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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
There is so much I could say about really well-crafted urban fantasy worlds, but I don't need to. I just have to read one written by Rhys Ford and I'm struck, anew, at the creativity, grittiness, character development, and excellent dialogue. It was no hardship, believe me, to read 'Dim Sum Asylum'. Especially since I read the short story that started it all in 'Charmed and Dangerous', an anthology the author participated in.
Detective Roku MacCormick might just be one of the most interesting characters Ms. Ford has written. And that, my friends, says a lot. Half fae and half human, Roku works in the Arcane Crimes division, otherwise known as Dim Sum Asylum by everyone, and just shot his last partner. Well, he'd gone bad, what do you expect? Roku works in Chinatown district and Captain Gaines is also his godfather. Oh, and did I mention his mother was a cop and a hero who was assassinated, plus his paternal grandfather is head of one of the most powerful yakuza families in town. A grandfather who really wants Roku to be his heir. Talk about some family issues.
"His overt favoritism marked me as a threat in the family despite my refusal to have anything to do with the Takahashi dynasty, but no one would move against me as long as the old man lived."
This author has the most incredible way of writing such vivid imagery, I feel as if I'm right there, following Roku and his partner, Trent, through Chinatown's underbelly and rooftop ghettos. Chasing cursed shrine gods, falling off roofs, getting blown up, coming face-to-face with an ancient fae assassin, and I could keep going, but I don't want to spoil all the surprises. Trust me when I say, besides great story and plot lines, one of the things that keeps me coming back for more of this author's writing is her very intense representations.
Reading 'Dim Sum Asylum' is like peeling an onion. There are so many layers, upon layers, of Asian culture wrapped in an intricate, urban fantasy world, that I was glued to the pages (and, occasionally, Google), to fully immerse myself and get a feel for Roku, Trent, the serial killer, the grandfather, and so many more characters. Not to mention the fact that I never can figure out the whodunit until the reveal. It makes me crazy when I think I've got it, and then the author heads in a completely different direction.
I realize I haven't said much about the actual story, but, believe me, you aren't going to want to miss reading 'Dim Sum Asylum'. It's intricate, fantastical, gritty, full of family feuds, lies, and treachery. And it has me wanting more. I truly hope the author will continue in this world as I think there are a lot more Roku and Trent stories to be told.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews
Detective Roku MacCormick might just be one of the most interesting characters Ms. Ford has written. And that, my friends, says a lot. Half fae and half human, Roku works in the Arcane Crimes division, otherwise known as Dim Sum Asylum by everyone, and just shot his last partner. Well, he'd gone bad, what do you expect? Roku works in Chinatown district and Captain Gaines is also his godfather. Oh, and did I mention his mother was a cop and a hero who was assassinated, plus his paternal grandfather is head of one of the most powerful yakuza families in town. A grandfather who really wants Roku to be his heir. Talk about some family issues.
"His overt favoritism marked me as a threat in the family despite my refusal to have anything to do with the Takahashi dynasty, but no one would move against me as long as the old man lived."
This author has the most incredible way of writing such vivid imagery, I feel as if I'm right there, following Roku and his partner, Trent, through Chinatown's underbelly and rooftop ghettos. Chasing cursed shrine gods, falling off roofs, getting blown up, coming face-to-face with an ancient fae assassin, and I could keep going, but I don't want to spoil all the surprises. Trust me when I say, besides great story and plot lines, one of the things that keeps me coming back for more of this author's writing is her very intense representations.
Reading 'Dim Sum Asylum' is like peeling an onion. There are so many layers, upon layers, of Asian culture wrapped in an intricate, urban fantasy world, that I was glued to the pages (and, occasionally, Google), to fully immerse myself and get a feel for Roku, Trent, the serial killer, the grandfather, and so many more characters. Not to mention the fact that I never can figure out the whodunit until the reveal. It makes me crazy when I think I've got it, and then the author heads in a completely different direction.
