Reviewed by: BigAl
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Approximate word count: 55-60,000 words
Availability
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Author:
Eric
Czuleger is a playwright with several plays to his credit that have been
produced from coast to coast. A former Peace Corps volunteer and the son of a
USA Today bestselling novelist, this is Czuleger’s first novel.
For more,
visit his website.
Description:
“The San
Andreas Fault is the gateway to hell. The Hollywood Hills are mass graves of
angels. William Mulholland defies God himself. Satan gets plastic surgery on
Sunset Boulevard. A dead boy is stuck in traffic next to a vampire who can’t
sleep, and an angel who has an audition for the role of an angel. The stars are
in the sky and on the pavement. The wolves are prowling. The weather is
perfect. The screenplay is written. The soul is sold. This movie is going to be
big- really big. Welcome to Immortal L.A. You’re going to love it here.”
Appraisal:
Regular
readers of my reviews will recognize that although I’ll sometimes read and
review books with minor fantasy elements, the number of books I’ve reviewed
that are clearly in the fantasy genre could be counted on one hand, probably
with fingers left over. I’m almost certain this is my first time reviewing a
book in the Urban Fantasy subgenre. While I think a good story is a good story,
regardless of genre, this disclaimer is my roundabout way of saying that if
there are any genre conventions in Urban Fantasy, I don’t know what they are. Immortal L.A. could stretch or break all
the rules and I’d have no clue.
The premise
of Immortal L.A. is that Los Angeles
is a hotbed of the supernatural with an overabundance of beings who are part of
Lucifer’s crew along with plenty of angels from the other side. The story
intersperses chapters that are a “revised history” of Los Angeles, informing us
of the true and complete history of the area with chapters from contemporary
times. I liked how the revised history combined things I recognized as
historical fact cast in a different light. For example, the alternative
explanation for the La Brea Tar Pits or additional information about LA’s
struggles to maintain an adequate water supply. I was surprised to discover the
amount of Los Angeles history buried in the recesses of my brain so that I
realized there was truth entwined with the fiction, but don’t think this was
necessary to enjoy the story.
The modern
day chapters told the tales of a mix of contemporary Los Angelenos that lived
in this revised world. In this world, there is no doubt that actors and
actresses sell their soul to the devil for success. All in all, a fun and, at
least for me, much different read.
FYI:
Some adult
language.
Format/Typo Issues:
A small
number of typos and other proofreading misses.
Rating: **** Four Stars
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