Early Review: Master of Plagues by E.L. Tettensor

Unraveling a deadly mystery takes time—and his is running out…

Having barely escaped the clutches of the Darkwalker, Inspector Nicolas Lenoir throws himself into his work with a determination he hasn’t known in years. But his legendary skills are about to be put to the test. A horrific disease is ravaging the city—and all signs point to it having been deliberately unleashed.

With a mass murderer on the loose, a rising body count, and every hound in the city on quarantine duty, the streets of Kennian are descending into mayhem, while Lenoir and his partner, Sergeant Bran Kody, are running out of time to catch a killer and find a cure.

Only one ray of hope exists: the nomadic Adali, famed for their arcane healing skills, claim to have a cure. But dark magic comes at a price, one even the dying may be unwilling to pay. All that’s left to Lenoir is a desperate gamble. And when the ashes settle, the city of Kennian will be changed forever...

drey’s thoughts:

Inspector Nicolas Lenoir has got his groove back after surviving his encounter with the Darkwalker, just in time to pay close attention when sickness brings death to inhabitants of the Camp. With his aide Sergeant Kody in tow, Lenoir sets off to determine if the disease was set loose on purpose – and if so, why?

Master of Plagues has plenty of drama, tension, and action. The dead are dropping like flies, and every lead they find seems to lead to dead ends. The Mayor is freaking out and making asinine decisions, none of which help alleviate the tension or contribute to finding a cure, solution, or the culprits. And there’s more than one chase scene. What’s not to like?

Inspector Lenoir is only slightly less gruff in this sequel to Darkwalker, but he’s learning (just a bit!) to play nice with others. I like to think that Kody’s opinion of Lenoir is trending upward, even if it’s to his surprise. And poor Zach, who’s managed to get into one scrape per book. But the character I most enjoyed here must be Merden, who played a bit part in Darkwalker, but has a much larger role in helping Lenoir and the authorities stem the tide against a seemingly relentless plague.

Tettensor’s Nicolas Lenoir series is an entertaining mix of fantasy and police procedural, liberally doused with dry humor and witty snarkisms. Definitely give this series a try if you’re looking for something to read in either genre. Start with Darkwalker just to appreciate how much Lenoir grows.

drey’s rating: Excellent!

Have you read Master of Plagues? What did you think?

About E. L. Tettensor

E.L. Tettensor likes her stories the way she likes her chocolate: dark, exotic, and with a hint of bitterness. She has visited more than fifty countries on five continents, and brought a little something back from each of them to press inside the pages of her books. She also writes fantasy as Erin Lindsey. She lives with her husband in Bujumbura, Burundi.

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