Title: The Department of Magic
Author: Rod Kierkegaard Jr.
Publisher: Curiosity Quills
Publication Date: 12th December 2011
Pages: 307
Format: E-Book - EPUB
Genre: Fantasy
Source: ARC from NetGalley
It’s hate at first sight.
Jasmine Farah and Rocco di Angelo are competing for the same job in a dusty office in a secret Federal agency run by the mysterious, menacing Jefferson Davis Crawley – “Creepy” Crawley, as he’s known.
When Crawley is murdered in front of them after their first day on the job, Jasmine and Rocco are left to figure out who killed their new boss, and exactly what a job in the so-called Department of Magic entails. And magic, it seems, is nothing like it seems in children’s books; it’s dark and bloody and sexual.
What follows is a nightmare gallop through a world of ghosts, spooks, vampires, demons, and the minions of South American and Voodoo gods hell-bent on destroying the world and subjugating all America in the year 2012.
Only Rock and Jazz, in the company of a ragtag team of urhobos – homeless guardians of the District of Columbia– can prevent it by resurrecting “Goddess America” in a mystical ceremony on the Fourth of July, as the story reaches its bittersweet and unforeseen climax. (Goodreads Synopsis)
I requested this book on NetGalley because the premise looked really exciting and that is definitely the book's strong point: a great story idea, promising action and fun.
But sadly this book just didn't quite deliver for me. The prose was dull, there were POV issues and these two factors were not helped by unbelievable, wooden characters whose personalities changed constantly and gave the reader no sense of who they were and what they stood for. I just couldn't bring myself to care for either of them.
I still gave this book two stars though as the storyline was intriguing and it could be a brilliant story with a little work. I did love the idea of a Department of Magic and the way all the creatures were worked into the story. Plus the little 'intros' to each chapter were often very amusing.
I love the title of this book. It sounds like it has some good points, but overall- there were some parts that you didn't like. I really enjoyed reading your honest review.
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