I read the first book in the Matthew Corbett series, Speaks the Nightbird, a few months ago and really enjoyed it. When I saw this latest volume in the series at the library, I decided to go ahead and read it even though I have not read the intervening 5 books in the series. Well a lot has happened to Corbett since his adventures in Nightbird. He is teamed up with a minion of Professor Fell's, Julian Devane, to go after a book of spells and potions that is needed to save Corbett's love, Berry Grigsby, from going deeper into madness. Berry had been put under the spell of one of the potions in the book previously. But then the book was stolen by the nefarious Cardinal Black, a satanist and demonologist. The book is then put up for auction by the real person behind it's theft, Admiral Lash, who is looking for something bigger. So can Corbett and Devane retrieve the book before it is too late for Berry?
This novel was really action-packed and included some really interesting characters, most of whom are really on the bad side. One of the most interesting is Elizabeth Mulloy who has a second personality called RakeHell Lizzie who enjoys torturing and killing men. Julian Devane is also one of the most interesting in the book as he helps Corbett by being bad. Then there is the Owl who can turn his head almost completely around. Actually, I wasn't sure why this volume was titled Cardinal Black since Black did not really have the predominant role in the novel. Admiral Lash was more of the mind behind the whole plot. Anyway, I feel like I really need to read the other novels in the series to better understand the characters and what has happened to Corbett since the first book. And based on the ending, it looks like the series will continue as Corbett is off on another adventure to Italy in search of a mirror that is supposedly a pathway for demons. Better get busy reading these if I can find copies.
This novel was really action-packed and included some really interesting characters, most of whom are really on the bad side. One of the most interesting is Elizabeth Mulloy who has a second personality called RakeHell Lizzie who enjoys torturing and killing men. Julian Devane is also one of the most interesting in the book as he helps Corbett by being bad. Then there is the Owl who can turn his head almost completely around. Actually, I wasn't sure why this volume was titled Cardinal Black since Black did not really have the predominant role in the novel. Admiral Lash was more of the mind behind the whole plot. Anyway, I feel like I really need to read the other novels in the series to better understand the characters and what has happened to Corbett since the first book. And based on the ending, it looks like the series will continue as Corbett is off on another adventure to Italy in search of a mirror that is supposedly a pathway for demons. Better get busy reading these if I can find copies.
