Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by jdcunegan
Blood Debt by E.A. Copen
5.0
Considering how much I loved Guilty by Association, despite my distaste for werewolves, I was chomping at the bit to read Blood Debt given my affinity for (...almost) all things vampires. And as I suspected, E.A. Copen's second entry in the Judah Black series doesn't disappoint, offering yet another action-packed mystery and enough character moments to add depth as well as bite.
Yes, that was totally intentional.
To my pleasant surprise, a fair number of players from the first book also appear in Blood Debt giving Judah's admittedly small world a much larger feel. Even so, there are enough newcomers to keep things fresh, including magick wielder Mara and the mysterious vampire-but-not-really-sorta-kinda Abe. As much as I enjoy Judah as a protagonist, having interesting side characters along for the ride turns an entertaining read into a certified page-turner.
The side stories are plenty -- almost too much so, as it felt like one of the side stories got dropped around midway through the book in favor of the main plot -- but again, they help flesh out Judah's character and world.
A common critique of the mystery genre (and a valid one) is that it often feels paint-by-numbers, that it hits all the typical notes without offering anything that would provide depth and/or resonance. Copen's series doesn't fall into this trap, and the result is a world that is simultaneously otherworldly and intimate. She's knee-deep in a world of monsters, yet the reality of her life is so intimately personal that the scope never once overwhelms the reader.
Blood Debt was a fantastic follow-up to Guilty by Association, and Copen has quickly established herself as one of my favorite indie authors. I'm anxious to read Chasing Ghosts and hopeful that the wait for the series' fourth installment is a short one.
Yes, that was totally intentional.
To my pleasant surprise, a fair number of players from the first book also appear in Blood Debt giving Judah's admittedly small world a much larger feel. Even so, there are enough newcomers to keep things fresh, including magick wielder Mara and the mysterious vampire-but-not-really-sorta-kinda Abe. As much as I enjoy Judah as a protagonist, having interesting side characters along for the ride turns an entertaining read into a certified page-turner.
The side stories are plenty -- almost too much so, as it felt like one of the side stories got dropped around midway through the book in favor of the main plot -- but again, they help flesh out Judah's character and world.
A common critique of the mystery genre (and a valid one) is that it often feels paint-by-numbers, that it hits all the typical notes without offering anything that would provide depth and/or resonance. Copen's series doesn't fall into this trap, and the result is a world that is simultaneously otherworldly and intimate. She's knee-deep in a world of monsters, yet the reality of her life is so intimately personal that the scope never once overwhelms the reader.
Blood Debt was a fantastic follow-up to Guilty by Association, and Copen has quickly established herself as one of my favorite indie authors. I'm anxious to read Chasing Ghosts and hopeful that the wait for the series' fourth installment is a short one.