A couple of days ago, I finished Jinx High by Mercedes Lackey.
The book was the first I've read by Mercedes Lackey. In some ways I rather liked it. What for me was the most distinguishing quality of Lackey's writing style was her superb world building.
Jinx High is an urban fantasy set in our world with a bit of a twist. There are creepy spirits and ghosts that roam the streets and make the world a rather dangerous place to hang out. Behind these spooks lie magicians who conjure them to perform their bidding. A real creeping location, perfect for a story designed to give you the chills to take place.
In Lackey's book the lead character is Diana Tregarde a Romance Writer / investigator / witch / black belt in kung fu / clever / witty / wise person. In short she's a typical Mary-Sue. Yep, in her own book when Lackey paints the scene of Tregarde teaching writing, she tells the students to ensure that their protagonist isn't too perfect because that detracts from the tension. Well she was a wise woman, I just wish she never fell into that same pit herself.
She was thus reduced to trying to pull and force her tension from other characters stupidity and it just didn't quite work out.
Nevertheless I was still fairly happy with the book and when rating it would happily give it a 3 out of 5. It wasn't a bad book, and I don't have any real qualms with it aside from the aforementioned.
She succeeded in painting a world more in touch with reality than any I've read in ages. Her prose is quite close to invisible, though not completely. It's not a particularly beautiful prose but it tells her story.
Overall I think it was good. It had more squandered potential that was untapped. It's worth a read though. If I were you, I'd take it out of the library rather than forking out money. Or perhaps mass market paperback?
Enjoy!
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