Tuesday, August 24, 2021

Paper & Blood by Kevin Hearne [Review]

Paper & Blood (Ink & Sigil #2) by Kevin Hearne
Format: ebook
Source: provided through NetGalley
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: June 18, 2021

Ink & Sigil
1. Ink & Sigil
2. Paper & Blood - HardcoverKindle

Kevin Hearne
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Iron Druid Chronicles comes book two of an “action-packed, enchantingly fun” (Booklist) spin-off series, as an eccentric master of rare magic solves a supernatural mystery Down Under!

There’s only one Al MacBharrais: Though other Scotsmen may have dramatic mustaches and a taste for fancy cocktails, Al also has a unique talent. He’s a master of ink and sigil magic. In his gifted hands, paper and pen can work wondrous spells.

But Al isn’t quite alone: He is part of a global network of sigil agents who use their powers to protect the world from mischievous gods and strange monsters. So when a fellow agent disappears under sinister circumstances in Australia, Al leaves behind the cozy pubs and cafes of Glasgow and travels to the Dandenong Ranges in Victoria to solve the mystery.

The trail to his colleague begins to pile up with bodies at alarming speed, so Al is grateful his friends have come to help—especially Nadia, his accountant who moonlights as a pit fighter. Together with a whisky-loving hobgoblin known as Buck Foi and the ancient Druid Atticus O’Sullivan, along with his dogs, Oberon and Starbuck, Al and Nadia will face down the wildest wonders Australia—and the supernatural world—can throw at them, and confront a legendary monster not seen in centuries.
Thoughts on Paper & Blood: Hoo-boy. Al and his crew are called into action when one of his fellow sigil agents goes missing in Australia and it turns out the most terrifying thing in Australia IS NOT A SPIDER. I'm inclined to question my own statement there because spiders are terrifying already without the addition of Australian super-sizing, but Al and crew DID run into some pretty horrifying critters. Some even had spider-esque qualities, so... You know what? I'm sort of creeping myself out. Let's move on.

Sigil agents gone missing! Very good dogs putting in an appearance! Australia! Spiders (probably)! And one Iron Druid doing the things that Iron Druids do!

Al gets a few vague answers regarding his curse(s) from the various and sundry otherworldly types he and the others run into along the way. He also finds himself wallowing in a metric boatload of questions regarding his office manager. Gladys is a glorious enigma and I feel like we've only tapped the surface of her.

Danger! A few answers! Dogs! New beginnings! Roxanne! Sigils and magic and monsters, OH MY! I'm still digging hanging out in the ID world with all the horrors and beauty that puts in an appearance. Al, Buck, and Nadia are a solid team who follow their intuition wherever it may lead them and manage to stay ahead of the most dangerous situations and magic. (Or at least they know people who are willing to give them a hand when they need it most.) *thumbs up*

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