(The Familiar Dragon series, Book 1)
Daniel Hood
Ace
Fiction, Fantasy
****
A Familiar dragon (Faniulh)
Faniulh
(The Familiar Dragon series, Book 1)
Daniel Hood
Ace
Fiction, Fantasy
****
A Familiar dragon (Faniulh)
DESCRIPTION: When Liam came to the seaport town of Southwark, he just wanted to relax and recover from an all-too-eventful life. He befriended the local wizard Tarquin, a man who, though pleasant, kept much to himself, as was often the case with wizards. One day, Liam arrives for a visit to find Tarquin dead, a knife in his chest. It is then that he meets the wizard's familiar, a little dragon named Faniulh. When a wizard dies, the familiar's soul dies, too. Faniulh forces a bond with Liam, and strikes a bargain with its new master. In exchange for help in tracking down Tarquin's murderer, the little dragon will teach Liam magic - including the magic to keep the familiar out of his mind. Liam wants nothing to do with magic, but he does share the dragon's desire to find the murderer... and with a job this dangerous, he might well want a little dragon on his side.
REVIEW: This is essentially a murder mystery with fantastic elements, but it's still fun, and a little different. The standard array of obscure clues, shifty suspects, and local law enforcement officers are present. During the investigation, Liam must learn to deal with Faniulh, who - despite sharing part of a soul with him - has surprisingly little idea of how humans think. Nice for a change of pace.
You might also enjoy:
Sherlock Holmes: The Breath of God (Guy Adams, Fiction - Holmes investigates a mysterious murder tied to the occult Order of the Golden Dawn)
Wish You Were Here (Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie Brown, Fiction - A nosy postmistress and her pets investigate murders in a small town)
The Vlad Taltos series (Stephen Brust, Fiction - A human assassin/detective has a dragonlike familiar in a world of magic, monsters, and gods)
The Sisters Grimm series (Michael Buckley, YA Fiction - Two girls learn that fairy tale characters are alive and well... and capable of committing crimes)
Furies of Calderon (Jim Butcher, Fiction - In a world where everyone commands at least one elemental fury spirit, one boy in a frontier town does without)
A Study in Scarlet (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Fiction - An eccentric genius named Sherlock Holmes pursues a killer in 19th-century London)
The Sherlock Holmes collections (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Fiction - Short stories featuring Sherlock Holmes)
Goblintown Justice (Matt Forbeck, Fiction - In a dark, dragon-ruled city, a human mage races to clear an orc friend of murder)
The Dragon Quartet (Marjorie B. Kellogg, Fiction - Elemental dragons and their human companions travel through time to avert a global catastrophe)
The Ghosts of Belfast (Stuart Neville, Fiction - An ex-IRA hit man, haunted by ghosts, turns on his former employers in Northern Ireland)
felidae (Akif Pirinçci, Fiction - A feline detective finds a murdered cat in the front yard of his new home)
The Ruby in the Smoke (Philip Pullman, YA Fiction - An orphaned girl in Victorian England learns of strange circumstances surrounding her father's death)
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series (Alexander McCall Smith, Fiction - Precious Ramotswe solves mysteries in her native Botswana)
Three Bags Full (Leonie Swann, Fiction - A flock of Irish sheep finds the body of their shepherd)
The Crimson-Eyed Dragon (D. M. Trink, YA Fiction - A teen boy discovers secrets tied to a silver dragon statue from an antique store)
A Plague of Sorcerers (Mary Frances Zambreno, YA Fiction - A boy mage and his skunk familiar must track down the culprit of a magical crime)
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Wizard's Heir
(The Familiar Dragon series, Book 2)
Daniel Hood
Ace
Fiction, Fantasy
****
Wizard's Heir
DESCRIPTION: Liam, heir to the familiar Faniulh and thus considered by many to be a wizard, has made quite an impression with the Southwark Aedile, Cochais. When artifacts stolen from the home of the late wizard Tarquin are used in several crimes throughout the city, he turns to the unofficial detective Liam for help. A new goddess, a mysterious ghost, and a magical griffin all tie into Liam's latest investigation.
