new_user's Reviews > Frost Moon

Frost Moon's more alternative culture than urban fantasy. Within 284 pages, author Anthony Francis stuffs in BDSM, Magic: The Gathering, anime (e.g. Gothic Lolita and calling attacks, which is lame), Goth, tattooing-- everything except the WHAM-BAM-POW brawls I associate with UF.

In her own words, Dakota Frost's no "bounty hunter" or "detective, or anything like that." She's handed her arse, but mostly she chats alternative culture. Who cares about a serial killer? Dakota doesn't do investigations either.

Look, readers complain about invincible, tree-swinging superheroes and Joe Schmo protagonists solving triple homicides, but shadowing Tammy Tattoo or the BDSM twins is no substitute, especially since Francis takes an instructive tone. Every character imparts wisdom or lectures about subcultures or magic minutiae. (Don't anticipate a few lines, folks. Secondary characters, while fun, are the novel.)

Readers like to be absorbed. They cannot sink into the scene if the author intrudes to demonstrate that BDSM culture is harmless or lesbian kisses or whatever his pet subculture-cause of the moment. I have causes too, but let's pace ourselves, ADHD. This is not a very special episode of Blossom.

Specific, concrete, and image-evoking nouns and action verbs always trump vague summary, even more so entire visualized scenes like Clarence and Rary punching into karate instructor Darren Briggs' mitted hands rather than "Two students practiced karate." I can understand Francis' love for detail. When I started Moon, his punchy style immediately drew a smile from me.

Moon's dialogue shines. Barring the last third, the characters' lines are natural, organic, and unique. No Generic Villainous Speech, Lovey-Dovey Scene or Heroic Speech in the thing.

He builds in depth -as mentioned- fantastical magic that seamlessly blends with a modern Atlanta that he clearly knows well, specifically Little Five Points, where alternative culture doesn't blink at a moving dragon tattoo or a cat-girl. Far from borrowing paranormal tropes two decades old or pop culture expectations even older, he fashions a new, believable paranormal tradition. I also liked the author's insight, where leaked into the narrative, e.g. police witch hunts and men in black helicopters. ;) The best parts were without explanation. Even the plotting and pacing was smooth.

Francis simply needs to be more selective. If the cast had been smaller, their parts edited, or some subculture (or lessons) omitted, we would have had breathing room to enjoy the rest. Francis has potential if he exercises restraint, no pun intended. I think I'll wait for friends to vet Blood Rock, Skindancer #2.

Warning: Graphic torture/violence, two scenes.