Customer Reviews

Spellbound: Book II of the Grimnoir Chronicles

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What an amazing year for author Larry Correia. First the release of Hard Magic, book one of the Grimnoir Chronicles and an epic start to an epic new series. Then Monster Hunter Alpha, a novel featuring everyone's favorite werewolf Earl Harbinger. Next came Dead Six, a military thriller collaboration with Correia's close friend Mike Kupari. And now this, book two of the Grimnoir Chronicles: Spellbound.

How best to describe the Grimnoir Chronicles for someone yet to read Hard Magic? Take the X-Men. Then throw them into an alternate reality noir version of the 1930's. Instead of evolution though the super powers are granted by a vast alien entity that is part parasite/part galactic voyeur. Then add some guns. Scratch that. Add lots of guns. And airships. And Tesla super weapons. And robots. Then of course there is the growing threat of the Imperium, a Japanese empire that makes Hitler's Third Reich look cuddly. As if that weren't bad enough the United States government is moving toward a Registration Act for the magically active citizens that will surely trample all over individual freedom in the pursuit of "security and safety." Oh, and that vast alien entity that is enabling ordinary people extraordinary powers? It's being hunted by an even bigger alien entity that wants to devour it and all who come into contact with it.

The Grimnoir Society has a lot of trouble on its hands. Not only have they been framed for an assassination attempt on the President of the United States but they are still preparing for all out war against the Imperium. Heavy Jake Sullivan has been labeled Public Enemy Number One, and has lay low while a new secret policing force for dangerous magicals scours the country for him. Faye Vierra is still trying to recover from the massive amounts of magic she expended saving her allies at the end of Hard Magic. Enemies close in from all sides and the Society must fight to clear its name.

I wondered how any sequel could possibly top Hard Magic. I was honestly a little worried. The last fifty pages of Hard Magic are the most exciting moments of any book I have ever read and it seemed like an unlikely feat that Correia could top himself this time. I needn't have been concerned. Spellbound takes the world Correia built and makes it even more dangerous. Answers are given and even more questions arise. The characters continue to develop and progress. Jake is still guilt ridden by the death of a close friend but knows that he must set aside his grief to continue studying magic so that he can defeat the evil that is yet to come. Faye proves once again to be not just the most badass female, but character in general, in the entire Urban Fantasy genre. Another interesting development for Faye is the explanation for why her powers are so much greater than everyone else's. Correia writes these characters with such distinctive voices that they grow to be real people with real personalities.

Perhaps one of the best parts of Spellbound is the assembled cast of villains. There is no shortage of bad people in the alternate history world that Correia has imagined. From eugenic imperialists to thuggish law enforcers and political visionaries the Grimnoir Society has a colorful and interesting rogues gallery. Some of the villains even turn out to be uneasy allies, as an Iron Guard turned ronin has the potential to be one of the best characters in the entire series. Evil as they may be the villains are never bad solely for the sake of being bad. These corrupt characters have true motivation behind their actions and they prove to be an excellent foil for the forces of truth and justice.

The plot is very tightly woven across multiple perspectives encompassing the two main characters (Jake and Faye) as well as a number of the secondary cast. It is apparent that Correia loves writing this world just from the sheer soul and enthusiasm put into each page. The pacing is excellent and a dedicated reader will be sure to have the book finished in no time flat. Perhaps the best thing Spellbound accomplishes is that it sets the foundation for the next book in the series. Don't confuse this for typical middle book syndrome however. Spellbound tells a self contained story but prepares readers for even greater things to come.

And at last the action. The last fifty pages of Hard Magic encompass the greatest action scene ever written, hands down. Though Spellbound doesn't quite measure up it does provide insanely intense battles, culminating in a show down with an epic demon in Washington D.C. that is a real homage to King Kong. That is, if King Kong had fought the X-Men...and could fly...and breath fire...Needless to say Correia approaches the action with the same skill and dedication that makes all of his books so fiercely enjoyable to read. From gunfights to magic fights, there is a seamless choreography that is unmatched in its ferocity as well as its clarity.

Spellbound, book two of the Grimnoir Chronicles is an amazing story. As prequel to what I would consider the perfect book, Spellbound had a lot to live up to and it did not fail to impress. As great as Correia's Monster Hunter series is, the Grimnoir Chronicles is just better in every way. If you've read Hard Magic you will not be disappointed. If you haven't, go buy both right now. You can thank me later.

How this gentleman came come out of nowhere and take launch not one but two stunning series at the same time is amazing. This second volume in the Grimnoir Chronicles picks up where the first left off and doesn't slow down. Jake Sullivan is still a hardcase but we get to see he is more than just a "Heavy", and the rest of the (surviving) supporting cast is equally well developed. I personally love Sally Faye Vierra, though she is rightfully considered the most dangerous being on the planet. The author manages the near impossible of making her funny, adorable, and as bloodthirsty as a Viking with a toothache with the correct stimulus.
This author is one to watch, and his other series, Monster Hunters, is equally engaging. As long as he keeps writing them, I will keep reading. I think he will soon be in that category of writers (think Weber or Ringo) that can publish his books as soon as they are ready, and not have to wait a year to release the next one.

