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wildfaeriecaps's review
5.0
I had incredible deja vu reading this one. It was a fun ride, though. A lot of things jumped out at me from the other series by Craig Schaefer that I've read. I really look forward to reading them again, armed with these hints from earlier in the suggested reading order.
ashkitty93's review
5.0
THANK U, NEXTTTTT
Okay but seriously though, I was actually nervous about this one because I only gave The Living End 4 stars instead of 5 and I didn't want the series to start sliding (especially because there's a ton more books!!) I needn't have worried. TLE seems to have been a "it's not you, it's me" issue, and honestly I can't even remember what exactly didn't feel just right about it. Lots going on, yes, but they all have that. I digress.
This series feels like someone (Heather) put Ocean's Eleven and Supernatural into a blender and I couldn't be happier watching it all unspool. The plots are as tightly woven as Rachel Caine's Great Library series (my *other* favorite series) and although the first three books encompassed their own mini-arc, I can't help but get the idea this series is less episodic and more massive-underlying-arc.
Hmmm. Wonder where I get that idea. *side-eyeing the Schaefer Reading Order*
(and in the Afterword she even says she hates things like Battlestar Galactica and Lost where the creators started without an ending in mind. The bar has been set. Bring ittttt)
I loved the trip into Chicago (The Bean got a shout-out!), the unexpected bad guy along with the fully-expected bad guys, and this Smiley guy has my attention. I'm not as versed in tarot cards as I'd like to be, but I love seeing them included here, even if it's on the fringes so far. Definitely keeping my eyes peeled for any and all of these newbies' eventual returns to the series; one thing I know about Heather already, she introduces characters for a reason, and if they're not dead they can always come back later. And sometimes even if they are (supposedly) dead. Ha.
glimnore's review
5.0
At this point, I suspect I shouldn't be surprised that Schaefer continues to deliver a fun and high-octane story filled with purposeful world building and astute character development. Our MC takes a few steps closer to the dark side in book 4 of the Daniel Faust series and we are reminded, once again, that he is was never 'the good guy' to begin with. His actions begin to have consequences and behind all the humor and good times he has with his friends and family, you begin to notice the subtle fraying of those relationships. Where can this series go next? Nonetheless, Schaefer nails it again and I am in it for the long haul.
bookish_satty's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
This was an okay read for me. I liked the overall mystery element of the plot but nothing much happened for most of the book so I was quite bored. The ending was the redeeming factor for me and I'm quite excited to read more about the overarching plot of which we got little glimpses in the prologue and epilogue. I would love to see Daniel use more magic along with his clever mind in the next installment because the use of magic was missing in this book which let to my disappointment with it. I'm not a fan of the romance subplot in this series because it was quite insta lovey and the author didn't give it the time it needed to bloom into something real but I do like the found family that Daniel has gathered around him overtime. Their love for one another and the dedication they have for each other is so heartwarming and hopeful. Hoping I'll like book 5 much more.
P.S. - The audio narration for this series is just awesome. Adam Verner is one of my favourite audiobook narrators.
P.S. - The audio narration for this series is just awesome. Adam Verner is one of my favourite audiobook narrators.
hpstrangelove's review
5.0
Audiobook review. Narrator: Adam Verner
See review of entire series in book 8.
See review of entire series in book 8.
queenterribletimy's review
5.0
This review was originally posted on Queen's Book Asylum with my choice of song!
I kept promising for years that I’ll catch up with the Daniel Faust series and I’M DETERMINED TO SEE THAT THROUGH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. *ahem* With every book I read from Craig Schaefer, my admiration for him (and his writing) grows. I said it before and I’m going to say it a few more times in the future, but he is definitely one of my favorite authors, and not just when it comes to UF. I can very highly recommend checking out any of his books. You won’t regret it.
I find Schaefer’s books very addictive. It’s not really a secret that I’ve been struggling with reading all year. It’s been very rare that I finished a book within a week – some audiobooks and short stories/novellas not counting – and I literally couldn’t stop reading A Plain-Dealing Villain. One time I had to force myself to stop at 1 am, because of stupid sleep. And I definitely didn’t stay up until 3 am just to finish it. Nope. Not me. You must be confusing me with someone else. Who is also me. Yeah, well… I have no regrets.
