INVISIBLE ALLIES by Mary Buckham – Review

Invisible Recruits Novella

Mary Buckham
I’ve talked a lot about Mary Buckham’s ability to put you slap bang in the middle of the scene. Writers have a term for it. Hell, they have many terms for it. Deep Point of View. Show don’t tell. Active settings and descriptions. As a reader, I don’t care. Because I’m right there, letting “the bird songs of a Missouri afternoon” swell around me, standing next to Kelly as she confides in Alex.

In short, Mary Buckham is an expert in 3D writing. Of course, the plot of Invisible Allies is everything you expect it to be, too. It’s fast, tense and twisty. Too many authors neglect the plot, especially a few books into a series. No short-cuts here.

But what stood out most were the characters, notably Alex and Kelly. They might have a lot on their plate tracking down a young witch, but their friendship is so tight, it glues the two together through tough revelations, were attacks and yes, a right old dressing down by their Agency Director.

Interestingly, this didn’t feel like a novella. Sure, it was a quick read, but that’s what happens when you can’t put a book down. This outing by our favorite Invisible Recruits is equal to a book in every respect, from storyline to character development.
Reviews

5 Comments

  1. Claudia Stephan
    July 27, 2014

    I like your description of Mary’s characters a 3D. You hit the nail on the head with that one! I feel her powerful descriptive ability pulls any reader into any scene she describes. I truly enjoy everything she publishes. Your review is spot on, as usual!

    Reply
    1. Carmen Fox
      July 27, 2014

      Thank you, Claudia. I don’t do reviews often. I wish I read more. Like you. I have to make myself sometimes. Don’t get me wrong. I love it when I’m at it, but starting is tough. I read and write all day as a translator, then write when I can, and sometimes I just want to watch TV without taking anything in. I don’t know how you do it. You read a lot, you review when you can, you support, you joke, you organize. You and Mary make the perfect team. She publishes two books a day, and you read and review them and help organize the book launches within another 24 hours. I lift my metaphorical hat to both of you.

      Reply
  2. marybuckham
    July 27, 2014

    Thank you Carmen for such a lovely review. Writers write in a vacuum but with an intention–to reach readers and give them the thrill we feel in sharing our stories. Your review makes all the head banging, the what ifs, the doubts, the gnashing of teeth disappear. Which means it’s easier to dive into the next book and the one after that. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart!

    Reply
    1. Carmen Fox
      July 27, 2014

      Thank you, Mary. I meant every word. When I first discovered urban fantasy, it did something to me. It was like reading the fantasy stories I read as a kid, filled with humor, too, but conveyed through the eyes of women I wanted to be. If romance happened, great. But it’s not the end-all and be-all. Whoever thought that stories or lives end with romances? As if a romance is the goal of the journey of life. Anyway, trouble with UF is there isn’t that much out there. Not really. Some are vampire-centric or deal with creatures of lore, others make up their own worlds; some are quite serious, others full of sass; and hundreds of other differences. So when you start honing down on the ones you like, their number is very small. So I appreciate your skill as an author to write what I like (and how I like it), and I love that you’re so productive. That’s why you have my fervent support. You need readers who read and review and beat the drums. But we readers need authors like you.

      Plus, you’re fun. 🙂

      Reply
  3. Claudia Stephan
    July 28, 2014

    Carmen thank you for your kind words. I am just one little wheel in the powerful machine of Mary Buckham’s Book Ninja group on Facebook. All credit goes to this incredible writer and teacher of writing. Mary Buckham practices what she teaches. She has mastered her craft and works very hard to present us with her wonderfully written novels. She also happens to be one of the kindest and generous authors I have had the pleasure to virtually meet during an online author event. I am so glad you made time to write such a powerful review for all to read!

    Reply

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