Helpful Score: 7
This is book 1 in a trilogy that centers around Margrit Knight, a hardworking lawyer working for LegalAid, and a gargoyle named Alban. At first Margrit lives in the "normal" world, unaware of any kind of paranormal happenings in New York City, but after Alban speaks to her, she suddenly becomes involved in not just Alban's situation (believed to be a murderer) but in others as well. I found Margrit's character believable as someone I'd meet in this world, and someone admirable as well. Margrit is just that type of person that's has strong convictions about helping others, and she is very good at that. There were several places in the book where despite the fact that she's in a position of weakness, she never allows that to be an issue when she speaks. She always manages to convey strength with whom ever she is dealing with, and I really liked that! On top of that, the secondary characters were quite well written as well. Margrit's on-again, off-again lover, her roommates, her boss.. they all played understandable roles of people concerned for Margrit although unaware of what was really going on. There were understandable conflicts that came out of this. Then there are the paranormal/supernatural/Other creatures. Murphy has some new twists to the conventional myths and also populates the world with some beings not usually found in urban fantasy. These "people" feel dangerous and unknown but also fascinating. Particularly during their interactions with Margrit. I'm looking forward to finding out more about them through Margrit's dealings with them in the next two books. Overall a satisfying read.
Helpful Score: 3
This was a library read, but I want it! And I hope it becomes a series--a great female attorney faced with the Old Races and with stamina to spare at the end...there were enough loose ends left that I hope to read more of Margrit Knight.
Helpful Score: 3
The story and premise are interesting .. but the plot is very slow to develop, and could have used some editing to eliminate about 100 pages and move the plot faster. I'm about halfway into the book, and it seems like nothing much has happened yet, even though I'm halfway done. Yeah ... there's a murder, but it's in the background. Most of the stuff is Margrit running around learning about gargoyles and the Old Ones so far. Thdre may be a satisfying conclusion at the end of the story, but I don't think I am going to get there.
Helpful Score: 3
I was so disappointed by this! I loved the Walker (Urban Shaman) series by the same author, but this was just not good at all. The book has a mildly interesting premise (which, except for the occasional cellphone or vampire, might have been lifted from that old Beauty and the Beast TV show of the 1980s) but the characters are cardboard, the dialog is stilted and the attempt to evoke an NYC setting is a total failure. It's hard to believe this is by the same author. I'm actually wondering if this was an older manuscript that somehow made it into print because the Walker series did reasonably well.
