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The Maradaine Constabulary #2
An Import of Intrigue
A foreign merchant-prince murdered.
A neighborhood full of suspects.
An enclave threatening to erupt into world war unless the constabulary solves the case.
A neighborhood full of suspects.
An enclave threatening to erupt into world war unless the constabulary solves the case.
350 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2016
17 people are currently reading
438 people want to read
About the author
Marshall Ryan Maresca
23 books340 followersMarshall Ryan Maresca is a fantasy and science-fiction writer, author of sixteen novels, most of which are part of the Maradaine Saga: Four braided series set amid the bustling streets and crime-ridden districts of the exotic city called Maradaine. He is also the author of the standalone dieselpunk fantasy, The Velocity of Revolution. He is a four-time Hugo finalist as the co-host of the podcast Worldbuilding for Masochists, and has been a playwright, an actor and an amateur chef. He lives in Austin, Texas with his family.
For more information, visit Marshall’s website at www.mrmaresca.com.
For more information, visit Marshall’s website at www.mrmaresca.com.
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November 11, 2016
3.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2016/11/10/...
An Import of Intrigue is the second installment in the Maradaine Constabulary series and another impressive achievement in storytelling and fantasy world-building by author Marshall Ryan Maresca. While this book may be the follow-up to last summer’s A Murder of Mages, it is also the fourth novel set in a bigger universe featuring Maradaine, a vibrant and exotic city filled with diverse characters and rich stories.
Once again, readers are following inspectors Satrine Rainey and her partner Minox Welling on a murder investigation involving baffling circumstances. This time, we’re in the neighborhood of Little East, a section of Maradaine home to a large number of different cultures and traditions. Druth, Fuergan, the Imach, Tsouljans, the Kierans, and the Lyranans all make their home in this largely forgotten part of the city, where it’s not uncommon for one to walk down its tumbledown streets and hear a multitude of conversations spoken in the languages of the speakers’ respective home countries or regions.
However, not all of Little East’s denizens always get along, and this latest case involving the death of an important foreign dignitary seems to be an attempt by the killer to stir up even more trouble, knowing that the tensions between the different groups are already on a knife’s edge. Evidence at the crime scene appears to implicate several of them, and Satrine and Minox spend the bulk of their investigation following up on leads in all the various cultural districts. Meanwhile, being an uncircled mage, Minox is starting to feel the adverse effects from his ongoing struggle with his magical powers and the stress of it is threatening to consume him, and Satrine is forced to confront her past as a figure from her former life comes to warn her away from digging too deep.
Just as I expected, I had another rollicking good time with the dedicated duo of Constables Rainey and Welling. I also really enjoyed the story, though if I was forced to pick favorites, I still have to go with first book. An Import of Intrigue had a lot to offer, exploring the political and social factors that affect the lives of everyone in Maradaine, but in terms of readability and flow, A Murder of Mages is the clear winner. Don’t get me wrong, for this sequel featured a plot that was just as strong and entertaining, but admittedly it suffers a little from pacing issues. The book’s introduction winds up being quite a slow builder, weighed down by the storm of people, places, and other names that reader has to quickly absorb in order to get the full picture of this murder mystery.
On the one hand, I love that Maradaine is such a multicultural city full of amazing sights and sounds. On the other, the half-dozen or so cultural groups involved in the investigation, along with the huge cast of characters that are introduced in such a short period of time made this already complicated case even more confusing. I found myself having to start and stop again and again in order to get all the various pieces of this story straight, which had an overall negative impact on the book’s energy and momentum. Not to mention, we also had to take several detours away from the main arc to focus attention on Satrine and Minox’s own personal conflicts. It just seemed like a lot to throw at readers, and better transitioning between the multiple plot threads could have helped smooth out the pacing.
The characters though, they were as ever well-written and top-notch. From an interview with Maresca, I learned that he is planning to be writing at least four series set in the world of Maradaine. To make each one unique and stand out from the others, I think the author’s creative approach to characterization will be the key. He has built complex lives for both Minox and Satrine, and An Import of Intrigue continues to flesh out their personalities and backstories. Minox has finally come to a point where he has to address his uncircled status and how that lack of training might be affecting his work, but it is undoubtedly Satrine who steals the show in this one with the revelations about her past life as a spy. Several of her secrets are blown wide open here, and I can’t help but wonder what this will spell for Satrine’s daughters as well as her severely disabled husband, who depends wholly on her to support him.
The plot thickens, as they say, and I am still just as curious and enthusiastic about the characters and their stories now as I was after I finished reading A Murder of Mages. If you enjoy fantasy and mystery, you’ll find both genres terrifically combined here within the pages of the novels in the Maradaine Constabulary series. Marshall Ryan Maresca continues to impress. Needless to say, if you liked the previous book, An Import of Intrigue is not to be missed.
An Import of Intrigue is the second installment in the Maradaine Constabulary series and another impressive achievement in storytelling and fantasy world-building by author Marshall Ryan Maresca. While this book may be the follow-up to last summer’s A Murder of Mages, it is also the fourth novel set in a bigger universe featuring Maradaine, a vibrant and exotic city filled with diverse characters and rich stories.
Once again, readers are following inspectors Satrine Rainey and her partner Minox Welling on a murder investigation involving baffling circumstances. This time, we’re in the neighborhood of Little East, a section of Maradaine home to a large number of different cultures and traditions. Druth, Fuergan, the Imach, Tsouljans, the Kierans, and the Lyranans all make their home in this largely forgotten part of the city, where it’s not uncommon for one to walk down its tumbledown streets and hear a multitude of conversations spoken in the languages of the speakers’ respective home countries or regions.
However, not all of Little East’s denizens always get along, and this latest case involving the death of an important foreign dignitary seems to be an attempt by the killer to stir up even more trouble, knowing that the tensions between the different groups are already on a knife’s edge. Evidence at the crime scene appears to implicate several of them, and Satrine and Minox spend the bulk of their investigation following up on leads in all the various cultural districts. Meanwhile, being an uncircled mage, Minox is starting to feel the adverse effects from his ongoing struggle with his magical powers and the stress of it is threatening to consume him, and Satrine is forced to confront her past as a figure from her former life comes to warn her away from digging too deep.
Just as I expected, I had another rollicking good time with the dedicated duo of Constables Rainey and Welling. I also really enjoyed the story, though if I was forced to pick favorites, I still have to go with first book. An Import of Intrigue had a lot to offer, exploring the political and social factors that affect the lives of everyone in Maradaine, but in terms of readability and flow, A Murder of Mages is the clear winner. Don’t get me wrong, for this sequel featured a plot that was just as strong and entertaining, but admittedly it suffers a little from pacing issues. The book’s introduction winds up being quite a slow builder, weighed down by the storm of people, places, and other names that reader has to quickly absorb in order to get the full picture of this murder mystery.
On the one hand, I love that Maradaine is such a multicultural city full of amazing sights and sounds. On the other, the half-dozen or so cultural groups involved in the investigation, along with the huge cast of characters that are introduced in such a short period of time made this already complicated case even more confusing. I found myself having to start and stop again and again in order to get all the various pieces of this story straight, which had an overall negative impact on the book’s energy and momentum. Not to mention, we also had to take several detours away from the main arc to focus attention on Satrine and Minox’s own personal conflicts. It just seemed like a lot to throw at readers, and better transitioning between the multiple plot threads could have helped smooth out the pacing.
