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Romance Novel Reviews, Author Interviews, Commentary
Guest Review: Hard Spell by Justin Gustainis
Filed in 3 1/2 Stars , Blodeuedd , guest review , Justin Gustainis Posted on July 28, 2011 @ 6:00 am
12 comments
Format read: Copy provided by the author
Number of pages: 400
Series: Occult Crimes Unit Investigation 1
Release Date: July 26 2011
Publisher: Angry Robot
Formats Available: Mass Market Paperback, Kindle, Nook
Purchasing Info: Author’s Website, Publisher, Amazon.com Amazon Kindle, Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, Nook, Indiebound.
Book Blurb:
Stan Markowski is a Detective Sergeant on the Scranton PD’s Supernatural Crimes Investigation Unit.Like the rest of America, Scranton’s got an uneasy ‘live and let unlive’ relationship with the supernatural. But when a vamp puts the bite on an unwilling victim, or some witch casts the wrong kind of spell, that’s when they call Markowski. He carries a badge. Also, a crucifix, some wooden stakes, a big vial of holy water, and a 9mm Beretta loaded with silver bullets
We are very happy to welcome Blodeuedd from Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell here as a guest today. She is a wonderful blogger- check out her blog and give her some love!
My Thoughts:
I always say that you should try all kinds of genres and books that are out there, but do I follow it? Not really and that is why I wanted to try this book. It is urban fantasy but not the kind I am used to. No kick-ass woman in leather and sexual tension between her and whoever alpha hottie that is around. Instead we have an older guy, a detective in this more old school detective novel with supernatural elements. I am thinking of that more hardboiled fiction (well ok not that violent) but you get the general idea. It’s just the general tone of the book, and I could so well see this in black and white on the screen. With that in mind I started reading.
Hard Spell is about Stan, a detective who works investigating crimes done by and to supernaturals. Together with his partner he gets a hard and messy crime to figure out. Someone is killing supernaturals and if they can’t stop that person, all hell will break loose. He is struggling with a new partner, his own past and his dislike for vampires. It’s not a good day in Scranton.
Yes Stan is certainly not like the main characters I am used to. His is a lot older and he has seen a lot. He is quite serious too at times and just hard on the edges. But I like him because he took his job seriously and he is good at it. His partner Karl is more a newbie on the force and they work together well. New and old, a good team. Karl also brings in a bit of humor, even if we get it through Stan’s sarcastic eyes. But it is all fun.
It’s a bloody and dark world; they are cops so they see the worst things the city has to offer. If you like cop shows then you will like this book and if you like your UF with a more detective theme and without any romantic entanglements then this is the story for you. Though I as the eternal romantic do have a woman in mind for Stan, because he is not blind and he has checked someone out. So who knows if he will find a good woman at the end.
I did like the book because it was fast paced, I wondered if they would catch the bad guy and if Stan would soften up a bit (you will just have to read and find out). But is it my kind of genre? Perhaps not, I do need tiny flicker of romance to root for and I will just stick to my normal UF. But that does not mean that I cannot enjoy a book like this. Because in the end it is a good book.
I have a hard time putting a grade on this one. For my personal enjoyment it was 3 Bookies, but for the general coolness of the book it is 3 1/2 Bookies.
***FTC Disclaimer: Most books reviewed on this site have been provided free of charge by the publisher, author or publicist. Some books we have purchased with our own money and will be noted as such. Any links to places to purchase books are provided as a convenience, and do not serve as an endorsement by this blog. All reviews are the true and honest opinion of the blogger reviewing the book. The method of acquiring the book does not have a bearing on the content of the review.
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| 5 Stars: Perfect! I Love It! | |||||||||
| 4 Stars: Awesome Book! | |||||||||
| 3 Stars: I Liked It! | |||||||||
| 2 Stars: Not bad, but maybe not for me. | |||||||||
| 1 Star: Didn't like it! Did Not Finish it. | |||||||||
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Meeeeeeeeeee 😀
Lol, thanks for having me over 😀
Hey B!
Great reaview! So awesome to see you at BLI.. 😀
I hope you guest here again soon. 😉
((hugs))
Thanks Lea 😀
I am happy to be here and just invite me over again if ya want me ;=)
Hey ya!
Great review – I really enjoyed this because it was different form the usual UF books with the love triangle between alpha men – but I can see that it might not be your thing! 🙂
I think I recommended the Nightside books by Simon R. Green to you – based on your reaction to this book, I'd have to withdraw that recommendation. There's not much romance in them – actually, I think there's zero romance in the first half dozen or so!
Hi B!
Great review, too bad not your 'actual' cup of tea. I might give it a try, I really enjoy detective noir, some of my favorite heroes are in cop books. I do like a little romance, but it's not necessary to enjoy the read. I'll be checking to see if I can pick it up as a NookBook.
Thanks B!
Dottie 🙂
¤Mel,
I am glad I tried it and it was good, but, lol, yes I guess I want a tad more romance in a book. Which is strange since I like UF more than PNR just cos there is less romance in them
@Chris
Oh :/ Lol, it's ok. Now everyone will think I need romance in my books. I mean I do love fantasy the most and no thanks to romance in those. No romance should interfere with war and thieves, and all the rest
@Dottie
If you like detective noir then yes please give this one a go 😀 So funny, perhaps not what I want to read, but would I watch it? Oh yes!"
Oh such a good review. I do think this one is for me. I do also hope that there is more romance as the series goes along, but if not, I still will enjoy something like this.
You rock! 🙂
Hihi, thank you Meliss 😀 You rock too! Give it a go, I do think you would enjoy it cos the story was good, very boir
Hey Blodeuedd! 😀 Glad to see you here, and thanks for the great review! 🙂 Hope to see you soon ;-p
Blodeuedd, Great review here. Sounds like a wonderful fantasy world, and a neat UF take on the mystery. 🙂 Thank you!
Hi Stella 😀
I am glad to be here. And I do love my little logo
Melissa
Thanks! It was sure different from what I usually read so it was fun to try since I usually just stick to the same old same old