I realize I haven't said much about the actual story, but, believe me, you aren't going to want to miss reading 'Dim Sum Asylum'. It's intricate, fantastical, gritty, full of family feuds, lies, and treachery. And it has me wanting more. I truly hope the author will continue in this world as I think there are a lot more Roku and Trent stories to be told.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews
5 Hearts
Tag Team review with Adam!
How in the hell do I review this and make any sense? Wow. My mind is full and totally blown from this world Rhys Ford created. I am not sure I will do this book justice but I’m going to try.
First, I never read the short in the Charmed and Dangerous anthology so I have no comparison between the two. I will say I am so damn happy I read this full length story first because with the want I have of more from this world, a short would have left me a total mess.
Okay…
We meet Senior Inspector Roku MacCormick as he is chasing down his current partner who has stolen dragon eggs. Not only is Roku chasing him through the incredible streets of fantastical Chinatown but a group of flying lizards as well who want their eggs back. Shit goes down, Roku saves the eggs but a life is lost in the process. The life is one that is fae, just like Roku is part fae. Why is that important? Because it’s the backbone of this story.
This world, where magical creatures and magic itself exist in today’s San Francisco as we know it was amazing. Ford gives you every detail of the scenes in cinematic storytelling that you are instantly transported to this new world and swear you can smell the wonton soup as you walk down the crowded streets full of mystical creatures. Oh and this world, these creatures? Roku is half fae, a naturally born half breed of faery and human that lives basically in a half state of… everything in his life. Roku is a good cop, he’s amazing at what he does though with a recent loss to his family, he’s become a bit of a lethal weapon, not caring what happens to him as long as the bad guys go down. But Roku carries the weight of this loss not only through stars on his wrist and clusters on his back but with the heaviest chip on his shoulder and guilt on his soul.
When Roku is assigned a new partner courtesy of Captain Gaines who is also his godfather, Roku’s life gets flipped, turned upside down to a place he never knew he could go or one he’s not sure he even wants to.
Let me get my love for Roku’s new partner Trent Leonard out of the way real quick because this man is everything and even more when the contacts come off. I know, that made no sense but it totally will when you read the book. Trust me. Trent is this mystery, this beautiful Nordic mystery of a large and gorgeous man who has secrets but is so damn sexy you forgive him anything. Not that the secrets are bad, they are a bit stalkerish but it’s Trent so it’s all justifiable. The way he sees Roku though? The way he feels about the man and all that he does makes Trent super swoony and then when we learn more about Trent and what’s behind those contacts and what he can do with his hands… gah! He’s just amazing.
But this story, this whole world of fae and magic just blew my mind and I honestly don’t know how to review the full story without spoiling it and I would hate to do that. I will say that nothing is as it seems and just when you think you have a firm grasp on what’s going on, it slithers away from you and shape shifts into something far darker and magical than you, or at least I could have imagined.
I adored this book, if you can’t tell from my rambling. As I said before, Ford has a way with storytelling that is truly cinematic and everything flies off the page in living color that it’s almost tangible. You can smell the food, you can see the wings of the good and the bad fae with their vivid colors, you can see the spelled… everything as it comes alive and you can feel every damn emotion as they bleed into your soul. Was that too much? *shrugs*
While I am still new to the genre of Urban Fantasy I have to say I am falling in love with it. At first it was hard because I am a true hopeless romantic and it’s what I live for but in a story like this, the romance being as it is, not the primary focus, just makes it that much more intense when you get it. Like, you get the moments between Roku and Trent from the beginning, the flirting and the obvious lust between them but once each barrier is broken down and then you get them – really get them – something as simple as going through a door together brings so much swoon you better hope you are sitting down because the emotion will sit you firmly on your ass.
Yeah, this book was sexy. And it was also so deeply entrenched with family dynamics, clan politics and magic that my fingers can’t keep up with my brain as I try to explain how amazing it was. Even Bob the Cat was not only hilarious but freaking great! The story was intense and magical and I hope this becomes a series because there is so much more Trent needs to learn and so much more I need between him and Roku and that end? More, I just need more. Kay?
