Chaos Unbound

Leon’s underwhelming second Metis Files urban fantasy (after Havoc Rising) once again follows the fortunes of Steve Dore, aka Diomedes, who spent thousands of years protecting humans from dangerous otherworldly races. Wrongfully blamed for the assassination of a powerful member of the Fae, Diomedes must find out who set him up and exact his revenge. He meets myriad monsters as he tails his foe, who may end up being a more destructive force than anyone had bargained for. Leon’s writing initially has energy, Diomedes is witty, and the intrigue holds promise, but the host of characters reads like a mythical creature laundry list. Extraneous detail obfuscates the plot and halts any forward momentum. (July)