Dark Oracle

"Dark Oracle" is the first book in a new series by the author of Embers (written as Laura Bickle). Much of what I enjoyed in Embers is present here: a strong female character, a compelling story, and a lovable pet. I will note that Tara Sheridan strikes me as a more distant and brooding character than Anya in Embers. But then, Tara is coming from a much darker place and has a lot of baggage to deal with. That baggage is well-explored in this story. I also love the sci-fi flavor Williams adds (a scientist has gone missing amid experiments with dark matter). And her nemesis is frightening, leading to a chase that had me glued to the pages wondering how it would end. This is a second intriguing series for this impressive new author.

(4.5 stars) For years, Tara Sheridan has been a hermit. She was once a criminal profiler, and a tarot-reading oracle destined for the all-female secret society Daughters of Delphi. After a series of traumas, she left these callings behind and retreated to a remote cabin in the woods. But when a brilliant scientist goes missing amid the ruins of his cutting-edge lab, leaving behind a young daughter, Tara reluctantly agrees to take the case. This means dealing with the Daughters again, along with a former colleague who makes Tara uneasy. It also means running for her life when a couple of very powerful people decide they want her out of the way. And, too, it means a chance to face some old fears and perhaps even to fall in love, though she's reluctant to reveal her unorthodox methods to a logical man like Harry Li. Alayna Williams creates a compelling heroine in clever, intuitive Tara. Harry is a likable character, too, and their relationship -- conflicts and all -- is touching and realistic. Williams also peoples her novel with memorable secondary characters, from the scientist's daughter Cassie to Harry's awesome mentor to the Pythia, head of the Daughters of Delphi. (Not to even mention the dog and cat.) The plot is suspenseful, the descriptions vivid and often just plain gorgeous, and all the elements add up to a perfect escapist read for summer. I found it impossible to put down; I'm usually reading three or four books at once, but this was *the* book for several days running. I really liked the way Williams incorporated the tarot into Dark Oracle. I'm pretty familiar with the tarot, and so at first the lengthy descriptions of the cards got to me. "OK, let's move on," I was thinking. That is, until I realized two things. First, many of Dark Oracle's readers will not already be tarot buffs and will benefit from these careful descriptions. Second, the descriptions are important even if you don't think you need them! You never know what details will turn out to be relevant later. Williams weaves the tarot imagery into the story in really interesting ways. A few things didn't quite work for me, and they're kind of intangible "feel" sorts of things, but I'll try to describe them as best I can. Tara's lingering anger at the Pythia seems a little over-the-top at times. I'm not entirely sure that one of the villains would confess his sins the way he does. And Cassie's age feels a little hazy. She's said to be 23 years old, but everyone calls her "the girl" and treats her like she's about fifteen. She sometimes acts younger, too, but at other times is wise beyond her years. HERE BE SPOILERS: One more aspect I really loved: there's a "chosen one" in the story -- and Tara's not it! For much of the novel, both Tara and one of the villains believe Tara has been selected to be the Pythia's successor, but the "chosen one" is really someone else. When asked about it, the Pythia says, "You're good, but you're not that good." Tara has all sorts of butt-ki

There's an explosion at a government lab in the New Mexico desert. The site of fascinating work, its lead scientist is missing, and former criminal profiler Tara Sheridan has joined the search for him. But she's facing danger on two fronts: from someone she grew up with, and from the government peeps who want the scientist's files. Tarot, quantum physics, mines, botany, geology, divination, serial killers...if any of these interest you, purchasing DARK ORACLE would be wise. A mix of "The X-Files" and Alex Kava's Maggie O'Dell series, this novel has enlivened urban fantasy with a smack of science that grounds the story with realism. Plus, there are definite wow moments - the climax features a character who truly is one with the earth, in jaw-dropping imagery. Unfortunately, the sequel, ROGUE ORACLE, won't be released until March. Too bloody long away...

Laura Bickle, aka Alayna Williams, is NOT writing the same old Urban Fantasy. She has some very fresh ideas! If you're a die-hard looking for vampires and werewolves in your UF, this isn't for you, but if you're ready for something /different/, read THIS. Think X-Files but with Scully as the lead and she actually possesses some magical skills. Tara, the main character, left her job with the feds after being the target of a serial killer she was investigating. She's scarred inside and out, but she's drawn back in by this new case. While the subject of the main plot involves sci-fi stuff like dark energy, the story was completely plausible to me and seemed very well-researched. It wasn't told in a way that made me feel like I needed to /be/ a scientist to understand it. Bravo! There's government conspiracy, dangerous scientific technology at stake, a love interest, and a murder-mystery to solve. Meanwhile, Tara has to face her old fears /and/ the people who let her down. Very entertaining story. Looking forward to the next installment.

An action packed start for this series. I'm interested in seeing where Tara's character will go. While I thought most of the book works itself out in a predictable way, the successor of the Pythia was a surprise for me. I liked the psychological use of the Gardener and the way Bickle/Williams used this past trauma to unfold the character of Tara. Like in her previous work, I liked the non-human character (the dog) best. I also enjoyed Martin, the happy recluse in his trailer, and the dynamic between Harry & Tara. I can't wait for the next segment.