When an obsidian knife is used to kill and skin someone, the wielder can become the victim's doppelganger (with memories and powers). Oh, and it can kill gods, like Santa Muerte. ( )

did not finish. As with the first book, there is exactly 0% humor in it. ( )

So Eric now has to find a way to get out of his bargain with Santa Muerte and stay a step ahead a magic user that wants to skin him alive and use the power that Eric now has from his bargain that he doesn’t want. When you don’t know if the person in front of you is someone you know, or a skin being worn by a magical killer life can be rough. Eric does make a deal with another god to try and get out of his current situation. Why would anyone think a second deal with a deity is a good way to deal with the first deity, but it does move the story along. The audio version of this is just as good as the first book and I’ll be picking up the next one. ( )

Broken Souls
(Eric Carter #2)
by Stephen Blackmoore
After book one, I didn't think it could get better but I was wrong! Oh my! What a wild ride! Best friend dead and avatar for a god? Check!
Married to a death god? Check!
How to deal with the death god's husband god? Ummmm...
Lots of fun!!! ( )

I’ve been lied to a lot, lately. And some of it’s been with the truth.

Broken Souls follows up the craziness that was Dead Things and turns the dial up yet again. We get some fascinating worldbuilding, expanding both the series' view of necromancy and the dead and the Aztec side of Santa Muerte.

The necromancy isn't that different from what you'd expect to see in any series dealing directly with magic and death, but it's still used well. Being able to jump back and forth between the land of the dead and the risks thereof are particularly neat.

Aztecwise, it's a culture that I know the basics about, but that's about it (and much of that is probably influenced by popular culture). Yet here we get an obsidian knife that can skin people to steal their face and abilities. We get all sorts of bizarre gods. I didn't expect the series to go that way, but now that I see it I can't wait to see what's next.

Characterwise, Eric is still a surprisingly excellent protagonist. He's certainly damaged and not particularly likeable, but he's well written and there's a certain sense of 'can't look away'. You just have to see what's going to happen to him next.

“Not every mage is an asshole, you know.”

“Really?” I say. “That your experience? Sure as hell isn’t mine.”

“Has it occurred to you that it’s because you’re one of the assholes?”

Santa Muerte is still fascinating as well. Especially seeing more of her older alter ego. It's always risky to include gods in an urban fantasy, but it seems done well to me.

My favorite of the characters? The bruja. Bit of misdirection at first, but she's tough, an arguable good person (rare in this world), and doesn't mind going head to head with Eric. A lovely addition and ally.

Overall, a great second entry. Onward and thirdward! ( )