Friday, December 28, 2012

[Archive] LITERAL ADDICTION's Review of The Dog in the Dark


Barb & JC HendeeLike most writers, I've worked at many jobs in my life, including teaching pre-school until I completed my master's degree in Composition Theory. Between 1993 and 2006, I taught college English while writing fiction on the side, some independently and some with my husband and life-long partner J.C.

Over the years, we've lived in Washington State, Idaho, Colorado, and now moved just south of Portland, Oregon. I love the Northwest, and it's a great place to write.

We have a lovely and talented daughter, Jaclyn, who lives in Houston, Texas along with our wonderful and talented son-in-law, Paul.

J.C. and I sold Dhampir in 2001, which changed our lives considerably. It was published in January 2003, and we've published a book in the Noble Dead Saga every year since. In May of 2006, we were both able to quit our teaching jobs and move into full time writing.


A Dog in the Dark, NOBLE DEAD Series #3, Book #2
Authors:  Barb & JC Hendee

Synopsis:
The Noble Dead series has been hailed as "a crowd-pleasing mix of intrigue, epic fantasy, and horror."* Now, national bestselling authors Barb and J.C. Hendee present the latest thrilling novel following the adventures of dhampir Magiere and half-elf Leesil...
Barely escaping the city of Calm Seatt--and the assassins hunting them--Magiere, Leesil, and the elven dog Chap sail south to continue their quest to find the powerful Orb of Air before their enemies do. But they are not alone, much to their frustration.
The aging elven assassin Brot'an has forced himself on them by offering his protection. Chap doesn't believe this ruse, however, and seeks to uncover the assassin's true agenda--as well as the cause of the secret civil war that has erupted into the open among Brot'an's people.
Meanwhile, Magiere struggles with her own dark nature, using Leesil's love as an anchor to keep her grounded. For the personal price she paid to procure the Orb of Fire was more than she thought--and more than she wants to reveal to anyone.
But that is exactly what the cunning Brot'an wants to know. And he is willing to do whatever it takes--even if he must reveal his own dreaded secrets that may cost the entire party their lives...and their very souls


Our Review, by LITERAL ADDICTION's Pack Alpha - Michelle L. Olson:
*ARC received from the author in exchange for an honest review

I'm a NOBLE DEAD SAGA groupie. I won't deny it. Since discovering the Hendees and this series in the 90's I eagerly await each and every release. When I got an Advance Reader Copy of Dog in the Dark I was beyond thrilled.

Despite the length, I absolutely devoured it, and immediately upon finishing, knew that 5 Skulls wasn't enough for this book. I have loved this Saga from book one, and the first trilogy was astonishing, but this is my absolute favorite of the Saga thus far - so full of emotion, secrets, action, intrigue, & intensity. It was absolutely incredible!

Our band of misfits is once again broken into 2 distinct groups, each with some unlikely players. The Dog in the Dark focuses on Magiere, Leesil, Chap, Bro'tan and Leanalham and their journey back to where Wynn just came from.

Not only is the journey itself intense, each is dealing with their own inner demons, paranoia, mistrust, etc. Magiere is consistently getting darker and darker and it has Chap and Leesil completely worried. Noboby really trusts Bro'tan because he's always only out for what he wants, and yet they need him. Leanalham has lost pretty much everyone close to her and is still struggling with trying to fit in...anywhere.

The Hendees write this beautifully as a mix of real time action and flashbacks to the things we didn't get to see when we were following Wynn in the 2nd series of the Saga. It makes for intense and gripping reading and illuminates so many things.

The last couple pages before the Epilogue literally gave me goosebumps, & the last couple pages as an intro to the next book had me squealing with anticipation.

Barb and JC are an amazing artistic duo, and I am so happy to be enjoying this journey that they have set up for us all.

LITERAL ADDICTION gives The Dog in the Dark 5 Skulls and would highly recommend it to all Fantasy and Urban Fantasy lovers. I strongly suggest reading the entire saga however...


The Dog in the Dark


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