Master of None (Gavyn Donatti, #1)

Apr 03, 2011 Stella rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: To all urban fantsay readers: it is a MUST READ book!

Shelves: paranormal, urban-fantasy, 2010, favorites

My thoughts: Though the blurb sounded interesting, when I picked up Master of None I wasn't prepared to what an amazing novel it would be. I gobbled it up in a few days and remained excited about the story for weeks (I still get enthusiastic whenever I just think about it).

Master of None is Sonya Bateman's debut novel, and seeing the way she started her writing carrier, let me tell you we are in for a ride!

First of all I was blown away by the fresh and completely original approach she took in...more My thoughts: Though the blurb sounded interesting, when I picked up Master of None I wasn't prepared to what an amazing novel it would be. I gobbled it up in a few days and remained excited about the story for weeks (I still get enthusiastic whenever I just think about it).

Master of None is Sonya Bateman's debut novel, and seeing the way she started her writing carrier, let me tell you we are in for a ride!

First of all I was blown away by the fresh and completely original approach she took in an urban fantasy novel: 1) the protagonist of the novel is a MAN! Can't remember the last time (or if I ever) came across a male narrator in UF books... 2) the supernatural creatures in Master of None are genies...er sorry djinns! Not vampires, not angels but djinns! The huge-blue-Aladdin kind of genies (if Ian heard me, I'd be in trouble...) (well except that the genies here aren't that nice but rather bloodthirsty and quite violent, but they are equally funny)!

Second of all, besides the exciting and original plot she created, Sonya Bateman's writing style is divine! It is laugh out loud funny yet descriptive, full of evocative details, yet is an exciting, fast paced pageturner managing all the while to keep the readers' attention all through the 384 pages of the novel and provide fantastic entertainment. While I read Master of None I was transported into Gavyn and Ian's world, Sonya Bateman is incredibly gifted, she has a way with words!

The characterization in Master of None is fantastic: Gavyn, Ian and the supporting characters step off the pages, they seem more than mere characters in a novel. Every one of them is individual in its own way, and Sonya created something brilliant with the relationship between Gavyn and Ian! I was constantly amazed at how perfectly Sonya Bateman as a female author could portray Gavyn. It is tricky when the story is told from the first person, but even more so when the narrator is of the different sex. Well Sonya Bateman not only pulled it off, she excelled at it! Both Gavyn and Ian are amazing characters: while Gavyn's dry humour and self deprecating comments made him a lovable and fun character, with Ian it was his rudely sarcastic and his dry, biting comments which made me crack up at every second sentence, he was such a unique breath of fresh air in the usually gloomy UF universe.

Though I've tried ever since I read it in May, I can't praise Master of None enough. Not only is it a brilliantly entertaining book, it is also a very high quality piece of literature.

Verdict: Master of None has its permanent place in my 2010 Top Reads List, and if you want to read an original, unique, laugh out loud funny, brilliant urban fantasy novel, pick up Master of None, you'll be in for a treat!!

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Writing: 10/10
Cover: 10/10

Thankfully Master of None is the 1st book in a series, book #2 (Master and Apprentice) will be out in April 2011! Spring can't come soon enough! :-D

ps: you can now read Book #1 Master of None free here: you need to register, but registration is completely free and only takes 1 min, enjoy! :-)(less)

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Nov 04, 2012 Sandra rated it 4 of 5 stars

It was great to find an urban fantasy with a male lead, as females tend to dominate this field.

1) I didn't love the characters, just liked them. It might have been that they weren't flushed out enough for me, but overall I still enjoyed their interactions and wanted to see where the plot took them. My favorite characters ended up being art collector and his djinni.

