Sydney is not a place generally associated with the terrors of darkness. And yet here they are. The blazing sunlight rapidly becomes a vital tactical consideration, just as thunder, sweat and prickly heat construct the atmosphere. Juxtaposing the suburban ordinary of Carlingford and Parramatta with the arcane is effective, and the strictly local references to bogans and Gina Rinehart had me chuckling. Then there is the Night Beast Wirrin, "the Seigneur's Shadow", who nobody sees coming and nobody can hide from. He identifies as indigenous, and heir to the magical traditions of his people.
It is an interesting addition to the mix of Mesopotamia and Eastern Europe, and Flinthart just about gets away with it — if only because Wirrin is so damn cool. Six Wirrin represents an advanced stage on the traditional Path of Night. What Mike's progress resembles more than anything, is male puberty. A mythologisation of it: Fighting seems perfectly natural.
Women are suddenly interested in him, and above all, he eats like there's no tomorrow. Pamela Parker, are in the familiar position of having to be twice as good merely to mark their places. Still, Jen's response to the final crisis, in terms of lateral thinking, competency and chutzpah, is second to nothing and earns her some belated respect. Five Perhaps it is simply compared to Jen that I found Mike a little bland. Fair enough, he spends a portion of the book in understandable shock, and some quality time on medication.
His identity as a medical student comes into play on occasion, as does the casual martial arts training, but neither these nor such detail as we receive regarding his past life really coalesce. And when his moment of realisation comes, it marks him as a survivor, not a crusader. Four Still, lively writing carries the day, and even Mike comes out with some priceless lines.
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I first came across Dirk Flinthart's work when reading back over the New Ceres project, a shared world Australian spec fic project which occurred a while back. Dirk's work featured in both the New Ceres Nights anthology and the stand alone Angel Rising links are to my reviews of both.
I enjoyed his stories in both, so when I saw he had brought out his first full length novel, I was intrigued. I also really liked the cover, to be honest. Iconic Australian imagery doesn't often find itself I first came across Dirk Flinthart's work when reading back over the New Ceres project, a shared world Australian spec fic project which occurred a while back.
Iconic Australian imagery doesn't often find itself on the front of an urban fantasy. The novel centres on medical student Michael Devlin, who works in a lab to help keep himself at university. He is accidentally infected with a mysterious substance and when he goes to ask the Professor running the lab what it was, a crazed killer breaks in and kills both the Professor and Michael. Which makes in all the more surprising for Michael when he wakes up in the morgue, toe tag and all.
Not only is he not dead, but he seems to have picked up some nifty special powers along the way. The book moves along at a fair clip, and involves a series of increasingly large and violent action sequences.
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According to the Internet Flinthart is a highly experience martial artist, and that flavour comes through in the book. The fight scenes seem authentic, especially the hand to hand stuff. The story is told from several points of view, but my favourite is Jen, the Sydney police detective. She's tough, smart and very pragmatic. She is also very relatable. This is the first book in a series, and while the plot does stand alone there is a lot of world establishing going on.
I like the idea of international intrigue and secret cabals of vampires in an uneasy truce with their human counterparts, and the book hints at a scope that could make for very interesting story telling. That being said, the book is a lot of fun and my impression was that Flinthart was having a good time writing it. This impression was further entrenched when I heard the Galactic Chat interview of Flinthart , where he said "I had a good time writing it".
It is a very interesting interview - Flinthart has some pragmatic views on the publishing industry that I found informative. He even said that writing doesn't need to be good in order to sell. Thank whatever deity you hold most dear that is the case, or my own writing career would be in a lot of trouble. Lots of action, violence and vampires - and you're supporting Australian speculative fiction at the same time. What's not to like?
I also reviewed this book on my website. Feb 04, Alan Baxter rated it really liked it Shelves: This is Flinthart's first novel, but his extensive experience in shorter fiction means it doesn't read that way. It's a new, dark and scientific take on the vampire mythos, which Flinthart reinvents in an extremely Australian way. Set in Sydney and drenched in Australian humour, this is an interesting read. We follow two main threads - Michael Devlin, infected with a strange disease which effectively vampirises him, and Jen, a tough cop who's investigating a murder Devlin inadvertently got tied This is Flinthart's first novel, but his extensive experience in shorter fiction means it doesn't read that way.
We follow two main threads - Michael Devlin, infected with a strange disease which effectively vampirises him, and Jen, a tough cop who's investigating a murder Devlin inadvertently got tied up in. His disease and the killing are connected and Devlin becomes a reluctant hero with super powers on the run while Jen relies on tough, dogged police work to try to track him down.
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Path of Night is excellently written and very well paced. Flinthart's humour is ever-present but rarely gets too much. It's occasionally distracting, but not often. I would have preferred the secrets and world-building to have been delivered a bit more slowly through the book to increase the mystery and tension a little, but that's a small gripe. The police procedural side of this book is excellent and feels thoroughly authentic. The vampire aspects are woven in well using scientific ideas rather than purely supernatural ones which does a good job of making an old subject matter fresh and interesting.
This is apparently the first in a series of Michael Devlin novels, but it didn't feel like it. It's a great standalone book and I'll be interested to see what Flinthart does with this character next. May 04, Jason Franks rated it really liked it. Michael Devlin is a medical student who is accidentally-on purpose dosed with an experimental serum shortly before he is killed by a vampire.
