City of Wolves Not a Sterling Read

City of Wolves

by Willow Palecek

Macmillan-Tor/Forge

Tor.com

Sci Fi & Fantasy

Pub Date: 26 July 16

Review

City of Wolves is short for an ebook. I went in expecting more of a novel so I was a bit disappointed by the story's limitations. The description bills City of Wolves as gas lamp noir, but I see it as more of a straight fantasy mystery - light on mystery.

Alexander Drake is hired to investigate a noble's murder. The body was discovered naked, covered in bites and lacerations. A Ministry investigator is also assigned to the case. There isn't much depth - extremely obvious werewolves involved and that the dead man is likely a werewolf. The investigator tries to frame Drake to keep him from shouting "werewolf" and the Vicar (an underworld leader) is introduced solely to get Drake out of prison.

All said and done City of Wolves is a middle of the road book, not good, not bad. Willow Palecek writes well, but I feel she would have been better served developing the story further before release. City of Wolves introduces the werewolf filled world of Alexander Drake and some of the characters he may encounter if a series comes to fruition. My only fear is that City of Wolves doesn't have enough depth to encourage readers to try a follow up.

3/5

I received a copy of City of Wolves from the publisher and net galley.com in exchange for an honest review.

--Crittermom

Description

Alexander Drake, Investigator for Hire, doesn’t like working for the Nobility, and doesn’t prefer to take jobs from strange men who accost him in alleyways. A combination of hired muscle and ready silver have a way of changing a man’s mind.

A lord has been killed, his body found covered in bite marks. Even worse, the late lord’s will is missing, and not everyone wants Drake to find it. Solving the case might plunge Drake into deeper danger.

City of Wolves is a gaslamp fantasy noir from debut author Willow Palecek.

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

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