The Conclave of Shadow

Missy Masters #2

by Alyc Helms

The line between enemy and ally is thinner than a shadow's edge.

Ever since she saved the spirit guardians of China by selling out to her worst enemy, Missy Masters -- a.k.a. the pulp hero Mr. Mystic -- has been laying low. But when knights serving the Conclave of Shadow steal secret technology from a museum exhibit on the Argent Aces, everyone looks to Mr. Mystic for help. If Missy doesn't want her masquerade blown, she'd better track down the thieves, and fast.

But stolen tech turns out to be the least of her problems. Recent events have upset the balance of power in the Shadow Realms, removing the barriers that once held the ravenous Voidlands in check. Their spread threatens destruction in the mortal realm as well... and only the Conclave stands ready to push them back.

In a world of shadow, telling friends from enemies is easier said than done. But if she wants to save San Francisco, Missy will have to decide who to trust. Including her own instincts, which tell her that something is stalking her with murder in mind...

File Under :  Fantasy  [ Alcatraz Revisited | Blood-Dimmed Tide | The Lurking Tiger | Out of the Bottle ]

Genres: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Superheroes, Science Fiction Fantasy, Dragons, Fiction

336 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published February 2, 2016

About the author

Alyc Helms prefers tea (especially a really smoky Lapsang Souchong) over all other beverages. They studied folklore and anthropology what feels like a lifetime ago, and they dabble in corsetry and costuming, dance Scottish Highland and Irish Ceili at Renaissance and Dickens fairs, and game in all forms of media. They sometimes refer to their work as “critical theory fanfic,” which is a fancy way to say that they are obsessed with liminality, gender identity, and foxes. They are a freelance RPG writer for Green Ronin, a graduate of Clarion West 2012, and have published short fiction in Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Daily Science Fiction, Crossed Genres, and Lady Churchill’s Rosebud Wristlet. They are the author of the Adventures of Mr. Mystic novels from Angry Robot and, as M.A. Carrick, the co-author (with Marie Brennan) of The Mask of Mirrors, first in the Rook & Rose trilogy.

Reviews

[Beth Cato · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like your urban fantasy mashed up with martial arts and mythology and superheroes, well, this is the series for you!

I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series, The Dragons of Heaven, though the back and forth flow of the book threw me off at times. No such issues here. The book zooms along. Missy Masters is a fantastic heroine/hero who has adopted the superhero identity of her long-lost grandfather, Mr Mystic. He trained her how to wield the powers of the shadows. In the last book, a trip to China resulted in some new sorts of family issues, and those consequences carry over to this new volume.

One thing I really loved about this book was how deeply Helms used the setting of San Francisco. Her intimate knowledge of the place makes Mr Mystic's fight to keep the city safe feel all the more visceral and real.

[Crittermom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some series can be read starting at any point - Alyc Helms' Dragons of Heaven series needs to be read from the very beginning, or you will have difficulty understanding the underlying mythos.  The Conclave of Shadow is the second book in the series, so I highly recommend reading The Dragons of Heaven first.

The world of Missy Masters is filled with a fascinating blend of Eastern magic and technology.  There are the Argent Aces who are superheroes who ostensibly work for the Argent corporation.  Technology is their specialty, although they have their own occult practitioners.  Missy Masters aka Mr Mystic has the ability to control shadow and enter the Shadow realm.  Readers can expect to see both beings from Chinese mythology and those like of more familiar traditions.

Although Missy tries to remain uninvolved, she is drawn back in (In the guise of Mr Mystic) as the release of the spirit guardians of China means that the balance of power in Shadow is shifting. The Voidlands are overtaking Shadow and the destruction threatens the mortal realm  Shadows are breaking through, stealing dangerous technology from Argent.  To top everything off, one of the guardians released from bondage is hunting Missy, planning her death.

Even if superheroes don't normally appeal to you, Alyc Helms' Dragons of Heaven series has a lot to offer.  Not only is the plot highly original, it is filled with fascinating characters. The Conclave of Shadow is heavy on action, so there are a lot of thrills in store for the reader.  Just remember to read The Dragons of Heaven before you crack open The Conclave of Shadow.

5/5

I received a copy of The Conclave of Shadow from the publisher and netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

--Crittermom

[Lata · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't have anything particularly brilliant to say about this book. I enjoyed this book more than book 1, and the things that really irritated me in book 1 were not present, or not present to the same degree as the first book.
I liked that this was a book with women teaming together to deal with a problem, which was a result of what Missy had done in book 1 to fix the big, dumb, world-ending problem introduced there. The scope was smaller this time, and the female characters were interesting, and maybe I just was more used to the author's style, I don't know, but I enjoyed this one more, and didn't feel the need to pick it apart, like book 1.
Would I read another in the series? Probably.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, full disclosure: I'm a friend of the author and am thanked in the acknowledgements for tromping around the California Academy of Sciences with her as part of the research for this book.

