Book and Audio Review: Dark Currents by Jacqueline Carey

Dark Currents
Author: Jacqueline Carey
Narrator: Johanna Parker
Series: Agent of Hel (Book 1)
Publication: Ace (October 2, 2012); Recorded Books (October 23, 2012)
Length: 369 p.; 10 hours and 1 minute

Description: The Midwestern resort town of Pemkowet boasts a diverse population: eccentric locals, wealthy summer people, and tourists by the busload—not to mention fairies, sprites, vampires, naiads, ogres, and a whole host of eldritch folk, presided over by Hel, a reclusive Norse goddess.

To Daisy Johanssen, fathered by an incubus and raised by a single mother, it’s home. And as Hel’s enforcer and the designated liaison to the Pemkowet Police Department, it’s up to her to ensure relations between the mundane and eldritch communities run smoothly.

But when a young man from a nearby college drowns—and signs point to eldritch involvement—the town’s booming paranormal tourism trade is at stake. Teamed up with her childhood crush, Officer Cody Fairfax, a sexy werewolf on the down-low, Daisy must solve the crime—and keep a tight rein on the darker side of her nature. For if she’s ever tempted to invoke her demonic birthright, it could accidentally unleash nothing less than Armageddon.

My Thoughts: DARK CURRENTS begins an urban fantasy trilogy. It is set in the resort town of Pemkowet, Michigan, and is peopled by locals, summer people, tourists -- and fairies, ghouls, vampires, sprites, naiads, and lots of other eldritch folks. They are all presided over by Hel who is a reclusive Norse goddess.

Daisy Johanssen is Hel's deputy. She is a half-breed fathered by Belphegor, lesser demon and occasional incubus, on her human mother. She's a twenty-something blond with her father's black eyes. She works for the local police department as a part-time file clerk who is called in when the cases involve the eldritch community. She has a crush of Deputy Cody Fairfax who is keeping the fact that he's a werewolf secret from most of the community.

When a frat boy is found drowned in the river and Hel tasks Daisy with finding out what happened to him, she and Cody are teamed up to work the case. They are under pressure to solve the case fast because the boy's family is not a fan of the eldritch and wants them to be outlawed.

This was a great story that integrated a lot of worldbuilding seamlessly into the action-filled plot. Daisy has her hands full juggling her duties with Hel and the Pemkowet Police department. She also gathers quite a crop of potential suitors including the new head of the ghouls Stefan. 

Fans of urban fantasy will enjoy this story and be eager to read more about the world that was developed and Daisy's further adventures. 

Favorite Quote:

"Okay, tell me this. Daisy? What, um, hell kind of name is that for a hell-spawn? Where did that come from?" Despite everything, I laughed. "I'm serious!" he insisted. "You can't tell me it isn't a little odd."

I bought the hardcover September 16, 2012 and the audiobook this June. You can buy your copy here.