Lucia and Jazz have finally succeeded in getting Ben,
Jazz’s old partner, out of jail where he has been wrongfully imprisoned and his
life threatened for years. It’s a difficult time to celebrate though, as the
death threat still looms over Jazz, confining her to the office.
But the battle between the two psychic organisations – the Cross Society and the Eidolon Corporation – is heating up and getting ever more deadly, even their office is no safe haven. And, as can be expected from organisations that can see the future, their plotting is convoluted, long term, confusing and very complex; and nearly impossible to protect against
It also seems that their pasts were more affected by these organisations than they ever imagined – and that their supposed allies are much more ruthless and much more callous than they previously thought, begging the question whether they’re truly on the good guy’s side here. Or if there are any good guys at all
The last book made me turn on my brain and pay attention
as the late appearing mystical elements of the story added a whole new level of
complexity – the duelling psychics constantly trying to shift tiny events to
have a massive effect on major events, the whole concept of different people
having massive different influences on the time line. Then there were our two
main character’s attempt to negotiate this and do what’s best with forces
determined to play “end justifies the means” long term planning that may
sacrifice many people in the name of the greater good.
This book not only continues that but plunges us in ever
deeper with a much stronger challenge of the ethics of the whole seeing the
future. Lucia and Jazz are increasingly trying to distance themselves from or
at least question the actions of the Cross Society and Eidolon both as they’re
struggling over the idea of who to trust. There’s a lot of moral quandary here,
a lot of struggling to figure out exactly what would be the best thing to do
all more complicated by the two men in their lives – Ben and James – having
very strong and very rigid opinions of the Cross society as well. I like how
the disagreement is handled in a mature fashion, there’s no big dramatic
ultimatums, no screaming matches, just a mutual wish to work it out coupled
with a firm insistence that none of them cross their red lines they’ve set up.
So, in many ways this continues the fascination of the
first book - it has a fascinating world, an excellent concept and a well paced
story with lots of really well done action, sensible behaviour and interesting mystery
as Lucia tries to navigate her way round the complications of the Cross society’s
planning, Eidolon’s plotting and several mine fields from her past.
And I do love the characters – because they all behave
like reasonable adults. They take risks, but they’re reasonable ones. They are
intelligent and capable without being super powered, they have excellent
inter-personal interactions, they have some great banter, they have worries and
fears and can be a bit lost, but they generally hold up well throughout the
story. I like them and think they work extremely well together. I also really
like that Lucia, the protagonist, is not only Latina but she’s Latina with a
sense of culture and language, rather than it being a passing label to be
ignored. I will say, though, that at times we have vast swathes of the book go
by without a hint and then a sudden remembrance of her Spanish which is a tad
inconsistent, but only a tad.
Now for the bits I think didn’t follow so well from the
last book, unfortunately. Firstly, there’s a lot of flailing in the beginning
of this book. They have their moral questions but are still willing to follow
the red envelopes. Ben has been released from prison but they don’t really work
on that, he’s just kind of released and shunted into the background – I don’t
think he spends more than 10 minutes with Jazz who has been passionately
fighting for his release for so long. Then there’s the death threats and lots
of panicked flailing around until more plot elements walk up and tap them on
the shoulder to get their attention. There’s just a bit of flailing in the
first part of the book before it finds its traction.
I can’t say I’m especially sold on Lucia and Ben’s
relationship – the attraction at first sight I am fine with since it is
presented as sexual attraction and not love, but while there are major, epic
things happening in this book (like anthrax infections), I found it a little
something of a distraction from the main plot. Death threats now, libido later.
But, to me, the main step down for this book was Lucia
and Jazz. In Devil’s
Bargain these 2 were excellent, awesome characters who worked together
amazingly, had strengths and weaknesses that complimented each other
wonderfully and were just a brilliant, funny, friendly team. I was looking
forward to seeing Jazz through Lucia’s eyes since we’ve already seen Lucia
through Jazz’s. Instead, Jazz spends most of this book on the shelf and Lucia
either works alone or with Ben (for more of that sexual tension). It’s not that
it’s not still a good story, it is – but Jazz and Lucia together were what made
this good story a great story.
There are still no GBLT characters in this book, though
there was a distinctly unpleasant reference to how amazingly hot Lucia was that
she could even attract men who were “latently gay.” That’s 2 snarky side
references with no inclusion. In addition to Lucia, we also have some good
racial commentary with Omar, he works in private security but has found it ever
harder to get work due to growing prejudice against Arabs; he often makes wry
and cutting jokes about the racism he’s faced.
The counter is some terrible class statements, with Lucia
hiding in a poor neighbourhood and basically running through every stereotype
possible. There were also some difficult scenes with domestic violence and
forced impregnation that were treated as truly horrific as they were – they were
depicted and they were condemned. But in the case of the latter, I think one of
the participants was given far too much benefit of the doubt.
I liked this book – I think it also ended on an amazing
twist that has completely blown the series wide open again so I have no idea
what’s coming next. It still has the great world and good characters that make
it a good series. Do I sound a little… restrained in my praise? Well, the problem
is Devil’s Bargain wasn’t a good book
– it was an awesome, excellent, amazing book. And Devil’s Due is just a good book. I mean, it is a good book,
certainly a good book, a book I enjoyed. But I was hoping for a lot more; I had
high expectations that haven’t been met.
