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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
The latest in the Eddie LaCrosse series sees Eddie delving into the past of his friend, Angelina, searching for her lost love. This book is like Eddie has joined the cast of Pirates of the Caribbean. Not as funny as the earlier books and for me this sits about level with the second book. There was a lot of pirate cliche but it was a fun book nonetheless. I would like to see Alex Bledsoe really mix it up for the next book though.
Let's get to the heart of the matter right now: you've got private detectives with swords, a noir setting rendered in a medieval fantasy world, you've got treasure, and - most of all - you've got pirates. I could probably just say all of that and you would be enticed to read The Wake of the Bloody Angel, but just in case I'll say a few things more.
Alex Bledsoe - where have you been all my life? I don't know how I missed this particular series (the Eddie La Crosse series), but now that I've found it, I get to go back and read all of the rest. This is smart, fun, well-written fantasy that crosses multiple bridges and genres, creating a book that I couldn't get enough of - I hated finishing it.
The Wake of the Bloody Angel is filled with the kinds of adventures any good roleplaying gamer dreams of having (that's why we game, after all). A discovery for me and a new favorite.
Visit me at chaotic compendiums for reviews and more.
Alex Bledsoe - where have you been all my life? I don't know how I missed this particular series (the Eddie La Crosse series), but now that I've found it, I get to go back and read all of the rest. This is smart, fun, well-written fantasy that crosses multiple bridges and genres, creating a book that I couldn't get enough of - I hated finishing it.
The Wake of the Bloody Angel is filled with the kinds of adventures any good roleplaying gamer dreams of having (that's why we game, after all). A discovery for me and a new favorite.
Visit me at chaotic compendiums for reviews and more.
I'm four books into the series now, and I'm seeing a slight improvement in the way that the women characters are portrayed. They still seem to be defined by their attractiveness, but they're also pretty strong women who aren't there just to orbit the men in the books. That's not to say that they don't serve as support to Eddie, but the series is called "Eddie LaCrosse," and not "All the other women who are a part of Eddie LaCrosse's life." This time around, we actually get more of the stories about the women in the series (albeit told from Eddie's perspective).
I feel like it's important to know this characteristic of the series, but I also feel like I have to tell you that if you can overlook it, you'll be well rewarded with the books. I've noticed that Bledsoe has a knack for adding a tiny little detail to a scene that makes it come to life. In the opening scene, as he describes the tavern Eddie enters, he mentions using a mud-scraper to clean his boots. It's a small detail, but it adds to the setting, and tells us a little bit about Eddie. That kind of thing peppers the book (or books, really; I noticed it in the previous volumes, too), and it adds a lot to the story.
And have I mentioned that he just tells a damn good story? Quibbles aside, I've enjoyed every one of them as a story, and as I've said before, story is king. There's no doubt that he can write. Each book so far has had at least one corny, random joke thrown into the middle of a scene (this one included the "Interrupting Cow" joke, for the love of Mitch), but otherwise he puts together an excellent story.
The series is classified as fantasy, and there are certainly some fantastical elements to the stories and a fantastical flair to the events, but when you step back and take a broader view, the series is really just Medieval fiction. Maybe I'm splitting hairs, but given that the magic is understated in the series, and that I associate magic with fantasy, they don't really feel like fantasy novels. That's not a criticism as much as it is an observation, though. I bring this up because Wake of the Bloody Angel brings in pirates, which makes it feel out of place with the rest of the series. My knowledge of history isn't that good, but I get the feeling that pirates (or at least the kinds of pirates portrayed in this novel) came about a couple of centuries after Medieval times, which made the book feel just a little odd. Once you get into the story, though, it doesn't matter.
Once He Drank, and Saw the Spider hits paperback, I'll be sure to read it, and there's also The Hum and the Shiver to consider, but make no mistake; I'll be reading them.
