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Black City Saint #2
Black City Demon
Since he became the guardian of the Gate between our world and Feirie sixteen hundred years ago, Nick Medea, once Saint George, has battled to keep the darkest Feirie--the Wyld--from invading the mortal plane. With the dragon an unwilling part of him, Nick maintains balance between realms, often at great cost to him and those nearest to him. Nick and his ragtag confederates--including the shape-shifter Fetch and Nick's reincarnated love, Claryce--have battled the Wyld, but mortals as sinister as the darkest Feirie. Now, with Prohibition in full swing and bootlegger wars embattling Chicago, a murderous evil born of the mortal world has turned its attention to the power of the Gate...and Nick himself. Nick must turn again to his most untrustworthy ally: the dragon within. Yet even together they may not be enough to face what was once a man...but is now a creature even dragons may fear. From the Trade Paperback edition.
391 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2017
15 people are currently reading
847 people want to read
About the author
Richard A. Knaak
283 books1,485 followersRichard A. Knaak is the bestselling author of Dragonlance novels, the Dragonrealm and Black City Saint series (his own creations), six novels for Blizzard Entertainment's Diablo series, and six works in the Warcraft universe. He has also written several non-series fantasy books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
March 19, 2018
Seems like I just can't stay away from these noir-historical-fantasy-detective blends... This is the second book in the Black City series; I've already read, loved, and reviewed Black City Saint.
What to Expect
This book, while a separate adventure, continues straight from the previous one and builds up on the events therein. You can expect to learn more about Nick Medea's past, the world of Feirie, and Chicago's history.
Without spoilers, this novel expounds on a dark episode in Chicago's history (I'll only say unrelated to the gang-wars), whilst giving it a Feirie twist.
What I liked
As with the first volume, the plot is fast and twisty (this time picking up from the get-go). Once you start you just can't stop. Nick is navigating the complex world that Knaak created, and we given tantalising glimpses into his past.
The level of historical detail is as amazing as before, both in support for the main plot points and in weaving the rich background. Knaak paints a truly believable world, in style, architecture, personas, and events.
What to be aware of
This is a noir mystery. It is told in the classic hard-boiled style, as a first-person POV. It has gruesome bits, and our intrepid protagonist is not afraid to deal with them. Speaking of the protagonist, expect the attitudes and atmosphere commensurate with the 1920's, especially in dealing with gender and race issues.
The plot twists, which I find fantastic, are also not for the faint of heart. There is a lot going on, and as Nick tries to unravel events and their causes we are taken through a ride in both the human and Feirie realms.
As this is book two, I would strongly recommend you read them in order.
Summary
I think "WHEN IS THE NEXT BOOK OUT?!?" sums it up pretty well. I want to know more about Nick's past, I want to see more of prohibition-era Chicago through his eyes (more gang wars!), and I want to learn more about Claryce and Feirie.
--
Assaph Mehr, author of Murder In Absentia: A story of Togas, Daggers, and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.
What to Expect
This book, while a separate adventure, continues straight from the previous one and builds up on the events therein. You can expect to learn more about Nick Medea's past, the world of Feirie, and Chicago's history.
Without spoilers, this novel expounds on a dark episode in Chicago's history (I'll only say unrelated to the gang-wars), whilst giving it a Feirie twist.
What I liked
As with the first volume, the plot is fast and twisty (this time picking up from the get-go). Once you start you just can't stop. Nick is navigating the complex world that Knaak created, and we given tantalising glimpses into his past.
The level of historical detail is as amazing as before, both in support for the main plot points and in weaving the rich background. Knaak paints a truly believable world, in style, architecture, personas, and events.
What to be aware of
This is a noir mystery. It is told in the classic hard-boiled style, as a first-person POV. It has gruesome bits, and our intrepid protagonist is not afraid to deal with them. Speaking of the protagonist, expect the attitudes and atmosphere commensurate with the 1920's, especially in dealing with gender and race issues.
The plot twists, which I find fantastic, are also not for the faint of heart. There is a lot going on, and as Nick tries to unravel events and their causes we are taken through a ride in both the human and Feirie realms.
As this is book two, I would strongly recommend you read them in order.
Summary
I think "WHEN IS THE NEXT BOOK OUT?!?" sums it up pretty well. I want to know more about Nick's past, I want to see more of prohibition-era Chicago through his eyes (more gang wars!), and I want to learn more about Claryce and Feirie.
--
Assaph Mehr, author of Murder In Absentia: A story of Togas, Daggers, and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.
March 12, 2017
I had high hopes for Black City Demon and I was pleasantly surprised to find that it lived up to my expectations. Once again, the art deco cover was gorgeous and Knaak’s skillful incorporation of historical events really enhanced the appeal of the story for me. I had a good bit of fun researching The Beast of Chicago and his reign of terror. There’s nothing more chilling than realizing what creeped you out in a work of fiction actually happened!
The story picks up not long after the events of Black City Saint, where Nick and the dragon burned Oberon to a crisp and set the Gate to rights. Of course, things didn’t just return to normal. The Frost Moon is followed by a wake that has drawn a very nasty individual back into the mortal plane. The Beast of Chicago, a serial killer operating around the time of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, wasn’t quite as dead as he seemed when he was hanged in 1896. The magic of the Frost Moon’s wake has allowed him (and the ghosts of those he murdered) to ‘live’ once again and now he’s trying to fully regain his life by murdering once again, but this time his victim list includes high fey. The Beast, aka Alexander Bond, is also after Nick because he needs the dragon’s power to fully anchor himself to life once again.
Black City Demon introduced several new characters and more clearly defined several others. Unfortunately, the characters that became better fleshed out weren’t the ones I was hoping for! I’d hoped that Claryce would let on more about her life, but she remained much the same. She remains the capable, stubborn woman that we met in Black City Saint. Another character that I had anticipated a greater role for was Officer Cortez, but he just shows up at all the crime scenes Nick happens to be at. I really wish Nick would let the poor guy in on the secret!! Kravayik ended up having the greatest amount of growth in the book, simply because he had a past encounter with The Beast.