You know how I can tell when I a book is really good? When I don’t need to even go over my highlights and notes to write a review. I know I have a ton because that’s the way I operate but I am not even going to touch them right now because I need to hide them and keep them safe before I share. Call me selfish, call me weird, call me whatever but right now, I don’t wanna share.
Dim Sum Asylum - the name of the Arcane division of the San Francisco Police Department – was an intriguing and sexy story of one half human, half fae Inspector who’s only half living his life until he meets his new partner and allows him to open him up in oh so many ways. It’s a story about living your full life, taking chances, not killing your elders and making sure the magic, stays where it belongs.
Tag Team review with Adam!
How in the hell do I review this and make any sense? Wow. My mind is full and totally blown from this world Rhys Ford created. I am not sure I will do this book justice but I’m going to try.
First, I never read the short in the Charmed and Dangerous anthology so I have no comparison between the two. I will say I am so damn happy I read this full length story first because with the want I have of more from this world, a short would have left me a total mess.
Okay…
We meet Senior Inspector Roku MacCormick as he is chasing down his current partner who has stolen dragon eggs. Not only is Roku chasing him through the incredible streets of fantastical Chinatown but a group of flying lizards as well who want their eggs back. Shit goes down, Roku saves the eggs but a life is lost in the process. The life is one that is fae, just like Roku is part fae. Why is that important? Because it’s the backbone of this story.
This world, where magical creatures and magic itself exist in today’s San Francisco as we know it was amazing. Ford gives you every detail of the scenes in cinematic storytelling that you are instantly transported to this new world and swear you can smell the wonton soup as you walk down the crowded streets full of mystical creatures. Oh and this world, these creatures? Roku is half fae, a naturally born half breed of faery and human that lives basically in a half state of… everything in his life. Roku is a good cop, he’s amazing at what he does though with a recent loss to his family, he’s become a bit of a lethal weapon, not caring what happens to him as long as the bad guys go down. But Roku carries the weight of this loss not only through stars on his wrist and clusters on his back but with the heaviest chip on his shoulder and guilt on his soul.
When Roku is assigned a new partner courtesy of Captain Gaines who is also his godfather, Roku’s life gets flipped, turned upside down to a place he never knew he could go or one he’s not sure he even wants to.
Let me get my love for Roku’s new partner Trent Leonard out of the way real quick because this man is everything and even more when the contacts come off. I know, that made no sense but it totally will when you read the book. Trust me. Trent is this mystery, this beautiful Nordic mystery of a large and gorgeous man who has secrets but is so damn sexy you forgive him anything. Not that the secrets are bad, they are a bit stalkerish but it’s Trent so it’s all justifiable. The way he sees Roku though? The way he feels about the man and all that he does makes Trent super swoony and then when we learn more about Trent and what’s behind those contacts and what he can do with his hands… gah! He’s just amazing.
But this story, this whole world of fae and magic just blew my mind and I honestly don’t know how to review the full story without spoiling it and I would hate to do that. I will say that nothing is as it seems and just when you think you have a firm grasp on what’s going on, it slithers away from you and shape shifts into something far darker and magical than you, or at least I could have imagined.
I adored this book, if you can’t tell from my rambling. As I said before, Ford has a way with storytelling that is truly cinematic and everything flies off the page in living color that it’s almost tangible. You can smell the food, you can see the wings of the good and the bad fae with their vivid colors, you can see the spelled… everything as it comes alive and you can feel every damn emotion as they bleed into your soul. Was that too much? *shrugs*
While I am still new to the genre of Urban Fantasy I have to say I am falling in love with it. At first it was hard because I am a true hopeless romantic and it’s what I live for but in a story like this, the romance being as it is, not the primary focus, just makes it that much more intense when you get it. Like, you get the moments between Roku and Trent from the beginning, the flirting and the obvious lust between them but once each barrier is broken down and then you get them – really get them – something as simple as going through a door together brings so much swoon you better hope you are sitting down because the emotion will sit you firmly on your ass.
