Dark Currents Review: Carey's Spunky Urban Fantasy

If you know Jacqueline Carey from the Kushiel books, Dark Currents is going to surprise you, and I mean that as a compliment. This is my review of Dark Currents, the first book in her Agent of Hel urban fantasy series, and it is a completely different mood: fun, spunky, full of small town personality, with a half-demon heroine you actually want to hang out with. I went in braced for dark and gritty and got something lighter and more charming instead. If you’re a Carey fan wondering whether the tone switch works, or you just want a paranormal mystery with a great heroine, let me tell you how this one landed.

DARK CURRENTS is fun, it’s spunky and it has a lot personality. ~ Under the Covers

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. This post contains affiliate links. That means we receive a small commission at no cost to you from any purchases you make through these links.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Dark Currents by Jacqueline Carey

URBAN FANTASY

Agent of Hel #1
October 2, 2012

Read this if you want:

a lighter, funnier urban fantasy
a half-demon heroine you’d want as a friend
small town paranormal with a murder mystery and a love triangle

Grab this book on Amazon

Not the Carey I Expected

I have wanted to read a Jacqueline Carey book in what seems like forever. I’ve been attracted to and purchased quite a few of them, but never managed to set aside the time to read them. Then this book comes along with this beautiful and fun cover and I just caved and had to read it. I think I’m in love. This book is not the dark and gritty urban fantasy I thought I would get by reading a Jacqueline Carey book and for me, in this story, it worked marvelous.

Daisy, and the World of Pemkowet

DARK CURRENTS is fun, it’s spunky and it has a lot personality. It’s unique and entertaining. Starting out with a heroine, Daisy, that I found very down to earth and relatable. At the same time she was a lot of fun and someone that you just want to hang out with. She can be badass when absolutely necessary, even though I think she has some growth to do in that department. She has a really cool profession. Her human job is as a paper pusher at the sheriff’s office but because she’s a supernatural she is starting to be more involved in investigations. Her supernatural job is as Hel’s agent. And no, that’s not a typo. Hel is a Goddess, not hell as in flames. She is in charge and in power of keeping the order in the human realm and inter-relations between humans and Hel who rules the supernaturals on earth.

Ms. Carey masterfully introduces us to the very unique supernatural world of this series and more importantly to what’s going on in Pemkowet. For the amount of world building that took place in this book, not once did I feel like there was an info dump. Such a smooth and amazing job!

The Mystery, and a Whole Lot of Normal

The story revolves around a murder mystery, which I always find interesting. The supernatural community in Pemkowet is shaken up, as well as the human sheriff’s office, when a college boy is found dead, who presumably drowned. The police department has to find the killer before the supernatural connection is brought to the public’s attention. A little bit of mystery and intrigue. A whole lot of normal in the midst of chaos.

I think that was my favorite part. This book has a lot of normal. Daisy is a normal girl, with normal issues. Except maybe one not so normal appendage, but I thought that was cute and funny. She also has a crush on a hot guy, Cody, and she is now put in a situation where she has to work with him to solve the murder. She has a best friend who likes Cody as well. But Jen is human and Cody is a shapeshifter. Then she meets the Master ghoul in town, Stefan, who is hotter than hell and very powerful. And there’s a human who can see auras, Sinclair, thrown in the mix for good measure.

While solving a murder she still has to perform her job as Agent of Hel and normal early twenties girl. Wanting to hang out with her BFF, saving her BFF’s brother, hanging out with a family of werewolves, and chasing a mermaid. You know, the usual.

The One Thing That Cost It a Star

When I finished reading the last page of this book I truly wanted more. I want to know who Daisy will end up giving a shot to be with her. I want to see her grow into her powers. But as much as I am dying for the next book, the ending of this one was a bit anticlimactic after the awesome build up throughout the book. This is why I can’t give this book 5 stars. Other than that, this was a masterpiece and a keeper for sure!

I even got to ask Jacqueline more about this book and series, so check out my interview with Jacqueline Carey on Dark Currents.

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Dark Currents Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dark Currents worth reading?

Yes. It is fun, spunky, and full of personality, with a heroine I genuinely wanted to hang out with. The ending landed a little flat for me after such a strong build, but the rest was a keeper.

Is Dark Currents like the Kushiel books?

No. Where Kushiel is dark, dense epic fantasy, Dark Currents is lighter, funnier, small town urban fantasy. Different mood.

Is Dark Currents the first book in the series?

Yes. It is book one of the Agent of Hel series, so start here. Daisy’s story continues from here to be a now completed trilogy. The next one is Autumn Bones.

What is Dark Currents about?

Daisy Johanssen is part demon and works as the goddess Hel’s agent in a small Midwestern town where the supernatural is just part of life. When a college student turns up drowned and the signs point to the eldritch community, Daisy has to help solve it while keeping her own nature in check.

Is there a love triangle in Dark Currents?

There is more than one possibility brewing. Daisy has a long standing crush on Cody, a shapeshifter, plus a powerful ghoul named Stefan and an aura reading human named Sinclair in the mix. The romance simmers but doesn’t resolve in this first book.