Also, the bad guys were VERY bad guys. It would have been interesting to see them have sympathetic qualities to them, but a good old...more

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May 14, 2012 Kathy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Magical Debut to a New Urban Fantasy!,

I really enjoyed this exciting urban fantasy; the story moved rather swiftly and seemed to not have a moment to spare. I loved that this story focused on the undervalued Djinn whose story is seldom told. Although I was completely entertained, never bored and most of the times I didn't want to put this book down; I would've preferred the male lead get things done without behaving either overly reckless or too-stupid-to-live. Gavyn's hero complex would be equ...more

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May 17, 2011 Miz Love rated it 5 of 5 stars

I’m admitting right off that this book was written by a friend, but it doesn’t mean my review isn’t the truth or has been influenced by this fact. Sonya Bateman is an outstanding author, and I’d have loved this book regardless of our friendship. That said, here are my thoughts on Master of None.

My time for reading print books is usually limited to bedtimes or the odd hour during the weekend when I veg on the sofa. This book, however, made it into the bathroom with me. That’s a good sign—if I rea...more I’m admitting right off that this book was written by a friend, but it doesn’t mean my review isn’t the truth or has been influenced by this fact. Sonya Bateman is an outstanding author, and I’d have loved this book regardless of our friendship. That said, here are my thoughts on Master of None.

My time for reading print books is usually limited to bedtimes or the odd hour during the weekend when I veg on the sofa. This book, however, made it into the bathroom with me. That’s a good sign—if I read in the bath, a time I usually spend in the cocoon of steamy air and warm water without any distractions, it means the book is damn good. I was anxious about dropping the book into the bath—don’t you just hate doing that?—but to hell with it, I wanted to read that book!

I loved the voice and humor. Master of None is a fast-paced read that had me turning the pages long after the bathwater turned cold, and long after I should have turned out the light. As well as the kick-ass plot, there are two relationship arcs to keep you turning the pages. One is between Donatti and Ian, the other is between Donatti and Jazz. Both relationships are strained to a degree—Donatti’s and Ian’s because of Ian’s surly attitude and mysterious explanations, plus the fact Donatti has had the proof that genie’s exist sprung upon him at a time when he could really do with getting the hell out of town, and Donatti’s and Jazz’s because of their past relationship and a revelation (no plot spoilers here!) that shocks Donatti silly.

Secondary characters add richness to the tale, and their part in Donatti’s latest fiasco are well explored and a joy to read. Every chapter ends with a cliffhanger, ensuring I muttered, “Oh, just one more chapter…” time and again. I loved racing to the end, but at the same time I didn’t want to get there. Donatti’s world is one that I didn’t want to leave, and I was lost when the book ended, although, if I read into it correctly, there might well be a second book. Oh, joy upon joy!(less)

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Apr 13, 2011 Bethany C rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was a very original debut novel. What stood out to me the most was that the characters were all interesting and vivid without being over the top. And the plot was definitely fast paced and kept me on the edge of my seat. Okay not literally, I read it in bed. I occasionally read regular fantasy, and this did a good job of satisfying my inner dork while maintaining the grit and relevance of urban fantasy. It was definitely very violent; even more so than most urban fantasy I've read. It didn'...more

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Jun 05, 2011 James rated it 3 of 5 stars

I didn't know what to think about this book when I had finished it. Yes, I enjoyed it, but there was a sense that something was lacking. Maybe this was because I had read so many overly positive reviews on it that it couldn't hope to live up to the mark, or maybe it was just... not right.

The story is original and fun, but I thought it took a little while to get going and I found the character's acceptance of Magic and Djinns very unrealistic. I don't know what else there was that put me off, and...more

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Jun 26, 2011 Ami rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy-paranormal-futuristic, 4-and-half-stars_rating

4.5 stars
Finding urban fantasy novels with male leads is not easy. Or if I do, they don't interest me as much. So, when I picked up this book, I was hoping that this would be a good one. And WOW, how this book delivers!

First, the main hero, Gavyn Donatti, is pretty charming. He's a thief, who seems to have a lucky streak when it comes to himself but not so much for his partners. I enjoy his voice so much.

Second, I like the idea of djinn in an UF. I don't meet many djinn characters. I did read R...more

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Apr 26, 2011 Kelly rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebooks, free-ebooks, 2011-favorites, read-in-2011, urban-fantasy

You guys know that I'm game for most any book out there*, right? And I'll read them without a whole lot of expectation - which is one reason why I think I enjoy so many of the books I read. I went into this one thinking it would be a fun little diversion from real life but I never expected that it would knock me off my feet. HOLY CRUD! This book hit that fine line between snarky, funny, creepy and FUN. I loved it. LOVED IT**!