Yeah, this book was sexy. And it was also so deeply entrenched with family dynamics, clan politics and magic that my fingers can’t keep up with my brain as I try to explain how amazing it was. Even Bob the Cat was not only hilarious but freaking great! The story was intense and magical and I hope this becomes a series because there is so much more Trent needs to learn and so much more I need between him and Roku and that end? More, I just need more. Kay?
You know how I can tell when I a book is really good? When I don’t need to even go over my highlights and notes to write a review. I know I have a ton because that’s the way I operate but I am not even going to touch them right now because I need to hide them and keep them safe before I share. Call me selfish, call me weird, call me whatever but right now, I don’t wanna share.
Dim Sum Asylum - the name of the Arcane division of the San Francisco Police Department – was an intriguing and sexy story of one half human, half fae Inspector who’s only half living his life until he meets his new partner and allows him to open him up in oh so many ways. It’s a story about living your full life, taking chances, not killing your elders and making sure the magic, stays where it belongs.
This was fun to read and see where things changed to make for the expanded edition. I enjoyed the short when I read it and was excited to see it getting it's own full novel. I wasn't disappointed. Hopefully this will become the start of a wonderful new series. It really feels like these two are just starting their adventures.
I love Roku. He's the tortured soul you just can't help but adore. He's staid strong against family pressures that ultimately cost him the lives of his chosen family. Roku's internal monologue was lovely to read. I liked how he was tempted by Trent but didn't necessarily want to be.
Trent is a mystery I need to know more about. His past is still shrouded in a lot of mystery. He's different and even he doesn't know the full extent as to why. His almost stalking of Roku could have been creepy but it was almost cute how he wanted so much to be Roku's partner despite trying to pretend like it was nothing.
The world building in this story is almost too much to handle, but I loved it. I really enjoyed how rich all the descriptions were. You felt like you were a part of Chinatown rife with things maybe just beyond your ken. In most cases the Japanese or Chinese terminologies were understandable through context and in my opinion enriched the texture of the world.
If I had one complaint about this story it's the romance aspect. Sometimes that felt a little underdeveloped, but yet their relationship is still new and this does feel like the first in a new series. :)
I love Roku. He's the tortured soul you just can't help but adore. He's staid strong against family pressures that ultimately cost him the lives of his chosen family. Roku's internal monologue was lovely to read. I liked how he was tempted by Trent but didn't necessarily want to be.
Trent is a mystery I need to know more about. His past is still shrouded in a lot of mystery. He's different and even he doesn't know the full extent as to why. His almost stalking of Roku could have been creepy but it was almost cute how he wanted so much to be Roku's partner despite trying to pretend like it was nothing.
The world building in this story is almost too much to handle, but I loved it. I really enjoyed how rich all the descriptions were. You felt like you were a part of Chinatown rife with things maybe just beyond your ken. In most cases the Japanese or Chinese terminologies were understandable through context and in my opinion enriched the texture of the world.
If I had one complaint about this story it's the romance aspect. Sometimes that felt a little underdeveloped, but yet their relationship is still new and this does feel like the first in a new series. :)
I really enjoyed this. I wish real life didn't get in my way and I could have read it all in one sitting. Instead, I had to take breaks and once I did it was hard for me to get back into the story. That was MY fault though. I don't get to finish read paragraphs or chapters if things come up, so I tend to leave mid sentence. For example, I had to take a break to go pick up my kid in the middle of a chase scene and I was so excited and on edge and then I had to leave. So once I picked back up again, I wasn't on edge anymore. ARGH!
I did get confused with some of the names, like I had to go back and re-read to see if I missed something, but I didn't. I guess, I just didn't know what they meant or who they meant.
