Praise for Mercury Retrograde: “This wonderfully unusual Weird West novel combines the best of contemporary fantasy with metaphysical magic and mayhem, and even a bit of romance. Bickle has a knack for creating atmosphere, and she fills the fast-paced narrative with vivid scenes of wonder and a poignant story of death and rebirth. Fans of the first book will be enthralled, and new readers will easily fall into the quirky, dusty land that Petra and her unusual friends inhabit.” - Publishers Weekly (starred review) on MERCURY RETROGRADE
Praise for Dark Alchemy: “This fun adventure in modern-day Wyoming introduces Petra Dee, a geologist looking for her missing father and trying to make peace with her past. Bickle (Rogue Oracle) adds a dash of romance to the charming adventure, wrapped up with a perfect ending.” - Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Bickle’s world and characters are enjoyably complex, sinking the reader happily into this contemporary fantasy landscape.” - Meghan McCain
“Dark Alchemy reads like a stand-alone work, but Petra is such a likable protagonist and the slightly off-balance world in which the town of Temperance exists is so well drawn that it’s hard not to hope we’ll see more of Petra’s adventures. There are elements here that easily could have shaded into standard tropes, but Bickle is skilled enough to put her own spin on them, and she has a clear, clean sense of plotting that gives the novel a wonderful pace and sense of completeness. More, please.” - RT Book Reviews on DARK ALCHEMY
“If Dark Alchemy was a movie, it’d pass the Bechdel Test and more than passes equity tests... Dark Alchemy was a compelling read with a satisfying conclusion promising more Petra Dee stories set around Temperance. I’m hooked.” - Dark Matter Zine on DARK ALCHEMY
“Mix in some Native lore, great characterizations, a gift for bringing a setting to life, and a plot that eschews any hint of the tiredness of too much contemporary fantasy, and Dark Alchemy’s a winner on all fronts for this reader. Bickle writes with an individual clarity and style, leaving the reader to appreciate a dark sense of wonder that’s all her own. Highly recommended.” - Fantasy & Science Fiction on DARK ALCHEMY
“It’s another fast-paced, irresistible blend of a weird west setting, strange magic, strong characters, and even a little romance.” - barnesandnoble.com on MERCURY RETROGRADE
“Petra’s adventures in a magic-choked version of Yellowstone continue to balance nicely with a sense of fun, well-done and subtle worldbuilding and characterization, plus some serious stakes. Our protagonist is competent, resourceful and tough without becoming unrealistically formidable. The series feels like it’s building splendidly.” - RT Book Reviews on MERCURY RETROGRADE
“Bickle does an excellent job of letting her characters speak for themselves and blending realistic, grounded conflicts with her supernatural plot…Also of note is Bickle’s respectful treatment of Native American spirituality... Bickle is well on her way to establishing her work as a cornerstone of her genre.” - Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Following the prequels Dark Alchemy and Mercury Retrograde, Bickle’s series launch mixes alchemy, folklore, and Native American traditions with a wintry Western landscape that will intrigue fans of the Weird West subgenre.” - Library Journal
“Full marks to Bickle for...this...consistently engaging series. Our protagonist is as likeable and resourceful as ever...The way the series sticks to a single source of the supernatural while still managing to come up with a wide range of manifestations...is very compelling.” - RT Book Reviews
“Readers who like no-nonsense characters, the occult, Native American myths, and the modern Wild West will enjoy this. The writing is fun, compelling, and straight from the hip, with no apologies as to language used.” - Booklist