Drake

I would definitely recommend this to someone who enjoys the Dresden Files but it's important to go in not looking for the same thing. It's darker and grittier.

Magic. Gory, violent, with crude language, but well written, with a touch of black humour. We are not in Harry Potter territory.

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I found myself drawn into this book as a fun, easy read that I knocked off in a few hours. I was fully prepared to dislike this book, but I found myself liking it despite my initial expectations.

Honestly, this subgenre has tipped over into formula and cliches. So, we have a magic user - in this case a Diabolist/Summoner - living in a run-down part of London with a snarky/smart-alecky magical prop - in this case, a nine-inch tall fetish of a burned man - a put-upon romantic figure, demonic urban villains and supernatural assistance.The story flows well and comes together nicely. Don Drake is the summoner in question and he a barely competent ne'er do well who can do very little without the assistance of the Burned Man.

In this book, Drake finds himself in debt to the demon/ganglord Wormwood, pursued by the Furies and protected by a mysterious and sexy blonde named Trix who swings a mean flaming sword.

I find my reaction to this book somewhat puzzling. Drake is a loser without moral qualities. He uses his summoning as a hitman for demons and thugs, and he doesn't seem to have much in the way of qualms until he kills a child by accident. In calling demons and using the Burned Man - which is simply the spatiotemporal manifestation of a demon in deepest Hell, Drake must be damned himself, but he doesn't seem overly concerned. Nonetheless, Drake comes across as a slacker, rather than evil or ruthless. At times, Drake actually reaches deep and shows himself to have some nobility left, although why this is the case, I don't know.

Although this is the first book in a trilogy, the threads are wrapped up in this book, although there clear points for plot development.

The writing is well-done and the action moves along at a nice clip. Even cliches and tropes can be enjoyable when done with verve and style.