Bob the Cat cracked me up. I wished we did get a little more of the romance between Trent and Roku. Even in Ford's other books there was more than this. I'm used to Ford's writing, but there wasn't that connection from these two that I normally feel with her couples.
I would definitely read more about Roku and Trent and the Dim Sum Asylum.
I did get confused with some of the names, like I had to go back and re-read to see if I missed something, but I didn't. I guess, I just didn't know what they meant or who they meant.
Spoiler
Like in the beginning, Roku was calling Arnett, Arnett. Then out of nowhere it was his first name. Then sometimes people would call Roku, Tombo. Why? Then there's Maori that was used a few times when Nobu was around and Sofu with the Grandfather. I just figured the latter was Grandfather in a different language. I might have missed something with the Maori, but I'm not sure.Bob the Cat cracked me up. I wished we did get a little more of the romance between Trent and Roku. Even in Ford's other books there was more than this. I'm used to Ford's writing, but there wasn't that connection from these two that I normally feel with her couples.
I would definitely read more about Roku and Trent and the Dim Sum Asylum.
I picked this up after reading the original short story that inspired this in the Charmed and Dangerous Anthology and having my interest piqued. There were some issues I had with the original short story, almost entirely due to the length, and those issues were thankfully addressed and resolved in this expanded version. While I think that's awesome, ultimately I do think the short story does the author a disservice. Because it doesn't just start with the short story and go from there (which was the best choice) it means that there were bits in here that I'd read before and bits I hadn't, and since I'd *just* read the short story, it felt annoying repetitive at times. I'd 100% recommend skipping the short story entirely and just reading this main novel, which isn't something I'd known ahead of time and left me annoyed.
That being said, I really enjoyed the world-building here and the case was decently interesting. There was a lot of fascinating stuff here, though it definitely felt like the beginning of a series, and I've not clue at all if that is the plan. It meant there were kind of a lot of open ends and I didn't feel like the relationship was super developed or progressed a ton. It was fine, but definitely a little unsatisfying if there aren't more books.
Frankly, I found Roku to be a bit unlikable at times and far too mysterious and cryptic--his unwillingness to actually fill his partner in on what was happening was super frustrating as a reader because we were also left in the dark, to the point of annoyance and not just suspense. Trent was a bit of an enigma and I didn't really feel like we got a great feel for him or his motivations, and there just wasn't much charisma there.
All of this makes it sound like I didn't like this book, and I did, but I think mostly for the world-building and less for the characters/relationship. TBH, I'm still on the fence on if I would keep reading even if the author did continue with this series.
That being said, I really enjoyed the world-building here and the case was decently interesting. There was a lot of fascinating stuff here, though it definitely felt like the beginning of a series, and I've not clue at all if that is the plan. It meant there were kind of a lot of open ends and I didn't feel like the relationship was super developed or progressed a ton. It was fine, but definitely a little unsatisfying if there aren't more books.
Frankly, I found Roku to be a bit unlikable at times and far too mysterious and cryptic--his unwillingness to actually fill his partner in on what was happening was super frustrating as a reader because we were also left in the dark, to the point of annoyance and not just suspense. Trent was a bit of an enigma and I didn't really feel like we got a great feel for him or his motivations, and there just wasn't much charisma there.
All of this makes it sound like I didn't like this book, and I did, but I think mostly for the world-building and less for the characters/relationship. TBH, I'm still on the fence on if I would keep reading even if the author did continue with this series.
Welcome to a new fantasy world from Rhys Ford. It is imaginatively dark, and fantastical and completely captivating. With a heavy dollop of Asian culture set in San Francisco it's both new and familiar.
Roku is straddling the line between so many worlds it's a wonder he knows up from down. He is a cop with familial ties to a crime boss and he is half human, half faerie during a time when that's not a good thing to be. And if things weren't bad enough, he just got a new partner because he had to shoot his last one.
Trent Leonard is new to the Arcane Crimes Division and finds himself totally unprepared to not only deal with the crimes he is trying to solve but also his hotter then hell partner. With secrets of his own the two cops need to find a way to work together, preferably before they get killed.
