Lost Girl Season Three, Episode Six: The Kenzi Scale

Bo has Faux Kenzi by the hair in the Dahl and tells Trick that the person she is holding is not Kenzi.  Trick calls Dyson over who announces that the bar is closed and drags Bo off of Kenzi.  Trick asks what happened and Kenzi says that Bo is killing again. Kenzi says that she is just trying to help her. In the meantime, Tamsin is hovering in the background.Trick asks how Bo knows that this is not Kenzi and Bo replies, "Trick, when I told her that I might be killing again, she didn't care. I am telling you that this is not Kenzi." Trick says, "put her in holding" and Tamsin and Dyson grab Bo. Bo is shocked because she thought he was talking about Kenzi.

Tamsin, Dyson and Trick are in the bar together and Trick says that Lauren should be there soon. Tamsin is not impressed and asks, "how many more fae have to die before you wake up?" Dyson says that Bo is not a killer but Tamsin wants to take Bo to the dark fae compound.  Trick says that Bo is going to stay there until they figure out what is going on. "Lauren will be here any minute and then she will run some tests. Until then, we keep Bo safe," Trick adds.  Tamsin leans in threateningly and asks, "who died and made you king?" Trick replies, "no one and as the proprietor of this way station, I have the right to declare sanctuary." Tamsin slams her hand on the table in frustration and walks off.

Dyson approaches Kenzi and asks if she is okay. Dyson assures Kenzi that Bo didn't mean it and that she is just sick or something.  Kenzi says that she is freaking out and that Bo is her best friend. They are interrupted by Trick who is upset and accuses Dyson of not looking out for Bo and protecting her. When Dyson says he has been, Trick asks how long he has suspected that Bo has been killing again.  Dyson admits to finding two bodies in the last two weeks and that they believe they might be succubus feeds but are not sure.  Trick tells him that his job is tell him what happens and that his job has always been to watch over Bo. Trick adds, "I thought I chose wisely, maybe I was wrong."

Tamsin is now sitting at the bar with Kenzi and says, "so sorry your friend turned crazy psycho bitch." Kenzi replies, "you're so not." Tamsin wants to know if if Bo confessed and Kenzi says that it was just another crazy sex game gone wrong and that it happens if you're a succubus. Tamsin points out that earlier Kenzi gave Bo an alibi and Kenzi says, "earlier I wasn't scared for my life." Tamsin says "that it must be horrible to hear your friend say all of those things," and Kenzi replies, "best friends fight." Kenzi admits that she doesn't like Tamsin because she has been trying to put her BFF in jail forever and leaves saying that she is going to get a care package together for Bo.

Bo is locked into a cell when Lauren enters and asks for a sample of her hair. Bo is shocked and says that Lauren needs to help her get out of here. Lauren says that she is sorry and Bo replies that Kenzi is out there somewhere and could be really hurt. Lauren again pleads to take a sample, because this is the only way she knows how to help Bo.  Bo asks how Lauren cannot believe her but Lauren says that she is acting crazy and Bo again says that Kenzi is missing. Finally, Bo asks if Lauren is scared of her and Lauren tells her that she is sick and that she can help her. Lauren reaches in and plucks a hair as Bo says, "I will never forgive you for this." Lauren replies, "I hope that's not true. Everything is going to be okay baby." Bo affirms this and adds just as soon as she gets out of there and figures out what happened to Kenzi. Lauren asks for some time and Bo says sure, but if Kenzi dies that it's on her.

The real Kenzi meets the fake Kenzi and she says, "if you're going to rip off my look, at least respect the Kenzi brand.'  The fake Kenzi holds out and earring and says bon appetite. The real Kenzi says that she cannot eat and earring and that she is starving. Fake Kenzi replies, "call me crazy but eating everyday is a bit much. Which reminds me, what kind of ice cream does Bo like." Real Kenzi orders her to stay away from Bo, but fake Kenzi says that she is just trying to help and that besties aren't supposed to have secrets. Real Kenzi says that they don't have any secrets, so Fake Kenzi asks why she couldn't tell Bo about her rash. It turns out that the fake Kenzi gave the rash to the real Kenzi. Fake Kenzi says that she was like fae.  Real Kenzi says that Dyson can smell fae and that he will save her. Fake Kenzi calls her a sad silly girl and adds that her friends don't even know she is missing.

