Staying Dead

Rating:
Summary: A great book in a promising new line
Review: Gilman's offering to the new Luna line says clearly that these books are not going to be cheesy romance, trumped up by the publishers of Harlequin books. This was a tense, snappy, inventive book. Gilman creates an edgy urban fantasy that sizzles with energy.

The relationship between Wren and Sergei had just the right amount of tautness and uncertainty. Added to the usual nervousness about disrupting a friendship, the two are also successful business partners. That being the case, they are doubly careful to keep from ruining the delicate balance of their relationship.

The mystery element is strong, the fantasy/magical element is well defined and established in the book. Gilman even includes a "history" with founding father Ben Franklin (check out the Luna website for more info). The story runs smoothly and manages to come to a good conclusion. Though this is to be a series, the author doesn't need to string the reader along with a cliff hanger. The strong characters and interesting world will be enough to have readers returning to Gilman's world. If you liked this book, check our Gilman's story in the Powers of Detection short story collection along with favorites like Anne Bishop, Simon R. Green, and Sharon Shinn.

Rating:
Summary: Refreshingly Different
Review: I am an avid historical and fantasy reader. Modern day stories don't do much for me. That being said...

After my initial reaction to the Manhattan atmosphere and modern-day realism, I have really enjoyed this story. It's a clever paranormal story with the magic, demons, and other fantastical creatures that all are around but normal humans are to 'Null' to notice.

The characters are believable and, quite frankly, I fell in love with both of them.

Once you get into the story, it keeps you hooked through the end. I'm looking forward to the next installment.

Rating:
Summary: Just Fabulous
Review: I bought this book after seeing the author speak at Worldcon in Boston. She and her partner in self promotion, Keith DeCandido, had a pretty amusing schtick going, so I figured I'd buy both their books.

Gilman has written a great book here. I actually didn't like the opening few pages and darn near put it down -- but I was reading it on a plane, so I soldiered on. I'm glad I did. Within a few more pages I was hooked, and it really gathered steam as it went. Wonderfully developed lead characters, with well done romantic subplot (a feature that rarely interests me in a book). I think what I like best about it is that it offers a fully formed vision of an alternate New York where magic works and demons wander the streets, complete with prejudice, fanaticism, greed, foolishness and all those other human traits. Promises to be the start of a series, so more good stuff to come.

Rating:
Summary: Good but not great
Review: I thought this was a well written book with a good plot and good characters but all the other reviews mentioned it being a great romance and quite frankly that was the most frustrating thing about this book and why I give it 4 stars and not 5.

The author takes the two main characters that you want to see involved and painfully draws out their relationship with no satisfactory ending. I finished the book and said, "no really, where's the rest"?? I felt like I have to read the next book to see how their relationship will end and this book was a teaser. There is nothing more frustrating than having to wait another year to figure out a romance or relationships status.

The bottom line, this book was mentioned with names like Laurell Hamilton and others, but one thing those books have that this one lacks is sex and sex sells. It doesn't have to be over the top or anything too graphic but honestly its good to have a little with the whole action/suspense/sci-fi theme. The author really needs to work on revealing to the reader the more intimate side of the characters and give us some action in the bedroom. That's one reason that people read, to become voyeurs into "someone" else's life and if your going there, we want the good stuff too.

Rating:
Summary: wonderful romantic fantasy
Review: In a world in which most people believe that magic doesn't exist, there remains a sub-culture of Talent thriving. These folks use their powers in a way that keeps them hidden from the unbelievers. Wren Valere is a Retriever, a talent who locates things that have been missing for people who do not want the police involved. She returns the missing object to its owner for a fee negotiated by her partner and agent Sergei Didier. Both Sergei and Wren are loners who make a very good team professionally and personally even though neither wants to admit their feelings for one another.

A cornerstone with a spell of protection has been stolen from the Fronts building and the owner wants to get it back. Wren and Sergei intend to retrieve it from the collector who hired a rogue mage to steal the spell. Before they can accomplish the deed, they also must deal with a ghost that was freed when the spell was stolen. If Sergei and Wren want to collect their fee, they have to stop the runaway spirit, who is intent on revenge

Fans of Laurell K. Hamilton, Tanya Huff and Mercedes Lackey are going to love STAYING DEAD, a romantic fantasy that stirs the senses and creates a story that is both fulfilling and magical (no pun intended). Laura Anne Gilman makes the reader believe that magic exists and creatures of myth and legend inhabit the earth. It will be very hard to wait for the next Retriever's novel coming in the summer of 2005 because Laura Anne Gilman has cast quite a spell on readers.

Harriet Klausner


Rating:
Summary: great characters in nifty book
Review: STAYING DEAD is a gleefully charming book full of characters you'd love to sit down and have a beer with. While the plot and the world-building are all top-notch, what makes this book crackle is the chemistry between Wren Valere and her partner/manager/sexual-tension-bunny Sergei Didier.

This is a very auspicious novel debut for a pair of characters who are already the subject of several fine short stories, and should continue to please in future "Retrievers" novels. Brava!

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful..."Moonlighting" meets "the world of Magics!
Review: This book is a wonderful melange of "Moonlighting"-esque characters set in a richly dark shadow-world of Magic. The world we all exist in has so many other layers in Laura Anne's book, one hardly knows where it will take one next.
The interplay between Wren and Sergei promises much more to come, and will be interesting watch develop in future "Retrievers" novels.
Her interesting ideas regarding electricity and magic are a nice twist on the genre's norms, and Laura Anne shows an excellent mind for future development both in her characters lives, as well as the world she has created.
Well done, and not only worth a read, but anticipation for more follow-up books!

Rating:
Summary: Good read in itself that shows promise for future novels....
Review: Tucked right next to our ordinary world is a world most of us do not comprehend. Mages hook into the Current to create spells to do everything from protect a building for future generations to protect themselves from attack. Wren, a mage who is unaffiliated with the major power structure, and her partner Serge, take cases other mages would not. They are retrievers. In the beginning of this case, Wren is called out to retrieve a magical cornerstone which was literally stolen from its place in a city skyscraper. Of course, the theft isn't everything it's made out to be--and we learn a good deal about magical politics than we'd ever consider. This story came to a satisfactory conclusion and left me ready and waiting for the next Retrievers novel to come out next year.



Rating:
Summary: Magical and Fantastic!
Review: Wren is a retriever. For you Nulls out there (humans with no magical ability), that means she uses her Talent for snatch and grab jobs and gets paid a pretty penny to do it. She's a lonejack, turning her back on the Council, and facing the fatea, human, and criminal elements all on her own. Well, practically on her own. She does get help from her agent/money manager/partner Sergi. He may be a Null, but he's got a secret weapon or two up his sleeve. Besides, they've spent so much time together they're starting to adopt each other's habits. And grating his nerves is almost as much fun as stealing Current from a storm.

Their latest job should've been a snap. Figure out the Translocater who stole the client's cornerstone/object of protection from the Frant Building, locate the object, and get it back. But with every step they take, a larger and more dangerous barrier is placed in front of them. While Wren's dodging bullets, Sergi's being threatened by underground organizations and as the danger escalates so does the realization that their relationship might be more than just business.

Gilman has created a world similar to ours and fairly close to the magical realm we choose to ignore, but completely different and fantastic in its own right. Both Wren and Sergi are interesting, deep characters you'll love getting to know and the mystery and suspense is always present. A great world I can't wait to explore again with the next book due out summer 2005.