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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
Wisconsin author Alex Bledsoe knows how to draw in the reader with a fast paced plot. He has a great sense of humor as well. At times I get a little confused because the characters will all react in turn to something before Bledsoe will reveal all the details to the reader. That can be a bit annoying. However, I enjoy the Eddie Lacrosse character quite a bit. He is certainly flawed, letting violence and torture lead many of his actions. At the same time, he is reflective and usually motivated by a sense of justice, particularly for the weak and innocent. In other words, Lacrosse displays some sense of chivalry, which adds complexity and interest to his character.
In this novel, Lacrosse charts new territory (pun intended) as he takes to the seas in search of a pirate nobody has seen in twenty years. As always with Bledsoe's novels, the pacing is fast, although the action starts a little later than in Burn Me Deadly, since Lacrosse is hired for the job by a friend, thus leading to a development of the friend's previously undeveloped character. The reader needs some background to understand the friendship and what the job means to Lacrosse, thus the action begins in chapter two, rather than chapter one. There are some lulls in the action throughout the book, which only serve to build tension in both the reader and characters as the mystery builds to its conclusion.
Bit of a spoiler here - the incorporation of sea creatures is imaginative and gruesome, and really adds to the entertainment value, if in a dark way. Actually, there's moments in all of Bledsoe's novels that are gruesome, sometimes seemingly unnecessarily gruesome. On the other hand, perhaps that's the kind of detail that makes Bledsoe's semi-medieval world seem real.
Speaking of that, it always amuses me to see how Bledsoe incorporates modern touches to his non-industrial world. They read like throwaway details, but always make me laugh a little before continuing with the story. In this novel, it was the title of the book Lacrosse finds detailing the famous wreck of a pirate ship - it was very reminiscent of non-fiction book titles today, particularly those detailing mysterious or unexplained events.
Overall, I find Bledsoe's books entertaining and quick, but I wouldn't put too much thought into them. They are amusing and entertaining light reading, and I've read three of them in the last three days. I think I've exhausted the supply of Eddie Lacrosse novels, but that's ok with me.
In this novel, Lacrosse charts new territory (pun intended) as he takes to the seas in search of a pirate nobody has seen in twenty years. As always with Bledsoe's novels, the pacing is fast, although the action starts a little later than in Burn Me Deadly, since Lacrosse is hired for the job by a friend, thus leading to a development of the friend's previously undeveloped character. The reader needs some background to understand the friendship and what the job means to Lacrosse, thus the action begins in chapter two, rather than chapter one. There are some lulls in the action throughout the book, which only serve to build tension in both the reader and characters as the mystery builds to its conclusion.
Bit of a spoiler here - the incorporation of sea creatures is imaginative and gruesome, and really adds to the entertainment value, if in a dark way. Actually, there's moments in all of Bledsoe's novels that are gruesome, sometimes seemingly unnecessarily gruesome. On the other hand, perhaps that's the kind of detail that makes Bledsoe's semi-medieval world seem real.
Speaking of that, it always amuses me to see how Bledsoe incorporates modern touches to his non-industrial world. They read like throwaway details, but always make me laugh a little before continuing with the story. In this novel, it was the title of the book Lacrosse finds detailing the famous wreck of a pirate ship - it was very reminiscent of non-fiction book titles today, particularly those detailing mysterious or unexplained events.
Overall, I find Bledsoe's books entertaining and quick, but I wouldn't put too much thought into them. They are amusing and entertaining light reading, and I've read three of them in the last three days. I think I've exhausted the supply of Eddie Lacrosse novels, but that's ok with me.
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child death, Death, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Below is my review from 9 years ago. It still stands and even more so since I listened to it this time. Blood Groove was my first book by the author, but this was the one that hooked me to read all things Alex Bledsoe. Especially this series. Excellent thrill ride, funny, exciting, great worlld-building.
************
Having just finished BLOOD GROOVE, Alex Bledsoe's vampire novel set in 1975 and really fabulously grody (in the best possible way), I wasn't sure I was set to read another. Even though the series has been on the WWBL for some time and I've looked forward to reading this ARC I received from Becky (NoMoreGrumpyBookseller), I rarely read an author back-to-back.
