Locke and Blade is a creative and unusual blend of fantasy and police procedural genres with an irresistible hint of comedy. At 27,000 words, it is the perfect length to polish off within a day-long enough to involve the reader emotionally, and short enough to fit into anyone’s busy reading schedule. The action takes place in a fantasy world reminiscent of Victorian England, which has perhaps developed within an alternate dimension from our own. Order is maintained by an overly civilized police force of magic users who are becoming increasingly overwhelmed by the grittier criminal element. Clearly, they need a badass individual to teach them how to meld hand-to-hand combat with wizardry to fight crime, and Locke is their man. However, this sets him at odds with his new by-the-book partner Blade. The two cops’ initial animosity and sexual chemistry should please readers who crave the enemies-to-lovers theme.

The story opens with Locke, whose reputation is undeservedly in tatters, reporting to his next precinct after being dismissed from his last post. His new commanding officer is sympathetic, but Locke can’t stand his new partner Blade. However, the two must get started, solving a shocking new crime. Meanwhile, their mutual attraction threatens to destroy their working relationship.

~ Val from AReCafe ( )