WHO NEEDS ENEMIES is a departure for Arthur -- but a departure of the best kind. You can't go into this novel expecting the usual blend of ultra sexy heroines, supernaturals, and mystery. Instead, in her first self-published effort, Arthur delivers something much more lighthearted, but which still retains her characteristic wit and flavour.
The star of WHO NEEDS ENEMIES is very different from Riley, Risa, and the rest of Arthur's heroines. Harri Phillecky is not, in any way, alpha. She hasn't got superpowers, she isn't backed by any agency, and she lives a fairly unremarkable life. She's also an outcast -- part elf, part siren, rejected by both races. All Harri has are her friends, who are a bunch of ogres who take over her home for beer and TV, a dragon, a brother she doesn't see very often, and Ciri, Harri's best friend and partner in the PI industry. They're very much a motley crew but they're a lot of fun. We get to spend a fair bit of time with the ogres but I wish we'd learned more about Ciri, who's part gargoyle and incredibly intriguing. Harri has made a life for herself as a paranormal investigator (and sometimes as a news photographer), surrounded by her circle, but things escalate to a whole new level when the only elven relative willing to speak with her asks Harri to look into a missing siren.
As you would expect in a Keri Arthur novel, things immediately get complicated. Harri's dragon friend Keale gets accused of flying drunk and killing a helicopter full of people, Harri is set upon by trolls, and more. It's a very well crafted story that will keep you on your toes until the last page. I never knew where the story was going to take Harri and it was extremely fun for me, trying to figure out how the mystery surround Mona (the siren) would resolve itself.
On the downside, there are some copyediting issues. Small things, like capitalisation and spelling errors, but it's frequent enough that I noticed. It didn't mar my enjoyment of the story but it might throw you out of the story if you're one of the people who really notice things like this.
However here's my challenge to the entire people on the market who suppose the Ice Bucket Challenge
ReplyDeleteis a waste of time, cash or water, and does nothing however clog your newsfeeds with shirtless bros pouring
water on themselves - think of one thing better to complain about.