Ebony Gate by Julia Vee and Ken Bebelle (Tor, 2023)

Review by Warner Holme: Julia Vee and Ken Bebelle’s Ebony Gate is planned as the first book in The Phoenix Hoard series. Books by new authors, even in teens, are always a treat and a new and stylistic entry into the urban fantasy genre is always appreciated.

The lead is Emiko Soong. At one time operating as the enforcer of her family, the Blade of the Soong Clan, her presence at a massacre has gotten her the nickname of the Butcher of Beijing. In a desire to separate herself from her history she has settled down in the US, specifically San Francisco, trying to work in the antiquities business.

This quickly turns around as the supernatural entities of her past and family history intrude on her life, leaving her making desperate attempts not to become the violent monster she sees her past self to be. Her attempts to combat those who see her as effectively unchanged are only part of the action in the book. Some of the more interesting sequences come when she encounters difficulties relating to the supernatural setting and its habit of being lived in. A hospital which has allowed its protections to fail, resulting in a particularly ghoulish piece of eastern folklore appearing, represents one of the best sequences in the book.

With that setup, it’s hardly surprising that comparisons to John Wick are made even on the trade dress. However this volume delves more deeply into the thoughts of the lead and her past connections then those films. Emiko’s family and their grudges play as much a role as her personal history, as does her love hate relationship with them.

Items of power, gathered together by individuals or families in hoards, represent important sources of wealth, might, and prestige in this world. The Sword of Truth, an object of immense power Emiko once wielded, is kept around throughout much of the story as a dark reminder of her past and mistakes. Its use, and the fact it is broken, are excellent examples of giving an object multiple narrative purposes.

While serving well enough as a standalone, the fact this volume is intended as part of a series becomes quite obvious through the ending. While the lead and her situation have changed noticeably throughout the pages, they have done so in a way that can best be described as setup. Emiko has found a new and relatively positive purpose in life, as an assortment of potential allies and enemies in place, and even ends on the certain level of wry humor common to the genre.

For someone looking at stories about finding one’s place after having taken actions they consider unforgivable, this will be quite a good read. Filled with action, thrills, and even the occasional antics of a human animal relationship, anyone who in anyone who enjoys Western urban fantasy and wants to see a certain Eastern influence would do well to check out the book. Readers should certainly eager be eager to see what comes next from the pair, whether in this setting and series or another.