Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com

This book had one of the most refreshing acknowledgements I read for a long time:

I'd like to the City of Baltimore for being creepy enough to inspire this series.

Note: I've never been to Baltimore so I can't comment on that.

Another thing I won't be doing is comparing this series to the Dresden Files. I've heard about it, of course, but I've never read the books (yet). Come to think about it, I haven't read that much urban fantasy all together. This all caused my view of The Curse Merchant to be a relatively fresh one. And I liked it.

Dorian Lake has his business selling hexes and charms to a selected clientèle using karma-magic. Unfortunately, this can backfire sometimes as a gun is being pointed at his head right at the beginning of the book. Although at first it didn't really looked like the story was going anywhere, this changes after a special friend confides to Dorian that she's sold her soul to another practitioner. One with roots in the Netherwork, a strange and dark ancient power not to be toyed with.

Dorian considers himself to be one of the good guys as he's not involved in the Soul magic. And although he does try to save a rape victim, he's usually just egocentric and it's far from black-and-white. After all, he does put spells (okay, hexes and charms) on people just because he's getting paid (a lot) to do so. He's not very likeable either, but not necessarily in an annoying way. After the death of his parents and his mysterious magical training in England (I see what you did there) he seems to be quite content with himself.

The story was entertaining, even though I still don't really feel like I have an idea how this magic system works. The writing fitted the story, and reminded me a bit of another Urban Fantasy series I read (Seventeen). The sequel, The Curse Servant, happens to be my next book! I hope I will enjoy it as much as I did this one.

The Curse Merchant is the first book in the Dark Choir Series. The second book is The Curse Servant.

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! ( )

The Curse Merchant (The Dark Choir #1) by J.P. Sloan is a darn good read! Dorian works at a shop making hexes and charms, doesn't get into the black stuff, the Netherwork. He wants to keep his soul. His ex-girlfriend comes back into his life with a problem, claims only he can fix, his problems are just starting. He is too kind hearted...she sold her soul and she wants him to get her out of it. It is really an exciting book and full of twists and turns and great fantasy! Never dull! ( )

My original The Curse Merchant audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.

What if you could hire someone to help you get ahead in your business or get even with an unfaithful lover? What if that person used some potions, spells and a bit of magic? Dorian Lake sells hexes to help people with their various problems, and he’s quite good at it. He has always vowed to avoid the dark arts, instead pulling on a person’s own karmic propensities for success or love, just magnifying what is already there. There are few negative consequences to these simple charms.

Dorian’s enigmatic teacher had warned him of the dangers of netherwork, the dark arts, which scared him so thoroughly, he won’t even open the rare volumes of spells locked in its dark cage. When his ex-girlfriend begs him for help in getting her soul back from an unscrupulous netherworker, he must face his fears or watch her face certain damnation.

Dorian Lake is a complicated man, both charming and haunted. He can’t remember so many things in his life, almost like he lost two years. He’s descended into depression and drink and the results are not helping him at all. He moves through life in a fog even when he is forced to get back to work to help his former lover, and that work is going to get him into a lot of trouble.

The Curse Merchant is a thoroughly entertaining story, both realistic and magical. Political figures and businessmen use hex workers to further their careers. Some have even sold their souls to the get very special gifts that come with it. J.P. Sloan has created a completely normal world with magic in the background, sort of like buying a special tip for a winning stock or buying a charm to make one more attractive to the opposite sex. It’s just there, available to anyone who will pay for it, but little discussed openly. It is an interesting premise that works well in the world he has created.

The story is performed by Neil Hellegers. His slow dark delivery is haunting in its delivery. He is one of those distinctive performers who seems to have been born to read horror and the occult. He adds so much to the story, it is difficult to separate him from it. A dark mood permeates the tale and Dorian’s depression. His character voices are distinctive and appropriate, always easily distinguished. For this kind of story, it just doesn’t get better.

The Curse Merchant is a tale of magic in the modern world. It is just there under the surface of the banal ordinary world, special, yet available to whomever will pay for it. A great idea that makes for a compelling novel. It is the first in the series, wrapping up well, but leaving the listener hungry for the sequel. You just have to find out what happens to Dorian. Recommended.

Audiobook was provided for review by the narrator. ( )

Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com

This book had one of the most refreshing acknowledgements I read for a long time:

I'd like to the City of Baltimore for being creepy enough to inspire this series.

Note: I've never been to Baltimore so I can't comment on that.

