Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Life and Limb by Jennifer Roberson Series: Blood & Bone #1
Published by DAW Books on November 5, 2019
Genres: Fantasy
Pages: 352
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher
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A biker and a cowboy must stop the apocalypse in the first book of the Blood and Bone modern western fantasy series.
His voice was rich, a much loved baritone, as he handed his seven-year-old grandson a gun.
“It’s time we had a talk, you and I. You won’t remember it, but you need to know it, and one day, when it’s time, I’ll call it up in you. You’ll know who you are, and what you’re intended to do. You’ll be a soldier, boy. Sealed to it. Life and limb, blood and bone. Not a soldier like others are, for it’s not the kind of war most people fight on earth. But because we’re not ‘most people,’ you and I, it will be far more important. The fate of the world will hinge upon it.”
Now no longer that wide-eyed child, Gabe is fresh out of prison, a leather-clad biker answering Grandaddy’s peremptory summons to, of all places, a cowboy bar in Northern Arizona. He is about to find out just how different he is from “most people”—and to meet the stranger with whom he will be sealed: life and limb, blood and bone, conscripted to fight an unholy war unlike any other.
For the greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist.
When he does.
And Gabe, thrown into the unlikely company of a country-music-loving rodeo cowboy from West Texas, an ancient Celtic goddess of war, an African Orisha who sings volcanoes awake, a Chinese goddess of mercy, Nephilim, and Grigori, finds himself fighting a battle he was bred for, but wants no part of
I was sent Life and Limb by the publisher in print, then requested the eARC since that is easier for me to read. The blurb noted it as a modern western fantasy series. I liked the sound of it and the mythology. However, it wasn’t clear to me that it is about angels versus demons with religious connotations.
The biker and the cowboy have to figure things out as they go, each day. There is much they don’t know or don’t understand, other than they need to kill demons, so we don’t know a lot. I don’t mind a mystery if I feel the ones solving it are competent. These guys may be skilled at fighting and killing and weapons with knowledge of folklore and religion but they are not given a great understanding of their role and tasks
This was not the book for me. I was able to read it all without too much struggling but I do NOT enjoy the angels, demons and religious sort of thing. There was a lot of folklore which was more interesting. The story ends a bit abruptly as a demon is taunting them with notes and then photos, which is likely a setup for the next book in the Blood & Bone series. There was some humor I enjoyed.
“When Latin evolved as a language all those four thousand years ago, I don’t think it was ever intended to be spoken with a Texas accent.”
“It’s a ball court,” he said.
“Ball court?” That seemed unlikely. “How do you know?”
Remi stared up at me as if I were too stupid to live. “I read the sign.”
GIVEAWAY:
I’m giving away a new print ARC, US only. This is a paperback advance reader copy. I read my digital ARC so it is unused.
About Jennifer Roberson
Jennifer Roberson has a BS in journalism with extended majors in British history and anthropology. Hobbies include showing dogs, and creating mosaic artwork and jewelry. She lives in Arizona with a collection of cats and Cardigan Welsh Corgis.
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 2019 Releases
i saw this one earlier. catchy title and cover. sorry it wasn’t right for you, but it sounds like something i might enjoy. thanks for sharing
You might like it, but the focus was too religious toned for me. Well they are out killing so not exactly but religious history and mythology.
Too bad this wasn’t a better reading experience, Anne.
Well that’s what is odd. It wasn’t a bad reading experience. I didn’t struggle to read and I liked the humor. Just the religious mythology I don’t enjoy.
Fantastic cover
It does fit well to the story.