy still isn’t my fave and likely never will be, but this book was well done, it kept my interest, and turned out to be a really entertaining read.
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