Justice Calling

The Twenty-Sided Sorceress, Book 1

By: Annie Bellet

Narrated by: Folly Blaine

Gamer. Nerd. Sorceress.

Jade Crow lives a quiet life running her comic book and game store in Wylde, Idaho. After twenty-five years fleeing from a powerful sorcerer who wants to eat her heart and take her powers, quiet suits her just fine. Surrounded by friends who are even less human than she is, Jade figures she's finally safe.

As long as she doesn't use her magic.

When dark powers threaten her friends' lives, a sexy shape-shifter enforcer shows up. He's the shifter world's judge, jury, and executioner rolled into one, and he thinks Jade is to blame. To clear her name, save her friends, and stop the villain, she'll have to use her wits... and her sorceress powers.

Except Jade knows that as soon as she does, a far deadlier nemesis awaits.

Justice Calling is the first book in The Twenty-Sided Sorceress urban fantasy series. Readers who enjoyed The Dresden Files or The Iron Druid Chronicles will likely enjoy this series.

©2014 AnneMarie Buhl (P)2014 AnneMarie Buhl

Fantasy by a Gamer, For Gamers

Justice Calling is the first volume of the Twenty-Sided Sorceress, an urban (or rural?) fantasy series following Jade Crow, a sorceress with some dark secrets hiding out in a small town running a gaming shop. While the story itself is typical of what we're used to in Urban Fantasy, Bellet does a solid job of creating a protagonist that listeners will be happy to listen and relate with. There's excitement, sexy mysterious strangers, friendship, and geeky humor. It was perhaps a bit easy conflict-wise, and I expected the gaming component to be more necessary, but it was such a brief adventure it didn't detract too much from my listening experience.

Folly Blaine's smooth, casual voice nails the characters and atmosphere of the story. It's like an open invitation, just begging you to sit and listen, and I was happy to comply.

I enjoyed this bite-sized story, and thanks to the agreeable protagonist and Blaine's narration, I'll be coming back around for another adventure soon.

A great start to a fun fantasy series

Jade Crow is running a gaming shop in Wylde, Idaho, living very quietly. Quiet is good; she's hiding from her ex-lover, the evil sorcerer who killed her family and tried to kill her, to eat her heart and steal her magic.

And Wylde is a good place for someone with a magical secret to hide. half the residents are shape-shifters. A sorceress doesn't stand out--at least as long as she doesn't use her magic. If she doesn't use her magic except in minor ways, her enemy may not find her this time.

Bu when a shape-shifter enforce, called a Justice, walks into her shop, believing she's about to kill shape-shifters, she has a major problem.

Then the leprechaun who owns the antiques & oddities shop next door buys a taxidermied fox who turns out to be the mother of Jade's best friend in Wylde, the problem gets even bigger. To save herself and her friends, she has to help find the perpetrator and stop him.

But in the process, she'll use enough magic that her enemy will be able to find her.

This novella is the start of the series, and it's all about getting to know the characters and the world. Bellet does a great job of world-building and character development in the little space she's given herself, and the plot moves. Not deep, but a lot of fun.

Recommended.

I bought this book.

Meh!

I read this was fantastic but it's "ok" at best.
I wanted to get excited about this story but found myself wanting it to end.

Hidden Leaf among the trees

If you could sum up Justice Calling in three words, what would they be?

Sharp, tough and romantic. The main character, Jade Crow, has personality plus. She's been on her own for a while, and she's chosen to hide in a town that has a super helping of extraordinary people -- in the hope that her magic will be unnoticed. She's had it rough, but it hasn't filed away her ability to care. When the new Justice comes to town...well, now that would be telling too much of the story.

What other book might you compare Justice Calling to and why?

Patricia Briggs Alpha and Omega books. Patty Briggs characters also have that tough exterior with heart of gold, and crisp portrayal of personable characters. Bellet's writing brings the reader just a little bit closer to the street -- moderately farther away from fantasy.

What does Folly Blaine bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Folly Blaine does an excellent job of interpreting Jade's expressions and attitude. Because the book is written in first person, this is perfect.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

One red-gold leaf, trying to hide among green trees.

Any additional comments?

She looks at the Justice and thinks his lips are kissable? Really? Foreshadowing is cool, but that seems just a tidge bit over the top -- after all, at that moment he is thinking about imposing consequences. That is why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5. Otherwise, very fine writing, super plot, believable characters and some fun references to gaming culture. Loved it.

Wish the narrator had practiced accents a little

The story is fun and an easy listen. Unfortunately, the narrator doesn't have very good accents for the Russian and Irish characters. Perhaps that changes in the books that follow. Still enjoyed the story.