Truth burns. Unemployment, despair, anger—visible and invisible unrest feed the undercurrent of Detroit’s unease. A city increasingly invaded by phantoms now faces a malevolent force that further stokes fear and chaos throughout the city. Anya Kalinczyk spends her days as an arson investigator with the Detroit Fire Department, and her nights pursuing malicious spirits with a team of eccentric ghost hunters. Anya—who is the rarest type of psychic medium, a Lantern—suspects a supernatural arsonist is setting blazes to summon a fiery ancient entity that will leave the city in cinders. By Devil’s Night, the spell will be complete, unless Anya—with the help of her salamander familiar and the paranormal investigating team—can stop it. This time she’s risking everything: her city, her soul, and a man who sees and accepts her for everything she is. Keeping all three safe will be the biggest challenge she’s ever faced.
My thoughts:
I do love a good sidekick and this book had such a good one. A salamander named Sparky who chased cats and licked toasters cos he likes electricity.
But to the book then. Anya can see ghosts and eats them. Well the bad ones as she does not always feel good afterwards. She is a Lantern. She was not kick-ass but at the same time she was. She was more protective kick-ass. A former firefighter turned fire investigator. To serve and protect. That is who she is. She loves this city.
The story is about her chasing after an arsonist. Can I say more? Well it has darker undertones and here we learn so much more about this world. Demons, ancient mythology, dragons. It's really interesting and we also learn more about Anya. As she does not know much about her gifts, or curse.
I have book two so I will read it, I actually started it first by mistake, oh bad me, so I quickly started book 1 instead ;) But book 2 seemed good too.
Conclusion:
A good world, interesting story and characters I'd like to learn more about. It felt like a solid beginning to a series.
Cover:
it works
Series: Anya Kalinczyk #1
Genre: urban fantasy
Pages: 359
Published: 2010 by Pocket
Source: My own
Um. I want a toaster-licking salamander. How do I got about getting one for myself? Any sidekick would make me happy really:)
ReplyDeleteI love goof sidekicks :D Like Allison Pang's horny tiny unicorn. Lol, they are the best
Deletemeant good lol
DeleteYippie...book one..yay..this sounds interesting and a salamander ???..love it! I am picking this one up :) glad you enjoyed it and so glad you think it sounds like the beginning of a good series.
ReplyDeleteI do have book 2 ready :) I can't remember why I have both though. Oh well, I do :D
DeleteI really like this series and really want Laura to write more! As you say, there needs to be more salamanders in books - at least ones who eat electricity! :-)
ReplyDeleteOh there are only 2? Is she writing more? is there an ending?
DeleteA salamander sidekick - how fun! :)
ReplyDeleteSparky was the best :)
DeleteI have never heard of anyone eating ghosts before. Is it a delicacy?? LOL
ReplyDeleteSadly they give her heartburn
DeleteI read this book many, many years ago. I can't remember much about it, only that I thought the salamander was cute. LOL
ReplyDeleteLol, well he sure is :)And yes I am a bit late with getting started
DeleteWelcome :) I am glad you made it over.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I do love my cute button. It's very me. And yes not many of us Finns around.
Sparky was so fun, and he does like fire so electricity is fine too. A very nice addition to my UF addiction
A salamander who chases cats? Now that sounds cool!
ReplyDeleteThey were the best of friends :D And it made me go all awww
DeleteFor once, I actually have this series on my shelves! And I do want to read them soon.
ReplyDeleteYay :) I do have book 2 ready too. And if all goes well I really should check out her other book
DeleteHoly smokes, if I'm understanding what she's saying on her website, she has a five foot long salamander herself. Do they come that long??? Dang.
ReplyDeleteShe has a new book coming out in September but it's not part of this series. I hope she writes more because this sounds good, I want to start it.
Oh.. o_O I did not know that and now I kind of want to go and hide under a rock. That is way too long. Just not lizard person, even if Sparky is the best.
DeleteThe oracle series? Or what was it called, ok goodreads here I come
I will wait to see how book 2 pans out! I can handle ok beginnings unless book 2 is let down :)
ReplyDeleteI will let you know :D
Delete"Anya can see ghosts and eats them"
ReplyDeletemhmmm doesn't sound too tasty to me! Is she watching her weight because I doubt there are any calories in ghosts.
by the way...go Michigan! Rarely do you see any books set in the grand old Mitten State
ReplyDeleteGo Michigan :)
DeleteAnd yes when I think about it, this is not a city I read about a lot.
Lol, they give her heartburn, ghosts are no good
Sounds interesting. I like the cover.
ReplyDeleteShe looks fierce :)
DeleteCaught yourself from reading out of order? Heh. I've done that! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you enjoyed this one. I have it on my tbr and so need to get to it!
Lol, yes I just picked up book 2, thought it was book 1 and started reading. I got to page 20 when I started wondering ;)
DeleteThis sounds really good and it's a great cover.
ReplyDeleteIt does fit the book very well
DeleteThe salamander as a sidekick sounds fun :)
ReplyDeleteSparky was such a cutie
DeleteThose are some interesting characters there. An electricity loving Salamander and a girl who eats ghosts. I'd like to know more about how all of that works out in the novel, and how the author develops the world building.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed this one though and I hope the second in the series is just as enjoyable.
I sure hope so too and as I already have it I will try to read it soon..soonish. I just keep on starting new series lately ;)
DeleteThis book looks familiar but I don't remember ever actually reading about, I'm not sure why. It does sound promising. I'll have to give it a try.
ReplyDeleteHm..well I can't help you there, but you have surely seen it around 2 years ago when it came out
DeleteShe eats ghosts? Sounds cool :D
ReplyDeleteOh yes, nom nom
DeleteI like salamanders and the book sounds nice! I might wait for your review of the second part though!
ReplyDeleteWait and see :) I'll let ya know
DeleteI just can't decide if I'm a urban fantasy fan or not. Every once in a while I find one I enjoy, but most of the time I could do without it. I will keep this one in mind for the next time I want to delve into a new series.
ReplyDeleteI am definitely a fan, I thought I liked pnr at first, but the thing is that I never truly liked the books. They were good. Then I found UF which I really liked..still fantasy is better ;)
DeleteEating ghosts is something different that I haven't come across before. I will have to remember this book :)
ReplyDeleteAnd I should read book 2 soon :)
DeleteI have to agree with you that Sparky is loveable! So much so that I included him in my header :)
ReplyDeleteLol he is the best!
DeleteOh I have this and the second one on my shelf here to read. I was going to read them last summer, and shame on me with getting behind with books. I look forward to reading these, I'm curious about the books now. And to meet the sidekick. :D Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI did love the sidekick ;)
DeleteOh *makes a note* for some reason I came to think of something I had totally forgotten all day while writing this..thanks!
Oh yeah, this is one for me and a salamander sidekick sounds ultra cool LOL. Thanks for great review B
ReplyDeleteI will read book 2 hopefully soon too :)
DeleteAnother one added to me list. The sidekick sounds awesome
ReplyDeleteHe sure was a cutie :D
Delete