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Title: Curse of the Phoenix
Series: Arcane Irregulars #1
Author: Dan Willis
Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars
Genre: SF
Pages: 272
Words: 87K
| Synopsis: |
From DanWillisAuthor.com
A stolen ARTIFACT…
New York Police Lieutenant Danny Pak has a problem. When one of his officers calls him out to an unusual crime scene, Danny realizes that it’s terrifyingly similar to something the department thought was dead and buried. Now he has to find a madman before the story hits the papers and the city explodes into chaos.
Across town, Agent William “Buddy” Redhorn of the FBI has two problems. He’s been assigned a potentially career-ending case with magical ties, and his sorceress boss is out of town. The case involves a stolen statue that belongs to the government of Brunei, but the more he chases the thieves, the more bodies begin to drop. Bodies affected by a strange, unknown magic.
Resolving to work together, Danny and Redhorn have to catch a cold-blooded killer, recover a stolen artifact, all while keeping everything out of the press. If they don’t, it will be more than their careers that will die when the curse of the Jade Phoenix descends on New York.
| My Thoughts: |
I had bought this book back in November of ’21 and it has taken me this long to get to it. The good thing about me waiting so long is that the next Arcane Casebook is now out and so I can dive into that soon after this.
I enjoyed this book. I’ve enjoyed all of the Arcane books that Willis has written. I would say he’s hit his skill plateau though. He’s a solid B-list author and that’s not a bad thing it’s just the reality. If you like light urban fantasy detective stuff, Willis has got you covered.
This is the first review for this month where I’m deliberately writing light. Adios.
Bookstooge's Reviews on the Road 
Is there an actual phoenix in this? Does it rise from its own ashes?
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There’s a jade phoenix, but it’s an artifact, so I’m not sure if that counts.
But no, it doesn’t rise from it’s own ashes…
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Ah, that’s disappointing. Could be a Charlie Chan mystery then.
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There was no Number Three Son though….
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Just as well this review is deliberately written light, took me all my time to get through yesterday’s two liner.
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Well, this month should be a gigantic time saver for you then. Schedule a couple of dentist appointments or something.
Or clean the fridge. I hear that’s the most neglected piece of equipment in a house.
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This sounds like Urban Fantasy with something of a humorous twist, which is rare in the genre: worth a peek, one of these days… 🙂
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It has a bit of Noir’ish influence and the focus is always the mystery. In some ways it reminds of Garrett PI but without a dumb lunk like Garrett being involved.
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Very succinct Booky, and a good result.
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Thanks.
Expect more 2 liners for the rest of the month 😀
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These comments are longer than the review.
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yes….
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I need to read at least one book in this series. I guess Willis is like a male Ilona Andrews but less romancy.
As a side note, that’s one short review! Maybe I should start writing shorter reviews myself 😉
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If you want, read his first book, In Plain Sight. How you feel about that will tell you how you would feel about the rest of the series. It’s light going, which is just what I need sometimes.
You just wait. I’m going to cut my reviews down to the bone if I can…
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>–< this kind of bone? 😀
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More like the One Piece review of yesterday 😀
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First cover of the franchise without tall that Doctor Strange-like magic going on? 😮
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With the 2 main characters being cops and not Runewrights, that would explain it.
I am glad the author kept the same style though.
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