Angel's Ink

August 13, 2012
Drake (the Dark Days vampire series) very ably spins a series launch about a tattoo artist with big secrets. This alternate universe contains evil warlocks and witches, tradition-bound elves, an ancient purveyor of equally ancient treasures both real and mystical, and plot twists designed to enchant. Gage fled the cruel Ivory Towers and life as a warlock to run his Asylum Tattoo Parlor, assisted by troll Bronx and elf Trixie. Those wanting some ink with a little magic sprinkled in come to Gage. The sadistic warlocks have forbidden Gage to use his magic on pain of death, so he keeps a low profile, but when he mixes a breathtakingly rare ingredient into a tattoo for a dying woman, he stirs up trouble that sends the plot caroming with ferocious intensity to a satisfying but open-ended conclusion. Agent: Jennifer Schober, Spencerhill Associates.

September 15, 2012
From the author of the Dark Days series (Bound to Me, 2012, etc.), the first of a new urban-fantasy series centered on tattoo artist Gage Powell. In Asylum, a seedy part of Low Town, assorted strugglers and lowlife humans somewhat uneasily coexist with elves, werewolves, vampires, trolls and other supernatural folk. Above them all are the witches and warlocks in their concealed Ivory Towers; first-person narrator Gage, once a warlock, fled after fighting his mentor, Simon Thorn, when he could no longer stomach their cruelty and arrogance. The Ivory Towers council let him go but assigned a watchdog to ensure that Gage uses his magic only in self-defense. Against this extensive, carefully worked out backdrop, Gage tries to keep his head down and practice his art--which usually involves adding a little magical something to the ink's ingredients--assisted by Trixie, a drop-dead gorgeous elf who conceals her true identity, and Bronx, a hulking, good-natured troll. The plotting, too, is both intricate and well-articulated. Among the problems Gage must deal with: a representative of the local Grim Reaper's union; some armed-to-the-teeth elves enquiring after Trixie; a witch turned into a cat and exiled from the Towers; Simon, intent on killing Gage to further his political agenda; and a very dangerous and dark elf gangster. Stir in a bout of hot sex and some magical battles--the latter, oddly, often devolve into mere physical violence--and it's a shame that the characters remain flat and cliched, especially dull Bronx and the hissing villain Simon. Still, these are minor issues in what is mostly a distinctive and absorbing tale.

COPYRIGHT(2012) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

September 15, 2012

This new series launch by the author of the "Dark Days" novels revolves around Gage, a warlock and tattoo artist with a knack for getting himself into trouble. Gage escaped from the Ivory Towers, the domain of warlocks and witches, to live a simple but guarded life among humans, trolls, werewolves, and, sometimes, elves. His tattoos are known for their magical effects, but when Gage takes pity on a dying girl and mixes a potion for her tattoo, the consequences are unintended and surprising. Finding himself on the bad side of a grim reaper and with only three days to right his wrong, Gage must call upon past acquaintances to free himself from the grim reaper's hold. VERDICT Gage gets himself into an unbelievable number of bad situations, even by urban fantasy standards. Although piling misfortune upon misfortune creates plenty of fodder for the series, it's sometimes hard for the reader to swallow it all. However, fans of Kim Harrison and urban fantasy alike will enjoy this. [Previewed in Kristi Chadwicks' Genre Spotlight feature "Hungry for SF," LJ 8/12.--Ed.]--Brooke Bolton, North Manchester P.L., IN

Copyright 2012 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2012
Drake kicks off a new urban fantasy series with a strong first title. Gage, a former wizard, is in hiding and working as a tattooist. He's just the guy you need to see if you want some real luck implanted in your four-leaf-clover tattoo. Other supernatural creatures sense his magical powers, which may explain why Bronx, a large troll, works as his security guard, and Trixie, a talented tattoo artist herself, is really an elf hiding behind a glamor. While Gage has successfully kept below the radar the last few years, a violent encounter with a former classmate sets off a series of events that will leave him no choice but to use his forbidden magic. More Harry Dresden than Rachel Morgan, Gage is an appealing, noirish lead character, a single guy down on his luck. Urban fantasy readers who prefer male leads, which can be rather scarce in this subgenre, should definitely check out this series from the popular Drake.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)