Saturday 15 August 2015

URBAN FANTASY REVIEW: The Maradaine Constabulary 1: A Murder of Mages - Marshall Ryan Maresca

Release Date: 07/07/15
Publisher:  Daw

SYNOPSIS:

A Murder of Mages marks the debut of Marshall Ryan Maresca’s novels of The Maradaine Constabulary, his second series set amid the bustling streets and crime-ridden districts of the exotic city called Maradaine. A Murder of Mages introduces us to this spellbinding port city as seen through the eyes of the people who strive to maintain law and order, the hardworking men and women of the Maradaine Constabulary.

Satrine Rainey—former street rat, ex-spy, mother of two, and wife to a Constabulary Inspector who lies on the edge of death, injured in the line of duty—has been forced to fake her way into the post of Constabulary Inspector to support her family.

Minox Welling is a brilliant, unorthodox Inspector and an Uncircled mage—almost a crime in itself. Nicknamed “the jinx” because of the misfortunes that seem to befall anyone around him, Minox has been partnered with Satrine because no one else will work with either of them.

Their first case together—the ritual murder of a Circled mage— sends Satrine back to the streets she grew up on and brings Minox face-to-face with mage politics he’s desperate to avoid. As the body count rises, Satrine and Minox must race to catch the killer before their own secrets are exposed and they, too, become targets.


REVIEW:

There is something delightfully delicious when the world of Victoriana meets magic’s and investigative techniques, and for me this new series, really kicks off with a huge bang as Marshall thrusts the reader into a world where death is easy to come by and answers a rarity.

Its definitely a quirky book and one that really grabs you from the opening as you get to know the principle character as she struggles to come to terms with her current circumstances. Its harrowing, its harsh but a woman with a brain can face hard times even if she is skilled for the job. All round, this title is one that’s not only a solid opener but one that really grabs you from the get go as each event helps the overall arc spark alongside throwing some more confusion into the mix only to come together as the clues are solved.

Definitely a top notch read and a series that I can’t wait to see what else is to come for those involved. Cracking.

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