Fake Kenzi goes to see Bo who asks what is that smell? Fake Kenzi holds out some coconut ice cream and says that she will leave it to the side for later.  Bo stands and says that she has changed her mind and Fake Kenzi trots over with a spoon of ice cream. Bo uses her powers and suggests that they should get the Real Kenzi and that everything will be forgiven.  Bo asks to be let out and Fake Kenzi says that they don't need the real Kenzi anymore. Bo points out that real Kenzi knows she doesn't like coconut ice cream and this is proof that the real Kenzi is alive.Fake Kenzi pulls away and starts smacking her head and says, "none of you will be my friend. Why does this keep happening." Bo suggests it is because Fake Kenzi is completely insane. Fake Kenzi counters by reminding Bo that she is the one locked up. Fake Kenzi tells Bo to take a good look and adds that this is the last time she will see Kenzi's face, before growling and revealing short pointed teeth.

When Dyson walks in, Fake Kenzi rushes over to him and says that Bo has gone "complete Hannibal Lector." Bo tells Dyson to look at Kenzi but he doesn't see anything different, and escorts Kenzi out.

Tamsin hops into The Morrigan's car and The Morrigan says that she heard all about Bo's flip out at The Dahl. The Morrigan says that she wants to see Bo strung up and executed and that the dark fae that she has fed on, who is still unconscious, will prove that Bo's appetite has become unmanageable. The Morrigan reminds Tamsin that she is a Valkyrie and orders her to wake up the dark fae, so that he can identify Bo. Tamsin points out that this will turn him into a vegetable for the rest of his life but The Morrigan replies, "don't grow a conscience on me now. I read your rap sheet and this little errand is right in your wheelhouse." Tamsin replies that The Morrigan gives her too much credit. The Morrigan says, "I hope you haven't fallen in love with your happy sunshine gang in your exchange program with the light."  Tamsin replies in anger that she is not one of them, so The Morrigan reminds Tamsin that her loyalties lie with her.

Once Upon a Time, Season 2, Episode 14: Manhattan

 Fairy Land Past

Way back in the past – with Rumplestiltskin, pre-dark one days coming home to his wife Mila to celebrate being called to the front in the Ogre War. He’s thrilled, she most certainly is not, but he’s looking forward to the chance to get away from his father’s reputation of cowardice.

At the army camp Rumple is left guarding a prisoner who could turn the tide of the war. Despite being warned it’s a tricky beast, when it calls his name he opens the covers on its cage and sees a child with her eyes sewn shut. She says she’s a seer, who sees all and shows him the eyes in the palms of her hands. She tells him some of his past to convince him of her powers and that she can see the future. She tells him that his wife is pregnant but because of his actions in the battle tomorrow, the child will be fatherless. Rumple assumes this means he’s going to die – but denies her vision. She says he’ll know it’s true when the enemy drives cows into battle.

Later he sees casualties coming back from the front and a fellow soldier remarks how lucky they are. Rumple doesn’t see how severely injured men are lucky and the soldier says they’re alive and too injured to fight – so they’ll live, unlike them. And they’re riding into battle the next day – on cows. Which is what they call saddles. Rumple panics, he realises it’s all true, he’s going to have a son and he’s going to die (well, not quite). In panic, he hits his own leg with a very heavy hammer (the source of his limp it seems) to have an injury.

He hobbles home to see Mila and her baby – but she’s already heard the rumours that he inflicted his own injury. She accuses him of being a coward like his father but he protests about the seer and him doing it so he wouldn’t abandon his child like his father did. She says growing up as his son will be worst than growing up without a father

Much later, Rumplestiltskin, the Dark One, seeks out the Seer where he explains “yes my actions on the battlefield led to my son being fatherless but it would have been nice to know all the pesky details.” The seer (after a bit of magical throttling) tells Rumple he will find his son again. She tells him it’ll take a powerful curse  that he won’t cast or break. He says the information’s not good enough and makes with the strangling again. She tells him if he wants to see the path, he must take her burden, her powers from her. He does but as the power enters him he complains that he can’t see anything, it’s too much, it’s overwhelming. The seer tells him it will take time for him to be able to sort the images, what can be from what will be. He realises it is a curse, it is a torment. As a last gesture to him for taking her power she says he will be reunited with his son because a young boy will lead Rumple to him. But the boy is more than what he seems, and the boy will be his undoing.