The characters though, they were as ever well-written and top-notch. From an interview with Maresca, I learned that he is planning to be writing at least four series set in the world of Maradaine. To make each one unique and stand out from the others, I think the author’s creative approach to characterization will be the key. He has built complex lives for both Minox and Satrine, and An Import of Intrigue continues to flesh out their personalities and backstories. Minox has finally come to a point where he has to address his uncircled status and how that lack of training might be affecting his work, but it is undoubtedly Satrine who steals the show in this one with the revelations about her past life as a spy. Several of her secrets are blown wide open here, and I can’t help but wonder what this will spell for Satrine’s daughters as well as her severely disabled husband, who depends wholly on her to support him.
The plot thickens, as they say, and I am still just as curious and enthusiastic about the characters and their stories now as I was after I finished reading A Murder of Mages. If you enjoy fantasy and mystery, you’ll find both genres terrifically combined here within the pages of the novels in the Maradaine Constabulary series. Marshall Ryan Maresca continues to impress. Needless to say, if you liked the previous book, An Import of Intrigue is not to be missed.
October 31, 2016
To say I enjoyed the first book in this series, A Murder of Mages, is an almost criminal understatement. As soon as I finished the book, I (a) went out and purchased the only other novel by Maresca I could get my hands on, and (b) reread the book. Given this highly atypical behavior on my part--I almost never buy books-- you can imagine my excitement when I received an arc of the sequel, An Import of Intrigue.
It's a bit hard to explain why these books work so well for me. Part of it is the genre: I absolutely adore detective novels crossed with speculative fiction, and police procedurals in this vein are particularly fun. I also have a deep fondness for urban-fantasy themes in high-fantasy worlds, and I thoroughly enjoyed Maresca's blend of clockpunk and steampunk. Last but not least, there were the characters: Satrine, the wife of an injured cop and a mother of two, with a history in spycraft and a goal of tricking her way into a decent-paying job, made for a highly sympathetic female protagonist. And then there is Minox, a member of a multigenerational clan of coppers with the not-so-secret disability of uncontrolled magic. I particularly liked Minox, who came across to me as fitting somewhere on the spectrum. In Import, we get to see a new side of the city: its foreign quarter. A mysterious murder has taken place that seems to involve every major foreign group in the city, and Satrine and Minox are taxed with finding the guilty party, hopefully without starting too many riots.
Given my feelings about the first book, you can imagine how much it breaks my heart to say it, but An Import of Intrigue really didn't work for me. I've always had some issues with the way that Maresca approaches race in his book, and this story merely exacerbates my issues. The Druth, who seem to me to be a vaguely British/European-based culture, create a white default, and all of the "exotic" foreign cultures the book deal with are varying shades of brown (and, in one case, grey). By the time we're in a fantasy world, why do authors insist upon basing so much upon skincolor? Why do they not understand the massive cultural baggage involved in having a character, say, go in blackface? Worse still, the imaginary cultures are clearly stereotyped shills for real-life cultures. The Kierans, for example, with their obsessions with bathing and art and trade and their general decadence, are based on the Romans.
The Lyranans are more problematic. Here is the opening description of them:
The Imachan culture was even more offensive. How sure am I that the Imach culture is ripped off of some of the worst stereotypes of Muslims? Well, they have names like "Nalassein Hajan," "Ghalad", "Kadabali," and "Assan Jabiudal". The men wear "thick beards" and women are forced to wear heavy fully-covering clothing and are generally considered "unclean." And their "Eht'shahala"-- way too close to "inshallah," isn't it? Oh, and they are religious zealots, run by "his High Holiness the Cehlat of Imachan", and the story involves two different sects who bitterly hate each other. How over-the-top offensive was the characterization? Well, here's an example quote:
Look, I get it. Maresca is trying to write a book about racism, tolerance, and clash of cultures. There are quite a few gratifying moments when Minox is called out for his thoughtless assumptions and biases. But here's my problem: if you're trying to write a book about racism, you better be really, really sure that you aren't thoughtlessly invoking biased stereotypes. And in my opinion, Maresca lost that one and lost it hard. If you want to write about foreign cultures, even in fantasy, then I believe that you have to do it right and do the research. It can be done; The Golem and the Jinni is a beautiful example of respectful multicultural fantasy. If other authors are daunted by the seven years of research that Wexler put in, then why not use their imaginations and create their own cultures? This is supposed to be fantasy. Why attempt to superficially mimic real cultures rather than create your own? I just don't get it.
Maybe it was because I was already in a bad mood, but this book also injured my view of the protagonists. In this book, we learned that Satrine didn't actually earn her skills in the spy trade; he got them via magic which required no effort on her part. Worse still, Maresca finally applied to what started out as an important main character some of the most standard objectifications against women: And to top it all, the mystery was, sad to say, pretty lame, although at least the characters thought so as well. Whenever I could rip my thoughts away from fuming about the Imach and Lyranan cultures, I tried to enjoy the book. We get to see all of the fun characters of A Murder of Mages as well as some sly mentions of the other story arc taking place in the world.
Is this book worth a read? Well, it's definitely worth checking out A Murder of Mages first. If you've fallen in love with the world, and your rage triggers aren't the same as mine, then maybe this book could be a lot of fun. The book also puts a larger story arc into position that I'm interested to explore further. Even though I'm mourning the missed opportunities of this book, you can definitely count me in for the next.
~~I received an advanced reader copy from the publisher, Berkley Publishing Group, in exchange for my (depressingly) honest review.~~
Cross-posted on BookLikes.
It's a bit hard to explain why these books work so well for me. Part of it is the genre: I absolutely adore detective novels crossed with speculative fiction, and police procedurals in this vein are particularly fun. I also have a deep fondness for urban-fantasy themes in high-fantasy worlds, and I thoroughly enjoyed Maresca's blend of clockpunk and steampunk. Last but not least, there were the characters: Satrine, the wife of an injured cop and a mother of two, with a history in spycraft and a goal of tricking her way into a decent-paying job, made for a highly sympathetic female protagonist. And then there is Minox, a member of a multigenerational clan of coppers with the not-so-secret disability of uncontrolled magic. I particularly liked Minox, who came across to me as fitting somewhere on the spectrum. In Import, we get to see a new side of the city: its foreign quarter. A mysterious murder has taken place that seems to involve every major foreign group in the city, and Satrine and Minox are taxed with finding the guilty party, hopefully without starting too many riots.
Given my feelings about the first book, you can imagine how much it breaks my heart to say it, but An Import of Intrigue really didn't work for me. I've always had some issues with the way that Maresca approaches race in his book, and this story merely exacerbates my issues. The Druth, who seem to me to be a vaguely British/European-based culture, create a white default, and all of the "exotic" foreign cultures the book deal with are varying shades of brown (and, in one case, grey). By the time we're in a fantasy world, why do authors insist upon basing so much upon skincolor? Why do they not understand the massive cultural baggage involved in having a character, say, go in blackface? Worse still, the imaginary cultures are clearly stereotyped shills for real-life cultures. The Kierans, for example, with their obsessions with bathing and art and trade and their general decadence, are based on the Romans.
The Lyranans are more problematic. Here is the opening description of them:
"They spoke in similar ways, with that tonal quality, and their faces had nearly no expression, at least none that Minox could properly understand. The only thing he could get out of it was haughtiness, but that might just be his own biases. Even the graceful, fluid way they moved their hands was odd, almost inhuman. More disturbing was the difficulty he had in identifying their differences. There was no sense of age he could place on any of them."The Lyranans have names like "Fao Nengtaj" and "Pra Yikenj" and their language includes words like "teungzhai". Characterized as being extremely formal and with an obsession with titles and propriety, they eat glass noodles with "strange utensils" and have one agent skilled in an exotic martial art. They speak with a "strange tonal quality", their writing is made up of complex symbols, and they value poetry, particularly in a specific complex form. Given all this, is it any wonder that the Lyranans came across as a shallow and ill-informed stereotype of generic Asian culture?
