Liviania’s review of Any Given Doomsday (Phoenix Chronicles, Book 1) by Lori Handeland
Urban Fantasy released by St. Martin’s 4 Nov 08
Former cop Elizabeth Phoenix receives information through flashes of information. Unfortunately, it was one of these flashes that disgraced her and got her partner killed. Now, her foster mother Ruthie has been murdered and her former lover/foster brother Jimmy Sanducci is accused. It turns out Jimmy has power as well and now needs Liz to use hers. He also needs her to get training from Sawyer, an old acquaintance whom Liz is extremely attracted to. I enjoyed my first exposure to Lori Handeland, her novella “Dead Man Dating” in Dates from Hell. This one convinced me to continue picking up books with her name on them.
Any Given Doomsday was exactly what I needed the weekend I pulled it out to read. I stayed up until 3 am that Saturday continually convincing myself I was just going to read “one more chapter.” (I pulled this lie with my parents all the time. I should know better than to believe it.) I really liked Liz and could get into her story. I think it was a bad decision on several other characters’ part to keep her in the dark about the extent of the paranormal world and not train her to fight young. Liz, on the other hand, makes decent decisions for being caught in a rough situation. She may not perform perfectly the first time she needs to fight a demon but she doesn’t whine about it. She is not instantly useful, but she makes an effort to not be a deadweight damsel in distress.
Unfortunately, this leads to one of my strongest reservations. Handeland mentions being exposed to urban fantasy by Laurell K. Hamilton. I worry that Liz will follow the sad path blazed by Anita Blake. Within one book she’s slept with two men and severely increased her powers. I like a struggle and a problem to solve, not a ridiculously overpowered heroine with men to screw. At one book it’s too early to judge anything about the series as a whole.
So far I am not irritated by either of the love interests. Sanducci fights for the good guys, but obviously still has issues. He cheated on Liz in the past, deliberately allowing her to discover his transgression. His motives are somewhat murky, but I want to see more of his character. Sawyer’s motives aren’t somewhat murky. They’re completely murky. Handeland does not leave him a complete mystery, but tells enough of his past to satisfy some longing for information. Still, I was extremely pleased when the preview for Doomsday Can Wait seemed to promise more insight into Sawyer. Even though Jimmy seemed to be the hero and Sawyer the side interest, I found him sexier. I attribute this to his being a little creepy. I like that in fictional men.
Paranormal romance fans may not appreciate that there are two love interests and no HEA in the novel, but I think it fits better under that heading than urban fantasy. Any Given Doomsday lies on the border of the genres. As it stands, I have some long-term reservations but found the first novel of the Phoenix Chronicles addictive and fun.
Grade: B+
Summary:
Darkness will summon her…
Elizabeth Phoenix once used her unique skills as a psychic to help in the Milwaukee Police Department’s fight against injustice. But when Liz’s foster mother is found viciously murdered—and Liz is discovered unconscious at the scene—her only memory of the crime comes in the form of terrifying dreams…of creatures more horrific than anything Liz has seen in real life. What do these visions mean? And what in the world do they have to do with her former lover, Jimmy Sanducci?
To places she’s never been before…
While the police question Jimmy in the murder, Jimmy opens Liz’s eyes to a supernatural war that has raged since the dawn of time in which innocent people are hunted by malevolent beings disguised as humans. Only a chosen few have the ability to fight their evil, and Jimmy believes Liz is among them. Now, with her senses heightened, new feelings are rising within Liz—ones that re-ignite her dangerous attraction to Jimmy. But Jimmy has a secret that will rock Liz to her core…and put the survival of the human race in peril.…
I was lucky enough to win an ARC of this one in a contest, and I loved it. I can’t wait to read more, to see how Liz handles her new-found powers. I *love* Sawyer!
Great review! I really liked this book, and had the same reservations about it that you did. I’m really looking forward to the second book. Handeland has penned some of my most favorite paranormal romances (I do think this new series is urban fantasy), and I wish she’d continue with those too, but the Doomsday series is not a bad place to go from there.
It is from St. Martin’s, which doesn’t have ‘lines’ or imprints for romance. The spine says “Novel” and the quotes they picked to put on the cover say ‘thriller’ and ‘urban fantasy’…
So hopetully that will help, I still see people picking up the book from the name of the author but in that case you can’t blame St Martin’s or Handeland.
What I HATE is when they are labeled on the spine as Paranormal Romance and aren’t.
I read this book – recently – and remember nothing of it. Is that a bad sign?
And before you say it, Sybil! I am not senile! Yet.
hmmm something else interesting… Sherrilyn Kenyon’s One Silent Night is also labeled ‘novel’ where as Dark Magic by Cheyenne McCray is ‘romance’. They are all recent final copies I got Monday for November from St. Martin.
In regards to Kenyon (quickly) looking at my shelves looks like the first 6 were labeled ‘romance’ with the rest being labeled ‘novel’. I don’t have any of the Hardcovers so no clue about those.
What does that mean? LOL nothing really other than I am a dork, since I am pretty sure Kenyon ends with a HEA in all her books I am thinking it is a marketing thing. But Gwen or Devon could say better since I haven’t read most of them.
Yeah, I wasn’t sure whether to file this one under urban fantasy or paranormal romance. The structure seems to be urban fantasy (no true HEA, continues following one character), but it felt more like a paranormal romance . . . more focus on the relationships, less on the world and monsters.
Gwen – well, it’s probably a sign you didn’t love the book. ^_^