I loved this book and the magical world that Ford has created. We are introduced to a multitude of characters and I want to know more about all of them, especially Bob the Cat. It is literally non stop action from page one, and I could not put it down. I do have to say that I am looking forward to the audio version so I can finally hear the correct way to pronounce all the words I read incorrectly.
Roku is straddling the line between so many worlds it's a wonder he knows up from down. He is a cop with familial ties to a crime boss and he is half human, half faerie during a time when that's not a good thing to be. And if things weren't bad enough, he just got a new partner because he had to shoot his last one.
Trent Leonard is new to the Arcane Crimes Division and finds himself totally unprepared to not only deal with the crimes he is trying to solve but also his hotter then hell partner. With secrets of his own the two cops need to find a way to work together, preferably before they get killed.
I loved this book and the magical world that Ford has created. We are introduced to a multitude of characters and I want to know more about all of them, especially Bob the Cat. It is literally non stop action from page one, and I could not put it down. I do have to say that I am looking forward to the audio version so I can finally hear the correct way to pronounce all the words I read incorrectly.
Pretty awesome and interesting, really want to see more of Roku ant Trent, and how they deal with their lives.
I appreciated the world building in this book, and the characters. The "kitchen sink" approach to writing slowed it down and was distracting to me. I ended up skimming frequently because there were just so many words! I think another round of editing to take out 15% of the words would have helped immensely.
An advance reading copy of Dim Sum Asylum by [a:Rhys Ford|4968409|Rhys Ford|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1308678470p2/4968409.jpg] was generously provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
I read the short story, of which this is a very much expanded version, and liked it, but I like the longer version even more. I especially liked the world-building. The vivid descriptions of Chinatown, of San Francisco painted a very realistic and life-like picture. The location is almost like one of the characters in the story, a character that I love. The picture that she painted made me both feel like I'd been to Chinatown and it made me want to go there. It made me want to eat all those, to me, strange and scary dishes with names that I don't know how to pronounce. Since I'm not a brave eater, that's quite a feat.
Another aspect I really liked was the magic. It was not laid out in every minor detail, instead it was explained as much as necessary to follow the story and seemed an organic part of the story and its background.
Finally, the characters. For me this one was all about the POV character. Rokugi (Roku) brought the short story to life for me and he's even more intriguing in this novel-length version. Complicated, hurt, loyal, fierce and a cop through and through, he was the linchpin of this story. His drive and passion made this feel like a detective story with some romance elements thrown in, which in this case is not a bad thing at all. The romance aspect served to further inspire passion in a guy who's already pretty passionate; the romance doesn't detract from the detective story, it reinforces it and makes for a very enjoyable and compelling read. Highly recommended!!
I read the short story, of which this is a very much expanded version, and liked it, but I like the longer version even more. I especially liked the world-building. The vivid descriptions of Chinatown, of San Francisco painted a very realistic and life-like picture. The location is almost like one of the characters in the story, a character that I love. The picture that she painted made me both feel like I'd been to Chinatown and it made me want to go there. It made me want to eat all those, to me, strange and scary dishes with names that I don't know how to pronounce. Since I'm not a brave eater, that's quite a feat.
Another aspect I really liked was the magic. It was not laid out in every minor detail, instead it was explained as much as necessary to follow the story and seemed an organic part of the story and its background.
Finally, the characters. For me this one was all about the POV character. Rokugi (Roku) brought the short story to life for me and he's even more intriguing in this novel-length version. Complicated, hurt, loyal, fierce and a cop through and through, he was the linchpin of this story. His drive and passion made this feel like a detective story with some romance elements thrown in, which in this case is not a bad thing at all. The romance aspect served to further inspire passion in a guy who's already pretty passionate; the romance doesn't detract from the detective story, it reinforces it and makes for a very enjoyable and compelling read. Highly recommended!!