Iron Night: This urban fantasy series has a great protagonist

Iron Night  by M.L. Brennan

I really like it when an author can keep a character from growing stagnant. It’s not always obvious that it’s happening, but it’s very impressive when the author has enough vision to avoid it. In Iron Night, the second book in the GENERATION V series by M.L. Brennan, Fortitude Scott is a wonderful example of a main character that keeps growing.

Fortitude Scott has not given up on remaining as human as he can for as long as he can. After the drama and partial transformation that took place as a result of his heroic efforts to save innocent children from a terrible monster, it’s harder to do than ever before. After losing his job, getting a new room-mate and breaking up with his cheating manipulative girlfriend, the sky is the limit.

Fort is being expected to take a more active role in his mother’s family business. This brings him into intimate contact with a number of different things that go bump in the night. To make this transition easier, Fort is training more and more with his brother Chivalry. Nothing like learning to use new found strength and speed on the wrestling mat with your older brother who is not only faster and stronger, but has centuries of experience and training to back it up. Humility is good for the soul, as Fort is figuring out.

When Fort’s new room-mate is murdered and dropped back into his apartment with his body mutilated, Fort takes it personally. He asks for help from every quarter including his family to try to figure out who is responsible for the murder. With the natural challenges of his new job waiting tables and trying to grow into his enhanced vampiric powers, Fort’s efforts to track the murderer are not always as successful as he hopes. Added to this mix is the awkward relationship with his adopted father’s best friend whose background in criminal investigation makes him very helpful, but who is trying to keep his eyes closed about who Fort is and the world Fort lives in.

I really enjoyed Iron Night because the character is forced to evolve. His attempts to remain innocent and human are very easy to sympathize with and when he is forced to irrevocably cross lines from a normal human life into the world of his natural future, it’s painful for him. The relationship between Fort and shapeshifter Suzume is just a lot of fun to read about. Fort plays the awkward sweet idiot to her wise and experienced vixen which is naturally amusing. For fans of easy to read, not too complex urban fantasy, GENERATION V is a series to add to your to-read list.