Overall, I thought Black City Demon had a much more captivating storyline that Black City Saint. I found myself horrified by The Beast and legitimately creeped out on several occasions throughout the book, but the lack of character growth/definition kept me from rating this higher. I still think a prequel series would be both beneficial and awesome, especially considering that the ending of Black City Demon implied that someone from Nick’s distant past may show up in the third installment.
The story picks up not long after the events of Black City Saint, where Nick and the dragon burned Oberon to a crisp and set the Gate to rights. Of course, things didn’t just return to normal. The Frost Moon is followed by a wake that has drawn a very nasty individual back into the mortal plane. The Beast of Chicago, a serial killer operating around the time of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, wasn’t quite as dead as he seemed when he was hanged in 1896. The magic of the Frost Moon’s wake has allowed him (and the ghosts of those he murdered) to ‘live’ once again and now he’s trying to fully regain his life by murdering once again, but this time his victim list includes high fey. The Beast, aka Alexander Bond, is also after Nick because he needs the dragon’s power to fully anchor himself to life once again.
Black City Demon introduced several new characters and more clearly defined several others. Unfortunately, the characters that became better fleshed out weren’t the ones I was hoping for! I’d hoped that Claryce would let on more about her life, but she remained much the same. She remains the capable, stubborn woman that we met in Black City Saint. Another character that I had anticipated a greater role for was Officer Cortez, but he just shows up at all the crime scenes Nick happens to be at. I really wish Nick would let the poor guy in on the secret!! Kravayik ended up having the greatest amount of growth in the book, simply because he had a past encounter with The Beast.
Overall, I thought Black City Demon had a much more captivating storyline that Black City Saint. I found myself horrified by The Beast and legitimately creeped out on several occasions throughout the book, but the lack of character growth/definition kept me from rating this higher. I still think a prequel series would be both beneficial and awesome, especially considering that the ending of Black City Demon implied that someone from Nick’s distant past may show up in the third installment.
April 29, 2017
Black City Demon is the follow up to Richard Knaak ‘s fanciful urban fantasy Black City Saint, continuing the tale of Nick Medea, the reincarnated spirit of St George and the reluctant guardian of the Fae. After his defeat of Oberon and securing the safety of 1920s Chicago (and the human world) , Nick is tasked finding and defeating another enemy of both worlds, this time something not of either world.
Again, Knaak’s snappy dialogue and noir narrative take the reader along on a journey well suited to the gangster era it is set in. familiar characters return as well as new allies and antagonists.
Just as innovative and action packed as the first book, this series has become a must read for urban fantasy fans. Miss this at your own peril.
Again, Knaak’s snappy dialogue and noir narrative take the reader along on a journey well suited to the gangster era it is set in. familiar characters return as well as new allies and antagonists.
Just as innovative and action packed as the first book, this series has become a must read for urban fantasy fans. Miss this at your own peril.
April 27, 2017
Ever have the experience where a topic or word you've never heard of before gets brought up once and then you keep hearing it? Yeah, that was me and the "Murder Hotel". I heard a podcast all about it right before reading this book, of which it is a big feature.
I'm a big fan of Knaak and so I've been willing to overlook my usual reluctance to pick up fantasy novels set in post-industrial revolution times and he's repaid that trust with a couple really fun books. This continues the story of Nick Madea, aka St. George, and his neverending job of guarding the Gate between this world and the Faerie. Which just happens to be in 1920's Chicago. So there's the magic side that is interwoven into the gangs and criminal element that was active during Prohibition in Chicago during this era.
I really enjoy the characters of these two books. Interestingly, Knaak has always seemed to have sidekicks to his heroes that I've really liked. Whether that's been Kaz, Delbin, Shade, or now Fetch, they always bring some humor and loyalty that has endeared them all to me. Nick is an interesting character by himself as he is a saint and yet has a hard time forgiving. He wants to stay away from Claryce, the reincarnated woman he first loved as Georgius, but is inexorably drawn to her despite the danger that surrounds him. And then there's the dragon.
Knaak has also done a good job of world building in these books. There is a history to the characters that's written into the current story that gives them a lot of depth and sent me, AGAIN, to the internet to make sure I didn't miss a book.
In all, I enjoyed this book a lot and I'll be looking for the next.
I'm a big fan of Knaak and so I've been willing to overlook my usual reluctance to pick up fantasy novels set in post-industrial revolution times and he's repaid that trust with a couple really fun books. This continues the story of Nick Madea, aka St. George, and his neverending job of guarding the Gate between this world and the Faerie. Which just happens to be in 1920's Chicago. So there's the magic side that is interwoven into the gangs and criminal element that was active during Prohibition in Chicago during this era.
I really enjoy the characters of these two books. Interestingly, Knaak has always seemed to have sidekicks to his heroes that I've really liked. Whether that's been Kaz, Delbin, Shade, or now Fetch, they always bring some humor and loyalty that has endeared them all to me. Nick is an interesting character by himself as he is a saint and yet has a hard time forgiving. He wants to stay away from Claryce, the reincarnated woman he first loved as Georgius, but is inexorably drawn to her despite the danger that surrounds him. And then there's the dragon.
Knaak has also done a good job of world building in these books. There is a history to the characters that's written into the current story that gives them a lot of depth and sent me, AGAIN, to the internet to make sure I didn't miss a book.
In all, I enjoyed this book a lot and I'll be looking for the next.
February 16, 2017
This is exactly what I was hoping for the sequel to Black City Saint! It was riveting from the beginning, and I truly fell in love with Mr. Medea's ever returning love. She is so strong, and takes everything she goes through without cracking. Nick is smart and as loyal to her as a true saint would be. These characters have a special place in my heart, and I can't wait to read more about them.
to see what else I thought, you can head to
http://ashleyblodgett.blogspot.com/20...
to see what else I thought, you can head to
http://ashleyblodgett.blogspot.com/20...
February 2, 2017
Review to be posted in the spring newsletter of the Historical Novel Society at www.historicalnovelsociety.org with Goodreads to follow.
November 27, 2017
4 Stars
Review:
I feel like my review is going to be somewhat repetitive since I liked all the same things that I did about the first book, except I liked this one even more.
