Book Review: CELEBROMANCY, by Michael R. Underwood

Ree Reyes is no ordinary geek. Not only is she a geekomancer–someone able to tap into the energy of fandom and perform magic, but she’s also a burgeoning screenwriter having her first screenplay turned into a pilot called Awakenings. However, when Ree discovers the production’s star, Jane Konrad, is the target of magical mayhem, she rises to the challenge, dons the role of heroine and endeavors to save the day.

Celebromancy, by Michael R. Underwood, is the second novel in the Ree Reyes series of Urban Fantasy books. If you haven’t read the first book, Geekomancy, don’t let it deter you from reading this novel. The story does a good job at introducing the reader to the world and pertinent parts of the previous story without making the reader feel left behind or the story forced.

I was quickly drawn in as I consumed this novel. As the narrator, Ree’s voice is both snarky and humorous. She is fun to listen to, and her banter is saturated with geek and pop culture references. I found it easy to relate to those references, such as Buffy, Spider-Man and Magic the Gathering, and for the references I did not get, such as Leverage, Mr. Underwood provided enough context so I was not lost. Honestly though, Celebromancy is aimed at a geek audience.

The trends of magic of this world is very cobbled together and does not always make a lot of sense, but Mr. Underwood hangs a lantern on it by having Ree recognize that herself. You have a number of fan and film based magical practitioners, like geekomancers, celebromancers and cinemancers. However, you also have brewmancy, furrymancy and steampunk “science.” What matters is that it’s fun, and it all hangs together well.

The story itself is a fast-paced ride. Ree is trying to hold her life together while the craziness involving Jane Konrad is happening. The character development is not neglected either. In fact, I would say it takes center stage.

An issue that Celebromancy addresses well is relationship equality. Ree is bisexual and over the course of the story it plays out in her relationships and the relations of others. Though not overtly highlighted, it is undeniably present, and it helps illustrate how normal relationships of all stripes can be.

Another thing this novel handles well is how social media and technology intersects with our lives. Twitter, Facebook, blogs and smart phones are an important part of the atmosphere of this story. Mr. Underwood often uses these mediums to bring outside perspectives into the story and to introduce new information to great effect.

Also of note is that Mary Robinette Kowal did a smash up job reading this story. Her pacing, pronunciation and voices helped bring the novel alive, and I would be happy to listen to other audiobooks read by her.

I would recommend this novel if you’re looking for a fun romp through a geeky take on Urban Fantasy. Though it does address some serious issues, Celebromancy takes the reader on a exciting ride along the way.

[Editor’s note: Celebromancy is near the end of its sale for $1.99 on Kindle, and if you buy that, on Audible for $2.99, giving you ebook and audiobook for $5. Terrific deal!]

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Review by John W. Oliver
Bio:
A writer of fantasy and horror fiction, John W. Oliver has been bent by many years of playing role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons, Shadowrun and the World of Darkness. He holds a B.A. in English Literature and Creative Writing from San Francisco State University and has seen his short fiction printed in publications like Dark Discoveries and Robots Beyond. He, too, is working on the obligatory novel. If you want to hear the details, you’ll have to hunt him down and buy him a drink or two. He can be found online in all the usual places, like Facebook, Twitter and his self-aggrandizing blog.