Rumple shrugs over her body and declares “then I’ll just have to kill him.”

Real World Present

Rumple, Emma and Henry arrive in New York City and finding Rumple’s son’s home – though Rumple is extremely nervous and, as Emma puts it, Bale isn’t expecting them. But Emma has several kinds of tricks for identifying the right apartment and then calling up pretending to be UPS – which sends him running. As he runs down the fire escape, Rumple turns to Emma and tells her this is the favour – he can’t run, she needs to get him to talk to Rumple. There’s a quick foot race, but Emma sneaks through shortcuts and heads him off. The man… is Emma’s old boyfriend, Neal. Henry’s father. (C’mon, you knew that was coming, right?)

Emma realises the man she fell in love with was from fairy land and believes they played him – and starts to rather reasonably panic. He’s furious that she brought Rumple but she has the perfect come back “I am the only one allowed to be angry here!” amen to that Emma, no turning this one around and she starts ripping into him with questions about how much he knew, did he plan the whole thing, was it all fake and where is she going to bury his body (well not the last one but I think it’s an option).

Meanwhile, Rumple and Henry have a nice little (dare I say grandfatherly?) moment

In a bar Bale/Neal explains things to Emma, how he didn’t know who she was (massive coincidence) until August told him. Which doesn’t help Emma who has yet another awesome line “you left me because Pinocchio told you to?!” Well, when you put it like THAT. She has a sudden thought that Rumple was behind their meeting but Bale, who is not his father’s biggest fan, denies that since them meeting nearly stopped Emma breaking the curse, which is everything Rumple wouldn’t have wanted. It goes down to fate. He claims fate and that maybe something good came of it – she says no, not mentioning Henry, and she’s over him. He points out she’s wearing the keychain he got her as a necklace; she takes it off and gives it to him. Oh and she made a deal with Rumple to make Bale talk to him, he asks her to say she never saw him.

Being Human (UK) Season Five, Episode Three: Pie and Prejudice

Nine months in the past, Larry Crysler is busy doing the evening news and is not pleased with the performance of his support staff.  He walks out into the parking lot and drops something as he is standing behind his car, when a shadowy figure attacks him and scratches him. Clearly he has been attacked by a werewolf.

Tom and Hal are back at work and Tom is complaining because Hal has been made acting manager. Hal believes it's temporary until Patsy returns but Tom is not in the least bit calmed by this and says that until Patsy returns, Hal will be giving him orders. Tom threatens to walk out and reminds Hal that it's the full moon but Hal says that he cannot walk out because he has already scheduled him the night out.  Larry Crysler walks in and interrupts their conversation and asks about lighting choice because it seems that he has a speaking engagement there that night. Larry begins doing his speech.

Larry is using the bathroom and Hal approaches and introduces himself.   Tom asks for an autograph and says that it's great that Larry is famous.

Dominic smashes a radio after listening to the secretary of state talking about cuts. Clearly, the man is still very much unhinged. 

Back at home, Tom tells Alex that Hal has a girlfriend and then clarifies to say that Hal is visiting a girl.  Hal says that it's simply an acquaintance, nothing more. Alex says, "an acquaintance with the Lady Mary, surely that's prison slang." Tom reminds Hal that he is not to hang around anyone with fangs but Hal assures Tom that the Lady Mary is a ghost who died some years ago. Alex is surprised that Hal knows another female ghost and suggests that the two would get along.  Hal is not keen on this and calls Lady Mary fragile and suggests that Alex is capable of corrupting Keith Richards.

Hal is visiting with Lady Mary, when Alex appears and introduces herself. Hal quickly drags her away and she says that she has no one to talk to about ghost stuff.  Hal reluctantly introduces Alex. Lady Mary assumes that Hal and Alex are a couple but Alex and Hal make it clear very quickly that there is nothing between them.  Hal apologizes for Alex and she replies that Alex has a boisterous charm and that she wishes her finishing school was still open.  The Lady Mary quickly dismisses Hal and sets about chatting with Alex.  As soon as Hal is gone, the Lady Mary drops her 18th century persona and says that it bores her to death.

