Narrated by Gary Furlong
Hailey Turner’s action-packed, inventive and compelling Soulbound series continues with On the Wings of War, which finds Patrick, Jono and their crew travelling across the Pond as they continue their quest to locate and obtain the Morrígan’s staff, an ancient artefact rumoured to be able to raise the dead and confer godhood on whoever possesses it. It’s another high-octane, rollercoaster ride of thrills and spills, with hardly a quiet moment for our heroes as they’re thrown from one life-or-death situation to the next.
As this book is part of a long-running series with overarching plotlines, it’s unlikely to make much sense unless you’re familiar with at least some of the previous books in the set. And there are likely to be spoilers for those in this review.
It’s become a race against time to prevent the Morrígan’s staff from falling into the hands of the Dominion Sect, a terrorist group bent on destroying the veil between the worlds so that hell and its denizens can reign on earth. Rumour has it that the staff is going to be put up for auction on the black market, and at the end of the previous book, Special Agent Patrick Collins was given an enchanted invitation, although at the time, there was no set time or location. Recently obtained intelligence indicates that the staff will be one of the lots at the Auction of Curiosities and Exceptional Items taking place shortly in London, and although Patrick can’t possibly attend as a potential buyer, he’s going to go to London to keep an eye on things and make sure things go as they should. Someone else will have to bid on the staff, someone known in the criminal underworld and who is above suspicion – the slightest whiff of suspicion will likely risk the auction being canned and moved elsewhere. Nobody likes the idea, but there’s only one individual Patrick knows who is likely to be able to pull it off; Lucien, Master vampire, leader of the Manhattan Night Court, head of a worldwide criminal empire and all-round dangerous, arrogant shit. He’s slippery and not to be trusted, but is bound by an oath sworn to Ashanti, mother of all vampires, to ensure Patrick’s safety – and it’s that vow that will prevent Lucien obtaining the staff and absconding with it.
If you’re following the series, you will know that Jono was exiled from his home by the London god pack three years previously and forbidden to return on pain of death. Patrick tries to dissuade Jono from accompanying him to London and is angry (to say the least) when Jono won’t hear of staying behind – and nor will their other pack members. They’re adamant about not letting Patrick go alone, so he and Jono together with their charge, young fire-dragon (and always hungry) Wade Espinoza, and their pack dire, Sage Beacot, fly to London.
The first thing they must do on arrival is contact the London god pack to request passage through their territory – and it becomes immediately apparent that something is very wrong with one of the pack alphas. Hot on the heels of this discovery, Patrick and Jono learn that a cult of Necromancers known as the Orthodox Church of the Dead is very interested in obtaining the Morrígan staff – and that its leader – the Patriarch of Souls – will be at the auction. And worse, it’s extremely likely that the Church of the Dead is working with the Dominion Sect.
As is always the case in my reviews of this series, there’s no way I can fully encompass the plot. It’s not just a case of avoiding spoilers; there’s so much going on in these detailed, richly woven stories that it’s impossible to mention everything without ending up with an essay almost as long as the book! (Stop laughing, Melinda! Editor’s note: LOL) I will say again though, that this is one of those audiobooks you really need to concentrate on; there’s a lot of set-up in the first part of the story and a large secondary cast both on and off screen (who are referenced often), so you need to be on your toes and paying attention!
Hailey Turner once again spins a fantastic yarn, weaving her intricate plot around vividly described set-pieces, lacing it with intrigue and humour and peopling it with a group of well-drawn, engaging characters. I really like the found family aspect of the series; Patrick and Jono’s fledgling but steadily growing pack is a bit of a rag-taggle band, but they’re solid and there’s nothing they wouldn’t do for each other. I was pleased to get a little bit more of Patrick’s backstory and insight into his relationship with his boss – who had also been his guardian after the events that had ripped his family apart – and also to see Patrick realising how far he’s come in the last year and how happy he is with Jono, even if he can’t say those three little words back yet.
I also loved seeing Wade coming into his own more; he’s often used as the Comic Relief – and much as I adore him, there were times this time around when his constant refrain of “I’m hungry!” did get a bit wearing – but he also has a key role to play in the final showdown and pretty much saves everyone’s arses, so I can forgive him. Plus – I had to laugh at his newfound love of Jaffa Cakes and his opinion of proper French croissants!
How on earth Gary Furlong keeps all the characters straight in his head from one scene to the next – let alone one book to the next – is one of life’s great mysteries! He once again displays his astonishing facility with character voices and accents – this time mostly French ones (although there is one cringe-making mispronunciation that I can’t believe got through the editing process!) – allocating identifiable and distinct voices to all the major players, and keeping the narrative moving at a good pace. Mr. Furlong’s interpretations of Patrick and Jono are spot on and he does a great job of conveying the depth and strength of the emotional bond between them. He also creates a real sense of warmth and connection between the characters in scenes featuring the pack members and their close associates, and as I’ve remarked before, there’s a genuine sense of engagement with the material that communicates itself to the listener and enhances the listening experience.
On the Wings of War is another fine instalment of what is easily one of the best urban fantasy series around. The stories are gripping, the worldbuilding is phenomenal, the writing is vibrant, and Gary Furlong’s wonderful narration is, as always, the strongest of arguments for following the series in audio. A word of warning – there’s one helluva cliffhanger at the end, a twist I did NOT see coming. So brace yourselves – it’s going to be a frustrating few months while we await the release of the next book in the series!
Caz
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