#5: Snake Agent

[JP]

The 5th book to be chosen for our **Unique Book Feature** forum is:

Snake Agent
By Liz Williams

Snake Agent

This was nominated by another group member who said she's used to seeing the same authors over and over in UF discussion groups and is hoping to see some of the less popular but more imaginative UF proposed with this book.

What reviewers are saying:

- "Really loved it... I haven't read many books in an Asian setting, much less urban fantasy. Detective Chen is the familiar world-weary but still hopeful police officer who does his best to help people. Williams took that and turned it sideways in a most enjoyable way."

- "Snake Agent is a combination of so many great things that it would be really hard not to find at least one or two things to like... The world-building is extraordinary. Hell, Heaven and Earth are connected. It doesn't matter if there are some who don't believe in afterlife, the afterlife is there anyway. You need immigration visas to enter those realms if you are alive. Hell has its own ministries: War, Flesh, Earthquakes, Epidemics, Lust and so on."

- "This story simply delighted me. It was a wild and exciting mishmash of things I love, and things that I'd forgotten than I love. At once a crime novel, neo-noir, near-future sci-fi, buddy cop story, and urban fantasy, all wrapped up in an extremely well-done and seldom seen Far Eastern setting."

BLURB:

"Detective Inspector Chen is the Singapore Three police department's snake agent - the detective in charge of supernatural and mystical investigations. Chen has several problems: in addition to colleagues who don't trust him and his mystical ways, a patron goddess whom he has offended and a demonic wife who's tired of staying home alone, he's been paired with one of Hell's own vice officers, Seneschal Zhu Irzh, to investigate the illegal trade in souls. Political pressures both Earthly and otherworldly seek to block their investigations at every turn. As a plot involving both Singapore Three's industrial elite and Hell's own Ministry of Epidemics is revealed, it becomes apparent that the stakes are higher than anyone had previously suspected."

[Arch]

Anyone reading this?

I read 25% but i realized I was just reading to be reading.
heading toward the DNF pile. unless i get a reason to plow thru

[Tasula]

I read this book years ago, loved it and read the rest of the books in the series. I love the concept of people traveling between our world, Hell and Heaven, as if they were just stops on a railroad line. I like all the main characters, and think the demon Zhu Irzh is hilarious.

[Paulette]

I really enjoyed this book and went on to read the rest of the series. I like the fact that the demons were fully developed characters, not just shallow stereotypes.

[Arch]

hmm guess i need to press on.

I stopped where the demon is first introduced.

thanks for the insight Tasula and paulette

[Tasula]

Barch100
Our "read" books are very similar, so maybe you would be interested in some of my favorites, if they aren't already in your TBR or read pile:

Aaronovitch, Ben Midnight Riot
Acevedo, Mario Nymphos of Rocky Flats
Armintrout, Jennifer The Turning: Book1:Blood Ties Series
Armstrong Kelley Bitten
Arthur, Keri Full Moon Rising
Ashwood, Sharon
Baker, Nancy The Night Inside
Banks, Dakota Dark Time: Mortal Path Book 1
Barbeau, Adrienne Vampyres of Hollywood
Bell, Alex The Ninth Circle
Black, Jenna The Devil Inside
Bledsoe, Alex The Hum and Shiver
Bodner, Hal Bite Club
Bowen, Gary Diary of a Vampire
Briggs Patricia Moon Called
Brite, Poppy Z Lost Souls
Bull, Emma War for the Oaks
Butcher, Jim Storm Front
Cacek Patricia Canyons
Carey, Mike The Devil You Know
Chance Karen Midnight's Daughter
Cody, Christine Bloodlands
Cole, Kresley A Hunger Like no Other
Collins Nancy A Sunglasses After Dark
Connolly, Harry Child of Fire
Davidson MaryJanice Undead and Unwed
Devereux, David Hunter's Moon
Duncan, Glen The Last Werewolf
Ellis, Warren Crooked Little Vein
Farren, Mick the Time of Feasting
Fingerman, Bill Bottomfeeder
Flyte, Magnus City of Dark Magic
Frost, Jeaniene Halfway to the Grave
Gischler, Victor Go Go Girls of the Apocalypse
Grant, Mira Feed
Gregory, Daryl Raising Stony Mayhall
Haines, Jess
Hamilton , Laurell K Guilty Pleasures
Harris Charlaine 1-Dead Until Dark,
Harrison, Kim Witch
Henry, Mark Happy Hour of the Damned
Huff Tanya Blood Price
Hunter, Faith Skinwalker
Huston Charlie Already Dead
Jacka , Benedict Fated
Kadrey Richard Sandman Slim
Kittredge, Caitlin
Lane, Amy Vulnerable
Lewis, J F Staked
Lima, Maria Matters of the Blood
Marmell, Ari Hot Lead, Cold Iron
McLeod, S
Moore, Christopher Practical Demonkeeping
Newman Kim Anno Dracula
O'Malley, Daniel The Rook
Pratt TA Blood Engines
Priest, Cherie Bloodshot
Rardin, Jennifer Bite
Rowland, Diana The Devil Inside
Saintcrow, Lilith Working for the Devil
Shevdon Mike Sixty One Nails
Simmons, William Mark Dead on my Feet
Stein, Jeanne
Sunny Mona Lisa Awakening
Vaughn, Carrie Kitty and the Midnight Hour
Wendig, Chuck Double Dead
Wilson, F Paul