Who needs luck when ‘bad’ is the only kind you have?
The only demon without magic is no longer the sole badge of dishonor Ezekial Sunstone wears. He can also add the title of Hell’s only murderer to the list.If working for Lucifer has taught him one thing, it’s that solace can> be found in the bottom of the bottle. Unfortunately, it doesn’t come with a side-order of chicken wings. At least … with a side-order of chicken wings. At least his magical-yet-mysterious halberd hasn’t deserted him.
Ezekial finds himself scouring the Circles of Hell for a missing demon named Gemini after Lucifer’s Council suspects angels of doing the unthinkable. The more he untangles webs of deceit, the more political games ensnare him.
Robbed of really good drinking time, he must discover if Gemini is alive or dead. Before he can do that, he has to deal with an angel-shaped problem that promises to change his life for eternity.
Do good deeds really go unpunished?
The Zodiac series is what you get when you mix Jim Butcher and Christopher Moore. Fans of Terry Mancour and Lindsay Buroker will enjoy this playful ride into the world of souls.
The Gemini Paradox is the third book in The Zodiac series. The first book, Bitter Aries, releases in July 2020. Book 2, The Horn of Taurus, will release in August 2020. Book 4, Cancer’s Curse, will release in October 2020.more
Received as a review copy (2020) this is an honest review. The more Zeke finds himself being used by Hell’s Council, the more Zeke is pulled into a layered world of secrets and lies that remain buried. This time Zeke is tasked with finding if a demon called Gemini is still alive. Zeke has to face what he’s already done if he can live up to the council’s request of being their bounty hunter; but the cost of these missions cuts deeper than Zeke would like. Things are getting murky and Zeke is at a crossroads of a lot of power… just how much he can change things remain to be seen. Highly recommended.
Received as an ARC
If you are expecting the usual light-hearted jaunt through various circles of hell, with our heroes chasing after wayward demons and inevitably bumbling their way to victory, think again; this is a darker kind of monster. This is almost a half-step back to Paul’s darker story days, (not a bad thing) and this story is like a mirror held up to show the horrors of our current societal ‘hell on earth’.
This book had me guessing most of the way through due to the preconceptions I had from the book’s title. I kept expecting the second character to pop out of the woodwork at any moment, or we had a slight twist on the mythology and the twin I had been expecting was hidden in plain sight in the form of Zeke’s latest crush. I’m slightly miffed that the mythical stories weren’t utilised a little, but also happy where the story went, and the implications associated with this path for the remainder of the story.
A great story, even with its somber note, that sets the reader up for the bigger picture of the series, and I for one am looking forward to it.
This latest installment begins with a seemingly run-of-the-mill assignment. Ezekiel is working with his frenemy, Ralrek since Bilba is “out of town” for the time being. And let me digress on the relationship between Zeke and Ralrek for a moment. Sometimes I think that Zeke has a bit of a crush on Ralrek (he’s obsessed with how hot the demon is!), or that Ralrek has a thing for Zeke (is his attitude toward Zeke because he’s attracted, but doesn’t want to be?), or maybe it’s both! Well, I’m rooting for them. Zeke certainly deserves a little happiness. Regardless, working together has made them closer, that’s for sure.
OK, back to business. We meet some new and intriguing characters who really make an impact on Zeke and his future. This turn predictably features a different council member, one who is not a member of Zeke’s fan club. That is about the only thing in this book that’s predictable, however, because the simple assignment turns into much more. SO much more. There were so many unexpected twists and turns, so much pulse-pounding action, that I felt exhausted when I was finished reading.
Yes, questions are answered. Of course, more questions pop-up. Certainly, The Gemini Paradox is the best of the series yet!
I received a free ARC and I’m leaving this review voluntarily.
Received as a review copy, this is an honest review. The more Zeke finds himself being used by Hell’s Council, the more Zeke is pulled into a layered world of secrets and lies that remain buried. This time Zeke is tasked with finding if a demon called Gemini is still alive. Zeke has to face what he’s already done if he can live up to the council’s request of being their bounty hunter; but the cost of these missions cuts deeper than Zeke would like. Things are getting murky and Zeke is at a crossroads of a lot of power… just how much he can change things remain to be seen. Highly recommended.