REVIEW: Like the first book, this is essentially a detective story in a magical world. It's fun, it's suspenseful, and it keeps you guessing. Liam is an interesting character who has led quite an interesting life. As in the first book, clues are dropped as to just what he has been through, without dwelling too much on it. With goddesses appearing, miracles occuring in the Southwark streets, and other incidents, the fantastic level of the world ramps up significantly, but Liam must still rely on good old- fashioned detective work to unravel the case.
You might also enjoy:
Sherlock Holmes: The Breath of God (Guy Adams, Fiction - Holmes investigates a mysterious murder tied to the occult Order of the Golden Dawn)
Wish You Were Here (Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie Brown, Fiction - A nosy postmistress and her pets investigate murders in a small town)
The Vlad Taltos series (Stephen Brust, Fiction - A human assassin/detective has a dragonlike familiar in a world of magic, monsters, and gods)
The Sisters Grimm series (Michael Buckley, YA Fiction - Two girls learn that fairy tale characters are alive and well... and capable of committing crimes)
Furies of Calderon (Jim Butcher, Fiction - In a world where everyone commands at least one elemental fury spirit, one boy in a frontier town does without)
A Study in Scarlet (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Fiction - An eccentric genius named Sherlock Holmes pursues a killer in 19th-century London)
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Fiction - Short stories featuring Sherlock Holmes)
Goblintown Justice (Matt Forbeck, Fiction - In a dark, dragon-ruled city, a human mage races to clear an orc friend of murder)
The Dragon Quartet (Marjorie B. Kellogg, Fiction - Elemental dragons and their human companions travel through time to avert a global catastrophe)
The Ghosts of Belfast (Stuart Neville, Fiction - An ex-IRA hit man, haunted by ghosts, turns on his former employers in Northern Ireland)
felidae (Akif Pirinçci, Fiction - A feline detective finds a murdered cat in the front yard of his new home)
The Ruby in the Smoke (Philip Pullman, YA Fiction - An orphaned girl in Victorian England learns of strange circumstances surrounding her father's death)
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series (Alexander McCall Smith, Fiction - Precious Ramotswe solves mysteries in her native Botswana)
Three Bags Full (Leonie Swann, Fiction - A flock of Irish sheep finds the body of their shepherd)
The Crimson-Eyed Dragon (D. M. Trink, YA Fiction - A teen boy discovers secrets tied to a silver dragon statue from an antique store)
A Plague of Sorcerers (Mary Frances Zambreno, YA Fiction - A boy mage and his skunk familiar must track down the culprit of a magical crime)
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Beggar's Banquet
(The Familiar Dragon series, Book 3)
Daniel Hood
Ace
Fiction, Fantasy
****
DESCRIPTION: Liam Rhenford, still fighting rumors that he is a wizard (not helped by the presence of his familiar, the dragon Faniulh), continues trying to parley maps gleaned from extensive travels into a lucrative business. When a magical jewel is stolen from his business partner's family crypt just before the Beggar's Banquet holiday, he is once again called upon to use his investigational skills.
REVIEW: Once more, mystery and magic blend in a quite satisfactory manner. It is interesting to see Liam learning more of the familiar's powers, and the magic he himself inherited from the bonding.
