Owl and the Electric Samurai, Kristi Charish

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: Sci-fi and Fantasy

I loved the first two novels but this one was, to be honest, a bit of a slog :-(
I've loved Owl, her kind of skewed world views, and yet underneath you know she cares deeply for her friends, that she's moral, will always do the right thing, for people anyway even if artifacts are a bit of a grey area....but in this book she came over as a bit self centred, kind of blowing off issues that her best friend Nadya was dealing with, acting pretty cold towards Rynn at times.

I love Rynn, but in this book they felt more like two people working together who didn't really like or respect each other, and though its clear Rynn cares deeply for Owl, would do almost anything to keep her safe she really wasn't looking out for what was going on in his life, seeing his POV, seeing what he was worried about, didn't really take Nadya's issues seriously, only as far as they affected her.
This book seemed to be Only Worry About What Concerns Owl...and I didn't like that, that wasn't the person I knew from book one. 
Then too there's the whole Electric Samurai...its not Owl V the ES, its Owl searches for the ES. The Electric Samurai itself doesn't really come into play til the end.

I had issues with Owl and Rynn jumping form one hot-spot to another, escaping by the skin of their teeth, jumping from country to country, and the non stop action that was hit, done and over just in time for the next issue got dull.
I wanted more in depth detail, to know exactly how they did things, how they escaped, not toss in a few whiz bangs and they're out, but that's how each drama began to feel to me. Just more of the same, another place where everyone wants a piece of Owl and she escape barely to fall into the next drama. 
I'd have liked a bit more day to day details, more conversations that didn't just involve "how are we getting out of this mess" type of thing. Less skin of teeth and bombs, less Carpe doing some amazing tech stuff, characters suddenly dropping in unexpectedly and a little more reality.
Back to one of my bugbears, the This just couldn't happen problem. There's an IT Acronym IFTTT (If this then that) where if one thing happens its the trigger for another action, and when I'm reading I want to believe that if this one thing/action/event is real it could trigger a defined reaction, but too often in this story I didn't feel the first issue could be real, it lacked that believability factor, which meant that the action that followed felt wrong to me. 

There were parts I enjoyed, and the whole story is so unique that it was really refreshing to read when the series started, but now its seems to have moved away from that and I just need a little less action a little more conversation....A bit more reality even though its fantasy.
How does Owl get from country to country without getting stopped at usual channels ect, without ever having any luggage? She never seems to eat or drink, need to shower, sleep, feed Captain, you know, all the everyday dross that makes a story feel real.
I don't need loads, just a little to ground her, make things feel real.
She just flips from one country at the end of a chapter and on first page of next chapter she's where she needs to be, and I'm thinking "but how??" Especially given Captain is with her. Travelling with a huge cat isn't easy...and where does she keep getting cat carriers? 
It is a very complex world blending real world with the fantasy game playing base Shangri-La, but it felt increasing detached to me from the characters and settings we started out with in book one.

Then the ending...no.........How could Kristi leave us like that? I'd almost decided this was it for me, wondering whether I really wanted to continue with the series but I can't stop at this point, I'll have to see how it plays out and hope a return to the styles of books one and two are forthcoming. 

Stars: Three, a bit hard going this installment. Hopefully book four will bring a return to the style of the first two.

ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers

Who ever described Owl as a young female Indian Jones was so spot on, so much so that the person deserves a prize. There isn't a better phrase or a better character that comes to mind when I think of this series as a whole. It is just so much stinking fun. And like our beloved hero Indian Jones, you just know that with each new installment an exciting new adventure and outrageous predicaments are just around the corner.

With danger, the odd supernatural, magic, and spells truly lurking in every dark and creepy crevice and cavern she can fin, this story keeps you on edge with one wild adventure after another. With just the right amount of romance to keep it interesting but not taking over the real heart of the story which truly is all about the escapades she can get herself into, and of course out of with the help of a whole lot of friends and friend-enemies a like.

