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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
3/5
It really felt more like the first book of a series than a standalone!
It really felt more like the first book of a series than a standalone!
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Cursed relics aren’t necessarily smart but they’re kind of like chickens. They know what an axe looks like.
I picked this book up for the romance, but I stayed for the urban fantasy and the mystery. That part of the book was definitely the main draw for me. The plot is fast-paced and exciting, and the worldbuilding is simply excellent. I wish this was a series, both because the book reads a lot like a series starter and because I just want to spend more time in this version of San Francisco, with all of its creepy faeries and complicated magics. The author has a knack for description that made absolutely every location easy to visualize. It really felt like I was there with the characters.
Roku, the MC, took next to no time to grow on me. I found him a super engaging character; he was fun to follow, fun to worry about whenever he confronted yet another danger the plot threw at him, and his grief for his husband and daughters felt relatable and not overdone. Unfortunately, I can't say the same about the second lead, Trent. I just... never got him, I guess? There were a lot of side characters here who got a lot more of my interest. And the romance/attraction between the two of them felt rushed and, tbh, somewhat unnecessary. Perhaps if this was indeed a series and the relationship between them unfolded gradually, my feelings would be different.
PS: Bob is the best cat ever. Except for my cats, of course. :D
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, Grief
~ 4.5 Stars ~
I will freely admit that Rhys Ford is one of my go to authors. Her stories are rich in descriptive prose, and her characters more tightly wound than seems possible. But even though they may be work when it comes to loving them, or establishing a relationship, her men are also well worth pursuing for they are so often loyal to a fault and fully invest themselves in whomever finally manages to pin them down and capture their hearts. And so it is with Roku MacCormick, the half human, half fae detective of the Arcane Crimes Division. Having recently lost his family, husband and two daughters, to a violent end, Roku is barely hanging on to his sanity–not to mention his bleeding heart. After shooting his corrupt partner on a job that was meant to go smoothly, Roku receives a new partner, Trent Leonard, who ends up having a few secrets of his own.
The two are pursuing a murder spree brought on by what appears to be animated religious relics. In a place where such things are rather commonplace, and creatures of every size and sort mingle with the human race, the relics are hardly out of place until a pattern emerges and Roku realizes that the target is not some random person but he, himself. Mix in his affiliation with a grandfather who runs the Chinese mafia, and an extended family who wish him dead, and Roku is obviously having a decidedly bad day.
A Rhys Ford paranormal novel is never a standard issue, run of the mill story. Her characters are often unique, either in their genetic makeup or their circumstances. Roku is no different. However, this novel’s setting was a bit daunting even for a diehard fan such as me. With multiple characters introduced in a fairly rapid onset, as well as names, descriptions and certain phrases used being in a language that was not immediately recognizable to this reviewer, I found myself getting mired down in understanding what Roku was talking about some of the time. I know that this novel was an expansion of a previously published short story, and perhaps I should have read that first; however, despite being occasionally mystified as to what was being discussed, I still happily lost myself in the raucous action and well crafted mystery elements of this incredible novel.
Roku was essentially emotionally bleeding out from the beginning to end of this book. He wears the deaths of those he feels responsible for on his very body via tattoos that remind him of each and every loss he has experienced. Being half fae but wingless and not quite as typical when it comes to fae-like qualities, he is also somewhat of an anomaly in his own community, such as it is. He is driven at work because it keeps the past at bay—when you are exhausted it is easy not to dwell on what you have lost—and believe me, Roku has lost much and it is heartbreaking. Still, you get the sense that others in his department in the Dim Sum Asylum respect him and like him, and that, in a quirky way, gives the reader some sense of relief that someone is looking out after our hero.
While I felt Trent was a bit shallow in terms of character development, I still got enough of a sense of who he was and what he was missing in his life that the connection he sought with Roku, romantically, made sense. If you go looking for some sweet emotional moment between these two guys, look again, for theirs is more of a relationship forged in need—both physical and mental. You get a glimpse that the heart is sure to follow here, but it begins as more of a frantic, desperate coupling between these two men that is tenuous and yet insanely wanted by both, even though it scares the hell out of them.
Dim Sum Asylum by Rhys Ford is a full on action-thriller complete with a newly crafted paranormal world that never ceases to surprise the reader. A roller coaster ride best describes the feel to this novel, but it’s a ride well taken nonetheless.
