In this second Nola O'Grady novel, Katharine Kerr picks up
threads from her previous book (License to
Ensorcell) and weaves them into another intriguing
paranormal mystery. Nola is settling in to her new position
as head of her
branch of an agency so secret that even the CIA doesn't know
of its existence. Her employees are few, but intrinsic to
the success of her mission, to keep Chaos eruptions to a
balanced level. Her bodyguard and lover, Ari Nathan, has his
own agenda in his work ostensibly for Interpol and is slowly
adapting to a world view which allows paranormal events to
be part of his reality.
When a dark gray face formed from the San Francisco fog at
her window (most likely an IOI, or Image Objectification of
Insight) Nola O'Grady knew there was likely a chaos eruption
in the offing. This was confirmed by the Rogue Waves hitting
the beaches up and down the California coast, (and a bit too
far inland) often taking lives with them. Further
investigation hints at the involvement with a powerful being
beyond the walls of this world, pulling his abilities from
an alternate reality.
In WATER TO BURN Kerr shows the reader glimpses into the
past of the mysterious Ari Nathan as well as revealing a
painful secret from Nola's childhood. Her quirky family and
their dynamics are very much in evidence (including the
portal to an alternate universe in an upstairs room) and
Nola's two unusual agents also serve essential roles in
bringing the otherworldly criminal to justice.
Katharine Kerr has built an intriguing world with her new
series. Despite all the magical mayhem the storylines are
grounded firmly grounded with an engaging mystery and a hint
of grit. I look forward to Nola's further adventures in
Apocalypse to Go due out in February 2012.
Secret agent Nola O'Grady is back and ready to save San
Francisco from all evildoers, alien and otherwise. With the
aid of her bodyguard and lover Ari Nathan, Nola's new
mission is to track down and apprehend the mysterious
"Brother Belial," head of the now-dispersed Chaos cult-and a
possible invader from another dimension.
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