Cult Classic

As you know, for the most part I've been enjoying the Eric Carter books. Even if this series isn't growing in scope quite as fast as other popular urban fantasy sequences out there, the novels have all been entertaining reads thus far. Having said that, eight volumes into this series, I continue to feel that there should be more. Much, much more.

As mentioned in my past reviews, the first few installments mostly read like Jim Butcher's early Dresden Files books. Short and episodic in format, they helped lay down the groundwork for what was coming. It looked as though we had reached the conclusion of the first story arc by the end of the third book, and there was true potential for bigger and better things to come. Then came Fire Season, which was definitely a step in the right direction, followed by Ghost Money, Blackmoore's best effort yet. Sadly, the resolution of the Djinn's storyline in Bottle Demon was a bit of a letdown. And since Darius' threat appeared to be the underlying arc of the entire series, I was left wondering what the author had in store for us moving forward.

What truly hurt the seventh volume, Suicide Kings, was the fact that it was 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. Structurally, the Werther family conclave would have been the first part, with the Vegas trip offering something different in the greater scheme of things. Both installments also featured new and interesting supporting casts, which would have made that book the best of the bunch with Ghost Money. Alas, eight volumes in, Blackmoore has yet to level up compared to his contemporaries. As I said before, to keep the Eric Carter books so short and episodic at this juncture prevents them from really taking off.

I was curious to discover what the author had in mind for the newest installment. A while back, Daw Books announced that they would no longer publish new Eric Carter material. Which means that, as things stand, the ninth volume is the last one in the series. Would it offer some sort of closure? I'm pleased to report that not only does it closes the show on the Oracle storyline with an exclamation point, but Cult Classic is also Stephen Blackmoore's best effort yet.

Here's the blurb:

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

Eric Carter has a lot on his plate.

He's hunting the Oracle of Las Vegas, a literal talking head that manipulates the future to make its prophecies come true. But it has a new trick. It can change the past, too.

Now Jazz Age Los Angeles is invading the present. Long gone buildings suddenly restored, decommissioned Red Car trains appearing on paved over tracks, miles of the city changing back to orange groves.

Throw in a hundred-year-old doomsday cult, time magic, and a terrifyingly powerful spell to raise the dead and it makes for a busy week. Carter knows the Oracle is behind it all but he can't figure out how. Or why.

But he better figure it out soon or he, the city, and everyone he knows might be wiped from existence.

Cult Classic is noir urban fantasy at its finest, with a cutting voice, sharp wit, and a plot that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

As I said in my review of Suicide Kings, 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, it is no wonder that I was disappointed to see the author take the micro approach instead of a more macro perspective. Still, a trip to Las Vegas in search of a way to free Gabriela's soul sounded like a nice way to kickstart everything. Ultimately, Hate Machine featured a thrilling endgame, but the finale itself didn't offer the sort of resolution I expected. The whole Oracle plotline did raise more questions than it provided answers. Cult Classic starts with the Oracle getting rid of loose ends and Eric is one of them. The book is all over the place time-wise, which makes it a little difficult at times to understand exactly what's going on. But Blackmoore does a good job weaving all those threads together into a complex and compelling plot.

Characterization is what ultimately made these books so entertaining and Blackmoore once again excels in that regard. Sure, there are more than a few familiar faces, yet Cult Classic features the best supporting cast so far. The relationship between Eric, Gabriela, and Amanda continues to evolve, which is nice. But it's the presence of Rachel, Letitia, Danny, and especially newcomer Janna, that really makes a difference. It would be a shame if we don't get to see them again in future installments. The author truly has a knack for coming up with a decidedly disparate bunch of characters.

Now that I've read Cult Classic, we still don't have all the answers regarding the Oracle storyline. But after a captivating endgame and an exciting finale, Blackmoore brought this plotline to an end. I feel that the resolution for this one worked better than it did for the Djinn's, and God knows that the fallout from the last chapter really came as a shock. I for one would love to know that the author was planning for the next story arc. Here's to hoping that we'll find out one day.

Though not perfect, the Eric Carter books are fun and engaging reads. Definitely give them a shot if you're looking for something different. This paranormal and gritty noir murder mystery/urban fantasy series deserves more attention, that's for sure. And if enough people buy these novels, perhaps Stephen Blackmoore will be given the opportunity to finish the series!

The final verdict: 8/10

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