Right. Let’s talk about Daniel Faust then. The first three books kinda worked as a trilogy within the series, as The Living End closed down the Lauren Carmichael story arc. But that doesn’t mean we are starting from scratch in A Plain-Dealing Villain as – according to the prologue and the fact that some plotlines weren’t quite closed yet – some unknown forces set their eyes on our dear Dan, which lands him in neck-deep shit. Partly as his own doing and partly things escalating out of his control. Like Harmony Black being on his ass 24/7, circling him like a vulture waiting for her pray to step just a teeny tiny bit out of line. So, when a job opportunity comes knocking on Dan’s door which takes him out of town and has a promise to pay for some of his debts, he takes it against his better judgment. And that’s how he ends up in Chicago, carrying out business for a Texan millionaire who recently won the lottery and whose employees seem to be more in control than him. Still, a job is a job, and Daniel is determined to see it through. But when did anything go right? Never, that’s when.
I could talk about the plot(s) a lot, but I’d rather not spoil it. Suffice to say a heist is going wrong, then there is an ever bigger heist to solve some of the problems the first one brought around while Dan tries to make sure he gets the original job done. If he can also dish out some justice left and right all the better. And if that weren’t enough, his problems concerning Vegas are just getting bigger as a new player wants to get their claws into the criminal side of the City of Lights. So, yeah, Schaefer is not one to give some break to his characters every once in a while. Where would be the fun in that, huh? When he threw in just one more plotline around the 75% mark as I was getting my popcorn ready for the endgame, I was half exasperated, half amazed. I didn’t think there was anything else coming except the resolution of everything happening up to that point, and I was punished for underestimating Schaefer, which I’ll try not to do again. It fit really well into the events and it also led to the ending of A Plain-Dealing Villain which just ensured that I’ll get to the next book as soon as I can, because holy shit, I need to know what happens next. It left Dan in a really tight spot, and while the main plotlines got their resolutions, it opened up a whole new dimension for the coming books. What can I say? Craig Schaefer is definitely skilled storyteller, who, once getting you ensnared in one of his traps disguised as books, will happily torture you until the end of the world. Too bad I can’t hate him for it.
A Plain-Dealing Villain brings back most of the already well-known characters in Dan’s life, such as his family, his demon darling, Nicky Agnelli and Harmony Black of course. But we also get a whole new set of characters which comes with the new setting of Chicago. I’m not sure how many of them will make a comeback later on (some of the definitely will), but I’m hoping to see Fredrika Vinter again – if she ever leaves the mysterious occult club caled Bast Club, that is. We didn’t get to see her much, but I just have the feeling there is a lot more about her we should explore. Starting with what she is exactly. And whether she’ll be a friend or foe in the long run. She striked me as a person (being?) who says what she damn pleases and won’t bow down just to anyone, no matter who they are. Then again, it’s all good within the strict rules of the club, so it would be fun to see what she does outside of it.
Then we also have Royce, the hound of Prince Malphas and ex-lover of Caitlin who can – and will – complicate things for Dan in the future. At least that’s what my gut is saying. I’d say he is a great addition and I’m looking forward to all the havoc this will wreak, but…I’m really not fond of the guy. Then again, we all need a character we enjoy hating and Royce is definitely up to the job.
I think what really sells the Daniel Faust series to me are the characters and the way Schaefer writes relationships – romantic or otherwise. With each book I’m growing attached to them, especially Daniel. What can I say? I have a thing for witty, sarcastic characters who can’t be labeled either good or bad. And when you start rooting with all your heart for a person who is admittedly a criminal, well… I’ve been a fan of the series ever since I’ve read the first book, but I think it was A Plain-Dealing Villain that started to grow on me as I had stronger emotional responses to some of the things happening.
The series gets better with each book as we get deeper into Daniel Faust’s life of crime and the supernatural. As the intricacies are getting broader and more complex. I can’t press this enough, but if you love UF, this is one you shouldn’t miss.
I found it curious that as the books progressed, my general liking toward Harmony Black in the past slowly turned into frustration and well, not quite hatred, but my feelings are definitely more hostile. Mind you, I haven’t ready any of the books in her own dedicated series, so I really don’t have much on which to judge her character. Still. For an FBI agent who is supposed to fight supernatural crime she can be a bit narrow-minded. Her hatred and ambition to catch Faust runs so deep that she fails to spot the trap. I get her determination to prove herself and to fight crime, and I probably would symphatize with her more if it wasn’t Daniel on the other side… but alas. GET YOUR HANDS OFF MY BOY, YOU BITCH! *ahem*
And finally, I’m really looking forward to find out who the mysterious Smile is and how all the things that happened so far with Lauren and the missing smoke-faced man (read The Living End for reference) will come in play. But before that, I’m eager to read all about he upcoming war for Vegas and hope that not too many favorite characters will meet their ends way sooner than I would like them to.
“When the sun went down over Vegas and the neon ignited, Fremont Street turned into a drunken carnival. The air smelled like cheap beer and stale sweat as I blended in with the milling crowds, just another anonymous face under the cherry glow of the canopy light show. Streamers of color swirled and exploded overhead, timed to the rhythm of a Beatles medley pumping out over bass-heavy speakers.”
