fantasy book reviews science fiction book reviewsurban fantasy book reviews Mike Carey Felix Castor 5. The Naming of the BeastsThe Naming of the Beasts by Mike Carey

The fifth Felix Castor novel had the unfortunate task of following in the footsteps of what I strongly believe is the best volume in the series thus far (Thicker Than Water), but The Naming of the Beasts was up to the challenge, mainly because the book revolves around an escaped Rafi/Asmodeus and the carnage/horror trailing in the demon’s wake.

Of course, with any Felix Castor novel there’s always other stuff happening… and The Naming of the Beasts is no exception. Besides the threat of Asmodeus hanging over Felix, Pen, and anyone else close to Rafi, there’s something strange happening to the succubus Juliet, an unlikely alliance with Jenna-Jane Mulbridge and the Metamorphic Ontology Unit, a deadly haunting puzzling MOU’s finest, the mystery of bizarre summoning stones, and even the blossoming of a romance.

Character-wise, most of the cast make appearances in the book, including 500-year-old ghost Rosie Crucis, but the main players are Felix, Juliet, Rafi/Asmodeus, Nicky, Dr. Mulbridge, Gil McClennan (the nephew of a ghostbreaker that Felix inadvertently killed a while back) and exorcist Trudie Pax, who was introduced in the last novel.

The book’s mysteries aren’t as compelling or hard to decipher this time around, nor are the revelations as shocking as before, but because of Asmodeus’ presence and the final showdown between Felix and the demon, The Naming of the Beasts is another fantastic read and rates just a shade below Thicker Than Water.

Felix Castor — (2006-2009) Publisher: Felix Castor is a freelance exorcist, and London is his stamping ground. At a time when the supernatural world is in upheaval and spilling over into the mundane reality of the living, his skills have never been more in demand. A good exorcist can charge what he likes — and enjoy a hell of a life-style — but there’s a risk: sooner or later he’s going to take on a spirit that’s too strong for him. After a year spent in ‘retirement’ Castor is reluctantly drawn back to the life he rejected and accepts a seemingly simple exorcism case — just to pay the bills, you understand. Trouble is, the more he discovers about the ghost haunting the archive, the more things don’t add up. What should have been a perfectly straightforward exorcism is rapidly turning into the Who Can Kill Castor First Show, with demons, were-beings and ghosts all keen to claim the big prize. But that’s OK; Castor knows how to deal with the dead. It’s the living who piss him off…

Mike Carey Felix Castor 1. The Devil You Know 2. Vicious Circle 3. Dead Men's Boots 4. Thicker Than Water 5. The Naming of the BeastsMike Carey Felix Castor 1. The Devil You Know 2. Vicious Circle 3. Dead Men's Boots 4. Thicker Than Water 5. The Naming of the BeastsMike Carey Felix Castor 1. The Devil You Know 2. Vicious Circle 3. Dead Men's Boots 4. Thicker Than Water 5. The Naming of the BeastsMike Carey Felix Castor 1. The Devil You Know 2. Vicious Circle 3. Dead Men's Boots 4. Thicker Than Water 5. The Naming of the BeastsMike Carey Felix Castor 1. The Devil You Know 2. Vicious Circle 3. Dead Men's Boots 4. Thicker Than Water 5. The Naming of the Beasts

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  • Robert Thompson

    ROBERT THOMPSON (on FanLit's staff July 2009 — October 2011) is the creator and former editor of Fantasy Book Critic, a website dedicated to the promotion of speculative fiction. Before FBC, he worked in the music industry editing Kings of A&R and as an A&R scout for Warner Bros. Besides reading and music, Robert also loves video games, football, and art. He lives in the state of Washington with his wife Annie and their children Zane and Kayla. Robert retired from FanLit in October 2011 after more than 2 years of service. He doesn't do much reviewing anymore, but he still does a little work for us behind the scenes.

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