So very glad I made an exception. I was getting cozied out a bit and wanted a fab UF/paranormal/fantasy to cleanse my palate. And it cleansed and then some. I love my cozies, but wanted something gritty.
WAKE OF THE BLOODY ANGEL made me grin from the beginning as Alex uses one of my favorite songs to base part of the story. The barmaid is named Brandy and met a sailor who she fell for after listening to his stories of the sea. He left one day, since the sea was his home. But he first gave her a gift...a braided silver chain.....
Brandy waited for him for twenty years, now it's time to find him and she hires Eddie LaCrosse to do so. Not all is at it seems and the adventure makes for a superb read.
This is the fourth in the series and I really need to go shopping to get the rest, especially SWORD-EDGED BLONDE, the title that captured my attention and the first in the series.
Highly recommendable!!
************
Having just finished BLOOD GROOVE, Alex Bledsoe's vampire novel set in 1975 and really fabulously grody (in the best possible way), I wasn't sure I was set to read another. Even though the series has been on the WWBL for some time and I've looked forward to reading this ARC I received from Becky (NoMoreGrumpyBookseller), I rarely read an author back-to-back.
So very glad I made an exception. I was getting cozied out a bit and wanted a fab UF/paranormal/fantasy to cleanse my palate. And it cleansed and then some. I love my cozies, but wanted something gritty.
WAKE OF THE BLOODY ANGEL made me grin from the beginning as Alex uses one of my favorite songs to base part of the story. The barmaid is named Brandy and met a sailor who she fell for after listening to his stories of the sea. He left one day, since the sea was his home. But he first gave her a gift...a braided silver chain.....
Brandy waited for him for twenty years, now it's time to find him and she hires Eddie LaCrosse to do so. Not all is at it seems and the adventure makes for a superb read.
This is the fourth in the series and I really need to go shopping to get the rest, especially SWORD-EDGED BLONDE, the title that captured my attention and the first in the series.
Highly recommendable!!
Ah, Angelina – she's a fine girl, a fine girl. I don't think she would have been a good wife, though, not even to the man she - as she tells sword jockey Eddie LaCrosse - fell in love with some twenty years ago. This man - Edward Tew - then began a new career as a pirate fund a happy life with her, made one surprise huge score, and then vanished. She hires Eddie to find Tew - and despite some reluctance to work for a friend someone he knows so well he agrees to take the case.
This is the fourth book in this series, with, therefore, an established universe (which I hadn't visited before), so the new reader (that would be me) is left to figure out that Eddie is, basically, Sam Spade with a sword instead of a gun (hence "sword jockey"), a former mercenary who now takes on private investigator-y work. His world is not one built strictly along any classical fantasy lines: this is a place with permeable boundaries, where such things as popular American songs of the seventies and Shakespeare's Henry V bleed through in such a way that makes it clear that Alex Bledsoe's tongue was firmly in cheek while he wrote. It doesn't scream "look how FUNNY!" - it just is. I'm looking forward to seeing what seeped through in the other books in the series.
Eddie is very, very cool. He's the private eye you want to hire - competent, smart, not entirely cynical as yet, funny, and with good connections. One of these latter is Jane Argo, former pirate queen turned pirate hunter, who is herself pretty awesome. Almost, in fact, as awesome as her reputation states, rather like Eddie. I like their relationship – all of the relationships, in fact. They're a well-formed cast of characters – just what I needed: another series I need to go find and read. I'll just stop sleeping now.
The action moves from the tavern to the port town where Angelina once lived, to a prison which would make for a tremendous film sequence, to sundry pirate – er, sailing ships and a deserted desert island. And action there is in plenty, as to Angelina's mystery is added a new, larger one, which may just be related: ships are being found adrift, their crews and passengers having done a Marie Celeste: they are simply gone, leaving lifeboats and possessions and in some cases half-eaten meals behind. Sailors are scared, from the greenest cabin boy to the most gnarled pirate – but Eddie has a hunch, and he cajoles his ship's captain and crew to go against what seems to be common sense and go investigating. And on through ghosts and sea monsters and shipboard battle (and theatrical performance, which was a kick) the hunt takes them.