I once again really liked the combination of the Prohibition Era, Catholicism, Feirie, and dragons (Nick is Saint George, forced to be something close to immortal and guard the Gate to Feirie after slaying the dragon that was guarding it before, as well as forced to share his body with the dragon). It’s just so interesting and meshed together in a way that works really well without feeling cluttered. And the Prohibition Era setting isn’t just an arbitrary background, the author really uses it in the story.
But what made me enjoy this one even more than the last was that the characters shined more. I feel like I got more from Nick this time, more depth, more personality, more emotion. Not all of it was good, but I don’t mean that in a bad way. I just mean that he’s a good guy, but he’s got flaws, and I like that. Or maybe I just noticed more or understood him better this time for some reason. But regardless, instead of dry, I could see that he’s actually just very disenchanted and, as Fetch said, hard-boiled. And I can’t really blame him after everything he’s witnessed and experienced. He also holds grudges, pushes people away, and gets frustrated often—but that’s another thing I can hardly blame him for since he does have a lot of frustrating things to deal with, like his so-called loyal followers keeping information from him, the enigmatic queen of Feirie and her servants who constantly speak in riddles, the mysterious Michael who seems to have a hand in many things but never gives a solid answer about it, a dragon who pretty much uses every opportunity and weakness possible to try and take control of the body they share, and, well, just Fetch in general sometimes. I feel like Nick even had a bit of character growth, realizing that he’s not alone, that it’s ok to rely on his friends for help. And however hard-boiled he may be, Nick cares about people, especially those he’s close to, like Claryce and Fetch.
Speaking of Fetch though, I can’t say he’s my favorite character, he has issues following instructions, plus there was the thing that happened in Book 1, but Nick is actually kind of harsh toward him. Nick gets frustrated when Fetch acts like a dog and does dog things, but then he forbids him from doing human things or going too close to humans and makes Fetch live on dumpster rats because he doesn’t even want him eating human food. Poor Fetch can’t win no matter what he does. And really I can’t blame him for wanting to eat good food or listen to sports on the radio or get any sort of enjoyment out life. I mean, the poor creature can’t even speak in human language to anyone unless Nick is near since he’s stuck in a kind of canine form. That’s not a complaint about the book though, just some of my thoughts.
As for Claryce, she still didn’t seem to have much depth beyond her feistiness and stubbornness, but I did once again love how she always jumped in to help when they ended up in a fight instead of cowering and letting Nick get hurt.
And the dragon was still his usual, fascinating, entertaining self. I just can’t bring myself to dislike him, even if he does continually try to take over Nick’s body. I love the dragon’s terrible commentary on things and the hidden conversations they have inside Nick’s mind.
I did find the mystery and all the magic surrounding it to be kind of complicated and confusing though. I didn’t quite understand all the connections or what exactly was happening in every scene near the end. That could’ve just been a “me” issue though since I do get confused easily in books with intricate mysteries/plots/magics. And I still understood plenty to enjoy the story.
So overall, I really enjoyed this book! The characters continued to grow me, and, much like the first, this was an interesting and perfectly blended combination of Feirie, Catholicism, dragons, the Prohibition Era, mystery, and magic!
Recommended For:
Fans of Book 1 in Richard A. Knaak's Black City Saint series. Anyone who likes urban fantasy, fae, dragons, Catholicism, the Prohibition Era, and complex relationships.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
Review:
I feel like my review is going to be somewhat repetitive since I liked all the same things that I did about the first book, except I liked this one even more.
I once again really liked the combination of the Prohibition Era, Catholicism, Feirie, and dragons (Nick is Saint George, forced to be something close to immortal and guard the Gate to Feirie after slaying the dragon that was guarding it before, as well as forced to share his body with the dragon). It’s just so interesting and meshed together in a way that works really well without feeling cluttered. And the Prohibition Era setting isn’t just an arbitrary background, the author really uses it in the story.
But what made me enjoy this one even more than the last was that the characters shined more. I feel like I got more from Nick this time, more depth, more personality, more emotion. Not all of it was good, but I don’t mean that in a bad way. I just mean that he’s a good guy, but he’s got flaws, and I like that. Or maybe I just noticed more or understood him better this time for some reason. But regardless, instead of dry, I could see that he’s actually just very disenchanted and, as Fetch said, hard-boiled. And I can’t really blame him after everything he’s witnessed and experienced. He also holds grudges, pushes people away, and gets frustrated often—but that’s another thing I can hardly blame him for since he does have a lot of frustrating things to deal with, like his so-called loyal followers keeping information from him, the enigmatic queen of Feirie and her servants who constantly speak in riddles, the mysterious Michael who seems to have a hand in many things but never gives a solid answer about it, a dragon who pretty much uses every opportunity and weakness possible to try and take control of the body they share, and, well, just Fetch in general sometimes. I feel like Nick even had a bit of character growth, realizing that he’s not alone, that it’s ok to rely on his friends for help. And however hard-boiled he may be, Nick cares about people, especially those he’s close to, like Claryce and Fetch.
“Sounds like quite a blow they’re going to. . . .”
I held back a growl. “I meant about Michael.”
“He’s going to a meadow with his son. That sounds like a nice time, Master Nicholas. Could we go to a meadow sometime?”
“Are you sure you aren’t really a dog?”
Speaking of Fetch though, I can’t say he’s my favorite character, he has issues following instructions, plus there was the thing that happened in Book 1, but Nick is actually kind of harsh toward him. Nick gets frustrated when Fetch acts like a dog and does dog things, but then he forbids him from doing human things or going too close to humans and makes Fetch live on dumpster rats because he doesn’t even want him eating human food. Poor Fetch can’t win no matter what he does. And really I can’t blame him for wanting to eat good food or listen to sports on the radio or get any sort of enjoyment out life. I mean, the poor creature can’t even speak in human language to anyone unless Nick is near since he’s stuck in a kind of canine form. That’s not a complaint about the book though, just some of my thoughts.
As for Claryce, she still didn’t seem to have much depth beyond her feistiness and stubbornness, but I did once again love how she always jumped in to help when they ended up in a fight instead of cowering and letting Nick get hurt.
