Reviews of Dark Oracle:
"DARK ORACLE is a scientific, paranormal read that takes readers on a wild
chase. A subtle romance lends to the entertainment this read offers. Tara is a
strong female who has many stories till waiting to be told. An interesting new
series that is not quite like anything else! (4 stars)"
-RT Book Reviews
"Dark Oracle is a lot of fun...One thing I enjoy about Bickle/Williams is that her protagonists do not conform
to the brittle, mouthy urban fantasy stereotype that I find so irritating. They
have real problems, and not all of their issues are provoked by their tendency
to run off at the mouth. Also, Bickle/Williams (a criminologist) is obviously
knowledgeable about law and criminal enforcement, so her stories ring more true
than many urban fantasy narratives. Her cops worry about the chain of evidence
and warrants and not looking like an idiot in the media...I find this satisfying."--Elizabeth Bear, Realms of Fantasy Magazine (December, 2010)
"Dark Oracle is a novel filled with exquisite descriptions and rich detail that
put you right in the middle of everything. While reading you feel as though you
have been transported directly to the scene....
Mystery, corruption, science, magick, even a little romance...it's all here in
Dark Oracle. It is a richly detailed book full of characters you'll want more
of. Totally unique."--Fangtastic
"If you are looking for an urban fantasy that is jam-packed with spin-chilling
mystery from start to finish, then DARK ORACLE is just the book for you. The
main focal point of the plot revolved around Tarot cards - there were no
werewolves, vampires or God-like beings; yet, there still was a paranormal
element presence. Readers, I must warn you that DARK ORACLE is an introductory
novel to author Alayna Williams' new series, and it ends on a cliffhanger note
with more exciting episodes to come...I found
DARK ORACLE to be an enjoyable sci-fi, urban fantasy read."--Romance Junkies(4/5)
"The exciting Dark Oracle draws the reader in from its first page description of
the remnants of a scientific site explosion, setting the scene for the events to
follow... elements combine to create a thrilling cat and mouse game
characterized by wonderful pacing and sustained suspense. The villains of the
piece are revealed early on, but the unknown fate of the man being searched for
keeps the reader guessing throughout the book. Williams excels at depicting a
world of both shadowy magic and dark science, and her skillful characterization
of both primary and secondary players adds breadth to the narrative. An unusual
and atypical backdrop for the story sets this novel apart from the herd in the
urban fantasy field, earning the author extra points. This reviewer fears that
the sequel to this excellent and intriguing novel will be much too long in
arriving."--Bitten By Books (Five stars)
"Tarot, quantum physics, mines, botany, geology, divination, serial killers...if
any of these interest you, purchasing Dark Oracle would be wise. A mix of The
X-Files and Alex Kava's Maggie O'Dell series, this novel has enlivened urban
fantasy with a smack of science that grounds the story with realism. Plus, there
are definite wow moments - the climax features a character who truly is one with
the earth, in jaw-dropping imagery."--Tez Says Review
[Also: DARK ORACLE was #2 in Tez's list of TOP 5 GREAT DEBUTS.]
"I love this book.
The mix of tarot and profiling is very well written and Williams sure knows her
tarot too I can tell you. The story is suspenseful and compelling with rich and
vivid descriptions and even though Williams uses various viewpoints this didn't
distract me from the story as sometimes happens, but instead it felt right as it
gave me extra insight in the story that made it come even more alive...
Tara is a character you can really care about and I was happy to see her grow
throughout the story...
Anyone with an interest in tarot will love this book as well as anyone who likes
a decent Urban Fantasy story that doesn't focus on creatures, but more on
personal magic powers."--Pearls Cast
FOUR STARS! The author has done an exceptional job of explaining the
complex Tarot methods in easy to understand ways. Even though I know only a
little about Tarot cards, I had absolutely no trouble understanding everything.
However, due to each card's multiple meanings, in addition to the meaning of
each card's placement within a pattern, the divination scenes are very long
winded. Necessary, I understand, but still tedious. The characters' developments
are well done, the plot is solid, and I felt an underlining tension throughout
the entire story. These made the pages seem to fly by for me. I stayed awake
much longer than I should have, but Tara's mysterious background kept me
enthralled. I wanted to know more - now, now, now! Other than having to read
slowly during the long divinations, I found this story to be fantastic.--Huntress Reviews
"Alayna Williams creates a compelling heroine in clever, intuitive Tara. Harry is
a likable character, too, and their relationship -- conflicts and all -- is
touching and realistic. Williams also peoples her novel with memorable secondary
characters, from the scientist's daughter Cassie to Harry's awesome mentor to
the Pythia, head of the Daughters of Delphi. (Not to even mention the dog and
cat.) The plot is suspenseful, the descriptions vivid and often just plain
gorgeous, and all the elements add up to a perfect escapist read for summer. I
found it impossible to put down; I'm usually reading three or four books at
once, but this was the book for several days running."--Fantasy Literature
"Tara is a fantastic urban fantasy heroine. She is flawed and has her fears, but
as the novel progresses, the reader really gets to see her grow and slowly strip
away her fears. They're still there, but she realizes that she can continue to
live her life with them instead of holing up in the woods. I really enjoyed that
she was self-conscious of her scars, but not to the point that it completely got
in the way of more intimate situations. Harry was a nice foil to Tara. He tried
to understand both her past and her divination, and I think he was really good
for her. Cassie, Magnusson's daughter, was very strong considering the situation
she found herself in. Maggie, Cassie's dog, offered a chuckle here and there
within the action."--Urban Fantasy Reader
"DARK ORACLE is a unique book to read and one that will leave you breathless as
you try to see what happens next amid all the twists and turns within the pages.