Interestingly enough, I rarely read Urban Fantasies with male protagoni...more You guys know that I'm game for most any book out there*, right? And I'll read them without a whole lot of expectation - which is one reason why I think I enjoy so many of the books I read. I went into this one thinking it would be a fun little diversion from real life but I never expected that it would knock me off my feet. HOLY CRUD! This book hit that fine line between snarky, funny, creepy and FUN. I loved it. LOVED IT**!

Interestingly enough, I rarely read Urban Fantasies with male protagonists (is this just my preference or is there a decided lack of male protagonists out there?) but Sonya Bateman nailed Donatti. His snark level is off the charts. Even when he's being cruelly tortured he's got some spunk. I loved his interactions with Ian. I just loved them. He goes from annoyed to cautiously understanding to full-on supportive and it works so perfectly with the type of guy he is that you believe the progression.

I also loved the mythology laid out. The structuring of the Djinn clans, the use of a tether to tie the Djinn to the human world, the idea behind blood bonds... it was gorgeously laid out.

Look. I loved the book. I loved the slowly developing friendship between Donatti and Ian. While it wasn't the main focus of the story, I loved the romance between Jazz and Donatti. I just... the book worked for me. On so many levels. The snark! The fun! The magic! Loved it!

*within limits, I guess I should add. I don't tend to read non-fiction of any sort. Or war stories. Or things that'll scare me so badly I won't be able to sleep. However, I do have a high scare threshold so things that scare me are super, ginormous scary. True story.
**I may love it but I can't have babies with it because I've already pledged my womb to Cassandra Clare's City of Fallen Angels for blowing my socks off earlier this month. True story. Any love children with this book will have to wait until I've finished fangirling over those Shadowhunters.

-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal (less)

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Aug 21, 2012 Thracer rated it 2 of 5 stars

This is, more or less, a simple chase book. There's not a lot of djinn (or supernatural) in it. I suppose this is good if you like a chase book and you are a little supernatural curious, but if you're looking for a good supernatural story, this isn't it. As far as the chase aspect of this book goes, it's pretty dull. There are some specific plot points that bothered me that I'm putting in a spoiler (view spoiler)...more

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Aug 10, 2011 Laura C. rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

I read this quickly, which is a must. I liked the idea of the plot: a reluctant djinn appears at an opportune time to a very unlucky thief, saving his life. “Why?” you ask – and that is the rest of the story. You see, djinn are not benign genies with three wishes. They are angry to be there. They have a sub plot of their own. You have to be careful with djinn.
Unfortunately, this is a nice djinn, just mad at the beginning. For me, he was just about as believable as Harrison Ford as a sadistic co...more

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Aug 26, 2012 Cupcakencorset rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Unlucky thief Gavyn Donatti is on the run from Trevor, the psychopathic and rich criminal mastermind who hired him to steal an old knife. Not because he didn't steal it, but because he lost it afterward. Trevor, plus crooked police, plus a bounty hunter... oh, plus an ancient, powerful and evil djinn. And they're not just after Gavyn. They also want his toddler son Cyrus, a son Gavyn didn't know he had until he fell afoul of Trevor. Luckily for Gavyn, he also has a djinn working with him, a djin...more

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Apr 14, 2010 Mandi Schreiner rated it 4 of 5 stars

Why I read: Author asked for a review, and I couldn’t pass up a story with a genie. Tori just happened to be reading it at the same time!

Favorite Quote: Why couldn’t I get the djinn of lollipops and happiness?

Tori: Hi everyone...it's Tori. Mandi graciously asked me to do a joint review with her on Sonya Bateman's exciting debut novel- Master Of None . I have to say that this book completely took me by surprise. While I expected to be entertained as I love nothing better then a grumpy supernatur...more

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Mar 31, 2012 Liz rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: bland, boring, meh, not-worth-the-time, whatever

There just wasn't anything very interesting in this book. I read it a few days ago and put the review off until later. Now it's later and I can barely remember what it was about. That should give you a good idea of exactly how gripping I found the story. I was only prompted to write a review at all because the sequel came in for me at the library and two pages into it, I was reminded why I'd meant to cancel my hold on it in the first place.