If you have been on the cusp of trying this series, my advice to you is this, step off that edge and do it. Fly face first, feet first, into the non-stop history, adventure, and fun that inevitably awaits you.

Be prepared though, this one ends on one heck of a cliffhanger. I can't wait for more!

https://lynns-books.com/2017/05/15/owl-and-the-electric-samurai-the-adventures-of-owl-3-by-kristi-charish/
Without doubt Kristi Charish’s third instalment of the Adventures of Owl definitely took this series to the next level for me and was my favourite so far. If you haven’t read the previous novels then be aware that spoilers may be lurking below.

In the latest instalment Alix Hiboux, or Owl as she is better known, really finds herself between a rock and a hard place with conflicting priorities and demands. If you haven’t read the series, Alix, with a promising career in archeology to look forward to, was used as a scapegoat by the IAA (The International Archaeology Association who regulate and keep under wraps anything and everything related to the supernatural). Finding herself with zero job opportunities to look forward to Alix resorted to the one thing where she could put her skills to use – acquiring, or stealing if you want to put it another way, antiquities.

As the Electric Samurai begins Alix is given an assignment by her boss Mr Kurosawa, who happens to be a dragon with something of a volatile temper. His assistant, Lady Situ is a Naga who can and will hold a grudge and currently seems to hold one against Alix. Basically, there’s no way that she can refuse this job even though it’s far from ideal and involves finding a magical suit of armour that transforms to fit into the period in which it’s used. It seems the suit gives the wearer great powers, although it does require a high price in return. The elves are keen to get their hands on the suit and in order to prevent war in the supernatural world the Dragon has agreed to their request. It’s not going to be easy to find the Electric Samurai. It’s last location is unrecorded and nobody has a clue what it looks like. And, to make matters worse Rynn is very unhappy with the involvement of the elves as through past experience he has learnt that they are sometimes economical with the truth.

At the same time, the IAA are pushing Alix to find the location of the World Quest designers. They’re keen to question them about human magic and think Alix stands the best chance of finding them. Alix is keen to find them, not least to give them a warning. World Quest has become an invaluable tool for her in mapping out antiquities around the world. Again, the two are not going to be easy to find. They seem to have disappeared into thin air and rumour has it that they’ve found the legendary city of Shangri-La. What a temptation for Alix – to go after the lost city. Unfortunately, time is short and the IAA, not content with coercing her have seen fit to hire mercenaries by way of additional encouragement.

There is plenty going on in this book. There’s a lot of supernatural politics that left me not really knowing who to trust or if I should trust anybody at all. There are plenty of exotic locations. There is a deal of cat and mouse type activity and nothing is as it first seems.

So, why is this book my favourite so far? Well, I felt it had more depth than the previous instalments – which isn’t a criticism of the previous two at all, just that this one has a different tone somehow. It could be related to the fact that Alix seems to be becoming more notorious and in doing so seems to be really entrenching herself amongst the supernaturals, it could be to do with the fact that Rynn and Alix seem to have reached a different stage in their relationship where things didn’t always seem to be going so well, or it could simply be that the stakes were so much higher. But, this definitely had a different pace and feel.

The usual characters are not all as evident. Nadya is off dealing with issues at her bar and Captain starts the story in the custody of the Naga although his release is eventually negotiated. This time around the story focuses much more on Alix and Rynn. There is a very good reason for this which I won’t go into here but this new focus helps to shine a light on some of the cracks that are starting to show in the relationship. We certainly learn a little more about Rynn which I thought was really interesting. I’m not going to say that it answers everything but it certainly makes a good start. In terms of Alix. She’s still as reckless and impulsive as ever but again there was something different in her character. I can’t quite put my finger on it but it felt like the relationship is becoming more serious somehow, it’s passed the giddy infatuation stage and is at the point where they’re both starting to really question each other.

