Nocturnal Book Reviews: Early review: The Shifting Price of Prey by Suzanne McLeod

Early review: The Shifting Price of Prey by Suzanne McLeod

Friday, August 24, 2012 | Posted by kara-karina@Nocturnal Book Reviews

The Shifting Price of Prey by Suzanne McLeod (Spellcrackers.com #4)

review copy from the author

Synopsis from Goodreads
Sometimes a bit of magical help might cost more than you bargained for . . .

London is hosting the Carnival Fantastique, and Genny's job has never been busier or more fulfilling. Only not everyone is so happy. The fae are in trouble again and Genny learns the mysterious Emperor may have the solution they need – if Genny can find him.

Genny needs help. She turns to the vampire, Malik al-Khan, only to find he’s wrestling with his own demons. Genny’s own problems are about to multiply too. An old flame arrives with a tragic situation, just as the police request her urgent assistance with a magical kidnap. Is it all unconnected, or can the Emperor help her solve more than the fae’s troubles?

Amazon US/UK | Amazon kindle US/UK(£4.99) | The Book Depository US/UK | Fishpond

9/10

* * *

I always thought that Spellcrackers.com was a little gem of a series. The latest creation from Suzanne McLeod is one of her finest.

Wonderful, complex and very imaginative world-building, London packed by an amazing range of paranormal creatures all living in the open, cohabitating with humans and legally having their own rights, - witches, sidhe, vampires, shifters, dryads, nyads, kelpies, gnomes, fairies... There are so many of them, and yet in each book I learn something new.

As usual the intricate plot is impossible to predict. Poor Genny is a permanent fixture between a rock and a hard place, she just can't catch a break from all the trouble that follows her.

Plenty of surprises in book #4, plenty of yummy Malik, a little bit of Finn and Tavish, and of course hilarious flatmates of Genny - nyad Ricou who impersonates Johnny Depp, his pregnant dryad-wife Sylvia and their ever so biteful giant eel Bertha.

Genny is under a lot of pressure to crack the fertility curse for the good of the supernatural community, and a "clever" idea from Tavish forces her to use sidhe-made Taro cards to find the answers to her questions. As soon as she opens the first card, she is up for a wild ride involving an ancient vampire Emperor, Malik's past, Bastien games, werewolves and a huge danger to her nearest and dearest. Oh, dear! And she still has four cards to go...

Fabulous, brilliant story in a sparkling urban fantasy series from a British author. Very much recommended, especially for the fans of Karen Chance, Kim Harrison and Seanan McGuire.

* * *

Как обычно Сюзанн МакЛеод (по-моему у нас так её перевели, а не МакЛауд) книга вышла прекрасная, и по-моему мнению, сильнее предыдущей.

Её великолепный сказочный мир Лондона продолжает развиваться и расширять свой репертуар паранормальных существ. В этот раз к ним добавили гномов, веро-тигров, минотавров и вонючек-драконов.

Очень многое происходит по сюжету. Дженни необходимо найти как освободить эльфийское плодородие из амулета, в которое оно заключено. Тавиш, пытаясь ей помочь, заставляет её погадать на ши-картах Таро, из-за которых она встревает в огромные неприятности, включая древнего вампира Императора с его слугами-вервульфами, Малика с его очень тёмным прошлым, злодея Бастиена, его отродье Безумного Макса (мою любимый персонаж!), немного фавна Финна, веро-тигров и прочей и прочей нечисти...

Сюжет предугадать невозможно, в книге множество событий, сюрпризов и поворотов действия, особенно поражает концовка *смеясь*

Однако Сюзанн недавно объявила, что продала два контракта на последующие книги серии с мировыми правами, так что нам, читателям с Дженни и Ко. скучать не придётся!

Рекомендую фанатам Карен Чэнс, Ким Харрисон и Шинан МакГвайер.

Tags: 9/10, suzanne mcleod, urban fantasy, городское фэнтези, эльфы

5 comments:

Bea said...: I admit, the first book left me feeling 'meh' but I know many people who love the series. I'm glad this was a good installment.; 24 August 2012 07:08
Melliane said...: Yay!! Loved this one and I'm so glad it was the same for you. I agree a lot of surprises and I really want more!; 24 August 2012 11:49
Blodeuedd said...: Eeeeeeeek, so good and the end, and and and lol. Yes it was good; 25 August 2012 11:29
Ellie Warren said...: Not reading this review as I'm on book 2 at the moment but this series is so addictive! I'm looking forward to meeting Suzanne in a few weeks too...hopefully I won't go all fangirl on her!; 27 August 2012 11:07
Melissa (My World...in words and pages) said...: I have to get back to this series. Seems each book gets better and better. Dang. Thanks!; 28 August 2012 01:28