You might also enjoy:
Sherlock Holmes: The Breath of God (Guy Adams, Fiction - Holmes investigates a mysterious murder tied to the occult Order of the Golden Dawn)
Wish You Were Here (Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie Brown, Fiction - A nosy postmistress and her pets investigate murders in a small town)
The Vlad Taltos series (Stephen Brust, Fiction - A human assassin/detective has a dragonlike familiar in a world of magic, monsters, and gods)
The Sisters Grimm series (Michael Buckley, YA Fiction - Two girls learn that fairy tale characters are alive and well... and capable of committing crimes)
Furies of Calderon (Jim Butcher, Fiction - In a world where everyone commands at least one elemental fury spirit, one boy in a frontier town does without)
A Study in Scarlet (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Fiction - An eccentric genius named Sherlock Holmes pursues a killer in 19th-century London)
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Fiction - Short stories featuring Sherlock Holmes)
Goblintown Justice (Matt Forbeck, Fiction - In a dark, dragon-ruled city, a human mage races to clear an orc friend of murder)
The Dragon Quartet (Marjorie B. Kellogg, Fiction - Elemental dragons and their human companions travel through time to avert a global catastrophe)
The Ghosts of Belfast (Stuart Neville, Fiction - An ex-IRA hit man, haunted by ghosts, turns on his former employers in Northern Ireland)
felidae (Akif Pirinçci, Fiction - A feline detective finds a murdered cat in the front yard of his new home)
The Ruby in the Smoke (Philip Pullman, YA Fiction - An orphaned girl in Victorian England learns of strange circumstances surrounding her father's death)
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series (Alexander McCall Smith, Fiction - Precious Ramotswe solves mysteries in her native Botswana)
Three Bags Full (Leonie Swann, Fiction - A flock of Irish sheep finds the body of their shepherd)
The Crimson-Eyed Dragon (D. M. Trink, YA Fiction - A teen boy discovers secrets tied to a silver dragon statue from an antique store)
A Plague of Sorcerers (Mary Frances Zambreno, YA Fiction - A boy mage and his skunk familiar must track down the culprit of a magical crime)
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Scales of Justice
(The Familiar Dragon series, Book 4)
Daniel Hood
Ace
Fiction, Fantasy
****
DESCRIPTION: Liam's reputation as wizard's heir and detective have spread. He is offered a place with the traveling Aeropagus circuit court, which moves from town to town throughout the dukedom investigating and trying cases. Shortly into the sessions, he stumbles across a horrific case of death by demon, a case that will lead him all the way to the court of the Duke himself.
REVIEW: By taking the story out of Southwark, Hood opens up more of Liam's world to the reader. More on the growing relationship between Faniulh and Liam is discussed
in this book, as it becomes evident that the dragon familiar is indeed living up to promise he made in the first story to teach his new master something of magic. Still, though
demons and magic figure heavily in the case, it's Liam's probing mind that ultimately solves it. Overall, this feels like the beginning of a new chapter in his life, and I
wouldn't mind seeing where he goes from here.
There is a fifth book, King's Cure, but a relative got to it before I had a chance to read it. Recent reorganization efforts unearthed it, so hopefully I'll get it into
the queue soon.
You might also enjoy:
Sherlock Holmes: The Breath of God (Guy Adams, Fiction - Holmes investigates a mysterious murder tied to the occult Order of the Golden Dawn)
Wish You Were Here (Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie Brown, Fiction - A nosy postmistress and her pets investigate murders in a small town)
The Vlad Taltos series (Stephen Brust, Fiction - A human assassin/detective has a dragonlike familiar in a world of magic, monsters, and gods)
The Sisters Grimm series (Michael Buckley, YA Fiction - Two girls learn that fairy tale characters are alive and well... and capable of committing crimes)
Furies of Calderon (Jim Butcher, Fiction - In a world where everyone commands at least one elemental fury spirit, one boy in a frontier town does without)
A Study in Scarlet (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Fiction - An eccentric genius named Sherlock Holmes pursues a killer in 19th-century London)
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Fiction - Short stories featuring Sherlock Holmes)
Goblintown Justice (Matt Forbeck, Fiction - In a dark, dragon-ruled city, a human mage races to clear an orc friend of murder)
The Dragon Quartet (Marjorie B. Kellogg, Fiction - Elemental dragons and their human companions travel through time to avert a global catastrophe)
The Ghosts of Belfast (Stuart Neville, Fiction - An ex-IRA hit man, haunted by ghosts, turns on his former employers in Northern Ireland)
felidae (Akif Pirinçci, Fiction - A feline detective finds a murdered cat in the front yard of his new home)
The Ruby in the Smoke (Philip Pullman, YA Fiction - An orphaned girl in Victorian England learns of strange circumstances surrounding her father's death)
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series (Alexander McCall Smith, Fiction - Precious Ramotswe solves mysteries in her native Botswana)
Three Bags Full (Leonie Swann, Fiction - A flock of Irish sheep finds the body of their shepherd)
The Crimson-Eyed Dragon (D. M. Trink, YA Fiction - A teen boy discovers secrets tied to a silver dragon statue from an antique store)
A Plague of Sorcerers (Mary Frances Zambreno, YA Fiction - A boy mage and his skunk familiar must track down the culprit of a magical crime)
Return to Top of Page - Return to Book Review List
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