It’s, err… been a while since I read the first Thraxas novel. I did enjoy it, but didn’t get to the rest of the series till now. Still, the time is right for a quick and fun read.

What to Expect

Another case – actually several, interconnected – for our grumpy investigator. He just wants to escape the summer heat and have a beer, but clients keep dragging him away to look at anything from murder to talking dolphins. Things generally go downhill from there, to an explosive showdown before the dénoument exposing who did what to whom.

The world has a sprinkling of late Roman vibe (with senators and togas), but is deeply rooted in more traditional fantasy magic system (not to say D&D-ish). Pace is good, characters are OK, and one can almost hear ‘Everyone was Kung-Fu Fighting’ in the background.

What I liked

It’s a fun quick read, not overly taxing, which fitted my mood. Tharxas is an ageing, over-weight curmudgeon, with just enough magic skills to deal with crimes and criminals but not enough to really pull an easy solution from his hat. He’s handy with a sword, but not nearly as much as his over-the-top side-kick Makri. There’s enough tongue-in-cheek action and world building that doesn’t take itself too seriously or too darkly. It has a decidedly urban paranormal detective vibe, which I do enjoy.

What to be aware of

The writing style is somewhat clipped as in the first novel, but was less of an issue this time for me. It does lead to a more ‘telling’ style, which may annoy those who prefer brick-sized novels, but I found the author used it well for the premise of the cynical-detective genre. It does make for a quick read through, and let’s Thraxas’ natural crabbiness come through.

Despite the Roman themes mixed with funky names and the occasional historical allusions, I wouldn’t say that the world stand out — it’s a bit of a ‘generic fantasy city’ one can find in adventure novels, without a strong sense of place.

Felix’s Review

Despite the obvious similarities between Felix and Thraxas — two not-quite-accomplished magicians-turned-detective to pay the bills — I didn’t think they’d hit it off, as their personalities seemed to different. Still, Felix surprised me, showing a greater understanding in what makes Tharaxs tick, commenting on his abilities for his age (I had to remind Felix that Thraxas is only a decade older) and about his tenacity in finding justice to those who need it, and don’t enjoy high-society’s grace and power. He did make some snarky comments that if Thraxas wasn’t drinking so much perhaps he could have pursued more obvious clues faster.

Summary

If you like Piers Anthony or Tom Holt, or if you’re tired of waiting for Jim Butcher’s next OTT Dresden adventure, this might be up your alley. I think there was enough improvement of the first novel to continue reading the series — there are certainly enough times when one wants a simple adventure/mystery, without dark themes or a plot spreading across the breadth of the ocean.

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Enjoying the reviews, but wondering who the heck is that Felix fellow? Glad you asked! He’s the protagonist of the Togas, Daggers, and Magic series, an historical-fantasy blend of a paranormal detective on the background of ancient Rome.

Come meet Felix and his world on the free short stories and novels!