Ms. Williams delivers a stunning debut and one that will haunt you after the
last page is read. If you enjoy a new sort of urban fantasy to enjoy, then grab
DARK ORACLE."--Love, Romances, & More
"...Alayna Williams introduces us to a world where the occult meet science and
anything is possible.
Dark Oracle is a fast-paced. action-packed, character driven story that got me
gripping at the edge of my seat from start to finish. Evil plots meet scientific
experiments and the supernatural in a great adventure.
Even though I love my Shifters and will always be a Vamp fan girl, It's great to
encounter an Urban Fantasy novel / series that stray from that beaten path and
gives something new to read about. Alayna Williams has definitely accomplished
that in spades and I recommend Dark Oracle to any Urban Fantasy lover out there."--Bookish Life (4 stars)
"I thoroughly enjoyed DARK ORACLE. While it initially seemed to be the second in
a series, Tara's back-story is slowly revealed and the novel is self-contained.
Tara is a fully realized character, and her inner growth as well as the way her
relationship develops with Harry has an emotional depth that is completely
believable. The mix of science and special abilities is a different combination
from other urban fantasies. I know little about the Tarot, but the author (AKA
Laura Bickle) treated Tara's readings with a delicate touch, letting the reader
understand why Tara interpreted the cards the way she did, as well as giving
enough of a description of the illustrations that the reader could come to their
own conclusions. I highly recommend DARK ORACLE..."--Fresh Fiction Reviews
"A stunning collaboration of science and fantasy, DARK ORACLE is an unusual high
stakes ride of government cover ups and mythological magic. While one would
expect the blend to be jarring, its actually quite seamless making the novel
interesting from beginning to end.
Embodying a rich epic feel, Tara and Harry traverse dozens of obstacles not only
in search of the truth but also within their own inner obstacles allowing vast
and blatant character growth. However, with the secondary love plot playing such
a dynamic role in Tara's healing, I would have liked to have seen more
chemistry, more sexual tension. It would have pushed this book from good to
stellar. But the research is still phenomenal in both the science and magical
aspects.
DARK ORACLE has all the makings of a good series start. For Urban Fantasy
readers wanting to jump on an up and coming thrill ride, hail a ticket fast and
get ready to hang on!"--Lovin' Me Some Romance
"...Williams does a good job of keeping this urban fantasy moving along at a
rapid clip. Tara and Li have an interesting chemistry, which adds a positive
element to the story. With enough twists and turns to keep you guessing and
enough action to keep the pages turning, Dark Oracle doesn't disappoint."--Book Fetish
"I was delighted
to find that the entire story captured my attention and held it. It kept me on
my toes, turning pages, wanting to find out what happened next. I thoroughly
enjoyed this book, start to finish. It contained action, mystery, mysticism,
drama, romance and Tarot (as well as other divination methods)...When I finished
the book, I wanted more." -- Tarot Dame
"...I've been delighted to find it's a great read. The two threads woven through
out of the intuitive arts (Tarot, for example) and hard science (quantum theory,
I believe it is) I found especially enjoyable... As a Tarot reader, writer,
teacher, and designer I can support her views on The Tarot...However, this book
is above all a highly entertaining and intriguing mystery about a scientist who
disappears while working on new technology that has possibly terrifying
potential. I was intrigued and curious, concerned and delighted, start to
finish. I was quite honestly briefly sad when this terrific ride was over!...
But I'll again emphasize that "Dark Oracle" is most of all an excellent mystery
book. I've had the thought that in the future this old lady will be able to say
"Oh yes, I read her first book and even back then it was quite obvious that she
is a skilled imaginative writer."
Highly recommended read whether you are left brain dominant or a Tarot fan, or
neither." Roswila's Tarot Gallery
"I started reading this book with some trepidation, I have always associated the
use of Tarot cards with the use of dark or evil powers. Williams' use of the
cards to assist in the investigation was well done and has changed my opinion
regarding the use of tarot cards. The novel was an intriguing read as the story
followed both the mystery of the missing scientist and the path of Tara as she
came to terms with what happened to her. I found the main character sympathetic
without being weak, always a difficult balance to be achieved by an author."--Novel Reaction
(4 stars)
"Criminal Minds meets Richard Condon meets Medium. It definitely did not read
like a typical UF, and sometimes it did get bogged down in the extreme
divination interpretation details, but surprisingly I liked it. I also enjoyed the fact that I didn't have to shoot Stephen Hawking a tweet to
understand the mind blowing scientific end of it."--Bloody's Revenge
"Tara can hold her own in a fight and has a dark past that forces her to keep
everyone else at an arm's length, yet she opens up to a possibility of a
romance. Since her magic actually depends on her being open to the world, she
also possesses a softer, more intuitive side, which sets her apart somewhat from
typical urban fantasy heroines."--Curled Up With A Good Book (4 stars)
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