Title: The Department of Magic
Author: Rod Kierkegaard Jr.
Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press
(December 12, 2011)
Format: eBook Novel
Source: NetGalley
Genre: Fantasy
Description: It’s hate at first sight.
Jasmine Farah
and Rocco di Angelo are competing for the same job in a dusty office in a
secret Federal agency run by the mysterious, menacing Jefferson Davis Crawley –
“Creepy” Crawley, as he’s known.
When Crawley
is murdered in front of them after their first day on the job, Jasmine and
Rocco are left to figure out who killed their new boss, and exactly what a job
in the so-called Department of Magic entails. And magic, it seems, is nothing
like it seems in children’s books; it’s dark and bloody and sexual.
What follows
is a nightmare gallop through a world of ghosts, spooks, vampires, demons, and
the minions of South American and Voodoo gods hell-bent on destroying the world
and subjugating all America in the year 2012.
Only Rock and
Jazz, in the company of a ragtag team of urhobos – homeless guardians of the
District of Columbia– can prevent it by resurrecting “Goddess America” in a
mystical ceremony on the Fourth of July, as the story reaches its bittersweet
and unforeseen climax.
Review: The Department of Magic by Rod Kierkegaard Jr. oozes wit amongst
a magical backdrop of secret government agents trying to save America.
When Jasmine
Farah and Rocco di Angelo take a job with the Department of Magic, their lives
are forever changed. They not only learn that magic is real, as well as many
terrifying mythical creatures, but the fate of America rests in their hands.
They follow their boss’s orders to steal George Washington’s artifacts while
being chased by vampires, demons, and more. If they fail, nothing will be the
same.
The Department of Magic excelled in wit and sarcasm. The
characters are unique and are brought to life—even though a few were
technically dead—by their dialogue. The
Federal Bestiary at the beginning of each chapter amused me and was a
brilliant addition to the novel. The historical and mythological references
were intriguing and fantastical. This novel reminded me of a magical Da Vinci Code, except the execution of
the plot was at times clunky. The pacing was off, and the descriptions
sometimes bogged down the storyline.
Overall, Rod
Kierkegaard Jr.’s The Department of Magic
intrigues the reader into this magical and dangerous world, yet it could’ve
been better.
 |
| Three Bookworms = I liked it! |