Reviewed by Sammy for The Novel Approach
I will freely admit that Rhys Ford is one of my go to authors. Her stories are rich in descriptive prose, and her characters more tightly wound than seems possible. But even though they may be work when it comes to loving them, or establishing a relationship, her men are also well worth pursuing for they are so often loyal to a fault and fully invest themselves in whomever finally manages to pin them down and capture their hearts. And so it is with Roku MacCormick, the half human, half fae detective of the Arcane Crimes Division. Having recently lost his family, husband and two daughters, to a violent end, Roku is barely hanging on to his sanity–not to mention his bleeding heart. After shooting his corrupt partner on a job that was meant to go smoothly, Roku receives a new partner, Trent Leonard, who ends up having a few secrets of his own.
The two are pursuing a murder spree brought on by what appears to be animated religious relics. In a place where such things are rather commonplace, and creatures of every size and sort mingle with the human race, the relics are hardly out of place until a pattern emerges and Roku realizes that the target is not some random person but he, himself. Mix in his affiliation with a grandfather who runs the Chinese mafia, and an extended family who wish him dead, and Roku is obviously having a decidedly bad day.
A Rhys Ford paranormal novel is never a standard issue, run of the mill story. Her characters are often unique, either in their genetic makeup or their circumstances. Roku is no different. However, this novel’s setting was a bit daunting even for a diehard fan such as me. With multiple characters introduced in a fairly rapid onset, as well as names, descriptions and certain phrases used being in a language that was not immediately recognizable to this reviewer, I found myself getting mired down in understanding what Roku was talking about some of the time. I know that this novel was an expansion of a previously published short story, and perhaps I should have read that first; however, despite being occasionally mystified as to what was being discussed, I still happily lost myself in the raucous action and well crafted mystery elements of this incredible novel.
Roku was essentially emotionally bleeding out from the beginning to end of this book. He wears the deaths of those he feels responsible for on his very body via tattoos that remind him of each and every loss he has experienced. Being half fae but wingless and not quite as typical when it comes to fae-like qualities, he is also somewhat of an anomaly in his own community, such as it is. He is driven at work because it keeps the past at bay—when you are exhausted it is easy not to dwell on what you have lost—and believe me, Roku has lost much and it is heartbreaking. Still, you get the sense that others in his department in the Dim Sum Asylum respect him and like him, and that, in a quirky way, gives the reader some sense of relief that someone is looking out after our hero.
While I felt Trent was a bit shallow in terms of character development, I still got enough of a sense of who he was and what he was missing in his life that the connection he sought with Roku, romantically, made sense. If you go looking for some sweet emotional moment between these two guys, look again, for theirs is more of a relationship forged in need—both physical and mental. You get a glimpse that the heart is sure to follow here, but it begins as more of a frantic, desperate coupling between these two men that is tenuous and yet insanely wanted by both, even though it scares the hell out of them.
Dim Sum Asylum by Rhys Ford is a full on action-thriller complete with a newly crafted paranormal world that never ceases to surprise the reader. A roller coaster ride best describes the feel to this novel, but it’s a ride well taken nonetheless.
Reviewed by Sammy for The Novel Approach
Great urban fantasy in a San Francisco where Fae live among us and magic is real, and the Police force have an Arcane Crimes Division, located in Chinatown -- also known by its denizens as the Dim Sum Asylum.
This full-length novel fulfils all of the promise from the novella it was expanded from, keeping all the good stuff and adding so much more, and weaving the love story so much more seamlessly into the narrative. Amazing, vivid descriptions of this alternate magical city and the people and creatures that populate it, an interesting main character and a love interest who is a bit more layered than he first appears. All that interspersed with hard-boiled action and lots of danger, as well as some ghosts and demons from the past.
The only quibble I have is the frequent flashbacks and the story jumping between past and present a bit too distractingly, which tended to throw me a bit, but otherwise very well written.
I'm a bit baffled that this doesn't seem to be a series, because the premise and characters hold a lot of promise for a really great one, but since this is still fairly new, I still hold out hope that it could be expanded.
