Rogue Oracle (Oracle, #2) in SOS: Serious Overload of Series

Mar 02, 2011 Sherri rated it really liked it

4 out of 5 Stars

The Oracle Series is a fresh take in the Urban Fantasy genre. There are no vampires, werewolves or demons in this one. Just exceptional humans; that is if you can call an oracle just a human.

Tara’s specialty is reading tarot cards that assist her in solving crimes and make her one of the finest criminal profilers around. She has been off the job for a bit, after being almost murdered by a serial killer (I think in the previous book). Her her old boyfriend Harry shows up and asks ...more

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Feb 12, 2011 Wenj rated it really liked it

Shelves: for-review, read-2011

Review provided by Black Lagoon Reviews:

Who wouldn’t want to be able to decipher what the future may be bring? We do it everyday in the simplest of ways: flip a coin, ask a Magic Eight Ball, even look for signs to guide us in our daily routine. In Rouge Oracle, the second novel in the Oracle series by Alayna Williams, we are met with a protagonist that does just that. Equal parts mysticism and police procedural, this novel has something for everyone combining to make one thrilling Urban Fantasy Review provided by Black Lagoon Reviews:

Who wouldn’t want to be able to decipher what the future may be bring? We do it everyday in the simplest of ways: flip a coin, ask a Magic Eight Ball, even look for signs to guide us in our daily routine. In Rouge Oracle, the second novel in the Oracle series by Alayna Williams, we are met with a protagonist that does just that. Equal parts mysticism and police procedural, this novel has something for everyone combining to make one thrilling Urban Fantasy novel that’s a can’t miss.

The unique premise of this novel is really what attracted my initial attention as I’ve always been fascinated by the Tarrot. But, what struck me most when I actually started to read the novel was the every accessible police procedural base underlying the story. It was definitely a bit of a surprise to find these two elements of the arcane and the mundane intertwining, but it made for an extremely intense story that was very relevant in today’s world. I also really enjoyed the throwback to past tragedies in the form of Chernobyl, something that I’ve only ever known the barest of facts about. Williams did a wonderful job of making this atrocity extremely real in a way that I had never experienced before through the eyes of her antagonist, The Chimera. These very real ties to the ‘real’ world were perfectly injected into the story to give it a life of its own making it accessible and eerily plausible.

The characters are likewise well developed and this being my first time reading this series, I was quite surprised to find myself easily drawn into their lives. They all have flaws, suspicions and uncertainties making them very three dimensional. Tara is interesting with a very distinctive insight into the world. As a Tarrort reader and forensic psychologist she marries these two very different professions, one grounded in science and the other in mysticism, in a very useful and profound way. Because of the insights she can gleam from the drawing of a card, her hunches and theories propel this story in directions that her mundane lover would not have dreamed possible. Harry Li, while ignorant of all things magical and more then a little skeptical, however, comes to trust Tara’s ability without question. The typical government agent, he’s thorough and disciplined and yet because of his time spent within the Special Projects division he’s beginning to loose himself in a world he doesn’t quite understand. The connection between these two characters is nice, but quite subtle. While you can tell the emotions they have for one another, it’s not really ever voiced and show in only the slightest of ways. I think this is one of the few points within the novel that could have been improved upon with more attention given to actually building this into something tangible. But, where the romance may have faltered, the sense of vengeance was more then present in the creepy development of the Chimera. However, while this character is without a doubt vile and contemptible, there is a wonderful sense of pain and loss about him. His need to feel a part of something is touching, making him understandable to a point. Yet, how he goes about ‘connecting’ to others is extremely disconcerting as he absorbs the thoughts and knowledge of those he assimilates into his being. And believe me, this assimilation is not a pretty picture!

Fast paced action with lots suspense is the norm in this novel as the characters race against time to stop the Chimera’s dastardly plan to share his pain with the world. This definitely keeps the story moving and the readers’ attention firmly rooted as the plot flows effortlessly from the mystical to the practical. The flowing writing style makes this a captivating read building a world and characters that leave you craving more. There are a lot of plot lines left open for future novels that show great promise of being just as intriguing as this one.

This is an utterly original novel that I couldn’t put down. I highly recommend this read to any lover of Urban Fantasy with a penchant for police procedurals. And if you're like me and are unfamiliar with this series, Rogue Oracle is a perfect stand alone novel that is easily accessible to all readers. However, I loved it so much, I will be going back and picking up the first novel in the series, Dark Oracle, and suggest other readers do the same! Believe me, this author is worth it.
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Oct 25, 2010 Larissa rated it really liked it

Previously Published on my blog: Welcome to Larissa's Bookish Life

Rating: 3.5 Stars

*contains MINOR spoilers if you haven’t read Dark Oracle.

I was so very pleasantly surprised by Dark Oracle back in 2010, that I couldn’t wait to read the second book in the series, Rogue Oracle. I have to say that not only the cover of this sequel is a million times better than the first, but Rogue Oracle has definitely met most of my expectations.

After the events of Dark Oracle, Tara has been living at the farmho Previously Published on my blog: Welcome to Larissa's Bookish Life

Rating: 3.5 Stars

*contains MINOR spoilers if you haven’t read Dark Oracle.

I was so very pleasantly surprised by Dark Oracle back in 2010, that I couldn’t wait to read the second book in the series, Rogue Oracle. I have to say that not only the cover of this sequel is a million times better than the first, but Rogue Oracle has definitely met most of my expectations.

After the events of Dark Oracle, Tara has been living at the farmhouse that is the headquarters of the Daughter’s of Delphi and being a mentor to Pythia to be, Cassie. The only reason Tara hasn’t left yet is Cassie, because she is more than sick and tired of Amira’s underhanded and dubious methods of training Cassie to be the next leader of the Oracles.

Not only that, but Tara has been feeling the separation from Harry Li. After finding each other in Dark Oracle, Harry has been away for work for the past few months and the distance has seriously damage their new found relationship.

When Harry shows up while Tara is doing some freelance work, to ask for help is a weird case, they find themselves thrown together on the track of a monster neither has ever encountered before and discovering that they need each other much more than they thought.

I really enjoyed the plot of Rogue Oracle, it was creepy, scary and definitely kept me interested from start to finish. The only that bothered me in the novel was that I needed more dialogue, communication between Harry and Tara. I kept waiting for a moment where they would get to talk and solve some things between them, but it never came.

I mean, it felt like their relationship was dealt with in a very subtle way. Don’t get me wrong, subtle is good, but it was too subtle for me perhaps. We as readers got to see into each of their minds and see how they felt about each other, but I missed a moment where they actually said those things to each other.

Regardless of all that, I felt that Rogue Oracle was a great book, but sort of transitional for the series. There is much that was a build up for the future, Cassie’s role as the Pythia and the introduction of new characters, which I loved btw. I want more of this series! Alayna write such interesting villains and plots that you can’t help but be captivated. I can honestly say I’ve never read the kind of plot she writes in Urban Fantasy before and that is awesome.

If you are an Urban Fantasy lover like me, you should totally give this series a shot, but please read Dark Oracle first, you won’t regret it! ...more

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Feb 15, 2011 Sandra rated it really liked it

Shelves: pnr-uf, own, witch-magic-fae

Rogue Oracle, 2nd of the series, brings Tara and Harry back together after an abscence of several months. Cassie is staying at the Daughters of Delphi farmhouse, being drilled in combat as well as astrology under the watchful eye of Tara. Harry had to go back to Washington and work.

Until Harry calls for Tara and her unique brand of sleuthing. This one is all about Chernobyl and what that horrific time has spawned. Galen has become a Chimera.

It is up to Tara and Harry to figure out what is going ...more

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