Review: Dead Man's Deal by Jocelynn Drake

Title: Dead Man's Dead (The Asylum Tales #2)

Author: Jocelynn Drake
Publication Date: May 7, 2013
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Genre: Adult Urban Fantasy
Find It: Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, Book Depository
Source: Publisher via Edelweiss

In a world where elves, faeries, trolls, werewolves, and vampires swim free in a sea of humanity, sometimes you need an edge. Looking for a little love? Need some luck? Desperate for revenge? Gage can give you what you need. The most talented tattoo artist in town, he knows the right symbol and the right mix of ingredients and ink to achieve your heart's desire. One tattoo is all it takes. But remember, everything has its price...

Gage learned that lesson long ago, in ways he'd rather not remember. But the cruel and powerful wizards in the dreaded Ivory Towers he escaped aren't about to let him forget. Though Gage has managed to stay out of sight, he can't outrun the past forever.

The wizards know Gage is using forbidden magic, and they intend to punish him for his transgressions. Too bad if innocent humans and monsters-entire cities-get in the way. They will quell a nascent magical uprising and Gage will be the sacrifice they need. First, though, they have to find him .

The supernatural fun continues in Dead Man's Deal, the second book in Jocelynn Drake's exciting urban fantasy series. Gage is being forced to work for the Mafia-like dark elves after the events of the last book and The Council is still looking for a reason to get rid of him. The brother he hasn't seen since he left for the Ivory Towers also shows up, throwing Gage into the middle of an impending war between The Ivory Towers and the rest of the world.

Man, Gage just can't catch a break, can he? After narrowly surviving the last book you think he'd have a little rest before finding himself in mortal danger again. Instead he finds himself smack in the middle of a war that threatens to destroy humanity. Most guys would just throw in the towel at this point but Gage does all that he can to stop the impending war.

This world continues to draw me in as I learn more about it. In this book we learn a lot more about Gage's past and his time in the Ivory Towers. We see what his burgeoning powers did to his family and his guilt over it. There is something about Gage that is inherently likable to me. He isn't looking to be a hero but he has a deep seated integrity that pulls him into doing the right thing, even if it's not the smart thing. This series also has some great secondary characters and I enjoyed seeing Bronx and Trixie again.

There is a lot going on in this book and, at times, it's a little hard to keep track of everything. Overall though, I enjoyed the quick pace and action. Drake definitely is not an author to draw things out unnecessarily. The events in this book will have big repercussions for Gage and the future of this world.

While I love the world of The Asylum Tales - it's dangerous, dark and full of surprises - it's the characters that keep me coming back. I can't help but root for Gage and his friends to get a little bit of peace and quiet. Somehow I doubt that Drake is going to give Gage and easy time of it but I am excited to see where she takes them next.

*I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

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Visit the author online atwww.jocelynndrake.com and follow her on Twitter @JocelynnDrake

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Manicure Monday (17): Dead Man's Deal

Good morning and happy Monday. Hope everyone had a good weekend. Thanks for coming by to my Manicure Monday post, a weekly feature where I show off one of my current reads and a manicure to go with it. This week I am reading Dead Man's Deal by Jocelynn Drake.

Please pardon this super awkward pose, but I wanted to get all of my nails in the pic. As you can see, I am reading an e-copy version of the book. While I love my e-reader, a b&w cover does not inspire much. Luckily I had my computer at hand to see what this cover really looked like in full color glory. 

You can see a bit of a sneak peek at what I did to my nails above. This is a really fun and vibrant cover. I really like the mix of blue with the orange. I wasn't sure what to do with this one at first since it seemed to have a lot of stuff going on but nothing that I could think of that would translate to nails. In the end, I decided to do a sponged gradient on my 4 fingers with shades of white and blue. I knew I wanted to do an accent nail with a skull as well and decided to incorporate the orange into that nail.

Colors used:

• Wet N Wild French White (white)
• Wet N Wild Black Creme (black)
• Barry M Cobalt Blue (med blue)
• Studio M Decidedly Devious (dark blue)
• Zoya Thandie (orange)
• Sinful Colors black striper pen (black brush striper for skull teeth)

The gradient came out better than I thought it was going to though it's not perfect and I could definitely benefit from practicing it more. But, for a first try, I think it went pretty well and I am happy with the way the colors match.

The skull came next and it was my favorite party. I used this tutorial online for my skull face, and it as super easy. I really liked how it came out and I am still wearing the little skull even though I took the rest of the manicure off. I could definitely see myself rocking a full skull mani for Halloween. 

