Why I read it: Brie has been telling me I need to read this book for ages. The DABWAHA tourney moved it up the TBR pile.What it’s about: (from Goodreads) It’s a secret international organization operating in cities on every continent. It polices relations between the earthly realm and those beyond this world, enforcing immigration laws, the transfers of magical artifacts, and crimes against humanity.The agents who work for the NATO Irregular Affairs Division can’t tell anyone what they do, or how hard they work to keep us safe. It brings a colorful collection of men together:Agent Henry Falk, the undead bum. Agent Keith Curry, former carnivore chef turned vegetarian; Agent Rake, Babylonian demon with a penchant for easy living; and Agent Silas August, uncompromising jerk.
Four cities, four mysteries, four times the romance. Is your security clearance high enough to read on?
Cherries Worth Getting by Nicole KimberlingI will admit I had not read even the blurb before starting this book. I knew it was set in an alternate world and there were four stories each in the same world and each featuring an m/m romance. That was it. So the cannibalism issue came as a bit of a shock. It’s kind of Men in Black without as much humour (that’s not a criticism). Agent Keith Curry is paired with former lover Agent Gunther Heartman to investigate the “Cannibal Killings”. The investigation was slick and there was a kind of vague noir feel to it as well – sort of Watchmen-ish IMO. As the first book in the anthology, this author had the responsibility to paint the first picture of the Irregulars world. I thought it was very well done – no info dump, snippets of information that make the world more “real” – like the way goblins eat cigarettes rather than smoke them. No doubt the world building will continue over the course of the book, but I thought the set up was very well done.
