Book Title: Blue Diablo
Corine Solomon # 1

I was a little nervous about reading Blue Diablo. I’ve read Ann Aguirre’s Sci Fi Romances and loved them (please do read her Grimspace books – they’re just brilliant). I was excited about Ann turning her talents to Urban Fantasy but really wanted her to succeed at this new genre.

I shouldn’t have worried. Blue Diablo is an inventive approach to a dangerous world of demons, sorcerers, witchcraft, zombies and ghosts.

Written in the first person we have an immediacy of emotion that draws us to Corine Solomon as we see the world through her eyes. She’s carved a life out for herself in Mexico and while it might not be much, it is a life that she has cobbled together since leaving her partner Chance and recovering from almost dying.

Set in Mexico and New Mexico, the country, culture and colours form a unique and evocative backdrop to the plot. Normally when I think of dark Urban Fantasies I don’t think of sun drenched heat baked landscapes but somehow the disconnect between the darkness of the action and the light of the environment works extraordinarily well.

I admit that I’m a total sucker for romance and I was absolutely hanging out for romance to blossom between the ex-lovers Corine and Chance. Oh there’s definitely sexual tension there – heaps of it, but the question of trust prevents Corine from allowing Chance back into her heart. But he’s persistent – oh yes he is (and compelling and attractive of course!)

Chuch, Eva, Jesse Saldana and Ian Brooks are terrific support characters. Thankfully Corine and Chance can draw upon their skills and knowledge so that we avoid the lone hero/heroine against the darkness scenario that we often get. Instead this ensemble cast works together to try and find Chance’s kidnapped mother.

There are some brilliant twists and turns in the plot and the pace is fast enough that you’ll often be blindsided by these crafty twists. Add in awful battles, pervasive dread and loads of sexual tension and it all adds up to a brilliant start in Urban Fantasy for Ann Aguirre. No wonder this won the PEARL award!