In terms of criticisms. I don’t really have any to be honest. I think the only thing that occasionally popped into my mind is a random feeling of surprise that the majority of Alix’s archaeological work seems to require more research on a computer than actual field work. That being said she does then jet off to Nepal, China and Tokyo!

I won’t say too much more. I just really enjoyed this one, it felt less fun maybe than the previous two books in that the stakes are higher and Alix and Rynn felt more vulnerable somehow, almost desperate, the settings were great to read about and the author throws in a few unexpected surprises in relation to both of the quests.

Finally, I have to mention the ending. The earlier parts of the story may have enjoyed a gentler build than previous books but the ending certainly comes out all guns blazing. I just loved the route that Charish took, not least because I really hadn’t seen it coming and it was such a shock! Literally, I had to stop reading and have a little reread and I don’t mind saying that inside my head I was saying ‘nooooooo’ – and that was right when the book ended. Yes, it ends on a cliffhanger, I can admit I’m not a lover of cliffhangers but I think I was still so surprised by everything that I had barely a chance to register anything beyond the sound of my mouth flopping open. This wait is going to be so hard – no pressure Ms Charish but when is the next book due?? Enquiring minds need to know.

I received a copy courtesy of the publisher through Netgalley, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

Owl and the Electric Samurai is the third installment in author Kristi Charish's The Adventures of Owl series. The series features Alix Hiboux, aka The Owl, who is an antiquities thief specializing in the supernatural. As we once again jump into the incredible action packed world that Kristi Charish has created, we find Alix having a bit of a dilemma. You see, the IAA (International Archaeology Association) believes that they have Owl between a rock and a hard place. They have even given her an ultimatum. Do what we say, and we will clear your record.

Alix, who is notorious for jobs ending in explosions or cave-ins, may be the only lead in finding the designers of Word Quest (online video game). World Quest is a game based on things that the IAA tries hard to keep secret. Things like magic, and artifacts, and supernatural monsters. Alix uses World Quest in order to find her way through the supernatural world of antiquities, and strange monsters like her boss, who just happens to be a dragon, and Lady Siyu, a Naga who wants to bite her head off. Literally. Oh, and Siyu also has Alix's cat Captain, who is a vampire warning system and has kept Alix safe more than once.

Alix finds herself traveling the globe from Nepal, Las Vegas, Vancouver, Canada, and eventually to a place that is of legend, fiction and myth; Shangri La. But, with the IAA breathing down her neck, mercenaries also searching for the dynamic duo, her best friend Nadya having real world issues in Japan, Alix's only friends may be Rynn, the Incubus who just happens to be her boyfriend, & Carpe her partner in World Quest and an elf who almost got Alix killed over a magic book.

Alix's adventure includes the search for a mythical suit of Armor called Electric Samurai that the Elves made a deal with her dragon boss to retrieve. As Alix, Carpe, & Rynn get closer to finding the Armor, the armor reaches out and calls Alix to become the next bearer of the armor that is said to have been worn by one of Genghis Khan's generals. I echo other reviewers in saying that this story is much, much more serious, and carries a higher stake than previous novels. Especially with events in Shangri-La, and major revelations that occur over the course of this story.

The events of this story will lead to some very interesting avenues for the author to travel. This series just gets better, and better. Alix aka the Owl aka Indiana Jones, is a hoot, with an attitude to back up her swagger. Yes, she is dangerous to everything around her. But, got to love her intentions. They are mostly in the right place. I can't wait to read the sequel called Owl and the Tiger Thieves.

Owl and the Electric Samurai is a refreshing departure from the standard urban fantasy fare.  Owl isn't a dime a dozen Mary Jane who suddenly has immense powers and a horde of hot paranormals chasing after her.  Well she does have paranormals chasing after her mainly because they either want to kill her or want her to find/steal something for them.