And the dragon was still his usual, fascinating, entertaining self. I just can’t bring myself to dislike him, even if he does continually try to take over Nick’s body. I love the dragon’s terrible commentary on things and the hidden conversations they have inside Nick’s mind.
[I] could scare the truth out of him, if you let me . . . or we could perhaps burn him a little . . . just a little, I promise . . . .
I did find the mystery and all the magic surrounding it to be kind of complicated and confusing though. I didn’t quite understand all the connections or what exactly was happening in every scene near the end. That could’ve just been a “me” issue though since I do get confused easily in books with intricate mysteries/plots/magics. And I still understood plenty to enjoy the story.
So overall, I really enjoyed this book! The characters continued to grow me, and, much like the first, this was an interesting and perfectly blended combination of Feirie, Catholicism, dragons, the Prohibition Era, mystery, and magic!
Recommended For:
Fans of Book 1 in Richard A. Knaak's Black City Saint series. Anyone who likes urban fantasy, fae, dragons, Catholicism, the Prohibition Era, and complex relationships.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
April 15, 2020
Once again, Richad A Knaak delivers an amazing experience!
One part prohibition-era noir, one part mystery, one part fantasy adventure, this one will keep you guessing all the way to the end!
Now, let me talk about the audiobook narrator for a moment.
The majority of Joshua Saxon's work that I've heard has been read predominantly in his (presumably natural?) British accent, so even with having listened to the first book to prepare me, it was still a bit of a shock to hear him use an essentially neutral American accent (or lack thereof) for this book.
That being said, as always, Saxon's voices are excellently crafted with brilliant accents. His vocal inflections are near perfect, and his tempo changes are very effective.
This one picks up a short while after the previous book, but not too long. I was a bit disappointed to find that Nick has gone back to trying to keep Claryce out of harm's way, but I understand the deep seated personal reasons that he does so.
In terms of character, we get to know our existing characters a whole lot better in this book, Claryce, Fetch, and the detective in particular. I find myself really enjoying this diverse cast, and the way they have been brought to life for the audiobook is absolutely fantastic!
We are introduced to a few fascinating new characters, which was awesome, especially the ones that we've heard about before but are meeting for the first time.
In true Richard Knaak style, every time I thought I had figured out where things were going, some new piece of information would come to light that completely shakes up everything I think I know and paints the entire story in a whole different light!
If there's one thing I appreciate about Richard Knaak's writing, it would have to be that. The fact that there's always something deeper. There's always another layer to peel back, and when it happens your whole understanding of the story shifts.
This series has actually forced me to re-evaluate my aversion to fae-based stories.
I am normally quite averse to them as a general rule. I suspect it's because I've read one too many books about fae that was just full of cliches and over-used tropes and lacked any sort of originality.
Not so here. Knaak does something with the whole idea of fae and faerie that I've never seen before and I can't help but be fascinated by it.
If I had to choose something to critique in these books, it would probably be the stereo-typing of the fae themselves. There are a handful of exceptions, of course, but in the main the fae as presented here and universally self-serving and care nothing for humanity. Not that this is in itself bad or even unrealistic. Humans do this to pretty much everything that we consider beneath us. But I was hoping for just a bit more individuality among the fae. A nice mix of good, evil, and neutrality would have been an improvement.
But that's it.
Everything else about this series is absolutely fantastic. Definitely one of the two best Urban Fantasies I've ever read (and no, the other is NOT Jim Butcher).
I think this brings us to talking about the ending.
While it doesn't quite have the pomp, flair, or "blockbuster" quality of the ending to the first book, in many ways this one is superior. The ending felt much more personal, much more devastating, and vastly more satisfying in just about every way.
I cannot recommend this book and series highly enough.
I can't wait to see the final book out in audio!
One part prohibition-era noir, one part mystery, one part fantasy adventure, this one will keep you guessing all the way to the end!
Now, let me talk about the audiobook narrator for a moment.
The majority of Joshua Saxon's work that I've heard has been read predominantly in his (presumably natural?) British accent, so even with having listened to the first book to prepare me, it was still a bit of a shock to hear him use an essentially neutral American accent (or lack thereof) for this book.
That being said, as always, Saxon's voices are excellently crafted with brilliant accents. His vocal inflections are near perfect, and his tempo changes are very effective.
This one picks up a short while after the previous book, but not too long. I was a bit disappointed to find that Nick has gone back to trying to keep Claryce out of harm's way, but I understand the deep seated personal reasons that he does so.
In terms of character, we get to know our existing characters a whole lot better in this book, Claryce, Fetch, and the detective in particular. I find myself really enjoying this diverse cast, and the way they have been brought to life for the audiobook is absolutely fantastic!
We are introduced to a few fascinating new characters, which was awesome, especially the ones that we've heard about before but are meeting for the first time.
In true Richard Knaak style, every time I thought I had figured out where things were going, some new piece of information would come to light that completely shakes up everything I think I know and paints the entire story in a whole different light!
If there's one thing I appreciate about Richard Knaak's writing, it would have to be that. The fact that there's always something deeper. There's always another layer to peel back, and when it happens your whole understanding of the story shifts.
This series has actually forced me to re-evaluate my aversion to fae-based stories.
I am normally quite averse to them as a general rule. I suspect it's because I've read one too many books about fae that was just full of cliches and over-used tropes and lacked any sort of originality.
Not so here. Knaak does something with the whole idea of fae and faerie that I've never seen before and I can't help but be fascinated by it.
If I had to choose something to critique in these books, it would probably be the stereo-typing of the fae themselves. There are a handful of exceptions, of course, but in the main the fae as presented here and universally self-serving and care nothing for humanity. Not that this is in itself bad or even unrealistic. Humans do this to pretty much everything that we consider beneath us. But I was hoping for just a bit more individuality among the fae. A nice mix of good, evil, and neutrality would have been an improvement.
But that's it.
Everything else about this series is absolutely fantastic. Definitely one of the two best Urban Fantasies I've ever read (and no, the other is NOT Jim Butcher).
I think this brings us to talking about the ending.
