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Black Blade Blues review
Jun. 17th, 2013 05:26 pm So things from the beach are good though my MIL keeps pushing us to "go do things". I think she is not feeling well and wants someone to be having a great time. I guess she doesn't see relaxing and reading as a good time but instead wants to see us out getting sun burnt and sandy the whole day. :-)
Which brings me to Black Blade Blues, my new favorite Urban Fantasy. In tone is it very much like the Mercy Thompson series, though that could be because it is set in the Pacific Northweat as well. I love the main character. She is just the right mix of internal doubts and confident action that, to me, make a great protagonist. She is a black smith and fighter in an SCA group but loves the physical fighting and clan-ness of her group rather than longing for the medical fantasy. She's also a lesbian which was something of a pleasant surprise as nothing on the dust jacket suggested ass much.
Now this is my first book with a gay protagonist so YMMV but she reads a person first which I love. She's not a lesbian black smith, she is a person who is a black smith who happens to like woman. She sees guys as friends and can appreciate their appeal but it's definitely woman she is attracted to. The author does a really good job of showing her struggles in being open in her orientation as well but doesn't make it the focus of the story, it's just part of who she is. And now the story.
The story is a nice Wagnerian modern fantasy. The supernatural elements are all Norse and the big baddies are dragons! The only god who shows up is Woden and he is more of a crazy old man who gives vague advice. Very curious to see where the next book goes but I will definitely be reading it.
Which brings me to Black Blade Blues, my new favorite Urban Fantasy. In tone is it very much like the Mercy Thompson series, though that could be because it is set in the Pacific Northweat as well. I love the main character. She is just the right mix of internal doubts and confident action that, to me, make a great protagonist. She is a black smith and fighter in an SCA group but loves the physical fighting and clan-ness of her group rather than longing for the medical fantasy. She's also a lesbian which was something of a pleasant surprise as nothing on the dust jacket suggested ass much.
Now this is my first book with a gay protagonist so YMMV but she reads a person first which I love. She's not a lesbian black smith, she is a person who is a black smith who happens to like woman. She sees guys as friends and can appreciate their appeal but it's definitely woman she is attracted to. The author does a really good job of showing her struggles in being open in her orientation as well but doesn't make it the focus of the story, it's just part of who she is. And now the story.
The story is a nice Wagnerian modern fantasy. The supernatural elements are all Norse and the big baddies are dragons! The only god who shows up is Woden and he is more of a crazy old man who gives vague advice. Very curious to see where the next book goes but I will definitely be reading it.
