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Oracle #2
Rogue Oracle
THE MORE YOU KNOW ABOUT THE FUTURE, THE MORE THERE MAY BE TO FEAR.
Tara Sheridan is the best criminal profiler around—and the most unconventional. Trained as a forensic psychologist, Tara also specializes in Tarot card reading. But she doesn’t need her divination skills to realize that the new assignment from her friend and sometime lover, Agent Harry Li, is a dangerous proposition in every way.
Former Cold War operatives, all linked to a top-secret operation tracking the disposal of nuclear weapons in Russia, are disappearing. There are no bodies, and no clues to their whereabouts. Harry suspects a conspiracy to sell arms to the highest bidder. The cards—and Tara’s increasingly ominous dreams—suggest something darker. Even as Tara sorts through her feelings for Harry and her fractured relationship with the mysterious order known as Delphi’s Daughters, a killer is growing more ruthless by the day. And a nightmare that began decades ago in Chernobyl will reach a terrifying endgame that not even Tara could have foreseen. . .
Tara Sheridan is the best criminal profiler around—and the most unconventional. Trained as a forensic psychologist, Tara also specializes in Tarot card reading. But she doesn’t need her divination skills to realize that the new assignment from her friend and sometime lover, Agent Harry Li, is a dangerous proposition in every way.
Former Cold War operatives, all linked to a top-secret operation tracking the disposal of nuclear weapons in Russia, are disappearing. There are no bodies, and no clues to their whereabouts. Harry suspects a conspiracy to sell arms to the highest bidder. The cards—and Tara’s increasingly ominous dreams—suggest something darker. Even as Tara sorts through her feelings for Harry and her fractured relationship with the mysterious order known as Delphi’s Daughters, a killer is growing more ruthless by the day. And a nightmare that began decades ago in Chernobyl will reach a terrifying endgame that not even Tara could have foreseen. . .
360 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 22, 2011
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March 12, 2011
Tara used to work for The Little Shop of Horrors, a Special Projects division of Homeland Security in the USA. She quit the job after an incident where she herself became the target of a psycho killer called The Gardener. A survivor of the attack, but badly scarred both outside and inside, Tara says goodbye to her job in an effort to lead a less dangerous life. Although there is a reason why Tara’s life can never be fully without danger: apart from being a former agent, she is also an oracle. A cartomancer to be more precise, a person who can predict the future by using tarot cards. Plus, then there’s also Harry Li. Her former love interest and agent of the Little Shop of Horrors himself, Harry must ask for Tara’s help in a case neither his office nor any other office knows what to do with. Former cold war spies, all linked to one project called Rogue Angel, have vanished off the face of the earth, leaving behind all their clothes, wallets and personal belongings. It’s almost like they just seized to exist. Following the trail of a possible serial killer or even a terrorist, Tara and Harry must do whatever it takes to capture the person responsible for the abductions. Even if that means taking a leap of faith, and trusting in the power of intuition.
I always have a lot more trouble writing a review for a novel I thoroughly enjoyed than for a novel I thought was mediocre. Rogue Oracle definitely belongs in the first category. This is fantasy the way it should be. Original, fast-paced, suspenseful and very surprising. First of all, the setting isn’t some fantasy world still stuck in the Middle Ages, or Earth fifty years from now when all demons roam free. No, the setting is the world as we all know it: with the economy crashing, terrorist attacks, radiation poisonings, nuclear bombs. Take all of that and throw in the one aspect that makes this novel so original: Oracles. Now I can safely say I’ve read my fair share of fantasy novels, but never before have I come across a novel that both focuses on Oracles, and uses the present time as a time frame. It was a refreshing change for once, one that was warmly welcomed after reading perhaps a bit too many fantasy novels focusing on vampires, demons and the likes.
Rogue Oracle doesn’t read like a fantasy novel though; it reads more like a thriller, a suspense story, and literally keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire time. I loved the character of Tara � her strong and stubborn personality, her intuition and the way she relies on it, and her nearly unconditional love for Harry and Cassie. She is the sort of heroine who keeps reappearing in your mind, even after you’re long done reading the novel. The kind of person you can’t help but admire, because she finds strength even in her own weaknesses. On the other hand, the villain of this novel, Galen, received a lot of my sympathy as well. Rather than an “official bad guy� whose only purpose is to inflict evil upon other people, Galen really is a tragic figure. Made what he is today by a series of traumatic events in his past, sabotaged by humanity itself, he is left all alone in the world. A monstrosity. A creature that shouldn’t mean to exist � yet human error caused him to exist anyway. The way the author reveals Galen’s background story, piece by piece, and makes him seem so fragile and so very human when doing so, made me not regard him as an actual villain, but more like a person who got a terrible fate thrown upon him, without his own consent or even knowing, and is now tortured so much by the faults of others than he has practically no choice but to be who he is � a person out for revenge, driven by the need for vengeance and retribution. One of the most memorable villains I’ve ever come across.
I loved how Alayna Williams included the drama at Chernobyl in this novel, and carefully crafted a story around that. I was born four years after Chernobyl, and I can say firsthand that we hardly pay any attention to what happened there anymore, although we should. In high school, we are taught about World War II and the terrible tragedy caused by people looking the other way rather than facing what’s right in front of them, and we are warned that humanity should never make that mistake again. Even though so, we stay ignorant for other devastating catastrophes caused by humans, like the tragedy of Chernobyl. I can safely say that, although not an uneducated person, I hardly know anything about what happened on that faithful day. No one ever mentions it anymore, and on the rare occasion that they do, it is simply overlooked. But Chernobyl, more than anything, is another prime example of human ignorance � we basically choose to ignore what happened there, even today. Not because we don’t know what happened, but simply because we focus on other things, and disregard the fact that something like that might happen again someday. Rogue Oracle pointed that out in so many different ways, that it actually was very touching. The novel focused on the tragedy that occurred there, and placed it in a spotlight it hasn’t been in for a very long time now. At some point during the novel, Tara goes to look at photographs taken after the tragedy, and that scene nearly made me cry. It’s important to realize that things that happened in the past � even if already 25 years ago � can still have effects on the world today. That message is beautifully woven in the story of Rogue Oracle.
The storyline itself is fast-paced, with some carefully crafted cliffhangers along the way, and it doesn’t lose it appeal once in those 300 and so pages. It was also a welcome change from the fantasy novels I’m used to read: the theme was original, as was the world-building. I thought the explanation of the Tarot Cards and their use in Rogue Oracle was very interesting; I’ve never been one for fortunetelling, but it does make an intriguing addition to the story.
Perhaps the only thing I wasn’t particularly fond of, was the character Cassie. I don’t know why exactly, but every time the story focused on her I just wanted to skip those pages and go right back to the “real� action with Tara and Harry. I just couldn’t relate that much to her, I guess.
If you’re tired of reading the same fantasy novels over and over again but in different format and with other titles, or you rather stake a vampire than read another love story with vamps in the lead role and you feel like declaring war on both hell and heaven so you could just kill every demon and angel alive, then Rogue Oracle really is the novel you are waiting for. A fast read, entertaining, original, and it doesn’t let you go until the end � and even then, you’ll have some trouble getting away from it. Even if you’re still a huge fan of vampire love stories and demons still hold a special place in your heart, you’ll enjoy Rogue Oracle nevertheless. Because it’s really everything fantasy should be like, but all too often isn’t.
.
I always have a lot more trouble writing a review for a novel I thoroughly enjoyed than for a novel I thought was mediocre. Rogue Oracle definitely belongs in the first category. This is fantasy the way it should be. Original, fast-paced, suspenseful and very surprising. First of all, the setting isn’t some fantasy world still stuck in the Middle Ages, or Earth fifty years from now when all demons roam free. No, the setting is the world as we all know it: with the economy crashing, terrorist attacks, radiation poisonings, nuclear bombs. Take all of that and throw in the one aspect that makes this novel so original: Oracles. Now I can safely say I’ve read my fair share of fantasy novels, but never before have I come across a novel that both focuses on Oracles, and uses the present time as a time frame. It was a refreshing change for once, one that was warmly welcomed after reading perhaps a bit too many fantasy novels focusing on vampires, demons and the likes.
Rogue Oracle doesn’t read like a fantasy novel though; it reads more like a thriller, a suspense story, and literally keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire time. I loved the character of Tara � her strong and stubborn personality, her intuition and the way she relies on it, and her nearly unconditional love for Harry and Cassie. She is the sort of heroine who keeps reappearing in your mind, even after you’re long done reading the novel. The kind of person you can’t help but admire, because she finds strength even in her own weaknesses. On the other hand, the villain of this novel, Galen, received a lot of my sympathy as well. Rather than an “official bad guy� whose only purpose is to inflict evil upon other people, Galen really is a tragic figure. Made what he is today by a series of traumatic events in his past, sabotaged by humanity itself, he is left all alone in the world. A monstrosity. A creature that shouldn’t mean to exist � yet human error caused him to exist anyway. The way the author reveals Galen’s background story, piece by piece, and makes him seem so fragile and so very human when doing so, made me not regard him as an actual villain, but more like a person who got a terrible fate thrown upon him, without his own consent or even knowing, and is now tortured so much by the faults of others than he has practically no choice but to be who he is � a person out for revenge, driven by the need for vengeance and retribution. One of the most memorable villains I’ve ever come across.
I loved how Alayna Williams included the drama at Chernobyl in this novel, and carefully crafted a story around that. I was born four years after Chernobyl, and I can say firsthand that we hardly pay any attention to what happened there anymore, although we should. In high school, we are taught about World War II and the terrible tragedy caused by people looking the other way rather than facing what’s right in front of them, and we are warned that humanity should never make that mistake again. Even though so, we stay ignorant for other devastating catastrophes caused by humans, like the tragedy of Chernobyl. I can safely say that, although not an uneducated person, I hardly know anything about what happened on that faithful day. No one ever mentions it anymore, and on the rare occasion that they do, it is simply overlooked. But Chernobyl, more than anything, is another prime example of human ignorance � we basically choose to ignore what happened there, even today. Not because we don’t know what happened, but simply because we focus on other things, and disregard the fact that something like that might happen again someday. Rogue Oracle pointed that out in so many different ways, that it actually was very touching. The novel focused on the tragedy that occurred there, and placed it in a spotlight it hasn’t been in for a very long time now. At some point during the novel, Tara goes to look at photographs taken after the tragedy, and that scene nearly made me cry. It’s important to realize that things that happened in the past � even if already 25 years ago � can still have effects on the world today. That message is beautifully woven in the story of Rogue Oracle.
The storyline itself is fast-paced, with some carefully crafted cliffhangers along the way, and it doesn’t lose it appeal once in those 300 and so pages. It was also a welcome change from the fantasy novels I’m used to read: the theme was original, as was the world-building. I thought the explanation of the Tarot Cards and their use in Rogue Oracle was very interesting; I’ve never been one for fortunetelling, but it does make an intriguing addition to the story.
Perhaps the only thing I wasn’t particularly fond of, was the character Cassie. I don’t know why exactly, but every time the story focused on her I just wanted to skip those pages and go right back to the “real� action with Tara and Harry. I just couldn’t relate that much to her, I guess.
If you’re tired of reading the same fantasy novels over and over again but in different format and with other titles, or you rather stake a vampire than read another love story with vamps in the lead role and you feel like declaring war on both hell and heaven so you could just kill every demon and angel alive, then Rogue Oracle really is the novel you are waiting for. A fast read, entertaining, original, and it doesn’t let you go until the end � and even then, you’ll have some trouble getting away from it. Even if you’re still a huge fan of vampire love stories and demons still hold a special place in your heart, you’ll enjoy Rogue Oracle nevertheless. Because it’s really everything fantasy should be like, but all too often isn’t.