I could type for ages about how incredible this book is. That, however, would ruin the fun for the new readers! This is a definite must read! Any fan of magic and science fiction will quickly be absorbed into the world Larry has created. A promising author with a very promising series. If you love the antics and wordplay of Owen Pitt then you will definitely love Jake Sullivan and his butt kicking friends! Correia is a genius! You will not be disappointed!

Larry Corriea really writes action and adventure better than anyone in the the Alternate Fiction Genre today. He mixes pulp, mythos, and action with great skill and his knowledge of details makes him one of the best new authors in the field. BRAVO

"Spellbound" is the second installment in Correia's "Grimnoir Chronicles", and it's every bit as good as the first volume, "Hard Magic". Set in an alternate early 1930s America, Correia's world is one where magic works for certain people- Actives. They have superhero like abilities: some are super strong; some can manipulate fire, ice, gravity, mechanical things or electricity; some can read minds or compel others to their will; some can raise the dead or summon demons to do their will. While these talented people have been more or less accepted by regular homo sapiens (especially the really useful ones- Cogs like Edison, Tesla and Browning are valued for their inventions, while Brutes are very useful for heavy labor), that is changing as certain Actives strive to take over the world. A movement towards mandatory registration of all Actives is growing stronger- and after registration, confinement would almost certainly follow soon after. A special government agency has been set up to do this- but it's going well beyond what it was created for.

Along with that danger, the alien entity that powers the Active's abilities is being pursued by its enemy, which will destroy earth. The Japanese government keeps trying to take over the world. One of the Grimnoir- a group of Actives who strive to protect the earth- may be connected to something evil. That's a lot for a group to deal with, even a group as talented and able as the Grimnoir.

The books feature a true ensemble cast- there is no one central character and the POV moves from one to another. There is no guarantee that any cast member, even a very important one, will survive a book- many died in "Hard Magic". This creates a real suspense that doesn't come in a lot of books, where one can assume that a main character will survive because there are more books in the series planned. I've really come to like the main characters in these books a lot; they learn, they have heartbreak, they grow.

"Spellbound" is nonstop action that combines magical powers, Japanese fighting techniques, hand to hand and enough gunfire to make Remington richer than anyone. It's intelligent- the many plot strands are woven tightly with none forgotten. And it features the creepiest interrogation scene ever, one that will feature in my nightmares for some time. HIGHLY recommended!

Speelbound is the second of the Grimnoir Chronicles by Larry Correia. Correia caught my attention with his excellent series Monster Hunters International, a series you don't want to miss. Correia has created his own special universe where history and magic exist. He takes known events from our time and puts them into his timeline but the reasons for these events are different from our time. For example, the great drought of the 30's is not caused by natural events but, by wizards trying to change weather patterns,i.e. make it rain.

Now Correia has created a "new" style of literature in my opinion. In Steam Punk you have olden times with modern inventions introduced[ a rather simple definiton, but one that works for the layman]. Here we have the 30's with things from the past that should not be here or went out of style, i.e. blimps as mass transportation, with things from the future, a death ray a.k.a. Peace Ray. Now mix in various famous people who would not normally be seen together, Black Jack Pershing, John Browning. J. Edgar hoover, well you begin to see a style emerge that is different from what is out there. Correia has created a niche style that I call "retro decco."

This style plus characters that are fleshed out to people you care about makes for an enjoyable read. However Correia ups the ante by creating fantastic action scenes worthy of Matthew Reilly. he doesn't cheat the reader with a short book, no this is 425 pages of demons, actives, wicked governments, Japanesse swordsmen, FBI agents, distruction of Washington, and finally pirates, air pirates at that.

All the characters from the first novel are here: Sullivan, Faye, Heinrich, Fransis, as well as new characters such as Hammer and my favorite Toru. This last one I like because I feel Correia is paying homage to the Charles Bronson movie RED SUN'

However I do have one strange complaint about the book, not the writing, the book-the art work didn't work for me, I found it cheap looking and not fit for the grandeur of the story/. Oh well!

While this is not his best book, it continues and deepens the series which itself is becoming interesting. Suffers from too many characters; but then wanting to know them better shows how well they are constructed. Larry Correia is a favorite and we buy every book of his as it apears. I can share these with my older teenage son and that is a treat. But for over the top enjoyment, the Monster Hunter series is better.

Others have covered the book in great detail. assassins, guns, magic, set in trappings of 1920s-30s noir... well written..captivating. The book picks up perfectly from book 1 and still provides new readers sufficient detail to understand the who/what/when of the wide range of heroes and villians. The story moves quite fast, each "event" builds drama, provides greater on the characters (major or minor), and overall builds the plot's suspense. The main villain in the starting section is slowing fleshed out and has a quirky if demented twist at the end, which I enjoyed immensely.

With every book Mr Correia's books get More fun.
For anyone that has enjoyed his other works or who enjoys superhero's I highly recommend this book.

Larry Correia has crafted a fantastic story, with fascinating characters and a storyline that grabs you at the beginning, and never lets go. This alternate universe has a sense of depth, which adds a wonderful background to the books in the series. Love it.