This book offers more of the unique blend of urban fantasy and superhero hijinx provided by the first book. Plus it has multiple kick-ass female characters, creepy blood beetles and mannequins in wedding dresses that save the day, and some revelations that will leave you hungry for the next book. As a bonus, the book makes wonderful use of its San Francisco Bay Area setting - definitely a treat if you live in the area or know it well.

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up Helms' first book during one of my excursions to Borderlands Books. She was one of two new authors I was trying during that splurge and I remain thankful for making that decision. I made a second trip, not long ago, to pick up her second book (the less said about the other new writer I elected to try, the better).

Missy Masters' adventures are not perfect. Helms' might be doing a little Mary Sue here, or at least that thought crossed my mind after looking at her Twitter account, but she is not the first writer to do that.

And, arguably the books are mashup of multiple genres. Urban fantasy (the Shadowlands, Voidlands, jinn, etc). old school pulps (as Missy masquerades as her grandfather Mr. Mystic, a hero from many years ago), and the Wild Card series (Argent, Aces, public heroes).

None of this is bad. Helms pulls it off well, and frankly better than a lot of writers who have tried like things. Missy remain a character I enjoy, and while I wonder if I am being too generous, I think Helms is developing Missy into a three dimensional character. To add to that Helms is also adding small pieces to the supporting cast, so credit to the creator here.

At the start of the book Missy appears to have gone into semi-retirement after the events of the previous novel. Argent talks Missy into attending an event at San Francisco's Academy of Sciences. An attack by beings from Shadow draws Missy back into the life. Helms knows the Bay Area, and I might quibble mildly with her San Francisco geography she is pretty much spot on during the finale's big chase scene.

The stakes slowly rise, but not at a pace where it feels like things are dragging. Multiple characters are brought back from book one, and in doing so small plot lines are resolved (or not left with as much dangling as before), and new plot threads are laid out for future development.

If there is a third book I will be back. Helms is developing a nice little world where if she stopped writing about Missy she has other characters who might be capable of carrying a book.*

see Tamora Pierce and Lois McMaster Bujold for examples of the above paragraph.

[Viking Jam · Rating 1 out of 5]

https://koeur.wordpress.com/2016/06/1...

Publisher: Angry Robot

Publishing Date: July 2016

ISBN: 9780857665195

Genre: Fantasy

Rating: 1.2/5

Publishers Description: Ever since she saved the spirit guardians of China by selling out to her worst enemy, Missy Masters — a.k.a. the pulp hero Mr. Mystic — has been laying low. But when knights serving the Conclave of Shadow steal secret technology from a museum exhibit on the Argent Aces, everyone looks to Mr. Mystic for help. If Missy doesn’t want her masquerade blown, she’d better track down the thieves, and fast.

Review: Like the first novel, the format generally follows a scrambled story line and extremely boring characters that love themselves more than providing a novel that is just and credible. Every scene is a heightened morass of over-the-top characterization that ultimately leaves a gaping hole in your psyche as it renders every interaction flat and without purpose. Clenching hands, gritting teeth and flashing eyes do not a character make. Of course every one is beautiful and can become other ” dragon thingies” but since you’re lost in backstory land most of the time while attempting to discern present circumstances, your left with guessing what role is being played and by whom.

Additionally, phrasing was heavily used to expedite scene development (murmur, murmuring, murmured 24x) as well as shiver, shivered and shivering.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 3.25 of 5

I wasn't a huge fan of the first book in this series (see review here) but I found it intriguing and compelling enough to give it another shot. I do think that The Conclave of Shadow steps it up a notch, but is plagued by the same problems that I had with book one. I give author Alyc Helms kudos for going out on a limb and trying something a bit different - even if i doesn't quite work for me.

Missy Masters (also known as the hero Mr. Mystic) has been trying to lay low since her last venture into hero-ing but some secret technology has been stolen from a museum and the balance of power in the shadow realm is shifting. Mr. Mystic is going to need to get involved, but she will find it difficult to tell who her friends are.

This book moved much faster for me, but I suspect it's because I was already aware and prepared for the back-and-forth nature of the narrative as well as the changing gender in our central character. Anyone picking up this book 'blind' will likely struggle with understanding that Missy Master is also Mr. Mystic and when she is he, he is referred to as a male. Once this premise is accepted ... and understood ... then the reader is able to get in to the story itself.

Helms combines pulp super-heroics with Asian martial arts and a fantasy-oriented 'Shadow Realm.' It is ambitious and the action moves along splendidly. And still ... I can't quite get in to this.