Owl is a modern day Indiana Jane, an archaeologist  turned thief who is employed to find supernatural artefacts.  The IAA (the international archaeology association) wants Owl to find the creators of World Quest, a popular online RPG that just happens to have shown the locations of various real life treasures.  Since screwing the IAA appeals to Owl for a multitude of good reason, so Owl plans to find the two developers before the IAA mercenaries do.  Clues point to them being in Shangri-La but exactly where is Shangri-La.  Meanwhile her boss’s lieutenant still has her cat - an intolerable situation, and wants her to find a suit of armor that changes appearance based on the wearer.  Between avoiding mercenaries and navigating the world of supernatural politics, the likelihood of Owl dying is pretty high.  At least she gets her cat back.

I’m impressed.  Like Indiana Jones, Owl is quite adept at narrow escapes in dangerous situations.  This novel has a large number of great action sequences, but that doesn't mean it is lacking plot.  I also liked its unique approach to the supernatural.  And of course Captain - how cool is it to have a cat that not only senses vampires but also intimidates them.  My only quibble is the title. I kept wondering when the Electric Samurai would show up. (The Electric Samurai doesn't come into play until the end.  It’s what Owl terms the magic armor.) I look forward to seeing what comes next.

4 / 5

I received a copy of Owl and the Electric Samurai from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

--Crittermom

Hmmm, not sure what to say. First off, this is the third book in the series, there is absolutely no recap for those of us joining at this point. I have no idea why Alix is called Owl, NOT A CLUE.

Alix is a human, former archaeology student and antiquities hunter (some say thief). She works for a Dragon Mr Kurosawa and his Naga assistant Lady Siyu. She also participates in an online game called World Quest which appears to have some magical link to reality. Although Alix comes across as one of the good guys she appears to be almost universally loathed by most characters who believe her to be untrustworthy and a chaos magnet - maybe that was explained in the previous books. Alix has a cat with special powers, including detection of vampires, and her sort of boyfriend is an incubus.

The International Archaeology Association (IAA) is responsible for keeping all things supernatural under wraps but it appears as though it has become obsessed with its own importance and become a force for evil. The IAA is trying to force Alix to find the two creators of World Quest who have disappeared (although they are still contactable through the game), Alix is trying to find them to warn them about the IAA but the IAA is getting aggresive and trying to force Alix's hand. In addition, Alix's employer Mr Kurosawa has taken a contract from the Elves for Alix to find a mythical suit of armour which gives the wearer super powers.

I enjoyed this book but I found it frustrating that the author felt no need to give some back story, other than an off-hand comment about stealing a magic book for an Elf previously or one of the vampires trying to kill her. I know this is the third book but I expect even readers who have read the previous two books might need some reminder of what happened previously and why Alix is so heartily disliked.

The book ranges far and wide through history and across the world. One minute we are in the Japanese Circus Casino in Las Vegas, then Nepal then Shangri La. The pace is fast and engaging and I will definitely read the previous books to see whether that makes anything clearer.

I've rated this three stars - maybe it would have been higher if I had known what was going on!

The third book in The Adventures of Owl is, in a word, the most significant entry in the series to date. So much of what's been hinted and teased comes to the forefront here with a story that offers up equal measures of character building, world building, and plot development. Kristi Charish has really upped the ante here, and it pays off.

The first thing you'll notice about Owl and the Electric Samurai is that it is neither as frantic nor as fun as its predecessors. This is a slower, more deliberate tale, and one that carries a heavy weight in terms of its stakes for all involved. For that reason, it's also neither as friendly nor as romantic. Sure, the usual cast of supporting characters is there, namely Rynn and Carpe, but there is an emotional distance between them all that is borne out of fear, paranoia, and desperation.

Not only does Owl have lingering tensions with Lady Siyu to deal with, but International Archaeology Association (IAA) is playing hardball, the elves have put her in an impossible position, and the cursed (possibly sentient) armor know as the Electric Samurai has placed its own claim on our heroine. Placed in an impossible situation, it seems as if any action she takes to deal with one issue only increases the pressure of the others.