I kept promising for years that I’ll catch up with the Daniel Faust series and I’M DETERMINED TO SEE THAT THROUGH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. *ahem* With every book I read from Craig Schaefer, my admiration for him (and his writing) grows. I said it before and I’m going to say it a few more times in the future, but he is definitely one of my favorite authors, and not just when it comes to UF. I can very highly recommend checking out any of his books. You won’t regret it.
I find Schaefer’s books very addictive. It’s not really a secret that I’ve been struggling with reading all year. It’s been very rare that I finished a book within a week – some audiobooks and short stories/novellas not counting – and I literally couldn’t stop reading A Plain-Dealing Villain. One time I had to force myself to stop at 1 am, because of stupid sleep. And I definitely didn’t stay up until 3 am just to finish it. Nope. Not me. You must be confusing me with someone else. Who is also me. Yeah, well… I have no regrets.
Right. Let’s talk about Daniel Faust then. The first three books kinda worked as a trilogy within the series, as The Living End closed down the Lauren Carmichael story arc. But that doesn’t mean we are starting from scratch in A Plain-Dealing Villain as – according to the prologue and the fact that some plotlines weren’t quite closed yet – some unknown forces set their eyes on our dear Dan, which lands him in neck-deep shit. Partly as his own doing and partly things escalating out of his control. Like Harmony Black being on his ass 24/7, circling him like a vulture waiting for her pray to step just a teeny tiny bit out of line. So, when a job opportunity comes knocking on Dan’s door which takes him out of town and has a promise to pay for some of his debts, he takes it against his better judgment. And that’s how he ends up in Chicago, carrying out business for a Texan millionaire who recently won the lottery and whose employees seem to be more in control than him. Still, a job is a job, and Daniel is determined to see it through. But when did anything go right? Never, that’s when.
I could talk about the plot(s) a lot, but I’d rather not spoil it. Suffice to say a heist is going wrong, then there is an ever bigger heist to solve some of the problems the first one brought around while Dan tries to make sure he gets the original job done. If he can also dish out some justice left and right all the better. And if that weren’t enough, his problems concerning Vegas are just getting bigger as a new player wants to get their claws into the criminal side of the City of Lights. So, yeah, Schaefer is not one to give some break to his characters every once in a while. Where would be the fun in that, huh? When he threw in just one more plotline around the 75% mark as I was getting my popcorn ready for the endgame, I was half exasperated, half amazed. I didn’t think there was anything else coming except the resolution of everything happening up to that point, and I was punished for underestimating Schaefer, which I’ll try not to do again. It fit really well into the events and it also led to the ending of A Plain-Dealing Villain which just ensured that I’ll get to the next book as soon as I can, because holy shit, I need to know what happens next. It left Dan in a really tight spot, and while the main plotlines got their resolutions, it opened up a whole new dimension for the coming books. What can I say? Craig Schaefer is definitely skilled storyteller, who, once getting you ensnared in one of his traps disguised as books, will happily torture you until the end of the world. Too bad I can’t hate him for it.
A Plain-Dealing Villain brings back most of the already well-known characters in Dan’s life, such as his family, his demon darling, Nicky Agnelli and Harmony Black of course. But we also get a whole new set of characters which comes with the new setting of Chicago. I’m not sure how many of them will make a comeback later on (some of the definitely will), but I’m hoping to see Fredrika Vinter again – if she ever leaves the mysterious occult club caled Bast Club, that is. We didn’t get to see her much, but I just have the feeling there is a lot more about her we should explore. Starting with what she is exactly. And whether she’ll be a friend or foe in the long run. She striked me as a person (being?) who says what she damn pleases and won’t bow down just to anyone, no matter who they are. Then again, it’s all good within the strict rules of the club, so it would be fun to see what she does outside of it.
Then we also have Royce, the hound of Prince Malphas and ex-lover of Caitlin who can – and will – complicate things for Dan in the future. At least that’s what my gut is saying. I’d say he is a great addition and I’m looking forward to all the havoc this will wreak, but…I’m really not fond of the guy. Then again, we all need a character we enjoy hating and Royce is definitely up to the job.
I think what really sells the Daniel Faust series to me are the characters and the way Schaefer writes relationships – romantic or otherwise. With each book I’m growing attached to them, especially Daniel. What can I say? I have a thing for witty, sarcastic characters who can’t be labeled either good or bad. And when you start rooting with all your heart for a person who is admittedly a criminal, well… I’ve been a fan of the series ever since I’ve read the first book, but I think it was A Plain-Dealing Villain that started to grow on me as I had stronger emotional responses to some of the things happening.
