Blackbirds

Apart from all the vampire stories I've read through the years, urban fantasy isn't really my thing, but I picked this book up because of Chuck Wendig's interesting writing blog and the fact that he's worked on some roleplaying games I've enjoyed. Blackbirds was a quick, mostly fun read, but ultimately I felt it lacked substance, suffering from characterization and plotting issues as well.

Blackbirds introduces Miriam Black, a woman in her mid-twenties who possesses the ability to touch another person and see the moment of their death. For obvious reasons, this power causes her considerable distress, inspiring her to avoid becoming too close to others, leading a reckless life as a drifter. Things are further complicated when she has a premonition of a vicious murder in which the victim's final word is her name.

Miriam is an interesting character, but I also found her slightly off-putting. Wendig goes to great lengths to shake up stereotypes of what female characters can be like (as if challenging some imagined sexist reader) by making her a hard-drinking, chain-smoking, foul-mouthed brawler that sleeps around. That's fine, I can get behind that, but I think that combination of traits would be equally obnoxious in a male character, especially exaggerated to the extent they are here. Flawed anti-heroes and anti-heroines are great, but unrepentant losers are less appealing.

Miriam's dialogue frequently grated as well. I enjoy Quentin Tarantino's work, but all too often it felt like Wendig was likewise trying too hard with the profanity, like a gleeful junior high school nerd trying to look cool in front of older kids. A line like "Fuck off and die, fuckpie!" doesn't really strike me as a cutting display of defiance, it's more like something from one of South Park's lamer episodes.

There were some other more minor issues as well. While the female thug is fun (with two great chapters written from her perspective), the antagonists are basically cartoon characters, way too psychopathic to be the organized crime figures they're described as. And despite all the buildup, the end was a little unconvincing as well ("You can't change fate...wait!").

I suspect that devoted urban fantasy fans would enjoy this book more than I did. It wasn't bad, per se, just not my preferred thing. I also don't have heart palpitations when I encounter women (gasp!) that drink and swear, so perhaps that particular selling point was lost on me.

I'm not compelled to rush out and purchase the next book in the series, but I might give the STARZ TV series a shot if that becomes a reality.

Miriam Black sees how people will die. All she needs is skin on skin contact and she'll be blessed with an unpleasant vision of their final moments. We're all going to die, that's one thing that's certain. Most die of disease or accidents, but when she hitches a ride with Louis, she is shocked to see his brutal murder. She doesn't want to get involved, it is his fate after all and there's nothing she can do to stop it. Yet, as their paths keep crossing, Miriam starts to like the trucker and she must brace herself for the inevitable.

Miriam is foul mouthed and has a couldn't care less attitude on the outside. How else would she cope with the things she sees every day? Her visions aren't toned down at all and coupled with the language, means this book is certainly not going to appeal to everyone. Whilst I became concerned it was going to be all swearing and violence, Miriam soon starts to connect with people. The characters may be instantly un-likeable but as you learn more about Miriam, you begin to soften towards her. I did feel that Frankie, Harriet and Ingersoll were slightly stereotypical villains, sadistic and power hungry yet there's always one that doesn't quite belong.

The book goes back and forth between the now, where Miriam meets Ashley and Louis (gives a new meaning to “love triangle”) on the road and an interview she gives with Paul, the nephew of a man whose death she once foretold. There are also a few jumps to first person narration by certain characters but this is brief and the chapter headings are clear to point out the who and the when for those who easily lose track. The structure never causes the plot to lose pace and it barrels along until you're at the edge of your seat. There's a vein of dark humour throughout but I wouldn't say it made me laugh, except perhaps for Harriet's story the first time round. It is one line and to the point.

There is a sequel due out later this year entitled Mockingbird and I can't wait to find out what happens next. Obviously, I bought this for the extraordinarily wonderful, Joey HiFi cover. You should know me by now.