.
February 8, 2011
Previously Published on my blog:
Rating: 3.5 Stars
*contains MINOR spoilers if you haven’t read Dark Oracle.
I was so very pleasantly surprised by Dark Oracle back in 2010, that I couldn’t wait to read the second book in the series, Rogue Oracle. I have to say that not only the cover of this sequel is a million times better than the first, but Rogue Oracle has definitely met most of my expectations.
After the events of Dark Oracle, Tara has been living at the farmhouse that is the headquarters of the Daughter’s of Delphi and being a mentor to Pythia to be, Cassie. The only reason Tara hasn’t left yet is Cassie, because she is more than sick and tired of Amira’s underhanded and dubious methods of training Cassie to be the next leader of the Oracles.
Not only that, but Tara has been feeling the separation from Harry Li. After finding each other in Dark Oracle, Harry has been away for work for the past few months and the distance has seriously damage their new found relationship.
When Harry shows up while Tara is doing some freelance work, to ask for help is a weird case, they find themselves thrown together on the track of a monster neither has ever encountered before and discovering that they need each other much more than they thought.
I really enjoyed the plot of Rogue Oracle, it was creepy, scary and definitely kept me interested from start to finish. The only that bothered me in the novel was that I needed more dialogue, communication between Harry and Tara. I kept waiting for a moment where they would get to talk and solve some things between them, but it never came.
I mean, it felt like their relationship was dealt with in a very subtle way. Don’t get me wrong, subtle is good, but it was too subtle for me perhaps. We as readers got to see into each of their minds and see how they felt about each other, but I missed a moment where they actually said those things to each other.
Regardless of all that, I felt that Rogue Oracle was a great book, but sort of transitional for the series. There is much that was a build up for the future, Cassie’s role as the Pythia and the introduction of new characters, which I loved btw. I want more of this series! Alayna write such interesting villains and plots that you can’t help but be captivated. I can honestly say I’ve never read the kind of plot she writes in Urban Fantasy before and that is awesome.
If you are an Urban Fantasy lover like me, you should totally give this series a shot, but please read Dark Oracle first, you won’t regret it!
Rating: 3.5 Stars
*contains MINOR spoilers if you haven’t read Dark Oracle.
I was so very pleasantly surprised by Dark Oracle back in 2010, that I couldn’t wait to read the second book in the series, Rogue Oracle. I have to say that not only the cover of this sequel is a million times better than the first, but Rogue Oracle has definitely met most of my expectations.
After the events of Dark Oracle, Tara has been living at the farmhouse that is the headquarters of the Daughter’s of Delphi and being a mentor to Pythia to be, Cassie. The only reason Tara hasn’t left yet is Cassie, because she is more than sick and tired of Amira’s underhanded and dubious methods of training Cassie to be the next leader of the Oracles.
Not only that, but Tara has been feeling the separation from Harry Li. After finding each other in Dark Oracle, Harry has been away for work for the past few months and the distance has seriously damage their new found relationship.
When Harry shows up while Tara is doing some freelance work, to ask for help is a weird case, they find themselves thrown together on the track of a monster neither has ever encountered before and discovering that they need each other much more than they thought.
I really enjoyed the plot of Rogue Oracle, it was creepy, scary and definitely kept me interested from start to finish. The only that bothered me in the novel was that I needed more dialogue, communication between Harry and Tara. I kept waiting for a moment where they would get to talk and solve some things between them, but it never came.
I mean, it felt like their relationship was dealt with in a very subtle way. Don’t get me wrong, subtle is good, but it was too subtle for me perhaps. We as readers got to see into each of their minds and see how they felt about each other, but I missed a moment where they actually said those things to each other.
Regardless of all that, I felt that Rogue Oracle was a great book, but sort of transitional for the series. There is much that was a build up for the future, Cassie’s role as the Pythia and the introduction of new characters, which I loved btw. I want more of this series! Alayna write such interesting villains and plots that you can’t help but be captivated. I can honestly say I’ve never read the kind of plot she writes in Urban Fantasy before and that is awesome.
If you are an Urban Fantasy lover like me, you should totally give this series a shot, but please read Dark Oracle first, you won’t regret it!
April 12, 2011
This is my favorite of Laura Bickle/Alayna Williams four books. Both of her heroines are unapologetically strong and determined. In this book, Tarot and the subconscious world are woven into the world we know with a seamlessness that is more magical realism than urban fantasy. The images of Chernobyl are eerily prescient as we watch the struggles in Japan. Tara does all she can, but in the end, she's only human. I love this exchange with the tremendously horrifying villian:
"You're a witch," he said. "A witch who knows something of the horrors practiced by man."
"A oracle. An oracle who knows something of horror," she admitted. The plastic on her respirator flexed and caved inward.
"Tell me something." He licked his sunburned lips. "Will this happen again?"
Tara stared at him with those inky blue eyes. "It might. All I can say is that I will do everything in my power to keep it from happening."
Well worth reading!
"You're a witch," he said. "A witch who knows something of the horrors practiced by man."
"A oracle. An oracle who knows something of horror," she admitted. The plastic on her respirator flexed and caved inward.
"Tell me something." He licked his sunburned lips. "Will this happen again?"
Tara stared at him with those inky blue eyes. "It might. All I can say is that I will do everything in my power to keep it from happening."
Well worth reading!
October 8, 2011
*Rating* 3.5 starts
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Review*
Rogue Oracle is the second book in the Oracle series by Alayna Williams and picks up several months after the events of Dark Oracle.
Dr. Tara Sheridan is one of the best criminal profilers in the country as well as being a forensic psychologist and an oracle whose talent lies in cartomancer or Tarot card reading. Tara’s abilities allow her to see into future and investigate using her cards as a tool. Her success rate in hunting down criminals is top rated.
Tara once worked for the FBI’s Special Projects Division (better known as the Little Shop of Horrors) until she came face to face with the psycho killer named the Gardener who buried her alive. After escaping with her life basically intact except for the numerous scars she was left to deal with, she took time out away from her duties, and hid away in seclusion away from everyone including her mother’s former organization called Delphi’s Daughters who believed that Tara was to become the designated Pythia.
Tara has since become the self-appointed protector of Cassie Magnusson who was designated as the next Pythia for Delphi’s Daughters after Tara’s refusal in joining them. The DD have existed since the beginning of recorded time, just behind the scenes, foretelling and nudging the courses of world events to suit their liking. Tara and the current Pythia Amira don’t always see eye to eye on the path that Cassie should take.
Then there’s Harry Li. Harry is a current agent for FBI’s Special Projects Division who has been away from Tara for the past several months working on other cases. After former cold-war era intelligence operatives mysteriously disappear, Harry asks Tara for help in a solving the case that neither his office nor any other office knows what to do with.
The former intelligence operatives are all linked to a project called Rogue Angel. It was their job to keep track of the former Soviet Union’s nuclear stockpile, and ensure it did not fall into terrorists hands. Now, it appears that someone is taking the information culled from these operatives, and selling it to the highest bidders.
Tara and Harry face a killer that is not only methodical and cunning in his killing abilities. He also leaves no evidence behind that he was there in the first place. This includes the bodies of those he kills which he can assimilate into his own body and use their memories he captures to locate what he wants most; uranium for dirty bombs. It will take them to the one place in the world where the Soviet Unions greed during the Cold War with the US led to the worse nuclear disaster in the history of mankind; Chernobyl, Ukraine.
*April 26, 1986 --I would definitely recommend to those who were not born in 1986, that you take a minute and to a web search for the horrific events that happened that day. It's not only enlightening, but it will also be worth learning true history, and not what you are told in school these days.*
This is actually a very interesting novel, which incorporates an actual manmade disaster and those who survived the aftermath into the story line under the umbrella of Urban Fantasy. The story itself is original, suspenseful and very surprising in its direction as well as Tara’s new found abilities to dream walk to find the answers to her own investigation and her future.
I like Cassie as a character. I believe that she is head strong, but not overly so to the point where you want to slap her upside her head for doing stupid things. When she is tested by the Pythia, she does the only thing she knows how to do; she gets the hell out of dodge fast and asks Cassie for help. She believes that violence to settle things in the world is misguided and wrong and she wants no part in it. And, lastly, she refuses to be pushed into a corner by anyone including the Pythia, yet relies on Tara for friendship and direction.
Tara’s character would actually be better off without Harry Li around, but, that probably won’t change anytime soon. I believe Harry is a hindrance to Tara’s investigation and future and nothing more. He doesn’t believe in the esoteric of Tara’s powers and abilities and scoffs at anything that he can’t put to paper. He is also quick to jump to conclusions and gets angry at the drop of a hat.
On the other hand, Tara is an awesome character in my opinion. She is strong and stubborn, but her intuition and abilities are first rate. She is extremely protective of Cassie and will do whatever it takes to keep her from harm. She survived unimaginable brutality at the hands of the Gardener, but is now working her way back to the top of her game while keeping a distrustful eye on Delphi’s Daughters and the Pythia. Tara is the kind of person you can’t help but admire, because she finds strength even in her own weaknesses.
Our villain, Galen (Chimera), is actually a sympathetic character in some ways, because of what he had to endure after surviving Chernobyl as a child. Does the fact that he kills innocent people and sells the secrets to nuclear stockpiles to terrorists and other terrorist sponsored states (Iran) make me happy or give him a free pass that he wants to teach the rest of the world a lesson about the abuse of power and what happens when humans are left to their own devices? Absolutely not! Galen was made by a series of traumatic events, and was left alone after watching everyone he knew die of radiation poisoning. The radiation actually changed his bodies DNA and construction to make him one of the most dangerous characters you can imagine.
For those who weren’t around in 1986, then you would not understand the horror we all felt when the reactors imploded and the firefighters and other rescuers died horribly by radiation exposure. All we thought about at the time was this horrific cloud of radiation making its way across the ocean, and eventually reaching the US shores where it would continue its devastating path and kill thousands more. Luckily, we are still here and that never happened. I’m going to stop here because I don’t believe that it’s my decision to educate the young in what happened in our recent past.
This book is better in a lot of ways than the first, and I especially love the cover of this book in comparison to Dark Oracle. Still, I am left wondering if there will be another book in this series since this particular writer has two series going and both stopped, it seems, after two books each. One can only wait and wonder.
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Review*
Rogue Oracle is the second book in the Oracle series by Alayna Williams and picks up several months after the events of Dark Oracle.
Dr. Tara Sheridan is one of the best criminal profilers in the country as well as being a forensic psychologist and an oracle whose talent lies in cartomancer or Tarot card reading. Tara’s abilities allow her to see into future and investigate using her cards as a tool. Her success rate in hunting down criminals is top rated.
Tara once worked for the FBI’s Special Projects Division (better known as the Little Shop of Horrors) until she came face to face with the psycho killer named the Gardener who buried her alive. After escaping with her life basically intact except for the numerous scars she was left to deal with, she took time out away from her duties, and hid away in seclusion away from everyone including her mother’s former organization called Delphi’s Daughters who believed that Tara was to become the designated Pythia.
Tara has since become the self-appointed protector of Cassie Magnusson who was designated as the next Pythia for Delphi’s Daughters after Tara’s refusal in joining them. The DD have existed since the beginning of recorded time, just behind the scenes, foretelling and nudging the courses of world events to suit their liking. Tara and the current Pythia Amira don’t always see eye to eye on the path that Cassie should take.
