Review of MOON'S WEB by C. T. Adams & Cathy Clamp

Review of MOON'S WEB by C. T. Adams & Cathy Clamp (see their website)

TALES OF THE SAZI, BOOK 2

Tor, August 2005

Ex-assassin and newly converted werewolf Tony Giodone is trying to fit into the Chicago pack, learning to deal with his new status, and desperately in love with his human mate, Sue. But things get complicated when he learns he has additional powers--and when someone begins hunting the people of power who are his new peers. Tony is going to need to call on all of his skills--both his new and magical ones, and those that once made him the mob's top assassin--if he's to have any chance of surviving. The worst thing is, he doesn't have a clue who he's fighting but every time he gets a sniff of what it left behind, every sense in his being goes into overdrive.

Authors C. T. Adams and Cathy Clamp create an intriguing secret history with werewolves co-existing with other magical shapeshifters, and with a variety of magic. The shifters keep themselves hidden partly by strong rules--enforced by rulers who have lived for hundreds of years and have continuously accumulated power over that time. Adams and Clamp walk the narrow line spanning romance and urban fantasy. Although the fundamental romantic conflict between Tony and Sue has been resolved (MOON'S WEB is the second book in the Sazi series), there are moments when the writing feels very romancy, and other moments when the strong external plot seems to get lost while Tony worries about his love life.

I would have liked to see more focus on the story line--the investigation of the mising women and the balancing act between Mob and shape-shifter. Still, when Adams and Clamp turn up the gas, the story gets very exciting. I had a bit of trouble getting into MOON'S WEB, but once I did, it was hard to put down.

Three Stars

Reviewed 5/28/09

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