Back at the hotel Larry Crysler is busy taking food off of the tables.  Hal approaches and says that he thought Larry would be leaving today but Larry replies that his management company negotiated for him to stay there for a week. Hal asks if Larry is going out tonight and then informs him that he is to vacate his room by tomorrow morning, as Larry continues to pack food.

The Lady Mary and Alex head off to a club and Alex says that she and Hal had a date once and then it didn't go to well. The Lady Mary keeps touching people's heads so that she can read their minds. Alex points out that Lady Mary has clearly changed over the years.  Lady Mary says that she reads, watches tv, and has tried to keep up with the world. Lady Mary instigates a fight between two patrons as Alex watches.

Larry is coming down the stairs when he runs into Tom.

Back at the club, Mary is touching people who are in the bathroom having sex.  She encourages Alex to join saying that she is going to miss it but Alex says no thanks.  When the man starts to orgasm, so does Lady Mary.

The next morning, Larry returns wearing a dress and he claims to have had a crazy night but Tom tells him that he is a werewolf as well.  Tom says that though he is a werewolf that he has never been anywhere posh like Larry.  Tom lets it slip that he lives in a house with people and Larry wants to know if the people know what they are. When Tom says yes, Larry begins to chatter about the secret to his success and then asks how big the house he lives in is.

Hal is working on a puzzle, when Alex tells him that they need to have a conversation about Mary.  When Hal reminds Alex that he told her that Mary would be dull, Alex replies, "dull is not the word I would use, crazy sort of bat shit shocking is more the flavour. Mary is not the person you think she is. The whole posh totty thing is just an act." Hal asks why on earth Mary would do this and Alex replies, "I don't know and I don't care but what I'm worried about is the fact that she has been stuck her for two hundred years and it's turned her into a total frothing lune. Is that what's going to happen to me?"  Hal assures Alex that even if she doesn't pass over for awhile, he is certain that she will cope with it because Alex and Mary are completely different people. Alex points out that Mary had a thing with Hal died and then got stuck there as a ghost.

Larry shows up at the apartment and Tom introduces him to everyone as a werewolf.  Tom says that Larry is going to teach him how to become a successful werewolf and asks Hal how he feels about that. Larry asks if Hal is a werewolf as well and Hal says that he is a vampire and Alex says that she is a ghost. Larry doesn't take this seriously and believes that Hal is joking. Why in the world he would have trouble believing in ghosts when he himself is a werewolf is beyond me. When Alex points out that Larry brought along a suitcase, Larry says that he's tutoring can be extensive and that he thought that rather than go back and forth, he would just stay there for awhile. Hal says, "great the more the merrier," but Tom jumps in and says, "you're not the boss of me here. I can do what I want."

Upstairs Larry hands Tom a book and tells him that this is his new bible.  Hal talks about how he and McNair were never really separated and that McNair protected him from the world. Larry then takes off his suit and hands it to Tom, saying that the clothes make the man.  Larry then asks Tom to lend him one hundred and fifty pounds because he has a cash flow problem and Tom agrees to help, though he makes it clear that it's just a loan.

Tom shows up at work in Larry's jacket and tells Hal that is there to congratulate him on his new position as manager.  Tom pulls a card out of his pocket, which says Tom McNair inc, and Hal points out that there should be a phone number or an email on it. Tom takes it back and says that he will call Hal and adds that there is a new player in town. Tom then walks off and starts to shmoose with people.  Back in the car,  Larry instructs Tom to bash in the car window of a BMW. It seems that the car now belongs to Larry's ex wife and he is bitter about how the relationship ended and the divorce settlement which saw most of Larry's assets get transferred to her. When Tom resists, Larry suggests that he is pushing Tom to fast and then sends Tom to let the air out of all of the tires.

Lady Mary and Alex are talking about her life.  Mary says that she goes off and has adventures and then makes sure that she is back on time for Hal. Alex asks about Mary's unfinished business and Mary says that it's all sorted out and that she has had loads of doors appear, she just turns them all down. When Alex asks why, Mary says that Hal needs her though he has Alex and others, she and Hal have something special. Mary believes that Hal seeing her, keeps Hal clean because she was his last victim. Alex asks if this is what Hal told her and then quickly adds that it's not her business and that all of these lies are not healthy.  Alex suggests that Mary tell Hal who she really is and Mary asks what if Hal doesn't like the new her.  Alex then suggests that Mary come with her to see her world.

