Nightwise by R.S. Belcher

I have really enjoyed R.S. Belcher's previous works The Six-Gun Tarot and The Shotgun Arcana. I was so excited to see a new novel by him, even if it was an urban fantasy instead of weird Western. I have to say, though, I was a little disappointed in Nightwise.

Sorcerer Laytham Ballard is not a nice man. He has lived most of his life for the thrill of magic, willing to do anything to chase the title of "Best." But when his dying friend asks him to hunt down a Serbian war criminal, Laytham agrees even though it will gain him nothing. The search leads him through nasty supernatural creatures, run-ins with the Illuminati, and an age-old secret hidden in the very fabric of America.

This was just a shade too derivative of the Hellblazer series, the Harry Dresden novels by Jim Butcher, or any number of badass-but-tortured antiheroes. It's still a fun read but I was looking for the sheer newness of his Golgotha series. Still, his world-building is on point and I really appreciate the little details that hint at a fully-formed history for his characters. I'm definitely a fan and I am looking forward to his next book, but I'll probably temper my expectations for it a little bit.

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