3 Stars
Soul bonds bridging the divide.
Thief. Police investigator.
Guttersnipe orphan. NYC Gilded Age elite.
Expendable. Scion.
Another dive into the magical world of witches and their familiars as Owen, the staid hexmaker from the first book in the series gets waylaid by his own familiar. In a world where witches outnumber familiars, the probability was low--and after meeting his, Malachi, Owen is wishing he never had.
What is usually a cause for celebration is met with suspicion and veiled hostility by both parties. Each has their allegiances and responsibilities and being on opposite sides is more than disconcerting it is life altering. Sometimes change is what one wants.
Unfortunately, we don't always get what we want.
The case that brings them together plays into the sociological implications of the witch/familiar relationship and the class structure of late nineteenth century NYC. The relationship between Malachi and Owen is tenuous and the binding point beyond their magic is kinky sex. Anyone who's read a few of my reviews knows that kinky sex is not a problem, but here it felt forced. It went from zero to sixty, and in a couple with trust issues I found that not entirely believable. At the heart of any power exchange that isn't dubious is trust, and this jumped a few steps. The contention between Owen and Malachi reminded me of A Seditious Affair, but with novices.
The story moves at a brisk pace with danger stalking each chapter. It's a nice addition to the Hexworld series. Definitely entertaining and a diverting Halloween read.
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