I’ve been catching up with books from a couple of series that I enjoy.
Mercury by Rennie St. James
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Mercury is book four of the urban fantasy Rahki Chronicles.
The Rahki are traditional tribal groups with links to gypsies, who live in modern America, but adhere to their own rules and beliefs. To get the most from this series, I suggest reading the books in order.
The story continues with Mia as she protects Nadya, a young seer. They face a mysterious enemy who is intent on destroying the Rahki hierarchy. Together, with their tribe, this adventure takes them across America as they seek a way to protect their family and friends.
It has been a while since I read the last book in the series, so it took time for me to get back into the story. I would have loved a couple of early paragraphs reminding the reader of the ‘story so far’.
This is a tale that is steeped in myth and tribal traditions. The Rahki clans are all linked to animals, and members of each clan have family characteristics; for instance, members of the bee clan are busy people. There is a supernatural magical feel to some of the themes which adds to the mystery of the narrative. I have enjoyed reading the series, although occasionally the leisurely pace is a little too slow for me; at times it is slowed further with an abundance of repetitive character actions, where just the odd suggestion of each character’s body actions, like shoulder rolls, would have been plenty. But these are just personal grumbles which other readers may not even notice.
Overall, a good continuation to the series.
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Nexus by Alison Morton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Nexus is an alternative history novella which is part of the Roma Nova series. A group of Romans who wished to stay loyal to the old gods left Rome in AD 395 and formed a new settlement near modern Slovakia―these books are tales from the descendants who live successfully alongside other Europeans.
If the premise appeals to you, I strongly suggest reading the books in order to get the most from the world-building and the main characters.
In this story Aurelia is asked to help an old friend find his missing son. Meanwhile, she’s appointed official investigator over the suspicious deaths of three prominent Europeans. The search takes her across the continent and, as her net closes in on her inquiries, Aurelia finds that danger follows swiftly behind.
Morton’s strength in military writing shone through once more. I also liked the fact that the story was set in the 1970s, and thought the elements of nostalgia worked well.
Overall, a good edition to the series.
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Rosie Amber 