I received a copy of this book for free and am leaving this review
voluntarily.
Not long ago, I read and reviewed the first book in the Chronicles of Actaeon series by Darran. When I learned there was a short story collection in
that universe, I was all in.
Artifacts and Enigmas is a science fiction/mystery collection of eleven
stories. Each one is separate, but they also tie in together by the end of the
book. The book is set in more of a fantasy-like setting, but the characters
explain events in scientific terms. The stories are from the point of view of
two characters who are learned and expert in their given roles. Together, they
go about solving and explaining a variety of bizarre crimes and is loaded with
fascinating plot twists and turns, making it a very entertaining read.
In the ancient, ruined city of Redemption, Knight Investigator Aethelgard
goes about his business solving crimes. He uses his powers of observation and
deduction, and nothing gets by his keen senses. But when he is confronted with
crimes involving Artifacts of the Ancients, he finds himself in need of help
from his friend and Prince Engineer Actaeon, who is an expert in the areas of
uncovering the mysteries of science. Together, these two are a team that gets
to the bottom of all sorts of criminal activity that threatens the people of
Redemption as their city is rebuilt.
Underlying everything lurks Aethelgard's longtime nemesis, who must be
defeated.
My favorite plot point throughout all eleven stories is the friendship
Aethelgard and Actaeon enjoy. For the most part, their relationship is
excellent, although they don't always agree. Their friendship is tested along
the way, but because of their sense of purpose and their understanding of the
way the world works, and how people think and behave, they can resolve their
differences to the benefit of both, and the people of Redemption.
My takeaway from Artifacts and Enigmas is the importance of teamwork. Each
of the two principal characters have their areas of expertise, and when they
are together, they are an unstoppable force to be reckoned with.
I enjoyed this collection of stories. They are all high quality and fun to
read. I didn't find any of the tales predictable, and each one has plot twists,
making the reading experience enjoyable. This collection is highly entertaining
and very well written. I recommend Artifacts and Enigmas for readers who like
stories in the combined Sci-Fi/Fantasy genre, or for those who are seeking
something uncommon in science fiction.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Well, there it is...
Qapla!
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