Read the book just because of the character Streak - I ain't kidding, he makes the book worth reading.

Character descriptions are vague. Interactions between main chars and 'enemies' are poor and confusing. The concept of 'shadowrunners' (which these guys definitely are NOT) living in luxury is a refreshing change from the 'live-in-squallor' standard of most runner-types. I hate the Vatican so I took some pleasure in the idea that they would flex their muscle in the world of SR just to prevent the masses from learning something OTHER than what has been spoon-fed to them by Christianity. The writing style conveys the sense of the dark and gritty world of London. This book would have rated a Five had the descriptions and interactions been better.


That's a Shadowrun book, isn't it?   December 6, 1999
moonfeather (Austria)
I read the book in German and I was kind of surprised since I had actually expected it to be a Shadowrun book. Well - it's not, at least in my opinion. There are not, as the authors themselves state at one point, any actual shadowrunners in it (apart from the Elf mage, who doesn't really behave like a Shadowrunner). The best part in it is Streak - his comments are definitely the most enjoyable parts of the story! Also, the atmosphere is all kind of wrong - Shadowrunners do not live in the posh part of London. Besides, the book has no real ending - it doesn't explain how it is possible for Leonardo to be an Elf although there weren't any Elves in the Middle Ages. I think the fact that Leonardo is an Elf proves about anything else stated in any other Shadowrun book wrong. So, if you're particularly interested in Leonardo da Vinci or Religion and if you don't mind a Shadowrun book without any Shadowrunners in it, you might enjoy it. Otherwise - look out for the Secrets of Power trilogy (or anything else that has Dodger in it).