In terms of world-building, Owl and the Electric Samurai has a lot to offer. We get insights into Rynn's past, as well as his history with the elves; we learn more about supernatural politics than you'd ever imagine possible; and we get some significant revelations about World Quest and its creators. Readers who have been waiting for answers will find many of them here but, of course, they will also find new - and often bigger - questions as a result. The real-life archaeological set-pieces are a bit simpler this time around, but they are balanced with the fantastical details of Shangri-La. Heavy the story may be, full of plots and threats around every corner, but Charish never loses her ability to astound.

The climax here is everything fans could hope for, but it comes at a steep price. There are hard choices and real threats in the final chapters, all leading up to a major development for one character, and an even bigger cliff-hanger. Owl and the Electric Samurai may promise a lot, juggling all its myriad conflicts, but it also delivers. This volume feels like a real game-changer, and I suspect the upcoming Owl and the Tiger Thieves will take things even further.

Everyone’s favourite snarky, disaster-prone archaeologist-turned-thief is back with a vengeance in OWL AND THE ELECTRIC SAMURAI, the third Owl adventure. Although it wasn’t my favourite instalment in the series, this book is a definite game-changer that delivers much needed answers about the forces working against Alix, Rynn, and Nadia.

Alix Hiboux, better known as infamous antiquities thief Owl, has been through a lot in the past few months – and it shows. Sure, she’s still as pigheaded an argumentative as she ever was, but Alix is also clearly more aware of how her actions impact the people around her…and she’s learned firsthand about the consequences of getting in the middle of supernatural business. As the stakes become higher and higher, Alix is forced to take her work more seriously. Her current job? Locating a magical suit of armour nicknamed the Electric Samurai for a shady third party. But what exactly do they want with the ancient weapon? And what does the fabled land of Shangri La have to do with it?

OWL AND THE ELECTRIC SAMURAI marks a major shift in the overall tone of the series, as the narration becomes decidedly less playful. Plagued by paranoia and constantly questioning the motivations of those around her, Alix is barely one step ahead of the International Archaeology Association (IAA), the elves, and the vampires. The plot is tighter and more focused than the previous books in the series, which is a point in its favour. Fans of action adventure stories will find a lot to love here, I think. But there’s also less of the fun and funny rapport between Alix and her friends that I consider a hallmark of the series and I found myself missing it quite a lot. It didn’t help that Nadia was separated from the group for the entire story and is only present in phone calls and emails.

While I wasn’t a huge fan of the change in tone, there’s one thing in this series that certainly has changed for the better: Alix herself. Her character development has been slow and sometimes painful, but that’s just made the results that much sweeter. In OWL AND THE ELECTRIC SAMURAI, Alix is more open with her boyfriend Rynn, more trusting of her friends, and more forgiving of her former enemies. This is good character growth, people! If only Rynn would loosen up and follow suit. Was anyone else bothered by his preachy, holier-than-thou attitude? Dude needs to unclench, just saying.

As always, Owl and co. adventure to all sorts of locales known for their ancient artifacts and we get to learn a lot about the various supernatural types in Tibet and Nepal on the hunt for the Electric Samurai. Elven culture, vampire politics, and a potential looming supernatural conflict are all expanded upon, and the goals of the IAA are finally a bit clearer. We also get a number of great scenes with Lady Siyu, Alix’s Naga nemesis and my personal favourite supporting character. All of these reveals play a role in the climax of the story, and will clearly continue to effect the gang in the coming books. Buckle in, folks – it’s gonna be a wild ride.

Darker and more serious than its predecessors, OWL AND THE ELECTRIC SAMURAI isn’t my favourite instalment in the series, but it does up the ante for our unlikely heroine and her friends. Be prepared for a major cliffhanger, and expect to eagerly anticipate the fourth volume. I know that I am!

AH! AH!

The cliffhanger! The major twist at the end! It's all so much, I need another book to keep reading!