The things that stand out are, unfortunately, all bad. T...more

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May 25, 2010 Tiffany Danner rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review, 2010-reads

Finding male authors and/or protagonists in the urban fantasy genre can be tricky. I can probably count the ones I have found and enjoyed on one hand, with Jim Butcher’s Harry Dresden shining like a supernova as the best of the bunch. I saw reviews for this book popping up on blogs and my interest was piqued. When I was offered it for review I anxiously said yes…. a male protag written by a woman? Could she pull it off and would I enjoy it? The answer to both of these questions for me is yes, th...more Finding male authors and/or protagonists in the urban fantasy genre can be tricky. I can probably count the ones I have found and enjoyed on one hand, with Jim Butcher’s Harry Dresden shining like a supernova as the best of the bunch. I saw reviews for this book popping up on blogs and my interest was piqued. When I was offered it for review I anxiously said yes…. a male protag written by a woman? Could she pull it off and would I enjoy it? The answer to both of these questions for me is yes, tho I admit I would love to see a male’s review of this book to see their opinion on it.

Gavyn is a thief, and an unlucky one at that. When he loses an item he stole for a very dangerous man, he finds his life on the line and on the run as a new and dangerous magical world is revealed to him. I loved Gavyn’s character. He’s funny, sarcastic, and self deprecating; his mouth constantly getting him in even more trouble than his actions. This story is as much about his journey to finding out his own strengths and weaknesses as it is about the suspense plot.

Gavyn’s sidekick in this magical mystery tour of danger is Ian, a djinn(genie) prince. At first, Ian is crotchety, cranky, surly, and downright condescending. Yet I grew to love him as the story progressed and his relationship with Gavyn developed. The world of djinns created by Bateman was unique to me, my only other experience with them through Rachel Caine’s Weather Warden series. Bateman’s djinns have their own realm, their own politics, their own battles and it is spilling out into our mortal world with possibly fatal consequences. The djinn are not all powerful beings enslaved to a master granting any wish requested, but instead they have power limitations and freedom of choice. Ian and his djinn counterparts are on equal footing with the other characters in this story, adding depth and credibility to the plot.

Master of None by Sonya Bateman is a good solid read from a debut author, a welcome addition to the Urban Fantasy genre. It is not without its slow segments and could use a bit more world building to add to the story, but the first person male character was done well and entertained me from the start. I don’t know if this book is the start of a series or a stand alone, but Sonya Bateman is an author I will be watching. (less)

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Aug 14, 2012 Amanda Richards rated it 2 of 5 stars

Recommended to Amanda by: Vaginal Fantasy

Shelves: vaginalfantasy, fantasy

OK, so I am very green when it comes to this genre, as in this is the first book about a djinn I have ever read. So this may mean I need to come back to this review at a later time to edit. But for now here is what I think. WARNING: MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!

Alright, my first note is from Chapter 1 page 1 and it reads: "The thief says 'Crud'?? Really?" So after getting into the first 10 pages or so of the story I realize that the protagonist has used the word crud 3 times... So I started a tally. In...more

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Apr 26, 2010 Vickie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: booksthatmakemegowow

O...M...G!!! How hellah excellent was this book?! It has been a really long time since I've enjoyed a book this much. It had the action and excellent characters to move the spectacular story along that I require from any story, but especially the urban fantasy books that I love to read.
This book is such a treasure and I am so glad I found it on Dark Faerie Tales blog for the Debut Urban Fantasy Challenge. The premise sounded fun and completely readable. Little did I know....
I developed a crush...more

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Aug 15, 2012 Erin rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

I don't necessarily like giving one-star reviews. I don't enjoy taking someone's work and highlighting the bad parts, or even admitting that I was unable to finish the book. I think a single star is more reflective of the fact the book wasn't right for me than it is a reflection on the author.