The Imachan culture was even more offensive. How sure am I that the Imach culture is ripped off of some of the worst stereotypes of Muslims? Well, they have names like "Nalassein Hajan," "Ghalad", "Kadabali," and "Assan Jabiudal". The men wear "thick beards" and women are forced to wear heavy fully-covering clothing and are generally considered "unclean." And their "Eht'shahala"-- way too close to "inshallah," isn't it? Oh, and they are religious zealots, run by "his High Holiness the Cehlat of Imachan", and the story involves two different sects who bitterly hate each other. How over-the-top offensive was the characterization? Well, here's an example quote:
"The presumption--an accepted convention--is that Imach men are enflamed by fair-haired Druth women, and even more so by my coloring."
"Surely they wouldn't attack you."
"Probably not."
Look, I get it. Maresca is trying to write a book about racism, tolerance, and clash of cultures. There are quite a few gratifying moments when Minox is called out for his thoughtless assumptions and biases. But here's my problem: if you're trying to write a book about racism, you better be really, really sure that you aren't thoughtlessly invoking biased stereotypes. And in my opinion, Maresca lost that one and lost it hard. If you want to write about foreign cultures, even in fantasy, then I believe that you have to do it right and do the research. It can be done; The Golem and the Jinni is a beautiful example of respectful multicultural fantasy. If other authors are daunted by the seven years of research that Wexler put in, then why not use their imaginations and create their own cultures? This is supposed to be fantasy. Why attempt to superficially mimic real cultures rather than create your own? I just don't get it.
Maybe it was because I was already in a bad mood, but this book also injured my view of the protagonists. In this book, we learned that Satrine didn't actually earn her skills in the spy trade; he got them via magic which required no effort on her part. Worse still, Maresca finally applied to what started out as an important main character some of the most standard objectifications against women: And to top it all, the mystery was, sad to say, pretty lame, although at least the characters thought so as well. Whenever I could rip my thoughts away from fuming about the Imach and Lyranan cultures, I tried to enjoy the book. We get to see all of the fun characters of A Murder of Mages as well as some sly mentions of the other story arc taking place in the world.
Is this book worth a read? Well, it's definitely worth checking out A Murder of Mages first. If you've fallen in love with the world, and your rage triggers aren't the same as mine, then maybe this book could be a lot of fun. The book also puts a larger story arc into position that I'm interested to explore further. Even though I'm mourning the missed opportunities of this book, you can definitely count me in for the next.
~~I received an advanced reader copy from the publisher, Berkley Publishing Group, in exchange for my (depressingly) honest review.~~
Cross-posted on BookLikes.
November 4, 2016
*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5-4
*My Thoughts*
An Import of Intrigue is the second installment in author Marshall Ryan Maresca's The Maradine Constabulary series. The story is fantasy mixed with a twisted mystery. It is really a spin-off of sorts to the authors Maradine series, which to this point in time I still have not read. The series is set in the crime ridden, hard knocks streets of Maradine which is divided into various ethnic groups. The series features two main characters; Inspector Third Class Satrine (Tricky) Rainey, and her partner Inspector Third Class Minox (Jinx) Welling.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews 11/03/2016*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
*Genre* Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5-4
*My Thoughts*
An Import of Intrigue is the second installment in author Marshall Ryan Maresca's The Maradine Constabulary series. The story is fantasy mixed with a twisted mystery. It is really a spin-off of sorts to the authors Maradine series, which to this point in time I still have not read. The series is set in the crime ridden, hard knocks streets of Maradine which is divided into various ethnic groups. The series features two main characters; Inspector Third Class Satrine (Tricky) Rainey, and her partner Inspector Third Class Minox (Jinx) Welling.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews 11/03/2016*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
December 2, 2019
It’s multicultural mayhem in the second of Maresca’s Maradaine Constabulary novels! Inspectors Rainey and Welling are called to the scene of a murder, which is par for the course as these things go. But that murder took place in a part of the city where many foreign cultures intermingle, where they don’t always get along, and where the law tends to overlook and ignore in favour of dealing with their own people. With culture clash at the forefront, Rainey having to confront her past, and Welling’s magic getting wildly out of control, it’s a race against time to see whether the murder will be solved and the perpetrator brought to justice, or a massively dangerous situation will get too out of hand to contain.
I kind of love reading about the adventures and misadventures of Rainey and Welling. They’re such a wonderful duo, loyal to their cause and to each other as partners-in-solving-crime, but that loyalty doesn’t go so far as to blind them to each others’ faults. Nor does it spill over into romance, the way so many novels do. Satrine Rainey is married, and though that’s a more complicated situation than the previous novel revealed (and what it revealed was complicated enough), she stays loyal to him. Minox Welling doesn’t seem to have an interest in Rainey, either. They have a great friendship and work-partnership, and I think part of my appreciation for that comes from comparison, seeing how most authors would have hooked up the leading male and leading female characters because that’s just what you do. Only here it isn’t, and I love seeing that.
It was particularly interesting to see the various cultures in the Little East, each with their own ways of doing things, customs, idiosyncrasies. And more than that, they weren’t just thinly-veiled versions of cultures that exist in our world today. There were a few echoes of inspiration, or at least I thought I saw some in naming conventions and the way some words sounded, but for the most part Maresca steered clear of the stereotypes that often make their way into fantasy novels that present multiple different cultures.
Again, this is something that’s best appreciated in comparison to other novels on the market. I’ve lost count of just how many secondary worlds take place surrounding characters based on Western and European ideals, running into cultures that sound like transplanted Middle Eastern or East Asian groups. It’s almost standard fare. And it’s this comparison that makes Maresca’s novels so appealing to me. On the surface, they’re fun fantasy adventures that feel a lot like comfort fiction. But dig a bit into it and you see how Maresca works to make his novels stand apart, to do things a little bit differently even when on the whole they feel very comfortably familiar. You’ve got complex familial hierarchies and mourning rituals and legal matters and all of it requires more thought behind the scenes than tends to be on the page, and from both a reader’s and writer’s standpoint, I can appreciate the work that Maresca put into making sure that individuality was there.
But even aside from dipping below the surface and liking the novel for what it isn’t, I also like it for what it is. It’s a fun romp through a fantasy city, a murder mystery with depth, and enough intrigue (as the title suggests) to keep me turning pages to see what comes next. Is Welling’s magic going to get out of hand and hurt someone? Is he going to dip further into the madness that might let him see the connections in the case? Is Rainey going to manage to avoid an assassin from her past? Are any of the Fuergans or Imachans or Lyranans ever going to cooperate without being forced to? Who even is the murderer, let alone why did they murder? There’s a lot going on, intertwining stories, and everything coming to a head at the same moment, so there’s a load of fantastic tension and momentum to keep everything moving forward at a smooth and tantalizing pace.
Though I’m going to admit, there was plenty of uncomfortable language in An Import of Intrigue. Racist epithets being hurled around, sexism, you name it. Which isn’t surprising, given the setting, and it makes perfect sense as to why it would be there. It fits. It’s part of the story being told, the way people talk. Nor do I think that it’s a reflection of the author’s attitudes to women or… Well, I can’t say people of colour, really, because the slurs used are in reference to cultures that only exist within the Maradaine novels. Nobody in this world is grey-skinned and gets called a tyzo, for instance; that’s just something that isn’t applicable. I suppose what bothers me about it isn’t so much that it exists in books so much as it existing in books is a reflection of the worlds created, which are influenced by the world we live in. We still live in a world where sexist and racist terms get used so thoughtlessly, so casually, and my discomfort isn’t with the issue being in An Import of Intrigue or any other Maradaine novel so much as it’s with what it signifies.