The series gets better with each book as we get deeper into Daniel Faust’s life of crime and the supernatural. As the intricacies are getting broader and more complex. I can’t press this enough, but if you love UF, this is one you shouldn’t miss.
Spoiler
First of all: HOW VERY DARE YOU, SCHAEFER? Putting doubts about Caitlin in poor Dan’s (and my!!!) head was just rude. THERE BETTER BE A SATISFACTORY EXPLANATION FOR ALL THIS, OR ELSE YOU’LL HAVE TO ANSWER TO ME!I found it curious that as the books progressed, my general liking toward Harmony Black in the past slowly turned into frustration and well, not quite hatred, but my feelings are definitely more hostile. Mind you, I haven’t ready any of the books in her own dedicated series, so I really don’t have much on which to judge her character. Still. For an FBI agent who is supposed to fight supernatural crime she can be a bit narrow-minded. Her hatred and ambition to catch Faust runs so deep that she fails to spot the trap. I get her determination to prove herself and to fight crime, and I probably would symphatize with her more if it wasn’t Daniel on the other side… but alas. GET YOUR HANDS OFF MY BOY, YOU BITCH! *ahem*
And finally, I’m really looking forward to find out who the mysterious Smile is and how all the things that happened so far with Lauren and the missing smoke-faced man (read The Living End for reference) will come in play. But before that, I’m eager to read all about he upcoming war for Vegas and hope that not too many favorite characters will meet their ends way sooner than I would like them to.
matosapa's review
4.0
Daniel takes what seems to be a lucrative, easy job outside of of his normal stomping grounds. Due to the increased pressure by Agent Black, he leaves town and heads to Chicago. Once there, things rapidly go sideways and he finds himself involved in a Texas Hold`em game with risky and high cost stakes. During the course of events, he brings his team up and he throws everything on the table in one final bid to save himself and the others from some nasty payback from infernal legions.
I like the author's approach to main story arcs and he talks (in the end) about the fact that a new story will begin in the next book. I'm assuming the cast and location will stay nearly the same.
I highly recommend this series to anyone who is looking for urban fantasy without gratuitous sex/soft porn scenes and bodice-ripping.
I like the author's approach to main story arcs and he talks (in the end) about the fact that a new story will begin in the next book. I'm assuming the cast and location will stay nearly the same.
I highly recommend this series to anyone who is looking for urban fantasy without gratuitous sex/soft porn scenes and bodice-ripping.
zefrien's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
barb4ry1's review
4.0
“Daniel Faust, you have a penchant for dangerous living.”
There’s always more trouble to go around, isn’t there? The Enclave Job storyline wrapped up in The Living End. New danger appears as we stand on the threshold of the Battle of Las Vegas.
Short on cash and with Agent Harmony Black at his heels, Daniel Faust accepts a heist job in Chicago. The job seems simple and the money is good. What could go wrong? Well, everything. And that's just for starters.
The paranormal crowd in Chicago is as interesting and colorful as the one pictured in books focusing on Las Vegas. Necromancers, Rakshasa, Hell Hounds and representatives of different Hell Courts meet in this twisty story that starts new arc of Faust misadventures. I liked the way Chicago was portrayed. Chicago is famous for another wizard - Harry Dresden. In one of the scenes Craig Schaefer tips a hat to Jim Butcher. It was a cool scene. It involves Sue (T-Rex) you may remember from Dead Beat. Nothing as spectacular as Harry driving it, but fun nonetheless.
I believe that in this book Daniel found a distinct voice. As readers, we see clearly who he is -a con-man, occasional cold-blood killer, and bastard and yet it's hard not to like him. He has his moral limits and he will not cross them. He cares about his friends and family but has no scruples over destroying his enemies. Also, in this book a powerful representative of House of Lust plays with his head and makes him question his relationship with Caitlin. While I really like Caitlin I can’t help but ask myself questions that torment Daniel at the moment. Is he just a disposable pawn?
The author does a good job in adding three dimensions to other characters. Most readers will have their favorites. Personally, I like all of them and would love to learn about their pasts and extent of their powers/skills.
The epilogue is pretty strong. It provides more questions than answers as the new story arc starts. I learned to trust Craig Schaefer. He proved that he knows the answers to his own mysteries. He sets up little bits of plot that pay off much further down the line. I hope this story arc will manage to wrap them up as skillfully as it was done in the Enclave Arc or in his Revanche Cycle. As a reader, I enjoy feeling of revelation when it’s done well. I hope that I’ll be able to smile soon and tell myself: so that’s what that was about.