Everything about this book appears to be directed right at me. I love the old action/superhero pulps, Oriental mysticism, and alternate world fantasy. So why don't I take to this more? I don't know. I never draw a real strong relationship with Missy Masters. I'm never truly in her corner, rooting for her to succeed, and that's clearly a problem when the focus is so strongly on one individual over-coming certain odds. And perhaps that is what this comes down to - uncertainty about whether this is a story of a character overcoming odds, or an adventure story featuring a particular character. There is a difference which isn't clear here to me.

I still rank this slightly above average and would read another, but this certainly isn't a shout-out recommendation.

Looking for a good book? The Conclave of Shadow by Alyc Helm is a fast-paced, but sometimes confusing, adventure in the tradition of the classic pulps, laced with mysticism and fantasy.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

[Fantasy Literature · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars from Marion, read the full review at FANTASY LITERATURE

Disclaimer: just so you know, some of the books we review are received free from publishers

In The Conclave of Shadow (2016), the second MR. MYSTIC / MISSY MASTERS novel by Alyc Helms, Missy, AKA “Mr. Mystic,” a shadow mage, has saved the spirit guardians of China at great cost to herself. Now back home in San Francisco, she makes a reluctant rapprochement with the corporate superhero group called Argent. Increasingly frequent earthquakes, a surprise encounter with the twin dragons Mei Shen and Mian Zi, a shadow attack at the Academy of Sciences, and the theft of super-secret technology soon put San Francisco, this dimension, and Missy herself at risk. To prevail, and hold back the forces of both the Shadow Realms and the Voidlands, Missy may have to reach out to people she does not want to trust. Along she way, she, and we, learn a bit more about Missy’s background.

In this jaunt, San Francisco is front-and-center, with a starring role given to one of its iconic and darkest landmarks, the island of Alcatraz. It’s almost a no-brainer that the self-styled leaders of the Shadow Realm, who, it seems, call themselves the Conclave, would choose a bloodstained historical prison as their shadow base. Beyond the Golden Gate Bridge there is an even more serious problem: the steady encroachment of the Voidlands, which we saw only briefly in the The Dragons of Heaven. Missy, in Mr. Mystic disguise, agrees to work with La Reina de Los Angeles, a superhero who’s an angel; Skyrocket, a cross between Captain America and The Rocketeer; a djinn who has been forced into service, and the djinn’s half-human sister. Things get even more elaborate when one of the China guardians, the celestial tiger, shows up intent on taking revenge on Missy. And there is a new player, my personal favorite of the new characters, the Lady of Shadows....3.5 stars from Marion, read the full review at FANTASY LITERATURE

[Rich Ragan · Rating 1 out of 5]

The worst book ever read my life.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can also find my review of The Conclave of Shadows on my speculative fiction book blog


The Conclave of Shadows is the second book in Alyc Helms' Missy Masters series. You should definitely pick up & read the first book before you buy this one.

Picking up where the superbly fun, ultra-twisty The Dragons of Heaven left off, Missy tries to re-establish normality in her day-to-day life in San Francisco. Her alter ego, Mr Mystic, has been hiding from the press attention and the clutches of Argent, the western world's premier (capitalist, corporate) superhero organisation.

It is not to be. Her acquaintance Abby, who is an Argent hero, looks her up and drags her back into the spotlight. Meanwhile. San Francisco has been experiencing a series of increasingly powerful minor earthquakes, the supernatural protections that Lung Di had put in place to separate the worldly realm from others are crumbling, and her friends and family are all juggling competing interests and problems...

Conclave of Shadows affirms that Dragons of Heaven was not a fluke (not that anyone would ever think so). Alyc Helms really can write, and write very well indeed. Infused with wit and humour, filled with a fundamentally open and kindhearted warmth, this is the contemporary speculative fiction at its stylistic best. Contemporary, in that it features multicultural characters of various sexual orientations, women characters who are central to the story, and adversity which is not powered by pure villainy, but by conflicts of interest between complex individuals and entities that each try to be as good as they can, within their own moralities...

Is it just me, or is there a trend for (women) writers to write books that are a bit more huggy in recent times? I'm thinking Karen Lord, Becky Chambers, and now Alyc Helms. The Missy Masters series differs from Long Road to a Small Angry Planet and Best of All Possible Worlds in one key aspect: it mixes the huggy warmhearted approach to its characters and events with a big dollop of action adventuring. It's what the Marvel Cinematic Universe would be, if it had just a little bit less testosterone...

