Liviania’s review of Red-Headed Stepchild (Sabina Kane, Book 1) by Jaye Wells
Urban fantasy released by Orbit 1 April 09
I’ve been looking forward to reading this one. I’ve been reading Jaye Wells’ blog for a year, and she’s a vastly entertaining woman. Of course, that also made me extra afraid that I’d be disappointed. What if the quality of her blog completely misled me as to the quality of her novel? I can build up quite a bit of expectation in a year. It’s a good thing Wells delivered the goods.
Sabina Kane is half-vampire, half-mage, and working as an assassin, one of the few jobs available to a semi-outcast mixed blood. She’s got a lot of rage and shooting others is good stress relief. Of course, she’s got a lingering bit of guilt over her most recent job: killing a close friend. Now she’s right into another one she’s barely qualified for, not being a spy. She also doesn’t have quite the balance of temper and thought for the job. She tends to act quickly when she should think and ponders things when she should go on instinct. But she is caught between her loyalty to the Dominae and the fact they consistently treat her like nothing.
It doesn’t help that there are two guys around to confuse her further. Cult leader Clovis says almost nothing but BS, but Sabina is still attracted to the fellow mixed blood. He has that confidence that’s somewhat more repellent than it is attractive. She’s annoyed by and attracted to the mage who is stalking her and got her stuck with a demon for a roommate. (Clovis only stuck her with a bubbly nymph for a roommate. I do wish there was a bit more of Sabina’s budding friendship with Vinca, as Vinca and Gighul – the demon – are both hilarious.)
There is less resolution than I like, but Red-Headed Stepchild is the first in a trilogy, so I can let it go. The vampires are the most fleshed out species in the novel, with a lineage trailing back to Lilith. I do hope the others include more about the mages, faeries, and demons as well as their history. Sabina’s ignorance about the other species made sense but I hope to learn more about them along with her. Wells’ world is well-drawn and may make you tiptoe around redheads for a couple of days after finishing.
I’m a sucker for a good vampire novel, but I think my recommendation of Red-Headed Stepchild still counts. Action, building sexual tension, and interspecies politics. Three things that help make an entertaining urban fantasy. Red-Headed Stepchild was a very quick read, due to a plot that moves along briskly without adding enough factors to become muddled. Now I just need to let my anticipation build another year for the second book. (There’s one character I’m particularly eager to see Sabina meet face-to-face. Really, really eager. This is the problem with reading a book in a series before the next is available.)
Grade: B+
Summary:
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In a world where being of mixed-blood is a major liability, Sabina Kane has the only profession fit for an outcast: assassin. But, her latest mission threatens the fragile peace between the vampire and mage races and Sabina must scramble to figure out which side she’s on. She’s never brought her work home with her—until now.
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This time, it’s personal.
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Read an excerpt.
