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A review by renpuspita
Blood Tally by Brian McClellan
4.0
4 stars
Much better than its predecessor, Uncanny Collateral. Although, there are some glaring typos and I mean, really, really GLARING. Not just one, but 2-3 or maybe more. I hope the next book will be typos free (and yes, I know this is self publish).
I already familiarize myself with Alek and his world, that in my opinion the world building is not that hard to understand. If you read plenty UF and PNR like me, the supernatural creatures are what you already read, such as vampires, shapeshifters, witches, etc. Alek himself is part troll, like 1/8 troll from Norwegia. So he has this "Viking" vibe and I can't help imagine himself look like Travis Fimmell :P. Alek is still a debt collector work for Valkyrie Collections, still a slave for his employer, Ada. Still have this brother-sister relationship with his djinn-in-the-ring, Maggie (whom in her older days, dating Vlad the Impaler before her imprisonment). But there's some development , in which from his latest case, Alek finally got a lead to his parents that sold him to the slavery at the first place.
The stake (pun intended) is higher now, since Alek not only just have one client (a nasty vampire that want his thrall to come back), but two (also a vampire, but a Vampire Lord. More powerful than the former) and seems like he must double-crossed them both, threatened his moral and ethical dilemma. Although Alek have it's full in his hands, with his search for his parents that actually not that easy, his client double-crossing, no lead whatsoever while searching his target, and a malicious magician try to harm Maggie, things get better in romantic department. Alex has a new love interest, a witch name Olivia and I like her already. Alek also get a new pet, Eddie, a cute sphinx cat. Not that hybrid cat. This cat is an actual sphinx that demand he get a new temple (in the form of Alek's home), four can of albacore tuna, and constantly remind Alek (and Maggie) that he's a Prince of the Nile and herald of Goddess Sekhmet (and getting rebuffed by Alek since Sekhmet was already dead a long time ago). Cute didn't enough to describe Eddie the sphinx, but despite his cute appearance, ofc Eddie is not what it seems. Eddie might be the highlight of this novella for me <3.
Blood Tally is dark and gritty with so much violence but interesting plot and characters. I wonder if Alek will finally find his parents, release himself from his enslavement to Ada (although it seems that Ada actually care to Alek like her own son. But, you know...), save Maggie from her pursuer and maybe freed her too, his romantic relationship with Olivia, and yes, moarrr Eddie! The ending is open-ended and there's no sign of third book, but I really hope McClellan will write it in the future.
Much better than its predecessor, Uncanny Collateral. Although, there are some glaring typos and I mean, really, really GLARING. Not just one, but 2-3 or maybe more. I hope the next book will be typos free (and yes, I know this is self publish).
I already familiarize myself with Alek and his world, that in my opinion the world building is not that hard to understand. If you read plenty UF and PNR like me, the supernatural creatures are what you already read, such as vampires, shapeshifters, witches, etc. Alek himself is part troll, like 1/8 troll from Norwegia. So he has this "Viking" vibe and I can't help imagine himself look like Travis Fimmell :P. Alek is still a debt collector work for Valkyrie Collections, still a slave for his employer, Ada. Still have this brother-sister relationship with his djinn-in-the-ring, Maggie (whom in her older days, dating Vlad the Impaler before her imprisonment). But there's some development , in which from his latest case, Alek finally got a lead to his parents that sold him to the slavery at the first place.
The stake (pun intended) is higher now, since Alek not only just have one client (a nasty vampire that want his thrall to come back), but two (also a vampire, but a Vampire Lord. More powerful than the former) and seems like he must double-crossed them both, threatened his moral and ethical dilemma. Although Alek have it's full in his hands, with his search for his parents that actually not that easy, his client double-crossing, no lead whatsoever while searching his target, and a malicious magician try to harm Maggie, things get better in romantic department. Alex has a new love interest, a witch name Olivia and I like her already. Alek also get a new pet, Eddie, a cute sphinx cat. Not that hybrid cat. This cat is an actual sphinx that demand he get a new temple (in the form of Alek's home), four can of albacore tuna, and constantly remind Alek (and Maggie) that he's a Prince of the Nile and herald of Goddess Sekhmet (and getting rebuffed by Alek since Sekhmet was already dead a long time ago). Cute didn't enough to describe Eddie the sphinx, but despite his cute appearance, ofc Eddie is not what it seems. Eddie might be the highlight of this novella for me <3.
Blood Tally is dark and gritty with so much violence but interesting plot and characters. I wonder if Alek will finally find his parents, release himself from his enslavement to Ada (although it seems that Ada actually care to Alek like her own son. But, you know...), save Maggie from her pursuer and maybe freed her too, his romantic relationship with Olivia, and yes, moarrr Eddie! The ending is open-ended and there's no sign of third book, but I really hope McClellan will write it in the future.