I've read so much urban fantasy that I tend to be critical of it. It has to be really good and fresh to grip me. Wild Card did just that. Wyman uses the vivid backdrop of Las Vegas to depict an unusual face-off of the old trickster gods. Cat is a snarky red-head with a knack for computers, but her day job is interrupted by the whims of Eris, who owns her soul. When Cat finds that Eris has thrown Cat's soul into a card game match between trickster gods, all hell breaks loose. Literally. The gods don't simply play to win. They want to test the potential goods. That means Cat's on the run for her life, all with the help of the rakish satyr, Marius.

A lot of urban fantasies recycle the same gods and fae. I loved that Wyman brought in Maui and mythology from Hawaii, a darker take on Coyote, and I loved, loved, what she did with Loki. The romance isn't some clear-cut thing here, either. Marius comes across as a real dirt bag from the start, but he develops into a very complex and sympathetic character.

This is the sort of book that reminds me that urban fantasy can still be fresh and full of potential. ( )

Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy.

WILD CARD makes perfect use of Las Vegas, turning the lights and the glamor of the Strip into a backdrop for battling gods, deadly monsters, and the battered and broken bit players just trying to break even. Both Cat and Marius have quite a bit of baggage, and knowing who you can trust in the city of sin is even more difficult with immortal agendas muddying the waters.

Both the strength and weakness of WILD CARD is how many unanticipated twists move the story. Some work beautifully, adding extra momentum and adrenaline to an already breakneck pace. Others feel unfinished, and their rough edges snagged the story and slowed things down. Perhaps the worst example of this is the mechanism of the poker chips. Lies and hazy rules swirl around them, making it hard to understand where Cat will find them, what they represent, or why powerful beings keep handing them over. This mechanic spans the whole book, so the entire flashy and fun adventure is built on a weak and wobbly foundation.

But make no mistake, WILD CARD is an entertaining way to fill an afternoon. Cat’s genuine interest in problem solving dovetails beautifully with the story, and helped me remain interested despite the elements that didn’t work as well. Perhaps like any Las Vegas tall tale, WILD CARD is an adventure best enjoyed without too much scrutiny.

Sexual Content: Kissing, references to sex, a non-explicit sexual assault. ( )

This debut urban fantasy novel is a refreshing and unique take on magic and mythology, that involves gods in the in the glittering lights of Las Vegas.

Catherine Sharp’s life sucks, not only is she working at a dead end job, she’s stuck performing random task to the Greek goddess of Discord, Eris, who just happens to own her soul. When her soul is anted up in a poker game with five sneaky gods, Catherine must find a way to collect the winning chips that could save her life. She’s joined by Marius, a satyr who owns his own debt to Eris and if they don’t kill each other or fall in love, they just might get their freedom back.

The author has created a fun, fast paced read that keeps readers entertained from beginning to end. She brings this fascinating tale to life with vivid imagery, lots of action and intrigue and compelling characters with strong snarky personalities that seizes the imagination and doesn’t let go. There is also plenty of humor with some amusing events set in motion by the twisted game the gods are playing as well as the sassy and spunky dialogue. And the author’s setting the story in Las Vegas is ingenious I mean what better place for the gods to play in the modern world.

The author does a great job of building this fascinating world, making the reader feel as if they are right there with the characters. This world certainly has a promising future if the author decides to make it into a series. I certainly feel that her debut novel is a success and I will be keeping my eye out for more books by Jamie Wyman. ( )