Blog Tour & Giveaway: Nightwise by R.S. Belcher

Nightwise by R.S. Belcher
Published August 18th, 2015 by Tor Books

About the book
The acclaimed author of The Six-Gun Tarot and The Shotgun Arcana launches a gritty new urban fantasy series set in today’s seedy occult underworld

In the more shadowy corners of the world, frequented by angels and demons and everything in-between, Laytham Ballard is a legend. It’s said he raised the dead at the age of ten, stole the Philosopher’s Stone in Vegas back in 1999, and survived the bloodsucking kiss of the Mosquito Queen. Wise in the hidden ways of the night, he’s also a cynical bastard who stopped thinking of himself as the good guy a long time ago.

Now a promise to a dying friend has Ballard on the trail of an escaped Serbian war criminal with friends in both high and low places—and a sinister history of blood sacrifices. Ballard is hell-bent on making Dusan Slorzack pay for his numerous atrocities, but Slorzack seems to have literally dropped off the face of the Earth, beyond the reach of his enemies, the Illuminati, and maybe even the Devil himself. To find Slorzack, Ballard must follow a winding, treacherous path that stretches from Wall Street and Washington, D.C. to backwoods hollows and truckstops, while risking what’s left of his very soul . . . . 

My thoughts:
This was definitely different and not at all what I had expected.  Every urban fantasy I have read has a formula and I always love the main character. This was not so with Nightwise and I found myself struggling to love Laytham.  But you know what, R.S. Belcher managed to make me like him and let me tell you it was not easy.

I'll start with characters since that is what I opened my review up with.  Laytham is not your normal UF hero.  Nope he was dirty and not in the sexy way.  He was the chain smoking, long haired, Kid Rock of this world and it took me a looonnnggg time to like him.  I still don't know if I really do honestly.  He's selfish and not shy about saying it, but well I got sucked into his badassness.  I hate to admit it, but I did.  After a point in the story I just couldn't help it.  Laytham is not swoon worthy in the slightest, but I think he might have potential in there somewhere. I am hoping that his charm or whatever he has underneath all that yuckiness comes out in the next one because I need to see it.  Yes he says darlin' and baby just the right way and yes his magical skills are quite impressive, but a girl needs more than just that.

Story was actually really good. It did take me a long time to fall into this one, but I think that had more to do with Laytham than the story.  He was a roadblock, but once I got passed him everything clicked and I saw him and the story like a Nicholas Cage movie.  Think 60 Seconds meets National Treasure.  The story definitely had a historical adventure feel to it and in the end it was actually really interesting.  Now some might start thinking a little too much on what unravels in the end and really its kinda hard not to go there myself.  Conspiracy theorist could have a hay day with this bad boy and I have to give the author huge credit for thinking this up.

I think my favorite part was finding out who Laythams dad was.  What a hoot!  I can't wait to see where all that goes!  

The two things that bugged me were the filler chapters.  There were a few of them and they felt really out of place.  I think a few could have been moved to the beginning and if they had I would have gotten to know more about Laytham and maybe liked him from the get go.  As it stands though those chapters just felt strange and took the story away from what was going on.  The other thing was the drinking in bad situations.  If you are a badass wizard stop drinking when you need to think!!  Every time I would scream at him! 

Other than those two things I did enjoy this quite a bit.  If you are looking for a typical UF this isn't what you need, but if you are looking for a selfish, badass wizard with a debt to pay adventure this is for you!  Fun story and series that I will definitely continue on with!  

4 suns

The wonderful people at Tor have offered to send one lucky reader their very own copy of Nightwise!  To enter fill out the form below!  US residents only.
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