Review: "Master & Apprentice

"Master and Apprentice"

by: Sonya Bateman

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Pages: 352

Author's Website: http://www.sonyabateman.com/

Source: Simon & Schouster in exchange for an honest review

Published: March 29, 2011 by Pocket

 

Goodreads Blurb: 

A DEADLY CULT. AN UNBREAKABLE CURSE. THE RULES ARE SIMPLE: LEARN TO KILL . . . OR DIE. Luck has never been on Gavyn Donatti’s side. Anyone else with magic abilities inherited from a distant genie relative would have it made, but not Donatti, descendant of a cranky, shape-shifting genie named Ian. The prince of a murdered kingdom, consumed with revenge and driven by an unbreakable curse, Ian is determined to hunt down and destroy every last one of his enemies in the power-hungry snake clan—at any cost, including his life. Or Donatti’s.
Obsessed by his own rage, Ian has never really taught Donatti how to use his abilities. So when a powerful cult of magic-users captures Ian’s wife, the princess Akila, and then Ian himself, Donatti is left alone to take on dozens of half-djinn and their mysterious leader with designs on world domination.
Facing an impossible mission, Donatti is forced to turn to an enemy for help—one who claims to know how to unlock his true potential. Trusting a snake might be the last mistake Donatti ever makes—but if he doesn’t learn to wield the power inside him, everyone will pay the ultimate price.

Darcy's Review:

I am torn with some aspects of this book, there are parts that I really liked and some that I disliked. 

I will start with the dislike as it is a part of the foundation of the series.  I get that in the past Donatti was a thief, but he isn't any more.  It irritates me how everyone, especially Ian calls him Thief, as his name, and when they do it is like a slur.  Donatti was very much thrown into this situation and has done so much to help Ian, often at great personal peril.  It does seem that this may be changing, I guess we will have to wait for the next book to find out for sure. 

I also really dislike that Ian doesn't seem to trust Donatti.  He could have been teaching him about his new powers, but it seems like he can't be bothered.  I would think that if Donatti knew and could use those powers it would be better on their trips to hunt the Morai.

What I really like is the odd family that Donatti and Ian have formed, along with their spouses and Cy.  Those quiet times when we get to see them being normal makes up for all the crazy magic things that happen.

I also liked how Ian and Akila had to face some old foes and learned things about those in the world they come from.  Those new facts definitely make them think again about what was going on back there and going back. 

I really liked that Ian came face to face with his enemy, the Morai, but had to re-evaluate them. 

I did get a little tired of all the action going on in the book.  It seemed like they went from one disaster to another, were almost killed each time, yet still able to go on.  Even with the healing skills it seems to be too much.

I think the best part of this book was Mercy, a mountain woman they encountered who was part redneck, part pot smoking hippie, and animal wrangler.  For some reason all the scenes when she was around became my favorite, probably because she took everything in stride and came up with some way to help.

With all of the game changers in this book I look forward to seeing just what the future will bring for Donatti and Ian.

Overall rating: