I wasn’t sure what to expect with this novella.  I hadn’t read any of Ms. Morrigan’s other stuff, but I got it at Norwescon and once I finished sobbing my eyes out at the third Hunger Games book, I piled into this one.

The Summoning is a novella in Ms. Morrigan’s Custodes Noctis series, an urban fantasy setting involving two brothers who are the most recent in an ancient line of protectors of humanity from the very scary things that come from the other side of the veil.  The novella picks up after Rob and Galen Emrys have already been through several battles, including one that strips Rob of his magical powers, and mutes the link between the brothers.  Not so very long before this story starts, Galen had been nearly killed in an car accident, and the fear of losing one another resonates with each of them.  Rob begins having disturbing dreams and sleep-walking, as something calls to him for release.

The dialogue seemed a bit formal at the beginning, but loosened up as the story wore on.  The brothers’ characters are fully and well realized and there is enough exposition to explain why they react as they do to what is happening and why it would happen to them, but not so much as to spoil previous books.  There is a fine line there, and I think she rides it admirably.  The supporting characters are excellent as well, especially the two ravens who have attached themselves to Galen and Rob, and amuse themselves by tormenting the brothers’ friend Flash, who has shared in their adventures in the past.

As a novella, The Summoning is short, but it was an excellently paced story that built well to a surprising ending that definitely plays with the established beliefs of religion and mythology.  I really enjoyed it, and if  you like book series like the Dresden Files or Seanan McGuire’s October Daye books (think more Celto-Norse mythology, rather than her focus on all things Fae), I think you’ll like it.  I’m looking forward to picking up the other books to flesh out more details from the Emrys boys’ lives.  Also, it’s also fun to read something set in areas you know, like the I do the Pacific Northwest.

So, I think that’s about it.  I’m still addicted to Marvel Avengers:  Alliance on Facebook, still gaming (we’re starting up a Burning Wheel campaign on Thursdays), the next Honey Badger show is going to be May 30th, followed by another on one June 8th.

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