Yeah, that about sums up my reaction after reaching the last page of this third Owl book. I love this series. There is so much fun with the characters, and the world building. I love how a computer game has such an important part in the story, and how it ties so well with archaeology and supernatural creatures.

This particular book in the series is heavier and more serious than the previous. There is more tension, less humour. More supernatural politics and history, and less gaming and thieving.

It contains an interesting twist for the overall series plot, one that I suspect will take more than one book to resolve. Like always, I can't wait to see how Owl handles things. I suspect there will be explosions and giggles, and lots of entertainment.

One of the things I want to say right off the bat for those who have read the series and are eagerly anticipating this book: the tone of the book isn’t as light as the previous two books. I don’t see that as a bad thing especially because of the events in this book, but I didn’t want readers to be surprised and not like this book because of it. I enjoyed it more, I think, because of its darker tone. We learn more about the characters, more about the world, and everything comes to a head in this book, things that were started from the very beginning. Lovers of the action aspect won’t be disappointed as this book has its fair share. Yes, this has a cliff-hanger and I personally can’t wait to read more in the series. All-in-all, I really enjoyed this well-written, wonderfully plotted, great book. If you like this series so far, you will love this one! If you haven’t read the other ones, you really need to start at the beginning. Highly recommend! Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books for the e-book which I voluntarily reviewed. This exact review will be posted on both Amazon and Goodreads.

I had the first two books of this series on my kindle in my TBR. So I just binged and read the whole series. So good! And now I'm hoping I don't have to wait too long for the next one! This is a great UF series, and for me the history that is included is fascinating. I love Owl. She is a great heroine, flawed, but with her own unshakable moral compass. She reminds me a bit of early Anita Blake. But the quests in this series are far better. They are more involved and intricate, and,rely heavily on brain as well as brawn. I'm so glad I finally dove into this series, and can't,wait for the next!

3.5 stars.

So far I’ve been loving this series, the mix of magic and history and archeology has made for a seriously enjoyable couple of books so far. They’ve been fun and frantic and I love Owl and her slightly skewed ethical view of the world. Which meant I was excited to read this, especially when the blurb had me anticipating action in Tokyo against an Electric Samurai(!).

Except there is no action in Tokyo and the Electric Samurai is actually what Owl spends most of the book looking for. So adjust your expectations down from civil war chaos to an increasingly pressurised pursuit of objects and people while opponents gang up to collectively breathe down Owl’s neck as usual.

But it wasn’t just the blurb that was slightly off for me – Rynn didn’t feel quite right either. There’s clearly a lot going on with him, but even though Owl notices, she doesn’t seem to care. And that drove me nuts. There’s at least one conversation that Owl should have pushed for more details on, but she doesn’t. She shrugs, thinking he’ll talk to her when he feels like it. Which is not how either of these people work. It just made Owl seem massively self-centred. She only cares about what’s directly in front of her, ignoring the fact that Nadya (her one real friend) is clearly in trouble in Tokyo, danger isn’t just circling around her but Rynn as well, the elves are obviously up to something and everything keeps going wrong.

Owl is always impulsive and prone to recklessness, but she’s never seemed so flat and careless before. I didn’t feel any emotional connection between her and Rynn in this book. For the most part they don’t even seem to like each other and Rynn was only following her around because it’s become a habit.

Thank goodness for Captain. I love his mercilessly destructive little soul. At least Owl still cares about him. I also enjoyed her regular sparring sessions against Lady Siyu. Those are always entertaining and Captain vs Lady Siyu is even better.

The action is as interesting as ever, balancing moments of danger and peril against mystery and fact-finding missions. The search for Shangri-La and the battle against the IAA continues against the backdrop of elvish interference and a search for a magical suit of armour. However, unlike the previous books which were somewhat self-contained, this book is clearly laying the foundations for further trouble to come. It’s also lacking in the fun and humour I’ve come to love in this series. It’s still readable, but the tone is somewhat darker, posing more moral and ethical questions, and threatening the fate of the whole world.

