cover image Black Swan Rising

Black Swan Rising

Lee Carroll, Tor, $14.99 paper (400p) ISBN 978-0-7653-2597-6

Ancient alchemy and modern bohemians mix predictably in this formulaic urban fantasy. Jewelry artisan Garet James receives a sealed metal box from the owner of a watch repair shop. Once the box is opened, all manner of misfortunes befall her. Fey folk soon emerge from the city's counterculture to assist Garet and explain that she's a hereditary guardian against black magic. The shop owner is none other than medieval alchemist John Dee, who plans to unleash demons upon the world in seven days. Carroll—a pseudonym for mystery writer Carol Goodman (Arcadia Falls) and her husband, poet Lee Slonimsky—puts Garet through the usual initiate's paces of developing the special powers she needs to thwart Dee's plot. The characters who teach her are quirky and quaint, but their adventures with her will strike readers as generic and familiar. (Aug.)