Dark Currents: Agent of Hel [Hardcover]

Jacqueline Carey (Author)

Book Description

Release date: October 2, 2012

Jacqueline Carey, New York Times bestselling author of the acclaimed Kushiel’s Legacy novels, presents an all-new world featuring a woman caught between the normal and paranormal worlds, while enforcing order in both. Introducing Daisy Johanssen, reluctant hell-spawn…

The Midwestern resort town of Pemkowet boasts a diverse population: eccentric locals, wealthy summer people, and tourists by the busload; not to mention fairies, sprites, vampires, naiads, ogres and a whole host of eldritch folk, presided over by Hel, a reclusive Norse goddess.

To Daisy Johanssen, fathered by an incubus and raised by a single mother, it’s home. And as Hel’s enforcer and the designated liaison to the Pemkowet Police Department, it’s up to her to ensure relations between the mundane and eldritch communities run smoothly.

But when a young man from a nearby college drowns—and signs point to eldritch involvement—the town’s booming paranormal tourism trade is at stake. Teamed up with her childhood crush, Officer Cody Fairfax, a sexy werewolf on the down-low, Daisy must solve the crime—and keep a tight rein on the darker side of her nature. For if she’s ever tempted to invoke her demonic birthright, it could accidentally unleash nothing less than Armageddon.  

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for Jacqueline Carey

“A writer to watch—as the cliché goes—but more important, a writer to read.”--Storm Constatine

“[Jacqueline Carey] has a flair for character development and intricate plotting and world-building that recalls [George R.R.] Martin’s.”--SF Reviews

"Carey's storytelling ability is top-notch."--Publishers Weekly

About the Author

New York Times bestselling author Jacqueline Carey is the author of the critically acclaimed Kushiel’s Legacy series of historical fantasy novels, The Sundering epic fantasy duology and postmodern fables Santa Olivia and Saints Astray. Jacqueline enjoys doing research on a wide variety of arcane topics, and an affinity for travel has taken her from Finland to China. She currently lives in west Michigan. Although often asked by inquiring fans, she does not, in fact, have any tattoos. 

Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: Roc Hardcover (October 2, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451464788
• ISBN-13: 978-0451464781
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (86 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #198,328 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jacqueline Carey is the author of the New York Times bestselling Kushiel's Legacy series of historical fantasy novels, The Sundering epic fantasy duology, and postmodern fables "Santa Olivia" and "Saints Astray." Carey lives in west Michigan. Although often asked by inquiring fans, she does not, in fact, have any tattoos.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars A good read, but not at the same level as the Kushiel series October 18, 2012

By di.ana

Format:Hardcover

Jacqueline Carey is one of my favourite authors - her ability to weave an intricate plot with character development and emotional turmoil and romance astound me. I have read the Kushiel series many times (Phedre and Imriel), the Naamah's series (Moirin), and Sainta Olivia. In my opinion, Dark Currents is no where near the same quality as these. If you are looking for an urban fantasy or mystery novel that is a fun and easy read, you will enjoy this book. If you are looking for an epic story of a hero's journey like Kushiel's Avatar, you will be left wanting more.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Dark Currents is groudbreaking but lacking emotional depth October 18, 2012

By Jessica Grimm-Lyon

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Jacqueline Carey is one of my favorite authors. She has an amazing voice; her writing generally has emotional depth, subtlety, intelligence and grace. Her female characters should be held up as an example of how to write women who are powerful, smart and resourceful while still feeling female (rather than an essentially a man in a woman's body with girl-like problems). To add to this, I think she is both a gifted writer as well as a gifted story teller--which pushes her books from guilty pleasures to something more substantive.

I also love urban fantasy. I read a lot of it. If I were to analyze much of what I read in the genre, rather than just experience it, I would say that while many of the authors tell a good story, often than aren't actually great technical writers. Also, I feel like many of the lead female characters try too hard to be the not-really-a-girlie-girl to the point where they have essentially male worldviews. Then, to make the characters more "female", the authors give them a host of personal problems, insecurities, and flaws that often carry from book to book without any character growth. Too often the two states the lead female character is supposed to be in are either super tough badass or super sexy badass. (Obviously I am not describing all urban fantasy here, but even some of my favorites have these tendencies.)

So you can imagine my excitement when I heard that Jacqueline Carey was going to write an urban fantasy. My hope is that she would take what was best in the genre and add her own creative twist plus an amazing lead character. When I analyze "Dark Currents", I am indeed impressed by her creativity. Her world fits neatly into urban fantasy while at the same time being unlike any other I've read. Her ideas are fresh and she does a great job of making the world feel `real'. My complaint is with the main character; while the idea of a reluctant hell-spawn is great (and I love the tail!), the actualization seemed a bit too cute and almost ditzy. I know Ms. Carey could have written her with intelligence and emotional depth, but it was as if someone told her, "urban fantasy heroines can't be too thoughtful or wrestle with existential problems."

If you like urban fantasy, you should read this book, it does really add new and exciting aspects to the genre. If you like Jacqueline Carey's other works, you should read this book because it is impressive how many styles she has. If you are Jacqueline Carey's agent/editor, please ask her to write her next urban fantasy series with a heroine that is as rich and complex and Phedre--we can handle it, I promise.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Standard November 8, 2012

By Robert I. Katz VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Daisy Johansson is the daughter of a minor demon and a mortal woman. Daisy has a temper, but she's a nice, pretty young woman whose only other manifestation of her curious parentage is constant temptation by the seven deadly sins and a tail. For reasons never explained, Daisy has been chosen to be the liaison between the eldritch community and Hel, the Norse goddess who runs the mystical part of town.

All of this is pretty routine and pro forma for the urban fantasy genre. Nothing really original here. A young college student has drowned under mysterious circumstances and Daisy is roped into the investigation. Everything from that point on goes pretty much as we might expect. There is a gorgeous cop/werewolf who Daisy has the hots for. A centuries old, very good looking "ghoul" who Daisy gets the hots for, and a young man who can see auras who Daisy gets the hots for. No doubt all three will be back in future installments.

Though Carey has published at least 12 books prior to this one, I seriously wonder if this book was the first that she actually wrote. It's not just that there is nothing new in it, but that the writing is curiously cliched and superficial. Daisy's favorite exclamation is "Gah!" which she uses frequently. I don't believe I've ever head anyone say, "Gah!" Daisy has a friend named Jen, who she refers to as "Girlfriend." Daisy's mother refers to her constantly as "Daisy, Baby." There are many more examples. The Kushiel books were lyrical, with fluid, beautiful writing and dialogue that made sense. Nobody in Phedre's world sounded this (frankly) brainless.

In the end, it was not a bad book, but if I hadn't read it, I would never have missed it. There are a couple of hundred just like it sitting on the shelf in every bookstore. Jacqueline Carey used to write insightful, original books, with larger than life characters and compelling problems. On the evidence of this one, I think she's run out of gas.