I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Paper & Blood by Kevin HearneSeries: Ink & Sigil #2
Published by Random House Publishing Group on August 10, 2021
Genres: Action & Adventure, Contemporary, fantasy, Fiction, Paranormal
Pages: 304
Format: ARC, eBook
Source: Netgalley
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Iron Druid Chronicles comes book two of an “action-packed, enchantingly fun” (Booklist) spin-off series, as an eccentric master of rare magic solves a supernatural mystery Down Under!
There’s only one Al MacBharrais: Though other Scotsmen may have dramatic mustaches and a taste for fancy cocktails, Al also has a unique talent. He’s a master of ink and sigil magic. In his gifted hands, paper and pen can work wondrous spells.
But Al isn’t quite alone: He is part of a global network of sigil agents who use their powers to protect the world from mischievous gods and strange monsters. So when a fellow agent disappears under sinister circumstances in Australia, Al leaves behind the cozy pubs and cafes of Glasgow and travels to the Dandenong Ranges in Victoria to solve the mystery.
The trail to his colleague begins to pile up with bodies at alarming speed, so Al is grateful his friends have come to help—especially Nadia, his accountant who moonlights as a pit fighter. Together with a whisky-loving hobgoblin known as Buck Foi and the ancient Druid Atticus O’Sullivan, along with his dogs, Oberon and Starbuck, Al and Nadia will face down the wildest wonders Australia—and the supernatural world—can throw at them, and confront a legendary monster not seen in centuries.
I could swear that I reviewed this book last year, because I remember writing about how good it was to see [redacted character*] again after the Iron Druid series. Except that review is no where in my archives, so I guess I’ll be writing it out again!
*Please note that if you don’t want to be spoiled for this redacted character, don’t read the back cover copy! I guess it’s probably not a spoiler if it’s in the advertising material, but I think they should have kept that as a surprise, so I’m not revealing it here even though the attempt might be futile. Especially since the book has been out 6+ months now.
This book was an adventure. I love Al. Buck Foi is a delight. Nadia is a badass. Don’t expect this series to be a copy of Iron Druid. It’s not. For one thing, Al isn’t filled with the guilt and ego that Atticus had going on in that series, which honestly makes this story much less tedious. Al was cursed, and it sucks, and he’s dealing with it the best that he can. I guess that’s one of the benefits of not being immortal — you don’t have time to fuck around, you have to find out right now.
Don’t get me wrong. I loved Atticus and his story. It’s just that Al has much more of a ‘tired human man’ vibe than Atticus’ action-adventure hero, and I honestly think that’s what the world needs more of right now. We’re all tired humans. We need some stories that teach us that we can keep moving on anyway, and that’s what Al’s stories does.
