Bookburners: Badge, Book, and Candle by Max Gladstone

Bookburners: Badge, Book, and Candle by Max Gladstone
Series: Bookburners #1.1
Published by Serial Box Publishing on September 15, 2015
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Pages: 44
Format: eBook
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NYPD Detective Sal Brooks is no rookie—but even the most hardened cop would think twice when they see their brother open a book and become…well…something entirely not their brother. When her attempts to solve the case cross paths with a mysterious team led by a priest, she starts to realize that the world is far more than what is seems, and, just maybe, magic is real—and hungry.

“Badge, Book, and Candle” is the first episode in the Bookburners serial. I picked it up mostly because I enjoyed The Witch who Came in from the Cold and wanted to try another. We’ve got a basic urban fantasy set up – demons trying to break into our world, a main character who just learned magic exists. It’s quick-paced, mostly action and little character building but it is the intro to the series. We get right into the action,but I’m sure we’ll learn more about the characters as the story continues.

Sal is a great character. She’s intelligent and loves her brother, faults and all – and that’s what draws her into this world. You have to give her credit though, she’s tough.

I like the serial set up. It’s a short read, it kind of wraps up but leaves you wanting to see what happens in the next one. I will say that the descriptions and analogies are well done. It’s an enjoyable read. I don’t know that it’s terribly original, but it’s fun.