Fangs for the Fantasy Episode 105

This week we discuss Being Human (US), Vampire Diaries  and the upcoming spin off, the Originals. We also look at Walking Dead and Michonne’s angry eyes

Our book of the week is Moonshifted by Cassie Alexander

Our Next books of the week are:

18th February - 25th February: King Makers by Griffiths  
28th February - 4th March: Brilliant Devices by Shelley Adina  
4th March - 11th March: Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs
11th March - 18th March: Summoning the Night by Jenn Bennet
18th March - 25th March: Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare  
25th March - 1st April: The Struggle by L.J. Smith  
1st April - 8th April: Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger

Moonshifted (Edie Spence #2) by Cassie Alexander

 Edie Spence, nurse on Y4, the secret floor of County Central Hospital where the supernatural are treated – the vampires, the werewolves and, in the past, even zombies and dragons. She doesn’t have nearly enough time, especially with the holidays coming up, and even less money hence her taking overtime during the holidays in the hope of more money to pad her rapidly disappearing paycheck.

That in itself would be exhausting, but that’s before the king of the werewolves gets run over in a hit and run right in front of her. He’s badly injured to the point of death and even the medical professionals on Y4 can’t raise the dead – but the werewolf politics should he die (and the accusations that fly) are dangerous things to get in the middle of.

And then there’s Anna, the vampire she preciously helped and even considers a friend. She has a job for Edie as she prepares to found her own vampire house, a job that requires her to keep a ceremonial knife safe.

Whichever is the cause – werewolf or knife –people start trying to kill her, ransacking her home and even risking the wrath of the shadows, the hospital’s mystical protectors, to get at her. And to make matters worse, her drug dealing brother is digging himself into trouble, her parents are coming for Christmas dinner and she has a German Ghostly Cyborg eating her electronics.

That was immense fun. I liked the first book, Nightshifted, and found it interesting and pretty entertaining, but Moonshifted is head and shoulders above it. With the beginning of this world introduced, we’re now running with this story in all directions and nearly everything is pretty much excellent.

The world building is incredible – there has been such a lot of research that has gone into the various supernatural lores that are relevant in this book – including the 101 ways to make a werewolf which is drawing on some really obscure legends that I had to re-look up and I thought I was pretty overwhelmed with shapeshifter legends already. The way the vampires work, the way the werewolves work – they’re all really really deep and with their own separate twists that add a lot of originality to the story; concepts like the werewolves’ shorter life span (which makes so much sense when described) and the vampire shortage not of human blood, but of actual vampire blood since it takes so long for them to produce. All of these add wonderful new facets to old myths and legends and a completely new spin on everything.

But along with the mystical world building which is wide open and growing, there’s also the powerful realities of being a nurse. I love books when the protagonist has a profession and I’m left thinking “this author has worked this job” because it’s so real, they’ve either worked it or really put some sterling effort into making it real. John Hartness does it, Diana Rowland does it and Cassie Alexander certainly does it. It’s not glamourised, it’s not sugar coated and it’s not clean – but the nitty gritty of nursing is there, the good and the icky, the sheer value and importance of it coupled with how undervalued and difficult it is. It’s a really good depiction and makes the entire series so much stronger and more real because of it.

What is best about both of these elements of world building is that they’re used appropriately. There’s no massive info dumps and no long monologues. It is shown rather than told, what we need to know is revealed in as much detail as we need to know it. It’s completely restrained and leaves me hungry to know more – like what exactly the Consortium, and Meaty, actually are for one! everything feels natural because the knowledge is presented in a realistic fashion without every leaving us floundering.

