Read: High Jinx (#02-2022)

High Jinx by Kelley Armstrong

(Cursed Luck, Book 2)

This continues the story of Kennedy, an antique shop owner and curse worker from a town called Unstable (near Boston, MA.)  There's a mystery, adventure and of course a little bit of romance with luck worker Aidan Connolly. 

The mystery and adventure, in this case, involve a set of cursed paintings with an interesting history, and Kennedy's newly found mentor Mercy (sometimes better known as Greek god Mercury.)

For some reason, I expected this book to follow the story of sister Hope, and her connection to Rian Connolly, rather than continuing with Kennedy. I was pleasantly surprised to find that we followed Kennedy into another adventure and thereby continued the relationship with Aidan. 

I love the twists on mythology that this duology has brought us.  Turning Greek myth slightly on its ear and giving us stories that actually line up better with what may have been the truth. While generally lauded for its entertainment value, Armstrong's writing is often also highly informative in subtle ways, if that's something you're interested in. I think that might be why I like them so much. She definitely takes time to put in the research about her topics (and even the sub-topics.) And her topics aren't necessarily things that people know about beyond cursory knowledge. 

The writing is crisp, the characters well-developed - even those we don't see much of. Side plots and relationships are almost as developed as the main areas. It's clearly a well thought out story, and it keeps the reader moving through the book at a rapid pace.  Without life getting in the way, I would absolutely have read this all the way through in one sitting. 

(#02-2022)