I feel like it's important to know this characteristic of the series, but I also feel like I have to tell you that if you can overlook it, you'll be well rewarded with the books. I've noticed that Bledsoe has a knack for adding a tiny little detail to a scene that makes it come to life. In the opening scene, as he describes the tavern Eddie enters, he mentions using a mud-scraper to clean his boots. It's a small detail, but it adds to the setting, and tells us a little bit about Eddie. That kind of thing peppers the book (or books, really; I noticed it in the previous volumes, too), and it adds a lot to the story.
And have I mentioned that he just tells a damn good story? Quibbles aside, I've enjoyed every one of them as a story, and as I've said before, story is king. There's no doubt that he can write. Each book so far has had at least one corny, random joke thrown into the middle of a scene (this one included the "Interrupting Cow" joke, for the love of Mitch), but otherwise he puts together an excellent story.
The series is classified as fantasy, and there are certainly some fantastical elements to the stories and a fantastical flair to the events, but when you step back and take a broader view, the series is really just Medieval fiction. Maybe I'm splitting hairs, but given that the magic is understated in the series, and that I associate magic with fantasy, they don't really feel like fantasy novels. That's not a criticism as much as it is an observation, though. I bring this up because Wake of the Bloody Angel brings in pirates, which makes it feel out of place with the rest of the series. My knowledge of history isn't that good, but I get the feeling that pirates (or at least the kinds of pirates portrayed in this novel) came about a couple of centuries after Medieval times, which made the book feel just a little odd. Once you get into the story, though, it doesn't matter.
Once He Drank, and Saw the Spider hits paperback, I'll be sure to read it, and there's also The Hum and the Shiver to consider, but make no mistake; I'll be reading them.
Eddie LaCrosse is one of my favorite fantasy main characters. He's a sword-jockey, which in this sword-and-horses fantasy world, is something like a noir private detective in ours. He's the guy you hire to find someone, or solve a puzzle, or deal with a blackmailer. Eddie is an ex-nobleman, ex-mercenary, and an honorable man with a soft-spot for children and women (although in this world women have more equality, and Eddie is the last one to underestimate them.) He's smart, quick but not supernatural with a sword, and persistent. His narrative is understated and clear, with just a hint but not an overdose of wry humor.
This series is worth reading through in order, but this book can stand alone fairly well. You'll only find a little of the secondary-character backstory less rich if you haven't read the others. Eddie is hired by his closest friend, Angelina, to find the sailor-turned-pirate whom she once loved. He teams up with another ex-pirate, Captain Jane Argo, whose expertise and contacts make the search possible. She's a great secondary character, in a book filled with excellent secondary characters who support and don't distract from the adventure-mystery plot.
I enjoyed this from start to finish. The plot kept me guessing all the way to the climax, the fantasy elements were few and well played, the world-building was first rate. And then there was Eddie. I'll read more of Eddie any time. Highly recommended to lovers of realistic sword-and-supernatural fantasy readers.
This series is worth reading through in order, but this book can stand alone fairly well. You'll only find a little of the secondary-character backstory less rich if you haven't read the others. Eddie is hired by his closest friend, Angelina, to find the sailor-turned-pirate whom she once loved. He teams up with another ex-pirate, Captain Jane Argo, whose expertise and contacts make the search possible. She's a great secondary character, in a book filled with excellent secondary characters who support and don't distract from the adventure-mystery plot.
I enjoyed this from start to finish. The plot kept me guessing all the way to the climax, the fantasy elements were few and well played, the world-building was first rate. And then there was Eddie. I'll read more of Eddie any time. Highly recommended to lovers of realistic sword-and-supernatural fantasy readers.
Eddie LaCrosse has a new client -- his landlord. Turns out the highly secretive Angelina has a long lost love. Once upon a time, in her early barmaid days, Angelina fell for a young sailor named Edward Tew. Tew, intent on providing for his new lady, set off to earn his riches the old fashioned way -- through piracy. He was never heard from again. Twenty years later, Angelina is tired of waiting and has hired Eddie to find out what happened to Tew. Eddie enlists the help of Jane Argo, a former pirate captain herself, and sets off on the high seas in search of the long lost pirate. Rumor has it his ship went down with a mighty haul but no one has ever found Tew, his missing cargo, or his ship, The Bloody Angel. Can Eddie solve the mystery where past treasure hunters have failed?