Hours later he wakes up with a host of new abilities and a mild susceptibility to sunburn. Suddenly everybody wants him. The cops suspect him of murder. The vampire clans see him as a terrible threat.
Book of the Beast
Ancient order of badass monster hunters, check. Mysterious treaty keeping the world of darkness hidden, check. Trinity who is a cured vampire. King has retained most of his vampiric abilities but has been cured of the allergy to sunlight and the desire to drink blood. The prose is crisp and humorous without being jokey. Every scene is vivid and snappy and full of atmosphere. The action is realistically choreographed and gracefully delivered. Flinthart delivers some beautifully timed surprises and shocks and, while the story pretty much goes where you expect, the twists and turns it takes on the way are particularly clever.
All of the characters are thoughtfully realized. My favourite is Jen Morris, the stubborn police detective who serves as a second protagonist. Morris is smarter and more resourceful than the hapless everyman hero and she receives almost as much airtime as he does.
Wirrin, the laconic vampire henchman, is frightening and particularly entertaining. The supporting players in Path of Night are just as much fun to spend time with: Path of Night effortlessly delivers its shocks and spills, its laughs and cries and triumphs and tragedies. Path of Night is the first in a series of books and shorts about Michael Devlin.
Nov 19, Tsana Dolichva rated it it was amazing. Path of Night by Dirk Flinthart is the author's longest published work ie first novel to date. I'm sure I've read some of his short stories before, but apparently not since I started reviewing here. Path of Night follows Devlin, a med student with bad luck. After being murdered and coming back from the dead, he discovers that a he needs to eat a lot of food now, b he has super senses and super speed and c a bunch of people are trying to kill him.
His side of the story is very much centred ab Path of Night by Dirk Flinthart is the author's longest published work ie first novel to date. His side of the story is very much centred about not dying and getting through the day. The other point of view character is Jen, a Sydney cop who starts out investigating the homicide Devlin was caught up in. From her point of view we see a bit of police internal politics, some investigation and then, well, then the story catches up with Devlin and everything gets a bit crazy. The pacing in this novel is brilliant. It's not a short read, but even though it took me a while to get through because life etc it was sufficiently well-paced that it felt like it would be a quick read.
It wasn't all action all the time, but there was never a dull moment. I felt I always wanted to know what happened next, even when the point of view switched away from Devlin and Jen to the characters on the other side of the equation.
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This is the first book in a series, and I have to admit I wasn't sure how it would play out, in terms of setting up the next book, until I got to the end. It didn't really feel like a book one, and I say that in the best possible way. I wasn't sure who would survive or in what form the series would continue until the end when the premise of the next book was seemingly set up. I also loved that it was set in Sydney. Living overseas as I am for the time being, I have been really appreciating books with Australian settings.
Particularly ones which feel authentic, as Path of Night does occasional references to "sidewalks" notwithstanding. I kind of want to take a tour of those tunnels next time I'm in Sydney. I wouldn't have known they existed otherwise. The tourism bureau should pay Flinthart a commission. I highly recommend it to fans of urban fantasy and contemporary horror, especially the more action-filled variety. Readers looking for an Australian setting or a non-US setting, heh are also advised to give Path of Night a shot.
Nov 14, Jda rated it it was amazing. This book's cover has a nice texture, and it has proved until now impervious to stains. I did carried it on my backpack or sometimes even in jacket without noticing. Also the cover matte colors advances the reader on the dark theme. I, for one, had not read any story relating to the Australian society and geographics. I value it and am ready to take on the rest of the Night Beast series.
Reading this made me a bit more open minded, 'Reading as Traveling' and all that.. As I said, a story of a beast of this kind on a not freezing weather makes one think of all the different outcomes. I liked a lot the 'vignette' style of the chapters; I mean, chapters of 4 pages, or even less? Parker doesn't sound very believable, and her reaction when questioned.
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Somehow I didn't picture her doing that. I'd also like to tone down the romance a bit, since I felt it very rushed even with the pheromones effect, and all. As a critic said: I'm impressed and hope there is a sequel. Jan 23, Kyla Ward rated it liked it Shelves: Ten This is a by-the-numbers thriller, so you can expect certain things.
An easy-going Everyman who stumbles into something he shouldn't — in this case, illegal biological research. A spunky lady cop, following the fallout and determined to get to the bottom of things. An ice-cold assassin who's already there. Sparks of sexual tension, and rapidly escalating violence. And it's not too much of a spoiler to suggest that, at the end, there's going to be one hell of a — Nine But it's also got vampires Ten This is a by-the-numbers thriller, so you can expect certain things.
And it's not too much of a spoiler to suggest that, at the end, there's going to be one hell of a — Nine But it's also got vampires in it. Now, you could call these monsters old school — the path leads back to ancient Mesopotamia — except that old school vampires aren't generally this well-equipped. Flinthart takes the sensible approach that, even if the Night Beast virus creates bloodthirsty, super-powered psychopaths, they aren't going to survive the millennia without getting properly organised.
There's even a treaty in place, to prevent all-out war between them and an ancient order of vampire hunters.