That said, I did read enough of this to feel I can at least tell you what worked and what obviously didn't work for me.

I'll start with what didn't work. Gavyn and his ex-girlfriend. I'm not sure if it's be...more

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Mar 31, 2010 Tori smexys_sidekick rated it 4 of 5 stars

LOVED IT!!! Gave it 4.5/5

I reviewed this with Mandi

Mandi said: "Why I read: Author asked for a review, and I couldn’t pass up a story with a genie. Tori just happened to be reading it at the same time!

Mandi's Favorite Quote: Why couldn’t I get the djinn of lollipops and happiness?

Tori: Hi everyone...it's Tori. Mandi graciously asked me to do a joint review with her on Sonya Bateman's exciting debut novel-Master Of None. I have to say that this book completely took me by surprise. While I expec...more

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Apr 21, 2010 All Things Urban Fantasy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed-by-abigail

Review courtesy of AllThingsUrbanFantasy.blogspot.com

MASTER OF NONE is a wickedly funny, darkly twisted take on the Aladdin story. Walt Disney may not approve, but I certainly do.

Male protagonists in the urban fantasy genre are about as common as tan lines on a vampire. As women are the main readers of this genre that makes sense. Typically, that's how I prefer it, but after spending a few hours inside Donatti's head, I'm ready to bring on the boys. He is endearingly self-deprecating, a bit of a...more Review courtesy of AllThingsUrbanFantasy.blogspot.com

MASTER OF NONE is a wickedly funny, darkly twisted take on the Aladdin story. Walt Disney may not approve, but I certainly do.

Male protagonists in the urban fantasy genre are about as common as tan lines on a vampire. As women are the main readers of this genre that makes sense. Typically, that's how I prefer it, but after spending a few hours inside Donatti's head, I'm ready to bring on the boys. He is endearingly self-deprecating, a bit of a loser, and he knows it. Basically everything about his life generally sucks, and when it doesn't, he's leery.

The relationship between Donatti and the djinn Ian is somewhat reminiscent to the relationship between the horse Bree and his boy Shasta from C.S. Lewis' The Horse and His Boy. Well, with a bunch more swearing of course. Ian gives new meaning to the word arrogant and he treats Donatti pretty much the same I would treat a mosquito that I couldn't reach to swat.

I loved how the details of this world unfolded slowly. By the end of the book, most everything was explained, but I never really had to endure any info dumps.

The back cover description of MASTER OF NONE really doesn't do a great job of conveying the irreverent tone of this book. I like the brief description Sonya gave me in her guest blog better (which you should check out because its basically the scene that occurs right before the book starts): “It’s like Aladdin, only set in modern times, and the thief is a professional with chronic bad luck, and the genie doesn’t grant wishes – actually, he’s more like Jafar than the genie in Aladdin – and there’s a Jasmine, but everybody calls her Jazz, and she’s not a princess, but there is a princess, and...”

I think MASTER OF NONE is a great book for newbies to the genre, or friends you're hoping to convert, as it doesn't initially slam you over the head with supernatural elements. As a longtime lover of the genre, I found it to be a surprisingly fun read. Donatti's narrative voice kept me smiling (and laughing out loud several times) from beginning to end. The next book in this series, Djinn’s Apprentice, “features a cult, a curse, a kidnapping, and some serious blurring of clan lines among the djinn on Earth. Donatti discovers he’s more powerful than he thinks, and Ian learns a thing or two about trust, and why blind revenge isn’t always the answer.” –Sonya Bateman on Debuts & Reviews. No release date yet, but I’m looking forward to it already.

