So, I Read This Book Today . . .

When I first read Sleight of Hand: Bite Back Book 1 (Volume 1), the first book by Mark Henwick, I was, in a word, thrilled. Yes, there are a lot of unknown authors out there, many self published, and many very good. Mark, however, knocked the ball out of the park in his freshman entry into the crowded field of urban fantasy.

Mark's exceptional grasp of character development is the first thing that gripped my attention. His main character, Amber, is a fully three-dimensional character, with a strong back story. She felt, in SoH, like someone I could see myself knowing and liking. She wasn't an overblown character by any means, but she was tough, centered, and above all she feels 'real' in an unreal situation. I was very, very excited, and could hardly wait to read the next in Mark's series. Thank goodness I read it 'late' i.e., not long before the next book was due to be released. It would have been a killer to have to wait a whole year for the next! (OF course, now I have to wait for the next, siiiiiggggghhhhh)

The very first day Hidden Trump became available, I sat down and started to read - and didn't put it down until 5:47 the next morning . . .(*yawn*) I kept meaning to put it down, really I did - I did manage to feed the pups, but not to feed myself! Go to bed? Nah, just one more page. . . one more . . . one more. . .

"Hidden Trump" picks up the same day as the ending of SoH, and the excitement doesn't stop. There is plenty of action to Mark's books, both SoH and HT, and it keeps you riveted to the page. However, unlike other books of the genre the action is, even though it includes werewolves, Athanate and Adepts (oh, my!) amazingly believable. While she is 'becoming' (and that, in itself, is absolutely fascinating - one of the most creative bits of character development/mythos building I have run across in a very, very long time) and she is both strong and fast, she still takes her share of hits both emotional and physical.

There are a couple of what some would call 'oddball' things about Mark's work that left me more than a little impressed. You may laugh at what it is - military and political knowledge. I have quite a bit of it myself, and Mark's knowledge is almost scarily correct, for a 'Brit' - LOL. Secret military groups, political machinations, the fleecing of the American public by the rich, drugs and guns and bad guys (oh, my!) Oh, yea, Mark knows his stuff! Sound boring? Believe me, it is anything but. Amber's interactions with the military that turned their backs on her after ten years of totally dedicated service touched me on a deep level. Her dedication, repaid by betrayal, is the story of the American military/political system. I know, I know, lay off it, this is an urban fantasy, right? Yes, but what I just spoke of is paramount to who Amber is, her motivations, and her deep commitment to helping others.

Mark's character development is still spot-on, his world is continuously building throughout both books (and I am sure it will be in the next installments also) and is all the more outstanding for it. Mark doesn't fall into the 'pure style' trap that so many other writers seem to fall into. There are background characters in Amber's life, most especially Top (whose story was learned in SoH) whose history is integral to Amber's and requires full development as character, even if they sometimes lead away from what is going on at the moment. It all fits together. Mark doesn't disappoint.

The 'Athanate' are, in common vernacular, what most would recognize as 'vampires'. Mark has developed a complete political and governmental system for the Athanate, while also developing a most fascinating personal interaction system, based on the concept of 'kin.' Athanate and their chosen 'family' members, who, yes, provide blood and sex (what "Vampire" book doesn't?), also provide warmth, love, closeness and all those other things that define deep, true love.

Though some seem to be disturbed by it, so what if an Athanate requires more than one 'kin' to survive? Love is not something that should be limiting. Every one of their kin give to the Athanate in question, and to one another, what each member needs from the relationship. It is, in my estimation, beautiful beyond words. Some, I know, don't find the concept of what you might call an extended family, which includes physical closeness, to be appropriate. Get over it! I would give a lot, a LOT to have that kind of closeness. The kind of closeness that allows you to feel not only loved, but protected and protecting, where a touch, a thought, can heal the heart and soul. The 'kin' that Amber is gathering around her are riveting in their own right, and help to develop a rich and, I would say 'soulful' storyline. One of many extended story lines layered within Mark's writing. One place Mark doesn't go, which I admire him for, is sticking the Lead Female Character with the strongest 'leader/alpha/bossman' and calling it good. His story is deeper than that. Hooray. (Besides, can you imagine living through centuries with the same person? One more instance of "Honey, you left your dirty underwear on the floor again!" after the first fifty years or so? Without some backup, who wouldn't pull out the sword and start hacking??)

There are stories within stories, mystery, suspense, conspiracy, back-stabbing and secrets, enigmas hidden inside conundrums, flowing throughout both books. I fully expect these to be realized further within the series. If you haven't read Sleight of Hand I would highly recommend you do so. You could start with Hidden Trump, but you will get a much better grasp of who the characters are and what their motivations are if you start with SoH. Besides, this series is exceptional. I would hate for you to miss the first book, it is absolutely awesome! Amber is amazingly multilayered. A "retired" (in this case, a fancy word for 'you are our prisoner forever, and if you cross your eyes the wrong way we are going to throw you in an isolation cell and run experiments on you for the rest of your life but you get to run around and work for us for free') Army specialist who is not only becoming Athanate, but also has hidden within her secrets upon secrets - some of which you learn more of in this book, some of which you will be dieing to learn in the next books.

All in all, this is a series in which the sophomore entry more than met the promise of the freshman. Buy it, read it, review it for others and share it with your friends. If you are a lover of fantasy, mystery, suspense, horror, or even a good, though not over-the-top romance with a lot more love than sex, this is your book. Don't miss a true treat!