Sharper than a Serpent's Tooth

Nightside, Book 6

By: Simon R. Green

Narrated by: Dan Calley

My name is John Taylor. I'm a PI for hire in the Nightside, the dark and corrupt city within the city of London. Where the sun never shines and where pleasure and horror are always on sale—for the right price.

Not a nice place to visit or a nice place to live. So you wouldn't think I would care that it was about to be destroyed, by none other than my very own long-missing, not-quite-human mom.

But I do. I was born here, I live here, and I got friends here. They might not all be acceptable in polite company, but they're my friends, nonetheless.

I know that I'm the only one who can stop her. The trick is, how to do it without fulfilling this prophecy that says whatever action I take, not only is the Nightside doomed, but the rest of the world will soon follow . . .

©2006 Simon R. Green (P)2022 Tantor

Fun conclusion, if you just go with it

“Have I got time to go to confession?”
“You leave that priest alone! He still hasn’t recovered from your last visit.”
This isn’t a tightly plotted, character driven, emotion packed epic; this is a rollicking urban fantasy where the familiar schticks are best enjoyed with a Rocky Horror Show fandom. Pop a Milkdud every time you hear “[insert ABC detail like ‘it’s always 3am’]… in the Nightside” or how the Strangefellows Bar is the world’s oldest bar.

“Gods do it in mysterious ways” (graffiti tag)
Yep, just roll with the story and don’t think too hard on the hows and the whys (like, if John’s super power is finding things, why doesn’t he use it to find the answer to his mom problem?). Why John’s mom had to wait for so long is a head scratcher, when it seems she could’ve just shown up, snapped her fingers, and watched gods, angels, and demons crumble.

“You look like you’ve been through the meat grinder.”
“You should see the meat grinder.”
This was fun, and lightly emotional, and somewhat has Avengers assemble moments, bringing characters together from the previous books. Although frankly, you could do books 1-3 and jump to this one and be just fine. With the world-building ensuring no one ever suffers a true death, I suppose there’s no such thing as a finale. But, the series arc about his mom closes as securely as one could hope for.
I had a good time listening, even if I’m looking forward to a few books with self-contained,
straightforward UF detective cases.

Good arc closer

So closes the arc of many of the greatest mysteries of the night side. This feels like a great stopping point for the series even though it still goes on

Good conclusion

I wouldn’t have thought Lilith could be contained. Great plot. Must get next series to see what happens next.

Not the same narrator

I love the nightside series, so much wonder and imagination. However they recently changed the narrator amd its not the same. there missing inflection amd enthusiasim it's not that he's horrible, but it's a much better listen if you cam find these books narrated by Marc Vietor. there's no competition!