Yeah, I love that skull. As for the book itself, I am about 30% in and enjoying it so far. I've been having a hard time concentrating for the past few days so I haven't made as much progress as I would have liked but I am enjoying the story. I am a fan of Gage's and I hope he can find his way out his troubles in this book.

Just a side note that I'll be away this upcoming weekend for some fun bridal shower shenanigans. This means that there probably won't be a Stacked or Manicure Monday post this upcoming week. I'd like to say that I'll schedule those posts beforehand, but I have a feeling that I won't have time to do it. So if you don't see me, you'll know where I am. I will be back after Memorial Day, hopefully relaxed and with some books read.

Thanks for coming by and let me know what you think of this manicure in the comments below.

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Angel's Ink - Review

Angel's Ink (The Asylum Tales #1) 
by Jocelynn Drake

Publication date: 16 Oct 2012 by Harper Voyager

ISBN 10/13: 0062117858 | 9780062117854
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Category: Adult Urban Fantasy
Keywords: Urban fantasy, paranormal, witches, warlocks, magic, angels, tatooes
Format: Paperback, eBook
Source: ARC received at ALA

Synopsis:

Buyer beware . . .

Looking for a tattoo—and maybe a little something extra: a burst of good luck, a dollop of true love, or even a hex on an ex? Head to the quiet and mysterious Gage, the best skin artist in town. Using unique potions—a blend of extraordinary ingredients and special inks—to etch the right symbol, he can fulfill any heart's desire. But in a place like Low Town, where elves, faeries, trolls, werewolves, and vampires happily walk among humanity, everything has its price.

No one knows that better than Gage. Turning his back on his own kind, he left the magical Ivory Tower where cruel witches and warlocks rule, a decision that cost him the right to practice magic. And if he disobeys, his punishment—execution—will be swift.

Though he's tried to fly under the radar, Gage can't hide from powerful warlocks who want him dead—or the secrets of his own past. But with the help of his friends, Trixie, a gorgeous elf who hides her true identity, and a hulking troll named Bronx, Gage might just make it through this enchanted world alive.

Thuy's Review:

I’m always on the lookout for a new, good urban fantasy series. Though Drake is a known name urban fantasy world, she’s managed to slip my radar until now. Angel’s Ink was getting good buzz at ALA earlier this year and I was lucky enough to snag a copy. I think tattoos are beautiful (though I am too fickle myself to commit to one) and was immediately intrigued by the idea of being able to get a tattoo imbued with magic.

The story revolves around ex-warlock Gage Powell. Tired of the cruel and superior attitude of the witches and warlocks, he left his training and now lives in exile among the humans. Though banned from doing magic, Gage has found a way around the rules and runs Asylum, a tattoo parlor where he offers permanent ink with a little something extra. He’s aided at the shop by Bronx, a troll with a good heart and Trixie, an elf with secrets of her own. Gage can’t seem to stay out of trouble though and, after a tattoo goes very wrong, he must try to fix it while surviving more than one enemy.

Angel’s Ink reminded me a lot of Jim Butcher's Dresden Files. You have a warlock who is in trouble with the magical council and who isn’t allowed to do (much) magic. Gage has his own guardian, much like Harry Dresden, who is tasked with keeping tabs on him. One step out of line and it’s execution time. However, unlike Harry Dresden, who always seems so martyred and put upon, Gage has a brighter outlook on life. He’s just trying to run his business and live a normal a life as possible. It’s hard not to like Gage. He’s smart, funny and very loyal to his friends. He wants to do the right thing, even if that means putting himself at risk.

I also really liked Gage’s friends and fellow tattoo artists at Asylum. Bronx, the big hulking troll, isn’t as mean as he looks. He’s a steady and calming presence and he has a big heart. Trixie is kind of what you would expect from an elf – pretty and sweet but with a bit of spunk.

The story was well paced and action packed. I think there could have been a few less fights (seriously when wasn’t Gage getting tossed around?) but it certainly kept things interesting. There were a lot of sub-plots going on within the story, but I was able to easily follow along. The story also has a pretty hot romance, which I wasn’t expecting and was a pleasant surprise.

All in all I found Angel's Ink to be a very entertaining read with really likable and complex characters. I really want to learn more about Trixie and Bronx and what happened to Gage in the Ivory Towers. Drake’s created a rich and magical new world that I am happy to have found. There’s still a lot more to learn about this world and I am looking forward to following Gage and his friends into the next chapter.

*I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

 

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Visit the author online at www.jocelynndrake.com and follow her on Twitter @JocelynnDrake