That being said, the colloquialisms do add flavour, and it’s very easy to get a solid feel for what Maradaine is like by the way people speak. You feel like you’re reading about a real place, complex and ugly and full of all the sights, sounds, and smells you’d find in such a place.
I normally would say that I dislike cliffhanger endings (and I do), but somehow the ending of this book didn’t bother me in the slightest. I suppose it was less of a cliffhanger and more of a strong hint at what’s to come, peeling back the layers to show what’s been in the shadows, and what could develop in future novels. It was a well-done teaser, almost like the season finale of a show you know will continue into another season, and it left me hungry for more.
When all is said and done, I really enjoyed An Import of Intrigue, not just for the interesting presentation of other cultures and the examination of Welling’s magical troubles and Rainey’s extremely fascinating past, but for the adventure I got to go on with the characters. I closed the book wanting to immediately grab another one, only there isn’t another one yet. You know a book has really grabbed you when that’s your reaction. They’re fun novels, interesting stories, great characters, and I think any fan of fantasy adventures will enjoy reading them as much as I do.
(Book received in exchange for review.)
I kind of love reading about the adventures and misadventures of Rainey and Welling. They’re such a wonderful duo, loyal to their cause and to each other as partners-in-solving-crime, but that loyalty doesn’t go so far as to blind them to each others’ faults. Nor does it spill over into romance, the way so many novels do. Satrine Rainey is married, and though that’s a more complicated situation than the previous novel revealed (and what it revealed was complicated enough), she stays loyal to him. Minox Welling doesn’t seem to have an interest in Rainey, either. They have a great friendship and work-partnership, and I think part of my appreciation for that comes from comparison, seeing how most authors would have hooked up the leading male and leading female characters because that’s just what you do. Only here it isn’t, and I love seeing that.
It was particularly interesting to see the various cultures in the Little East, each with their own ways of doing things, customs, idiosyncrasies. And more than that, they weren’t just thinly-veiled versions of cultures that exist in our world today. There were a few echoes of inspiration, or at least I thought I saw some in naming conventions and the way some words sounded, but for the most part Maresca steered clear of the stereotypes that often make their way into fantasy novels that present multiple different cultures.
Again, this is something that’s best appreciated in comparison to other novels on the market. I’ve lost count of just how many secondary worlds take place surrounding characters based on Western and European ideals, running into cultures that sound like transplanted Middle Eastern or East Asian groups. It’s almost standard fare. And it’s this comparison that makes Maresca’s novels so appealing to me. On the surface, they’re fun fantasy adventures that feel a lot like comfort fiction. But dig a bit into it and you see how Maresca works to make his novels stand apart, to do things a little bit differently even when on the whole they feel very comfortably familiar. You’ve got complex familial hierarchies and mourning rituals and legal matters and all of it requires more thought behind the scenes than tends to be on the page, and from both a reader’s and writer’s standpoint, I can appreciate the work that Maresca put into making sure that individuality was there.
But even aside from dipping below the surface and liking the novel for what it isn’t, I also like it for what it is. It’s a fun romp through a fantasy city, a murder mystery with depth, and enough intrigue (as the title suggests) to keep me turning pages to see what comes next. Is Welling’s magic going to get out of hand and hurt someone? Is he going to dip further into the madness that might let him see the connections in the case? Is Rainey going to manage to avoid an assassin from her past? Are any of the Fuergans or Imachans or Lyranans ever going to cooperate without being forced to? Who even is the murderer, let alone why did they murder? There’s a lot going on, intertwining stories, and everything coming to a head at the same moment, so there’s a load of fantastic tension and momentum to keep everything moving forward at a smooth and tantalizing pace.
Though I’m going to admit, there was plenty of uncomfortable language in An Import of Intrigue. Racist epithets being hurled around, sexism, you name it. Which isn’t surprising, given the setting, and it makes perfect sense as to why it would be there. It fits. It’s part of the story being told, the way people talk. Nor do I think that it’s a reflection of the author’s attitudes to women or… Well, I can’t say people of colour, really, because the slurs used are in reference to cultures that only exist within the Maradaine novels. Nobody in this world is grey-skinned and gets called a tyzo, for instance; that’s just something that isn’t applicable. I suppose what bothers me about it isn’t so much that it exists in books so much as it existing in books is a reflection of the worlds created, which are influenced by the world we live in. We still live in a world where sexist and racist terms get used so thoughtlessly, so casually, and my discomfort isn’t with the issue being in An Import of Intrigue or any other Maradaine novel so much as it’s with what it signifies.
That being said, the colloquialisms do add flavour, and it’s very easy to get a solid feel for what Maradaine is like by the way people speak. You feel like you’re reading about a real place, complex and ugly and full of all the sights, sounds, and smells you’d find in such a place.
I normally would say that I dislike cliffhanger endings (and I do), but somehow the ending of this book didn’t bother me in the slightest. I suppose it was less of a cliffhanger and more of a strong hint at what’s to come, peeling back the layers to show what’s been in the shadows, and what could develop in future novels. It was a well-done teaser, almost like the season finale of a show you know will continue into another season, and it left me hungry for more.
When all is said and done, I really enjoyed An Import of Intrigue, not just for the interesting presentation of other cultures and the examination of Welling’s magical troubles and Rainey’s extremely fascinating past, but for the adventure I got to go on with the characters. I closed the book wanting to immediately grab another one, only there isn’t another one yet. You know a book has really grabbed you when that’s your reaction. They’re fun novels, interesting stories, great characters, and I think any fan of fantasy adventures will enjoy reading them as much as I do.
(Book received in exchange for review.)
August 29, 2018
This one would get a 4.2 if I could.
Excellent way with a plot. Some of it was what I call cliche-ish but even that had good twists. The characters were well done and stayed in character. The action scenes were well though out. Even though there is a whole lot of them because this is a mystery. Still there were riots and a couple of fights.
The progression of the plot is very good. Things happen in line. The ending fits with the rest of the book even though I didn't find it totally satisfying but a couple of things might be continued in the next book. You learn something personal about the two main characters too. One is a Oops I wonder how that will play out in the future. It will or it wouldn't have been mentioned. But no spoilers so that is all I will say about it.
The universe is imaginative and well thought out. A Great fantasy-police story fusion I enjoyed it-in fact I read it too fast-and await the next one. I full recommend it if you like fantasy, police stories or just good writing.
Excellent way with a plot. Some of it was what I call cliche-ish but even that had good twists. The characters were well done and stayed in character. The action scenes were well though out. Even though there is a whole lot of them because this is a mystery. Still there were riots and a couple of fights.
The progression of the plot is very good. Things happen in line. The ending fits with the rest of the book even though I didn't find it totally satisfying but a couple of things might be continued in the next book. You learn something personal about the two main characters too. One is a Oops I wonder how that will play out in the future. It will or it wouldn't have been mentioned. But no spoilers so that is all I will say about it.
The universe is imaginative and well thought out. A Great fantasy-police story fusion I enjoyed it-in fact I read it too fast-and await the next one. I full recommend it if you like fantasy, police stories or just good writing.
