Bookburners: Anywhere but Here by Brian Francis Slattery

So far, Bookburners reminds me of The Librarians tv show - which is a good thing, but it doesn't have the math/literary/science references The Librarians. What it does have is a group of non-magical people very good at what they do who go around the world collecting magical artifacts - like books and bringing them back to a place where they are all collected and safeguarded. Each episode of Bookburners is just that, a self-contained story that forms a part of the overall storyline. "Anywhere but Here" is Sal's first official case. The team heads to Madrid, where another man has opened another book and bad things are happening. Not downright evil - just wrong, and weird, and cool. The descriptions were awesome, and if the storyline itself is not terribly original, I think this particular danger was pretty doggone cool. Sal is fitting in pretty well. I like how she manages to find the parts where this new job is similar...
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Bookburners: Badge, Book, and Candle by Max Gladstone

"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...
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