Then there’s Harry Li. Harry is a current agent for FBI’s Special Projects Division who has been away from Tara for the past several months working on other cases. After former cold-war era intelligence operatives mysteriously disappear, Harry asks Tara for help in a solving the case that neither his office nor any other office knows what to do with.
The former intelligence operatives are all linked to a project called Rogue Angel. It was their job to keep track of the former Soviet Union’s nuclear stockpile, and ensure it did not fall into terrorists hands. Now, it appears that someone is taking the information culled from these operatives, and selling it to the highest bidders.
Tara and Harry face a killer that is not only methodical and cunning in his killing abilities. He also leaves no evidence behind that he was there in the first place. This includes the bodies of those he kills which he can assimilate into his own body and use their memories he captures to locate what he wants most; uranium for dirty bombs. It will take them to the one place in the world where the Soviet Unions greed during the Cold War with the US led to the worse nuclear disaster in the history of mankind; Chernobyl, Ukraine.
*April 26, 1986 --I would definitely recommend to those who were not born in 1986, that you take a minute and to a web search for the horrific events that happened that day. It's not only enlightening, but it will also be worth learning true history, and not what you are told in school these days.*
This is actually a very interesting novel, which incorporates an actual manmade disaster and those who survived the aftermath into the story line under the umbrella of Urban Fantasy. The story itself is original, suspenseful and very surprising in its direction as well as Tara’s new found abilities to dream walk to find the answers to her own investigation and her future.
I like Cassie as a character. I believe that she is head strong, but not overly so to the point where you want to slap her upside her head for doing stupid things. When she is tested by the Pythia, she does the only thing she knows how to do; she gets the hell out of dodge fast and asks Cassie for help. She believes that violence to settle things in the world is misguided and wrong and she wants no part in it. And, lastly, she refuses to be pushed into a corner by anyone including the Pythia, yet relies on Tara for friendship and direction.
Tara’s character would actually be better off without Harry Li around, but, that probably won’t change anytime soon. I believe Harry is a hindrance to Tara’s investigation and future and nothing more. He doesn’t believe in the esoteric of Tara’s powers and abilities and scoffs at anything that he can’t put to paper. He is also quick to jump to conclusions and gets angry at the drop of a hat.
On the other hand, Tara is an awesome character in my opinion. She is strong and stubborn, but her intuition and abilities are first rate. She is extremely protective of Cassie and will do whatever it takes to keep her from harm. She survived unimaginable brutality at the hands of the Gardener, but is now working her way back to the top of her game while keeping a distrustful eye on Delphi’s Daughters and the Pythia. Tara is the kind of person you can’t help but admire, because she finds strength even in her own weaknesses.
Our villain, Galen (Chimera), is actually a sympathetic character in some ways, because of what he had to endure after surviving Chernobyl as a child. Does the fact that he kills innocent people and sells the secrets to nuclear stockpiles to terrorists and other terrorist sponsored states (Iran) make me happy or give him a free pass that he wants to teach the rest of the world a lesson about the abuse of power and what happens when humans are left to their own devices? Absolutely not! Galen was made by a series of traumatic events, and was left alone after watching everyone he knew die of radiation poisoning. The radiation actually changed his bodies DNA and construction to make him one of the most dangerous characters you can imagine.
For those who weren’t around in 1986, then you would not understand the horror we all felt when the reactors imploded and the firefighters and other rescuers died horribly by radiation exposure. All we thought about at the time was this horrific cloud of radiation making its way across the ocean, and eventually reaching the US shores where it would continue its devastating path and kill thousands more. Luckily, we are still here and that never happened. I’m going to stop here because I don’t believe that it’s my decision to educate the young in what happened in our recent past.
This book is better in a lot of ways than the first, and I especially love the cover of this book in comparison to Dark Oracle. Still, I am left wondering if there will be another book in this series since this particular writer has two series going and both stopped, it seems, after two books each. One can only wait and wonder.
March 31, 2024
I really enjoyed the first book but this one is even darker and twistier. It would have been a five star read for me but the ending was very abrupt, the kind of abrupt where you're left wondering if you missed pages. I do wonder if perhaps a third book had been planned.
Still, a solid and innovative Urban Fantasy duology!
In this half of this story, Tara and Harry are trying to find their way after big life changes. Their relationship in strained but when Harry asks for Tara's help on a case, fate binds them together again.
Old Soviet spies are disappearing and Cold War secrets and weapons are showing up in dangerous places. Chernobyl spawned supernatural disasters as well and Tara and Harry must race against the clock to stop the Chimera from destroying the world.
What I love most about this series is the seamless way Williams has integrated the Tarot and it's symbolism into Tara's Oracle talents. As the new deck Harry gave her when her own was destroyed begins to awaken new powers and prophetic dreams, it takes Tara on a symbolic journey of Archetypes alongside everyday reality. Fascinating.
Still, a solid and innovative Urban Fantasy duology!
In this half of this story, Tara and Harry are trying to find their way after big life changes. Their relationship in strained but when Harry asks for Tara's help on a case, fate binds them together again.
Old Soviet spies are disappearing and Cold War secrets and weapons are showing up in dangerous places. Chernobyl spawned supernatural disasters as well and Tara and Harry must race against the clock to stop the Chimera from destroying the world.
What I love most about this series is the seamless way Williams has integrated the Tarot and it's symbolism into Tara's Oracle talents. As the new deck Harry gave her when her own was destroyed begins to awaken new powers and prophetic dreams, it takes Tara on a symbolic journey of Archetypes alongside everyday reality. Fascinating.
February 25, 2011
Review provided by :
Who wouldn’t want to be able to decipher what the future may be bring? We do it everyday in the simplest of ways: flip a coin, ask a Magic Eight Ball, even look for signs to guide us in our daily routine. In Rouge Oracle, the second novel in the Oracle series by Alayna Williams, we are met with a protagonist that does just that. Equal parts mysticism and police procedural, this novel has something for everyone combining to make one thrilling Urban Fantasy novel that’s a can’t miss.
The unique premise of this novel is really what attracted my initial attention as I’ve always been fascinated by the Tarrot. But, what struck me most when I actually started to read the novel was the every accessible police procedural base underlying the story. It was definitely a bit of a surprise to find these two elements of the arcane and the mundane intertwining, but it made for an extremely intense story that was very relevant in today’s world. I also really enjoyed the throwback to past tragedies in the form of Chernobyl, something that I’ve only ever known the barest of facts about. Williams did a wonderful job of making this atrocity extremely real in a way that I had never experienced before through the eyes of her antagonist, The Chimera. These very real ties to the ‘real� world were perfectly injected into the story to give it a life of its own making it accessible and eerily plausible.
The characters are likewise well developed and this being my first time reading this series, I was quite surprised to find myself easily drawn into their lives. They all have flaws, suspicions and uncertainties making them very three dimensional. Tara is interesting with a very distinctive insight into the world. As a Tarrort reader and forensic psychologist she marries these two very different professions, one grounded in science and the other in mysticism, in a very useful and profound way. Because of the insights she can gleam from the drawing of a card, her hunches and theories propel this story in directions that her mundane lover would not have dreamed possible. Harry Li, while ignorant of all things magical and more then a little skeptical, however, comes to trust Tara’s ability without question. The typical government agent, he’s thorough and disciplined and yet because of his time spent within the Special Projects division he’s beginning to loose himself in a world he doesn’t quite understand. The connection between these two characters is nice, but quite subtle. While you can tell the emotions they have for one another, it’s not really ever voiced and show in only the slightest of ways. I think this is one of the few points within the novel that could have been improved upon with more attention given to actually building this into something tangible. But, where the romance may have faltered, the sense of vengeance was more then present in the creepy development of the Chimera. However, while this character is without a doubt vile and contemptible, there is a wonderful sense of pain and loss about him. His need to feel a part of something is touching, making him understandable to a point. Yet, how he goes about ‘connecting� to others is extremely disconcerting as he absorbs the thoughts and knowledge of those he assimilates into his being. And believe me, this assimilation is not a pretty picture!
Fast paced action with lots suspense is the norm in this novel as the characters race against time to stop the Chimera’s dastardly plan to share his pain with the world. This definitely keeps the story moving and the readers� attention firmly rooted as the plot flows effortlessly from the mystical to the practical. The flowing writing style makes this a captivating read building a world and characters that leave you craving more. There are a lot of plot lines left open for future novels that show great promise of being just as intriguing as this one.
This is an utterly original novel that I couldn’t put down. I highly recommend this read to any lover of Urban Fantasy with a penchant for police procedurals. And if you're like me and are unfamiliar with this series, Rogue Oracle is a perfect stand alone novel that is easily accessible to all readers. However, I loved it so much, I will be going back and picking up the first novel in the series, Dark Oracle, and suggest other readers do the same! Believe me, this author is worth it.
Who wouldn’t want to be able to decipher what the future may be bring? We do it everyday in the simplest of ways: flip a coin, ask a Magic Eight Ball, even look for signs to guide us in our daily routine. In Rouge Oracle, the second novel in the Oracle series by Alayna Williams, we are met with a protagonist that does just that. Equal parts mysticism and police procedural, this novel has something for everyone combining to make one thrilling Urban Fantasy novel that’s a can’t miss.
The unique premise of this novel is really what attracted my initial attention as I’ve always been fascinated by the Tarrot. But, what struck me most when I actually started to read the novel was the every accessible police procedural base underlying the story. It was definitely a bit of a surprise to find these two elements of the arcane and the mundane intertwining, but it made for an extremely intense story that was very relevant in today’s world. I also really enjoyed the throwback to past tragedies in the form of Chernobyl, something that I’ve only ever known the barest of facts about. Williams did a wonderful job of making this atrocity extremely real in a way that I had never experienced before through the eyes of her antagonist, The Chimera. These very real ties to the ‘real� world were perfectly injected into the story to give it a life of its own making it accessible and eerily plausible.
The characters are likewise well developed and this being my first time reading this series, I was quite surprised to find myself easily drawn into their lives. They all have flaws, suspicions and uncertainties making them very three dimensional. Tara is interesting with a very distinctive insight into the world. As a Tarrort reader and forensic psychologist she marries these two very different professions, one grounded in science and the other in mysticism, in a very useful and profound way. Because of the insights she can gleam from the drawing of a card, her hunches and theories propel this story in directions that her mundane lover would not have dreamed possible. Harry Li, while ignorant of all things magical and more then a little skeptical, however, comes to trust Tara’s ability without question. The typical government agent, he’s thorough and disciplined and yet because of his time spent within the Special Projects division he’s beginning to loose himself in a world he doesn’t quite understand. The connection between these two characters is nice, but quite subtle. While you can tell the emotions they have for one another, it’s not really ever voiced and show in only the slightest of ways. I think this is one of the few points within the novel that could have been improved upon with more attention given to actually building this into something tangible. But, where the romance may have faltered, the sense of vengeance was more then present in the creepy development of the Chimera. However, while this character is without a doubt vile and contemptible, there is a wonderful sense of pain and loss about him. His need to feel a part of something is touching, making him understandable to a point. Yet, how he goes about ‘connecting� to others is extremely disconcerting as he absorbs the thoughts and knowledge of those he assimilates into his being. And believe me, this assimilation is not a pretty picture!
Fast paced action with lots suspense is the norm in this novel as the characters race against time to stop the Chimera’s dastardly plan to share his pain with the world. This definitely keeps the story moving and the readers� attention firmly rooted as the plot flows effortlessly from the mystical to the practical. The flowing writing style makes this a captivating read building a world and characters that leave you craving more. There are a lot of plot lines left open for future novels that show great promise of being just as intriguing as this one.
This is an utterly original novel that I couldn’t put down. I highly recommend this read to any lover of Urban Fantasy with a penchant for police procedurals. And if you're like me and are unfamiliar with this series, Rogue Oracle is a perfect stand alone novel that is easily accessible to all readers. However, I loved it so much, I will be going back and picking up the first novel in the series, Dark Oracle, and suggest other readers do the same! Believe me, this author is worth it.
February 13, 2011
This review was first posted on .
Rogue Oracle picks up a few months after the events of the first book. Since that time, Tara has been trying to protect Cassie from the invidious influence of the Pythia and the rest of the Delphi's Daughters. At the same time, she's been trying to ease back into her life before the attack that left her so scarred. It's while she's interviewing a suspect that Tara meets up with Harry Li. Despite their mutual feelings, the two haven't spoken much. We know (because we have insight in both of their internal dialogs) that they both wish they could breach the barrier between them. And since Harry's contacted Tara because he needs help with a case, they are--physically at least--together again.
I have to say that the mystery element of this book completely freaked me out. When I was a kid, I read this book called Where the Wind Blows. It tells the story of the cutest old couple living in rural England and it starts out all sweet and British and both characters have pink cheeks and round faces. It's written by Raymond Briggs, the guy who wrote The Snowman, for heaven's sake. Then, a nuclear holocaust happens. It's completely and utterly terrifying and the most successful argument against nuclear weapons that I've ever come across. At any rate, the Chernobyl aspect of Rogue Oracle persistently reminded me of Where the Wind Blows. Which makes me sad and scared all at the same time. I've been wanting to check on Williams' research into Chernobyl, just because I always like to get an idea of what parts come from the authors' imagination, and what's pulled from reality. But I couldn't do it. Especially not after Williams' describes some of the images that Tara sees during her own research.
Because I found the Chernobyl aspect of the novel so disturbing, I'm going to focus on the personal relationships in the novel. I'm on steadier ground there. I was glad to see more of Cassie. I really hope she gets her own book. Though I confess I kept waiting for a hint as to her hero. Like, that he might walk onto the scene and I'd get to see their interaction while Tara and Harry's was playing out. Because, remember how obsessed I am with the buildup? Yeah, completely. Anyway, the relationship that I think I love most is the relationship between Tara and Cassie. They're both needy people and each gives in her own way. Cassie (this might sound ironic), gives by needing Tara's care. And Tara gives by providing it. At the emotional point both women are in their lives, it's the perfect solution. Tara was living in complete isolation at the beginning of Dark Oracle and, frankly I think she'd have gone back to the way she was living before if it hadn't been for Cassie and Harry.
One thing that was intriguing was the way that Harry was portrayed in this novel. He still cares a great deal for Tara--and respects her--but I was confused by how damaged he appeared to be. I wasn't clear on why. Was it because his foundations had been shaken by discovering that there are oracles? Is it because his work on Special Assignments has been harrowing? That he's lost faith in the FBI because of the events in the last book? I mean--I get it. But I wanted more information. And while I like that caring for Harry and Cassie pulls Tara out of herself so she can begin to heal, I'm wary of a storyline that has her saving everyone. Still, their relationship continues to be sweet. The only thing I would add is that I find it a little boring. But as a friend of mine said once, "That probably means they're gonna last."
The thing that intrigues me the most is that I really want to see how the whole Cassie is the new Pythia thing works out. And I want to see what Tara's role in all of it is going to be. Especially since her powers seem to be morphing. I think it would be nice, however, to get to know some of the other daughters. They're nameless faces to me right now. The only one who has any personality is the Pythia herself. What do the daughters think of Cassie? What do they think of Tara? What kind of relationship does Tara have with them? Given my aversion to nuclear holocaust stories, I'd have rather this book focused on that.
I'm curious to know how long Alayna Williams intends this series to last. I think I might be more interested in Delphi's Daughters than I am in Tara, specifically, though she continues to intrigue me about the Tarot. I even went online for a free reading. Sadly, it was not at all like Tara's reading of the cards. Ah, well. Until the next book.
Rogue Oracle picks up a few months after the events of the first book. Since that time, Tara has been trying to protect Cassie from the invidious influence of the Pythia and the rest of the Delphi's Daughters. At the same time, she's been trying to ease back into her life before the attack that left her so scarred. It's while she's interviewing a suspect that Tara meets up with Harry Li. Despite their mutual feelings, the two haven't spoken much. We know (because we have insight in both of their internal dialogs) that they both wish they could breach the barrier between them. And since Harry's contacted Tara because he needs help with a case, they are--physically at least--together again.
I have to say that the mystery element of this book completely freaked me out. When I was a kid, I read this book called Where the Wind Blows. It tells the story of the cutest old couple living in rural England and it starts out all sweet and British and both characters have pink cheeks and round faces. It's written by Raymond Briggs, the guy who wrote The Snowman, for heaven's sake. Then, a nuclear holocaust happens. It's completely and utterly terrifying and the most successful argument against nuclear weapons that I've ever come across. At any rate, the Chernobyl aspect of Rogue Oracle persistently reminded me of Where the Wind Blows. Which makes me sad and scared all at the same time. I've been wanting to check on Williams' research into Chernobyl, just because I always like to get an idea of what parts come from the authors' imagination, and what's pulled from reality. But I couldn't do it. Especially not after Williams' describes some of the images that Tara sees during her own research.
Because I found the Chernobyl aspect of the novel so disturbing, I'm going to focus on the personal relationships in the novel. I'm on steadier ground there. I was glad to see more of Cassie. I really hope she gets her own book. Though I confess I kept waiting for a hint as to her hero. Like, that he might walk onto the scene and I'd get to see their interaction while Tara and Harry's was playing out. Because, remember how obsessed I am with the buildup? Yeah, completely. Anyway, the relationship that I think I love most is the relationship between Tara and Cassie. They're both needy people and each gives in her own way. Cassie (this might sound ironic), gives by needing Tara's care. And Tara gives by providing it. At the emotional point both women are in their lives, it's the perfect solution. Tara was living in complete isolation at the beginning of Dark Oracle and, frankly I think she'd have gone back to the way she was living before if it hadn't been for Cassie and Harry.
One thing that was intriguing was the way that Harry was portrayed in this novel. He still cares a great deal for Tara--and respects her--but I was confused by how damaged he appeared to be. I wasn't clear on why. Was it because his foundations had been shaken by discovering that there are oracles? Is it because his work on Special Assignments has been harrowing? That he's lost faith in the FBI because of the events in the last book? I mean--I get it. But I wanted more information. And while I like that caring for Harry and Cassie pulls Tara out of herself so she can begin to heal, I'm wary of a storyline that has her saving everyone. Still, their relationship continues to be sweet. The only thing I would add is that I find it a little boring. But as a friend of mine said once, "That probably means they're gonna last."
The thing that intrigues me the most is that I really want to see how the whole Cassie is the new Pythia thing works out. And I want to see what Tara's role in all of it is going to be. Especially since her powers seem to be morphing. I think it would be nice, however, to get to know some of the other daughters. They're nameless faces to me right now. The only one who has any personality is the Pythia herself. What do the daughters think of Cassie? What do they think of Tara? What kind of relationship does Tara have with them? Given my aversion to nuclear holocaust stories, I'd have rather this book focused on that.
I'm curious to know how long Alayna Williams intends this series to last. I think I might be more interested in Delphi's Daughters than I am in Tara, specifically, though she continues to intrigue me about the Tarot. I even went online for a free reading. Sadly, it was not at all like Tara's reading of the cards. Ah, well. Until the next book.
March 28, 2013
THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR BOOK ONE, DARK ORACLE.
ROGUE ORACLE is the second book in the Delphic Oracle Series by Alayna Williams. It picks up a couple of months after the conclusion of DARK ORACLE. Mostly healed from the emotional wounds she suffered before the first book, Tara has returned to work as a profiler. She and Harry haven’t made much progress on their burgeoning relationship, and Tara’s main priority these days is protecting Cassie from the Pythia.
Tara is plunged right back into working for the government when Harry asks for help with a case. Tara’s not thrilled about being part of “The Little Shop of Horrors� again, but she is happy that she can try to do something for Harry. The case itself is intriguing -- several ex Cold War intelligence operatives have gone missing. Their knowledge of uranium stockpiles is being sold, and there’s enough to lead to another Chernobyl.
There’s an interesting fusion of science and urban fantasy in ROGUE ORACLE. After reading it, I feel like I learned a lot about Chernobyl, and I liked that the author didn’t rely just on magic to flesh out her story. The bad guy in ROGUE ORACLE is a result of that blend of science and urban fantasy, and elements from both are used to catch him.
ROGUE ORACLE smooths out some of the rough spots I had with DARK ORACLE. The writing has matured. There’s not as many extraneous descriptions, and there’s less of a focus on the tarot card readings. As Tara relies on tarot cards to interpret events, they are a vital part. However, in the first book of the series, I felt like there was a lot of space devoted to describing each card and its significance. There isn’t as much of that in ROGUE ORACLE, yet the tarot cards remain just as important.
There are some scenes from Cassie’s viewpoint, which I really enjoyed. The scenes with Cassie and the Pythia expose more of the secret world of Delphi’s Daughters, and it’s a world I’d like to see even more of. There’s a moment near the end where I went, “Ohhh. That would be a big burden to handle.� Having characters that can see the future lets the reader consider if that future is set in stone, or if it can be changed. And if it can, should it be changed.
Yet again, there are some great characters in ROGUE ORACLE. My favorites this book were the Steves, a pair of federal marshals. They are quite the colorful duo, nicknamed the Kahuna and the Cowboy by Tara. They provide some comic relief, but they also shine in serious moments, and they help Cassie recover from a traumatic experience.
The main story of ROGUE ORACLE is tied up neatly at the end of the book. Currently, there isn’t a third book in the series, but I would like to read another.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I also participated in the for this book.
See more of my reviews:
ROGUE ORACLE is the second book in the Delphic Oracle Series by Alayna Williams. It picks up a couple of months after the conclusion of DARK ORACLE. Mostly healed from the emotional wounds she suffered before the first book, Tara has returned to work as a profiler. She and Harry haven’t made much progress on their burgeoning relationship, and Tara’s main priority these days is protecting Cassie from the Pythia.
Tara is plunged right back into working for the government when Harry asks for help with a case. Tara’s not thrilled about being part of “The Little Shop of Horrors� again, but she is happy that she can try to do something for Harry. The case itself is intriguing -- several ex Cold War intelligence operatives have gone missing. Their knowledge of uranium stockpiles is being sold, and there’s enough to lead to another Chernobyl.
There’s an interesting fusion of science and urban fantasy in ROGUE ORACLE. After reading it, I feel like I learned a lot about Chernobyl, and I liked that the author didn’t rely just on magic to flesh out her story. The bad guy in ROGUE ORACLE is a result of that blend of science and urban fantasy, and elements from both are used to catch him.
ROGUE ORACLE smooths out some of the rough spots I had with DARK ORACLE. The writing has matured. There’s not as many extraneous descriptions, and there’s less of a focus on the tarot card readings. As Tara relies on tarot cards to interpret events, they are a vital part. However, in the first book of the series, I felt like there was a lot of space devoted to describing each card and its significance. There isn’t as much of that in ROGUE ORACLE, yet the tarot cards remain just as important.
There are some scenes from Cassie’s viewpoint, which I really enjoyed. The scenes with Cassie and the Pythia expose more of the secret world of Delphi’s Daughters, and it’s a world I’d like to see even more of. There’s a moment near the end where I went, “Ohhh. That would be a big burden to handle.� Having characters that can see the future lets the reader consider if that future is set in stone, or if it can be changed. And if it can, should it be changed.
Yet again, there are some great characters in ROGUE ORACLE. My favorites this book were the Steves, a pair of federal marshals. They are quite the colorful duo, nicknamed the Kahuna and the Cowboy by Tara. They provide some comic relief, but they also shine in serious moments, and they help Cassie recover from a traumatic experience.
The main story of ROGUE ORACLE is tied up neatly at the end of the book. Currently, there isn’t a third book in the series, but I would like to read another.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I also participated in the for this book.
See more of my reviews:
April 20, 2012
Plot: 4.5 Stars
I love the mix of science and paranormal that these novels blend together. The first novel dealt with physics, and this novel delved into the history of Chernobyl and the science of nuclear reactors. Add in a bunch of oracles with different skills in divination, and you've got a mix of Urban Fantasy with a touch of Science Fiction. It's not very often I learn a lot (about real, non-paranormal things) from a book, but I learned so much about Chernobyl and the nightmare that followed. I don't want to ruin the big twist of the novel, but the idea revolving around the bad guy was a very unique idea. I had never heard of this specific idea before (although I had seen the word before), and I liked the little bit of science that it was based on. I have a feeling I won't be coming across this specific kind of bad guy all that much in my reading.
Pace: 4 Stars
There were a number of twists and turns in this novel, as well as a number of destinations. As a reader, I love being kept guessing and this novel did just that perfectly. There were a number of changes in points of view throughout the novel, but it was never confusing. It actually worked out very well and flowed together seamlessly. Without the different points of view, there would've been a lot of information either left out or work in awkwardly.
Characters: 4 Stars
Once again, I loved Tara and her Tarot readings. They are so in depth, yet engrossing. And it was interesting to see her bond with a new deck of cards. I wished that the relationship between Tara and Henry could've made more progress, but it made a little. I wasn't expecting certain actions from Henry, and I'm interested to see how that pans out in future novels. I wish Cassie and the animals could've been in the book a bit more, but at least they weren't absent. The side plot of Cassie and the Pythia was definitely not what I expected, but kept me on the edge of my seat. And I can't forget about the Steves. They were two funny yet reliable guys, and I hope they haven't made their only appearance.
Cover: 4 Stars
This cover is such a departure from the last one. Although the first cover wasn't bad, I like the direction the art department went in because I feel this cover model embodied Tara a little more. She looked a little more like how I envisioned Tara, but the expression on her face also fit Tara's character a bit more. I liked the wide variety of colors on the cover. I also liked that they chose to use the same font, that way there was at least a little bit to tie it to the previous cover. And the spine is a bright teal, which actually compliments the bright purple of Dark Oracle's spine. The match quite well when sitting on a bookshelf. My favorite part of the cover is the Tarot cards. On the first cover, the cards had a generic design and could've been anything. But on this cover, specific Tarot cards were used and I felt it brought more depth to the cover. And allowed someone just browsing to know a little bit more about the book without having to read the back cover.
Overall: 4 Stars
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book for review from the author.
I love the mix of science and paranormal that these novels blend together. The first novel dealt with physics, and this novel delved into the history of Chernobyl and the science of nuclear reactors. Add in a bunch of oracles with different skills in divination, and you've got a mix of Urban Fantasy with a touch of Science Fiction. It's not very often I learn a lot (about real, non-paranormal things) from a book, but I learned so much about Chernobyl and the nightmare that followed. I don't want to ruin the big twist of the novel, but the idea revolving around the bad guy was a very unique idea. I had never heard of this specific idea before (although I had seen the word before), and I liked the little bit of science that it was based on. I have a feeling I won't be coming across this specific kind of bad guy all that much in my reading.
Pace: 4 Stars
There were a number of twists and turns in this novel, as well as a number of destinations. As a reader, I love being kept guessing and this novel did just that perfectly. There were a number of changes in points of view throughout the novel, but it was never confusing. It actually worked out very well and flowed together seamlessly. Without the different points of view, there would've been a lot of information either left out or work in awkwardly.
Characters: 4 Stars
Once again, I loved Tara and her Tarot readings. They are so in depth, yet engrossing. And it was interesting to see her bond with a new deck of cards. I wished that the relationship between Tara and Henry could've made more progress, but it made a little. I wasn't expecting certain actions from Henry, and I'm interested to see how that pans out in future novels. I wish Cassie and the animals could've been in the book a bit more, but at least they weren't absent. The side plot of Cassie and the Pythia was definitely not what I expected, but kept me on the edge of my seat. And I can't forget about the Steves. They were two funny yet reliable guys, and I hope they haven't made their only appearance.
Cover: 4 Stars
This cover is such a departure from the last one. Although the first cover wasn't bad, I like the direction the art department went in because I feel this cover model embodied Tara a little more. She looked a little more like how I envisioned Tara, but the expression on her face also fit Tara's character a bit more. I liked the wide variety of colors on the cover. I also liked that they chose to use the same font, that way there was at least a little bit to tie it to the previous cover. And the spine is a bright teal, which actually compliments the bright purple of Dark Oracle's spine. The match quite well when sitting on a bookshelf. My favorite part of the cover is the Tarot cards. On the first cover, the cards had a generic design and could've been anything. But on this cover, specific Tarot cards were used and I felt it brought more depth to the cover. And allowed someone just browsing to know a little bit more about the book without having to read the back cover.
Overall: 4 Stars
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book for review from the author.
February 23, 2011
Rogue Oracle
by Alayna Williams
Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 525 KB
Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Pocket (February 22, 2011)
Language: English
Both editions are $7.99 on Amazon.com
Ick Factor: minor for some creepy violence and violence against an animal
Cliche component: None other than some minor in predictability of certain parts of outcome.
Passion: interpersonal relationships not as impassioned as the work at hand
Book Type(s): Paranormal, Thriller, Romance, Cautionary
Pace: varied
THE MORE YOU KNOW ABOUT THE FUTURE, THE MORE THERE MAY BE TO FEAR.Tara Sheridan is the best criminal-profiler around—and the most unconventional. Trained as a forensic psychologist, Tara also specializes in Tarot card reading. But she doesn’t need her divination skills to realize that the new assignment from her friend and sometime lover, Agent Harry Li, is a dangerous proposition in every way.
Former Cold War operatives, all linked to a top-secret operation tracking the disposal of nuclear weapons in Russia, are disappearing. There are no bodies, and no clues to their whereabouts. Harry suspects a conspiracy to sell arms to the highest bidder. The cards—and Tara’s increasingly ominous dreams—suggest something darker. Even as Tara sorts through her feelings for Harry and her fractured relationship with the mysterious order known as Delphi’s Daughters, a killer is growing more ruthless by the day. And a nightmare that began decades ago in Chernobyl will reach a terrifying endgame that not even Tara could have foreseen. . .Amazon.com
My Take
A different book with a thriller appeal, some levity, a smidgen of romance, a way of solving crimes that I have never seen used in a book before, and enough twists to keep you on the edge of what ever you read on.
Tara is a Cartomancer (Tarot card reader) who was a special agent handling those strange cases noone else can figure out.
Cassie, an astrologer, is sort of her ward and probably the next Pythia or leader of the Oracles who comprise Delphi's Daughters, many oracles of diverse skill and location. Henry Li is still a Special agent in the agency and her former lover, and asks Tara to come in on this case.
Tara is physically and emotionally scarred from her last case with the agency, and I think from losing her mother. Henry is losing his humanity to his job, Cassie is a a woman who has been sheltered, almost cloistered, so she can seem a bit naive. When necessary she shows her mettel.. The current Pythia isn't warm and fuzzy and has alienated Tara. The Daughters and the agency and those poor ex-spies all get caught up in one man's revenge.
Alayna demonstrates a depth of knowledge of the Tarot. Tara's visions are particularly striking. I know less about astrology than almost anything else, so I can't comment on Cassie's work.
The villain is a strangely sorry character, a survivor of Chernobyl. He brings up the thought in my mind of have we forgotten?
All in all, an exciting book with a paranormal edge, I would recommend it to my friends.
December 16, 2011
Review brought to you by OBS staff member Verushka
Rogue Oracle picks up the threads of Tara and Cassie’s life with the Delphi Daughters. Pythia has begun training Cassie to take over as Pythia, that is, the head of the Delphi Daughters, while Tara, who still distrusts Pythia, stays to keep watch. It is Cassie’s decision to stay, to learn what she can and Tara is there to provide support and a counter-balance to the training she knows Cassie will receive. Tara meets Harry again, while freelancing as a profiler and is drawn into a genuinely creepy case involving old secret agents and Chernobyl. Williams takes a historical moment and weaves an unexpected, complex and riveting tale, fuelled most of all by Galen, the killer Tara and Harry are trying to catch. There is something unique about his method of killing people, but one I won’t reveal here � I will say that in those moments, I cringed because of how creeped out I was with Galen, and I mean that in a good way!
Old spies are missing, and Harry confused and frustrated with the way the case is going asks Tara for help. She agrees and so begins the case. The case itself is tightly drawn, tapping into the our current fear of terrorist attacks to heighten the tension. This lets Harry’s and Tara’s relationship develop further, for since Dark Oracle, Harry had left her behind with the Daughters and not returned. Now, we see how frustrated and jaded Harry has become and Williams gives a better picture of Harry in this book, than we got in the first one.
However, while Tara is investigating this, the Pythia puts Cassie through a harsh test of her own, resulting in Cassie fleeing, and Tara trying to find her. As much as the first book was about re-introudcing the Daughters to Tara’s life, this one highlights the downside of being part of them, of the Pythia’s teaching.
William’s characters, supporting especially, are strongly drawn and no words are wasted; everything means something, including the vivid descriptions of each time Tara’s uses her cards. Added to this, her power seems to have grown in this book into visions, and dreams, which while they are interesting to see where they take Tara, it is the book’s weakest link. The dreams continue for pages, describing everything in wonderful detail and what Tara gleans from them to help her, but soon enough they overpower the case and the human/normal balance that Williams expertly achieved in the first book.
Two things of consequence happen in this book, we see Tara reconnect with Harry, and her powers increase. The supporting cast of characters grows and while “the two Steve’s�, Cassie’s protectors in this book, serve as a obvious counterbalance to the female presence of the Daughters, Williams never strays � too much � into cliché territory.
I sincerely hope this series continues for Williams has built a fabulous world of interesting, emotionally complex characters that are a breath of fresh air in the current urban fantasy genre.
Rogue Oracle picks up the threads of Tara and Cassie’s life with the Delphi Daughters. Pythia has begun training Cassie to take over as Pythia, that is, the head of the Delphi Daughters, while Tara, who still distrusts Pythia, stays to keep watch. It is Cassie’s decision to stay, to learn what she can and Tara is there to provide support and a counter-balance to the training she knows Cassie will receive. Tara meets Harry again, while freelancing as a profiler and is drawn into a genuinely creepy case involving old secret agents and Chernobyl. Williams takes a historical moment and weaves an unexpected, complex and riveting tale, fuelled most of all by Galen, the killer Tara and Harry are trying to catch. There is something unique about his method of killing people, but one I won’t reveal here � I will say that in those moments, I cringed because of how creeped out I was with Galen, and I mean that in a good way!
Old spies are missing, and Harry confused and frustrated with the way the case is going asks Tara for help. She agrees and so begins the case. The case itself is tightly drawn, tapping into the our current fear of terrorist attacks to heighten the tension. This lets Harry’s and Tara’s relationship develop further, for since Dark Oracle, Harry had left her behind with the Daughters and not returned. Now, we see how frustrated and jaded Harry has become and Williams gives a better picture of Harry in this book, than we got in the first one.
However, while Tara is investigating this, the Pythia puts Cassie through a harsh test of her own, resulting in Cassie fleeing, and Tara trying to find her. As much as the first book was about re-introudcing the Daughters to Tara’s life, this one highlights the downside of being part of them, of the Pythia’s teaching.
William’s characters, supporting especially, are strongly drawn and no words are wasted; everything means something, including the vivid descriptions of each time Tara’s uses her cards. Added to this, her power seems to have grown in this book into visions, and dreams, which while they are interesting to see where they take Tara, it is the book’s weakest link. The dreams continue for pages, describing everything in wonderful detail and what Tara gleans from them to help her, but soon enough they overpower the case and the human/normal balance that Williams expertly achieved in the first book.
Two things of consequence happen in this book, we see Tara reconnect with Harry, and her powers increase. The supporting cast of characters grows and while “the two Steve’s�, Cassie’s protectors in this book, serve as a obvious counterbalance to the female presence of the Daughters, Williams never strays � too much � into cliché territory.
I sincerely hope this series continues for Williams has built a fabulous world of interesting, emotionally complex characters that are a breath of fresh air in the current urban fantasy genre.
March 15, 2011
Rogue Oracle is the second book in the Dark Oracle series by Alayna Williams and an Urban Fantasy from Pocket Books.
Book Blurb:
The More You Know About The Future, The More There May Be To Fear.
Tara Sheridan is the best criminal profiler around - and the most unconventional. Trained as a forensic psychologist, Tara also specializes in Tarot card reading. But she doesn’t need her divination skills to realize that the new assignment from her friend and sometime lover, Agent Harry Li, is a dangerous proposition in every way.
Former Cold War operatives, all linked to a top-secret operation tracking the disposal of nuclear weapons in Russia, are disappearing. There are no bodies, and no clues to their whereabouts. Harry suspects a conspiracy to sell arms to the highest bidder. The cards - and Tara’s increasingly ominous dreams - suggest something darker.
Even as Tara sorts through her feelings for Harry and her fractured relationship with the mysterious order known as Delphi’s Daughters, a killer is growing more ruthless by the day. And a nightmare that began decades ago in Chernobyl will reach a terrifying endgame that not even Tara could have foreseen....
My thoughts:
Tara Sheridan is an Oracle - she uses a set of Tarot cards to see the past, present and future. Once an agent for the Special Projects Division of the Department of Justice - Tara would use her Tarot and her ability as an Oracle to help solve crimes.
After leaving Special Projects and surviving a run-in with the serial killer known as The Gardener, Tara now freelances as a profiler - using her Oracle abilities to help the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Now Special Projects needs her help and one time lover Harry Li has asked Tara to weigh in on a case of missing persons. Using her Tarot has never lead Tara wrong - but can she be where she needs to be before time runs out?
Rogue Oracle was a very different read for me. I did not read the first book in this series, Dark Oracle - but I had no problem reading Rogue Oracle as a stand alone.
I enjoyed Rogue Oracle - Tara has been through a horrible experience - but she came through it and it has made her stronger.
I think the label of Urban Fantasy is limiting. I don’t really consider Rogue Oracle to be just an Urban Fantasy.
If an Urban Fantasy and a Romantic Suspense had a child - it would be Rogue Oracle. I think the reason it was given the distinction of UF is because of the magical influence of the Tarot and Delphi’s Daughters.
So if you like UF and Romantic Suspense - give this series a try. Rogue Oracle will appeal to readers of both genre's.
I give Rogue Oracle 3 out of 5 stars.
Book Blurb:
The More You Know About The Future, The More There May Be To Fear.
Tara Sheridan is the best criminal profiler around - and the most unconventional. Trained as a forensic psychologist, Tara also specializes in Tarot card reading. But she doesn’t need her divination skills to realize that the new assignment from her friend and sometime lover, Agent Harry Li, is a dangerous proposition in every way.
Former Cold War operatives, all linked to a top-secret operation tracking the disposal of nuclear weapons in Russia, are disappearing. There are no bodies, and no clues to their whereabouts. Harry suspects a conspiracy to sell arms to the highest bidder. The cards - and Tara’s increasingly ominous dreams - suggest something darker.
Even as Tara sorts through her feelings for Harry and her fractured relationship with the mysterious order known as Delphi’s Daughters, a killer is growing more ruthless by the day. And a nightmare that began decades ago in Chernobyl will reach a terrifying endgame that not even Tara could have foreseen....
My thoughts:
Tara Sheridan is an Oracle - she uses a set of Tarot cards to see the past, present and future. Once an agent for the Special Projects Division of the Department of Justice - Tara would use her Tarot and her ability as an Oracle to help solve crimes.
After leaving Special Projects and surviving a run-in with the serial killer known as The Gardener, Tara now freelances as a profiler - using her Oracle abilities to help the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Now Special Projects needs her help and one time lover Harry Li has asked Tara to weigh in on a case of missing persons. Using her Tarot has never lead Tara wrong - but can she be where she needs to be before time runs out?
Rogue Oracle was a very different read for me. I did not read the first book in this series, Dark Oracle - but I had no problem reading Rogue Oracle as a stand alone.
I enjoyed Rogue Oracle - Tara has been through a horrible experience - but she came through it and it has made her stronger.
I think the label of Urban Fantasy is limiting. I don’t really consider Rogue Oracle to be just an Urban Fantasy.
If an Urban Fantasy and a Romantic Suspense had a child - it would be Rogue Oracle. I think the reason it was given the distinction of UF is because of the magical influence of the Tarot and Delphi’s Daughters.
So if you like UF and Romantic Suspense - give this series a try. Rogue Oracle will appeal to readers of both genre's.
I give Rogue Oracle 3 out of 5 stars.
February 23, 2011
Rogue Oracle by Alayna Williams
Urban Fantasy-Paranormal Romance –Feb. 22nd, 2011
4 stars
Rogue Oracle is the second book in this Urban Fantasy series about Tara Sheridan. Tara was a criminal profiler until she burned out and was viciously attached by her target. But Tara’s success as an agent was due to her secret abilities as one of many female oracles. She used her special skills to divine clues to solve cases. (Tara was once a member of the secret Delphi’s Daughters.)
In the first book, Tara was pulled out of retirement and she met agent Harry Li. They soon formed a brief relationship but Harry’s work has kept him busy and she hasn’t seen him in months. Plus, she is current watching/protecting, Cassie - a traumatized young woman with powers that can change the world. Suddenly, Tara’s life is turned upside down when Harry returns and asks her for help on a dangerous case. And although it could prove lethal, she knows she can’t say no to him.
Harry’s work is slowly killing him and this latest case is baffling. Important Russians are disappearing and any evidence seems contaminated. Harry has no idea who to turn to except Tara. He realizes her special abilities may solve this rash of disappearance. He also misses Tara. But Harry is burnt out. The crimes he has seen have made him feel on edge. Will she even want to help him?
This is an enjoyable story. The author flashes back between Tara, the villain and the
politics of the Delphi Daughters. I really liked the relationship between Tara and Harry and hope it will solidify in future books. Both clearly need someone to rely on and they are good couple that complements each other. But I found the relationship between Harry and Tara more disjointed in this book, which is disappointing. This book has action but it is more of a thriller as Tara and Harry pit their wits against their enemy to try to stop him from his final end game. I enjoyed the author’s clues as Tara and Harry slowly learn the villain’s motivations.
Rogue Oracle is an intriguing mystery with some fascinating mystical paranormal elements that gives it a tinge of horror.
Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
Urban Fantasy-Paranormal Romance –Feb. 22nd, 2011
4 stars
Rogue Oracle is the second book in this Urban Fantasy series about Tara Sheridan. Tara was a criminal profiler until she burned out and was viciously attached by her target. But Tara’s success as an agent was due to her secret abilities as one of many female oracles. She used her special skills to divine clues to solve cases. (Tara was once a member of the secret Delphi’s Daughters.)
In the first book, Tara was pulled out of retirement and she met agent Harry Li. They soon formed a brief relationship but Harry’s work has kept him busy and she hasn’t seen him in months. Plus, she is current watching/protecting, Cassie - a traumatized young woman with powers that can change the world. Suddenly, Tara’s life is turned upside down when Harry returns and asks her for help on a dangerous case. And although it could prove lethal, she knows she can’t say no to him.
Harry’s work is slowly killing him and this latest case is baffling. Important Russians are disappearing and any evidence seems contaminated. Harry has no idea who to turn to except Tara. He realizes her special abilities may solve this rash of disappearance. He also misses Tara. But Harry is burnt out. The crimes he has seen have made him feel on edge. Will she even want to help him?
This is an enjoyable story. The author flashes back between Tara, the villain and the
politics of the Delphi Daughters. I really liked the relationship between Tara and Harry and hope it will solidify in future books. Both clearly need someone to rely on and they are good couple that complements each other. But I found the relationship between Harry and Tara more disjointed in this book, which is disappointing. This book has action but it is more of a thriller as Tara and Harry pit their wits against their enemy to try to stop him from his final end game. I enjoyed the author’s clues as Tara and Harry slowly learn the villain’s motivations.
Rogue Oracle is an intriguing mystery with some fascinating mystical paranormal elements that gives it a tinge of horror.
Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
February 24, 2011
From the back of the book:
"Tara Sheridan is the best criminal profiler around-and the most unconventional. Trained as a forensic psychologist, Tara also specializes in Tarot card reading. But she doesn't need her divination skills to realize that the new assignment from her friend and sometime lover, Agent Harry Li, is a dangerous proposition in every way."
I was hooked on this book from the very beginning. I've come to realize as I share my thoughts on books how important characters are to the story for me and Ms. Williams didn't disappoint. Both Tara and Harry were characters that I instantly took to. I was curious about their history and the relationship that was going on between them. Tara was a strong, likeable character with a layer of strength that surrounded her. She also had a mysterious history with the Delpi Daughter's that I wanted to read more of. What I also liked about this book was the history that the author incorporated into the storyline. The storyline was centered around the Chernobyl disaster which is sadly something I knew nothing about. I'm the first to admit that I'm not good with history (it was one of my weaker subjects in school), but how did I not know about this??? After finishing this book, I wanted to learn more about Chernobyl and what happened there. The author used this nuclear accident to create a book filled with suspense and intrigue. I wanted to know what was going to happen next and couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I also enjoyed the fact that Tara was a Tarot card reader. It was interesting to read about the different meanings of cards and see how the author was able to incorporate it into the story. This was such a great read and I especially liked how the author veered away from the standard urban fantasy storyline to create something entirely unique.
All in all, this was an original urban fantasy read that I couldn't get enough of. It is the 2nd book in a series and I will definitely be picking up Dark Oracle soon! Recommended to fans of urban fantasy and I cannot wait to read more by this author!
"Tara Sheridan is the best criminal profiler around-and the most unconventional. Trained as a forensic psychologist, Tara also specializes in Tarot card reading. But she doesn't need her divination skills to realize that the new assignment from her friend and sometime lover, Agent Harry Li, is a dangerous proposition in every way."
I was hooked on this book from the very beginning. I've come to realize as I share my thoughts on books how important characters are to the story for me and Ms. Williams didn't disappoint. Both Tara and Harry were characters that I instantly took to. I was curious about their history and the relationship that was going on between them. Tara was a strong, likeable character with a layer of strength that surrounded her. She also had a mysterious history with the Delpi Daughter's that I wanted to read more of. What I also liked about this book was the history that the author incorporated into the storyline. The storyline was centered around the Chernobyl disaster which is sadly something I knew nothing about. I'm the first to admit that I'm not good with history (it was one of my weaker subjects in school), but how did I not know about this??? After finishing this book, I wanted to learn more about Chernobyl and what happened there. The author used this nuclear accident to create a book filled with suspense and intrigue. I wanted to know what was going to happen next and couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I also enjoyed the fact that Tara was a Tarot card reader. It was interesting to read about the different meanings of cards and see how the author was able to incorporate it into the story. This was such a great read and I especially liked how the author veered away from the standard urban fantasy storyline to create something entirely unique.
All in all, this was an original urban fantasy read that I couldn't get enough of. It is the 2nd book in a series and I will definitely be picking up Dark Oracle soon! Recommended to fans of urban fantasy and I cannot wait to read more by this author!
May 6, 2013
This is such a unique and fascinating story. I haven’t read anything like this series before! And there’s so much to offer a reader. Not only do you get your plot and fiction parts, but some very interesting non fiction facts as well. I am loving the parts about the oracles and divinations and different skill sets of each. I will also say that I may now add to the unban fantasy and mystery, a little sci-fi too. We had the physics parts in the first book and now we are looking at some chemical reactions. Trust me, I HATED chemistry almost more than physics, so it is an EXTREME talent to keep me interested, and this author did just that!
Tara is such a different type of female heroine that most. She’s got her tarot cards, and she’s learning, and growing. She’s got her own set of morals and she’s learning how to be exactly who she is. I love this about her. And we are meeting some new characters, as well as some pop in’s with some old characters.
Being in the Daughters and working with the Pythia to me is downright scary. You see glimpses of this in the first book, but now you are getting to the down and dirty and they are somewhat cruel at times. And now, Cassie’s in the hot seat, with Tara slightly on the side and things are getting really complicated!
I love the way this author writes so much. She has such a distinctness to her words. And though she is sometimes explaining things that are complex, she never makes them seem that way. She finds a way to explain in lament terms and I never feel like I am being bombarded with all kind of useless info. I am still sticking with my mystery fans- you are missing out if you aren’t reading this. And trust me, there’s plenty of fantasy/paranormal in here too! And maybe even a little for a history buff or sci fi fan! 4.5 SERIOUSLY CREEPY PAWS! Let’s go right on to book 3-or at least I seriously hope there will be more!
Tara is such a different type of female heroine that most. She’s got her tarot cards, and she’s learning, and growing. She’s got her own set of morals and she’s learning how to be exactly who she is. I love this about her. And we are meeting some new characters, as well as some pop in’s with some old characters.
Being in the Daughters and working with the Pythia to me is downright scary. You see glimpses of this in the first book, but now you are getting to the down and dirty and they are somewhat cruel at times. And now, Cassie’s in the hot seat, with Tara slightly on the side and things are getting really complicated!
I love the way this author writes so much. She has such a distinctness to her words. And though she is sometimes explaining things that are complex, she never makes them seem that way. She finds a way to explain in lament terms and I never feel like I am being bombarded with all kind of useless info. I am still sticking with my mystery fans- you are missing out if you aren’t reading this. And trust me, there’s plenty of fantasy/paranormal in here too! And maybe even a little for a history buff or sci fi fan! 4.5 SERIOUSLY CREEPY PAWS! Let’s go right on to book 3-or at least I seriously hope there will be more!
March 18, 2011
Alayna Williams' Rogue Oracle was a great followup to Dark Oracle! I truly enjoy this series with the way Tarot is woven into the storyline and giving you a detailed glimpse at what its like. How certain cards can appear to be "bad" at first but you have to look at them in a different way to see that they mean something else! I did buy a deck out of curiosity but haven't gotten around to experimenting with it yet!
Some of the details about Dark Oracle are kind of fuzzy and lost on me, but I distantly remembered bits and pieces as I read further, and as the cover description explains, Tara is back in action trying to track down another serial killer using her Tarot cards. But her new deck, since her old one was lost, has been acting strangely. There's a strange connection between her and the cards, she has many dreams with the cards' faces/pictures and other people representing them and things occur. (Hard to put into words when typing, but she plays the role of one of the cards and other friends play other card roles)
While working with Harry, Tara will do everything she can to help him track down the serial killer, but the killer is still at large and taking down victims. And then there's still trouble afoot with the Delphi's Daughters that Tara gets mixed up in.
Overall it was a fairly good read. I enjoyed it, but at times my mind may have gotten a little sidetracked, but it was still a worthy read and I plan on continuing the series as it progresses. Overall rating 3.5/5 stars!
Some of the details about Dark Oracle are kind of fuzzy and lost on me, but I distantly remembered bits and pieces as I read further, and as the cover description explains, Tara is back in action trying to track down another serial killer using her Tarot cards. But her new deck, since her old one was lost, has been acting strangely. There's a strange connection between her and the cards, she has many dreams with the cards' faces/pictures and other people representing them and things occur. (Hard to put into words when typing, but she plays the role of one of the cards and other friends play other card roles)
While working with Harry, Tara will do everything she can to help him track down the serial killer, but the killer is still at large and taking down victims. And then there's still trouble afoot with the Delphi's Daughters that Tara gets mixed up in.
Overall it was a fairly good read. I enjoyed it, but at times my mind may have gotten a little sidetracked, but it was still a worthy read and I plan on continuing the series as it progresses. Overall rating 3.5/5 stars!
February 27, 2011
Rogue Oracle is the second book in the Delphic Oracle series. Yep, I've started another series somewhere else besides the beginning. You do not need to read the first book to be totally absorbed into this story. This book can stand alone. It is also a fun UF that will keep you on the edge of your seat in a psychological and horror filled way. There is a bit of romance but it is more a part of the background giving the story momentum to move forward. It is not a PNR, so if you are looking for a little more romance you might be disappointed. Even so, I felt that Harry, her intended, was a great match for her and I you will root for them from the start.
As a side note, I found that there was a bit of philosophy thrown in this book. You are dealing with oracles, tarot cards, psychic ability and often the idea of free will vs. preordained paths are skirted around. There is a small part in this book that discusses it and the view is more on the side on things being fatalistic. Now for those of you snoozing, don't worry, it was only a very small part in the book and I tend to leap at philosophical discussions like this because I find them interesting. I was just happy that the author did in fact chose a side for the characters. Made them more real to me.
I give this book 4 stars. Although I would start with book 1, Dark Oracle, you don't need to if this book finds it's way into your hands. I also recommend it to people who enjoy UF.
As a side note, I found that there was a bit of philosophy thrown in this book. You are dealing with oracles, tarot cards, psychic ability and often the idea of free will vs. preordained paths are skirted around. There is a small part in this book that discusses it and the view is more on the side on things being fatalistic. Now for those of you snoozing, don't worry, it was only a very small part in the book and I tend to leap at philosophical discussions like this because I find them interesting. I was just happy that the author did in fact chose a side for the characters. Made them more real to me.
I give this book 4 stars. Although I would start with book 1, Dark Oracle, you don't need to if this book finds it's way into your hands. I also recommend it to people who enjoy UF.
March 2, 2011
4 out of 5 Stars
The Oracle Series is a fresh take in the Urban Fantasy genre. There are no vampires, werewolves or demons in this one. Just exceptional humans; that is if you can call an oracle just a human.
Tara’s specialty is reading tarot cards that assist her in solving crimes and make her one of the finest criminal profilers around. She has been off the job for a bit, after being almost murdered by a serial killer (I think in the previous book). Her her old boyfriend Harry shows up and asks for her help with a case - how can the girl say no?
Rogue Oracle is really a suspense novel with a twist of UF. I enjoyed the criminal aspect of the story, which you really don’t get a lot of with UF books. I also appreciated the relationships between the characters, all of them are sound. I especially liked Tara and Cassie’s. The protectiveness Tara feels for her is touching. I would have liked to see a bit more between Harry and Tara, but that is just the romance junkie in me rearing its head. The Priya character is also quite intriguing and scary, she has her own agenda and is committed to making it occur.
I should note that I have not read the first book in the series, Dark Oracle, and I was able to thoroughly enjoy Rogue Oracle without feeling lost or feeling like I was missing something. Overall, Rogue Oracle is a recommended read for you UF and paranormal addicts.
The Oracle Series is a fresh take in the Urban Fantasy genre. There are no vampires, werewolves or demons in this one. Just exceptional humans; that is if you can call an oracle just a human.
Tara’s specialty is reading tarot cards that assist her in solving crimes and make her one of the finest criminal profilers around. She has been off the job for a bit, after being almost murdered by a serial killer (I think in the previous book). Her her old boyfriend Harry shows up and asks for her help with a case - how can the girl say no?
Rogue Oracle is really a suspense novel with a twist of UF. I enjoyed the criminal aspect of the story, which you really don’t get a lot of with UF books. I also appreciated the relationships between the characters, all of them are sound. I especially liked Tara and Cassie’s. The protectiveness Tara feels for her is touching. I would have liked to see a bit more between Harry and Tara, but that is just the romance junkie in me rearing its head. The Priya character is also quite intriguing and scary, she has her own agenda and is committed to making it occur.
I should note that I have not read the first book in the series, Dark Oracle, and I was able to thoroughly enjoy Rogue Oracle without feeling lost or feeling like I was missing something. Overall, Rogue Oracle is a recommended read for you UF and paranormal addicts.
February 25, 2011
I hadn't read the previous book in this series (Dark Oracle), but I didn't feel lost at all. Kudos for books that can stand alone or work together.
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. It was a quick read, and a page-turner. It says urban fantasy on the spine, but I might call it a paranormal crime thriller. It reminded me strongly of the Diana Tregarde books by Mercedes Lackey. There's horror and action, and romance as well, but romance is not the core of the book by a long shot.
I really liked getting inside Tara's head: the use of description to show her perception was really well done. It felt right that she should have that kind of instant analysis, between her talent and her training.
She thinks a little like a supernaturally inclined Holmes, and I enjoyed that.
The only problem I had with the book was the few chapters that didn't follow Tara or the villain. The other characters were fine, but I didn't need as much from their perspective. Especially the love interest Harry. He was fine, but not interesting to me.
Overall it was a fun read with an enjoyably creepy tone.
More Reviews at
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. It was a quick read, and a page-turner. It says urban fantasy on the spine, but I might call it a paranormal crime thriller. It reminded me strongly of the Diana Tregarde books by Mercedes Lackey. There's horror and action, and romance as well, but romance is not the core of the book by a long shot.
I really liked getting inside Tara's head: the use of description to show her perception was really well done. It felt right that she should have that kind of instant analysis, between her talent and her training.
She thinks a little like a supernaturally inclined Holmes, and I enjoyed that.
The only problem I had with the book was the few chapters that didn't follow Tara or the villain. The other characters were fine, but I didn't need as much from their perspective. Especially the love interest Harry. He was fine, but not interesting to me.
Overall it was a fun read with an enjoyably creepy tone.
More Reviews at
July 10, 2011
I received this book as a review copy from the author and was looking forward to reading it. I was not disappointed.
Rogue Oracle grips the reader from start to finish with an exciting storyline, great pacing and wonderful characters.
Tara Sheridan makes a wonderful heroine, blending inner strength with her amazing abilities. It was great to see her develop throughout the novel as she came to grips both with her changing powers and her relationship with Harry.
The other characters are all nicely realised, from the aging leader of Delphi's Daughters to the mysterious killer, who comes across as someone to be pitied despite his evil deeds.
Overall the story had an excellent sense of pacing. The ending felt marginally abrupt, with everything suddenly resolved within a few pages, but this was not a major detraction from what was, in all other ways, a truly enjoyable read.
This is the second book featuring these characters and I am now eager to go back and read the first installment.
Rogue Oracle grips the reader from start to finish with an exciting storyline, great pacing and wonderful characters.
Tara Sheridan makes a wonderful heroine, blending inner strength with her amazing abilities. It was great to see her develop throughout the novel as she came to grips both with her changing powers and her relationship with Harry.
The other characters are all nicely realised, from the aging leader of Delphi's Daughters to the mysterious killer, who comes across as someone to be pitied despite his evil deeds.
Overall the story had an excellent sense of pacing. The ending felt marginally abrupt, with everything suddenly resolved within a few pages, but this was not a major detraction from what was, in all other ways, a truly enjoyable read.
This is the second book featuring these characters and I am now eager to go back and read the first installment.
January 9, 2014
I enjoyed reading The Rogue Oracle. It had some interesting characters with full disclosure back stories but there was something missing. I was never able to fill their shoes so there was always some detachment from the novel. I need to feel part of the story or see myself as a character to get the full effect. This novel was not able to do tha for me. Alayna Williams put too much detail and focus on the tarrot card aspect while overlooking the smaller details that connect the reader to the story.
The ending was foreign, incomplete and lacking a final closure to the book or a cliff hanger to look towards the next part.I felt ripped off for spending my time reading it to not end up any better than I started.
The characters were interesting enough to keep me reading and the plot had a few twists. Overall I gave it a 3 as I have interest in it just not enough to read anymore into the series or re-read this novel.
The ending was foreign, incomplete and lacking a final closure to the book or a cliff hanger to look towards the next part.I felt ripped off for spending my time reading it to not end up any better than I started.
The characters were interesting enough to keep me reading and the plot had a few twists. Overall I gave it a 3 as I have interest in it just not enough to read anymore into the series or re-read this novel.
July 16, 2011
This is my first time reading Laura Bickle as Alayna Williams (why the pseudonym?)... and I have to say I'm pretty delighted with this book. It has the rich worldbuilding and engaging plotting that I expect from Bickle, but the overall tone is lighter, with more humor. Don't get me wrong, it can be gruesome and there were times I came close to crying (although that seems like a normal human reaction to descriptions of Chernobyl), but I also did literally laugh out loud a few times -- usually because of the ongoing office supplies war between the Special Projects agents and the librarians at LC.
I also really enjoyed watching Tara and Harry try to rebuild their relationship, you can tell how much they care for each other.
I pretty much raced through this one and plan to pick up the first one in the series when I have a chance (mostly to get more backstory on the whole Pythia deal). In the meantime, I think I might go dig out my old tarot cards and play a bit.
I also really enjoyed watching Tara and Harry try to rebuild their relationship, you can tell how much they care for each other.
I pretty much raced through this one and plan to pick up the first one in the series when I have a chance (mostly to get more backstory on the whole Pythia deal). In the meantime, I think I might go dig out my old tarot cards and play a bit.
March 27, 2013
Okay, so this is a case of the sequel being better than the first book. When I first got the book for the review I wasn’t sure it could live up to the first book…and there is nothing worse than a second rate book in a series (and you know every series has a book that isn’t as good as the others…yes, even Harry Potter). But I liked this one so much better.
Cade (book 1) was arrogant, but Aiden is sweet, sensitive, (yes a bit of a ladies man, but never serious), and doesn’t like to hurt anyone. He’s just never really been in love before. And the kicker is, she’s been seriously hurt and thinks he’s just a little too good looking and upper crust for her. But of course they are true mates…and boy, does that piss the alpha off…a wolf in love with a measly human. Yum.
I give this book 5 out of 5 clouds. If you only read one in the series…read this one.
This product or book may have been distributed for review; this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.
Cade (book 1) was arrogant, but Aiden is sweet, sensitive, (yes a bit of a ladies man, but never serious), and doesn’t like to hurt anyone. He’s just never really been in love before. And the kicker is, she’s been seriously hurt and thinks he’s just a little too good looking and upper crust for her. But of course they are true mates…and boy, does that piss the alpha off…a wolf in love with a measly human. Yum.
I give this book 5 out of 5 clouds. If you only read one in the series…read this one.
This product or book may have been distributed for review; this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.
February 20, 2011
I absolutely love Dark Oracle, the first book in this series, so I was more than eager to read Rogue Oracle. And let me say:
WOW!!
Rogue Oracle is dark, gritty, disturbing, intense and utterly awesome!
Tara and Harry both have some serious fights on their hands in this book and I must confess they had me worried about their safety and happiness more than once. Even though the overall tone of the story is grim it never crosses the line that makes a story too angsty and desperate for me, instead it drew me in just as tightly as the first book did, cheering on Tara and Harry and cursing those who make their lives difficult. Rogue Oracle is a more than worthy sequel to Dark Oracle and I can only hope there will be more books in this series as I am now officially in love with Tara.
WOW!!
Rogue Oracle is dark, gritty, disturbing, intense and utterly awesome!
Tara and Harry both have some serious fights on their hands in this book and I must confess they had me worried about their safety and happiness more than once. Even though the overall tone of the story is grim it never crosses the line that makes a story too angsty and desperate for me, instead it drew me in just as tightly as the first book did, cheering on Tara and Harry and cursing those who make their lives difficult. Rogue Oracle is a more than worthy sequel to Dark Oracle and I can only hope there will be more books in this series as I am now officially in love with Tara.
March 13, 2011
Rogue Oracle by Alayna Williams
A story plucked out of today’s disasters and leavened with a touch of mysticism.
The recent tsunami and resultant nuclear meltdowns were particularly poignant as I read this book. News commentator’s comparisons to Chernobyl were particularly frightening. Stories with a grain of truth often ring more clearly to a reader.
Tara Sheridan’s oracle skills were brand new to me as her use of a Tarot deck. I haven’t read any of Alayna Williams books before but I intend to remedy that oversight. The plot was intricate with out unnecessary nuances.
I think a chapter to fill in the back story would have been helpful to understand who Tara was and what was involved wither relationships with Harry and Carrie.
The two Steves added some humor and lightened up what was otherwise a pretty scary semi-occult book.
I recommend the book.
A story plucked out of today’s disasters and leavened with a touch of mysticism.
The recent tsunami and resultant nuclear meltdowns were particularly poignant as I read this book. News commentator’s comparisons to Chernobyl were particularly frightening. Stories with a grain of truth often ring more clearly to a reader.
Tara Sheridan’s oracle skills were brand new to me as her use of a Tarot deck. I haven’t read any of Alayna Williams books before but I intend to remedy that oversight. The plot was intricate with out unnecessary nuances.
I think a chapter to fill in the back story would have been helpful to understand who Tara was and what was involved wither relationships with Harry and Carrie.
The two Steves added some humor and lightened up what was otherwise a pretty scary semi-occult book.
I recommend the book.
February 28, 2011
Reviewed by
The Delphic Oracle Novels are so unique. I wasn't sure the whole tarot card oracle storyline would work for me but Alayna Williams does a wonderful job in explaining and laying out all you need to know so that you aren't lost with all the card she pulls. I loved the police like investigating, some of my favorite novels have that in the story and they are always entertaining and attention grabbing. There is plenty of action and the story comes along at a good pace. The characters are enjoyable to read about and follow along with. I'm looking forward to seeing what comes in the future for Alayna and Harry's relationship as well as what is in store for Cassie as she is thrust deeper into getting ready to take of as Pythia.
The Delphic Oracle Novels are so unique. I wasn't sure the whole tarot card oracle storyline would work for me but Alayna Williams does a wonderful job in explaining and laying out all you need to know so that you aren't lost with all the card she pulls. I loved the police like investigating, some of my favorite novels have that in the story and they are always entertaining and attention grabbing. There is plenty of action and the story comes along at a good pace. The characters are enjoyable to read about and follow along with. I'm looking forward to seeing what comes in the future for Alayna and Harry's relationship as well as what is in store for Cassie as she is thrust deeper into getting ready to take of as Pythia.
July 12, 2011
Rogue Oracle, 2nd of the series, brings Tara and Harry back together after an abscence of several months. Cassie is staying at the Daughters of Delphi farmhouse, being drilled in combat as well as astrology under the watchful eye of Tara. Harry had to go back to Washington and work.
Until Harry calls for Tara and her unique brand of sleuthing. This one is all about Chernobyl and what that horrific time has spawned. Galen has become a Chimera.
It is up to Tara and Harry to figure out what is going on and what has happened to all the missing ex-agents.
Great story, scary monster, all told by a tarot wielding oracle.
Until Harry calls for Tara and her unique brand of sleuthing. This one is all about Chernobyl and what that horrific time has spawned. Galen has become a Chimera.
It is up to Tara and Harry to figure out what is going on and what has happened to all the missing ex-agents.
Great story, scary monster, all told by a tarot wielding oracle.
February 21, 2011
I enjoyed this read. I think I would have enjoyed it more had I realized it was a book 2 of a series. I hate to read out of order. But this was for a tour so I did it anyways.
I liked the characters quite a bit. The Steve's had to have been my favorite and I would love to see more of them. Cassie is another of my favorites and I wonder where her story will take. While I enjoyed Tara and Harry, I have the say the ones I mentioned before, stole the story.
The story itself was interesting. Secret agents disappearing, all leading back to the Chernobyl disaster and what might come if they don't stop it. It kept my attention. All in all a good read.
I liked the characters quite a bit. The Steve's had to have been my favorite and I would love to see more of them. Cassie is another of my favorites and I wonder where her story will take. While I enjoyed Tara and Harry, I have the say the ones I mentioned before, stole the story.
The story itself was interesting. Secret agents disappearing, all leading back to the Chernobyl disaster and what might come if they don't stop it. It kept my attention. All in all a good read.
March 9, 2013
I'm not sure why I continued reading this really. I skimmed through sections that didn't progress the plot, and the characters and the tarot reading were not that interesting to me. The tarot reading never reveals anything new, just reiterates things the reader already knows. The only good sections involved the bad guy and his history, but that wasn't enough to really carry the book, and I didn't really like knowing things the characters didn't. That's always risky because who wants to read clueless characters stumbling around trying to figure out what you already know? There isn't anything strong enough here to warrant me every reading another book in the series.
January 20, 2016
I absolutely and completely loved this book. Dare I say, it was better than the first one? It has that Criminal Minds feel with a supernatural component, and those are the kinds of stories I like best.
The pacing, action, and characters were all fantastic. Again, Tara reminded me of Emily from Criminal Minds and Harry reminded me of Cho from The Mentalist.
The villain was really interesting as well, even if his method of killing was gross. And, yes, there had to be descriptions of it.
Okay, bring on the next installment!
The pacing, action, and characters were all fantastic. Again, Tara reminded me of Emily from Criminal Minds and Harry reminded me of Cho from The Mentalist.
The villain was really interesting as well, even if his method of killing was gross. And, yes, there had to be descriptions of it.
Okay, bring on the next installment!
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