Sexual Content: References to sex. References to homosexuality.(less)

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Aug 29, 2012 Ashley Robinson rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-owned-digital

Note: Read for the Vaginal Fantasy book club

I know this is Bateman's first book, so I hate to be negative about it, but it really wasn't very good. I think Bateman had an interesting concept--and I think a male lead was a good choice here--but this book was very, very elementary. I'm not just talking about plot, which was predictable; I mean, the author's execution was quite poor. The writing read like fanfiction, the pacing of the story was either breakneck or ridiculously slow, and detail was...more

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Apr 16, 2010 VampFanGirl rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review, urban-fantasy

Gavyn Donatti may be the worst thief in Thiefdom but he's still a thief nonetheless and really he can't see himself attempting any other profession. Besides, his track record might be bound to improve if he had any sort of luck on his side but sadly, Donatti has the worst luck as well as the worst timing. Given that Donatti expects...well the worst in every situation, he's rarely surprised these days when it comes to exactly that. But when a seemingly indestructible giant of man saves him twice...more Gavyn Donatti may be the worst thief in Thiefdom but he's still a thief nonetheless and really he can't see himself attempting any other profession. Besides, his track record might be bound to improve if he had any sort of luck on his side but sadly, Donatti has the worst luck as well as the worst timing. Given that Donatti expects...well the worst in every situation, he's rarely surprised these days when it comes to exactly that. But when a seemingly indestructible giant of man saves him twice in less than twelve hours, Donatti thinks his luck may be turning around... That is until it becomes frighteningly obvious that his savior is perhaps the most unluckiest thing to have ever happened him.

Ian is a djinn warrior - better known to humans as a genie - and truly the last person he wants to rely on is a thief which consequently becomes Donatti's nickname. Just a subtle reminder that Ian doesn't agree with Donatti's "profession" nor does he feel comfortable relying on him as he's being forced to do. So, what makes Ian a djinn and not a genie? Well, while a djinn may be similar to a genie (think Aladdin), there'll be no three wishes granted with these djinn warriors but rather the genie term is loosely applied due to the fact that they all have a tether which, of course, resembles the concept of the mythical genie's lamp. And like the lamp, this tether is critical to the djinn for their very survival and if it fell into the hands of another, it could definitely spell their doom. And lastly, like a genie, the djinn also have powers but they are either strengthened or weakened depending upon their lineage.

Very early on, we're altered to the fact that the djinn are not of this world but rather exist in a separate magical realm. So why are these very un-Earthly beings on Earth? Well, that's a long story, one that is drawn out quite well by Ms. Bateman. Details to Ian's existence on Earth - better thought of as imprisonment really - are heartbreaking and you can't help but sympathize with him and the horrible centuries he's been forced to endure trapped on Earth. Yup, centuries, all with the hope of returning home after destroying one particularly nasty djinn line that were previously banished to Earth: The Morai.

Considering Donatti's expect-the-worse mentality, his ease of acceptance with regards to Ian was both believable and important given the fact that the djinn is introduced within the first few pages followed by skyrocketing action. Coincidentally, Ian and Donatti are hoping to eradicate - in essence - the same foe. Lenka, leader of the morai, is Donatti's mortal enemy's employer. Yup, there's that bad luck again and while Donatti would like nothing more than to run for the hills rather than have to endure what is sure to be a very slow and tortuous death at the hands of Trevor (loosing the take he stole doesn't win Donatti any points), a sudden major complication makes an unhappy appearance in the form of Donatti's former flame, Jazz. Thinking he'd never see her again after some really bad luck had him cutting off their fiery relationship, Donatti is shocked to discover that mixed within his fear are some strangely strong protective emotions where Jazz is concerned. This along with Jazz's endangered life has Donatti resolving to do whatever it takes to keep her safe.

Very soon, things turn into one hell of a backwoods car chase with Donatti, Ian, Jazz and two others doing their best to avoid Trevor's henchman, an eerily calm bounty hunter as well as fending off enraged cops all with the goal of bringing down the enemy while staying alive. Being on the run for your life makes planning Trevor's and Lenka's much needed demise difficult but Donatti soon emerges as a surprisingly capable leader amongst a bunch of very resourceful and brave beings. While it may appear that Donatti's luck continues to slide down the hillside as each failed hideout is detected and every boosted car destroyed, in actuality Donatti is acquiring something better than luck and that's a family. Having grown up in orphanages and loosing all his misguided partners in crime, Donatti has lived a lonely life and while his new found partners may initially drag their heels, they can't deny Donatti's incredible drive to make things right not only in their current dire situation but also by doing his best to remedy the past.

