The Magistrates of Hell

September 17, 2012
In Hambly's newest James Asher vampire novel (after Those Who Hunt the Night), the titular British spy; his brilliant wife, Lydia; and Asher's old teacher and vampire hunter, Rebbe Solomon Karlebach, navigate both the complexities of Chinese politics and the practicalities of monster hunting in a darkly exotic version of early 20th-century China. The trio has arrived in the newly-formed republic in order to investigate reports that the yao-kuei demons rumored to be living in the caves of Peking may actually be the hive-minded Undead, and to prevent nefarious parties from using them as weapons in future wars. But the appearance of Asher's vampire friend, Don Simon Ysidro, threatens already tenuous alliances. Hambly's finely wrought China feels alien not just for its vampires and demons, but also for the glaring divide between the insulated diplomats living in the Legation Quarter and the general Chinese populace. Balancing the excitement of dangerous chases through mines full of Undead with the intellectual satisfaction of solving a political mystery, this is a lush and delicious read.

August 1, 2012
Historical/fantasy novelist Hambly (Blood Maidens, 2011, etc.) takes another bite out of crime and otherworldly goings-on in her latest vampire novel. Accompanied by his brilliant wife, scientist Lydia, and elderly mentor, Dr. Solomon Karlebach, former-spy-turned-vampire-hunter James Asher travels to Peking to investigate the possibility that a new form of the Undead exists. Known as the Others, even vampires fear these creatures. After arriving in the country, James quickly becomes involved in the investigation of a young woman's murder. Her reluctant fiance is accused of the crime, and James' inquiries lead him into the murky Chinese underworld, where his pursuit of the truth behind the murder and his quest of the Others intersect. He discovers that the ruthless head of the most formidable criminal family, Madame Tso, plans to use the Others for her own gain. Two key allies, Don Simon Ysidro, a vampire who died in 1555 (and who appeared in a previous novel), and Japanese nobleman Count Mizukami, assist James as he executes a daring plan that leads them to the Shi'h Liu Mine and the hideous monsters that lurk in the bowels of the earth. Rich in imagery and full of historical detail, the story works well when the author depicts life in the diplomatic community during this particular era of Chinese history; and the parts of the story that describe the characters' encounters with the Others are deliciously frightening. But the plot becomes somewhat unfocused and difficult to follow when the two merge. Frequent references to events, relationships and entanglements in the first three novels of this series interrupt the flow of this particular story. For the sake of clarity and continuity, readers would be well-advised to read the previous books in the series before tackling this one.

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July 1, 2012
The fourth James Asher novel finds the former spy and new father in 1912 Peking, a city in turmoil after the recent Boxer Rebellion and the overthrow of the emperor. Accompanying James is his old friend, Rebbe Karlebach, scholar and vampire hunter, who appears to have his own reasons for making the long trip: his wife, Lydia, and their new daughter, Miranda. None of them is surprised when the vampire Dom Ysidro turns up, for he is rarely far from Lydia. In this outing, all the protagonists' skills will be required to defeat a terrible evilthe Others, vampire-like creatures who scare even the ancient vampires of Peking. Hambly creates her typically inspired mix of history and fantasy wrapped in a fast-paced mystery and set in a perfectly described yet atypical locale. Make sure this gets in the hands of all of Hambly's fans, and suggest it to readers who enjoyed The Midnight Guardian (2010), by Sarah Jane Stratford.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)