This book finds me in an awkward position of trying to write a review which is functionally different from my review of Siren’s Song. Because I’m in much the same position

I like the story. I think it’s well written, I think it has a lot of action, a lot of excellent epic fight scenes and the whole awesome description of Vis and the Tuatha de Danaan. It was epic, it was action packed, it has some nice twists.

But it’s a story we know. It’s a story we know very well. It’s a story that pretty much underpins a lot of Yancy’s character. In fact it may be the defining moment of Yancy’s character

Before this book Yancy was a cynical, brutal but loyal member of the Guild of the Staff. He was their wetwork specialist, their fixer. This was the man who was called in for one reason – to break things and break people. This was the man who was hardbitten, cynical – but still very much a believer in what the Guild of the Staff represents

And then Ailia, the woman he loves, was abandoned by the Guild of the Staff after they faced the Morrigan and Yancy decided to turn his back on all of them. This in turn laid down the path which led to the main books

This isn’t the plot of this book I’m describing here. This is the plot that has been fundamentally clear since the beginning of the series. There’s no way it couldn’t be because this was who Yancy is. The whole reason why Yancy is where he is right now, the whole reason why Yancy began the series as the solo blues man he is is because of the events in this book

There was no way we couldn’t not know this story

There is no way we couldn’t know how this book ends.

We even know most of the details of this, who is involved and why.

So despite all the action and the power and the roaring fighting, I have almost the same level of frustration I have with Sirens - I know this story.

Read More ( )

Flashback: The Morrigan: A Yancy Lazarus Novella by James Hunter is the book Yancy Lazarus followers have been waiting for. Even if you have never read any of Hunter's books, you will love this book. There is so much action and imagination in his stories- the magic, the creatures, the places, the plot, the fantasy itself is fresh. In this story Hunter takes us back to the past and shows us how Yancy gets some of his snarky attitude, well he had plenty before, but this made him even more paranoid of the Guild. He is sent to the Fey's High Court with other members of the Guild and things do not go well at all. Did the Guild think they would? Fast paced action, but still showed the loving relationship Yancy had with Ailia. Great characters, great plot, and as usual Yancy has the witty and snarky dialogue going on to the end. Hunter's stories get better and better. Loved it! Received this book for a honest review and it in no way effected my review or rating, it is just a great book! ( )

FTC Notice: This book was provided free in exchange for an honest review. This is no way impacts my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Heroes, even reluctant ones, aren’t typically people who have led a charmed life. Heroes are usually born out of heartache and misery and major hardship. The Morrigan shows the reader a pivotal point in the live of Yancy Lazarus; one that shapes him into the person he is in the novels.

Chronologically, The Morrigan is the second installment of the Yancy Lazarus series, after Siren Song. The Morrigan takes place while Yancy is still working for the Guild as “The Fixer,” their badass assassin. It answers some questions about why Yancy no longer works for the guild and his strained friendship with James Sullivan, and explains some references Yancy makes to a former lover, Ailia, to The Morrigan, and to his relationship with the Tuatha De Danann.

While Yancy is already a master of snarky insults in The Morrigan — “dickbasket” is one of my new favorites — he’s not quite as cynical or jaded as he is in the novels. He still trusts the Guild and is content being the thug that doesn’t think too much about his assignments. This is the story of how that trust was violated, and how Yancy came to be the ultimate paranoid drifter that we know and love.

FTC Notice: This book was provided free in exchange for an honest review. This is no way impacts my opinion of the book or the content of my review. ( )