Donatti, who began the novel as a bedraggled unlucky thief, ends the story as a truly believable hero and more importantly, he's deserving of the title. Ultimately, his role was the most difficult as he was tested from point A to B and given no quarter by anyone, friend or foe. Having risen from the bottom to the top was no easy climb but Donatti does it with his own comical flare. There's an interesting combination of vulnerability and bravery; he's not a reluctant hero but rather a man that does what he has to do and taking a quote from John McClane in 'Live Free or Die Hard', "That's what makes you that guy". The term hero isn't necessarily a label Donatti craves but rather something that would lead him to shrug and say he did what he had to do for his family, for those he loves and that's what makes him that guy.

My Thoughts:

MASTER OF NONE is nothing short of a combustible, non-stop action thrill ride with the paranormal elements heating up fiercely every step of the way. There is no page that doesn't further the plot or the character's struggles as Ms. Bateman coaxes us along with tantalizing djinn details.

However, despite the intricate plot, I felt more of a spectator rather than a participant but I'm chalking this up to the fact that MASTER OF NONE is my first straight urban fantasy novel. Every other UF book that I've dived into featured a female lead as well as strong romantic elements in the form of a sexy love triangle. MON had no romance to speak of and I was unfamiliar with viewing the world only through the hero's eyes.

Also, I have to admit to some irritation over the severe judgements and antagonism that Donatti continually suffered from all the secondary characters. While this was an ingenious effort on Ms. Bateman's part to portray Donatti's horrible past behavior without going into unnecessary detail, I also felt that maybe it went a little too far. It became apparent to me that what started off as fair anger on the secondary character's part, soon evolves into an outlet for their frustrations and thus led me to become a bit disenchanted with them. Of course Donatti takes their anger all in stride and truly, he feels he deserves it. And while maybe he does or rather did, I think that the way Donatti continued to pull everyone out of danger should have had them reconciling their issues a bit quicker.

In any event, these issues are on an extremely personal scale and truth be told, this was an absolutely stellar debut. Thankfully we've not heard the last of Donatti and his crew for there's a whole lot of evil djinn on Earth that need butt-kickin'. For anyone who lives and breathes for Urban Fantasy or for those that want some definite thrills, I believe you will genuinely enjoy MASTER OF NONE.
(less)

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Aug 23, 2012 Lisa Marsh rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: vaginal-fantasy-hangout, fantasy

I was not a big fan of Master of None. While I felt that there was an inkling on an interesting world building idea about the Djinn and the background, I don't think it was executed very well. The history of the race was confusing and told in one big rush that was hard to follow. The characters also seemed confused, changing their beliefs and opinions very rapidly without any clear reason. Without ever showing me how a characters life was impacted by an event or by information, they simply voice...more

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Apr 22, 2011 Yune rated it 2 of 5 stars

Gavyn's a thief with terrible luck, which is of course why he stumbles into magic and a lot of trouble. Magic in this case being a surly djinn.

As much as I appreciated the fact that the main character was not an ass-kicking female with superpowers and a pair of powerful men drooling over her (let's face it, that's what most urban fantasy these days boils down to)...I didn't find anything else special. Gavyn has an engaging but not compelling voice, and although his non-magical companions felt re...more

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Apr 19, 2011 Hobart rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-reads

I'm way late on this, but really wanted to write something about it, and yet I'm really lazy. So, this isn't going to be as good as it should be...let me start by quoting from the back of the book (or the amazon/goodreads description anyway, think it's what the book had on it):

ONE UNLUCKY THIEF. ONE UNLIKELY GENIE. ONE VERY ODD COUPLE. Gavyn Donatti is the world's unluckiest thief. Just ask all the partners he's lost over the years. And when he misplaces an irreplaceable item he was hired to ste

...more

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Mar 27, 2011 Renee Rearden rated it 4 of 5 stars

Master of None was SOOO much fun to read!

Gavyn Donnatti steals for a living, but that doesn't make him a bad criminal. He doesn't believe in murder and almost never hurts anyone. The fact that every job he plans falls apart (none of the complications are his fault) endears him even more to the reader.