September 11, 2016
Maresca is continuing to crush it. Now with his fourth novel, second in The Maradaine Constabulary series, he brings forth another stellar work of fantasy/mystery. We get a lot better look at the wider world he is creating and get to experience the cultures and languages of all of the residents of Maradaine's Little East. The mystery of this work is concluded neatly but does definitely need to go into Minox's unresolved pile. The character development of the two main characters is well done and fleshes them both out a lot more.
I'm glad Maresca is adding another series to this world but very disappointed that I will have to wait longer for the next adventure of the Maradaine constabulary.
I received a Review Copy of this book via NetGalley
I'm glad Maresca is adding another series to this world but very disappointed that I will have to wait longer for the next adventure of the Maradaine constabulary.
I received a Review Copy of this book via NetGalley
March 5, 2017
The 2nd book in the series, it maintained my satisfaction with plot, characterization, and intrigue at the end to keep me reading on to the next book. Every chapter was fully developed with intrigue and the flow was maintained to make for a pleasant, easy read.
August 12, 2023
This story isn't as exciting as I wish it was but it is very much an engrossing read. I love the partnership between Rainey and Welling! What I love more is that no romantic element has been woven between them. They are working together to solve mysteries and bring about justice, I love it!
December 29, 2019
I enjoyed many things I already enjoyed about the first book in the series: I enjoyed the characters, enjoyed that they genuinely care for each other, that Minnox has a family he cares about and that cares about him. I also enjoyed where the book took as: in some corners of Maradaine we didn't see in book one; namely, the immigrant communities that exist in this city. In short: an important member from one of those communities has been murdered and everything - from the place where he was found to the murder weapon - points to a different community.
Many authors who make up foreign cultures don't really make up much. They take some traits commonly associated with e.g. Arabs, slap a new name on it and voila! Brand-new people. And, refreshingly, Maresca doesn't do this. None of the cultures depicted in the book were plain copies of real-world people and that was great...and confusing. Because I had a hard time keeping straight who was who and belonged to where. I admit I probably missed a lot because there was so much new information crammed into a not that long book.
Now the Maradaine books have a kind of Discworld-thing going on: All are set in Maradaine but there are different sub-series and I only read the Constabulary sub-series so far. And while with Discworld it's no problem to just read the Watch or just the Witches books and still be able to follow the plot. I don't know if some of the people/traditions/concepts that were completely new to me already came up in the non-Constabulary Maradaine books. I would say it's possible and if I'd known some of that stuff already this book would have been a lot less confusing. And if it's the case that you should read the entire Maradaine series in order to really get everything I don't really mind - the other sub-series also sound very interesting. I just wish I'd known that before XD
Many authors who make up foreign cultures don't really make up much. They take some traits commonly associated with e.g. Arabs, slap a new name on it and voila! Brand-new people. And, refreshingly, Maresca doesn't do this. None of the cultures depicted in the book were plain copies of real-world people and that was great...and confusing. Because I had a hard time keeping straight who was who and belonged to where. I admit I probably missed a lot because there was so much new information crammed into a not that long book.
Now the Maradaine books have a kind of Discworld-thing going on: All are set in Maradaine but there are different sub-series and I only read the Constabulary sub-series so far. And while with Discworld it's no problem to just read the Watch or just the Witches books and still be able to follow the plot. I don't know if some of the people/traditions/concepts that were completely new to me already came up in the non-Constabulary Maradaine books. I would say it's possible and if I'd known some of that stuff already this book would have been a lot less confusing. And if it's the case that you should read the entire Maradaine series in order to really get everything I don't really mind - the other sub-series also sound very interesting. I just wish I'd known that before XD
October 25, 2016
Disclosure: I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for a review/blog tour.
An Import of Intrigue is the second book in The Maradaine Constabulary Series and his second series in the World of Maradaine following Constable Welling and Rainey. The book takes place approximately two months after the events in A Murder of Mages. Welling is still trying to understand and train himself in using his gifts and Rainey is adjusting to her job, officially as an Inspector. However, after the truth of her stunt was made public, there were a lot of coworkers still unhappy with how Rainey procured her position…the nontraditional way. But the life of a Constable is no easy-going job, as both inspectors are constantly on their feet and investigating crimes; whether it is human trafficking, illegal bear fights or grisly murders.
The world of Maradaine is very complex and meticulously thought out and once again Maresca takes readers on another adventure but this time through the streets of Little East, a hodge podge city where different cultures collide. After reading three books in the world of Maradaine, I thought I was getting a grasp on all the cities that make up Maradaine and its inhabitants…but nope. Little East is on the edge of The Maradaine River between Keller Cove and Inemar and home to foreigners such as Imachs, Racquins, and Fuergans; people with exotic appearance, food and languages. I’ll be honest, the Little East’s inhabitants’ name pronunciations was seriously hard and confusing and it didn’t get any easier as the back progress. It literally felt like entering an entirely new world, even Welling, Rainey and the gang were astounded to find a place like that existed just a few blocks from where they lived.
In this stellar sequel, a murder of a nobleman takes Inemar finest but least liked duo across the way to Little East in search of a killer. Welling and Rainey hit a bunch of dead ends and are left with more questions than answers. And to make matters worse Rainey encountered an old foe from her past and Welling’s power gets cut off leaving him out-of-sorts and confused. In An Important of Intrigue readers delved deeper into Maradaine but we also got to learn more about Rainey and her past; especially during her time as an undercover princess and after with her stint in the Druth Intelligence. I’m not usually a fan of flashbacks but I really enjoyed learning more of Rainey’s history. And the more I read about Rainey’s heyday and the feisty child she used to be, I loved her character even more. Welling on the other hand felt less developed this time around. He was having his own battles to deal with. While we learn a great deal more about Rainey, we didn’t learn anything new/or significant when it came to Welling. Which I hope will be fixed later in subsequent books.
All in all, An Import of Intrigue is an excellent follow up in The Maradaine Constabulary Series and addition to the Maradaine world. I love the world, the characters and the mystery and can’t wait to see what’s in store for my two favorite constables! One thing I can say with certainty is Maresca never disappoints and I can always expect a unique, fun and engaging fantasy adventure full of magic and mayhem! Can’t get enough of Maresca’s Maradaine? Good news! I was ecstatic to learn that Maresca will be publishing a third, yes, THIRD series in the world of Maradaine featuring a ragtag bandit group / vigilantes. I’ll be honest, in my last review I mentioned how difficult it must be to write two series in the same world simultaneously…but a third just sounds ludicrous! Am I Right? With that beings said, I can’t freakin’ wait to read it…more Maradaine? Yes, please!
An Import of Intrigue is the second book in The Maradaine Constabulary Series and his second series in the World of Maradaine following Constable Welling and Rainey. The book takes place approximately two months after the events in A Murder of Mages. Welling is still trying to understand and train himself in using his gifts and Rainey is adjusting to her job, officially as an Inspector. However, after the truth of her stunt was made public, there were a lot of coworkers still unhappy with how Rainey procured her position…the nontraditional way. But the life of a Constable is no easy-going job, as both inspectors are constantly on their feet and investigating crimes; whether it is human trafficking, illegal bear fights or grisly murders.
The world of Maradaine is very complex and meticulously thought out and once again Maresca takes readers on another adventure but this time through the streets of Little East, a hodge podge city where different cultures collide. After reading three books in the world of Maradaine, I thought I was getting a grasp on all the cities that make up Maradaine and its inhabitants…but nope. Little East is on the edge of The Maradaine River between Keller Cove and Inemar and home to foreigners such as Imachs, Racquins, and Fuergans; people with exotic appearance, food and languages. I’ll be honest, the Little East’s inhabitants’ name pronunciations was seriously hard and confusing and it didn’t get any easier as the back progress. It literally felt like entering an entirely new world, even Welling, Rainey and the gang were astounded to find a place like that existed just a few blocks from where they lived.
