Cicero James, Miracle Worker

Any book that opens with the death of its main character has a good chance of being a wild ride, and Hal Emerson’s latest book is certainly that. The dying part isn’t necessarily a surprise, at least not to Cicero James. He has a dangerous career, after all, and when fighting creatures which have made their way into our world to cause destruction and death, there’s always a chance that the death and destruction might be his.

What surprises him (though not a savvy fantasy reader) is his sudden return from the dead.

This surprise resurrection throws Cicero into a fast-paced story of magic, betrayal, and uncertainty that had me hooked the whole way through. It’s unlike many other urban fantasies I’ve come across. Rather than filling the world with all manner of fantastical or folkloric creatures, Emerson keeps things simple. Some people are able to work miracles, while most remain ignorant of the wonders and dangers which surround them. The dangers are the closest the book gets to dabbling in supernatural creatures: beings from outside the fabric of our reality can creep in or be drawn in, and Miracle Workers like Cicero are meant to dispatch them, to keep the rest of us safe.

The world of Miracle Workers felt alive and vibrant, and the characters were sharp and intriguing. I was fascinated by not only the central conflict but also the worldbuilding and the themes which emerged through the book. Emerson has a knack for making the book feel timely and present without seeming like it will wind up being dated in five years, which is possibly the hardest trick to pull off in writing urban fantasy. (Possibly it will be, but it’s hard to tell how much will change in five years. What matters more is that it feels timely and present now.)

The only reason I took off one star from the rating was the way some of the themes played out in the end. Emerson has a fascinating setup that I thoroughly enjoyed, and I was intrigued by the themes he worked into the story, but some of them appeared too suddenly or felt too blandly presented. The book is still enjoyable; it simply could have had a touch more.

I highly recommend this book to fans of urban fantasy and anyone who wants a quick, engaging read. I don’t know whether Emerson will write more in this world, but I do know I will look for more of his work.