THE FACELESS ONES

It’s another near squeak for humanity as the laconic, more-or-less dead detective with the natty fashion sense and his young adrenaline-junkie sidekick Valkyrie Cain (née Stephanie) face off against the Diablerie—an all-too-capable gang of supervillains who always seem to stay one step ahead in their scheme to bring the vengeful Elder Gods back to this plane. As in the two previous episodes (which should be read first by anyone who wants to keep story line and cast members straight), Landy has entirely too much fun strewing his caper with bloody mayhem, often-hilarious dialogue and an array of distinctive mages and magical creatures as he propels events to a harrowing, ultra-violent climactic battle that litters the landscape with the corpses of allies and enemies both. A gifted storyteller, the author will hook readers on the first page and leave them on the last as wrung out as he leaves his teenage protagonist—who pays a high price indeed for killing a god or two. Rattling good fun. (Fantasy. 11-13)