Agent Kit Morris. Has a nice ring, doesn't it?
It's a big step up from "wanted criminal" or "that weird con-artist guy with weirder psychic powers"—both of which recently applied to me. But my promotion to MagiPol agent comes with a few drawbacks.
First, supremely talented and effortlessly gorgeous Agent Lienna Shen won't agree to a dinner date with me. Second, my new assignment has pitted me against a guild with very bad taste in pets. Third, those pets are demons, and those demons want to kill me.
My psychic magic is great for conning people. It doesn't do jack shit against hellish orcs. If I screw this up, my dinner date will be with a demon—and I'll be the dinner. Even better, I kind of suspect this supposedly straightforward assignment is actually the tip of an unholy iceberg of power-hungry malefactors bent on destroying all law and order in the city.
I should probably mention that last part to my boss.
It feels like it's been forever since I was last immersed in the Guild Codex world and it has! 8 months! 8 long painful months since the final Demonized book released and 10 whole months since Kit had his debut solo outing in Warping Minds and Other Misdemeanours... AND IT WAS WORTH EVERY SINGLE SECOND OF WAITING! Annette Marie and Rob Jacobsen have written another winner.
Hellbound Guilds and Other Misdirections is a fast-paced, action-packed, adventure full of magic, mischief and chaos.
It sees Kit and Lienna plunged into a demon-tastic mystery and the outcome of it will determine the trajectory of Lienna's career...
I'm going to be honest, while I liked Lienna well enough in book one, I felt like I knew nothing about her. Hellbound Guilds - and Kit - start to peel back a few of those layers and it was very much appreciated. We get a bit more of her background and some clues as to what makes her tick but there is still a long way to go on the 'getting to know Agent Shen' front but I am here for it... The magical prodigy needs Kit in her life. They balance each other.
Kit... Well, he rocks as a character! He's so likeable and engaging. He has a refreshing way of viewing situations and people and I'm not exaggerating when I say that he brightened my day while reading. I was laughing out loud, smiling and feeling happy.
The combination of Kit and Lienna being goofy and badass in equal measures... It just works. Seeing another side of the MPD enriches the GC world.
The pacing, the writing, the world-building... Are all superb.
I cannot wait to see what comes next!
You do not have to have read the other Guild Codex series (Spellbound and Demonized) to read Kit's series, Warped. I'd strongly recommend that you read book one: Warping Minds and Other Misdemeanours.
However!
The series interweaves with the other two (and it looks like it does so with the upcoming Unveiled series too). So, if you have read the others (and you should, you really should) you will get cameos from known characters, your brain will be whirling with how the events in this book are linked to the "big bad" of Spellbound and Demonized (because they are connected) and you'll also start piecing together how certain characters know each other and speculating on how all the events tie together... It sounds exhausting BUT IT'S NOT! It's worth it. Every single book is different, every character their unique self... If you love UF with heart and plenty of humour, you've gotta give them a try!
The series stand alone but are better together.
(And you'll want to read the others after reading one anyway... Just pick a series to start on and it'll all make sense... I promise! (But start at book one of whatever series you choose.)
I love this world. I have done everything previously on audio which usually happens later. Fantastic review!
ReplyDeleteAnne - Books of My Heart
You really loved this. I love reading reviews where the reviewer is just so excited to share their love of a book or series.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read this book, but I was excited to see a post from you. YEAH. Glad the book was worth the wait.
ReplyDeleteAnd now I need to read it!
ReplyDeleteI feel like I'm seeing these books everywhere lately. I am definitely going to have to check them out... But where do I even start?? 😂
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