Book Review: Storm's Child by John Ortega

Crikey, this book moves at 90 miles an hour and you'll read it that fast, too! It's not a big book, but I still tore through it much faster than I expected. That's because the narrative picks up speed fast, and then just doesn't stop and doesn't let you go. Every time you think you're going to find a good stopping point, something else happens!

So the Rune Caster Chronicles strikes me as the kind of stuff that would make a really good TV show. You know the kind - a grizzled protagonist with a mysterious past reluctantly finds himself drawn into the murders, plots and adventures of the hidden supernatural world around him. For Nathan Mercer, it's a world he knows and tried hard to leave behind, but of course that never goes well. The first book, 'Storm's Child', starts with him looking into the murder of a close friend, and ends with all manner of fae shenanigans! It's a wild ride with some familiar names (any book with Robin Goodfellow as a character instantly gets my love), and Nathan is sarcastic and charismatic enough to keep the reader interested and invested throughout. The descriptions of the different magics are vivid and imaginative - they'd look great onscreen! Seriously, does anyone know someone who works for Amazon or Netflix?

Ortega's not reinventing the wheel here, but who cares? It's a solid and entertaining story and an excellent addition to the urban fantasy genre. I'm excited to read the next one. Once I've had a rest. Phew!