The characters are rich and varied. I must report that we do have absolute erasure of GLBT, and disabled characters though. While the erasure is frustrating, it really has become par for the course as far as urban fantasy is involved. Gustainis did include a man of colour and I am happy to report that he is no side character and plays meaningful role in the plot. This is a rarity, because in most urban fantasy, people of colour are often reduced to side kicks whose sole role is to service the White protagonists.
Walpurgis Night is fast approaching and with it, the very high possibility that Satan will be unleashed upon the world at the behest of a very rich man who seeks to have his life extended. In preparation, someone is killing all of the white witches. Though the witches have all taken a vow to do no harm, that does not that they are completely defenseless. As you may have guessed, all the witches are women.
I am having trouble not fanpoodling as I write this up. The women in this series are all completely kick ass. Quite often women in this genre make ridiculous decisions that somehow miraculously work out, but that is not the case in Evil Ways. Decisions are made as a team and the women are just as tough as the men. They are more than willing to do whatever needs to be done to get the information that they need, including sleeping with an inmate to pry information from his mind or shooting to kill rather than to maim or warn because sometimes death is the only way to ensure safety.
Those who have read the Harry Dresden series by Jim Butcher, will recognize some of the haunts in this book. Beyond the connection with Dresden however, this book is hilariously funny. Quite a few times I found myself laughing at loud at the references. It is a very hard thing to do to marry moments of comedy with a very serious series but Gustainis does this brilliantly. There are also references to everything from Elvis Presley to The X Files and they often occur in the most unexpected places.
I didn't tell you much about the plot, because I believe that this book is so good that everyone deserves the chance to experience it with the only expectation reading an amazingly good story. You will not regret reading this book, so buy one for yourself, one for a friend and strap in for a great ride.