And the story is fun – it intertwines excellently with Edie’s life but her life doesn’t stop because of it. This is something else I love about this book, in a lot of Urban Fantasy it feels like the protagonist can just put their entire lives on pause while they deal with the plot of the book. Edie isn’t like that – she has a job, she needs money, she even needs the desperate holiday overtime. She can’t just not take those extra hours because the plot has been dropped on her, life goes on. And it’s not just her job – she has family she can’t just drop because dramas are happening, she had her brother and his issues, she has her parents coming round for Christmas Dinner. She can’t cancel all this – and she has to clean up the flat ready for them – just because she has plot drama! Life goes on! Perhaps most impressive to me is Edie’s friend’s – they have their own lives, their own issues and that isn’t subsumed because of Edie’s plot issues. Charles has a thing with werewolves, he’s not setting that aside because Edie is having problems. Gina has relationship drama, Edie can’t just ignore it because of plot reasons – he’s Gina’s friend, she owes it to her to be supportive. Edie can’t just refuse Anna’s plea because it would be convenient to do otherwise. This is such a change from so many urban fantasies where friends just exist to support the protagonist.

Fangs for the Fantasy Book of the Week

Every week on the Fangs for the Fantasy podcast (archives here) we read a book and discuss it on the show. The review for the book of the week always goes up on 3:00pm (EST) on a Monday (Monday’s book review).

To give people a chance to read along with us, every Monday we’re also going to include a list of our planned books of the week for the next few shows, so people can get the books, read them and join in the conversation.

11th February - 18th February: Moonshifted by Cassie Alexander
18th February - 25th February: King Makers by Griffiths
28th February - 4th March: Brilliant Devices by Shelley Adina
4th March - 11th March: Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs
11th March - 18th March: Summoning the Night by Jenn Bennet
18th March - 25th March: Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare
25th March - 1st April: The Struggle by L.J. Smith
1st April - 8th April: Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger

The Walking Dead, Season Three, Episode Ten: Home

At the prison, Rick looks through binoculars at the field and once again spots Lori, this time, she is standing by the graves.  He quickly puts down the binoculars and heads over to see her.  By the time he gets there, Lori is gone and she now appears outside of the fence.  Rick rushes over towards Lori again and opens the gate, as Michonne watches.  Michonne closes the gate after Rick and he approaches Lori again.  Lori reaches out and touches his face.  Obviously, no one is there and so Michonne watches as Rick embraces the air.

In Woodbury, all is quiet and the men are back on the wall.  Philip has gone to see Andrea and says that she gave quite a speech. Andrea asks about the prison and Philip says that as long as they leave them alone he has no problem.  Andrea says that she need to go see them and Philip replies that he thought Woodbury could be a better place and that he is not fit to lead the people but Andrea is. He adds that he believed that if he kept Penny alive long enough that Milton would find a cure. Philip says that the people of Woodbury need her and then he walks out of the apartment.

In the woods. Darryl and Merle are realizing that food is going to be scarce. Merle suggests that Darryl is trying to lead him back to the road to the prison and says that it wouldn't he a party for him. Merle believes that the governor has probably already taken over the prison.

Glenn and Carl are talking about where Tyreese came through the prison and realize that there is another breach.  Michonne says that The Governor is definitely coming back. Glenn suggests that they go back to Woodbury and assassinate the governor.  Hershel points out that the last time they went, the governor didn't know they were coming and terrible things happen, including the death of Oscar.  He then adds that this is something Rick would never allow. Hershel says that if Philip is really on the way that they should leave but Glenn is adamant that they don't run.  Maggie walks away from the conversation and Glenn says that they should stay put and defend this place pointing out that Hershel only having one leg and having baby Judith with them, would make going on the road to difficult.  Glenn plans to find the breach with Carl, when he realizes that no one is on watch.

Philip has gone to see Milton, who is still working on a cure.  Philip tells him that he has been invaluable and asks if he intends to stay.  Milton replies that leaving has never crossed his mind. Philip says that he considers Milton a friend and that he counts on him.  Philip adds that he counted on Merle and that Martinez would take a bullet for him, so Philip asks if Milton would do the same.. When Milton says yes, Philip says that he does not know where Andrea's loyalties lie and asks Milton to keep an eye on Andrea for him.

Andrea heads over to the wall looking for Martinez but Karen won't tell her where he is.  Andrea then runs after Milton to ask where Philip is and Milton says that the governor is out on a run and is not sure where he is.  Andrea asks for more specifics, but Milton again says that he is on a run, so Andrea walks off.

