Narco Hotel

by Wilmar Luna

5 out of 5

Synopsis

Cindy Ames thought her days of assassination and crime fighting were over.

Then the DeMarcos Cartel invaded New York City.

Day by day they spread their corruption throughout the five boroughs, leading to a rise in beheadings, shootouts, drug overdoses, and police murdering innocent citizens.

Even with the city decaying all around her, Cindy was terrified of transforming into the Silver Ninja. It would mean returning to a life of barely controlled rage and endless violence.

Unfortunately for her, Commissioner Gates knows who the Silver Ninja is and her dark secret. If she doesn’t suit up and help him stop the DeMarcos, her secret will be exposed, and her family will suffer the consequences.

The price for peace is blood.

Review

Cindy is back, and despite trying to avoid trouble and putting the Silver Ninja behind her, she is coerced into facing the gangs in her home city.

I was a beta reader for this book, and my review is for the beta version, so there may be a few differences between this and the finished article (which I am about to start reading!). BTW, I may be a little bit biased having been involved in the project; but I am one of Luna's harshest critics, as I'm sure he'd agree.

This is the second book in the Silver Ninja series. The first book "A Bitter Winter" is the origin story for Cindy, as such it helps if you read it first, but I think Narco Hotel does a good enough job of building the background that its not essential to read in order.

The Silver Ninja is an effective killer, but Cindy is scared she's losing control She doesn't want to be a mindless killer, so she switches it off, and tries to go back to her (somewhat-fractured) normal life.

But as gang violence and racial tensions rise in the city, there's only so long she can ignore it.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Plotwise, it picks up where A Bitter Winter leaves off. Cindy managed to take down one of the big New York mobs; but a Mexican Cartel has used this as an opportunity to their own advantage.

And Cindy's uneasy alliance with Commissioner Gates is thoroughly tested, as he orders her to commit murder to stop a video getting out that could implicate him in a racially-motivated killing.

Cindy has to uncover the truth, as well as protect those around her, whilst tensions arise between the police and citizens of colour. You definitely get the feeling it's only a matter of time before everything explodes.

And all while she refuses to use the suit.

Luckily, Cindy has help from her sister Jadie, and this time, their dad also gets involved.

BTW, their dad is frickin' awesome, and I can see when Cindy and Jadie get their attitudes from!

I really liked the storyline that followed Emilio, a shop-owner; and Chris, a promising young lad who struggles financially. I thought it gave the story extra depth, and highlighted how not everyone working for the cartels does so by choice. Or, at least, the alternative is impossible, if they want to meet rising bills.

The plot keeps you guessing who is behind everything that is going on, and what they're motivations might be. And Luna's action scenes are always electric.

But this book feels like something more than just a standard comic book story. Luna isn't afraid to tackle some pretty big social issues, and with the world as it currently is, it just hit that bit harder.

I thought those storylines were tremendously done. It felt so natural, but powerful too.

If you haven't already, I would highly recommend giving this series a go.

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