Angel's Ink (The Asylum Tales #1) by Jocelynn Drake

Angel's Ink (The Asylum Tales #1)

by Jocelynn Drake

Introduction

What if Rachel Morgan (Kim Harrison’s The Hollows) and Harry Dresden (Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files) made sweet, sweet love and had a baby who became a tattoo artist? This series hits many of those notes and still manages to be original.

Genre / Intended Audience

Urban Fantasy; adult themes and sexual situations, but nothing explicit

Narration

First person, past tense as told by the main character Gage

Characters

Gage - owner of The Asylum Tattoo Parlor, a powerful warlock in hiding

Gideon - the warlock in charge of monitoring Gage

Bronx - troll & tattoo artist working for Gage

Tribe - elf (disguised as a human) tattoo artist working for Gage

Sophie - witch cursed to remain in the form of a cat

Sparks - tattoo artist who taught Gage

Simon - Gage’s former warlock master

Reave - dark elf and local mob boss

Chang - Gage’s source for rare objects and ingredients

Setting

An alternate version of our modern world; recognizable city names, but a different history with magic and supernatural creatures

Theme

Self-preservation vs doing the right thing

Plot

Gage appears to be a humble tattoo artist and potion stirrer, but he’s actually a powerful warlock in a world ruled by the cruel Ivory Towers, where he had been apprenticed. The Witches and Warlocks of this world are far more powerful than other creatures and are universally hated. Gage (not his real name) was taken as a child because of his innate magic talent. Unable to embrace the harsh cutthroat culture of the Towers, he fought his mentor and was allowed to leave — so long as he refrained from all magic except in self-defense. Given how ruthless the witches are, it was surprising they allowed him to live. He is constantly monitored by a council appointed warlock named Gideon.

About the Author

Jocelynn Drake is the author of the long running vampire series Dark Days. Angel's Ink is the first novel in a new series, Asylum Tales. Find out more at:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1080585.Jocelynn_Drake

Or the author’s website : http://jocelynndrake.com/

My Opinion

When the story opens, Gage is supposedly keeping himself off the radar of the counsel as he runs his tattoo shop, Asylum, with his co-workers Trixie and Bronx. Trixie is an elf in disguise as a human. Thanks to Gage’s anti-glamour spell on his shop, he knows exactly what she is, if not who or why she is hiding, and he is head-over-heels in love with her. Sadly, we really don’t get to know Trixie, and their romance is rather weak. There are others, less close to Gage, that we get to know better. Sophie, the witch turned talking cat, is by far my favorite character.

There are many subplots (no less than five!) in this action-packed series debut. The title comes from a dying girl who comes into the shop asking for an angel-wings tattoo to help her feel she might be forgiven her sins. (Whatever those may be. We’re never told.) Gage rashly uses a very powerful artifact in his ink — an angel feather — when he tattoos her.

This subplot serves as a catalyst for others and introduces us to Gage’s nearly fatal flaws. He is incredibly reckless for someone in hiding, and he’s a sucker for hopeless cases. He constantly uses magic he is prohibited to use. He is monitored after all, and he should expect to be hauled before the council and executed. Why that doesn’t happen is explained in part, but his recklessness is not. The other half of that plot hole is the way he avoids using magic in situations where he clearly should be allowed to defend himself. It’s a clumsy way, I assume, of keeping him always in trouble.

Overall, I enjoyed the story, despite those flaws, for its fresh ideas and interesting characters. Having read the second book, I can say the story telling gets better.

I give it fours stars for being a solid introduction to an unusual take on urban fantasy.

#Urbanfantasy #4Stars #books #Adult