Dark Currents

Vacation Town Fantasy? Yes, that's urban fantasy taking place in a small lake town. It's a welcome change from the basic gritty city setting.

Daisy is the goddess Hel's liaison between the human world and that of the paranormal. She's also the daughter of a demon who, if she ever embraces her full powers, could destroy the world.

The thing about this book I particularly enjoyed was the mystery. I didn't figure it out at all and when I learned what was happening... it was almost unbearably sad. I think Carey has a gift for that, the knife to the gut with that little extra twist to make sure you really feel it.

I'd love to see more of these. ( )

So my love affair with the Kushiel series is well-known.

I legit can't believe this book is written by the same author. It's bizarre. Nowhere does the prose come even slightly close to anything else of hers I've read. The characters are whisper-thin, and the conflict is shallow. And no, it's not like I expected epic, lush worldbuilding and such (being urban fantasy, and the first in a series), but this reads like a first novel, period.

It's not a bad book; it's just weird for her. If you had handed me this book and anyone else's name had been on it, I would have given it one more star, but based on what I expect from Jacqueline Carey, I can't give it any more than 2 stars. ( )

I love JC, the Kushiel books are my very favorite!
Dark Currents is a fun, quick read. I didn't rate it any higher because the urban fantasy genre isn't my favorite. When I pick up a JC book I am hoping for more depth and substance.

( )

I was very ready to roll my eyes at this series... had read some of Carey's Cushiel series - lots of intrigue, high fantasy... this seemed so "lite".
But I enjoyed it. A bit of Harry Dresden meets Rachel Morgan on the set of Grimm... but I like all of those things, and it was not just a rehash.
I'll move on to the next in the series.... ( )

If I were judging this book solely on an urban fantasy level, it was one of the better ones I've read. If I were judging it on what I know Jacqueline Carey's writing abilities, it wasn't quite as good as her Kushiel series.
However, because of the genre switch, I think that there is a level of change that should be expected in the writing style. It was still well written, it just took me a bit off guard having only previously read her fantasy novels.
There was a lot more humor in this urban fantasy then I have found in other series of the same genre. It helped to keep the pace going at a rate that I enjoyed, and never felt bogged down with too much seriousness.
I did feel that too much was crammed into the one book, mostly on the part of introducing different supernatural creatures. It seemed Carey wanted to get in every species in this first installment, and because of that the went off on tangents that seemed unnecessary. I feel like this could have been spread out throughout the series.
The protagonist, Daisy, is a very like-able and relate-able character, and had a lot of great characterization throughout the novel that endeared you to her, and kept you wanting more of her. She has an endearing quality about her that makes her one of the more memorable heroine's in the genre.
Unfortunately I felt Daisy was about the only well fleshed out character, while the other's were a little more two dimensional. They lacked the level of characterization I know Carey is capable of.
I also really loved that Carey took the time to explain why there was such a large supernatural presence in this particular town. In other series in the genre it can often be overlooked, and we just have to take for granted that all these creatures are in one spot. It was refreshing to have an explanation.
Definitely an Urban fantasy worth reading if you enjoy the genre. Jacqueline Carey is just simply an excellent writer. I will say though, for as much as I enjoyed this, I hope so badly that Carey returns to the fantasy genre soon. ( )