While it doesn't quite have the pomp, flair, or "blockbuster" quality of the ending to the first book, in many ways this one is superior. The ending felt much more personal, much more devastating, and vastly more satisfying in just about every way.
I cannot recommend this book and series highly enough.
I can't wait to see the final book out in audio!
February 27, 2020
A lot of the books I review are four stars or just under it. This one is solid four. Well written: characters stay in character, action scenes are well done, same with descriptions.
A different tale set as a noir story. As usual there are twists even though not a lot of them in this one. Knaak could go a little deeper than he did but still a worthy read. There is some history here too which is good.
I fully recommend it. Read the first book first-this is the second of a trilogy-but you still would be able to figure this one out if you didn't.
A different tale set as a noir story. As usual there are twists even though not a lot of them in this one. Knaak could go a little deeper than he did but still a worthy read. There is some history here too which is good.
I fully recommend it. Read the first book first-this is the second of a trilogy-but you still would be able to figure this one out if you didn't.
March 30, 2017
He's baaaaack!!!
A ghost hunting saint, a dragon, a dame, a lycanthrope channeling his inner Jimmy Cagney, and ghosts, lots and lots of ghosts, join forces to rid the prohibition era windy city of a demon serial killer. Say what??? Put it all together in a good old fashioned noir and you get one freakishly fun read!
There is absolutely nothing better than an accomplished author like Richard Knaak stepping outside the norm and putting a truly unique series together. Black City Demon and its predecessor Black City Saint are a definite must read. Particularly if you're looking for something off beat yet well written.
Knaak weaves the implausible storyline in a Chicago that truly existed. Capone, Moran, Weiss and America's fist serial killer all make appearances in the novels and are described in a way that only a resident of the White/Black city could.
If Dragonrealm didn't make you a fan, the Black City novels certainly will.
A ghost hunting saint, a dragon, a dame, a lycanthrope channeling his inner Jimmy Cagney, and ghosts, lots and lots of ghosts, join forces to rid the prohibition era windy city of a demon serial killer. Say what??? Put it all together in a good old fashioned noir and you get one freakishly fun read!
There is absolutely nothing better than an accomplished author like Richard Knaak stepping outside the norm and putting a truly unique series together. Black City Demon and its predecessor Black City Saint are a definite must read. Particularly if you're looking for something off beat yet well written.
Knaak weaves the implausible storyline in a Chicago that truly existed. Capone, Moran, Weiss and America's fist serial killer all make appearances in the novels and are described in a way that only a resident of the White/Black city could.
If Dragonrealm didn't make you a fan, the Black City novels certainly will.
May 9, 2017
Minor Spoiler
I say minor because the secret villain's identity is telegraphed very heavily throughout... but still its a spoiler.
For some reason, Chicago seems to be the go-to city for urban fantasy - starting with Butcher and going forward. Yet, this is the first series that actually makes Chicago a character in the novels.
Taking place during prohibition, this the second novel in the series sees the protagonist, Nick Medea aka St. George (of Dragon fame) battling an infamous serial killer (based on a real person, c.f. The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America) who has gotten hold of dark powers.
Great fun and, unlike most Chicago based novels, really felt (to me at least) like it actually took place in Chicago.
I say minor because the secret villain's identity is telegraphed very heavily throughout... but still its a spoiler.
For some reason, Chicago seems to be the go-to city for urban fantasy - starting with Butcher and going forward. Yet, this is the first series that actually makes Chicago a character in the novels.
Taking place during prohibition, this the second novel in the series sees the protagonist, Nick Medea aka St. George (of Dragon fame) battling an infamous serial killer (based on a real person, c.f. The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America) who has gotten hold of dark powers.
Great fun and, unlike most Chicago based novels, really felt (to me at least) like it actually took place in Chicago.
December 30, 2022
A fantastic story of 1920s Chicago and the urban fantasy supernatural things that go bump in the night. Nick Medea is the guy to protect the world against them and the Guardian of the Gate to the Fae world. I really enjoy these books and think everyone should check them out.
October 18, 2019
Having barely escaped with his life after helping defeat an attempted coup in the land of Feirie, you’d be forgiven for thinking Nick Medea might seize the opportunity to take a well-earned break.
Oh, if only being the Guardian of the Gate between realms was ever that easy.
Not only is it necessary for Nick to increase his efforts – balancing the investigation of paranormal events during the upheaval caused by a gang warfare laced prohibition, against warding off repeated incursions from the Wyld – but, it seems, he also has to contend with a full-on attack from an incubuslike creature founded on the mortal plane that’s set its sights on subverting all life on both sides of the Gate.
Who could this illusive monster be? Why is it so determined to strike at supposedly undefeatable foes? And how do these events tie into a horrific spate of murders committed more than thirty years previously?
One thing’s for sure, life’s never dull for Nick and the gang who once again get caught in the middle of a titanic battle that threatens the very fabric of reality.
Hold onto your hats. This is urban fantasy at its best, where fact, fiction and dark humor are plausibly woven together in a way that’ll guarantee you’ll want to take a second look at those shadows lurking in the corner.
Superb stuff, and tremendously good fun!
Oh, if only being the Guardian of the Gate between realms was ever that easy.
Not only is it necessary for Nick to increase his efforts – balancing the investigation of paranormal events during the upheaval caused by a gang warfare laced prohibition, against warding off repeated incursions from the Wyld – but, it seems, he also has to contend with a full-on attack from an incubuslike creature founded on the mortal plane that’s set its sights on subverting all life on both sides of the Gate.
Who could this illusive monster be? Why is it so determined to strike at supposedly undefeatable foes? And how do these events tie into a horrific spate of murders committed more than thirty years previously?
One thing’s for sure, life’s never dull for Nick and the gang who once again get caught in the middle of a titanic battle that threatens the very fabric of reality.
Hold onto your hats. This is urban fantasy at its best, where fact, fiction and dark humor are plausibly woven together in a way that’ll guarantee you’ll want to take a second look at those shadows lurking in the corner.
Superb stuff, and tremendously good fun!
July 18, 2017
“Black City Demon” (Pyr, $18, 365 pages) is a reset of Kevin Hearne’s popular Iron Druid Chronicles, and volume two of this series pretty much lives up to its progenitor.
