I'll get to the review in a minute. But first, a story: I discovered the Walker Papers series at about the same time as I discovered urban fantasy as a genre. I've now sampled several series, but the only ones I've stuck with until the end are Carrie Vaughn's books starring Kitty the werewolf, and C.E. Murphy's books starring Joanie Walker the reluctant shaman. When Mountain Echoes came out in 2013, I devoured it, and made a note to grab the next book in the series as soon as it came out. And then I forgot about it. It wasn't until earlier this year that I said to myself, "Hmm, I wonder if that final book ever came out?" And lo and behold, it had...in 2014. This, Dear Reader, is what a diet of mostly indie novels does: when readers are conditioned to expect a new book from their favorite authors every few months, a sequel that won't be available for a whole year is easily forgotten.

Anyway, to the review.

As Shaman Rises opens, it's been a year since Joanne Walker first realized she had shamanic powers. Back then, she was the girl mechanic in the Seattle P.D. motor pool, running from her past and secretly in love with her boss, Capt. Morrison. By the time we get to this book, she has quit her job; she has learned of her mother's magical power in Ireland and her father's shamanic power in North Carolina and integrated them both into her own; and her relationship with Morrison is progressing nicely. Now she's drawn back to Seattle and into the final battle with the Master. She's strong, but he's ancient, and she has a lot to lose -- her friends, her lover, her city, and her life.

If you haven't read the earlier books, don't start with this one. Murphy makes very little effort to catch up readers to what's going on. Then again, she doesn't have time. This book starts off with a bang and doesn't let up; Joanie herself hardly gets a chance to catch her breath.

I love this series for its blending of Native American and Celtic beliefs. And when it comes to the pagan stuff, Murphy gets that right, too. Kudos to Murphy for that, and for bringing her series to a breakneck close. Recommended -- but read the earlier books first!

A year back I was anxiously waiting for this book release. I had read the previous eight books ( as well as a sort of anthology) almost in a row ( the positives of starting a series when it is almost done) and I was really looking forward to this.

Copies were starting to appear on Netgalley and Edelweiss, and I started spreading the word about it. The author heard about my "enthusiasm" and approached me in order to ask me if I was interested in a physical copy of the arc...

___________

o_O

Well, yes, of course I would be interested in it!

Address was given, time started to pass and nothing :/

By then I had asked every single postman if they hadn't seen a parcel from Ireland!

I finally caved in and informed the author that the book must have gotten lost -_-

Her response was as follow:

"I forgot."

Nothing more, no "I am sorry that you can no longer buy the book in pre-sale and now will have to spend more money on it, because I was a big old liar".

Obviously I got a tiny upset over this. *cough*

Just a tiny little bit...

As such it has taken me all this time to finally start it (Susana, you may like a series and dislike the person who wrote it!).

I had to remember that I do like the characters even if I am not crazy about the writing style and that I wanted to know about what was going to happen with Joanne and her gang.

Here's the thing, I loved the first book: I felt in love with the concept and the characters.

And I kept reading because I was really looking forward in reading more about the problematic relationship between Joanne and her boss ( they only end up getting involved when he's no longer her boss).

The thing is, that takes about eight books to happen *feeling dead* and one has to go through a lot of confusing and boring shamanistic activities.

This last book wasn't different. In fact I found it the most boring of them all...

I don´'t know if I've just gotten over this series (probably) or if I've just all had I can take about shamanism ( definitely ), but this book didn't make me feel anything. -_-

Just that I wanted to be done with it asap.

Oh, and the woman in the cover? She doesn't have anything to do with Joanne!

Joanne isn't white. She has an a Native American heritage.

"(..)God, I can’t believe the things that come out of my mouth these days—”
“I’m going to buy you some hippie skirts and hoop earrings to go with the vibe you’re feeling,” Morrison said, straight-faced."

I love these two. As for the plot, I feel as if it has taken me a month to go through this.

“Think there’s a support group? Time Travellers Anonymous?”(..)

“Time travel sounds so freaking cool. ‘Go anywhere, see anything, change the world!’ But the world doesn’t like being changed.”

"At the critical moment that sense of wings flared, slowing me, breaking my fall. I hit the ground in a three-point crouch, feeling like a goddamned superhero, and bounced to my feet crowing, “I’m Batman!”

No, you're Joanne Walker and you have more powers than Batman.