Starting a new job can be murder.As the first Justice of the Arcana Council in two hundred years, Tarot-reading Sara Wilde is tasked with taking out the most dangerous magic-wielding criminals on the planet. Her first assignment? A killer known only as the Red King, who’s systematically picking off the world’s most gifted magicians in the rollicking streets and storied canals of Venice, Italy, on … canals of Venice, Italy, on the eve of Carnevale.
Amidst the festival’s music, masks, and brightly colored costumes, Sara must unravel the truth about a brutal murderer from Venice’s own murky past, navigate the twisting political currents of magicians who seek to rival her own Council, and keep one costume change ahead of a conjurer whose lethal spells could end Justice–permanently. Good thing the diabolically sexy and deeply powerful Magician of the Arcana Council has Sara’s back…if only he didn’t hold so much of her heart as well.
The canals of Venice will run with blood when you deal in The Red King.
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Whether you are a longtime Jenn Stark fan or new to her addictive Tarot-themed stories, you will love Sara Wilde’s first adventure as Justice for the Arcana Council! Fast-paced, twisty, and dark but spiced with Sara’s wry humor, this is an intense, satisfying read!
This is a new series featuring Sara Wilde. It is filled with danger and action, as Sara seeks The Read King and a new drug affecting the connected and magicians. There are twists in the plot. I love the descriptions of Venice and her famous Carnivale. I highly recommend this for anyone who likes the Immortal Vegas series.
When a Tarot-card reader ascends to the magical Arcana Council as the new Justice, she trades hunting artifacts for hunting criminals. This high-action whodunit is filled with magic, mystery, and murder. A definite page-turner!
I have been extolling the virtues of the Immortal Vegas series and Jenn Stark’s ability to create a whole new way of looking at the UF world ever since I first found it . When I thought it was ending I was heartbroken. So finding out Sara was alive and well just living in a new role, the one as Justice on the Arcana Council, it was like Christmas morning and my birthday all rolled up into one.
Sara is back. She’s Justice now. And her powers are not just enhanced, but different. Her job is to bring to Justice those Connecteds who have done wrong and/or get Justice for those who have had wrong done to them. With Gamon as Judgment the Connecteds around the world would soon learn to, well, at least be apprehensive of the two of them being around. Gamon is no wilting flower to be observed and discarded. She’s dangerous in the most intense ways possible. And while Sara is still adjusting to her new role, she’ll get it soon enough with a little help from Armaeus. And she’ll be her usual force to be respected.
Watching Armaeus and Sara together is a treat. They really are in love, but she’s not the type to swoon and he’s not the type to be all roses and sweet words all the time. Regardless of whether they are entrenched in love or work, the two are so good together. I have to admit it, these two are my favorite UF couple. So watching them travel about administering Justice, or just being together, is gong to be one of my favorite pastimes.
I don’t like to give away plots so I avoid giving out spoilers. That being said, The Red King is a great start to Sara’s new career, and going to Venice an apropos place to start. New people are introduced. Old friends are present. Nikki of course is there, right next to Sara where she seems to truly belong. Kreios is still hanging around on the periphery making his presence known. A couple other Arcana Council members also show up. This series, I believe, is going to be more about the Arcana Council and less about Sara saving the Connected children. It’s a new path for Sara, and I’m so very glad Jenn Stark is carrying on her story.
So Very Well Done, Jenn Stark!
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher. This doesn’t affect the content of my review. And because I truly support the authors I admire so much, I also bought a copy.
If you loved the Immortal Vegas series where we first met Sara, and are enjoying the Demon Enforcer series that follows, then you will LOVE this new Wilde Justice series!
Get ye to the bookseller of your choice and one-click this book, because you won’t regret it!
On the path to new adventures! After our awesome ride with Sara Wilde in the first series with more twists and turns than a San Francisco street, we begin our next adventure. First, I love that this story continues, that the ending was only the beginning and opened up more adventures.
My favorite part of these stories is that you are as much in the dark as to what is going on as Sara is. You work your theories, test them, laugh when you are totally off the mark..