So it wasn’t what I was expecting. I still liked it enough to want to continue with the series, but the change in tone meant that the ending didn’t have quite the emotional impact on me it should have. Even so, I’ll be keeping an eye out for the next book, especially after that epilogue.

Hard to say what I love most about this series--the fast pace, the real information that meshes so well with the fictional details, the humor--maybe everything. The plot is improbable, but fun. The characters are over the top, but fun and almost believable. Great escape reading!.

Thanks Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books and netgalley for this ARC.

Kristi Charish knows how to keep her audience happy and enthralled with this series. Owl throws down with the best out there. I love the chemistry between Owl and boyfriend/bodyguard. This adventure is out of this world, and the cliffhanger leaves us reeling with alarm and excitement

Owl is in the hot seat again. The IAA (International Archaeology Association) wants the designers of World Quest (an online video game) and mercenaries have been hired to find them and remove any obstacle in their way…Owl’s in the way. While the elves have made a deal with the dragon and want Owl to find an ancient suit of armor. And if that wasn’t enough, Owl is tap dancing her way around the dragon’s person assistant and Naga that has taken Owl’s cat hostage.

Charish brings the quirky Owl back into our lives with OWL AND THE ELECTRIC SAMURAI.

I found this installment a little more serious then previous novels. Don't get me wrong, Owl still has the that spunky attitude we've come to expect but the overall tone is much more subdued. It seems that Owl is finally taking what is at stake more seriously. Some character growth but I feel its time for more.

Enjoyable, easy, entertaining and chuck full of adventure.

I received this ARC copy of Owl and the Electric Samurai from Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books - Pocket Star. This book is set for publication May 8, 2017.

My Rating: 4 stars
Written by: Kristi Charish
Series: The Owl Series (Book 3)
Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Gallery Books
Publication Date: May 8, 2017
ISBN-10: 1501139738
ISBN-13: 978-1501139734
Genre: Urban Fantasy

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The Adventures of Owl is a favorite urban fantasy series of mine. I quite enjoy reading about Alix "Owl" Hiboux adventures.

In this, the third book is she both trying to find the creators of World Quest, the online RPG she loves and at the same time is she "hired" (let's say the dragon she works for is quite adamant that she should locate it) to find the Electric Samurai, a mystical armor that binds itself to whoever wears it. The problem is that it has been centuries since the last wearer died, and no one knows where he is buried. But, Owl is quite famous when it comes to finding things, so together with her boyfriend Rynn and her RPG partner and once friend Carpe, and her beloved cat Captain will she try to find this armor.

I think that this is probably so far the best book in the series, the hunt for the Electric Samurai armor was thrilling and as a BIG Indiana Jones fan do I love books that combine archaeology with a lot of action. And, adding the famous legendary lost city of Shangri-La to the mix was a brilliant move by Charish. Could it really be that the creators of World Quest are hiding there? And, if they are, how to get there? Also, I really like Carpe, but he has to stop being such an idiot.

It's hard to write this review without giving too much away, so I will just end the review by saying that I think Kristi Charish has surpassed herself with this book, the last part is fabulous with a fantastic cliffhanger that makes me eager to get my hands on the next book!

Electric Samurai isn't as crazy fun as the first two books in the series. I would occasionally wonder if the first two books really made sense. Samurai is much more linear, and while the story features supernaturals and the mythical (?) location of Shangri-La, it is a conventional bad guys are after something powerful and willing to wipe out anyone in their way type of story.

I actually put Samurai down and read another book then went back to it. I never would have done that with the first book in this series which got a 5 star review from me. That said, Samurai is still a good urban fantasy read. There's still lots of historical and archaeological bits and globe trekking. Some of Alix's World Quest "friends" get some serious page time.

Some may really howl at the cliffhanger ending with more than one thread not tied up, but it didn't really bother me. The fact that I was able to put the book down and read another shows that I wasn't full invested in the story, not to say I don't want to know how, hopefully, it resolves ok.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.