My expectations were sky high jumping into WAKE OF THE BLOODY ANGEL Thankfully, Alex Bledsoe came through in spades! The mystery is well plotted and the mix of fantasy and mystery elements is an excellent pairing. Plus there are pirates! And sea monsters! Need I really say more?
This is technically the fourth installment in Bledsoe's Eddie LaCrosse series. Another big plus for this book is that the reader really doesn't miss anything by jumping in at book four. There are hints of past things Eddie's faced, but overall the book can be read as a stand-alone and serves as a great introduction to the series as a whole. Be warned, if you read one you'll definitely want to read the rest!
My expectations were sky high jumping into WAKE OF THE BLOODY ANGEL Thankfully, Alex Bledsoe came through in spades! The mystery is well plotted and the mix of fantasy and mystery elements is an excellent pairing. Plus there are pirates! And sea monsters! Need I really say more?
This is technically the fourth installment in Bledsoe's Eddie LaCrosse series. Another big plus for this book is that the reader really doesn't miss anything by jumping in at book four. There are hints of past things Eddie's faced, but overall the book can be read as a stand-alone and serves as a great introduction to the series as a whole. Be warned, if you read one you'll definitely want to read the rest!
I had a great time with this first book of this series, The Sword-Edged Blonde, and I just knew I'd love the rest of Bledsoe's books. Sadly, I couldn't quite manage to get to books two and three before needing to review this one, but rest assured I'm going to go back and do so (after loving book one so much I went out and bought all three!).
Like the first book, the mood and vibe of this book is what I just loved: it's wry, sardonic, a bit tongue-in-cheeks, kind sexy, very 'masculine', and wonderfully escapist. The comparisons to private investigator pulp feels accurate: there's a wry hero, dirty urban landscapes, some sex, some murder.
In this book, our hero, Eddie LaCrosse -- battered, loyal, rough around the edges but obviously bearing a heart-of-gold -- takes on a case from a close friend. He's asked to find her lover, an infamous pirate, who was last in touch twenty years ago. Quickly, of course, things get a bit complicated -- there's a kid, debate of the pirate's origins, rumors of treasure, lies, misinformation, misdirection, and messy adventure. What seems, on the surface, to be bouncy, banter-y fun disguises a much darker story -- and it's this seedier, discomforting ugliness that really captured me and has me addicted to this series.
I think this would stand alone fine, but would be a bit of a crashing introduction to Eddie LaCrosse and his world. Check out the author's website, where you can download the first chapter of this book and get a sense of his writing and world-building -- and if you like, I highly recommended starting with the first book and reading on from there. (I'm grateful I can go back to read books two and three because waiting for another Eddie LaCrosse book now would kill me!)
Like the first book, the mood and vibe of this book is what I just loved: it's wry, sardonic, a bit tongue-in-cheeks, kind sexy, very 'masculine', and wonderfully escapist. The comparisons to private investigator pulp feels accurate: there's a wry hero, dirty urban landscapes, some sex, some murder.
In this book, our hero, Eddie LaCrosse -- battered, loyal, rough around the edges but obviously bearing a heart-of-gold -- takes on a case from a close friend. He's asked to find her lover, an infamous pirate, who was last in touch twenty years ago. Quickly, of course, things get a bit complicated -- there's a kid, debate of the pirate's origins, rumors of treasure, lies, misinformation, misdirection, and messy adventure. What seems, on the surface, to be bouncy, banter-y fun disguises a much darker story -- and it's this seedier, discomforting ugliness that really captured me and has me addicted to this series.
