Customer Reviews

Key to Conspiracy (Gillian Key, ParaDoc, Book 2)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Talia Gryphon has the dubious honor of penning one of the worst urban fantasy books in recent memory, "Key To Conflict." Butch Mary Sues, effeminate vampires, ghastly sex scenes, and a random mishmash of fantasy cliches.

But while "Key to Conspiracy" doesn't actually leave me wanting to claw my eyes out, Gryphon's second novel is still a particularly wretched self-insert fantasy, hampered by an irritating lead, ghastly writing and an appallingly slow pace. To make matters worse, Gryphon pads out the "main" storyline with a string of sideplots that contribute nothing except a much higher page count.

As the book starts, Anita Blake... sorry, Gillian Key accompanies her Team (capitalized, note!) of a Grael Elf, a few humans, some weres and a vampire to Russia. to stop a ring of child-smuggling werecreature pedophiles. Their leaders: Boris and Natasha, along with their pet weremoose. I swear I am making none of this up, as much as I wish I were.

Then Gillian is called to England to handle a house known for its supernaturally-induced deaths, and uncovers a truly horrifying entity there. And in France, they're attacked by a Loup-Garou -- who is actually a suicidal nobleman whose Fey wife is seeking a cure for his curse. Unfortunately, Gillian has attracted the attention of Jack the Ripper, and Jack intends to kill her no matter where she is.

Finally the troupe tramps back to Transylvania. Since more than two-thirds of the book has gone by with no sex, Gillian and her not-exactly-boyfriend Aleksei do the deed. And on the sidelines, they decide to summon the ghost Dante for an upcoming conference, to create a peace treaty between all Paramortals. And no, I don't know why after thousands of years, only Gillian could convince all these people to put aside their differences in... about five minutes.

If there was ever a book that felt like it was made up along the way, it's "Key to Conspiracy." Gryphon basically strings together a bunch of short stories into one novel, with little to connect them except that Gillian the Uber-Superwoman saves the day every time. And even when she gets back to the "main" plot, it's obvious she has no idea what should happen next.

It would be pretty bad even if Gryphon could write... which she can't. Key plot points (the vampire "plant") and characters like Jack are dropped when the location changes -- including a foreshadowed Phantom of the Opera cameo that comes to nothing. The entire last quarter of the book revolves around a very brief meeting, with no disagreements or conflict whatsoever. Bing, bang, it's all done and over with -- and no real reason why it couldn't have happened millennia ago.

But even a real plot couldn't save this disaster. Gryphon's writing is silly at best (hello, wereminotaur!) and absurd at worst, such as describing Trocar's "crystalline brow." And when Gillian's little gang rolls around to Transylvania, Gryphon opens the floodgates on appalling sex scenes and TMI-laden dialogue, with such charming elements as Aleksei's "healing saliva." You can guess what's going on in THAT scene.

Her dialogue is no better ("I tell you what you're going to do. You're going to help rally all the agonized spirits in the area for some group therapy!"). And Gryphon seems to have something of a voice fetish, since every attractive male is described as "giving voice."

Perhaps the most nauseating element of this book is a fawning homage to Laurell K. Hamilton's "Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter" series. It's hard to be objective when someone is that worshipful of their reigning influence.

Obviously the worst character is Mary Sue herself, also known as Gillian. She's butch, nasty, verbally and physically abusive, considers thirty to be geriatric, whines endlessly and gripes about everybody. But don't worry, because none of that matters -- she's also beautiful, sexy, adorable, and all the men desire her not-so-secretly.

The other characters are no better -- the supposedly hardened female Marines act like giggly schoolgirls, the vampires are all sexy and remote (yet adoring to Gillian) and the fey are all beautiful and charming. The only remotely interesting character is Trocar the Dark Elf, but his personality is stunted by his drooling tendency to refer to Gillian as "Gillyflower" and "Petal."

"Key to Conspiracy" is a deceptive title, as there is little conspiracy here. Also little interesting action, little characterization, and little internal logic. It can only get worse from here on.

I had mixed feelings reading this the second book in the series. I enjoyed the first book. It was a respectable first book for a new author. I almost didn't finish the second one..

My biggest problem is that while I enjoyed all the writing/scenes in the book. The book as a whole didn't really flow. The first 2/3 of the book are stand alone short story's that were weakly tied together to flesh out the book. Some of those stories, notably the first one were not even fleshed out. It was more like a sketch or description of a story than the story itself.

The last 1/3 of the book all of a sudden tightened up and flowed. It tied back into the character development and plot lines from the first book. I enjoyed that part a lot.

If your looking for a series of mostly well written but weakly connected short stories then you should like this. If your looking for a well flowing book like the first one you will be disappointed.

I'm going to ding the publisher for some of this bad review as they shouldn't have allowed it to go to print in its current form. I expect better from a major publishing house like Ace.

