Cronin's Key by N.R. Walker
Series: Cronin's Key, #1 Read time: 2 Day Rating: 4/5
The quote: “Oh!” Eiji cried. “I will need some melons.” Alec blinked in surprise. “What on earth for?” Eiji held up the crossbow and grinned. “So I can shoot them!” — Eiji and Alec
Oh man, this review gets long, sorry dear friends. I really liked this. I really like Walker's style apparently. More than I knew. I'm really glad I took the chance-ish on this. I already knew I liked Walker after reading Lacuna but this plays with different lore different dynamics and something more akin to our world. While I like Alec and Cronin I love Eiji.
There is a degree of predictability to this plot. There are some parts of the story that are easily suspectable from the outset for those that read the genre. I found the main villain, the batshit crazy Queen Keket, to be a bit meh. But I feel like the story at that point isn't really about her so much as it's about Alec and Cronin and their trust, ability to problem solve and dynamic (as well as the dynamics among their allies). As such I don't really have an issue with it in the scheme of things.
Usually, I start by writing about the protagonists, but this time I'm starting with my favourite character, Eiji. I read on my Kindle, a large part of my highlights and notes are on Eiji. I love him, even if he is quite possibly written as the comic relief. Eiji is a bit bizarre at times, but his backstory is amazing (I'm not spoiling it here). As you would guess with that name Eiji is Japanese, he's old, very old. He may be written as humour but it is contrasted so well with moments like this... "He wielded the stakes like long Japanese blades and with precise fluid arcs that were more poetry in motion than violence". He's Alec's lifelong protector and Cronin's best friend. He has a vampiric gift to read DNA both forward and backward, it's an interesting gift. While no one knows why he has it I have some speculation. He loves new inventions, new things, is in awe of them, enjoys them. It's logical that part of his gift involves the future. I cant understand the past though. Honestly, Alec's sense of humour is glorious. His constant smile protective nature and caring. It just makes him brilliant.
A quote to describe Ailig 'Alec' McAidan comes courtesy of Eiji “He’s strong, Cronin, and stubborn. He’s very smart, and he has the ability to take in and see everything in a room. That’s why he was a good cop. That’s why he’ll make an even better vampire.”. Really I couldn't say it better. He is a strong and endearing character. His intelligence is used so well, he doesn't try to think like someone he isn't and he weaponises his modern mind “I don’t just think it’s possible. I think it’s likely.” “It’s not impossible,” Bes allowed. “Why do you think this?” Alec’s answer was simple. “Because it’s what I’d do.” (Alec and Bes). But what is most important in a book like this is the relationship between the leading men. Alec and Cronin are written with that undeniably great chemistry that becomes this sort of writing. It's not a will they, won't they. It's a what will it take. Their shared intellect and slightly stubborn behaviours are a great match. There is a great quote about their relationship, a conversation with Kennard (important in his own right).
“And you belong to Cronin,” Kennard said, his eyes full of delight. A week ago, Alec would have bristled at the suggestion that he belonged to anyone. Now he smiled. “I would not assume to correct an Elder, but you are mistaken,” Alec said with a smile. “It is Cronin who belongs to me.”
In a similar vein “He defended you, against another vampire,” Jodis said. “Granted, Eiji was never a real threat, but he stood between you and pointed a gun at him.” Jodis was amused by this. “A human threatening a vampire? Have you ever seen such a thing?”This sort of possession to the point of violence is part of their relationship and honestly, it's just effective (as it was between Crow and Tancho in Lacuna). To some, it could be problematic but it doesn't get to that point for me. Cronin himself is a several hundred years old vampire from Scotland. He speaks Gaelic occasionally, it's always translated for the reader. He's been waiting a long time to meet his true partner, he wasn't expecting a human. He has the ability the leap through space to be anywhere he wants in basically the blink of an eye. He's powerful, stubborn and loyal. I appreciate him as a character. While not exactly a counterbalance to Alec he does provide something of a contrast.
Cronin's Key's primary narrator Alec is essentially an antihero. N.R. Walker makes sure that the reader understands this in the way he thinks and in the lore she has written. For example, Alec's line "There was no doubt on which side of the cop/felon line he now stood. He didn’t even try to justify his reasons in his head.". To me the choice to create an antihero is a brilliant one, it makes for some interesting stakes later on and there are some 'logical' reasons for it. The lore is developed well enough. There is one thing I would question, one important aspect that isn't filled out properly, but when that does become important it is kinda implied the full requirements. Aside from still open questions, it was clear from the way the lore and characters were introduced and written that this was leading to a sequel (quite literally titled Cronin's Key II). Look basically I love this and I recommend it uses dynamics and writing style well even if the plot is a little simple. N.R. Walker is a lovely writer who creates likeable characters and enjoyable stories.
Read for @godzilla-reads Simple Reading Challenge. Filling the February prompt: "Read a Book by a Female Author" According to Walker's profile "N.R. Walker is an Australian author, who loves her genre of gay romance. She loves writing and spends far too much time doing it, but wouldn't have it any other way.", so definitely female. This isn't what I wanted to read originally (I ran out of time for that) but I had this in my tbr pile and I really enjoyed Lacuna by the same author.
