On Her Majesty’s Supernatural Secret Service

4 out of 5 Stars

“Dear You,

The body you are wearing used to be mine. The scar on the inner left thigh is there because I fell out of a tree and impaled my leg at the age of nine. The filling in the far left tooth on the top is a result of my avoiding the dentist for four years. But you probably care little about this body’s past. After all, I’m writing this letter for you to read in the future. Perhaps you are wondering why anyone would do such a thing. The answer is both simple and complicated. The simple answer is because I knew it would be necessary. 

The complicated answer could take a little more time.”

Imagine waking up, in the rain, surrounded by bodies, with no idea who you were. That is what happened to Myfawny (rhymes with Tiffany) Thomas. She has no prior knowledge to her life except from letters that her past self (if it IS her past self!) has written.

“Your main concern will be to master the running and politics of the domestic Checquy forces. You’ll be meeting with and coordinating the teams of Pawns who work in the country and assigning them to various tasks. You will also oversee the management of the Rooney, working closely with Gestalt. 

Oh, that’s going to be fun, Myfawny thought. 

And you meet regularly with the other members of the Court to coordinate the Checquy’s movements. It’s all fairly self-explanatory, really. 

Oh, well thanks an awful lot, Thomas, Myfawny thought bitterly. It sounds like I’m the Defense Minister of Ghosts and Goblins, but as long as the job is ‘all fairly self-explanatory,’ I’ve no doubt it will be fine. The country might be overrun by brownies and talking trees, but what the hell-there’s always Australia! 

Worst yet, there is a betrayer in her midst at the Checquy Group where she works. A Secret Service group of “talented” individuals who come in handy in certain delicate situations.

“So, I supposed you’re wondering all about the Checquy Group. Oh, and please note that it is pronounced Sheck-Eh. French influences, I think. Or possibly warped by generations of employees mispronouncing it.” 

“The Checquy Group is composed of hundreds of individuals. Some are loke me-they possess powers beyond the normal population. The non-powered members are simply the cream of their respective occupational crops.”

Stepping into the person she was, apparently a boring stepped on pencil pusher, doesn’t seem plausible anymore,

“Myfawny grimly contemplated the content of the residences’s wardrobe. Did Thomas wear nothing but black and gray? She asked herself. I mean, there are thirty good-quality suits here, and not a single one with any personality. No skirts cut above the knee, no blouse that isn’t white. 

The new Myfawny steps up to take charge of situations and her own new-found (to her new self) powers of controlling people’s bodies and minds. Taking on Evil Fungi, Grafters and even Dragons.

This was a great read and I can’t wait to continue the series! It took a little while for me to get into, but with thrill around every corner at whether someone will figure out that Myfawny is not herself, or who she can trust, it quickly sucked me in. It was like James Bond meets X-Men (o.k, maybe less James Bond and more Johnny English since she doesn’t QUITE know what she’s doing some of the time)

“” Charming, ” she said, and noticed Shanty looking at her strangely. “Well aside from the massive blanket of fungus covering everything. But if you look beyond that, it’s really not in bad taste.” Shanty carried on staring at her. “Oh, shut up. Do you see any signs of the Barghests?” 

“No,” Shanty said in a stage whisper. She was holding her large pistol in her hand and looking very tense. “What is wrong with you?” Myfawny whispered back. “You look like you expect someone to grab your ass.” 

“I’d be okay with that, as long as it was a personal,” whispered Shantay. “It’s when it’s the decor reaching out to cop a feel that I get nervous.””

All in all a highly recommended read for all of you sucked into the “Super Hero” fad going on in full force out there!

The Rook is Best Served With 

Mind Eraser

Ingredients

• 1 ounce vodka
• 1 ounce coffee liqueur
• 4 ounces soda water (or enough to top off an old fashioned glass)
• lime wedge for garnish

Directions

1. Fill an old fashioned glass with ice.
2. Pour the vodka and coffee liqueur over the ice.
3. Fill with soda water.
4. Garnish with a lime wedge and serve with a straw

*The soda is open for interpretation. I like plain soda water, but I have seen this drink served with lemon-lime soda and ginger ale before as well. So pick whatever you think best!!

Cheers!!