Bergstryker U : The Voice of a Demon : a Bergstryker U. Story / W. J. Everett. 2014 (ebook). 24 pages.

This is the second of two (to date) young adult Bergstryker U ebooks by “W.J. Everett” (Richard Parks), better known under his real name as the author of numerous fine fantasies for adults. As with the first, his use of a pseudonym seems pointless, as the work would doubtless sell better under Parks’s own name. Less somnolent cover art would also help.

The Bergstryker U stories are Parks’s take on the supernatural boarding school genre popularized by J. K. Rowling. His student body is older (college age) and rather than magicians is composed of a variety of supernatural beings (and humans) brought together in the educational setting to promote peaceful coexistence between species. As before, it is not clear whether this is a public project (which would imply a humanity aware of the supernaturals in its midst) or a secret one (implying general ignorance, and a world that could stand in for our own). The experiment is a success as far as our two returning protagonists are concerned; human Jeff Tolbert and vampire Amelia Wainwright, who in the previous story joined forces to solve a mystery threatening the school, are now clearly paired. This, thankfully, allows the author to open up his vision beyond the rather claustrophobic focus on vampires that so limited that tale.

Voice provides a new conundrum, less existential in scope, one Jeff is determined to resolve and Amelia would just as soon see dropped. He catches his phooka friend Gillie pranking the banshee Katie McRaven. Moreover, it’s evidently part of a campaign Gillie has been waging for some time. The problem is, it’s a death-wish. While phookas are inveterate jokers, banshees are humorless harbingers of doom; needling one is a sure route to getting your butt kicked. At minimum. Yet Gillie persists. Why?

Actually, everyone seems to know except our clueless hero, but he would still like to save his friend, if possible. As he unravels the mystery we learn considerably more about phookas and banshees while becoming pleasantly reacquainted with our two engaging leads. And all turns out well in the end.

This ebook is less than half the length of its predecessor, The Face of an Angel, and its plot of considerably less moment. Still, it has a more expansive feel, since we find out more about Bergstryker U and its unique denizens. Both are mere episodes in an extendable story that would be fun to see developed at greater length. The series has definite potential; it could certainly be filled out to make a proper novel, if not several. If Parks does, he has this reader hooked, at least.

I shouldn’t really rate this story as high as the first book, given that it’s a light snack to Face’s half-meal. But I find it irresistibly fun. So...

Four out of five stars.

—Brian.