Suicide Kings

As mentioned in my previous reviews of the first few installments in Stephen Blackmoore's Eric Carter series, by and large they read like Jim Butcher's early Dresden Files books. Indeed, they're all short and episodic in format. It looked as though we'd reached the end of the first story arc by the end of the third volume, and there was real potential for bigger and better things to come. Then came Fire Season, which hinted that the author was ready to up his game. Followed by Ghost Money, which was Blackmoore's best novel yet.

The resolution of the Djinn's storyline in Bottle Demon left something to be desired. The rushed ending definitely didn't help, that's for sure. And since Darius' threat seemed to be the underlying arc of the entire series, I was wondering if the sixth volume would act as some sort of transition novel that would bridge what has gone before and what will come after. Impossible to tell after reading Suicide Kings, for Blackmoore's latest is only the first half of a two-book arc. And even though it was another entertaining read, it's obvious that the author isn't about to level up. If anything, Suicide Kings is kind of a step backward. This series isn't growing in scope quite as fast as other popular urban fantasy sequences and it's beginning to hurt it in myriad ways.

Here's the blurb:

The seventh book of this dark urban fantasy series follows necromancer Eric Carter through a world of vengeful gods and goddesses, mysterious murders, and restless ghosts.

Family is murder.

When Eric Carter helps a friend with a deadly ritual that could determine the fate of the most powerful mage family in Los Angeles he steps into the middle of centuries-long feuds with people who make the Borgias look like the Brady Bunch.

Eric's just fine with the murder, soul eaters, and death magic. He's just having trouble adjusting to being brought back from the grave.

If he's not careful, somebody's going to put him right back.

With Darius gone, I was expecting Stephen Blackmoore to elevate his game and take the Eric Carter series to another level, with more ambitious story arcs that would add layers to the plot. I was expecting this series to really open up and build on everything that has transpired so far. Hence, to see the author take the micro approach instead of a more macro perspective and have the main character become Amanda Werther's bodyguard during the family's conclave, while another fun and action-packed novel, wasn't exactly what the series needed to finally take off.

Thankfully, there is unanticipated character development in Suicide Kings. Eric's link to Mictlan and Mictlantecuhtli continues to be an important facet of this tale, and Eric will have to make a decision in that regard. One that could have crucial repercussions down the line. Still coping with his unexpected resurrection, Eric must also deal with his convoluted feelings for Gabriela, who's responsible for bringing him back to life and robbing him of the peaceful afterlife that was his. Amanda takes on a new role in the relationship between the two, one which will likely shape the way things are going to go in the future.

What truly hurts this seventh volume is the fact that it's essentially the first half of what should have been a single novel. Weighing in at barely 200 pages, there is no reason why Suicide Kings and Hate Machine couldn't have been published as one work. There is no endgame and finale to speak of, as the book ends with another major cliffhanger. When I said that this series needs to level up, I meant that like the Dresden Files, at some point it needs to start pushing the envelope and echo with more depth. To keep the Eric Carter books so short and episodic at this juncture prevents them from really taking off, methinks. Had Suicide Kings recounted the entire story, chances are it would have been the best of the bunch. But by telling only the first part of the tale, even if it turned out to be a fun and engaging read, something's definitely missing.

I'm aware that Daw Books will no longer publish new Eric Carter material. Which means that, for now at least, the ninth volume is the last one in the series. It will be interesting to discover where Hate Machine takes us in terms of plotlines. I know we're going to Las Vegas for that one. Hopefully Cult Classic will offer some sort of closure. It would be sad if this ends the same way it did for Harry Connolly and his Twenty Palaces series.

The final verdict: 7.5/10

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