Trick of the Light

Trick of the Light (2009) Rob Thurman

I’ve loved Rob Thurman’s writing since I stumbled across Nightlife, the first book in the Cal Leandros series. So when I came across a new book–even though it wasn’t a Cal Leandros book–I snatched it right up.

Once I had the book I hesitated. What if it wasn’t as good as the Cal books? This is a switch from a male character to a female character, would it be as good? Would I like it as much? Would I expect too much of the story?

Then I decided it didn’t matter and dove right in.

Trixa owns a bar in Las Vegas, and kills demons in her spare time. She has also befriended two young men–Zeke and Griffith–who are professional demon killers. She’s searching for the Light of Life–and for revenge against the demon who slaughtered her brother.

Now, I have to admit that I guessed a portion of the big reveal relatively quickly. In fact, I thought it was pretty obvious. However, I didn’t come close to guessing everything, and I even guessed wrong regarding some things.

SPOILER (rot13)
V xarj fur jnf n gevpxfgre (gur “frevrf” gvgyr tnir gung njnl) naq nsgre n pbzzrag nobhg pnyyvat Mrxr “xvg” V qrpvqrq fur jnf n xvgfhar. Ure ynfg anzr nyfb gjvatrq zl enqne, ohg V pbhyqa’g sbe gur yvsr bs zr erzrzore jul.

V xarj Yrb/Yrbaber jrer gur fnzr orvat, ohg V gubhtug ur jnf Pblbgr. Rfcrpvnyyl jvgu uvf snfpvangvba jvgu srznyr nangbzl. Lrnu, Ybxv jnf zneevrq, ohg uvf snzbhf vasvqryvgl znqr uvz gur zbgure bs Fyrcvave, engure guna gur sngure bs ybgf bs tbqyvatf fhpu nf jnf pbzzba jvgu gur Terrx naq Ebzna cnagurba.
END SPOILER

But mostly, being wrong only made me love the story even more.

Of course, passages like the following made it even better.

“Please,” I said scornfully, “I’m hardly some leather-wearing monster killer with a cadre of hot men and demons waiting on my every sexual whim.” I paused, a glass held in midair. Leo started to speak and I held up a finger on my free hand. “Wait a minute. I’m still contemplating why I’m not that, and wondering how to change it.”

Believe it or not, it gets better from there. The term “pantaloons” even makes an appearance. But that slam at a good deal of the supernatural fantasy on the shelves would have made the book for me. Except, of course, it got better from there.

If you like urban/supernatural fantasy, enjoy excellent story telling, and appreciate a book that is not full of boinking, then I highly recommend checking out Trick of Light.
Rating: 10/10

• Browse the archives:
  
• Rosemary and Rue » »
• « « The Black Hand