Richard Knaak is a veteran writer, and the pages turn in Prohibition-era Chicago, where a long-lived Nick Medea, who hosts a dragon in his brain that constantly wants to take over the body they share, battles an assortment of ghosts, demons and other urban fantasy stalwarts.
And in yet another homage to the Iron Druid Chronicles, Medea even has a dog-like companion who serves as a comic foil as well as a key figure in the constant action scenes. So basically it comes down to this: If you have read and enjoyed the Iron Druid Chronicles, you will like “Black City Demon” and the first volume, “Black City Saint.” If you haven’t read either, I would suggest starting with Hearne’s “Haunted,” as the original has a little bit more to offer.
Richard Knaak is a veteran writer, and the pages turn in Prohibition-era Chicago, where a long-lived Nick Medea, who hosts a dragon in his brain that constantly wants to take over the body they share, battles an assortment of ghosts, demons and other urban fantasy stalwarts.
And in yet another homage to the Iron Druid Chronicles, Medea even has a dog-like companion who serves as a comic foil as well as a key figure in the constant action scenes. So basically it comes down to this: If you have read and enjoyed the Iron Druid Chronicles, you will like “Black City Demon” and the first volume, “Black City Saint.” If you haven’t read either, I would suggest starting with Hearne’s “Haunted,” as the original has a little bit more to offer.
May 22, 2017
This continues the adventures of Nick Medea, sometimes known as St. George, acting as guardian to the gate between the human world and Fairy, in Prohibition-era Chicago. The second book is often the proving ground of a series, because the world is no longer so novel but large arcs aren't ready to be concluded; it all comes down to the characters and the "case of the week," so to speak.
I liked the book, but not quite as much as I liked the first one. I have developed somewhat of a limited tolerance for characters whose inability or reluctance to communicate leads to their own predicament; Nick switches erratically between demanding answers of those about him to telling them to shut up or avoiding them. Some parts are justified in the book by having him influenced to excessive anger or rage, but nonetheless. The villain in the piece is suitably horrific and the case involved one of the more memorable bits of Chicago true-crime lore, but it also seemed like there were too many 'mystery characters' floating around.
I liked the book, but not quite as much as I liked the first one. I have developed somewhat of a limited tolerance for characters whose inability or reluctance to communicate leads to their own predicament; Nick switches erratically between demanding answers of those about him to telling them to shut up or avoiding them. Some parts are justified in the book by having him influenced to excessive anger or rage, but nonetheless. The villain in the piece is suitably horrific and the case involved one of the more memorable bits of Chicago true-crime lore, but it also seemed like there were too many 'mystery characters' floating around.
December 17, 2017
I enjoyed this, the sequel to Black City Saint. Prohibition fantasy where St George and the Dragon continue to fight to protect the gate. This time the danger comes from a different direction and there is much mythos building - inc the history of St George and his reincarnating love interest.
If you like Dresden it is for certain you'll love this!
If you like Dresden it is for certain you'll love this!
July 20, 2021
Better than book one. Here's the review - https://www.alwroteabook.com/2020/08/...
October 3, 2019
Another OK -- but far from great -- entry in this series.
Set just a few weeks after the first in the series, Black City Saint, this novel follows main character Nick Medea, the nom de guerre used by the historical Saint George in 1920s Chicago, as he guards the Gate between the mortal world and the Feirie realm. Nick, along with his sidekick, Fetch (a canine-like shapeshifter Feirie exile), and his love interest, Claryce (the latest in a long series of reincarnations of St. George's damsel Princess Cleolinda from 1600 years before), battle a serial killer who has risen from the grave some decades after being executed for a series of grisly murders. The bad guy somehow taps into the lifeblood of Feirie to aid his schemes not only for resurrection, but for immense power, causing all kinds of magical problems and illusions to haunt the protagonists. The plot's a decent one, as there's some good action and a compellingly dastardly villain, but the story suffers from some of the same drawbacks as the first in the series.
Nick continues his frustrating "I must keep secrets from those I'm closest to, even though they're in danger from not knowing" tendencies (yet has the temerity to be offended when others keep secrets from him). Despite Claryce's proven abilities to handle herself in a dangerous situation in the first novel, Nick still insists on letting his paternalistic side come to the fore by trying to exclude Claryce from any outing with even the hint of danger (yet somehow needs her help more than once to survive his encounters). Nick, a man with 1600 years of military and magical experience, seems to be surprised by every ambush, walking into each situation as though he were a novice (and, again, being disarmed of his sword -- his MAGIC sword that is bound to him through Feirie power -- more than once). At times, the author seems to be more concerned with describing 1920s era cars, athletes, movie stars, and slang than making the plot progress clearly, as the name-dropping doesn't come in an organic way, but feels more shoe-horned into the story to force an air of temporal authenticity. As with the first book, the major plot points spell out a good story, but the awkwardness of the way those plot points are connected left me a tad underwhelmed.
I also continue to have major issues with the writing mechanics of this series, all of which could have been cured with a good revision by an editorial eye. We can disagree about the set-in-stone nature of rules like the prohibition on split infinitives, or the use of the change-of-subject commas, or not ending a sentence with a preposition, or any of a host of other grammar, punctuation, or syntax sins, but we can all agree that the job of the author is to make his or her story understandable and believable to the reader. And if not following those rules makes the story unclear or difficult to understand, then the author owes it to him- or herself, and to the reader, to follow the rules to the extent possible to make the story clear. This book, while not the most egregious offender I've ever read, certainly had a noticeable lack of adherence to the rules that made the writing at times a thick swamp though which to slog.
I'm not sorry I read this book, and I'll read the third in the series because the plots are fairly interesting, but it has quite a way to go before it gets my full recommendation.
Thanks to Pyr (and my favorite Book Fairy) for providing me with a copy of this book.
Set just a few weeks after the first in the series, Black City Saint, this novel follows main character Nick Medea, the nom de guerre used by the historical Saint George in 1920s Chicago, as he guards the Gate between the mortal world and the Feirie realm. Nick, along with his sidekick, Fetch (a canine-like shapeshifter Feirie exile), and his love interest, Claryce (the latest in a long series of reincarnations of St. George's damsel Princess Cleolinda from 1600 years before), battle a serial killer who has risen from the grave some decades after being executed for a series of grisly murders. The bad guy somehow taps into the lifeblood of Feirie to aid his schemes not only for resurrection, but for immense power, causing all kinds of magical problems and illusions to haunt the protagonists. The plot's a decent one, as there's some good action and a compellingly dastardly villain, but the story suffers from some of the same drawbacks as the first in the series.
Nick continues his frustrating "I must keep secrets from those I'm closest to, even though they're in danger from not knowing" tendencies (yet has the temerity to be offended when others keep secrets from him). Despite Claryce's proven abilities to handle herself in a dangerous situation in the first novel, Nick still insists on letting his paternalistic side come to the fore by trying to exclude Claryce from any outing with even the hint of danger (yet somehow needs her help more than once to survive his encounters). Nick, a man with 1600 years of military and magical experience, seems to be surprised by every ambush, walking into each situation as though he were a novice (and, again, being disarmed of his sword -- his MAGIC sword that is bound to him through Feirie power -- more than once). At times, the author seems to be more concerned with describing 1920s era cars, athletes, movie stars, and slang than making the plot progress clearly, as the name-dropping doesn't come in an organic way, but feels more shoe-horned into the story to force an air of temporal authenticity. As with the first book, the major plot points spell out a good story, but the awkwardness of the way those plot points are connected left me a tad underwhelmed.
I also continue to have major issues with the writing mechanics of this series, all of which could have been cured with a good revision by an editorial eye. We can disagree about the set-in-stone nature of rules like the prohibition on split infinitives, or the use of the change-of-subject commas, or not ending a sentence with a preposition, or any of a host of other grammar, punctuation, or syntax sins, but we can all agree that the job of the author is to make his or her story understandable and believable to the reader. And if not following those rules makes the story unclear or difficult to understand, then the author owes it to him- or herself, and to the reader, to follow the rules to the extent possible to make the story clear. This book, while not the most egregious offender I've ever read, certainly had a noticeable lack of adherence to the rules that made the writing at times a thick swamp though which to slog.
I'm not sorry I read this book, and I'll read the third in the series because the plots are fairly interesting, but it has quite a way to go before it gets my full recommendation.
Thanks to Pyr (and my favorite Book Fairy) for providing me with a copy of this book.
August 7, 2017
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: Nick’s darkest adversity to date rises straight from the past, will he be able to stop him this time?
Opening Sentence: I’d failed her.
Excerpt: No
The Review:
Nick is back again, this time while visiting the grave of Clarissa (Claryce in a past life). He is attacked and he sees a ghost. When he rushes over to where the ghost had been the grave reads Claudette and Nick knows that she is another past life, but he didn’t meet her while she was alive. Stunned Nick turns to one of his allies for answers, but none seem forthcoming. Nick doesn’t dwell on it too long, he knows that he hasn’t seen Claryce lately and he owes her a visit. Shortly after he arrives a Dr. Bond shows up and Nick knows that something is off about him. He just can’t quite place it.
As Nick begins to learn about Claudette and her place in his timeline, it turns out she died in the same year that H.H. Holmes did, and Nick begins to wonder if this is all tied together. His Lady summons him and wants him to get rid of the Beast, whom she has already sent to assassins after both of which failed. Nick also finds the dead body of a high caste elf, and when he finally checks on the potential clients he finds them dead.
Things are spiraling out of control and it seems that all of these random things are tied together? Will Nick be able to unravel the mystery of Claudette? Will he be able to stop the Beast? Time is running short, and with only a few trustworthy allies, Nick may be forced to rely on the most untrustworthy of his allies.
I think the novel may have contained all of my favorite things, gangsters, dragons, St.George, Fae, and yup a serial killer. I couldn’t stop reading this, I was so wrapped up in how the author ties all of these things together. Plus, I may have sympathized with the dragon a bit and wanted to eat some of the people as well. Okay, not really but wow, it took a bit for me to figure out where this story was going, and it was worth every minute of it.
Nick is such an interesting character and for someone that has been alive so long you think he would have figured some things out by now, but thankfully for us readers, we get to see him grow and come to terms with things despite the longevity. I also sincerely love the fact that this incarnation of his past love is kicking butt and taking names, and I really need Fetch in my life. I mean who wouldn’t need a talking dog that’s really a Fae assassin (or was one).
Notable Scene:
Diocles’s sins went far beyond just my execution. He had let himself be influenced by the same Galerius into beginning a bloody persecution of the entire young Christain faith… of which I had become, without meanding to, one of it’s standard bearers. Galerius might’ve been the proverbial devil whispering in the emperor’s ear, but Diecles had been the one to willingly give the decree. For that alone, he should have been cursed to forever walk as a ghost, but for reasons I could not entirely accept, it appeared that my beheading meant more where his fater was concerned. No matter where I’d followed the Gate, Diocles had always been waiting for me in the nearest church.
FTC Advisory: Pyr provided me with a copy of Black City Demon. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: Nick’s darkest adversity to date rises straight from the past, will he be able to stop him this time?
Opening Sentence: I’d failed her.
Excerpt: No
The Review:
Nick is back again, this time while visiting the grave of Clarissa (Claryce in a past life). He is attacked and he sees a ghost. When he rushes over to where the ghost had been the grave reads Claudette and Nick knows that she is another past life, but he didn’t meet her while she was alive. Stunned Nick turns to one of his allies for answers, but none seem forthcoming. Nick doesn’t dwell on it too long, he knows that he hasn’t seen Claryce lately and he owes her a visit. Shortly after he arrives a Dr. Bond shows up and Nick knows that something is off about him. He just can’t quite place it.
As Nick begins to learn about Claudette and her place in his timeline, it turns out she died in the same year that H.H. Holmes did, and Nick begins to wonder if this is all tied together. His Lady summons him and wants him to get rid of the Beast, whom she has already sent to assassins after both of which failed. Nick also finds the dead body of a high caste elf, and when he finally checks on the potential clients he finds them dead.