It was Robert Louis Stevenson-meets-Jim Butcher. It was tremendous fun. Another one for The List.
The usual disclaimer: I received this book via Netgalley for review.
This is the fourth book in this series, with, therefore, an established universe (which I hadn't visited before), so the new reader (that would be me) is left to figure out that Eddie is, basically, Sam Spade with a sword instead of a gun (hence "sword jockey"), a former mercenary who now takes on private investigator-y work. His world is not one built strictly along any classical fantasy lines: this is a place with permeable boundaries, where such things as popular American songs of the seventies and Shakespeare's Henry V bleed through in such a way that makes it clear that Alex Bledsoe's tongue was firmly in cheek while he wrote. It doesn't scream "look how FUNNY!" - it just is. I'm looking forward to seeing what seeped through in the other books in the series.
Eddie is very, very cool. He's the private eye you want to hire - competent, smart, not entirely cynical as yet, funny, and with good connections. One of these latter is Jane Argo, former pirate queen turned pirate hunter, who is herself pretty awesome. Almost, in fact, as awesome as her reputation states, rather like Eddie. I like their relationship – all of the relationships, in fact. They're a well-formed cast of characters – just what I needed: another series I need to go find and read. I'll just stop sleeping now.
The action moves from the tavern to the port town where Angelina once lived, to a prison which would make for a tremendous film sequence, to sundry pirate – er, sailing ships and a deserted desert island. And action there is in plenty, as to Angelina's mystery is added a new, larger one, which may just be related: ships are being found adrift, their crews and passengers having done a Marie Celeste: they are simply gone, leaving lifeboats and possessions and in some cases half-eaten meals behind. Sailors are scared, from the greenest cabin boy to the most gnarled pirate – but Eddie has a hunch, and he cajoles his ship's captain and crew to go against what seems to be common sense and go investigating. And on through ghosts and sea monsters and shipboard battle (and theatrical performance, which was a kick) the hunt takes them.
It was Robert Louis Stevenson-meets-Jim Butcher. It was tremendous fun. Another one for The List.
The usual disclaimer: I received this book via Netgalley for review.
My full review can be found here:
http://bookswithoutanypictures.wordpress.com/2012/09/20/the-wake-of-the-bloody-angel-by-alex-bledsoe-giveaway-included/
I'm a huge fan of this one. It's basically a mystery novel set in a fantasy world, and with pirates! It's the fourth in a series, but you don't need to read the others to understand it.
http://bookswithoutanypictures.wordpress.com/2012/09/20/the-wake-of-the-bloody-angel-by-alex-bledsoe-giveaway-included/
I'm a huge fan of this one. It's basically a mystery novel set in a fantasy world, and with pirates! It's the fourth in a series, but you don't need to read the others to understand it.
This is where the author truly hit his stride. This was his best book, in terms if both writing style and general storyline. I literally haven't finished a book this quickly in quite some time... A testament to how much fun and well written this book was. Can't wait for more books as this book has cemented me as a fan for years to come!
It's based on the song "Brandy" by the band "Looking Glass" from the '70s. I'm not even kidding. I love the way this series is just a little bit unhinged from the regular Swords and Sorcery way of doing things.
A good return to form after a slightly disappointing book 3
Rating: I do love Eddie and his friends. And sometimes his enemies.
Eddie, sword jockey, is hired by his friend Angelina to track down her husband, an infamous pirate. Eddie, per usual, finds himself swept up into ancillary mysteries galore. And he gets to hang out with his fellow sword-jockey Jane.
Eddie, sword jockey, is hired by his friend Angelina to track down her husband, an infamous pirate. Eddie, per usual, finds himself swept up into ancillary mysteries galore. And he gets to hang out with his fellow sword-jockey Jane.