In this stellar sequel, a murder of a nobleman takes Inemar finest but least liked duo across the way to Little East in search of a killer. Welling and Rainey hit a bunch of dead ends and are left with more questions than answers. And to make matters worse Rainey encountered an old foe from her past and Welling’s power gets cut off leaving him out-of-sorts and confused. In An Important of Intrigue readers delved deeper into Maradaine but we also got to learn more about Rainey and her past; especially during her time as an undercover princess and after with her stint in the Druth Intelligence. I’m not usually a fan of flashbacks but I really enjoyed learning more of Rainey’s history. And the more I read about Rainey’s heyday and the feisty child she used to be, I loved her character even more. Welling on the other hand felt less developed this time around. He was having his own battles to deal with. While we learn a great deal more about Rainey, we didn’t learn anything new/or significant when it came to Welling. Which I hope will be fixed later in subsequent books.
All in all, An Import of Intrigue is an excellent follow up in The Maradaine Constabulary Series and addition to the Maradaine world. I love the world, the characters and the mystery and can’t wait to see what’s in store for my two favorite constables! One thing I can say with certainty is Maresca never disappoints and I can always expect a unique, fun and engaging fantasy adventure full of magic and mayhem! Can’t get enough of Maresca’s Maradaine? Good news! I was ecstatic to learn that Maresca will be publishing a third, yes, THIRD series in the world of Maradaine featuring a ragtag bandit group / vigilantes. I’ll be honest, in my last review I mentioned how difficult it must be to write two series in the same world simultaneously…but a third just sounds ludicrous! Am I Right? With that beings said, I can’t freakin’ wait to read it…more Maradaine? Yes, please!
December 14, 2016
Review from Tenacious Reader: http://www.tenaciousreader.com/2016/1...
3.5/5 stars
An Import of Intrigue is the second installment of The Maradaine Constabulary. It delves deeper into the politics impacting Maradaine and also exposes more about Satrine’s past and Jinx’s magic.
Once again, I found myself more interested in the characters than the actual case they are working on. Full disclosure, I often don’t do well with detective mystery books, so that is not surprising based on my reading preferences.
The investigation the book centers on is a murder of a high ranking member of one of Maradaine’s cultural groups. The evidence at the scene points in a multitude of directions, leaving virtually everyone a suspect. To complicate the investigation, and add to the story, Jinx is having a bit of a personal crisis with his magical abilities. So not only do they have to solve the case, Jinx also has a mystery of what is happening to him and his magic. Is he starting to go mad like some members of his family? Or can he find a cause and solution.
In this book, I felt like my engagement with the plot may have been hindered a bit by the introduction of all the different cultural factions that were central to their investigation. Now, this can often add quite a bit to a story, but with them all introduced at the same time and with little reference to easily differentiate them, I found myself with out a clear understanding of any of them. I feel like Maresca tried to do too much with them too quickly and the book may have benefited from a little more focus on each of these different areas. And to be fair, they may have been presented in the previous books, but if so, I don’t believe differentiating details were as important as they are in this on. I suspect this is part of the reason epic fantasies do well with a number of POVs, as a POV in each of these groups would have helped the reader identify them better. But Maresca’s books are not grand epic fantasies. They are usually quick, fun reads that benefit from good characters and a quick pace. Don’t get me wrong, there are interesting aspect to the world as well, but in the past it has been left on a simpler scale, leaving the reader with a feel for some intriguing components, but they were the types of facts that were easy to pick up on the fly as the book progressed. This book tried to get a bit more intricate with the politics and the pace lagged a little for me as a result. But the good news is, if you just go with the flow it does pick up and by the end, I was left feeling eager for book 3.
As for the characters, Satrine in particular I am very intrigued with. While I generally prefer the Maradaine series, Satrine may be the character that interests me the most across Maresca’s books. I found myself getting more and more interested about her past in the Druth Intelligence as well as her personal life. Honestly, I would love a book or series just focused on her. I don’t often advocate prequel trilogies, because I feel they can be more difficult to keep the reader engaged and accomplish the same level of suspense, but Satrine’s story is one I would absolutely grab in a heartbeat. I love the way her past is being revealed, teasing the reader with a captivating history for a very likable character. I really want this story, even as parts of it are being revealed.
Overall, Import of Intrigue left me wanting more, which is always a solid indicator of a book worth reading.
3.5/5 stars
An Import of Intrigue is the second installment of The Maradaine Constabulary. It delves deeper into the politics impacting Maradaine and also exposes more about Satrine’s past and Jinx’s magic.
Once again, I found myself more interested in the characters than the actual case they are working on. Full disclosure, I often don’t do well with detective mystery books, so that is not surprising based on my reading preferences.
The investigation the book centers on is a murder of a high ranking member of one of Maradaine’s cultural groups. The evidence at the scene points in a multitude of directions, leaving virtually everyone a suspect. To complicate the investigation, and add to the story, Jinx is having a bit of a personal crisis with his magical abilities. So not only do they have to solve the case, Jinx also has a mystery of what is happening to him and his magic. Is he starting to go mad like some members of his family? Or can he find a cause and solution.
In this book, I felt like my engagement with the plot may have been hindered a bit by the introduction of all the different cultural factions that were central to their investigation. Now, this can often add quite a bit to a story, but with them all introduced at the same time and with little reference to easily differentiate them, I found myself with out a clear understanding of any of them. I feel like Maresca tried to do too much with them too quickly and the book may have benefited from a little more focus on each of these different areas. And to be fair, they may have been presented in the previous books, but if so, I don’t believe differentiating details were as important as they are in this on. I suspect this is part of the reason epic fantasies do well with a number of POVs, as a POV in each of these groups would have helped the reader identify them better. But Maresca’s books are not grand epic fantasies. They are usually quick, fun reads that benefit from good characters and a quick pace. Don’t get me wrong, there are interesting aspect to the world as well, but in the past it has been left on a simpler scale, leaving the reader with a feel for some intriguing components, but they were the types of facts that were easy to pick up on the fly as the book progressed. This book tried to get a bit more intricate with the politics and the pace lagged a little for me as a result. But the good news is, if you just go with the flow it does pick up and by the end, I was left feeling eager for book 3.
As for the characters, Satrine in particular I am very intrigued with. While I generally prefer the Maradaine series, Satrine may be the character that interests me the most across Maresca’s books. I found myself getting more and more interested about her past in the Druth Intelligence as well as her personal life. Honestly, I would love a book or series just focused on her. I don’t often advocate prequel trilogies, because I feel they can be more difficult to keep the reader engaged and accomplish the same level of suspense, but Satrine’s story is one I would absolutely grab in a heartbeat. I love the way her past is being revealed, teasing the reader with a captivating history for a very likable character. I really want this story, even as parts of it are being revealed.
Overall, Import of Intrigue left me wanting more, which is always a solid indicator of a book worth reading.
April 1, 2017
The second book in the Maradine Constabulary series starts with a politically, explosive murder. Minox is having a great deal of problems with his previously broken arm and magic. More of
Satrine Rainey’s strength as an inspector and her past is shown to us.
Find An Import of Intrigue at the Westminster Public Library.
Satrine Rainey’s strength as an inspector and her past is shown to us.
Find An Import of Intrigue at the Westminster Public Library.
