Wicked Gentlemen
by Ginn Hale
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Book Summary Information
Author: Ginn HaleEdition: Perfect Paperback
Audio: English (Published)
Published: 2007-05-14
ISBN: 0978986113
Number of pages: 222
Publisher: Blind Eye Books
Book Reviews of Wicked Gentlemen
Book Review: Fascinating read, great characters, great writing!
Summary: 4 Stars
Wicked Gentlemen is a different sort of fantasy than I'm used to. It is told in two sections, each separate stories in chronological order and each in the mind of a different character. Together they tell a story of forbidden love on two levels--doubly forbidden, if you will--of corruption, bigotry, fear, and religion.
Belimai Sykes is a descendant of ancient demons--or Prodigal. Sykes has a history with the Inquisition, a religious movement that uses any force necessary to get what it wants out of people, especially the Prodigals. Because of that history, Sykes doesn't trust any members of the Inquisition and has become a drug addict. But then Captain William Harper of the Inquisition shows up on his doorstep asking for his help. Harper is looking for his sister and the people behind several grisly murders and needs Sykes, abilities and all, to help him. And when Sykes agrees, he and Harper find out they've bitten off more than they can chew, and that their relationship might become something more than just business, which may bring more trouble than they're prepared to handle.
What's most interesting about this book is how it weaves the detective elements with unrelated issues. Sykes and Harper are both men, and in the world they live it is much like what this world is like in regards to gay relationships. Adding to that is the fact that Sykes is a demon, while Harper is a member of the highly religious Inquisition. Discrimination is certainly a theme here, on two levels, and Hale does a good job developing that so it affects the characters and the reader.
The characters--Sykes and Harper--are well developed throughout the book, which proves that someone doesn't need to write a 500-page monster to create compelling characters--if Philip K. Dick could do it, then so can the rest of us. Sykes goes through a transition with the help of Harper, but Harper goes through a transition of his own with the help of Sykes--although it should be noted that neither transition is at all intentional. I also really enjoyed the use of magic here: rather than flashy, it's controlled and select in the sense that not everyone has it--and those that do rarely abuse it either because they'll be hunted down and killed or because they just don't want to. Additionally, Hale has done a fantastic job developing this world, although there are some obvious limitations for such a short work. Hell's Below is dark and fascinating in the same way that something mysterious is. The Inquisition has all of the evil, violent elements I'd hoped for--an emotional impact for me when Syke's history was brought into the story. On the cover Wicked Gentlemen is described as steampunk, but it doesn't really have any of the elements of a steampunk novel, though it certainly has the same feel to it in its grittiness.
One thing that I felt was a little weak was how Hale did the ending. Instead of showing how all the bad guys get caught, etc. we're giving an epilogue style ending where everything has already happened and things are starting to right themselves. While I like that this is there, it makes me wonder what was happening when the truth finally got out because of Harper and Sykes. I think there is a lot to be told about this part of the story, particularly when you see who is actually involved in it. I would have liked to see what sort of threats come Harper's way, or what happens after that too. What other adventures do Harper and Sykes have? Perhaps this is just my desire for more rather than an actual complaint, though, and for a book that isn't 500 pages, you're going to want more, not because Wicked Gentlemen doesn't deliver, but because it gives you exactly what you want and once your literary thirst is quenched, you'll just want more.
Over all I was really impressed with this work. I like it when authors try to deal with issues of racism (in this case speciesism) and discrimination and issues of religion and how it can sometimes affect our lives, or try to control it, but without preaching or allowing it to control the story. Hale kept a good balance between the serious elements and humor and did a good job developing this world where demons live amongst humans, without overloading me on the worldbuilding. I hope to see more from Hale in this universe. There are some interesting characters here and plenty of good stories to be told. For being only 217-pages, this is an epic fantasy tale with the gritty, dark elements of urban fantasy and steampunk, the thrill and excitement of detective mysteries, and the intrigue of a quasi-alternate history tale.
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