Autumn Bones by Jacqueline Carey
Series: Agent of Hel #2
Published by Roc
Published on: October 1 2013
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Pages: 368
Format: eBook
Source: Borrowed
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New York Times bestselling author Jacqueline Carey returns to the curious Midwest tourist community where normal and paranormal worlds co-exist—however tenuously—under the watchful eye of a female hellspawn ...
Fathered by an incubus, raised by a mortal mother, and liaison to the Pemkowet Police Department, Daisy Johanssen pulled the community together after a summer tragedy befell the resort town she calls home. Things are back to normal—as normal as it gets for a town famous for its supernatural tourism, and presided over by the reclusive Norse goddess Hel.
Not only has Daisy now gained respect as Hel’s enforcer, she’s dating Sinclair Palmer, a nice, seemingly normal human guy. Not too shabby for the daughter of a demon. Unfortunately, Sinclair has a secret. And it’s a big one.
He’s descended from Obeah sorcerers and they want him back. If he doesn’t return to Jamaica to take up his rightful role in the family, they’ll unleash spirit magic that could have dire consequences for the town. It’s Daisy’s job to stop it, and she’s going to need a lot of help. But time is running out, the dead are growing restless, and one mistake could cost Daisy everything ...
For years now, it seems that nine out of ten Urban Fantasy series have to have at least one gratuitous “Voodoo” installment. I say “Voodoo” b/c it might not actually be Voodoo. It may be Hoodoo or any number of various other folk magic traditions that are necromantic in nature, for instance–Obeah. Anyway, as frequent an occurrence as this is (roughly nine out of ten), lots of people out there in the book-reading universe are obviously down with the zombies and the Voodoo.
I, sadly, am not one of those people. Zombies freak my shit out. I don’t care if they’re raised-from-the-dead zombies, or the product of some science-experiment-gone-horribly-awry zombies, I. Don’t. Like. Zombies.
*shudder*
SO if you’re one of the multitudes who clearly does like zombies, you’ll probably like Autumn Bones more than I did. And that is my disclaimer.
Our second installment of the Agent of Hel series, picks up directly where Dark Currents left off. With one exception—Daisy is, and has been for several weeks, dating SINCLAIR PALMER. Who is SINCLAIR PALMER? you may ask, and that would be an excellent question. But first, I’ll tell you who he is not:
Sinclair Palmer is not Cody the Werewolf.
Sinclair Palmer is not Stefan the Ghoul.
Sinclair Palmer is the random guy that recently relocated to Pemkowet and bought a tour bus. You may (or may not) remember him from one of Daisy’s trips to what’s-her-face-whose-responsible-for-good-publicity’s office. I guess he was there a few other times as well, specifically when he asked Daisy out at the tail-end of book 1, but who cares about that, b/c Daisy is clearly supposed to be hooking up with CODY the Werewolf or STEFAN the Ghoul.
Not Sinclair of-the-crazy-Obeah-practicing-family-members Palmer.
BUT Carey wanted a gratuitous “Voodoo” segment of Agent of Hel, so here we are. And that’s not just my prejudice speaking either, b/c as soon as the stage is set for “Voodoo” of a gratuitous nature, Daisy realizes, “Aw shucks, I just don’t think we’re right for each other,” and Sinclair nodding in agreement, parts amicably.
Seriously? That is just L-A-M-E.
And it’s lame for a multitude of reasons, not the least of which is my being relieved that the whole Sinclair shenanigans was over quickly—I’m happy and yet at the same time so very not happy. I don’t like it; it’s confusing.
SO. Sinclair is back in the periphery (WHERE HE BELONGS) and Daisy is left trying to track down the ghost that his mom and sister let loose. And she has to find it before Samhain, or else the gate between the living and the dead will remain open FOR-EH-VER Ver ver . . . (fades out). And there we go with the dramatics again, but it’s not so funny this time b/c there are ZOMBIES involved.
*shudder*
I still maintain my previous statement that lots-o-foreshadowing predicts the up-and-coming kick-assery of Daisy, but this book did not do it for me. I mean really . . . if you have to have zombies, the least you can do is put some effort into it.
Agent of Hel Series:
 
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My name is Jessica and I live in Chattanooga, Tennessee. I’m trying my hand at writing, but mostly I read. My favorite genres are Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Science Fiction, Urban Fantasy, and the YA versions of those genres, but if there is a book of a different color getting lots of buzz, I’ll read it too, just to be informed. If I’m not reading or writing, I’m probably on Goodreads or Pinterest or baking blueberry pies because I love them.
…eh..no, yeah not the book for me
Yeah, not my favorite either. Fortunately, I’ve got nearly a year to determine whether or not I want to read the next one.
Oh I’m sorry it wasn’t for you. I loved the Kushiel series and when I saw the first book out, I waited for the paperback release and I bought it but I still need to read it now… I just hope it will be ok… I’m sorry it wasn’t that good. I hope the next one will be better if you try it. Zombies don’t really bother me so I hope it will be better… But I think I’ll have to read and see.
I still have hope for the series. Everyone has something they can’t handle, and for me it’s zombies—the shuffling dead just CREEP me out. If zombies don’t bother you, there’s a good chance you’ll like it 🙂
I hope so, I need more time to get into book 1
I hope so too!
Lol fun review Jessica, I also don’t want to read about zombies.
Thanks! And yeah, ix-nay on the ombies-zay.
I love zombies, necromancers etc and I am bummed these aren’t up to snuff. I actually had book one on my wishlist..but maybe I will pass and wait to hear what peeps think of future books. Thanks Jessica!
Yeah . . . this series is not all I’d hoped it would be. I really liked her fantasy series back in the day, and I had mixed feelings on her Santa Olivia series, but Agent of Hel . . . we’ll just have to wait and see.