The Infernal Games (The Baku #1), by Reed Logan Westgate

The Infernal Games is the initial book in the Baku trilogy, an urban fantasy proposal that I found really interesting, especially because it is different from the most classical approaches to the genre, using different mythology as a base, and showing an interesting conflict between what was told and what was the reality.

We are going to be following Xlina, a Baku that feeds on nightmares, a rare appearance with her Celtic lineage, and that has been surviving by herself in the Boston Grooves as her father refuses to take care of her; leading this into the net of Valeria, a succubus disguised as a social worker, who has a plan for her, creating a pact between both, which soon gets broken by Xlina (mostly by a mistake), provoking her to get marked and get under the control of Valeria.

But Xlina is a strong person who will try to get rid of this mark and avoid the control of Valeria; and soon we get to know that carrying this mark suppose a danger not only for her, but also for Amber, her flatmate.

And with this premise, we get a fast-paced urban fantasy story, probably one of the best aspects of this novel, as it is unbelievable the amount of things that happen in only 400 pages. You can feel the stakes at play, how each danger can almost get the life of our protagonists, and how they always get out just by small details or by sheer luck.

Characters are also one of the main selling points of this book. Xlina is an independent person, whose main purpose is to continue being free while doing some jobs related to the Otherworld; Amber, her flatmate, gets also a fair amount of exposition after almost getting killed due to Xlina; and Oxivius is probably one of the most charismatics I've ever read, all of that being a flesh-eater necromancer.

It is interesting how the conflict between good and evil is not shown in a linear way in this book, but instead going for the classic black-white contrast that is usual in the genre, it uses shades of grey, also making a distinction between what it is the myth, and what it is real; also using it as a way to portray that evilness is not necessarily on the nature of a creature.

In summary, The Infernal Games is a really solid first novel, perfect for somebody who wants a more adult-oriented urban fantasy story, with a plot that will keep you hooked until the end. Can't wait to continue this saga with the second book!