The Curse Merchant Blog Tour: The Magic in The Curse Merchant by J.P. Sloan

The Magic in The Curse MerchantEvery reader of urban fantasy is ready for magic. On some level, you're going to find something "Other" in urban fantasy. That's what the genre's all about… magic, paranormal beings, ageless horror, or even the odd unicorn all found in a world otherwise recognizable as our own. And every UF property has its own unique "system," as it should. So, what's so unique about the magic in the Dark Choir series? First, I really tried to play it close to the vest when it comes to overt paranormal activity. Most of the magical effects you'll find in The Curse Merchant can be dismissed as coincidence or astoundingly bad luck. But that's the point… in a world that looks just like our own, the only way the supernatural stays contained is to play it cool. Real cool.Dorian Lake, the central character and narrator of The Curse Merchant, describes himself as a student of the hermetic arts… which is to say that his magical training stems from the body of esoteric studies from the lodges and secret orders of the Old World. His is a learned craft, not something that is intrinsic or genetic. In his world, anyone with access to secret knowledge, and the staggering volume of time required, could learn to do what he does. It requires lots of reading, primarily of the banned texts of alchemists and occultists from centuries past, and often in dead languages. Dorian chooses to power his magic through his client's karma. He sees this as a Cosmic check-valve, preventing him from dipping too deep into the pool of consequences. His clients receive a "down payment" of sorts from their karma. If they don't have it coming, they won't get it.His commerce is in two products: hexes and charms. Charms in this series can be described as beneficial effects of limited duration. These may include "glammers," which are charms that affect your physical appearance. Or they could steer your behavior or thinking, such as a confidence or memory charm. Hexes are a completely different animal, though. A hex is an engineered consequence… a Cosmic if/then completely and arbitrarily determined by the practitioner. Hexes always have an out clause, and as Dorian ties the energy source of his hexes to the karma of both the client and the target, the hex will never outstrip what each party deserves.Which is important, because in the Dark Choir universe there is a line to cross… a point where the magic violates the boundaries of the hidden laws. Such magic is called Netherwork, and it's bad news. The power source of all Netherwork is what Dorian's mentor calls "The Dark Choir"… timeless beings of darkness that prey upon human souls. Dorian avoids Netherwork at all costs. He saw how his mentor, a world-class Netherworker, ended. What's more, Netherwork is technically forbidden within the purview of the Presidium, a cabal of New World practitioners founded during the establishment of the United States. This shadow organization follows the Deistic tradition of the Founding Fathers, disallowing any magical intervention into the fate of the nation. They are known for black-bagging and disappearing anyone they feel presents a threat to the hermetic integrity of the United States.Thus we find Dorian operating just within the confines of both Cosmic and political boundaries. And he'll be happy to remain there…
…unless something goes horribly wrong.
Date of Re-Release­­:September 15th, 2014
Cover Artist: ConzpiracyDigital Arts
Goodreads
Description:
Dorian Lake spent years cornering the Baltimore hex-crafting market, using his skills at the hermetic arts to exact karmic justice for those whom the system has failed. He keeps his magic clean and free of soul-corrupting Netherwork, thus avoiding both the karmic blow-back of his practice and the notice of the Presidium, a powerful cabal of practitioners that polices the esoteric arts in America. However, when an unscrupulous Netherworker interferes with both his business and his personal life, Dorian's disarming charisma and hermetic savvy may not be enough to keep his soul out of jeopardy.
His rival, a soul monger named Neil Osterhaus, wouldn't be such a problem were it not for Carmen, Dorian's captivating ex-lover. After two years' absence Carmen arrives at Dorian’s doorstep with a problem: she sold her soul to Osterhaus, and has only two weeks to buy it back. Hoping to win back Carmen's affections, Dorian must find a replacement soul without tainting his own. As Dorian descends into the shadows of Baltimore’s underworld, he must decide how low he is willing to stoop in order to save Carmen from eternal damnation... with the Presidium watching, waiting for him to cross the line.
About The Author: I am a storyteller, eager to transport the reader to strange yet familiar worlds. My writing is dark, fantastical, at times stretching the limits of the human experience, and other times hinting at the monsters lurking under your bed. I write science fiction, urban fantasy, horror, and several shades in between.I am a husband and a father, living in the “wine country” of central Maryland. I’m surrounded by grapevines and cows. During the day I commute to Baltimore, and somehow manage to escape each afternoon with only minor scrapes and bruises. I am also a homebrewer and a certified beer judge. My avocations dovetail nicely!Find J.P. Sloan Online:Website | Facebook | Twitter| Goodreads