September 26, 2008

Review: Any Given Doomsday by Lori Handeland




Former policewoman Elizabeth Phoenix once used her unique skills as a psychic to help fight injustice. But when her partner was killed Liz’s guilt forced her to leave the police department and work as a bartender. While working one afternoon Liz heard a voice shout “Leave” and followed the inner feeling to rush to her foster mother’s home. Liz finds Ruthie viciously murdered gets knocked unconscious at the scene. When Liz wakes up her whole existence is turned upside down.

Ruthie has passed on a gift and Liz has now become a powerful seer. Teaming up with her a former lover who once betrayed her is Liz’s only option to learn the truth about Ruthie’s killer. Jimmy opens Liz’s eyes to a supernatural war that has raged since the dawn of time in which innocent people are hunted by evil beings disguised as humans. But Jimmy has a secret that will rock Liz to her core and put the survival of the human race in peril.

I’m very new to the urban fantasy genre and I’ve read other reviews of this book that knocked it down a lot but I loved this book. I can agree with more than one reviewer on the one aspect that takes my rating from a 5 to a 4. There are too many “evil beings” in the book. If Handeland would have kept it to 2-3 different types of beings I feel the book would have benefitted more. Other than that I loved the writing and the interaction of Liz and the two other main characters. The storyline was a lot different than I guessed it would be from the synopsis, prequel short story and the opening chapters. I recommend this book to both long-time urban fantasy fans and newbies like me. I’m looking forward to book 2 in the series, Doomsday Can Wait due out May 2009.


LINK TO SHORT STORY PREQUEL

6 comments :

Anonymous said...

So glad to know that you enjoyed this one. I have it on my TBR pile but wasn't looking forward to it very much because of all the bad reviews, but now I have some hope.

Ladytink_534 said...

Ooh I love urban fantasy. I think I might read this one eventually.

flip said...

I love urban fantasy. I also like mystery novels. This one sounds like both

Bunny B said...

This sounds fun! I love urban fantasy!

Tammy said...

I love fantasy novels but have also never read an urban fantasy one, you have me intrigued. I entered to win it on your contest page -- I just may have to see if our library has it.

cheryl c said...

I have heard a lot about this book, but I just don't care for urban fantasy. It is a really popular genre right now.