Firewalker by Allyson James
Series: Stormwalker #2
Published by Berkley Sensation
Published on: November 2, 2010
Genres: Paranormal Romance
Pages: 329
Format: Paperback
Source: Borrowed
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Janet Begay's Crossroads Hotel has attracted the supernatural from the day it opened. Witches, Changers, and a mouthy magic mirror have decided to make it their home. But a new, dark power is rising—this time inside Janet herself.
Her boyfriend, Mick, a sexy dragon shape-shifter the Navajo call a Firewalker, knows what terrifying magic is threatening to overwhelm Janet and her Stormwalker powers. He watches over her, ready to fight for her, to do anything to keep her safe.
But then a mysterious corpse is found near the Crossroads Hotel—and Janet becomes Sheriff Nash Jones' main suspect. Trouble is, even she can't be sure she didn't do it. Now Janet and Mick must uncover what really happened, and their investigation leads to the most perilous decision of their lives: Mick must choose between protecting his own people or guarding Janet, the woman he loves, from the many forces amassing against her.
Firewalker hits all the high and low notes of its sister book: valleys, mountains, whodunit crime scenes, and a series of questions put off until the absolute end for fulfillment. To be annoyed by this consistent stonewall is only expected; however, the colorful set pieces in Death Valley, Las Vegas, and various other river beds somehow alleviates what many will call a tight-lipped deus ex machina.
A certain species of massive creatures receives more development in this installment (don’t worry I won’t spoil what was a real discovery in Book One). Nearly every character from the previous book makes an extended appearance, which makes them less functionaries in the town but actual complications. The love-making scenes, although feeling brief, stay fresh either in location or context.
The air of multiple partners has rolled back quite a bit actually to the point where one could easily forget how pervasive it was in the beginning. In terms of continuity and pacing, Firewalker definitely belongs to its originating text, only enhancing the palette that the first set down.
So far the balance of Janet Begay between destroyer and savior stays miraculously relatable. Very few of her decisions hold up under inspection, leading anyone of her friends, even lovers, with power only an argument away from ending her. This motif also manages to not get too annoying. Heck, after awhile the repetition of them becomes an in-joke. You have the ability to abolish this plane of existence and I could snap your neck right before that got through your head so do make sure not to use your abilities.
Coupled with the earlier, “she asks a question, no response”, we have a bit of a pattern. On the one hand, she gets all the idea of her potential but none of the specifics. Also look out for the amount of times (un)fold is used throughout. I could have sworn it appeared every five pages or so.
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| Recommended: | To greet the West |
| Like this, like that: | Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig, the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews, and the Night Tracker series by Cheyenne McCray |
Funny how you pick up on repetitive things in a book isn’t it? Once you notice one thing it seems to stand out even more.
Nice review, if you keep this series going with reviews I might finally pull them out of my TBR list and get around to checking them out myself. 🙂
Yeah…it might not have been that repetitive looking back.
I already have Shadow Walker checked out so I am well on my way to carrying on with the series.
I am very happy never to have noticed the repetitive words. Because you cannot unnotice things like that, and I really love this series. Note: the fourth is self published, and not available everywhere like the first 3 books. But still well worth reading!
It’s okay. As a poet, I am really interested in the construction of stories on a word to word level, so I am used to a word like (un)fold coming to life either with a vengeful or hospitable spirit.
The fourth being self published is an appreciated tip-off. I’m probably going to go all the way regardless.