I picked up a copy of A.C. Haskins‘ Blood and Whispers from my local library’s discard shelf.
Thomas Quinn is a sorcerer haunted by the memories of the things he’s done over centuries of service to the Arcanum. From battling djinn to killing demigods and dragons, the scars and nightmares have left him a broken man. He has long retired from that life, running an occult shop in Philadelphia for the past several decades, wanting nothing more than to be left alone with his books and his whiskey and his shame.
But when two detectives come to his door asking about a brutal ritual murder in his city, Quinn must reluctantly take up the mantle of a Sorcerer of the Arcanum once more, and face down those who would threaten the fragile peace between the human and magical worlds. His investigation takes him from the streets of Philadelphia to the court of a Faerie King as he races to stop the apocalypse.
Thomas Quinn was prepared to fight rogue sorcerers and Fae monsters. But the greatest threat he faces may be his own inner demons. . . .
As I mentioned, I picked up this book from my library’s discard shelf. I did it with trepidation, I admit, because I very rarely read male authors anymore. I’ve found far too many to be untrustworthy in writing women, and the older I get, the more aware and less patient I am about it.
I’m pleased to say I enjoyed this book and would read another book by Haskins. Nothing raised my hackles. Quinn undergoes significant personal growth as he struggles to save the world, once again. There is a small but interesting cast of characters, and the world appears to be an intriguing one. I found it a bit predictable (bordering on bland), but overall, I finished it happy.
Other Reviews:
seriously irritating to have the men written to give lip service to it, commenting on equal opportunity, and women’s capabilities, etc. But then, the author uses the same misogynistic tropes of reducing women to disposable “pussy,” etc. This is super common in the genre. I get that, annoying as it is, once you become aware of it. But it played worse than usual to have male characters who are theoretically mindful but also enact the same old misogynistic games. I wanted to be like, ‘Choose a lane.’