Reviews

Fire in the Sky by Andrew Mayne

tobyyy's review

3.0

Unread shelf project 2020: “book” 54.

A very short, short story, one in which I think Blackwood learned an important lesson. Hopefully she’ll remember it in further books — and will continue to grow her self-awareness to become more, well, aware of her intimidating behavior and “scary front” that she puts on to disguise vulnerability and lack of self-confidence.

smokedavocados's review

adventurous inspiring mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

probably_reading_right_now's review

4.0

This was a short story in the Jessica Blackwood series set between book 1 and book 2. This was honestly the best Andrew Mayne story I’ve read in a while. I don’t really know when, how, or if this will play into the series as a whole; I really don’t think it will because it seemed like a stand alone story. It has an X Files type feel to it, and I honestly feel like even if you haven’t read the series you’d enjoy this short story. It was only about 17 pages so it was a super quick read, but still managed to be a complete story. Book 1 wasn’t my favorite but this short story gave me hope that book 2 would be better because it was so good.

beckylej's review

3.0

"Fire in the Sky" has Jessica and Nadine teamed up once again, this time to investigate an old man's claims of a fifty-year-old UFO crash. In truth, the case is little more than an attempt to placate a dying man. This time Jessica is the sceptic but Nadine isn't so sure - this far along, the man's been telling the same story in hopes that someone will listen and she thinks it's worth checking out.

To be honest, "Fire in the Sky" adds very little to the overall series. In fact, I found it a little odd that this time Jessica was really only out to prove Nadine wrong in agreeing to look into the case. The short does come with an excerpt from Name of the Devil, though, and is free. Who can complain about that, right? Especially when it gives you a sample of the fabulousness of Name.

ladylothlorien's review

2.0

I have trouble with this short story. I was hoping it would be a good introduction to the Jessica Blackwood books, but I'm not sure it is. Jessica is pretty unlikable in this short story. Having now read Angel Killer (in which I loved Jessica), I can understand why Jessica is where she is head-wise. But I don't know if this short story really represents the series well because Jessica isn't quite so angsty or rude in Angel Killer. I can't even say what it was about this story that made me decide to go ahead with Angel Killer.

So in short, I'd read Angel Killer first (as of this writing it's only 99 cents on Kindle). If the idea of a magician-turned-FBI-agent sounds like your crack, Angel Killer fulfills that more than this story. This is more of a 1.5 in the series anyway, so I think it's better read after Angel Killer.

canada_matt's review

adventurous informative mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Andrew Mayne’s series with Jessica Blackwood in the protagonist seat has something for everyone, at least with the pieces that I have read to date. Mixing the world of illusion with crime fighting, the reader is able to see something from new and unique perspectives. In this short piece, Mayne takes the reader deep into the South, where Blackwood and her temporary partner are sent to appease the complaints of a man who has been begging for FBI investigative attention. While there, Blackwood discovers much about herself and the walls she builds around herself to keep others at bay. A great bridging piece that can be read as a standalone to whet the appetite of the curious reader.

It’s hot in Louisiana, which is yet another reader why Jessica Blackwood does not want to be on a houseboat along the Mississippi. She’s been sent here, alongside her temporary partner, to handle the complaints of a man who says he saw something flashing through the sky fifty years ago. His story has developed over time, to the level of myth, and Blackwood is sure it’s something easily attributed to the weather, a meteor, or even fuelled by the tea-infused moonshine of this man in his last months of life. 

However, when bantering with the woman who joined her on the trip, Blackwood reveals that she has become so used to sleights of hand and misconceptions that there is no longer anything that cannot be solved through citing misdirection. Her propensity to dismiss anything other than what can easily be explained away has Jessica Blackwood coming across as closed-minded and refusing to entertain anything other than what she already knows. Tossing caution into the balmy winds, Blackwell agrees to follow up on the story and makes a curious discovery that puts the man’s story into a new realm of wonder.

I have been enjoying the Blackwood stories and thought this short piece would complement them well. It did so, focussing less on the crime thriller from the perspective of a former illusionist, but rather peeling back the layers of Blackwood’s life in a family of magicians. Mayne offers up some great backstory and development for his protagonist, which complements the larger series well. Short and to the point, this story is highly entertaining and revealing, as the reader is asked (much like Blackwood did as an illusionist in her past) to see things not as they are, but as they might be.

Kudos, Mr. Mayne, for a great piece that entertains as well as educates. Perhaps for that morning cup of coffee before getting started on a larger project!

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at: 

http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/248185-a-book-for-all-seasons