The Blue Blazes by Chuck Wendig Series: Mookie Pearl #1
Published by Angry Robot on 28 May 2013
Genres: Adult, Mystery, Thriller, Urban Fantasy
Pages: 397
Format: eARC
Source: Netgalley
Meet Mookie Pearl.
Criminal underworld? He runs it.
Supernatural underworld? He hunts in it.
Nothing stops Mookie when he’s on the job.
But when his daughter takes up arms and opposes him, something’s gotta give…
*I received a free ARC of The Blue Blazes from Angry Robot via Netgalley in exchange of an honest review*
The Blue Blazes takes place in a weird-ass version of New York! The underworld is close, and Mookie is a huge hulk of a thug who is somehow trying to keep the world more or less safe from the monsters. A part of the organization, Mookie realizes that his biggest opponent in the war for power is his daughter, who now answers to the name Persephone. But all Mookie thought was truth slips away from him as he moves forward through the labyrinth he used to know as well as the back of his hand.
The pacing is simply amazing! Sometimes, so fast it almost hurts to read, and other times it slows down to a painfully slow read, where each detail is etched into both Mookie’s and the reader’s conscience. Fear is ever present, but Mookie just never gives up. The Blue Blazes is the epitome of a wild ride, with a perfect anti-hero at the helm.
The story is something between a convoluted mess and infinite clarity, Blue Blazes simply blew my socks off. Like completely! My first book by Chuck Wendig only left me wanting more, even in this extremely gritty world I would never want to be a part of. Actual monsters, an Underworld filled with some kinds of gods only called ‘the hungry ones’ and other beings desperately hating the humans who live in the light. There is no end to the suffering, even the ending left my heart feeling hollow and sad – as if a piece of my soul had been thorn out by this horrific world where crime, thugs and monsters fight for the power.
The Blue Blazes is also filled with poetic prose, the writing is so different from any other I’ve encountered in the past, and even the ugly, without-morals Mookie somehow managed to gain my respect. I can’t help but rooting for him, it’s just impossible to not want the guy who tried his best to keep the gods, the gobbos and the other monsters safely encased in the big below to win – but I still wonder if that is at all possible.
If you enjoy science fiction / urban fantasy / dystopia / mystery – yeah, it’s kind of difficult to choose only one genre – you should definitely pick up The Blue Blazes as soon as possible, and just sit down, preferably with a seat-belt, and try to enjoy the wild ride.
They rape and kill and feed. They drink our pain, supping at it like we’re each an endless goblet of win and blood. But we are not endless. We can be used up. And they don’t care, for they are predators and parasites to the last.
This, then, is Mookie Pearl. He’s a high wall of flesh stuffed into a white wife-beater stained with brown (once red), a man whose big bones ar wreathed in fat and gristle and muscle and sealed tight in a final layer of scar-tissue skin.
Homeless guys push shopping carts filled with cats and blankets, booze and busted-ass dreams.
Grampop was tough as they came. like the beef jerky in Mookie’s bag. No fat, no gristle, just dehydrated muscle and hard leather.
“You have a gift.” “No such thing. I love what I do and I do what I love.”
Then again, Mookie’s the last person Jess wants to be talking to. Particularly at asshole-o’clock in the morning. That’s all it is. It’s late, right?
That doesn’t mean he’s a pretty man. He isn’t. He’s pit bull ugly. Got a face like a fist, a body like a bunch of tractor tires fitted around an oil drum.
About Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms
Linda is an English as foreign language teacher and has a Master's degree in English Language and Literature. She's an avid reader, blogger, compulsive one-clicker and a genre omnivore. Ever since she learnt how to read she has been seen with a book or two in her hands everywhere she goes.
Sounds like lots of genres play their big part in here, huh?
Very intriguing, perhaps different from my usual reads but intriguing nevertheless!
Great review, Lexxie! 🙂
I tend to enjoy SciFi every now and then, and I had heard so many good things about Wendig’s books I requested this one a long time ago. And then I kind of forgot about it… I am so glad I finally sat down to read it, though – it was awesome.
Thanks for commenting, Silvia.
Twitter: bmreviewsohmy
Why have I not heard of this book?! It sounds really cool and going on my TBR pile. 🙂
It is really cool, Stormi! I hope you’ll love it as much as I did!
Thanks for stopping by 🙂
wow so many things in one book! I’m impressed. I didn’t know this one but I think I saw the cover on NG and now I wonder why I hadn’t took it! I really should have, I think I could really like it too.
I think you’d enjoy this crazy world and the characters living there, too, Melliane 🙂
Thanks for stopping by!
What a perfect cover for this book the you describe it. When I was reading your review I kept imagining a comic book, all bloody and violent. I’m glad it took you for such a wild ride!
I hope you’re having a great week, Lexxie!
I didn’t think about that, but it could definitely be compared to a comic-book in a sense. The vivid images the writing brought to my mind were pretty much movie-like, but comic book works, too.
Thanks for stopping by, Robyn 🙂
Twitter: talksupeblog
Why didn’t I catch this?! I love CWendig and this book sounds like another winner! Will check it on Amazon.
It’s awesome, Braine! My first meeting with CWendig, but my, what a great meeting!
Thanks for stopping by 🙂
I love it when a book blows me away! I am glad that you enjoyed this one. 🙂
Yeah, Mookie is such a character – not much likeable about him, but still I couldn’t help rooting for him 🙂
Thanks for stopping by Pamela.
Twitter: kimbacaffeinate
Wow Lexxie you have me curious about both the world and the writing in this. This is my first time seeing the book and I am so glad you enjoyed it.
I’m glad I could introduce you to Blue Blazes, Kimba 🙂
Well, Lexxie, you had me at “weird ass version of New York”! 😉 I’m truly intrigued with a book that has poetic prose and pacing that can be painful at both speeds. And who wouldn’t want to read a book with a MC named Mookie?!?
I’m glad you enjoyed this one so much, Lexxie! I, of course, added it to my tbr. 🙂
*hugs*
I read your comment after I put mine in, and we said the same things, lol! Great minds think alike! 😀
LOL, it truly is, though, Brandee. And so well written. I’m sure you’ll love it, too!
*HUGS*
Wow, this one sounds amazing Lexxie! I particularly love the cover, it’s so eye-catching. I’m also keen on finding out what the weird ass version of New York is like lol. Great review!
Oh my, that version of NY is one I’m very happy is not the real one!
Thanks for stopping by, Jeann 🙂
I read the first line of your review and immediately added this to my TBR, LOL. “Weird ass version of New York” was all it took for me to want to read this. 😉 I love that sometimes the pacing is so fast it almost hurts. It sounds so damn exciting!! I love all those genres, too. Awesome review, girl! 😀
YAY! I hope you’ll love it as much as I did, Jennifer! And I’m glad weird-ass version of NY was able to draw you in. I loved that I could recognize some places, but that the whole world was different anyway.
Thanks for stopping by!
Umm that sounds really weird lol But I’m glad you liked it, I’m gonna have to check it out! Great review
It is very weird, but it’s awesome weird! Thanks for stopping by Ellie 🙂