November 6, 2017
Another strong entry in Maresca's Maradaine series, mixing the police procedural with a fantasy world. I liked how complicated the main mystery was, and how it involved not only the citizenry of the city of Maradaine, but that we got more of glimpse into the other countries/peoples that make up the greater world and how they interact (or don't) with the city. Other things I enjoyed were getting more backstory on Satrine's previous life and work for Intelligence. There was a lot implied in the previous book but nothing really concrete, here we find out some surprising things about her time that are coming back to have an influence on her new life and work. It was also good to see Jinx trying to explore the limits of his powers and trying to get a handle on them. We also spend more time with his large and colorful family. If I had any complaints it was that some of the naming for the foreigners who were involved in the murder were...complicated. Not saying that's a bad thing, but it made it hard for me while reading to keep the large cast of suspects straight in my head, especially when not all the characters referred to them in the same way. It made it more difficult to follow who was suspect of what and since the murder relied on some complicated interactions among the three factions that aspect just made following it all harder. All in all though, I've been enjoying Maresca's world and I'm excited there are more books planned for both series. Now if he could just write faster!
November 21, 2016
This is book two in a series that I love but found unusual. The two main characters are a bit of a misfit so they have been partnered together. That is not the unusual part. Many times this heralds a budding romance that will build during the series. Not here. Satrine Rainey is married and trying to support her family after an accident left her husband impaired. Uncircled mage Minox Welling just want to do his job without interference. They do make a good pair as they each have different talents. Minox features in this story as his magic becomes out of control and so does he. Satrine carries the brunt of solving the murder at the heart of the story. What makes this really interesting though are the flash-backs about Sarine's past. There is much more to her background than meets the eye. The story starts off a little slow but picks up steam as the book progresses. I loved book one and was not disappointed with book two. I will be looking for the next book in the series. There are so many different ways this series could go. I will keep guessing until book three comes out. This is part of a paralle series set in the same world but from very different view-points and characters. Check out the author's page to learn more.
December 21, 2016
3.5 stars. Another satisfying entry in the Maradaine Constabulary series, deepening our understanding of this complex fantasy city and its multifarious ethnic factions.
This time around there's far more focus on the murder-mystery case than there is on the character relationships, which is not always to the betterment of the whole, though it does necessitate a lot of time spent on larger world-building. I guess it's just that the police procedural aspects and the character-development aspects do not always feel in balance.
Nevertheless, we do get more of Inspector Satrine Rainey's back story (which, it seems, is returning to haunt her!), some harrowing magic-related problems for Inspector Minox Welling, and much more of the wonderfully foul-mouthed Corrie Welling (a lower-ranking officer, and sister to Minox). Nice!
** I received a Review Copy of this book via NetGalley **
This time around there's far more focus on the murder-mystery case than there is on the character relationships, which is not always to the betterment of the whole, though it does necessitate a lot of time spent on larger world-building. I guess it's just that the police procedural aspects and the character-development aspects do not always feel in balance.
Nevertheless, we do get more of Inspector Satrine Rainey's back story (which, it seems, is returning to haunt her!), some harrowing magic-related problems for Inspector Minox Welling, and much more of the wonderfully foul-mouthed Corrie Welling (a lower-ranking officer, and sister to Minox). Nice!
** I received a Review Copy of this book via NetGalley **
November 14, 2016
Superb sequel to A Murder of Mages. As in Discworld, there are generous slices of our own cosmopolitan societies reflected in this story, with the inherent tensions and fears that are so typical of different cultures living in close proximity within the confines of a city.
I must confess that I found the multi syllable names a bit difficult to contend with, but that was a very minor issue that in no ways detracted from the satisfaction of this story. A clever not-do-little twist at the end has left me impatiently waiting for the next installment!
I must confess that I found the multi syllable names a bit difficult to contend with, but that was a very minor issue that in no ways detracted from the satisfaction of this story. A clever not-do-little twist at the end has left me impatiently waiting for the next installment!
October 26, 2016
This book is another great title from Maresca in the world of Maradaine, great mix of fantasy and murder mystery and loved getting to see these characters again. If you haven't read the first series set in Maradaine then you should definitely be looking to read those next. If you like the constabulary then get a look at the dark side.
December 9, 2016
I am enjoying this world. This story had a bit too much political stuff and sort of red herrings for me to get it all during the busy holidays...but still loving the main characters and all they are going through.
November 11, 2016
Excellent
Lots of plot twists and good character development. Fun. Better than the first in the series and much better than the parallel series in the same world
Lots of plot twists and good character development. Fun. Better than the first in the series and much better than the parallel series in the same world
December 11, 2016
I loved this one. It was great to learn more about Satrine's background, and I really enjoyed all the different cultures. Looking forward to more in this series.
March 16, 2017
Can't wait for the next one.
May 8, 2017
Liked this one but in the beginning of the book it was a little hard keeping the characters straight
October 29, 2017
An Import of Intrigue is the second novel in Maresca’s Maradaine Constabulary series, which is amazing cop fantasy. Is there actually a sub-genre term for this? It was essential that I catch up on this series prior to starting his latest release, The Imposters of Aventil, as it is the first Maradaine book where the characters cross-over. Couldn’t have any accidental spoilers now, could I? Anyway, this was by no means a burden as Maresca’s books are some of the most entertaining I’ve ever read.
Once again, we’re back on an out of the ordinary case with Inspectors Third Class Satrine Rainey and Minox Welling. Both are admirably clever and unfortunately struggling with personal issues – Satrine’s dealing with the fallout of having her “qualifications” revealed in the previous book and an enemy from her past, while Minox has a magic related problem that only grows worse as time passes. On top of this, they’re investigating a murder that’s becoming a bit of an international mess and the powers above are breathing down their necks, AND there’s turmoil in the streets of Little East. All in all, things are a hot mess in Maradaine.
Satrine and Minox are an awesome duo whose strengths and weaknesses counterbalance well. Satrine is definitely more socially adept, though Minox has the deduction skills of Sherlock Holmes, and both are intensely capable combatants. Minox’s status as an Uncircled mage is both a benefit and a hinderance as has been demonstrated in both Maradaine Constabulary books – his additional skills are always a benefit to the case, though he often can’t be in proximity to those that could sense him, plus he has unique weaknesses only possessed by magic users. Satrine is a loving mother, main provider for her household, and former agent of Druth Intelligence. This provides her with an extensive background in secrecy, stealth, combat, and an unconventional education. I love that more of her background is revealed in this book – there are a few stunning pieces of information dropped here and there. The secondary characters – particularly Corrie Minox are also well-done. Corrie is present enough to have several of her own POV chapters, giving us additional insight to her goals, personality, and even relationship with her brother Minox.
Overall, this was another excellent building block in the world of Maradaine and I greatly look forward to the next installment. I was somewhat disappointed that the resolution of the murder felt somewhat convenient. There was no way that a reader could have surmised the true culprit, though suspicion is certainly thrown onto enough characters. If one of you did guess who it was, please tell me what clued you in! I like that MRM is able to slowly build up the details of the districts/regions of Maradaine by having all these different series. His skill at both character and world building do him tremendous credit as a writer, planner, and creative mind. I am yet again justified in saying he is one of my favorite authors and I think he’s grossly underappreciated (or unknown) by fantasy consumers.
Once again, we’re back on an out of the ordinary case with Inspectors Third Class Satrine Rainey and Minox Welling. Both are admirably clever and unfortunately struggling with personal issues – Satrine’s dealing with the fallout of having her “qualifications” revealed in the previous book and an enemy from her past, while Minox has a magic related problem that only grows worse as time passes. On top of this, they’re investigating a murder that’s becoming a bit of an international mess and the powers above are breathing down their necks, AND there’s turmoil in the streets of Little East. All in all, things are a hot mess in Maradaine.
