two more books

Here we go with the daily recounting of two books I've read recently. . . .
First: Street Magic by Caitlin Kittredge. I had a really good time with this one, as I do with all of Caitlin's books. This is the first in a new series about a junkie/punk rocker/mage, and a female cop named Pete. The storyline is solid, the action is good, the British accent that Jack wields like a weapon reads wonderfully. And yet, for all my enjoyment, I like her other series, about Luna Wilder, better. Somehow Street Magic felt rushed, somehow. Don't get me wrong, it's a good book. I just wonder what it would've been like if Caitlin had worked on it for another month or two, if she'd stretched it and deepened it a bit. Still. If you like dark urban fantasy, this stuff is great. Give her a read! Highly recommended.
Second: The Water Mirror by Kai Meyer. This is YA fantasy set in Venice with magic mirrors and stone lions and mermaids in the canals. I really enjoyed it; the story is quite original, and the charactesr feel authentic. The only issue I really had was the translation. This was originally publsihed in German, and in just a few places you can tell that the translator didn't quite know how how to articulate the action in English, which leaves it feeling stilted. Most of it flowed very well though. This is the first book in a trilogy, and sad to say, I don't own the other two. I'll be on the lookout for them at Strand! I recommend this one for anyone who enjoys dark fantasy wfor younger readers.
And now, I'm off to my weekend. I'll try to come back here tomorrow. We'll see if the internet cooperates! Good night!