Title: A Conspiracy of Ravens
Author: Dharma Kelleher
Publication Date: October 11, 2022 by Dark Pariah Press
Genres: Thriller
Protagonist Gender: Female
My final new review of this year's #TransRightsReadathon is a book I've been eager to read, the start of a new series from a woman who makes transwomen kick ass.
A Conspiracy of Ravens marks the launch of a new series from the godmother of queer crime as the woman who gave us Jinx Ballou (transgender Bounty Hunter) and Shea Stevens (lesbian Outlaw Biker) introduces us to Avery Byrne (transgender Goth Vigilante). Dharma Kelleher herself is an openly transgender author, and that means her stories don't just pander to or pay lip service to diversity, they are diverse in their very bones.
What immediately struck me about Avery Byrne is her vulnerability. Jinx and Shea are both kick-ass women, either one of whom you'd be happy to have on your side in a fight. One is an ex-cop and the other an ex-con, and they've been tested (and hardened) by the world around them. For all that Avery does have a tragic past, and has most certainly been tested, the young tattoo artist has yet to be hardened. She's young enough to make foolish choices and naive enough to put her trust in the wrong people, but for all the right reasons.
The plot here is pretty simple. With her girlfriend having been murdered for stealing from the mob, Avery is running from both mob vengeance and police justice, all while the stink of corruption and the allure of millions of dollars blurs the lines between the two groups. On the run, it's only when she's painted into an impossible corner that she finds the courage to do something about the problem.
Like all of Dharma's books, this is an action-packed, fast-paced thrill ride with characters who endear themselves to you. These are stories about marginalized groups, about people harassed for who they are or who they love, and she pulls no punches in confronting the ugliness of hatred. Like everything else I've read of hers, at times this made me furious, but overall the message is one of hope, of the power of love, friendship, and fond family.
Jinx does make an appearance here, and as much as that excited me, I was also anxious that she'd save the day from under Avery. I needn't have worried. A Conspiracy of Ravens sees Avery tested and hardened, coming out the other side stronger and wiser, and I'm excited to see where the goth vigilante turns her attention next.
Rating: ♀ ♀ ♀ ♀ 1/2
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