Quirky Cat
Book Summary:
Fantasy meets noir in this thrilling new series by Steve McHugh. Here we have a world torn apart by prejudice and rifts. The rift-fused didn't ask to be the way they are, yet they certainly are doing their best in this strange new world.
Enter Lucas, a riftborn fighter with a bit of a chip on his shoulder. When FBI and RCU agents begin getting murdered by the dozen – many of them his friends – Lucas is unable to stay out of the fray any longer. It is time to tackle this head-on, which means putting himself in the path of a killer (or worse).
My Review:
I love diving into new series, especially ones I haven't heard much about. I adore that there are zero expectations, just a fresh start, and a whole new experience. The journey The Last Raven set me upon was no disappointment. This was a thrilling read from start to finish. Also, it feels like it's been far too long since I read an urban fantasy series (read: no more than a few weeks), so I was happy to come home.
Lucas is what we call a tortured soul. He's been through hell and back – much of that was before the novel began. It almost feels like salt in the wound after a time. Yet he's the perfect protagonist for this series, as he is clearly invested in the outcome.
The world itself is fascinating. I have so many questions, enough to keep me looking forward to the next novel in this series. Readers are introduced to the world relatively slowly, but it's enough to paint a picture over time.
Overall, I enjoyed the vibes and themes of The Last Raven. It really did feel like a merger between fantasy and thriller, with a dash of noir thrown in for good measure. It's a perfect balance, and I would love to see more of it.
Highlights
Urban Fantasy
Unique magical system
Detective vibes
Trigger Warnings
Prejudice
Gore/violence
Thanks to Podium for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks | Quirky Cat's Comics | The Book Review Crew | Monkeys Fighting Robots | Storygraph | Bookhype | Bookstagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Reedsy