Satrine and Minox are an awesome duo whose strengths and weaknesses counterbalance well. Satrine is definitely more socially adept, though Minox has the deduction skills of Sherlock Holmes, and both are intensely capable combatants. Minox’s status as an Uncircled mage is both a benefit and a hinderance as has been demonstrated in both Maradaine Constabulary books – his additional skills are always a benefit to the case, though he often can’t be in proximity to those that could sense him, plus he has unique weaknesses only possessed by magic users. Satrine is a loving mother, main provider for her household, and former agent of Druth Intelligence. This provides her with an extensive background in secrecy, stealth, combat, and an unconventional education. I love that more of her background is revealed in this book – there are a few stunning pieces of information dropped here and there. The secondary characters – particularly Corrie Minox are also well-done. Corrie is present enough to have several of her own POV chapters, giving us additional insight to her goals, personality, and even relationship with her brother Minox.
Overall, this was another excellent building block in the world of Maradaine and I greatly look forward to the next installment. I was somewhat disappointed that the resolution of the murder felt somewhat convenient. There was no way that a reader could have surmised the true culprit, though suspicion is certainly thrown onto enough characters. If one of you did guess who it was, please tell me what clued you in! I like that MRM is able to slowly build up the details of the districts/regions of Maradaine by having all these different series. His skill at both character and world building do him tremendous credit as a writer, planner, and creative mind. I am yet again justified in saying he is one of my favorite authors and I think he’s grossly underappreciated (or unknown) by fantasy consumers.
March 16, 2020
Maybe I shouldn't have started at Book 2 in the series, but I had this from Netgalley and the first book wasn't available. This is a police procedural blended with fantasy and a secondary world gritty urban setting. It features the most unpopular inspectors in the Maradaine Constabulary: exposed fraud Satrine Rainey, and Uncircled mage Minox Welling. Rainey and Welling get the job of solving the murder of a foreign dignitary while the diverse neighbourhood rapidly approaches flashpoint. Rainey is coming to terms with her previous life and her unconventional entry into the force, while looking after her family – in particular her disabled husband, a former officer. Welling is an untrained magician who barely understands the power burning through him. Between them they have to not only solve a murder, but also to stop a civil war.
Police procedurals, even fantasy ones, are not usually my thing, but this had good characters (primary and secondary) and a well-built world. I'd like to read more about Maradaine.
Police procedurals, even fantasy ones, are not usually my thing, but this had good characters (primary and secondary) and a well-built world. I'd like to read more about Maradaine.
March 8, 2020
This book was so good. I'm so impressed with Marshall Ryan Maresca. As he is nearing the culmination of all his novels, I can't help but think back to the beginnings. I think this one starts my favorite thread of his vivid and endlessly deep world. If you haven't read it, what are you doing?
December 6, 2016
Pleasantly surprised (again by this author) that this book was just as good as the first one. Usually a series that starts decently tends to decline, but I didn't see any sign of that here. The characters are still really well done, although I wish just a bit that some of the minor characters were allowed some more development as they seemed to remain the same as they had in the first book. The plot was also very well-paced, so that I, who tend to get bored or impatient because of my terrible attention span, was interested throughout the book. I also give credit for the plot being pretty original and definitely not what is typically repeated through the fantasy and mystery genres.
If I had one more small complaint, it would be the number of "foreign" words or phrases used throughout this book particularly. It interrupts the flow of the book, which is otherwise extremely well done, and kind of gets annoying after like, the twentieth one that pops up in the first chapter.
Overall, this was well worth my time to read, and since I have hardly any spare time lately, that is saying something,
If I had one more small complaint, it would be the number of "foreign" words or phrases used throughout this book particularly. It interrupts the flow of the book, which is otherwise extremely well done, and kind of gets annoying after like, the twentieth one that pops up in the first chapter.
Overall, this was well worth my time to read, and since I have hardly any spare time lately, that is saying something,
May 30, 2023
Very strong entry in another good series from Maresca. MRM is doing a very nice job of interlocking the different Maradaine series without making it necessary to read them all to understand whats going on, merely rewarding the diligent reader with some adding depth and shadings through their fuller understanding of the world and personages.
This is another good murder mystery for the two to unravel. Tricky and Jinx continue to have their own problems as their respective pasts continue to cause them difficulties as they try to do their jobs and earn some respect. They're both likable, stubborn, pains in the ass and they make very good partners.
Im trying to recall another novel about cops in a fantasy world, and I'm struggling to think of one that really fits the mold this well. Honestly, this is a bit like a police procedural, plus magic. Sign me up.
This is another good murder mystery for the two to unravel. Tricky and Jinx continue to have their own problems as their respective pasts continue to cause them difficulties as they try to do their jobs and earn some respect. They're both likable, stubborn, pains in the ass and they make very good partners.
Im trying to recall another novel about cops in a fantasy world, and I'm struggling to think of one that really fits the mold this well. Honestly, this is a bit like a police procedural, plus magic. Sign me up.
November 21, 2016
Very good sequel.
Whole Maradaine setting is interesting and both series in this world are good. I liked this one because it offered some revelations into both major characters and it set up nicely for future novels.
I like the relationship between Minox and Satrine and I like that their partnership is without romance undertones. It's refreshing.
The major plot was basically a filler. Simply something to occupy characters because it ended up "unresolved" despite the confession although I suspect it will have some effect in the future.
It will be interesting to read how Minox copes with his new hand and Satrine with what that woman told her.
Looking forward to more and hopefully sometime in the future characters from the two series will crossover.
Whole Maradaine setting is interesting and both series in this world are good. I liked this one because it offered some revelations into both major characters and it set up nicely for future novels.
I like the relationship between Minox and Satrine and I like that their partnership is without romance undertones. It's refreshing.
The major plot was basically a filler. Simply something to occupy characters because it ended up "unresolved" despite the confession although I suspect it will have some effect in the future.
It will be interesting to read how Minox copes with his new hand and Satrine with what that woman told her.
Looking forward to more and hopefully sometime in the future characters from the two series will crossover.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 6, 2016
This series of books continues to grow more solid. The characters are filling out, their pasts are becoming richer, and the possibilities for their futures are becoming more complex. The dangers of the criminal case that Satrine and Minox have to solve this time mix with the dangers and demands of their personal lives to form a tight, intriguing, well-paced narrative.
I will say that all the different countries and cultures referenced in the story were a little hard to keep track of – a world map at the beginning would have been a big help. But I was able to look the map up online… and about 3/4ths of the way through I was able to mostly keep them straight.
Overall this was a great book and a lot of fun to read. If you get a chance, pick it up.
I will say that all the different countries and cultures referenced in the story were a little hard to keep track of – a world map at the beginning would have been a big help. But I was able to look the map up online… and about 3/4ths of the way through I was able to mostly keep them straight.
Overall this was a great book and a lot of fun to read. If you get a chance, pick it up.
March 7, 2018
The Maradaine Constabulary books are (thus far) my favorite in the Maradaine universe. Maresca's world-building is so rich and detailed you can imagine the exact scenery as the mystery unfolds! I've read each of Maresca's novels as they have been released, and I can't wait to see what he comes up with in the future. The standout feature of his writing, to me, is that all of his series take place in the fictional world of Maradaine. The stories' timelines and characters even overlap - the cameos from book to book are extra fun little easter-eggs for those in the know.
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