Another thing I won't be doing is comparing this series to the Dresden Files. I've heard about it, of course, but I've never read the books (yet). Come to think about it, I haven't read that much urban fantasy all together. This all caused my view of The Curse Merchant to be a relatively fresh one. And I liked it.

Dorian Lake has his business selling hexes and charms to a selected clientèle using karma-magic. Unfortunately, this can backfire sometimes as a gun is being pointed at his head right at the beginning of the book. Although at first it didn't really looked like the story was going anywhere, this changes after a special friend confides to Dorian that she's sold her soul to another practitioner. One with roots in the Netherwork, a strange and dark ancient power not to be toyed with.

Dorian considers himself to be one of the good guys as he's not involved in the Soul magic. And although he does try to save a rape victim, he's usually just egocentric and it's far from black-and-white. After all, he does put spells (okay, hexes and charms) on people just because he's getting paid (a lot) to do so. He's not very likeable either, but not necessarily in an annoying way. After the death of his parents and his mysterious magical training in England (I see what you did there) he seems to be quite content with himself.

The story was entertaining, even though I still don't really feel like I have an idea how this magic system works. The writing fitted the story, and reminded me a bit of another Urban Fantasy series I read (Seventeen). The sequel, The Curse Servant, happens to be my next book! I hope I will enjoy it as much as I did this one.

The Curse Merchant is the first book in the Dark Choir Series. The second book is The Curse Servant.

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! ( )

Main Character: I like Dorian Lake. His heart is in the right place, but he just can’t keep his mouth from getting him into trouble. I can relate. I was never quite sure of his financial situation — he owns an Audi, goes to an exclusive club, owns rental property, and comes off as a little spoiled, but yet still worries about money. He makes some choices I didn't quite get, too, like going back to the club after just being reminded he promised to stay away. He also seems kind of quick to jump into his mentor’s cabinet after spending an awful lot of time avoiding that very thing. I love how he loves his friends and how he can be loyal to a fault; but when he’s pushed too far, he can be nasty. I love that he sees himself as an agent of Karma.

Other Characters: Sloan certainly surprised me with some of the other characters. I never suspected Carmen and the Syrian would turn out to be what they were — not sure if that was good writing or a lack of clues. I’d have to reread the book to be sure. Wren and Edgar are awesome and so good for Dorian. So is Ben. I expected the Deputy Mayor to be sleazy, but he turned out to be decent. You don’t usually see that kind of optimism for politicians, even in fiction. Osterhaus was a dick, which was his role in the story, and I have a feeling McHenry is an antagonist that will show up again.

World: I like what we see of Lake’s world so far, but a lot was left unexplained. Set in modern-day Baltimore, there is a world of magic that isn't exactly hidden, but not widely believed. So far, we've seen magic-wielding humans but no creatures other than those shadowy figures that stalk the soulless and the Netherworkers. We know that souls are energy, and a commodity. We know that karma is real (here Ivana cheers). We know there is a policing agency called the Presidium, but we don’t know what they do, exactly. In some stories, not having that information really bothers me. I wasn't so bothered with this book, though — maybe because the story was so compelling, or because I just trusted the author would reveal more in time. I would like to see more of the basic type of karmic charm Dorian is famous for, though. Maybe those would make some good short stories? I enjoyed the references to the Inner Harbor and the Aquarium as I really liked my time in Baltimore as a tourist.

Story: During the first half of this book, the reader is trying to figure out what happened to Dorian two years ago. Why are all his friends mad at him? Why is his memory hazy? This is the part of the book that had me so excited I could hardly put it down! I was hoping for some Sixth Sense type of twisty deviousness. When that part of the mystery is finally revealed, then you get to watch Dorian take back his life and try to set things right. I’m all about karmic justice, as you may know if you read this blog much, and the bloodier the better. I LOVE seeing characters get back what they deserve, so the ending of this book made me really happy. Dorian kills several birds with one stone at the climax, setting as many things right as he can in the end. Another thing I really like is when seemingly throw-away elements of the story are really important foreshadowing. The dragonfly pin, the ticket stub, and the messages on Dorian’s phone, for example, all end up being important details in the bigger story. This is the kind of tight writing that I enjoy.

Overall: The Curse Merchant is the type of book that makes me thankful that self-publishing and small-press publishing has really taken off; a big publisher may or may not have taken a chance on this story. The only thing keeping this from being a five-heart book for me is that we need more about the world and the magic system. But I trust that will come in the rest of the series. Sloan has crafted a great tale that had me wrapped around its pinkie until the very end. This series is definitely going on my favorites list.

Purchased. Review courtesy of onebooktwo.com | one book, two reviews. ( )