I think this would stand alone fine, but would be a bit of a crashing introduction to Eddie LaCrosse and his world. Check out the author's website, where you can download the first chapter of this book and get a sense of his writing and world-building -- and if you like, I highly recommended starting with the first book and reading on from there. (I'm grateful I can go back to read books two and three because waiting for another Eddie LaCrosse book now would kill me!)
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
What’s Wake of the Bloody Angel About?
I looked up at the stars. Finding one pirate after twenty years was a lot like picking one star out of this sky. Just when you thought you had it, a cloud slid by and you had to start all over when it passed.
Yet that’s just what Eddie LaCrosse sets out to do—find the unfindable, track the untrackable. For those of you who don’t know—Eddie lives in a fairly standard fantasy realm, and makes his living as a “sword jockey”—what we’d call a P.I. in our world. These books are first-person narratives and read a lot like good detective novels—but with swords, horses, and the occasional dragon or whatnot.
Eddie doesn’t go alone on his search for a pirate—he brings along his old friend/colleague, Jane Argo. Jane’s a former pirate turned pirate hunter turned sword jockey and is as tough as that résumé suggests. Having her come along on this adventure as the Hawk/Joe Pike figure was a great addition to a series that I didn’t think required it. But now, I want more of her—back in Eddie LaCrosse #6, or in Jane Argo #1. I could be pleased either way, as long as it’s soon.
A Killer Line
Every now and then, in the middle of this fun read, Bledsoe reminds you he can do more than tell a fun action story, and drop a sentence, or phrase that shows he’s just a good writer, period. One such line that stood out to me, and I’ve tried to find excuses to use in the last couple of days is:
Hawk’s been called many things over the years, but you know what captures him best, in my opinion? That he’s simply a shiver looking for a spine to run up.
You get a real clear idea about this Hawk guy, the image is pretty creepy in and of itself, and yet, it looks and sounds breezy unless you think about it. I like Eddie and the rest of his world plenty—but it’s that kind of thing that keeps me coming back to Bledsoe.
What I found interesting as I re-read what I wrote years ago is this very line. I’d completely forgotten it in the intervening years, but when I heard it, I mentioned it to a coworker and at least one family member, and even tweeted about it. It struck me as a perfect line in 2014, and it did the same again in 2020. I clearly have a well-defined taste and will probably rave about it the next time I read/listen to this novel.
The Paranormal
The last thing I can think to note is that this book briefly features the creepiest little girl I can remember since Let the Right One In. I really can’t talk about her without ruining too much, but let me just say that absolutely loved the way that Bledsoe used her. And no, I’m not going to talk about why I mention her under “The Paranormal.”
For a Fantasy series, Bledsoe is very careful—almost stingy—with his use of magic and the paranormal. But when he uses it? It’s so effective. We get just a few incidents of it here and I love watching the choices Bledsoe makes regarding them.
The Narration
Obviously, as it was over 6 years ago that I read the book, I could be wrong about this, but I think that Rudnicki’s narration added another layer to the novel, and it struck a deeper chord with me. It’s not like I didn’t enjoy the book when I read it, but listening to it seemed to be more effective. I attribute that solely to Rudnicki. He just does a great job not only with Eddie, but with all the other characters—Jane Argo and the last new character we meet in particular.
So, what did I think about Wake of the Bloody Angel?
There’s adventure, piracy, sword-play, banter, friendship, and a bit of betrayal. That’s pretty much what you want in a novel like this, right?
Bledsoe did a great job of nailing the life of a ship (says the guy who gets too seasick to even contemplate a day-long voyage)—both the tedium of day-to-day and the excitement of boardings (or other adventures at sea).
I couldn’t have seen the ending coming, nor the details it revealed. But it worked, it absolutely worked both as interesting plot development, and as strong character moments. So well done.
I’ve only got one novel in this series to go, and I’m excited to get to it, but I don’t want things to end. That’s a good place to be.
There's a port on a western bay... HAHA! This was so much fun. And then in like the last four chapters, it took a pretty weird turn. All in all, I was happy I tried a new genre.