Review: Sweep in Peace by Ilona Andrews

Sweep in Peace
Author: Ilona Andrews
Reviewer: Una
Rating: A

What I’m Talking About:

The Innkeeper Chronicles is just one of those solid urban fantasy/science fiction series that I enjoy. Sweep in Peace was a nail-biting and intriguingly fascinating mystery/action/drama.  This series is on my reread list, and it should be on yours.

Note: This story was originally released as a serial on the author’s website.  Once completed, it was taken down, edited and prepped for release.  I did read it as the serial and now as an ARC.  There may have been typographical type changes but, in my opinion, the overall story remained unchanged.

This series centers on our main character, Dina, who is a down to earth and relatable person.  I respected her need to find her family, her determination to make her inn thrive, and her loyalty to not just her duty, but to those she considers hers.  She has a deep sense of right and wrong and it leads her to do risky things because it is the right thing to do — even when it hurts.   But she isn’t perfect, and it is those flaws that make her shine even brighter.  In this edition, we watch her struggle with trying to achieve the impossible – brokering peace on a planet that has three groups hell-bent on their own destruction (even if the price they will pay is too high).

The world of the Innkeeper Chronicles continues to evolve, and I just love the mythology.  It is loosely woven, providing enough rigidity for a sturdy foundation, yet flexible enough to allow the world to expand.  I love that the authors are able to weave in characters from previous series. It’s great to revisit beloved characters and see how they are faring in the future.  For example, the cleverness of the arbitrator was fascinating, but if you know who he is from reading The Edge series, you will totally not be surprised and will thoroughly enjoy this inclusion.

Another great aspect of the Innkeeper Chronicles is the supporting characters.  In this edition, we got to know Her Grace, Dina’s permanent resident of the inn, much better.  We learned more about the Merchants and the Holy Anocracy (the space vampires) as well as being introduced to new characters liked the Soul-Crushing Horde and Orro.  I especially loved Orro.  The different personalities add so much to the overall feel of the novel.  Though there is suspense, horror and sadness, it is lightened by the humor of the different characters and especially Dina and her personality.  Not to mention the thought of a giant temperamental hedgehog being a master chef.  You really need to read this book now.

I hope I have been able to express how wonderful this quirky little series is.  It captures your heart while making you run the gamut of emotions.  Sweep in Peace is another well-written novel in the Innkeeper Chronicles.  This series is on both my auto-purchase list and my reread list because it is just pure enjoyment.  I eagerly look forward to the next novel in this world to see what trouble Dina gets into next, what may blossom between her and Sean, if will we see Arland again, and how Dina will continue to keep the secrets of the universe hidden from Officer Mathias.  If you haven’t picked up this series yet, you really should.  It’s a priceless gift from a very talented author team.

My Rating:  A, Loved It

About the Book:

Dina DeMille doesn’t run your typical Bed and Breakfast.  Her inn is a living entity that defies laws of physics, her fluffy dog is secretly a monster, and the only paying guest is a former Galactic tyrant with a price on her head.  But the inn needs guests to thrive, and guests have been scarce, so when an Arbitrator shows up at Dina’s door and asks her to host a peace summit between three warring species, she jumps on the chance.

Unfortunately, for Dina, keeping the peace between Space Vampires, the Hope-Crushing Horde, and the devious Merchants of Baha-char is much easier said than done. On top of keeping her guests from murdering each other, she must find a chef, remodel the inn… and risk everything, even her life, to save the man she might fall in love with. But then it’s all in the day’s work for an Innkeeper…

Release Date: November 13, 2015
Publisher: Self-published
Series: Innkeeper Chronicles #2
ASIN: #B016WQUTTM
Genre: Science Fiction, Urban Fantasy elements
Format(s): E-book
Book Source: Author

Purchase Info:
Sweep in Peace (Innkeeper Chronicles #2)

Reviews in the Series:
Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews (Innkeeper Chronicles #1)