Book Review: Guicai Talisman by A.M. Griffin

Title: The Underground Chronicles of Babylonia Jones, PI: The Guicai Talisman
Author: A.M. Griffin
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Age Group: Adult
Rating: 4 stars
Purchase: Amazon
Review copy provided by Enchanted Book Promotions in exchange for an honest review.

What does a woman have to do to prove she belongs in the Undercity? Sure, I’m unclassed and only half paranormal, but that doesn’t mean I can’t solve cases. Since the established PI’s won’t acknowledge my right to a territory, I’m taking jobs from whoever will hire me, doing what I do best…proving myself to be a bad-ass problem solver. Which is how I find myself breaking into Zaid’s house, looking for a talisman my witch client says the very powerful vampire stole.

Now, I can make flowers grow, hear the wind’s whispers and talk to animals, but I don’t have the gift of seeing the future. If I did, I’d have known not to take this case. Because no matter the outcome, nothing good can come from messing with the Guicai Talisman, or it’s far too gorgeous guardian.

Cover art provided by Erik Reeves http://facebook.com/Erikreevesart

In The Guicai Talisman, Babylonia Delilah Jones is a half-breed: half-human, half-paranormal. She works as a PI, and since no one acknowledges her right to a territory, she takes on cases from just about anyone. She is rather good at what she does, though, and in this current case she’s looking for a talisman, the Guicai Talisman. This talisman holds strange and dangerous powers, and the talisman’s guardian is about just as dangerous, especially for Babylonia.

The best part about this book is no doubt the world building. A.M. Griffin does a tremendous job crafting a word inhabited by vampires, witches, demons, bersekers, magical artifcats and more. The main character is interesting too, three dimensional, with a witty, sarcastic sense of humor. It’s easy to get absorbed in Babylonia’s world with its many colorful characters, customs and rules.

A fast-paced, extraordinary story that leads from one twist to the next.