Seven Kinds of Hell
Author: Dana Cameron
Series: Fangborn
Publisher: 47North, March 12, 2013
Format: Trade Paperback and Kindle eBook, 374 pages
Price: $14.95 (print)
Genre: Urban Fantasy
ISBN: 9781611097955 (print)
Review Copy: eARC provided by the Publisher
Archaeologist Zoe Miller has been running from a haunting secret her whole life. But when her cousin is abducted by a vicious Russian kidnapper, Zoe is left with only one option: to reveal herself.
Unknown to even her closest friends, Zoe is not entirely human. She’s a werewolf and a daughter of the “Fangborn,” a secretive race of werewolves, vampires, and oracles embroiled in an ancient war against evil.
To rescue her cousin, Zoe will be forced to renew family ties and pit her own supernatural abilities against the dark and nefarious foe. The hunt brings Zoe to the edge of her limits, and with the fate of humanity and the Fangborn in the balance, life will be decided by an artifact of world-ending power.
My thoughts:
Zoe Miller, the main character of the novel, has a problem. She doesn't know that she's a werewolf. She knows she turns into something different on occasion. She thinks she may be crazy. I really like Zoe. Despite everything she is a very strong character. Does she always make the right choices? No, but she has courage and tries to do the right thing.
I really love the mythology and archeology in Seven Kinds of Hell. You can tell right away the Dana Cameron knows her stuff. For me this is a major plus. It wasn't until after I'd finished the novel and read about the author that I found that she had trained as an archaeologist. This high level of proficiency with part of the subject matter of the novel made it more alive and more real for me. The mythological constructs of the Fangborn world are very well done. I really enjoy how the mythology that already exists is woven into Fangborn mythology and vice versa. I also really like that we learn about Fangborn world along with Zoe.
There is a terrific ensemble of characters as well. Some of them on Zoe's side, some utterly evil, and some misguided (or not). Ms. Cameron does not skimp on secondary characterization which helps give the novel depth. There is the Russian kidnapper (mentioned in the description) who is evil and awful. He's very well done and the catalyst for much of what happens.
In addition to being a coming of werewolf story (in a way) this is also a thriller that takes us from America to Europe and beyond. There is also a touch of romance, which does not overwhelm the novel, and is very nice.
The story often moves at breakneck speed and the pacing is good. Seven Kinds of Hell ends with things to be done. Not a cliffhanger, but you'll definitely be looking forward to the next novel in the series.
Seven Kinds of Hell is all sorts of thrillery mythological terrificness in a lovely Urban Fantasy wrapper. I'm putting Dana Cameron's Fangborn novels on my must buy list.
I'm glad to hear you liked Seven Kinds of Hell because I'm hoping for good things for this book. I thought it sounded great and I've had it on my wish list since I first saw it around the web.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read Seven Kinds of Hell yet but I did read a short story by Dana Cameron that first created the idea of the Fangborn and I thought it was fascinating. I liked the different idea of werewolves and vampires. Good to hear the full length novel lives up to the promise!
ReplyDeleteI've been seeing this book around the blogosphere, but didn't really take the team to read the synopsis until now-- and it sounds great! I'll definitely pick it up (once I've cleared a few series on my list).
ReplyDeleteGreat review!