The Grimrose Path (A Trickster Novel #2) by Rob Thurman
Urban Fantasy
September 7, 2010
Paperback, 352 Pages
Roc

Reviewed by Tori

Favorite Quote: “Oranges and honey. It’s not only on you but part of you. I could lay you down in an orange grove Trixa and cover you in honey.”

“Then you would eat me and not in a way women usually care for.”

Trixa Iktomi is a trickster; a semi divine shape shifter being who is several thousand years old. Youthful in appearance and dangerous in reality; Trixa “teaches” the naive to be wise and the shysters to beware. While Trixa will lie, deceive, omit, and generally cause mischief; she has a unique sense of right and wrong and gives only what is deserved.

She manages a bar with her best bud Leo-otherwise known as Loki- the original trickster. In the Trick Of Light-Trickster #1, Trixa and Leo hunt down an artifact and use it to extract revenge for her brothers death. Due to some mischief on Leo’s part, the artifact decided that some humility was needed and has made both Trixa and Leo “supernaturally challenged” for the next 4 years. All they have is their experience and wits to survive. Lucky for them, they have that in spades.

When Trixa is approached by Eligos for help in finding out who’s mass slaughtering the demons of hell she is naturally hesitant. Trixa lives to kill demons-not save them. But this is not an ordinary killer and Trixa will need all her skills and friends to stop this one. With Zeke, Gabriel, and a few new friends, Trixa’s response to the situation is astonishingly Machiavellian in it’s construction and confirms that she is indeed THE Trickster.

Rob Thurman’s second installment of her Trickster novels-The Grimrose Path-is a fast paced, twisted roller coaster of a ride filled with much laughter, plenty of sarcasm, and enough questionable characters that leave you wondering just who wrote the original description of good and evil. And did they know about these people?

Ms Thurman’s supernatural world is rather simplistic in it’s constructions but all the more stunning for it. Using Greek mythology as the base, Ms. Thurman manipulates and skews everything we have ever read. The result is a fascinating and addictive read you won’t want to end.

I adore the rambunctious slew of characters that inhabit this world. Highly developed, personable, and filled with much delish snark; I found myself in awe of how easily they slipped under my skin. Zeke and Gabriel are back, along with the very sexy & very demonic Eligos. Zeke has to be my all time favorite character. A fallen angel, he now crews with Trixa and his trainer Gabriel(a fallen demon). While Zeke is not slow per say…he’s unique. What you see and hear is what you get and he had me crying with laughter through much of the book.

“It’s not a weird bondage thing. It’s a perfectly natural bondage thing. The porn magazine said so.”

While this is not a romance book, you still get glimpses of love through out the story. Love of a friend being the most being the most poignant. Trixa truly cares for her friends and would walk through Hell, literally, for them. We do see some romantic advancement for some of the characters in this story which added a nice touch to the over all arc.

The plot is exciting and wonderfully complex in it’s execution. Action packed and tense, the ending left me elated, hooked, and jonsing for more.

One small note. The entire story is from Trixa’s point of view but in the 3rd person, which leaves the telling a little “off” at times. As Trixa is the ultimate trickster, we, along with the rest of her friends and enemy’s, are tricked, deceived, and misdirected right along with them. Once you get a feeling for the rhythm of the writing, the story is pure enjoyment.

Rating: 4/5

Recent Reviews:
Goodreads

This series includes:
Trick of the Light
The Grimrose Path

Rob Thurman’s Website.