Review of
The Curious Case of the Jeweled Alicorn,
by Michael Merriam
Four out of five stars
Set in Victorian times with a bit of the occult
The setting is
a pseudo-Victorian environment with some advanced airships with a bit of magic.
Arkady Bloom is the main character and he is a security agent for the Crown.
The story opens with him acting like James Bond, his hands moving suggestively along
the body of the Contessa Moretti. At first she seems to be accepting of his
actions, right before she tries to stab him with the long, silver pin taken
from her hair. Being the nimble sort, Bloom is able to avert injury.
There is the
almost obligatory sidekick to Bloom, he is Chillblood, a massive African man
with two major scars on his face. This feature reminded me of the comic
character Mandrake the Magician with his black sidekick Lothar. Loyal to the
point of risking personal injury and death, the two of them make a formidable
team when battling those on the evil side.
The story is
short, so there is not a great deal of opportunity to grow stale and
repetitive. While the magic adds to the story, like all such opportunities, it
must be used with caution. For if the magic can be used to solve everything,
then there is no danger or tension. That aspect is handled rather well, the
magic remains secondary rather than becoming the main plot device.
A solid story
that does not rise to the level of exceptional, this story is interesting. On a
personal note, there was the additional point of interest that it was published
in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where I live.
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