Review: TRAILER PARK TRICKSTER by David R Slayton

This was one of the most anticipated follow-up books for us here at Funk-N-Fiction. Not only are we a fan of the amazing story begun in WHITE TRASH WARLOCK, but David R Slayton has become an author we genuinely appreciate in the writing community.

Author: David R Slayton
Series: Adam Binder Series, #2
Release Date: October 12, 2021
Pages: 285
Review Copy: Author provided*

Blurb:

They are my harvest, and I will reap them all.

Returning to Guthrie, Oklahoma, for the funeral of his mysterious and beloved aunt Sue, Adam Binder once again finds himself in the path of deadly magic when a dark druid begins to prey on members of Adam’s family. It all seems linked to the death of Adam’s father many years ago—a man who may have somehow survived as a warlock.

Watched by the police, separated from the man who may be the love of his life, compelled to seek the truth about his connection to the druid, Adam learns more about his family and its troubled history than he ever bargained for, and finally comes face-to-face with the warlock he has vowed to stop.

Meanwhile, beyond the Veil of the mortal world, Argent the Queen of Swords and Vic the Reaper undertake a dangerous journey to a secret meeting of the Council of Races . . . where the sea elves are calling for the destruction of humanity.

Initial Thoughts/Expectations:

I did a re-read of WHITE TRASH WARLOCK in the week before TRAILER PARK TRICKSTER was released. I had enjoyed it thoroughly the first time through, but the re-read allowed me to truly appreciate the world that David R. Slayton had built, and the stage he’d set for the rest of the series. I wasn’t really sure what to expect from TRAILER PARK TRICKSTER, but I was here for it!

What I Loved:

Family remains a central theme in this second installment of the Adam Binder series. Even though Bobby no longer has a POV, he is present and continues to play a role in the overall story. While facts revealed in book one have not erased what Tilla Mae and Bobby’s decisions put Adam through, it has definitely provided a different perspective and allowed for the hesitant building of a bridge. Additionally, we meet more of Adam’s family that somehow make it even easier to appreciate Bobby and Tilla Mae.

Oh Vic! I loved him in book one and getting to be inside his head as the second POV in TRAILER PARK TRICKSTER was a treat. Vic is an amazing character and I sense he is going to play a pivotal role in everything…. the overall series arc and Adam’s life. This book forced Vic to ponder the turn his life had taken and pushed him to try and make some sense of a new-to-him world that plays by very different rules than the human world. His love for Adam grows, but is challenged as he grapples with his own moral compass and the decisions we make to protect those we love. I was just as invested in Vic’s part of this story and hope moving forward we’ll get so much more Vic.

The world David R. Slayton has built is phenomenal. In TRAILER PARK TRICKSTER, we do get a bit more time in the Spirit Realm which results in a more thorough immersion into the politics of the immortals – things get a tad tense and the fate of the human world is hanging in the balance. Argent continues to be a very intriguing character that captivated and held my attention whenever she was in the frame, while Silver goes through some pretty epic transformations that will surely shape the direction the series takes!

What I Didn’t Love:

I loved being inside Vic’s head and I can totally appreciate his character development, but I crave more Adam and Vic. Adam is coming to some kind of peace with his family, but he is a wonderfully selfless human being who deserves happiness – I want to enjoy every moment of that happiness so I need more of those Adam and Vic Moments. Just means I need the next book I guess!

Final Thoughts/Recommendations:

There is a wonderful overall story with a good little mystery taking place, but I am here for and will forever return to this series for the characters and the world. I can’t wait to see what David has in store for us with the next book in this series and am sure there is a re-read of TRAILER PARK TRICKSTER in my future!