Penance (Debt Collector 15)

Penance by Susan Kaye Quinn

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I liked "Penance" Debt Collector 15. At least as much as Shattered's 3.2 stars. The first chapter is something akin to the hopes of a honeymoon couple staying in bed for a couple days. So it is voyeurism into what it might be like if you could increase the pleasure of sex with soul sucker abilities.

For the record I do recommend every episode I've read and not read of the two seasons of Debt Collector. The two seasons might be vaguely analogous to the Lemuel Gulliver in Lilliput AND Brobdingnag. The difference being Season one and two have different protagonist rather than different cultural environments that Lemuel encounters. Despite how bad one episode might be or how good another might be, the season is something similar to a full plot arc. I completely despise the idea of "seasons" in the writing of fiction. I hope this experimental form of writing dies a horrible death, while wishing it well on Television scripts.

Chapter two is less exciting that the voyeurism chapter. In this chapter Moloch carries on and on with how villainous and brilliant he is and how dangerous and harmful that is going to be to Alexandra who isn't convincing at being terrified, despite being killed a day or so earlier.


Chapter three is an interesting piece of writing once we get beyond the commentary on fashion.

In this outing Ishtar is holding Alexa's leash in a trip to her personal lawyer to change her will and her shares in Sterling to benefit Ishtar in the event of Alexandra's untimely death, which has already happened once, and is likely to happen upon returning to Moloch's lair. More would be spoiler but this alone might be worth reading this episode.

The conclusion of this episode is the most excitement that has happened thus far in season two. I believe the best part of this episode's conclusion is that there are a few more episodes!

For a taste, Seth, Moloch's evil thug gorilla, who has wanted to kill Wraith since the beginning, has a big smile when Ishtar and Alex return from her lawyer's office. And Seth is also in good spirits. Moloch, the evil incarnate head of Gehenna, not so much.

Upon seeing Seth is such a state of obvious joy Wraith does not pee her pants. Which I might have wanted to read but ultimately Ms. Quinn's choice of reactions works better than my anticipation on multiple levels.

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