Shadow Hunt (Disrupted Magic #3) by Melissa F. Olson

Nulls are infertile. Everyone knows this. Scarlett certainly knows this

So being pregnant was… unexpected to say the least and raised all kinds of implications which she has to learn about quickly

But the luparii witches have arrived - they want their Barghest back (Scarlett’s cute pet abomination) and more - they plan something big - possibly apocalyptic and Scarlett is the key to stopping it and likely much much more.

I think this book represents a rather excellently timed shift. After two books that have established Scarlett’s life, her relationships (fraught and in flux as they are), her friends, her purpose in the city and how she relates to the city’s leadership, this book turns more outwards and even a little grander. While, at the same time, not necessarily pulling the focus from Scarlett or her more regional concerns

The arrival of the Luparii brings not only a sinister threat to the city to be hunted down before they bring carnage. They also represent the greater supernatural community, the wider supernatural politics

The examination of null physiology, null breeding and how this relates to the witches also adds a much larger scale to the whole world, the nature of magic and the nature of the supernatural. It expands the world from a relatively narrow circle around Scarlett and puts and entirely new spin on it looking at her world and especially her place and importance within it. Again, it doesn’t shift the focus but it does expand it far more with consequently raised stakes

I also think it brings some really fascinating stakes to Scarlett herself. She’s always been a good character - capable and strong without being wonder woman, confident without being too reckless (as far as urban fantasy protagonists go - let’s face it this is a genre where everyone has major overdoses of recklessness) and she’s caring without setting herself up as a martyr. She has friends but a lot of them she doesn’t entirely trust especially within the supernatural community, while she also has some excellent, powerful friendships with people like Molly who are clearly in a very different mental category for her than her political allies.

Blood Gamble (Disrupted Magic #2) by Melissa F. Olson

Scarlett does not want to go to Las Vegas. No, not even if there are two vampires putting on a show that may reveal the old world. No not even if Dashiel is paying her a huge sum of money. She’s not going

But Vampires don’t take no for an answer and with Dashiel manipulating her sister-in-law into going she has to try and protect them. But there she encounters something far more deadly than Dashiel expected… she could come home, but who but Scarlett will stop the death toll rising?

I would describe the world building of this book as solid and balanced and… disciplined. That seems like an odd word - but so many books have an anything-goes-magical-world and then decide ALL THE THINGS must be included so you can’t even go to the local shops without tripping over 2 leprechauns, bumping into a kitsune and dodging a Wendigo.

This book is excellently focused on the three major supernaturals - vampires, werewolves and witches, while clearly having a world with more out there but not allowing those swamp the book - instead we have nice additions without losing the focus

And I like how he implications of Scarlett, a null, fits into that - from alleviating the werewolf curse which is such a relief at times, to vampires being disturbed by actually feeling cold/hunger etc. I like the nuance of it.

What did surprise me about this book is the ending. There are elements I didn’t like - but I will say the whole thing completely surprised me - the twists and turns are completely beyond what I expected. Honestly, the ending and what happened with the characters was definitely not anything I expected as I read along. Throughout the book the plot goes in ways I never expected - the culprits were completely not what I expected. The way Scarlett finds the answers, balancing her friends, the threats and getting to the bottom of things is also a really original unexpected direction.

The plot does have moments where I think Scarlett seems to make some pretty huge leaps at times - like the whole Skinners storyline seemed to come from nowhere. Like we went from not even knowing Skinners existed and then suddenly decided they were a major threat without any real indication that they were present.but suddenly everyone focused on them

That aside the twists really make this plot. There’s action which is really well done, but not a lot mainly focusing on the investigation since Scarlett has a very unique power which isn’t necessarily a combat monster but definitely dangerous, following leads and balancing just how much Scarlett actually wants to be involved in this dangerous investigation.

I like Scarlett’s own development - she has that nice balance between her being duly concerned with her safety and the people she cares for alongside her compassion. I actually kind of like how Dashiel pretty much twists her arm to make her go - yes it’s coercive but we’re not talking a love interest here and, let’s be clear, the Cardinal Vampire of Los Angeles is going to be a ruthless user of people because, hey, master vampires, I don’t expect fluffy fluffy niceness. And Scarlett pretty much recognises this and doesn’t expect more. But I do like that she isn’t going to put herself at risk just because Dashiel says so. I like a compassionate protagonist but being a complete martyr is an overdone trope; especially female protagonists who are often not allowed to seek their own advancement.. Compassion moves her, as does threat and money - and it’s ok for a protagonist to be somewhat self interested. Of course that then falls apart because she’s only gathering a huge amount of money to help pay off her brother’s son’s massive medical bills

Midnight Curse (Disrupted Magic #1) by Melissa F. Olson

Scarlett’s job, as the null in Los Angeles, is to clear up any evidence that the Old World exists: to keep humans ignorant that vampires, werewolves and witches walk among them

Los Angeles is a unique city – the three factions work together as equals to form an uneasy peace – and Scarlett’s job is vital for maintaining that peace among such fragile politics

Which is when she finds her friend, a vampire, surrounded by corpses killed by her own fangs… and Scarlett must try and find justice among expedient politics and preserve the city from someone is determined to upset this delicate balancing act

As I was reading this book it became clear that there’s a huge amount of history to this series. Usually that’s something that almost annoys me because I hate to start  series half way through – and this is a new book in a new series

But it works – it manages to convey this full sense of history and so many many many many major events that have clearly shaped this world and these characters – but it doesn’t drown us in Stand-Alone Stuffing and info dumping. It tells us exactly as much as we need to know, and no more. We get no explanation, we need no explanation –this book and its plot stands as it is. It doesn’t need all the detail that has clearly come before for me to still embrace and understand these characters and the conflicts they face.

Oh I wants some – and will most definitely be grabbing every last book this author has written and demanding to know more more more more more. The richness of the world is better for the history that clearly permeates it. It’s interesting to see characters starting a storyline without being a blank slate or with a very brief history – but with a fully developed past that comes from several books of growth which made it a fascinating book from the beginning without any kind of introduction needed yet without being lost. At the same time we have a lot of hints of so much world to see.

I don’t know whether it’s because of this rich history – but I really like the characters in this book and how they relate to each other. Not always perfect but recognising their flaws. Like Eli and his classic, clichéd werewolf possessiveness but still recognising that he’s wrong in this and it’s recognised as an issue between his and Scarlett’s relationship (ok, yes let’s address that. Scarlett. Really? Really?) rather than something that will just be ignored or tolerated. I think her misgivings about his being a member of a pack are also interesting and nuanced and not something we’ve often considered. We have the authorities who rule the city who actually treat Scarlett with a level of respect and make decisions she may vehemently oppose but they make sense, consider some severe consequences and don’t come from a place of evil or incompetence. Scarlett even comes close at looking at the as peers or at least people she can respect and like and honour.