Pacific Fire

by Greg Van Eekhout

Hardcover, 2015

Call number

813/.6

Publication

New York : Tor, 2015.

Pages

332

Description

I'm Sam. I'm just this guy. Okay, yeah, I'm a golem created from the substance of his own magic by the late Hierarch of Southern California. With a lot of work, I might be able to wield magic myself. I kind of doubt it, though. Not like Daniel Blackland can. Daniel's the reason the Hierarch's gone and I'm still alive. He's also the reason I've lived my entire life on the run. Ten years of never, ever going back to Los Angeles. Daniel's determined to protect me. To teach me. But it gets old. I've got nobody but Daniel. I'll never do anything normal. Like attend school. Or date a girl. Now it's worse. Because things are happening back in LA. Very bad people are building a Pacific firedrake, a kind of ultimate weapon of mass magical destruction. Daniel seemed to think only he could stop them. Now Daniel's been hurt. I managed to get us to the place run by the Emmas. (Many of them. All named Emma. It's a long story.) They seem to be healing him, but he isn't going anyplace soon. Do I even have a reason for existing, if it isn't to prevent this firedrake from happening? I'm good at escaping from things. Now I've escaped from Daniel and the Emmas, and I'm on my way to LA. This may be the worst idea I ever had.… (more)

Language

Original language

English

Physical description

332 p.; 8.7 inches

ISBN

9780765328564

User reviews

LibraryThing member stefferoo
The bulk of this story takes place years after the first book, following the lives of osteomancer Daniel Blackland and his adopted son Sam, the golem created from the essence of the late Hierarch. The two have stayed under the radar for the last ten years, constantly staying on the move in order to
Show More
keep Sam out of the wrong hands. That is until one day, word reaches them that some very bad people are attempting to build the ultimate weapon of mass magical destruction — a real, live, honest-to-goodness Pacific firedrake.

The premise behind these novels has got to be one of the most original and creative I’ve ever encountered in an urban fantasy series. The magic system of osteomancy – wizards who ingest creature bones and other body parts to absorb their essence and gain their power — is as cool as it is disturbing. I’m also a sucker for heist stories, which is why I loved the first book. However, this sequel, while also featuring a caper aspect, is more of character study and coming-of-age tale centered around Sam. Daniel on the other hand is still a major presence in the story, but it does feel like at times he is taking a step back to let the character of Sam shine.

In my eyes, the classic heist plot of California Bones still gives the first book the edge, but admittedly not by much; Pacific Fire is just as fun and full of thrills as its predecessor, and I do appreciate the differences in the two books’ structure because it definitely made things more interesting.
Show Less
LibraryThing member stefferoo
The bulk of this story takes place years after the first book, following the lives of osteomancer Daniel Blackland and his adopted son Sam, the golem created from the essence of the late Hierarch. The two have stayed under the radar for the last ten years, constantly staying on the move in order to
Show More
keep Sam out of the wrong hands. That is until one day, word reaches them that some very bad people are attempting to build the ultimate weapon of mass magical destruction — a real, live, honest-to-goodness Pacific firedrake.

The premise behind these novels has got to be one of the most original and creative I’ve ever encountered in an urban fantasy series. The magic system of osteomancy – wizards who ingest creature bones and other body parts to absorb their essence and gain their power — is as cool as it is disturbing. I’m also a sucker for heist stories, which is why I loved the first book. However, this sequel, while also featuring a caper aspect, is more of character study and coming-of-age tale centered around Sam. Daniel on the other hand is still a major presence in the story, but it does feel like at times he is taking a step back to let the character of Sam shine.

In my eyes, the classic heist plot of California Bones still gives the first book the edge, but admittedly not by much; Pacific Fire is just as fun and full of thrills as its predecessor, and I do appreciate the differences in the two books’ structure because it definitely made things more interesting.
Show Less
LibraryThing member LongDogMom
Loved it! Such a different take on magic, and lots of food for thought about different things from friends and family to power and love. Can't wait to see what happens next.
LibraryThing member adamwolf
I did not like this as much as the first one. The first was a heist, right? This one has a heist in it, but it isn't "a heist". Thematically, feels a bit more like half of a story than a story, but the new one is coming out any day now.
LibraryThing member kmajort
Bone magic, and alt west coast, more to come.
LibraryThing member rivkat
After saving the Hierarch’s golem—a hugely valuable magical prize for anyone who could eat his bones—Daniel has been in hiding with him for years. But his old boss’s attempt to recreate a devastating magical weapon has him coming back to LA. Sam, the golem, is a major focus of this book,
Show More
which involves more journeying/breaking and entering in a world that has Hollywood stars and airplanes but also apparently more limited tech than ours.
Show Less
LibraryThing member jazzbird61
I literally yelled "You can't end it like that!" out loud. While somewhat of a cliffhanger--it's acceptable. As a licensed cliffhanger hater, that's saying a lot. I can't wait for the next installment and would love to also get this one in audiobook format.
Page: 0.359 seconds