This full-length novel fulfils all of the promise from the novella it was expanded from, keeping all the good stuff and adding so much more, and weaving the love story so much more seamlessly into the narrative. Amazing, vivid descriptions of this alternate magical city and the people and creatures that populate it, an interesting main character and a love interest who is a bit more layered than he first appears. All that interspersed with hard-boiled action and lots of danger, as well as some ghosts and demons from the past.
The only quibble I have is the frequent flashbacks and the story jumping between past and present a bit too distractingly, which tended to throw me a bit, but otherwise very well written.
I'm a bit baffled that this doesn't seem to be a series, because the premise and characters hold a lot of promise for a really great one, but since this is still fairly new, I still hold out hope that it could be expanded.
A surprisingly good book. Nice to read MM romantic suspense that is not part of the series. The book is an elongated version of a short story but you don't feel it at all. It’s full and complete.
This book presents a very interesting world of magic, unlike any other. All the action takes place in Chinatown and all the magic is related to Asian culture. It seems to me that we more often find Celtic, Ancient Greek or even Egyptian beliefs in books, so it's fantastic to see something new and different.
This also applies to the main characters. Roku and Trent are half faeries, and they both have a tragic past. Their past could be even more prominently displayed in the story because I would like to know more about it. But I can go with what I got. Either way, they are both very remarkable, complex characters and together they make a great pair.
The story is a quick read, it is full of action, and suspense is interesting and not obvious. Different threads intertwine well. Although Roku and Trent know each other very briefly, their affair also seems credible.
This book presents a very interesting world of magic, unlike any other. All the action takes place in Chinatown and all the magic is related to Asian culture. It seems to me that we more often find Celtic, Ancient Greek or even Egyptian beliefs in books, so it's fantastic to see something new and different.
This also applies to the main characters. Roku and Trent are half faeries, and they both have a tragic past. Their past could be even more prominently displayed in the story because I would like to know more about it. But I can go with what I got. Either way, they are both very remarkable, complex characters and together they make a great pair.
The story is a quick read, it is full of action, and suspense is interesting and not obvious. Different threads intertwine well. Although Roku and Trent know each other very briefly, their affair also seems credible.
I am kind of a Ford addict at this point. I love her characters. Love her writing. She's really inspiring as I kind of struggle with my own writing path. She's a good reminder as always that romance is not always just fluff. She deals with heavy themes and her writing is really breathtaking. I am quickly become addicted to her paranormal stuff and can't wait until she writes more in these series. Come on Ford! :)
I love the world this author created! I am still so disappointed at myself for not reading that anthology that this story stemmed from. How did I miss that????
But I love reading this book and just saying, when I finished it, I was all, next. But then I found out it's not a series! WHAT?!?!?!
I really like the details too! So descriptive! Enjoyed it!
But I love reading this book and just saying, when I finished it, I was all, next. But then I found out it's not a series! WHAT?!?!?!
I really like the details too! So descriptive! Enjoyed it!
Different and interesting story
The main characters are interesting but a more fully developed background would have been nice. If this were the first book in a series I could assume that we’d get more info, especially about Trent, in future books but that is not the case based on what I read here.
The story is different as is the setting and the mystery keeps you intrigued but there is a lot of vagueness. The author throws stuff out there and then never explores it further or explains it further. Can’t give examples without spoilers but one of the questions they repeatedly ask about the animations is never answered satisfactorily, if at all. That’s really annoying. A twist at the end seems convoluted.
If you aren’t one of those readers who perseverates on every detail (like I am...annoying but true!) then you will probably rathe this book higher. For me there were too many things not fully explained and things just tossed in that I struggled to figure out why, especially for a one-off book.
The main characters are interesting but a more fully developed background would have been nice. If this were the first book in a series I could assume that we’d get more info, especially about Trent, in future books but that is not the case based on what I read here.
The story is different as is the setting and the mystery keeps you intrigued but there is a lot of vagueness. The author throws stuff out there and then never explores it further or explains it further. Can’t give examples without spoilers but one of the questions they repeatedly ask about the animations is never answered satisfactorily, if at all. That’s really annoying. A twist at the end seems convoluted.
If you aren’t one of those readers who perseverates on every detail (like I am...annoying but true!) then you will probably rathe this book higher. For me there were too many things not fully explained and things just tossed in that I struggled to figure out why, especially for a one-off book.
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes