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The Bloodhound Files #4
Better Off Undead
Dark magic, unknown enemies, monsters of every stripe—FBI profiler Jace Valchek has seen it all. In this bizarre parallel universe, shape-shifting werewolves and blood-thirsty vampires don't even warrant a raised eyebrow. That is, until Jace has to face what life might look like as one of them �
It starts off as just another run-of-the-mill assignment: to track down the rogue don of a mafia werewolf family before he upsets the delicate balance of the underworld. But Jace wasn't counting on being bitten…and soon she's fighting the growing wolf inside her with a startling antidote—vampirism. Stopping a bloody gangland war won't be easy when Jace is feeling some new, and very inhuman, desires �
In Better Off Undead, Book 4 in The Bloodhound Files, DD Barant takes Jace farther than ever before ... and the result is "A stellar addition to an already outstanding series" (RT Book Reviews).
It starts off as just another run-of-the-mill assignment: to track down the rogue don of a mafia werewolf family before he upsets the delicate balance of the underworld. But Jace wasn't counting on being bitten…and soon she's fighting the growing wolf inside her with a startling antidote—vampirism. Stopping a bloody gangland war won't be easy when Jace is feeling some new, and very inhuman, desires �
In Better Off Undead, Book 4 in The Bloodhound Files, DD Barant takes Jace farther than ever before ... and the result is "A stellar addition to an already outstanding series" (RT Book Reviews).
324 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 4, 2011
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1,308 people want to read
About the author
D.D. Barant
22Ìýbooks472ÌýfollowersPseudonyms: & & Dixie Lyle
DD Barant lives in Vancouver, BC, and loves monsters, chocolate, animals, reading, comics and lying naked on the beach, while hating bullies, narrow-minded people, Sea Urchin Sushi and gluten. He has stated that DD Barant is a pseudonym, and that it is not the only pseudonym under which he writes.
DD Barant lives in Vancouver, BC, and loves monsters, chocolate, animals, reading, comics and lying naked on the beach, while hating bullies, narrow-minded people, Sea Urchin Sushi and gluten. He has stated that DD Barant is a pseudonym, and that it is not the only pseudonym under which he writes.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
October 9, 2011
I will not bother with recaps.
I will simply say I have mixed feelings about this one. While all the characters are still here and strong, and Charlie is back again stealing the show, this book is the clincher of a growing problem I have with the series. Namely, Jayce becoming a bumbling idiot whenever the plot demands it. The main selling point of the series for me is that every important character is both highly intelligent, and very, very complex. So when normally cynical enough to make Diogenes looking like puppy attempting to ape humans, who is also supposed to be fully trained and experienced criminal analyst goes all gung-ho and/or naive, just for the sake of the plot, I get have this urge to throw the book away. But then soon after Charlie comes along and manages to have me gasping from trying not to laugh out loud, so in the end good averages with the bad.
This is just my opinion, take it or leave it as you see fit, but my personal suggestion is read it anyway and make your own judgments.
I will simply say I have mixed feelings about this one. While all the characters are still here and strong, and Charlie is back again stealing the show, this book is the clincher of a growing problem I have with the series. Namely, Jayce becoming a bumbling idiot whenever the plot demands it. The main selling point of the series for me is that every important character is both highly intelligent, and very, very complex. So when normally cynical enough to make Diogenes looking like puppy attempting to ape humans, who is also supposed to be fully trained and experienced criminal analyst goes all gung-ho and/or naive, just for the sake of the plot, I get have this urge to throw the book away. But then soon after Charlie comes along and manages to have me gasping from trying not to laugh out loud, so in the end good averages with the bad.
This is just my opinion, take it or leave it as you see fit, but my personal suggestion is read it anyway and make your own judgments.
March 30, 2018
A very imaginative and fun read, keeping up with the previous books in the series.
The world is well built and elaborate, the characters multilayered and the story original and interesting.
Jace faces a great deal of trouble in this part of her story, fighting to keep her humanity while chasing bad guys and trying to figure out what's really going on. Her sense of humor remains undiminished and I especially enjoy her internal monologues. There have been a couple of turning points for her in this book and I'm looking forward to seeing how things work out.
The audiobook narrator did a great job and I'll make sure to listen to the following books in the series as well, starting with next.
Previous Book Reviews:
� Killing Rocks (The Bloodhound Files, #3)
The world is well built and elaborate, the characters multilayered and the story original and interesting.
Jace faces a great deal of trouble in this part of her story, fighting to keep her humanity while chasing bad guys and trying to figure out what's really going on. Her sense of humor remains undiminished and I especially enjoy her internal monologues. There have been a couple of turning points for her in this book and I'm looking forward to seeing how things work out.
The audiobook narrator did a great job and I'll make sure to listen to the following books in the series as well, starting with next.
Previous Book Reviews:
� Killing Rocks (The Bloodhound Files, #3)
March 3, 2013
Imagine waking up one morning to be told you were going to an alternate earth, in a different dimension. Your earth being much like the one we know, but the other having some glaring differences. Oh, the countries and cities of this other earth appear much like our own, but other things are very different. The most obvious being the fact humans only make up one percent of the population. The other ninety-nine percent are vampires, werewolves, or golems. In other words, humans are a protected species that may not last much longer. Yet you come from an earth that doesn't have any of these mythological beings, which makes you feel rather out of place. Well, that is how Jace Valcheck feels when this happens to her, and she did not get a choice in the matter. Those who brought her over made a deal so as to gain her cooperation. All she had to do is use her FBI profiler skills to catch a human serial killer (virtually unheard of on this version of earth) and after he is safely dealt with, she could go back home.
If you haven't noticed, this is book four of the series and that agreement began in book one. Nothing has gone quite right for Jace, as other problems keep getting in the way. She came close a couple times, but hasn't had much luck lately. In the intervening months since her arrival, she has adapted and even made friends, but this adventure may ruin her plans to ever get home. Dr. Pete, a werewolf friend whose identity was altered earlier in the series from some nasty magic, could be saved and brought back to how he once was. Unfortunately, before the solution can fully work, he bites her. This exposes Jace to the lyncanthrope virus which will change her on the next full moon. If a method to counteract the virus isn't found in time, she will turn into a species she has no desire to become. There is a possible way to stop it, but it could result in deathly consequences. Jace has a lot of choices to make, on top of her usual job to do, which includes hunting down a mafia werewolf who has become a dangerous threat to society (well, more so than a usual mafia guy). Nothing will be easy until all her latest problems are resolved.
I must admit, this series seemed to be diverting off its course a bit since book one (which had been my favorite). Yet "Better off Undead" brought back all the original characters and excitement I remembered from before. I really enjoyed the humor, brief emotional moments, and action that ensued. It was what I had been hoping for and more. Jace didn't get much progress made on the hunt for the serial killer, but that might have ended the series, so that was okay for me. In this one she focused on trying regain her old friend Dr. Pete, who had become Tair- an evil, alternate version of the man she knew. As for whether she was successful, I can't say since you'll have to read the novel to find out. She also had to deal with the idea of becoming something other than human. This brought her down a bit, but she bounced back quickly, ready to fight for her life. Just like the Jace that has shown a remarkable determination to overcome the odds of all the other adversity she has faced since arriving in the alternate dimension.
For those who have read all the previous novels, you will find "Better Off Undead" to be the best yet. It has the tough heroine that we have seen throughout the series, all the main characters we have grown to love, and the action stays in the Seattle area where it all began. It is not a novel you want to miss. For those who are new to the series, you may want to start off at book one, if you really want to understand the dynamics at work for later books. The author does take time to explain some of the past events, which could make it possible to read this one alone, but it would still be better to go to the beginning.
I highly recommend The Bloodhound Files for those who enjoy a mix of paranormal, fantasy, and sci-fi adventure. The world building and character development are excellent, as well as unique. The next book, "Back from the Undead," is set to be released in April of 2012. I will certainly be picking it up!
If you haven't noticed, this is book four of the series and that agreement began in book one. Nothing has gone quite right for Jace, as other problems keep getting in the way. She came close a couple times, but hasn't had much luck lately. In the intervening months since her arrival, she has adapted and even made friends, but this adventure may ruin her plans to ever get home. Dr. Pete, a werewolf friend whose identity was altered earlier in the series from some nasty magic, could be saved and brought back to how he once was. Unfortunately, before the solution can fully work, he bites her. This exposes Jace to the lyncanthrope virus which will change her on the next full moon. If a method to counteract the virus isn't found in time, she will turn into a species she has no desire to become. There is a possible way to stop it, but it could result in deathly consequences. Jace has a lot of choices to make, on top of her usual job to do, which includes hunting down a mafia werewolf who has become a dangerous threat to society (well, more so than a usual mafia guy). Nothing will be easy until all her latest problems are resolved.
I must admit, this series seemed to be diverting off its course a bit since book one (which had been my favorite). Yet "Better off Undead" brought back all the original characters and excitement I remembered from before. I really enjoyed the humor, brief emotional moments, and action that ensued. It was what I had been hoping for and more. Jace didn't get much progress made on the hunt for the serial killer, but that might have ended the series, so that was okay for me. In this one she focused on trying regain her old friend Dr. Pete, who had become Tair- an evil, alternate version of the man she knew. As for whether she was successful, I can't say since you'll have to read the novel to find out. She also had to deal with the idea of becoming something other than human. This brought her down a bit, but she bounced back quickly, ready to fight for her life. Just like the Jace that has shown a remarkable determination to overcome the odds of all the other adversity she has faced since arriving in the alternate dimension.
For those who have read all the previous novels, you will find "Better Off Undead" to be the best yet. It has the tough heroine that we have seen throughout the series, all the main characters we have grown to love, and the action stays in the Seattle area where it all began. It is not a novel you want to miss. For those who are new to the series, you may want to start off at book one, if you really want to understand the dynamics at work for later books. The author does take time to explain some of the past events, which could make it possible to read this one alone, but it would still be better to go to the beginning.
I highly recommend The Bloodhound Files for those who enjoy a mix of paranormal, fantasy, and sci-fi adventure. The world building and character development are excellent, as well as unique. The next book, "Back from the Undead," is set to be released in April of 2012. I will certainly be picking it up!
January 2, 2012
*Rating* 4.0
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Review*
Better Off Undead is the fourth novel in the Bloodhound files with our heroine FBI profile Jace Valcheck as the main protagonist. Jace, if you haven’t followed this series from the start, was taken from her own world by David Cassius the director of the National Security Agency, and brought to what she affectionately calls Thropirelem. Her mission: find and eliminate Aristotle Stoker who is the descendant of Bram Stoker and a known terrorist, then she will be returned unharmed. Easier said than done.
Jace has made a life in Thropirelem, and even has a pet dog named Galahad who is part St. Bernard, and part human depending on what time of day it is. She has befriended Dr. Pete’s niece Xandra (werewolf), and has become the godmother to Gretchen’s daughter Anna (both vampires). She has a Lem partner named Charlie who really makes this series for me.
Thropirelem’s population is filled with vampires, and werewolves making up 99 percent of the population. The remaining one percent is humans who have survived several attempts at eliminating them permanently.
I loved this book and the storyline. Seriously, who can argue about the bantering between Cassius and Jace that ends up totally blowing my mind and changing the dynamics of this series at the same time?
Gretchen is one scary vampire and I would not want to piss her off under any circumstances. Her rattling of swords with Xandra is funny and amazing. I wouldn't want to get between Gretchen and her baby for fear that she would just strangle me with my own tongue!
Charlie is one of the best side kicks in the UF genre. I think only Hank of the Charlie Madigan series can come close to matching him in awesomeness. I love the way Jace and Charlie snipe at each other. The negative for me? Jace's continually telling him to shut up.
Cassius, ah yes. Let me say that Cassius makes Bones seem like a fledgling. He's an old vampire who goes above and beyond to save the remaining humans like Jace. When Cass and Jace finally get together, it's almost a perfect fit. Of course, biting in a certain area is seriously erotic.
Jace is forced into a corner after she is infected by Tair better known as Dr. Pete. Her humanity is challenged, and her choices and desires undergo a drastic self- awareness check. She is basically given no choice after Cassius makes the decision to save her humanity from either turning her into a vampire, lycan, or dead. For me, there was no other choice. I get worn out when characters are turned into something they weren’t when the series started. For once, I would like to have my main character remain human or a human with serious abilities.
I also love her dog and the fact that it seems she has come to the conclusion that this is now her new home, and thus, she needs to set down some kind of familiar routine which includes friends, and a life outside of working for the NSA.
Barant makes an interesting correlation between Jace’s situation of being a minority in Thropirelem and our real world and how minorities are treated in today's society. Barant actually shows what the remaining 1 percent of humans are dealing with on a daily basis including being put on a reservation like the American Indians were before them for their own safety from the paranormal community.
The revelation about Cassius involvement with the humans and how he has made it is mission to protect them from extinction only goes to prove that Cassius isn’t your normal vampire.
I am definitely looking forward to the next book in the series called Back from the Undead which releases April 2012
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Review*
Better Off Undead is the fourth novel in the Bloodhound files with our heroine FBI profile Jace Valcheck as the main protagonist. Jace, if you haven’t followed this series from the start, was taken from her own world by David Cassius the director of the National Security Agency, and brought to what she affectionately calls Thropirelem. Her mission: find and eliminate Aristotle Stoker who is the descendant of Bram Stoker and a known terrorist, then she will be returned unharmed. Easier said than done.
Jace has made a life in Thropirelem, and even has a pet dog named Galahad who is part St. Bernard, and part human depending on what time of day it is. She has befriended Dr. Pete’s niece Xandra (werewolf), and has become the godmother to Gretchen’s daughter Anna (both vampires). She has a Lem partner named Charlie who really makes this series for me.
Thropirelem’s population is filled with vampires, and werewolves making up 99 percent of the population. The remaining one percent is humans who have survived several attempts at eliminating them permanently.
I loved this book and the storyline. Seriously, who can argue about the bantering between Cassius and Jace that ends up totally blowing my mind and changing the dynamics of this series at the same time?
Gretchen is one scary vampire and I would not want to piss her off under any circumstances. Her rattling of swords with Xandra is funny and amazing. I wouldn't want to get between Gretchen and her baby for fear that she would just strangle me with my own tongue!
Charlie is one of the best side kicks in the UF genre. I think only Hank of the Charlie Madigan series can come close to matching him in awesomeness. I love the way Jace and Charlie snipe at each other. The negative for me? Jace's continually telling him to shut up.
Cassius, ah yes. Let me say that Cassius makes Bones seem like a fledgling. He's an old vampire who goes above and beyond to save the remaining humans like Jace. When Cass and Jace finally get together, it's almost a perfect fit. Of course, biting in a certain area is seriously erotic.
Jace is forced into a corner after she is infected by Tair better known as Dr. Pete. Her humanity is challenged, and her choices and desires undergo a drastic self- awareness check. She is basically given no choice after Cassius makes the decision to save her humanity from either turning her into a vampire, lycan, or dead. For me, there was no other choice. I get worn out when characters are turned into something they weren’t when the series started. For once, I would like to have my main character remain human or a human with serious abilities.
I also love her dog and the fact that it seems she has come to the conclusion that this is now her new home, and thus, she needs to set down some kind of familiar routine which includes friends, and a life outside of working for the NSA.
Barant makes an interesting correlation between Jace’s situation of being a minority in Thropirelem and our real world and how minorities are treated in today's society. Barant actually shows what the remaining 1 percent of humans are dealing with on a daily basis including being put on a reservation like the American Indians were before them for their own safety from the paranormal community.
The revelation about Cassius involvement with the humans and how he has made it is mission to protect them from extinction only goes to prove that Cassius isn’t your normal vampire.
I am definitely looking forward to the next book in the series called Back from the Undead which releases April 2012
September 19, 2012
Quick plot recap for my personal purpose:
Personally, I think this book is definitely an improvement from book #3 (I DNF-ed that one). Book #3 confuses the heck out of me. This one is more straight forward, a straight-up procedural to uncover the illegal trafficking and trading. I have to admit that the middle part feels a bit slow for me, but I can always count on Jace and Charlie to keep me going.
I really love Jace and Charlie's partnership. Their banter is the highlight of the whole book ...
..........
“There was a discussion with certain elements of the local community.�
“I can see that. Looks like some pretty sharp verbs were thrown around.�
“Nouns, too.�
“Such as?�
“Table. Mailbox. Refrigerator.�
“You threw a fridge at someone?�
.............
The part with Tair in the end is quite heartbreaking. I believe that Dr. Pete can still be saved, but it will be difficult. There is also quite exciting progress with Jace's relationship with Cassius at the end of the book . It surely adds my interest for the next book.
Personally, I think this book is definitely an improvement from book #3 (I DNF-ed that one). Book #3 confuses the heck out of me. This one is more straight forward, a straight-up procedural to uncover the illegal trafficking and trading. I have to admit that the middle part feels a bit slow for me, but I can always count on Jace and Charlie to keep me going.
I really love Jace and Charlie's partnership. Their banter is the highlight of the whole book ...
..........
“There was a discussion with certain elements of the local community.�
“I can see that. Looks like some pretty sharp verbs were thrown around.�
“Nouns, too.�
“Such as?�
“Table. Mailbox. Refrigerator.�
“You threw a fridge at someone?�
.............
The part with Tair in the end is quite heartbreaking. I believe that Dr. Pete can still be saved, but it will be difficult. There is also quite exciting progress with Jace's relationship with Cassius at the end of the book . It surely adds my interest for the next book.
October 30, 2011
It was doing good up until the end.
All of the tension the book had built was turned into nothing by a convenient little deus ex machina. I feel as if I've had my hopes for change ripped out beneath me and replaced with normal, boring rug of status quo. Is it so much to ask for an episodic book series capable of evolving?
All of the tension the book had built was turned into nothing by a convenient little deus ex machina. I feel as if I've had my hopes for change ripped out beneath me and replaced with normal, boring rug of status quo. Is it so much to ask for an episodic book series capable of evolving?
June 1, 2021
Life is proceeding as normal, at least as normal as it gets for Jace. In her ongoing attempt to turn Tair back into Dr. Pete, Jace finds herself thrown into the middle of the thrope mafia and an illegal vampire/golem trafficking scheme. At the same time, Jace is infected with the thrope virus and is battling for her humanity by the only means possible- the vampire virus. Now Jace is in a race against time to not only stop the trafficking and take down a mafia don, but also for her very life.
The best part of this entire series continues to be Charlie. Nothing bad can ever happen as long as Charlie is in the scene. His quick barbs and dry sense of humor are always laugh out loud moments for me and he never takes any of Jace's crap of which there is a lot. I like Jace, but most of the time, she strikes me more as a smart-alack teenager rather than a professionally trained FBI profiler. The only non-work friend she's managed to make is a teenager which speaks to her own maturity level. She continues to rely on sarcasm rather and gut feelings as opposed to her criminal psychology background. That would be irritating but she spends so much time with Charlie and as I said before, nothing can ever be wrong as long as Charlie is around. Why oh why can't Charlie be the main character? His T-Rex ancestry would be more than welcome. He never sleeps so I am sure that he has a lot of interesting stuff going on when he's not babysitting Jace.
I liked the idea of human trafficking happening here even though there aren't any actual humans being trafficked. It was interesting and well thought-out. The race to save Jace's humanity was less exciting for me. In the back of my mind I half expect Jace to turn at some point but I always know that it's not yet the right time.
I was really enjoying the book until the ending which was weird and completely unbelievable to me. I was in disbelief. It won't stop me from reading the next book but it was disappointing.
The best part of this entire series continues to be Charlie. Nothing bad can ever happen as long as Charlie is in the scene. His quick barbs and dry sense of humor are always laugh out loud moments for me and he never takes any of Jace's crap of which there is a lot. I like Jace, but most of the time, she strikes me more as a smart-alack teenager rather than a professionally trained FBI profiler. The only non-work friend she's managed to make is a teenager which speaks to her own maturity level. She continues to rely on sarcasm rather and gut feelings as opposed to her criminal psychology background. That would be irritating but she spends so much time with Charlie and as I said before, nothing can ever be wrong as long as Charlie is around. Why oh why can't Charlie be the main character? His T-Rex ancestry would be more than welcome. He never sleeps so I am sure that he has a lot of interesting stuff going on when he's not babysitting Jace.
I liked the idea of human trafficking happening here even though there aren't any actual humans being trafficked. It was interesting and well thought-out. The race to save Jace's humanity was less exciting for me. In the back of my mind I half expect Jace to turn at some point but I always know that it's not yet the right time.
I was really enjoying the book until the ending which was weird and completely unbelievable to me. I was in disbelief. It won't stop me from reading the next book but it was disappointing.
September 29, 2015
My feelings about this book... *sighs* I don't recall Jace being this gawd damn annoying. Some of her ranting is such a waste of word space, and her jokes!!...she should leave that to her partner. Jace pretty much has free reign of whatever she does in this book without taking responsibilities for her own actions. Like...
January 25, 2014
Oh Jace, how I've missed you! This series is the best kind of mental and I cannot believe I waited quite so long to pick up book 4.
By far, my favourite thing about this series is Jace's narration. The plots are always engaging and the supporting cast are fantastic but Jace and her snark always come out on top for me. As she faces impending lycanthropy, her humour and energy remain.
The eleventh hour 'development' came a little out of the blue (though arguably if I had read this soon after book 3 I probably wouldn't feel this way) but I can dig it. I plan to not leave quite such a long gap before reading book 5, we all need quality Jace time in our lives.
By far, my favourite thing about this series is Jace's narration. The plots are always engaging and the supporting cast are fantastic but Jace and her snark always come out on top for me. As she faces impending lycanthropy, her humour and energy remain.
The eleventh hour 'development' came a little out of the blue (though arguably if I had read this soon after book 3 I probably wouldn't feel this way) but I can dig it. I plan to not leave quite such a long gap before reading book 5, we all need quality Jace time in our lives.
April 13, 2014
This was a surprise. I really did not expect to be as captured by this book as I was. It was clever, funny and thought provoking.
Werewolves, vampires, humans, an alternate universe, a sassy female detective with a straight man stoic golem as a partner, twists and surprises and political intrigue....I seriously could not put the book down and I could not have asked any more from an author.
I can't wait to read the next one and the three prior to this one. I may not sleep for a week but WORTH IT!!!
Werewolves, vampires, humans, an alternate universe, a sassy female detective with a straight man stoic golem as a partner, twists and surprises and political intrigue....I seriously could not put the book down and I could not have asked any more from an author.
I can't wait to read the next one and the three prior to this one. I may not sleep for a week but WORTH IT!!!
March 1, 2016
Despite the fact that everyone has told her to give up on Doctor Pete, Jace is determined to kill Tair and bring back her friend. To that end, without securing back up, Jace attempts a magical rescue mission of sorts, only to end up scratched by Tair and no closer to Doctor Pete. Now Jace has to deal with the potential of turning into a werewolf - that is if her boss cannot cure her with vampirism. If that weren't enough to deal with, Jace now finds herself chasing down a mob boss gone rogue, as she follows Tair's trail. With so much at stake, Jace is desperate to hold onto her humanity; however, even if Jace is cured, someone might still have to die.
As mentioned in the description, a lot of the plot revolves around Jace's quest to stay human; however, as a reader I never believed that Jace would lose her humanity. Other than being from another dimension, Jace's humanity is a lot of what makes her super special in this world and if she were to lose that, she wouldn't be the same character. The minute that Cassius became involved, it became evident that not only would Jace remain human but that this would be used to advance the romance between the two of them. At no point did I ever really feel that either Jace or Cassius were in actual jeopardy. Let's be honest, the two have plot immunity up the ying yang.
I still very much enjoy this alternate dimension world with its slightly twisted versions of what we have today. Gally the weredog continues to be one of my favourites, along with Charlie the golem. At this point, Jace is pretty much acclimated to this world and is quite comfortable with the fact that she doesn't really fit in anywhere. Jace knows that remaining human means that she won't quite fit in but is confident that without her humanity, she won't be her authentic self. Even though the end goal is to return to her home, Jace seems less and less fixated on this as this series goes on.
As a protagonist, I still find Jace somewhat irritating because she tends to just barge forward without much forethought. When Jace frees a group of vampire sex slaves for instance, she sends them to a hotel with a bag of money and that is pretty much the last we see of them. How exactly is this solving the problem that these now free women find themselves in? Jace is simply content to pat herself on the back for a good deed done and move on. As much as the acclimation with this new world is good, Jace as a character really needs to have some growth. At this point, she feels absolutely stagnant.
In terms of isms, Better Off Undead is absolutely loaded with problematic elements. Reading this book very much feels like wading through muck to get to the good parts. None of the problematic elements in Better Off Undead are necessary to the plot whatsoever, particularly given that Thiropirelem is an alternate universe. This means that Barant made very specific choices about what to include and what to exclude. The history of Thiropirelem didn't have to unfold the way that it did.
Jace was brought to Thiropirelem in Dying Bites to chase down an insane human serial killer. From the very start of this series, it was clear that ableism would be an ongoing problem and Better off Undead seems to bear this out. Until Stoker (yes, an actual descendant of Brahm Stoker) circulated a video of an Elder God designed to make everyone who sees it "nuts", mental illness really didn't exist on Thiropirelem. The recording would later come to be known as the Ghatanthoa meme. Thropes can also be infected by Hades Rabies, which is a cursed virus which makes them mentally ill. Let's start with the fact that mental illness is not caused by woo woo. There's also the issue that everyone in this series thus far who has been labelled mentally ill is extremely violent and a serial killer. This is an ableist trope because as we've said countless times, the person most in danger of being hurt, is the person who actually has a mental illness and not the population at large. The idea that mental illness means violence is a harmful and reductive stereotype. Even if I could forgive the ableist trope which Barant unfortunately seems wedded to, there's tons of ableist language in Better Off Undead.
I try to bring my breathing under control. "In my considered professional opinion," I say, "he's in a state of nocturnal airborne rodent feces."
"Huh?"
"He's batshit. Crazy as a square cueball. Off-his-rocker-around-the-bend-out-if-his-mind. Your Don is riding the crazy train, compadre, and I think he's brought a first-class ticket. (pg 28-29)
The aforementioned is the kind of language Barant has Jace use throughout the book to discuss people with mental illness. Jace is a doctor and a professional FBI profiler, therefore; I find it hard to believe that this kind of language is something that she would utilize on a regular basis, even if the above quote comes from a time of stress in her life.
After a few minutes of interviewing the Don, Jace is quick to diagnose him as a paranoid schizophrenic, based on the belief that he had a psychotic break. When it is discovered that the Don has been killing his own people, Jace explains that, "paranoid schizophrenics often attack the people closet to them." Here's the issue: the people that the Don is attacking are not people he is actively interacting with; they are not his carers. It is also worth noting that when violence does happen with paranoid schizophrenics, it's often because they are not getting proper medical treatment and are self medicating with drugs and alcohol. This is an important distinction that must be made. Jace does tell us at the very beginning of the book that there are no mental health facilities on Thiropirelem because until the introduction of Ghatanthoa meme, with the exception of thropes who suffered from Hades Rabies, no one actually had mental illness. This may explain why violence can become an issue in Thiropirelem but at least in the world that Jace came from, as a doctor, she would know that problems largely stem from inappropriate care such as treat and release and that the most common victims other than mentally person themselves, are the mothers of the mentally ill because they are most often the carers. If Barant is going to continue with the ruse that Jace is a doctor who specializes in mental illness, then he needs to have her act like one and think like one.
As mentioned in the description, a lot of the plot revolves around Jace's quest to stay human; however, as a reader I never believed that Jace would lose her humanity. Other than being from another dimension, Jace's humanity is a lot of what makes her super special in this world and if she were to lose that, she wouldn't be the same character. The minute that Cassius became involved, it became evident that not only would Jace remain human but that this would be used to advance the romance between the two of them. At no point did I ever really feel that either Jace or Cassius were in actual jeopardy. Let's be honest, the two have plot immunity up the ying yang.
I still very much enjoy this alternate dimension world with its slightly twisted versions of what we have today. Gally the weredog continues to be one of my favourites, along with Charlie the golem. At this point, Jace is pretty much acclimated to this world and is quite comfortable with the fact that she doesn't really fit in anywhere. Jace knows that remaining human means that she won't quite fit in but is confident that without her humanity, she won't be her authentic self. Even though the end goal is to return to her home, Jace seems less and less fixated on this as this series goes on.
As a protagonist, I still find Jace somewhat irritating because she tends to just barge forward without much forethought. When Jace frees a group of vampire sex slaves for instance, she sends them to a hotel with a bag of money and that is pretty much the last we see of them. How exactly is this solving the problem that these now free women find themselves in? Jace is simply content to pat herself on the back for a good deed done and move on. As much as the acclimation with this new world is good, Jace as a character really needs to have some growth. At this point, she feels absolutely stagnant.
In terms of isms, Better Off Undead is absolutely loaded with problematic elements. Reading this book very much feels like wading through muck to get to the good parts. None of the problematic elements in Better Off Undead are necessary to the plot whatsoever, particularly given that Thiropirelem is an alternate universe. This means that Barant made very specific choices about what to include and what to exclude. The history of Thiropirelem didn't have to unfold the way that it did.
Jace was brought to Thiropirelem in Dying Bites to chase down an insane human serial killer. From the very start of this series, it was clear that ableism would be an ongoing problem and Better off Undead seems to bear this out. Until Stoker (yes, an actual descendant of Brahm Stoker) circulated a video of an Elder God designed to make everyone who sees it "nuts", mental illness really didn't exist on Thiropirelem. The recording would later come to be known as the Ghatanthoa meme. Thropes can also be infected by Hades Rabies, which is a cursed virus which makes them mentally ill. Let's start with the fact that mental illness is not caused by woo woo. There's also the issue that everyone in this series thus far who has been labelled mentally ill is extremely violent and a serial killer. This is an ableist trope because as we've said countless times, the person most in danger of being hurt, is the person who actually has a mental illness and not the population at large. The idea that mental illness means violence is a harmful and reductive stereotype. Even if I could forgive the ableist trope which Barant unfortunately seems wedded to, there's tons of ableist language in Better Off Undead.
I try to bring my breathing under control. "In my considered professional opinion," I say, "he's in a state of nocturnal airborne rodent feces."
"Huh?"
"He's batshit. Crazy as a square cueball. Off-his-rocker-around-the-bend-out-if-his-mind. Your Don is riding the crazy train, compadre, and I think he's brought a first-class ticket. (pg 28-29)
The aforementioned is the kind of language Barant has Jace use throughout the book to discuss people with mental illness. Jace is a doctor and a professional FBI profiler, therefore; I find it hard to believe that this kind of language is something that she would utilize on a regular basis, even if the above quote comes from a time of stress in her life.
After a few minutes of interviewing the Don, Jace is quick to diagnose him as a paranoid schizophrenic, based on the belief that he had a psychotic break. When it is discovered that the Don has been killing his own people, Jace explains that, "paranoid schizophrenics often attack the people closet to them." Here's the issue: the people that the Don is attacking are not people he is actively interacting with; they are not his carers. It is also worth noting that when violence does happen with paranoid schizophrenics, it's often because they are not getting proper medical treatment and are self medicating with drugs and alcohol. This is an important distinction that must be made. Jace does tell us at the very beginning of the book that there are no mental health facilities on Thiropirelem because until the introduction of Ghatanthoa meme, with the exception of thropes who suffered from Hades Rabies, no one actually had mental illness. This may explain why violence can become an issue in Thiropirelem but at least in the world that Jace came from, as a doctor, she would know that problems largely stem from inappropriate care such as treat and release and that the most common victims other than mentally person themselves, are the mothers of the mentally ill because they are most often the carers. If Barant is going to continue with the ruse that Jace is a doctor who specializes in mental illness, then he needs to have her act like one and think like one.
February 17, 2018
After several months off I decided to revisit the Bloodhound Files series and see if I could finish the last three books. The last book left me wanting and I was hesitant to dive into the next one but apparently, enough time had passed and I enjoyed following a smart alec Jace around as she solves another case for this other world NSA.
After rereading my review of the last book I can see why this one worked better for me. All the supporting characters that I love were back including Charlie her golem partner. The chemistry between these two characters and the resulting banter make this story for me. We also had some development near the end of the book romance-wise for Jace and I was and wasn’t surprised with who she ended up knocking boots with. Actually, it was a touching moment and I am excited to see what comes of it in the next book.
It was also interesting to have Jace get a taste of what it is to live in this world as either a shifter or a vampire while fighting to stay human. Not going to spoil the outcome but I thought it was going to play a bigger role in the plot than it ended up.
The heart of this series is a good old detective story with some social commentary thrown in for kicks. I love the sleuthing, I love the wit, and I love the interesting parallels to our society the plot brings up from time to time.
After rereading my review of the last book I can see why this one worked better for me. All the supporting characters that I love were back including Charlie her golem partner. The chemistry between these two characters and the resulting banter make this story for me. We also had some development near the end of the book romance-wise for Jace and I was and wasn’t surprised with who she ended up knocking boots with. Actually, it was a touching moment and I am excited to see what comes of it in the next book.
It was also interesting to have Jace get a taste of what it is to live in this world as either a shifter or a vampire while fighting to stay human. Not going to spoil the outcome but I thought it was going to play a bigger role in the plot than it ended up.
The heart of this series is a good old detective story with some social commentary thrown in for kicks. I love the sleuthing, I love the wit, and I love the interesting parallels to our society the plot brings up from time to time.
September 17, 2018
I seem to be completely missing _why_ she cares about staying human. I skipped the third book (not in the library then), so maybe I missed something critical. It's not like she's deeply religious and believes she'll go to eternal bliss while all pires and thropes will spend eternity in pits of burning poo. She couldn't connect with humans in the magic universe. I get the impression that she didn't connect with humans in her universe either. So, why not go for extended life and superpowers?
I'm also missing why she wants to return to her own universe. She has friends in the new one, and doesn't mention any in the old one. She could probably have a better career&pay in the new one. I can't picture her being happy returned to her own universe.
The book annoyed me by lacking those motivations for her to stay human and return.
Minor annoyance: she's far too accurate with that big pistol, and too soooper-doooper awesomely expert with the pointy sticks for someone who chose a profession other than marksman/martial artist.
I'm also missing why she wants to return to her own universe. She has friends in the new one, and doesn't mention any in the old one. She could probably have a better career&pay in the new one. I can't picture her being happy returned to her own universe.
The book annoyed me by lacking those motivations for her to stay human and return.
Minor annoyance: she's far too accurate with that big pistol, and too soooper-doooper awesomely expert with the pointy sticks for someone who chose a profession other than marksman/martial artist.
January 19, 2018
in this installment our hero jace is faced with mortal issues missing her own kind is only the tip of the iceberg can she get over her issues and still be effective at her job? She has a deal to uphold after all, without capturing stoker she will never get home. Bad guys keep popping up now it's the furry mob and Tair, distracting her from the main bad guy she needs to find in order to be sent home. When all else fails she has to rely on gut instinct. Though she has massive hurdles to over come due to spoilers that i won't share she must persevere onward to her goal and along the way she might just learn a few more things about her now home if she lets herself.
Can our hero face off against the bad guys and the good guys when she isn't sure which she is anymore?!
Can't wait to see what the new plot developments mean for the series as a whole :P
Can our hero face off against the bad guys and the good guys when she isn't sure which she is anymore?!
Can't wait to see what the new plot developments mean for the series as a whole :P
December 31, 2016
This was the best one of the series so far. And here are my reasons why:
1. Tair is in custody
2. Dr. Pete is not completely gone
3. Jace and Cassius FINALLY got together
Each book is hard for me to get into at first. But approximately halfway through, it becomes irresistible and difficult to put down. The last quarter of the book becomes a devouring session where I cannot stop reading until it is over.
1. Tair is in custody
2. Dr. Pete is not completely gone
3. Jace and Cassius FINALLY got together
Each book is hard for me to get into at first. But approximately halfway through, it becomes irresistible and difficult to put down. The last quarter of the book becomes a devouring session where I cannot stop reading until it is over.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 31, 2017
This book did not disappoint. It had the classic humour, layered plot, and great characters. What I really like is that while it is part of a series it can stand alone as an enjoyable read. This time Jace is faced with a whole new challenge that could bind her into this alternative universe.
This is my favourite of the series so far. I am just glad there are more books left in the Bloodhound Files. D D Barant is a highly skilled writer and I look forward to picking up the next one.
This is my favourite of the series so far. I am just glad there are more books left in the Bloodhound Files. D D Barant is a highly skilled writer and I look forward to picking up the next one.
March 25, 2023
Audiobook
I like the uniqueness of this series. Although what happens to her isn’t new, the treatment was. This time the man she’s trying to find isn’t present but there are other criminals from previous books and new ones. However this entry falls a little flat. I can barely remember it a day later and I’m not kidding.
However, I’ve enjoyed the series so much, I’ll keep reading.
The narrator/reader was excellent, one of my faves.
I like the uniqueness of this series. Although what happens to her isn’t new, the treatment was. This time the man she’s trying to find isn’t present but there are other criminals from previous books and new ones. However this entry falls a little flat. I can barely remember it a day later and I’m not kidding.
However, I’ve enjoyed the series so much, I’ll keep reading.
The narrator/reader was excellent, one of my faves.
February 3, 2018
Well Jace has to solve another case but things get crazy when; Tair escapes, she gets scratched by a thrope, and bitten by a pire, kidnapped by mafia mobsters and so much more.
So most of the story is hunting down the out of his mind mafia Don all while dealing with side effects from the scratch and bite.
So most of the story is hunting down the out of his mind mafia Don all while dealing with side effects from the scratch and bite.
June 4, 2018
This was an interesting continuation of the story. Had to love the fact that she essentially experiences what it means to be supernatural. Although Dr. Pete and his alter ego bad form doc... Bad form...
December 5, 2019
The 4th adventure of Jace, the FBI profiler from our world. Character development continues well as she explores the magical but similar world of Thropes (werewolves), Pires (Vampires) and Lims (Golems). If you turn off logic and suspend belief then this is an entertaining series.
May 18, 2021
Good book. Loved all the twists and turns, & the big reveals (there were a few).
Tair escapes & scratches Jace. So not only do Jace have to recapture Tair & capture the Don, she has to worry about turning into a werewolf.
Tair escapes & scratches Jace. So not only do Jace have to recapture Tair & capture the Don, she has to worry about turning into a werewolf.
September 15, 2019
extra 1/2 star
April 20, 2021
Very much enjoyed this series
It was a different take on the supernatural world
Look forward to reading more
It was a different take on the supernatural world
Look forward to reading more
June 8, 2022
This is decently written and an interesting storyline. Just a little too odd for my style.
January 5, 2025
Jace came off a little bigoted against thropes in this one. Ana I get why but still pretty bigoted. Anyway I still enjoyed the story overall.
October 23, 2013
Lycanthrope version of a Pregnancy Scare.
I dunno, I was rather disappointed in this book because it was predictable. It's like a pregnancy scare in other series, all drama with no substance. She gets scratched by Tair (Not bitten) and starts to turn, but that's okay because a bite from a vampire can kill the virus but probably kill you in the process. Don't worry though we can use magic to make sure you live through it but someone has to die. But don't worry about that either because the person giving their life up is Cassius and he's protected by magical plot armor enough that the death star could blow up the planet and he'd miraculously survive it. And then they fuck each other. It was so bad that I actually expected her to be cured by page 61/260. It didn't happen but that's how bad it was for me.
I mean I greatly enjoyed the parts detailing her terror and despair over the idea of becoming a werewolf but it's all letdown by the niggling doubt that the author would ever change something fundamental about their protagonist. It's like watching the Joker go to jail and knowing that by the next episode he'll be out and creating havoc again. It misses several opportunities, what would it be like if she was a werewolf and the implications of her going back to her world that has no werewolves but herself. What about survivor's guilt knowing that Cassius sacrificed himself for her and that each day she looks at his replacement she's struck by guilt knowing it was all her fault. What would Stoker or Asher thought of her having been scratched and turned.
Stuff like this won't ever happen because the author is afraid of altering their character like DC is with their heroes. If superman turns evil it's either he's being controlled, he's undercover trying to earn the villain's trust, or more commonly he's from another dimension and is a totally separate entity. I hate books that I can predict, what's the point in mystery if everything is already telegraphed ahead of time on speed dial?
-----
Annorax: When I first encountered your vessel, it was badly damaged - barely functioning. What if I told you in a blink of an eye, I can restore her to its former condition?
Chuck: Psst, all we have to do is... let the episode end, and you'll be right as rain next week. Trust me, I know it doesn't make any sense but it always works that way for you.
� SFDebris, "Year of Hell"
-----
"It's just a matter of knowing the secret of all TV shows; At the end of the episode, everything is always right back to normal."
� Fry, Futurama
-----
And this is becoming a constant theme, in the first book Jace puts an Elder God back into his can and she gets absolutely no respect for it, stoker despite making the video and being out of official's hands doesn't try to re-release the elder god footage (Or the views going crazy, it's never really seen). In the second book she kills a superhero that amassed magical artifacts of power, and at the end someone steals two... The one that she actually has still around is never used again (Solar Armor of Cassius). In book four she's scratched by a werewolf but is perfectly fine just in time for book 5 and a sex scene.
The only instance where this isn't the case is in book three Golems take over for a few days and start a rebellion, that's one of the few instances of actual change.
If the author had the guts to change something that fundamental about his character I'd have given him Kudos because he's actually taking risks, but he didn't so I'm going to blame him for being static because most of the books in the series are like that.
I dunno, I was rather disappointed in this book because it was predictable. It's like a pregnancy scare in other series, all drama with no substance. She gets scratched by Tair (Not bitten) and starts to turn, but that's okay because a bite from a vampire can kill the virus but probably kill you in the process. Don't worry though we can use magic to make sure you live through it but someone has to die. But don't worry about that either because the person giving their life up is Cassius and he's protected by magical plot armor enough that the death star could blow up the planet and he'd miraculously survive it. And then they fuck each other. It was so bad that I actually expected her to be cured by page 61/260. It didn't happen but that's how bad it was for me.
I mean I greatly enjoyed the parts detailing her terror and despair over the idea of becoming a werewolf but it's all letdown by the niggling doubt that the author would ever change something fundamental about their protagonist. It's like watching the Joker go to jail and knowing that by the next episode he'll be out and creating havoc again. It misses several opportunities, what would it be like if she was a werewolf and the implications of her going back to her world that has no werewolves but herself. What about survivor's guilt knowing that Cassius sacrificed himself for her and that each day she looks at his replacement she's struck by guilt knowing it was all her fault. What would Stoker or Asher thought of her having been scratched and turned.
Stuff like this won't ever happen because the author is afraid of altering their character like DC is with their heroes. If superman turns evil it's either he's being controlled, he's undercover trying to earn the villain's trust, or more commonly he's from another dimension and is a totally separate entity. I hate books that I can predict, what's the point in mystery if everything is already telegraphed ahead of time on speed dial?
-----
Annorax: When I first encountered your vessel, it was badly damaged - barely functioning. What if I told you in a blink of an eye, I can restore her to its former condition?
Chuck: Psst, all we have to do is... let the episode end, and you'll be right as rain next week. Trust me, I know it doesn't make any sense but it always works that way for you.
� SFDebris, "Year of Hell"
-----
"It's just a matter of knowing the secret of all TV shows; At the end of the episode, everything is always right back to normal."
� Fry, Futurama
-----
And this is becoming a constant theme, in the first book Jace puts an Elder God back into his can and she gets absolutely no respect for it, stoker despite making the video and being out of official's hands doesn't try to re-release the elder god footage (Or the views going crazy, it's never really seen). In the second book she kills a superhero that amassed magical artifacts of power, and at the end someone steals two... The one that she actually has still around is never used again (Solar Armor of Cassius). In book four she's scratched by a werewolf but is perfectly fine just in time for book 5 and a sex scene.
The only instance where this isn't the case is in book three Golems take over for a few days and start a rebellion, that's one of the few instances of actual change.
If the author had the guts to change something that fundamental about his character I'd have given him Kudos because he's actually taking risks, but he didn't so I'm going to blame him for being static because most of the books in the series are like that.
October 30, 2012
This review was first published on my blog
I really love this series but this book kind of disappointed me. The rhythm is still rapid, the action well described, the plot and investigation well written but the humour was not as present as in the first book while the romance is put up front.
Jace wants to help doctor Pete and still feeling guilty for what happened because of that she isn’t as cautious as she was in the first book ( and it was already quite a lot to say^^). Then when she is infected she is acting even more out of character though it’s normal, believable and really well written. I enjoyed seeing her when she struggles with new instincts and senses. However as she does her job she doesn’t see immediately who is behind, she doesn’t try to see the problem in global point of view when normally she is keener on discerning manipulations and such thanks to her profession. It bothered me a little.
The whole mob of werewolves is interesting and we get to see a bit more how it works however even there she is not at her best and since the first part happens before her infection that’s not an excuse. For the first time she is fighting to stay human and taking a lot of risks with that, it was a good way to go deeper in her psyche to have a glimpse of her vulnerability and all but it was done by sacrificing the humour presents in the first 3 books that lightened the atmosphere. This book is darker than the other so far.
While this book is all about Jace and her new problem, we also get to see a new side of Cassius and about his past. We also learn a bit more about the human enclave only cited before. We discover that their world is as bad as ours with their own kind of traffic of living beings. Charlie and Jace have a great partnership and it works better than before even if for protecting the other one has to lie sometimes. Finally too, Jace starts a relationship but until she had her mind on it she wasn’t suspecting anything. Galahad is still there, cuter and s loyal, as well as the other secondary characters
It ‘s a good in a whole and i’m really curious about the next one, DD Barant keeps surprising me i just hope i will find again the same felling with book 5 that did with book 1-3.
Really a good series of urban fantasy with a lot of suspense and action in a universes complex but described in a master’s way.
I really love this series but this book kind of disappointed me. The rhythm is still rapid, the action well described, the plot and investigation well written but the humour was not as present as in the first book while the romance is put up front.
Jace wants to help doctor Pete and still feeling guilty for what happened because of that she isn’t as cautious as she was in the first book ( and it was already quite a lot to say^^). Then when she is infected she is acting even more out of character though it’s normal, believable and really well written. I enjoyed seeing her when she struggles with new instincts and senses. However as she does her job she doesn’t see immediately who is behind, she doesn’t try to see the problem in global point of view when normally she is keener on discerning manipulations and such thanks to her profession. It bothered me a little.
The whole mob of werewolves is interesting and we get to see a bit more how it works however even there she is not at her best and since the first part happens before her infection that’s not an excuse. For the first time she is fighting to stay human and taking a lot of risks with that, it was a good way to go deeper in her psyche to have a glimpse of her vulnerability and all but it was done by sacrificing the humour presents in the first 3 books that lightened the atmosphere. This book is darker than the other so far.
While this book is all about Jace and her new problem, we also get to see a new side of Cassius and about his past. We also learn a bit more about the human enclave only cited before. We discover that their world is as bad as ours with their own kind of traffic of living beings. Charlie and Jace have a great partnership and it works better than before even if for protecting the other one has to lie sometimes. Finally too, Jace starts a relationship but until she had her mind on it she wasn’t suspecting anything. Galahad is still there, cuter and s loyal, as well as the other secondary characters
It ‘s a good in a whole and i’m really curious about the next one, DD Barant keeps surprising me i just hope i will find again the same felling with book 5 that did with book 1-3.
Really a good series of urban fantasy with a lot of suspense and action in a universes complex but described in a master’s way.
October 10, 2011
Jace Valchek returns, and is back to form! Hopefully, if you're reading Better Off Undead (the fourth installment in the Bloodhound Files series), you're familiar with the story: FBI Profiler Jace Valchek is sucked into a parallel universe where the paranormal is normal. She needs to catch an insane human serial killer to get her ticket home. Here, as a human, she's an endangered species, but Valchek might just be getting her wolf on. Oh, and she needs to catch an insane werewolf mob boss, too.
After a somewhat shaky third installment, Jace is back to kicking butt. She's settled into a life in this world. The Jace/Charlie banter that is the lifeblood of this series is back (it was sorely lacking, for obvious reasons, in Killing Rocks [obvious if you've read it, that is]); Jace is again learning more about Thropirelem, but seeming more at home; Cassius is manouvering. It's GOOD. The best since Dying Bites. In fact, I genuinely think this may be the best in the series so far. Some of my favourite parts of this book were Jace's interactions with her shape-shifting St Bernard, Galahad, and there was another scene involving a very new Lem, Billy Beta, that got me a bit sniffly. The [very obvious] parallels with our own universe's civil rights movements work here, and add depth, realism, and soul to this series.
Readers will also get some satisfaction as the ever-enigmatic Cassius gets even more backstory (there's a LOT of backstory when you're two thousand years old), and his relationship with Jace develops further. This is also an interesting aside: Cassius is fascinating, and I would have thought I'd enjoy seeing more of him--which is exactly what we got in Killing Rocks. While Cassius is (very) present in this installment, he's not half as ubiquitous as he was in the previous, and I enjoy his scenes all the more for the waiting.
These books are brilliantly plotted. They have tight episodic storylines, but the overarching story arc throughout the series is also splendid, and Barant doesn't seem to lose site of it. They books constantly reminding me of a TV series (Fringe!). Individual episodes, but a much larger story arc. You can tell DD Barant is a TV Writer, and it works. I haven't enjoyed a series so much, without reservations, in a long time.
After a somewhat shaky third installment, Jace is back to kicking butt. She's settled into a life in this world. The Jace/Charlie banter that is the lifeblood of this series is back (it was sorely lacking, for obvious reasons, in Killing Rocks [obvious if you've read it, that is]); Jace is again learning more about Thropirelem, but seeming more at home; Cassius is manouvering. It's GOOD. The best since Dying Bites. In fact, I genuinely think this may be the best in the series so far. Some of my favourite parts of this book were Jace's interactions with her shape-shifting St Bernard, Galahad, and there was another scene involving a very new Lem, Billy Beta, that got me a bit sniffly. The [very obvious] parallels with our own universe's civil rights movements work here, and add depth, realism, and soul to this series.
Readers will also get some satisfaction as the ever-enigmatic Cassius gets even more backstory (there's a LOT of backstory when you're two thousand years old), and his relationship with Jace develops further. This is also an interesting aside: Cassius is fascinating, and I would have thought I'd enjoy seeing more of him--which is exactly what we got in Killing Rocks. While Cassius is (very) present in this installment, he's not half as ubiquitous as he was in the previous, and I enjoy his scenes all the more for the waiting.
These books are brilliantly plotted. They have tight episodic storylines, but the overarching story arc throughout the series is also splendid, and Barant doesn't seem to lose site of it. They books constantly reminding me of a TV series (Fringe!). Individual episodes, but a much larger story arc. You can tell DD Barant is a TV Writer, and it works. I haven't enjoyed a series so much, without reservations, in a long time.
February 7, 2012
So far, we've seen Jace tackle the challenge of going home. She was brought to Thropirelem against her will and employed to find and take down the bad guys. After doing that, she pursued the task of trying to get herself home via hunting down the man responsible for bringing her to Thropirelem in the first place. After having failed that, what's next?
Why, struggling with the challenge to keep her humanity intact while chasing after a mentally unstable man in power. As if a girl doesn't have enough to deal with simply being the only illegal alien on the whole planet.
Better Off Undead brings a chapter to Jace's life and opens her up to a new question. Her identity. What is she? Who is she? What is her place on Thropirelem? What is her place amongst the people she works with/for? Yes, she's an agent, an employee, an asset and fighter for the greater good -- but what else? When the one thing that makes her unique in NSA gets taken away from her, what is left?
Jace battles more than just the threat of becoming non-human in this book. Something more personal, more psychological, rears its head as she does her work. And dealing with it isn't easy when her work is just as difficult to handle.
We haven't seen the last of Tair, or his devilish antics. He's the Joker in the card deck and plays his part well. Jace doesn't get a break while Tair interferes with her personal and professional life.
I believe that the events in this part of Jace's story are part of a turning point. A new step that sets her up for something greater. Something more complicated than we've seen so far. The shift in character dynamics isn't hard to miss, and it leads me to wonder how things will progress from this point onward. Especially after coming to the end, and witnessing the newest development in Jace's life, I think it's safe to say her life is slipping into another interesting curve.
So what next? What now? What sort of challenge will she be faced with now? Who knows. But I'm very interested to learn the answer. This feels like it's just the beginning. Just a milestone. There's still much for Jace to do and settle. Her life on Thropirelem has truly just begun.
Overall: 4.5 out of 5
Why, struggling with the challenge to keep her humanity intact while chasing after a mentally unstable man in power. As if a girl doesn't have enough to deal with simply being the only illegal alien on the whole planet.
Better Off Undead brings a chapter to Jace's life and opens her up to a new question. Her identity. What is she? Who is she? What is her place on Thropirelem? What is her place amongst the people she works with/for? Yes, she's an agent, an employee, an asset and fighter for the greater good -- but what else? When the one thing that makes her unique in NSA gets taken away from her, what is left?
Jace battles more than just the threat of becoming non-human in this book. Something more personal, more psychological, rears its head as she does her work. And dealing with it isn't easy when her work is just as difficult to handle.
We haven't seen the last of Tair, or his devilish antics. He's the Joker in the card deck and plays his part well. Jace doesn't get a break while Tair interferes with her personal and professional life.
I believe that the events in this part of Jace's story are part of a turning point. A new step that sets her up for something greater. Something more complicated than we've seen so far. The shift in character dynamics isn't hard to miss, and it leads me to wonder how things will progress from this point onward. Especially after coming to the end, and witnessing the newest development in Jace's life, I think it's safe to say her life is slipping into another interesting curve.
So what next? What now? What sort of challenge will she be faced with now? Who knows. But I'm very interested to learn the answer. This feels like it's just the beginning. Just a milestone. There's still much for Jace to do and settle. Her life on Thropirelem has truly just begun.
Overall: 4.5 out of 5
February 21, 2014
4 1/2 stars
I almost want to say to people, "if you liked the first book and don't like confusing alternate realities and timelines, skip book 2 and 3 and get a synopsis of what happened in them and move on to 4."
So book one has Jace being pulled from her reality, which is ours, to a reality that humans only make up 1% of the population. The Vampires, Lycanthrope, and Golems (Vamps, Thropes and Lems), don't understand human craziness but need to so they steal an FBI criminal psychologist from a world that does. The first book is a Urban Fantasy detective novel all set in one alternate reality and timeline. The next two books are so way out there and convoluted with alternate realities and timelines that it is hard to keep it straight through the reading of the book and then remembering is even harder. I still loved the characters but the 2nd book dragged because of too many explanations and comic descriptions and timeline skips,... then the 3rd book, alternate realities bleeding over into others, timelines not matching up, magic affecting it all, etc... and it was just too convoluted.
Still I loved the characters so plowed on thinking my love was over and would probably stop if the next book was the same. Well it is not. It is all set in the one alternate reality that Jace calls Thropirelem, for the three major human species, and goes back to the Urban Fantasy detective novel.
Charlie is the best character in the books, followed by Tair (former Dr Pete), then Cassius. Jace characteristics are actually a bit annoying a lot of the time though she follows the steps and gets to the point, here she is actually lead to the point. There is the Mob, human trafficking, illegal Lem production, Politics of Lem production, and getting Dr Pete's personality back from Tair, all wrapped up so a lot going on. Almost forgot the most important thing of trying to save Jace's humanity from lycanthrope infection by magical and vampire means. It is fast paced and never dragged for me. We get a lot more of the interpersonal relationships, which really made this book for me.
So if you read one and really liked it but were put off by 2 or 3, I would suggest giving 4 a try as it seems to go back to the formula book one played.
I almost want to say to people, "if you liked the first book and don't like confusing alternate realities and timelines, skip book 2 and 3 and get a synopsis of what happened in them and move on to 4."
So book one has Jace being pulled from her reality, which is ours, to a reality that humans only make up 1% of the population. The Vampires, Lycanthrope, and Golems (Vamps, Thropes and Lems), don't understand human craziness but need to so they steal an FBI criminal psychologist from a world that does. The first book is a Urban Fantasy detective novel all set in one alternate reality and timeline. The next two books are so way out there and convoluted with alternate realities and timelines that it is hard to keep it straight through the reading of the book and then remembering is even harder. I still loved the characters but the 2nd book dragged because of too many explanations and comic descriptions and timeline skips,... then the 3rd book, alternate realities bleeding over into others, timelines not matching up, magic affecting it all, etc... and it was just too convoluted.
Still I loved the characters so plowed on thinking my love was over and would probably stop if the next book was the same. Well it is not. It is all set in the one alternate reality that Jace calls Thropirelem, for the three major human species, and goes back to the Urban Fantasy detective novel.
Charlie is the best character in the books, followed by Tair (former Dr Pete), then Cassius. Jace characteristics are actually a bit annoying a lot of the time though she follows the steps and gets to the point, here she is actually lead to the point. There is the Mob, human trafficking, illegal Lem production, Politics of Lem production, and getting Dr Pete's personality back from Tair, all wrapped up so a lot going on. Almost forgot the most important thing of trying to save Jace's humanity from lycanthrope infection by magical and vampire means. It is fast paced and never dragged for me. We get a lot more of the interpersonal relationships, which really made this book for me.
So if you read one and really liked it but were put off by 2 or 3, I would suggest giving 4 a try as it seems to go back to the formula book one played.
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