Susi's Reviews > Goddess with a Blade

Originally posted at Book Lovers Inc

An urban fantasy with vampires and a heroine who's the vessel of an honest to god(-dess) goddess? Sounds pretty intriguing to me. But this novel offers so much more. The world Dane creates is detailed and vibrant. The way her characters lead us through the story shows how much love and work she’s put into this one. But let me start at the beginning.

We meet Rowan Summerwaite in Las Vegas where she hunts the vampires who break the rules and shows them why they shouldn't. She is the vessel of the Brigid, a Celtic Goddess and knows what she's capable of. She is very self-assured and at points she really can overdo it. She is very straightforward and never passes the chance to let the sarcasm come out and play. At times this could be a bit much but I loved that she didn't back down- from no one. She's not one of those stupid girls who don't know their boundaries- she can be nice when the need arises but when she is free to do or say what she thinks she does exactly that. But who wouldn't when you have a goddess inside yourself to hold your back. Rowan is not only kick ass though- she has a heart below all this armor she has put around herself. It really is hidden deep but from time to time we even get a glimpse at this side of her personality.

On the other hand we have Clive Stewart- the new Scion of Las Vegas. He is so to say the leader of the vampires in that region and he couldn't be more different from his predecessor. He's strong, hunky and a has a certain something that draws Rowan to him even though she actually wants to ram her sword into his chest most of the time. They infuriate each other nearly 24/7 but the attraction still won’t burn out. Clive is not so much of an asshole as he seems at first. He is a man of many facets and it was fun to discover those.

Perhaps I should make one thing clear: Goddess with a Blade is an urban fantasy novel- yes there is sex and a bit of romance but don't start this book expecting something like Dane's Brown Siblings series. The whole setting in this novel is rather dark and gritty. The focus lies more on the world building and the journey Rowan experiences. It's a book about fighting for what's right with all means available. It's a fast paced ride through confrontations of the different factions. We join Rowan on her search for clues to solve the mystery around the murder of those girls. Another thing I enjoyed is the sarcasm and overall witty replies the characters throw around. Dane really isn't afraid to show the not-so-nice side of her heroine- she made me snort and giggle so often.

As always the side cast was really fantastic, too. I adored Carl, the seemingly crazy taxi driver. He was so weird and strange that I actually couldn't tear my eyes from the pages. I also liked to see how Rowan had some people to call family. The dynamics between them spoke volumes and delivered a certain kind of reality to the story.

All those aspects make Goddess with a Blade a really unique and thrilling urban fantasy. It definitely wasn’t what I expected before I started this book- the overall feel is quite different from Dane’s previous novels but I enjoyed it nonetheless. The ambiance is darker and grittier, the characters more outspoken and not at all docile or meek. This is a kick-ass story with an intricate world building that will grab your attention- that’s what makes a good urban fantasy stand out. I can only hope that we will get the chance to visit this world again and perhaps even get a glimpse of Rowan and Clive.