Published by: Roc
Released: July 7, 2015
Format: E- Galley, 352 pages
Source: NetGalley
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Anna Ruiz is on a mission: Help her friend and partner-in-crime, Karyn Ames, break free of the tangle of hallucinations and premonitions that have cut her off from reality. With the aid of her crew—ex-soldier Nail and sorcerer Genevieve—she’ll do whatever it takes to get Karyn help, even if it means tracking down every lowlife informant and back alley magic practitioner in the occult underworld of Los Angeles.
But since a magical heist went to hell, the crew has been working for crimelord and doomed magus Enoch Sobell. Between fighting Sobell’s battles with some seriously scary demonic forces and tangling with a group of violent fanatics who want to manipulate Karyn’s abilities for their own gains, Anna, Nail, and Genevieve are beginning to realize they’re in way over their heads.
And now that Karyn’s secret about seeing the future is out, even more unpleasant parties—human and otherwise—are about to come knocking…
Splintered is the second installment in the Arcane Underworld series by Jamie Schultz. Anna Ruiz and her best friend Karyn Ames have been stealing dubious occult items from their rightful owners for 10 years now. Two months ago, things changed when they met Enoch Sobell and became his indentured servants. With Karyn checked out from reality not being able to separate the present from the future, Anna, Nail, and Genevieve have found themselves doing more and more bizarre jobs for Sobell who has a bunch of his own issues. Anna has taken over the reins of leadership of their little group, while also searching for the missing Adelaide, and a way to help bring Karyn back to reality.
Splintered is a complicated, highly twisted, and disturbing story at times. There are so many different storylines going on that you do have to pay attention, or at least take good notes. You may be asking yourselves why. Well, first there is Special Agent Gina Elliot who works for the FBI's Non-Standard Investigations Branch (NSIB). She really wants to take Sobell down from his high perch. Then, there are the survivors of Mendelson's group from Premonition who have taken up with a man, Edgar Van Horn, that Sobell wants kidnapped. The so called Chosen are really a dark group who do things I don't dare spoil. On top of all of this, Karyn is being sought out for reasons that don't become clear until the story actually comes together and all the pieces are brought to light.
Anna is very devoted to finding a cure for Karyn. This I totally get behind. The two of them have been through hell along with Nail, and not having your partner there to lean on, or ask questions, makes what Anna and group goes through all that more real. I still have my issues with Genevieve. She obviously has some goals and issues all her own and cares for Anna in her own way. But, I don't really trust her at this point. Nail is probably the one character that stands out because he does what he does to help his older brother. He may not like what the group is doing, but it is a way to stay out of jail, and maybe keep his brother alive.
Unlike Premonition, Splintered isn't about stealing artifacts. It's a book that is on the darker side with possessions, plenty of deaths, and vivid scenes of self-mutilation. If you like Dark Fantasy novels, then you are in for a treat. The biggest let down for me, was Karyn's disappearance from most of the story. She is in her own world, and what happens next is anyone's guess. I guess one could say that for Anna as well with what she ends up dealing with. I'm in this series until the end. There are a whole lot more ideas, and Anna & Karyn have just begun to figure out what to do next about Sobell and his minions.
**I received this book for free from (Publisher) via (NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.**
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This sounds like an interesting series and I am a fan of dark fantasy books!
ReplyDeleteKate @ Ex Libris