This is the second instalment of a trilogy, in a series that I love (see here).
What to Expect
The continued adventures of the inimitable d’Bois, in his fight against – in no particular order – dastardly British, flamboyant Spanish, knave Frenchmen from his own side, and the occasional interstellar horror. It actually make a lot of sense, and is a fun romp to read.
Events pick up pretty much at the same night of the close of the previous book (Shadow of the Serpent). We get a bit more encounters with the snake-worshipping (and actually snake-y) ancient cult, as well as an encounter with a Lovecraftian creature of the interstellar void.
What I liked
You have to love d’Bois, who speaks of himself in the third person, smokes cigar, and epitomises the best of Napoleonic era French Hussars. He scathing about his own shortcomings as much as he is about his enemies, and there’s a wonderful charm to the whole series.
What to be aware of
This is part two of a trilogy. You don’t have to read the earlier adventures of d’Bois (though I’d highly recommend them!), but you should at least read part one of this trilogy. This book doesn’t quite end on a cliff-hanger, but there’s a clear sense of things to come.
Felix’s and Jack’s Reviews
Felix enjoys d’Bois adventures, and would love to share a glass of wine and trade stories. Though Felix is more on the discretion side than valour when it comes to fighting, he certainly shares the same dislike to treachery and occult nasties.
This was Jack’s first encounter with the series, so he went back to read the previous instalments. He also enjoyed it tremendously, and agrees that the point of the sword is a solution he often dreams about (while he’s constrained by legal necessities when dealing with interdimensional monsters). He enjoyed this romantic adventure stories, and looking forward to more.
Summary
Highly recommended, charming adventures in a unique setting with loveable characters. Even though it’s a trilogy, you can read part one and this one together without having to wait until the next one. (If you’ve missed the previous volumes, check out the series).
Enjoying the reviews, but wondering who the heck are those Felix and Jack fellows? Glad you asked! Felix is the protagonist of the Togas, Daggers, and Magic series, an historical-fantasy blend of a paranormal detective on the background of ancient Rome, and Jack is the police detective running the Unusual Crimes Squad, dealing in occult crimes in modern-day Australia.
Come meet Felix and Jack on the free short stories and novels!
