Embers (Anya Kalinczyk, #1) in SOS: Serious Overload of Series

Jan 30, 2010 Shannon rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010, novels, demons, urban-fantasy, ghosts, bought-2010, owned, dragons, color-orange, detroit

*3.25 Stars*

This is sort of a tough one to review. I've lived south of Detroit for the better part of 25 years. This novel is set in and around Detroit so I knew I had to read it just for that fact alone. I think that I let the fascination of reading about somewhere that I'm familiar with overshadow some of the book's faults. By the last page though, it became clear that this was a less-than-perfect book.

Anya Kalincyzk is a fire investigator in Detroit, but she's also a Lantern - she has the abi *3.25 Stars*

This is sort of a tough one to review. I've lived south of Detroit for the better part of 25 years. This novel is set in and around Detroit so I knew I had to read it just for that fact alone. I think that I let the fascination of reading about somewhere that I'm familiar with overshadow some of the book's faults. By the last page though, it became clear that this was a less-than-perfect book.

Anya Kalincyzk is a fire investigator in Detroit, but she's also a Lantern - she has the ability to see and communicate with ghosts, and also devour them and send their spirits ... somewhere. Anya teams up with a group of ghost hunters every now and then when they need her help getting rid of some of the more malevolent ghosts. She even helps them out when a girl gets possessed by a demon, and unfortunately that demon proves to cause Anya a bit of indigestion.

Anya's job is getting tougher when someone starts setting fires around the city, and leaving their calling card for her to find: a symbol melted into concrete, a feat that would take a considerable amount of heat. Anya starts to investigate and what she finds is a little closer to home than she anticipated. There's someone else like her in Detroit, but he has his own twisted plan for renovating the city.

Anya's abilities are really different and interesting. Her personality though, was sort of lacking, and I unfortunately found that to be the case with most of the characters. On the other hand though, her elemental familiar Sparky, is fantastic. He really stole the show and made this book a lot more enjoyable. I think I might have even deducted a whole star if he hadn't be included. It probably helps that I've had a pet newt since I was little (I think he's immortal, he's pushing 19 years old!) but Sparky the salamander with his Gloworm toy really warmed my heart.

The hook-up Anya has near the end of the book was strange. I wasn't expecting any sex, and I especially didn't expect it to be with the person she chose. It really seemed out of character, although it was sort of sexy.

The ending fizzled. The build-up to the "final fight" was fantastic, but then it's almost like the author ran out of steam at the end. This was the most disappointing part of the whole book, and I don't really understand what happened. I also don't like what happened to one of the characters, even though if you were paying any attention you'd see it coming. It seemed kind of a waste of time to create a relationship between him and Anya, and then end things the way they did. Anya's relationship with him seemed kind of pointless and also questioned her integrity, making her seem wishy-washy.

I think even if this had been a 1-star book I'd still read the next just because it's set in Detroit. This book had it's shining moments but it also had it's share of low points, although it wasn't a terrible story. The author has a lot of good ideas, her execution is just a bit off. I'm going to chalk that up to "first book syndrome" and hope this series only gets better. ...more

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Jul 03, 2012 Kelly (Maybedog) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: why-favorite, what-modern-fantasy, what-danger-danger-will-robinson, why-favorite-author, why-favorite-series

I felt this was a bit different from the usual urban fantasy fare and I really enjoyed it. The protagonist was practical and fairly normal. She has a day job that she loves and it's one that it's hard for women to break into (though that's not mentioned) but she's moved up in the ranks. The descriptions of what it was like to be a firefighter were very good.

The plot was interesting. Though it was clear where it was going from about a third of the way in, the book was still entertaining. The act ...more

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Jun 30, 2010 Steph rated it liked it

Shelves: series-book1, year-read-2010, series-ongoing, author-웃

Embers introduces us to Anya Kalincyzk, an arson investigator for the Detroit Fire Dept by day and a medium for the Detroit Area Ghost Researchers (DAGR) by night. Anya is the rarest type of medium: a Lantern. "Spirits are inexorably drawn to her, like moths to a flame." Lanterns are unusual. She's never met another one. "Like a human bug zapper, she took spirits into her inner elemental light and devoured them, incinerating them."

DAGR is made up of Jules, Brian (techie), Max, Katie (witch) Embers introduces us to Anya Kalincyzk, an arson investigator for the Detroit Fire Dept by day and a medium for the Detroit Area Ghost Researchers (DAGR) by night. Anya is the rarest type of medium: a Lantern. "Spirits are inexorably drawn to her, like moths to a flame." Lanterns are unusual. She's never met another one. "Like a human bug zapper, she took spirits into her inner elemental light and devoured them, incinerating them."

DAGR is made up of Jules, Brian (techie), Max, Katie (witch) and Ciro (demonologist). She doesn't like for her day job and night jobs to "intersect". But that's just what ends up happening as she begins to notice strange shapes and symbols at the arson sights. Anya investigates the fires for the DFD while trying to solve the mystery behind the symbols with DAGR.

Katie works as a cake designer by day and witch within DAGR at night. She also helps Anya cleanse her aura after "incinerating" souls. Anya is haunted by the thought of what happens to the souls she devours. What happens to them? Where do they go? She tries to only take spirits who cause harm to others, leaving the "just minding my own afterlife business" spirits alone.

There are three men in Anya's life, Brian, DAGR's techie who has been after her forever, Drake Ferrer and Sparky, her protector, a fire elemental salamander. Of those three, Sparky stole the show! He was just adorable sleeping with his little Gloworm to keep him company, sucking the electricity out of anything he could get his tongue on and playing with Katie's cats. Brian seemed like an interesting character, even though we are only shown little about him and his life. Drake, while making a great "bad guy", didn't fit for me. I could understand his pull, but I wasn't happy with how that played out.

Although I rated this low(er than my usual 4-5★), I did enjoy parts of the story and the interaction throughout with the spirits around the city. I will give book 2, Sparks, a shot and see how it is, but sadly this was a little bit of a let down for me.

LOL Scene:
Having had some frightful clothing store experiences myself, I could totally relate to her hunt for a dress.

The saleswoman was no help and states, "I don't really have anything else that will fit you, dear." Anya's brows shot up. "What the hell does that mean?" "That means," the saleswoman said, "that we don't have anything else in season in your size." "I wear a size eight," Anya said frostily. "Of course you do, dear." The saleswoman's mouth turned upward in a patronizing smile. "You can have this monstrosity back." Anya yanked the dress over her head, heedless of the sequins. "There's no need to be huffy, dear," the saleswoman said. Anya sneered at her. "And there's no need for you to be a complete and utter bitch."

Oh, how many times I would have LOVED to have had the nerve to say that to a snarky saleswoman. Although, I know I would've felt like crap afterwards. LOL!

Favorite Quote:
"If I was a winner, I'd be wearing a Steelers helmet." Whoop Whoop! Go Steelers! :) ...more

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