False Covenant by Ari Marmell

Release Date: June 26, 2012
Publisher: Pyr
Pages: 281
Series: Widdershins Adventures #2
Review Source: For review from publisher

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
A creature of the other world, an unnatural entity bent on chaos and carnage, has come to stalk the nighttime streets of the Galicien city of Davillon. There’s never a good time for murder and panic, but for a community already in the midst of its own inner turmoil, this couldn’t possibly have come at a worse one.

Not for Davillon, and not for a young thief who calls herself Widdershins.

It’s been over half a year since the brutal murder of Archbishop Wil­liam de Laurent during his pilgrimage to Davillon. And in all that time, Widdershins has truly tried her best. She has tried to take care of Genevieve’s tavern and tried to make a semihonest living in a city slowly stagnating under the weight of an angry and disapproving Church. She has tried to keep out of trouble, away from the attentions of the Davillon Guard and above the secrets and schemes of the city’s new bishop.

But she’s in way over her head, with no idea which way to turn. The Guard doesn’t trust her. The Church doesn’t trust her. Her own Thieves’ Guild doesn’t trust her.

Too bad for everyone, then, that she and her personal god, Olgun, may be their only real weapon against a new evil like nothing the city has ever seen.

My Thoughts:
I really enjoyed this sequel to ‘Thief’s Covenant’. The book starts with Widdershins dealing with the aftermath of a loss from Book 1. She’s also trying to stay legit as she has a new business venture, as well as a new and growing friendship with a certain member of the guard. But of course she’s Widdershins, so trouble finds her and she gets wrapped up in another supernatural mystery.

Shins is such a great character; she’s tough and yet almost impish. I enjoyed her a lot as the main character, as well as seeing how other people related to her. This book also features a truly creepy bad guy. He’s truly cruel as well, and is childishly gleeful about it. Ari Marmell did a fabulous job with this character, because I was literally shivering at times in disgust/repulsion when the villain appeared on the page.

What I liked a lot about ‘False Covenant’ is that the progression of the narrative was linear and much easier to follow, both plot and character wise, than the first book. I also liked how there was a teensy bit of romance brewing: I loved the scenes between Shins and that particular character.

‘False Covenant’ has an interesting plot with a mystery involving the church and the supernatural, and tons of really interesting characters. The one thing I was disappointed with was the ending. It should have felt like an emotional punch to the gut, but instead it left me a bit empty and angry. It just didn’t feel necessary: instead it felt almost cheap, and like a senseless repeat of the first book’s ending. Nevertheless there is a certain magic to Ari Marmell’s writing, and it kept me hooked throughout this novel.

The Cover:
I like it, though not quite as much as the first book's cover.

Rating:
[4/5]

Find False Covenant by Ari Marmell on Goodreads, Book Depository, & Amazon.