I felt the story slowed a bit too much in a few places, more so than her other stories, but it was a great read overall. Each story adds a little bit more to mystery that is the Arcana Council. I’m thoroughly enjoying the ride.
So looking forward to the next book!
What a wonderful start to a new series. Wilde has a new position and if the learning curve doesn’t get her there are plenty of things in line for her to worry about. Venice is the place to be during carnival and if she can catch the Red King she may save lives as well. There’s plenty of action and twist as she investigates, learns about her powers, gets history lesson and tries to stay alive. Nikki is amazing and love the two of them together. This is a great story and I love everything about it and can’t wait for more.
Different take on Urban Fantasy. The entire series is highly recommended.
Sara Wilde is Back!!!
“Wilde Justice” a spin-off from the “Immortal Vegas Series” brings back one of the more interesting characters in modern Urban Fantasy: Sara Wilde, former magical artifact hunter, affiliated with the Magician of the Arcana Council and latest addiction to said Council as Justice.
In her fist adventure Justice Wilde confronts a master criminal knows as the Red King which seems bound on wipe off the magical world of the most gifted under the Connected. Amongst the celebration of the Venetian Carnival Sara have to fight not only a centuries old assassin but also against the political feuds and intrigues of the Council as a new player comes to light.
As Justice of the Arcana Council Sara embodies new powers and abilities which also affects her relationship with the rest of the Council and specially Armaeus, as well as with Nikki and Brody, without in the least losing all the characteristics that made Sara Wilde a most enjoyable character since the very beginning of the previous series.
It is by no means necessary to know the original Immortal Vegas Series to enjoy this new series, but I heartily recommend checking out the books as they are one of the best series in UF ever written.
There’s a new Justice in town
Great beginning to a new story arc for Sarah Wilde. After years protecting the children by *finding* Arcane objects, selling them to magic’s High Council. She takes up the mantle of Justice, taking her seat on the council. With a backlog of cases and Nicky by her side can she really do any good? Now that the Magician does not remember her, is her Love lost? Highly recommend the book and series.
As Justice of the Arcane Council, Sara Wilde is sort of winging it. I got a kick out of the first time she entered her office, the boxes and chaos were everywhere. Even as she defeats some interesting characters who come in via the pneumonic system, the cases in order of importance are piled high. Her friend and partner Nikki has been sorting things out a bit, then there’s Mrs French, the caretaker and the boys.
The one she needs to concentrate on is hinted at by two drug dealers. They were dealing in a technoceutical called Black Elixir which is fatal after the fifth dose. They also pointed to someone called the Red King as the, pardon the pun, Kingpin. This leads Nikki and Sara to Venice where it appears the ‘Butcher of Venice’ has made a reappearance along with other references to said Red King.
With powerful magicians showing up for Carnevale the danger becomes obvious as some of the younger ones are murdered. It seems some caught in the wave of magic now have enhanced abilities raising their status within that community.
Sara noting the activity at the villa next to their host’s, decides they need to investigation. In doing so they discover far more than they anticipated.
This was the first murder of a magician attached to the senate and not the last.
We get to meet more of the council members and see more of Armaeus The Magician, Head of the Arcane Council, who is also Sara’s romantic interest.
Plenty of twists and turns, turmoil and death, suspense and a touch of romance as Sara with the help of Nikki, starts making her mark as Justice of the Arcane Council.
I will definitely be reading more of this series.
Left me wanting more
I recommend this book. I’ve read her other books and enjoyed the characters.
This was an easy read, it had several fun elements which led to interesting twists. It was a mystery of sorts with a whole lot of comedy thrown in.
I have enjoyed the whole series.
This is the follow-up to Immortals of Las Vegas and can be read as a stand alone book. In her new role as Justice on the Council, Sara goes to Venice during Carnivale to find the source to a new drug devestating the Connected community. Its sense of place is so-so, but the story is solid though short and the answer obvious. Very good, but not her best.
OK, but nothing outstanding.
Very hard to stay interested