"A romantic fantasy that stirs the senses"
In a world in which most people believe that magic doesn't
exist, there remains a sub-culture of Talent thriving.
These folks use their powers in a way that keeps them
hidden from the unbelievers. Wren Valere is a Retriever, a
talent who locates things that have been missing for people
who do not want the police involved. She returns the
missing object to its owner for a fee negotiated by her
partner and agent Sergei Didier. Both Sergei and Wren are
loners who make a very good team professionally and
personally even though neither wants to admit their
feelings for one another. A cornerstone with a spell of protection has been stolen
from the Fronts building and the owner wants to get it
back. Wren and Sergei intend to retrieve it from the
collector who hired a rogue mage to steal the spell. Before
they can accomplish the deed, they also must deal with a
ghost that was freed when the spell was stolen. If Sergei
and Wren want to collect their fee, they have to stop the
runaway spirit, who is intent on revenge Fans of Laurell K. Hamilton, Tanya Huff and Mercedes Lackey
are going to love STAYING DEAD, a romantic fantasy that
stirs the senses and creates a story that is both
fulfilling and magical (no pun intended). Laura Anne Gilman
makes the reader believe that magic exists and creatures of
myth and legend inhabit the earth. It will be very hard to
wait for the next Retriever's novel coming in the summer of
2005 because Laura Anne Gilman has cast quite a spell on
readers. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted August 28, 2004
Manhattan's nightlife just got weirder. . .
It starts as a simple job — but simple jobs, when you're
dealing with this magical world, often end up anything but.
As a Retriever, Wren Valere specializes in finding things
gone missing — and then bringing them back, no questions
asked. Normally her job is stimulating, challenging and
only a little bit dangerous. But every once in a while. . .
Case in point — a cornerstone containing a spell is stolen
and there's a magical complication. (Isn't there always?)
Wren's unique abilities aren't enough to lay this
particular case to rest, and so she turns to some friends:
a demon )minor), a mage who has lost her mind, and a few
others — including Sergei, her business partner (and maybe
a bit more?)
Sometimes what a woman has to do to get the job done is
enough to give even Wren nightmares. . .
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