Things are spiraling out of control and it seems that all of these random things are tied together? Will Nick be able to unravel the mystery of Claudette? Will he be able to stop the Beast? Time is running short, and with only a few trustworthy allies, Nick may be forced to rely on the most untrustworthy of his allies.
I think the novel may have contained all of my favorite things, gangsters, dragons, St.George, Fae, and yup a serial killer. I couldn’t stop reading this, I was so wrapped up in how the author ties all of these things together. Plus, I may have sympathized with the dragon a bit and wanted to eat some of the people as well. Okay, not really but wow, it took a bit for me to figure out where this story was going, and it was worth every minute of it.
Nick is such an interesting character and for someone that has been alive so long you think he would have figured some things out by now, but thankfully for us readers, we get to see him grow and come to terms with things despite the longevity. I also sincerely love the fact that this incarnation of his past love is kicking butt and taking names, and I really need Fetch in my life. I mean who wouldn’t need a talking dog that’s really a Fae assassin (or was one).
Notable Scene:
Diocles’s sins went far beyond just my execution. He had let himself be influenced by the same Galerius into beginning a bloody persecution of the entire young Christain faith… of which I had become, without meanding to, one of it’s standard bearers. Galerius might’ve been the proverbial devil whispering in the emperor’s ear, but Diecles had been the one to willingly give the decree. For that alone, he should have been cursed to forever walk as a ghost, but for reasons I could not entirely accept, it appeared that my beheading meant more where his fater was concerned. No matter where I’d followed the Gate, Diocles had always been waiting for me in the nearest church.
FTC Advisory: Pyr provided me with a copy of Black City Demon. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
November 18, 2018
It's been over fifty years since the night that Chicago burned, the Night the Dragon Breathed! And barely a month has passed from the battle against, and death of Oberon, King of the Feirie. Nick Media - once and always Saint George of THE Dragon fame - has tried to settle back into his normal routine of fighting and "debunking" things that go bump in the night. But things are soon going to become so far from normal as they could possibly be. The Wyld are becoming more aggressive, dead elves in morgues, "hollow" thugs dogging his every move, demands for audience from the Queen herself, and a malevolent undying evil from Chicago's past, the rules of Feirie and magic seem to be changing every day. And, an undying love that may not be exactly as it was thought to be.
Richard Knaak of Legend of Huma, Kaz the Minotaur, and the amazing tales of the Dragonrealm fame, once more returns us to the Black City known as Chicago where, once again, he spins a masterful tale of the battle between good and evil populated by heroes and villains that shift and change and will keep you questioning loyalties until the very end. Knaak has always been an incredibly talented storyteller who can create characters and build worlds that the reader can get lost in. This book is no exception.
This is the sequel of BLACK CITY SAINT and is the second book in a series that will see the next chapter - BLACK CITY DRAGON - delivered December 2018.
You don't have to have read the first in the series to enjoy this book, but you will probably find yourself wanting to if for no other reason than to revisit the Black City.
Richard Knaak of Legend of Huma, Kaz the Minotaur, and the amazing tales of the Dragonrealm fame, once more returns us to the Black City known as Chicago where, once again, he spins a masterful tale of the battle between good and evil populated by heroes and villains that shift and change and will keep you questioning loyalties until the very end. Knaak has always been an incredibly talented storyteller who can create characters and build worlds that the reader can get lost in. This book is no exception.
This is the sequel of BLACK CITY SAINT and is the second book in a series that will see the next chapter - BLACK CITY DRAGON - delivered December 2018.
You don't have to have read the first in the series to enjoy this book, but you will probably find yourself wanting to if for no other reason than to revisit the Black City.
March 19, 2017
I won the advance copy of this from Goodreads and was immediately drawn in! When I realized it was a series I got the first book right away! The story pulls you in and keeps you guessing about not only what will happen next but what happened in the characters' past!
June 27, 2018
A worthy second book to what I hope is a long running series. A brilliantly crafted tale that weaves people and events from the distant past into a cohesive story in the not too distant past.
This awesome book has my highest recommendation.
This awesome book has my highest recommendation.
March 14, 2019
For some reason, I liked this book better than the first. There is still too much repetition, and I'd like to hear something more from the dragon than "Eye can help you!" The dragon is boring, and he should be the most exciting character out there.
June 12, 2021
Very good,very intense book.I got a bit lost.Maybe I should have read the first book. Joshua Saxon was a terrific narrator.I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.'
August 21, 2017
Nice take on Urban Fantasy even if it is last century's urban
August 22, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. I may have to read a little more on some of Chicago's Bloody history. Interesting to say the least. Looks like there may be another book. Can't wait.
October 9, 2017
Interesting setting and characters, but lacking in execution.
June 25, 2019
Interesting weaving in of the Columbian Exposition, mobsters, and fairie.
July 29, 2017
Nick's trying to get back to what passes for normal after the events of Black City Saint, but a serious evil is on the rise again, and both Nick and the Dragon are in its sights. With his shapeshifting buddy Fletch, the reincarnation of his eternal love, Claryce, and the ghost of the roman emperor that ordered his death, Nick finds himself taking on the Devil in the White City himself.
I love this series. Knaak brilliantly evokes Chicago's Jazz Age; Prohibition and gangs rule the day, and the cops seem to show up at the worst possible times for poor Nick. Fletch's attempts at street slang are as hilarious as they are painful to Nick, and his hard-boiled dialogue could give Sam Spade a run for his cigarettes. He blends the fantastic with the gritty realism of the Prohibition Era, leaving bits of each in the other's world while introducing an insidious horror - based in reality - that will keep you gripping the book until its conclusion.
I love this series. Knaak brilliantly evokes Chicago's Jazz Age; Prohibition and gangs rule the day, and the cops seem to show up at the worst possible times for poor Nick. Fletch's attempts at street slang are as hilarious as they are painful to Nick, and his hard-boiled dialogue could give Sam Spade a run for his cigarettes. He blends the fantastic with the gritty realism of the Prohibition Era, leaving bits of each in the other's world while introducing an insidious horror - based in reality - that will keep you gripping the book until its conclusion.
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