Links to two previous Vance reviews for this series can be found at the end of this post.
t's that time again, friends! We're going back to Winslow, at least for a little while. Fred is back with all his para-human pals for a brand new set of adventures. If you haven't read the first three books, maybe skip this review because spoilers for those books lie ahead. You have been warned.
This is Fred's first outing as the Head of a Vampire clan, and he's really trying hard to be a good leader. He is also still trying to stay... un- alive(?). He passes his Agency exam and has now become a freelance Agent.
Just as Fred thinks he's finally going to get some Quality Time with his girlfriend Crystal, Fred gets swept away on House of Fred business involving Amy the Alchemist. See, since Amy is a pledged member of the House of Fred, the validity of her student loans have come into question. As Amy's Head of House, Fred has the power to nullify the contracts Amy signed, and the magical community really doesn't want that to happen.
Back home at Charlotte Manor, but with Crystal out on a mission, Fred takes the time to have a heart-to-heart with Albert the Zombie, Wielder of the Sword of the Unlikely Champion. Ever since the Sword chose Albert, he's been serving two masters, so to speak. All of the Teenaged Zombie's spare time from Fletcher Accounting Services is spent in mastering the use of the sword. As his contract holder, not just Head of House, Fred has the power to command Albert's time, but that wouldn't be very like Fred.
Then Richard, local shapeshifters leader, asks Fred along to inspect a broken down carnival somewhere in rural Colorado. Rounding out the entourage are Bubba the were-steed, Gideon the Dragon; King of the West, and Richard's daughter Sally. This is a special treat for Sally. Because of her Father's position, Sally is kind of like the child of an ambassador, or maybe even the very young children of heads of state. As such this will be one of the only times Sally will have been able to go to an amusement park. As we saw in the events of Undeath and Taxes, Sally's life is filled with kidnap attempts. Since the only people at the carnival all work for her dad or Gideon, this should be a totally different experience, right?
Crystal makes it back to Charlotte Manor in time to kiss Fred goodbye as Arch whisks him away. On Agency business. Again. Fred has been assigned to do complete inventory of an Agency base. This particular fort (or whatever it is) houses a team that was trained by Arch. That fact seems to have provided the incoming pair with a very warm welcome. Fred gets to work immediately on a task that anyone, literally anyone could have done. And, hey, I'm sure its a coincidence that Quinn, Fred's sire, has been seen in the area. Right. Totally a coincidence. Totally. Totally.
Finally Fred and Crystal get some alone time and Fred has been contemplating the future of their relationship. Has all this time apart spelled the end for Winslow's power couple?
If y'all couldn't tell, I really enjoyed this installment of the series. There's something grounding in the thought that Amy has student loans, or that Albert is bothered by his unchanging physicality. We get to learn more about Arch, his backstory and powers in this book. Fred exhibits some of the very best qualities of good leadership: he helps his people and remembers to listen to their wants and needs. We get some very good teambuilding within the world that sets a Drew Hayes novel apart.
If you aren't a Fred reader yet, please start at the beginning with the Utterly Uninteresting and Unadventurous tales of Fred the Vampire Accountant. Over these four novels I have grown more smitten with our core cast and their world. I really hope you'll join me.
⭐⭐⭐⭐4/5
House of Fred #3 Unreviewed-- at time of submission
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