This is not to say that Conclave of Shadows is perfect. The second half of the novel is a bit repetitive - it feels like a character in a video game having to pass level after level, battling a boss at the end of each stage. And, after all the twists of Dragons of Heaven, the number of major plot revelations in Conclave feels oddly subdued. The biggest obstacle to my own enjoyment of the book is that there are too many characters. I kept forgetting who's who, especially among the male side characters. Then again, that is a particular problem of mine: I keep forgetting who's who in the organisation I work for: I have a rubbish people memory.

That said, the series is definitely on my must-buy, must-preorder list from now on. Urban fantasy at its very best. It's on a par with Ben Aaronovitch's Peter Grant series, Daniel O'Malley's Checquy series, Genevieve Cogman's Invisible Library and slightly superior to Chris Holm's Collector series. Thrilling, funny and fun. Go get it now!

Merged review:

Still great fun, but will there be another book in this series? I hope so...

[Booknerd Fraser]

I liked it better than the first. More adventure and action, more about the Conclave (obviously) and Argent. Almost all the leading characters are women.

[Carlie St. George · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Full disclosure: the author is a friend.)

Lots of fun. Quickly paced, very funny, tons of action. There's a lot going on here, and Alyc does a good job reminding the reader of things that went on in the last book, although I probably still should have skimmed the first one before reading this. There's a complex mythology here, with a lot of interesting characters, one or two I had apparently forgotten. (More full disclosure: my memory sucks.) This really isn't the kind of sequel that you can just jump into. You'll understand the barebones of the plot, but you'll miss out on a lot, especially with character dynamics. There are a lot of enjoyable side characters here: Jack, Johnny, and Templeton are probably my favorites. New characters, too: I was all about the Lady. And of course our heroine herself. Missy Masters remains a lot of fun. She's a great MC.

The writing is strong. Lots of witty dialogue, and one particularly great moment of foreshadow that I didn't even recognize for what it was. This book ends . . . not exactly on a cliffhanger, but definitely left me eager to read the next one in the series. Overall, super enjoyable read.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

c2016: FWFTB: spirit, China, technology, barriers, dragon. Very rarely can I start with the second in a series and enjoy it. I could with this one. Although it was clear that there had been a previous book with a lot of background, the plot of this second book was good enough not to make it matter too much. I missed some of the nitty gritty understanding behind certain actions but it was still okay. Alex Bledsoe (an author who I have read and enjoyed his books) is quoted as saying "magic, monsters and wisecracks" all of which do appear with varying levels of success. A very interesting world and I did miss the explanation of how Argent fits into this together with what our heroine could actually do. But not enough not to be able to recommend to the normal crew...(hows that double negative?). "Felt the surge of smug condescension that marked me as a native Californian. I was only surprised that I hadn't had to talk Shimizu down from fleeing back to Iowa."

[Debra Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read the first book, "Dragons of Heaven," I was looking forward to reading the sequel. I thought the beginning of this book dragged a bit, but it picked up when Missy Masters aka Mr. Mystic agreed to help keep the Voidlands in check. There were so many wonderful characters in this book. I especially enjoy The Lady.

Ms. Helms takes us on another heart pounding adventure in this book and it's well worth the ride as she explores the Shadow Realms and faces off with dragon guardians of China. Because a lot of the book refers back to events in book 1, I'd definitely suggest reading "Dragons of Heaven" first. It will make this book so much more enjoyable. I'm definitely looking forward to book 3. Can't wait to see what is in store for Missy Masters.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Saleena Longmuir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Conclave of Shadow is Missy Masters #2, and it is definitely keeping up the momentum from the first. Missy is still dealing with the fallout from China and the loss of the Guardian for San Francisco; when more trouble comes calling. Now she has to fight off bad guys, and figure out who the good guys are...all without losing focus on what is truly important....and to figure all of that out, it would help if the world would stop falling apart. I love Helms character and world building, and the story is strong and engaging....definitely going to keep enjoying this series.

[Daniel O'Brien · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helms improved on the first entry in the Missy Masters series with this superb piece of urban fantasy. Her prose remains tight and highly readable. Character development improved quite nicely and the world-building continued to intrigue me.
Whilst this book lacked that something-special that I demand for 5-stars, I have no particular criticisms to make of it. Definitely a series to be following.

[Dragana · Rating 3 out of 5]

In some ways better then book one but I wish the setting was China again instead of San Francisco.
My biggest disappointment is that it seems publisher dropped this series and we will never find out how it ends.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

[Christian Freed]

I'm not going to rate this book because I honestly don't remember anything that happened. I just couldn't get into it. The story was alright, but not the Big Trouble in Little China they advertise. The one thing that took me out of the entire story was the fact that the major characters were all Chinese- the book was written in first person- and it was written by a not Chinese lady. So, to be fair, if I would have finished while I was at the Dr's office I woud have left the book for someone else to read, but I can't leave a rating or review. Just my opinion.