Bone Gods (Black London #3) By Caitlin Kittredge
Urban Fantasy
November 30, 2010
Paperback, 352 Pages
St. Martin’s

Reviewed by Tori

Favorite Quote: ”I don’t feel but I understand. I understand loss and desire. It’s the fabric of the bargains we make.”

Jack Winter is gone, the Black is shredding, and the smell of blood and battle stains the air. When Pete’s old police partner calls her in to investigate a brutal murder with supernatural aspects, Pete gets dragged back into the Black and into a war that could end in hell on earth.

Bone Gods picks up about 6 months after Demon Bound. Jack was dragged back to hell by the demon Belial to pay a debt made thirteen years ago. As Pete tries to deal with the fact that Jack is gone, she is pulled in to an investigation of a murder victim who bears the symbols of a Necromancer. The victim turns out to be a member of the Order; a group of witch hunters. More bodies turn up, and Pete is threatened by the Order and the necromancers who all want the same thing- the soul of the first murdered victim. Just when Pete is about to cross the line into dangerous territory, Jack reappears. But Jack is not the same and as he and Pete go deep into the Black, Pete learns that love, hate, trust, and betrayal are all relative and the only one she can rely on is herself.

Ms Kittredge’s Black London is dark and edgy world built upon the backs of ancient Gods. Complex and layered, you can taste the sinister air that surrounds it. Vividly sculpted characters bring the story to life even as you cringe and shy away from them. Ms. Kittredge doesn’t give us very likable characters. These are flawed, selfish individuals. They’re humanity is strong -they are just living day to day trying to survive.

The first part of the book was very hard to connect with. We only see Pete and her anger and grief are tangible. Her dialog consists mainly of curse words and she antagonizes everyone she comes into contact with. You get the sense that she cares nothing for her own life; that she would welcome death. Her attitude becomes repetitive and the plot stagnates. She doesn’t accomplish anything beyond running around in circles and getting beat up. I was disappointed to see Pete written so one dimensional without Jack in the picture.

In part two, Jack reappears and the story explodes. The suspense and action picks up while the information we have been dying for streams fast and steady.

Jack has survived hell but not without a cost. He has a secret that will change the world and Pete will have to make a choice that could destroy her. I found the conversations still literally sprinkled with curse words. The feel of the scenes is emotionally charge as Pete and Jack come to terms with the past 6 months and the changes that has occurred in each of them. Their relationship is extremely convoluted and dysfunctional at best. You see a role reversal here though as Pete becomes the strong one and Jack seems to be a only shell of his former self.

Ms. Kittredge does a fabulous job of setting us up for the big finale that blows you away. I love that we get an epilogue showing us the conclusion and leaves us with a HUGE revelation that left me a little stunned.

All in all those who have followed this series will enjoy this trip back to Black London but I don’t feel this addition was quite up to par with the other two.

Rating: C

Recent Reviews:
A GREAT Read – 3.5/5
Goodreads

This Series Includes
Street Magic
Demon Bound
Bone Gods
Devil’s Business – August 2011

Author’s Website.