I won't be buying the next book until I have seen someone else's reviews though.

Not a great book but not a terrible one either. It was entertaining and that is all i was really looking for.

I appreciate the effort, but it reads like a high school short story. Single dimensional characters, shallow story arcs, and poor narrative. It's like drinking vinegar, but without the joy.

Ive read the entire sreies and love all of them though i do agree that compared to the first book it wasn't as good but it is a middle book what do you expect? IT's filled with danger suspence but i do admit that it was king of strange not seeing Alexsi for a good portion of the book but you do have other just as good my favorite beening Trocar ( Lord of the Rings fan). I don't think that it deservises the kind of bad critisism it's been getting because even though its my least favorite of the books its still a good one! GO GILLIAN KEY!

I had read quite a few reviews of this book before I read it. I bought it ages ago and hadn't read it yet. I thoroughly enjoyed the 1st installment - Key to Conflict and was really looking forward to this one. Too many books in my "To be read" pile kept this one on the back burner for a while.

It was with a certain degree of trepidation that I started this book, since I had read so many one star reviews of it.

It's true, the beginning of the book took us through a series of vignettes along the journey of Gillian and her team getting back to Romania and the main story arc of her and Aleksei's relationship simmered in the background, but the vignettes were not that annoying and I liked Aleksei simmering in the background.

I'm glad that the story eventually got back to the main crux of what it was all about - the war between Dracula and the rest of the paramortals, however, it did take a long time - about 3/4 of the book.

I enjoy the relationship between Gillian and Aleksei, though her commitment phobia does grate at you over time.

I thought book 1 was great. This one is okay. Hopefully, book 3 improves because I also have that lined up to read.

An enjoyable continuation to book 1.

Similar to other paranormal stories with strong women characters, but this series has a twist. Not only is Dr Key a kick- @#$ exmilitary officer, but she is also a psychologist that helps fix the emotional stresses of being .... vampires, ghosts, etc... A very unique part of this character that you just don't find in other series involving the vampire, werewolf, ghost characters as well.

I will definitely get book 3 & hope that 4 is coming soon!

First book was okay. I really didn't like this one, and it's rare to find a book I don't like. A waste of time and money

This installment with Gillian and crew including the dark elf Trocar and Daedulus, spans most of Europe as Gillian's talents are needed in several places. Dracula's manipulations are hinted at, as well as the return of an old and terrible nemesis.

Gil is a very busy girl. While righting some of the wrongs, she also is drawn into situations that leave her physically vulnerable, her team in danger of Dracula's influence, and the overall feeling that the group is hunted. When Gillian is reunited with a former teacher, a rushed paranormal inspection of a house leads her to an entity she may not be able to overcome.

While there are tense moments, Ms. Gryphon manages to sprinkle them with humor. At least up until Gil awakes in a hospital under the care of one of her former enemy that is guaranteed to stir up nightmares. If the minions are this bad--how tough is the old dragon Dracula going to be?

In the midst of all of this is Aleksi's ability to communicate with Gil now over distance. While I think it comforts her at a level, it also stirs up the old feelings she has that keep her distant from those who would love her. Ms. Gryphon manages to keep Gil tough, without letting her verge on ruthless. Gil definitely has a code to live by. It does not mean that she would hesitate to hand some of the nasties over for a little needed adjustment by the other paranormals they have abused.

There is a shadow building in this story, as well as the revelation that it will take everyone's concentrated belief in their powers and the unshakable faith that they are doing what is right to stop Dracula's bid for ultimate control.

Marine Corps Special Ops psychiatrist Dr. Gillian Key is an expert in abnormal paramortal psychology as she works with supernatural patients with biting problems. However she is assigned as part of a team to provide assistance to the victims of a horrific earthquake in Russia. Though she knows she will see plenty of tragedy and her specific task is investigating rumors of child selling, Gillian looks forward to getting away from her usual paranormal clientele especially the brass.

However what should have been a natural calamity with a horrific aftermath turns into a supernatural disaster. Dracula, whom she met on a previous adventure (see KEY TO CONFLICT), is fascinated by the soldier-psychiatrist as he is more used to subservient females not combatant women. As bad or perhaps worse Jack the Ripper is using the mishap as an easy cover for his nefarious activities. Of course Gillian wonders if she has Murphy DNA as she meets a who's who of horror superstars.

Whereas KEY TO CONFLICT is preeminently military urban fantasy, KEY TO CONSPIRACY is more horror although the heroine's patients include vampires with biting guilt complexes, werewolves with species identity issues and military brass with 5-star superegos. The story line is fast-paced and filled with action, but also contains an underlying satirical feel as Talia Gryphon lampoons the sub-genre. Readers will relish the Russian adventure as the Key to this tale is the fully developed (with a wink) lead protagonist who copes with Drac, Jack and general whackos.

Harriet Klausner