Take his last job for example. Gavyn lost the item his ex boss hired him to steal. The boss thinks Gavyn's lying and plans to extract the item or information of its whereabouts from Gavyn's hyde.

Thi...more

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Apr 23, 2010 Parajunkee.com rated it 4 of 5 stars

In the land that we call Urban Fantasy there seems to be a plethora of leather clad, Glock toting, tough chicks...smoking hot, a bit masochistic but always lovable. Ms. Bateman has proven that boys can hang in this estrogen infused roll, hang and stand-out. Master of None is a super-sized, action-packed, ride that almost had my asthma kicking in because of the intensity. I believe the author just kept on saying..."What can we throw at them next" and wrote it. This novel is very hard-hitting, a l...more

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Apr 01, 2012 Li rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-new-to-me-author, fantasy, read-in-2011, series, urban-fantasy

This debut book with djinns (one of the rarer paranormal creature sightings in UF) was packed full of fast-paced (if slightly gory) action, and it kept my attention throughout.

I found this slightly reminiscent of Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden books (or is that because it's a wisecracking male protagonist in a UF book?). While a few things didn't quite work for me (the rather confusing background to the conflicts (I skimmed), (view spoiler), a...more

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Aug 11, 2012 Dagny rated it 2 of 5 stars

Recommended to Dagny by: Vaginal Fantasy book club

I couldn't get into this book at at all. I knew I was supposed to like the main character, but I didn't, and I found most of his internal musings eye-roll worthy. The whole Djinn-world / culture seemed interesting but wasn't nearly enough of a focus (and mostly I couldn't bear to be inside the main characters head). This book was weird because just describing the story and plot it would sound like something I would really enjoy but I just didn't like the way it was actually executed, particularl...more

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Apr 25, 2011 Maja rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy, male-pov, reviewed-in-2011

This was a pleasant surprise! It’s told from a male POV, and that's very refreshing. There are very few urban fantasy novels with male protagonists. In fact, Harry Dresden is the only one that comes to mind right now.

Gavyn Donatti (or Houdini, as his ex girlfriend calls him) is a lone thief – pretty much anybody who ever came close to him got screwed over in an instant. The problem is, Donatti never does this on purpose, accidents just happen around him. Apparently, Murphy's law is the only law...more

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Sep 16, 2012 Jess rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy

This Urban Fantasy book, the first in a series and the first novel of author Sonya Bateman, was chosen as the August 2012 alt pic for the Vaginal Fantasies book club.

I had high hopes after the first few chapters that the thief (Gavyn) and the djinn (Ian) would have a nice bromance to carry them on their character development journey, but it ended up falling short. There was a great lacking of plot and character development. The characters themselves were not memorable and showed nothing to make...more This Urban Fantasy book, the first in a series and the first novel of author Sonya Bateman, was chosen as the August 2012 alt pic for the Vaginal Fantasies book club.

I had high hopes after the first few chapters that the thief (Gavyn) and the djinn (Ian) would have a nice bromance to carry them on their character development journey, but it ended up falling short. There was a great lacking of plot and character development. The characters themselves were not memorable and showed nothing to make you really root for them, besides just contrasting against how bad the bad guys were. There was a lot of inconsequential action and violence that took place while the characters were just postponing the inevitable final showdown. There were guns pointed at every turn, but there were no serious consequences that affected the main characters directly in order to cause them to grow. Many scenes felt like a rehashing of something we had already read in the previous chapters.

(view spoiler)

The biggest problem I had with this book is that there was extreme gore, violence, and torture scenes. This book may not have enough in the overall story to classify it as horror, but there was enough in the few scenes to make it uncomfortable for people that aren't expecting it or don't want to read about excruciating pain or mutilation.

The writing in general was good, and I had no complaints about the dialogue. I would be interested to read future books if they took place in the djinn world (as that world and the politics were the most rich and captivating part of the story) but I might pass to avoid having to read grotesque torture scenes again.
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Master of None (Gavyn Donatti #1)

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