Glenn comes up from the basement and says that the boiler room area has been overrun by walkers.  Hershel believes that they are running out of time and worries what will happen if a herd shows up.  Glenn says that he is going to take Maggie to scout the far side of the prison to see the walker situation.  Hershel asks if he is sure that Maggie is up to that.  Glenn goes to see Maggie and asks where she has been.  Glenn says that they need to find out how the walkers are getting into the tombs and asks if they are going to talk about what happened.  Maggie starts to describe what happened and when Glenn asks if she was raped, Maggie says no and asks if he feels better.  Maggie tells him that her choice was to take off her shirt or have Glenn's hand cut off.  Glenn reaches out and says sorry but she slaps at his hand and tells him to go away.

Carol and Axel are reinforcing the fence.  Axel says that he robbed a gas station with a toy gun and then Carol brings up the fact that he said Oscar was the violent one. Axel admits to Carol that he doesn't know how to use the gun he is holding, so Carol shows him that it is fully loaded. Clearly there is some chemistry going on between these two.

The Dixons are making their way through the woods still.  They are not getting along well, when Darryl says that he hears a baby but Merle is convinced that it's the sound of racoons mating. They come across a family stuck on a bridge being attacked by walkers.  Darryl goes running to help but Merle says that he is not wasting his bullets on a family that hasn't even cooked him a meal. Darryl gets right in the middle, even slamming a zombies head in a trunk. Almost singlehandedly, Darryl saves this Latino family. Merle digs into their car for supplies but Darryl puts a cross bow to him and tells him to get out. Darryl instructs the family to get in their car and leave.  Alone now, Merle wants to know if Rick taught him to risk his life for others. Darryl turns in anger and says that he asked for the treatment he got up on the roof. It seems that Merle's plan was to rob the camp blind before he got left behind. In anger, Merle rips off Darryl's shirt and we find out that Darryl was beaten as a child. Merle is shocked to see it, because he thought he was the only one who got that treatment and admits that he left because he would have killed his father. Darryl walks off but Merle says that he cannot walk back with him because he nearly killed that "Black bitch and that Asian kid."  Darryl says that Glenn is Korean  and finishes with he may be the one walking away, but Merle is the one leaving.

Pros and Cons (Nikki Glass Novella) by Jenna Black

 

Nikki has a nice mundane case. Well, she has chosen a nice mundane case because it will get her out of the house and away from Anderson asking her to use her Artemis hunting skills to exact his revenge.

And this client does sound very desperate since many other private detectives have turned her down. And for good reason, her task is almost impossible for anyone but Nikki. Of course, an extra reason for the desperation is that her client is lying and a very dangerous man is involved – the situation is far more delicate and far more is at risk than she originally thought taking the case.

This book was the very essence of a novella. Which is a little unfortunate because I don’t like novellas and something that is the epitome of a novella is going to be the epitome of something I don’t like.

However, as far as novellas go this did everything I hope for. Firstly, it isn’t an essential step on in the series – to continue to follow the Dark Descendant series you don’t have to read this book. It doesn’t add any vital building blocks to the story or leave you floundering if you skip it. Similarly, as a short story it isn’t essential to have ready the rest of the books in the series  - you can pick this up and follow the story without any real difficulty. It certainly helps to have read the other books, but it’s hardly necessary.

But, above all, the book is self-contained. It’s hard to get the pacing of a short story right – it’s too easy to write something that doesn’t have enough material to cover the whole story, or something that feels rushed and cut down and probably doesn’t have quite enough plot for a full book but is still far too meaty for a novella. This book was perfectly spaced and perfectly paced, it didn’t need more explanation or development, it didn’t need nor did it have info-dumps to try and cram 2 books worth of backstory into it, it didn’t need several chapters to give us Nikki’s backstory – though it did include her history neatly and succinctly. It was a great little introductory book to the characters and concepts of the series without feeling like I was reading a trailer.

The story itself was interesting – it showed Nikki doing some very clever detective work. Part of it involved her Artemis powers but only by giving inspiration. I love the subconscious nature of this power – I can’t help but wonder if this is a little dig at so many mystery stories where perfectly mundane detectives have these incredibly unlikely flashes of inspiration based on zero evidence; I hope so. But the steps of the investigation are not only interesting but they’re really imaginative and clever and show both the lateral thinking necessary to solve these really crafty, cunning cases. I loved it.