review things

I really need to go through review things and collect comments and whatnot for cemurphy.net and the cover of THUNDERBIRD FALLS. I’m reminded of this because I just got a little review thing in email from Storyteller, a Canadian short story magazine which happened to review both URBAN SHAMAN and Laura Anne Gilman’s CURSE THE DARK because Luna is a Harlequin imprint, and Harlequin is a Canadian company.

I don’t normally read reviews. They make my hands hurt, even if they’re good. But I clicked through for some reason, and it’s a very nice little review. (Read Laura Anne’s, which follows, too, as they continue to say nice things about URBAN SHAMAN in it.)

And did I mention I got a good review in *Locus*? In the July issue, in Carolyn Cushman’s short reviews:

“A police mechanic discovers she has shamanic powers in this engaging urban fantasy mystery, the first volume in The Walker Papers. (There’s no romance, at least not so far, unusual for the Luna line.) Joanne Walker graduated from the Police Academy, but she prefers working as a police mechanic–until she spots what looks like a murder from the air. When authorities won’t listen, she tries to find where it happened herself, and winds up in the middle of a conflict involving the Wild Hunt and a serial killer stalking shamans in Seattle. It turns out Cherokee/Irish Joanne is a shaman herself but has been denying her powers; now she has to learn to use them fast, not to mention find a killer despite her inexperience, a boss who wants her gone, and interference from spirits and old gods. Fortunately, she has a savvy 73-year-old cabby and a few friends on the force to help her. The magic is on the rule-less side, but Joanne’s scrambling efforts to learn to use that talent and stay alive are highly entertaining, an excellent start to a new series.”

Let’s see, what else. My local paper, the Anchorage Daily News, mentioned the book in an almost completely incoherent review…thing… here.

And Deborah, who is kind and gentle and wonderful, pulled bits from a couple of other reviews for me.

From Angela Etheridge at the Romance Reader’s Connection: “URBAN SHAMAN is highly original. You do not need to be a fan of fantasy literature to appreciate the author’s unique writing style or humorous characterization of the individuals in the novel. Each person the author introduces is vividly described, not only physically, but also in personality… I look forward to reading Joanne’e next adventure.”

And from Kathy Samuals at Romance Reviews Today:

“First time author C.E. Murphy pens a winner right out of the box with URBAN SHAMAN…

In a time where readers are seeing more and more strong female heroines, Jo Walker ranks right up there at the top with the women of Kelley Armstrong’s Otherworld series and Rachel Morgan from EVERY WHICH WAY BUT DEAD by Kim Harrison. URBAN SHAMAN is told in first person from Jo’s point of view with lots of sarcastic asides and humorous inner dialogue that will leave readers snickering long after the story is finished.

A welcome addition to the world of fantasy suspense, I highly recommend URBAN SHAMAN and look forward to future tales featuring Joanne Walker and friends.”

And Jenn-my-agent sent me the relevant bits from a Romantic Times review, as well: “Tightly plotted and nicely paced, Murphy’s latest has a world in which ancient and modern magic fuse almost seamlessly. The characters are vivid, and while the first-person narration is occasionally awkward, it isn’t distracting. Fans of urban fantasy are sure to enjoy this first book in what looks to be an exciting new series. 4 Stars”

I’ve got URLs for a couple-three more, but you notice how “collect review things” wasn’t on my list of thinks to do, but “clean the bathroom” was? Yeah. Me too. :)