Deadbeat Druid
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Volume 3 of Adam Binder
Tags: Fantasy Paranormal
Posted in Book Reviews on August 11, 2024
When we left our two heroes in the previous book, Vic, along with Jodi, had been pulled into the realm of the dead by Adam’s evil great-grandfather. Adam is determined to rescue his boyfriend, even if it means defying the immortals and making a deal with Death herself. It’s time for another road trip through the levels of the underworld where the living don’t belong and the normal rules don’t seem to apply. Will Adam reach Vic in time, and will they be able to find a way back when he does?
This third and final installment of the Adam Binder series throws more challenges at Adam, as well as giving him new insight into the machinations which created the situation he is trying to resolve. Naturally, you need to have read the first two books before this one or you won’t know the people and events that led to this story.
Adam has proven to be a very interesting character. He may have a little bit of magic, but he’s no superhero. Adam is far from perfect. He makes mistakes, but tries to put things right when he realizes he made a bad decision. Adam’s relationship with Vic takes a few surprising turns in this story but remains a core part of the series.
Vic remains the “normal” person with no magical abilities who is suddenly exposed to realms he thought were fantasy. His journey through the underworld gives the police officer time to re-evaluate some of his choices, as he sees the trials that the dead undergo in their journey to the afterlife.
This has been an engrossing series to read. Although heavily rooted in traditional folklore, the stories have still explored new ideas about the nature of these stories and their roots in very human experiences. One particularly controversial idea that comes through strongly in this last book is the notion that “evil” people who do awful things do so from fear. It’s not a new argument, but the portrayal in this story might make you think.
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“Deadbeat Druid” is available from Amazon (commissionable link).