Nimona by Noelle Stevenson

Honestly, I don't read many graphic novels or comic books, so I'm probably not the best reviewer for this book. However, since Nimona exceeded my expectations, I decided to share my thoughts on this surprisingly funny and charming story. In my opinion, the actual story line was original and the characters were well developed for a graphic novel.

Nimona is a shapeshifting supervillain who imposes her services on Lord Ballister Blackheart in the first pages of the book. Although Blackheart is hesitant at first, they slowly built a strong working relationship. Despite his name, Blackheart isn't all that evil and the bad reputation he has, only comes from the fact that his nemesis is the hero of the city, Sir Goldenloin. The rivalry is old, dating back to when they were both training together to become knights. Every villain needs a good back story, and while Blackheart's is typical, it does explain why he does the things he does. But it doesn't really explain his fascination with science... (On a side note, my favorite quote from the book is "Halt, you villains! Unhand that science!")

Nimona is obviously the star of the book, despite being the sidekick. I love this quirky girl who has a hard time following the rules, and while her ability to shapeshift into any animal, human or beast she wants is exceptional, we don't realize how special she is until the very end of the story. I'm not quite sure why she's absolutely set on being a sidekick while she could wreck havoc very well all on her own, but I think it's because she craves companionship, even if the only villain available is grumpy Blackheart.

Knights, lasers, dragons, science, magic! Oh my! So many awesome things. The author definitely has an overactive imagination to come up with something so epic and humorous. Her unique drawing style is fun and I love the subtle changes in color palettes throughout the novel. I also appreciate how Nimona's human form changes ever so slightly as the story progresses. One thing I dislike is the font. The size varies from chapter to chapter and sometimes the letters are so small that it's really hard to read certain words.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in graphic novels or epic adventures. This isn't your typical comic, and while it might be intended for a younger audience, adults can most certainly enjoy it too.

Read the first three chapters

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Posted by Tynga at 01:54

 Graphic Novel, Harper Collins, HarperTeen, Library, Noelle Stevenson, Review, Shapeshifter  2 People left their mark

Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews

Wow, this book was simply purrrfect, I wouldn't change a thing! Seriously, when all is said and done, this book left me completely satisfied, and I don't think the story could've been any different. And it's a game changer too! I think from now on I'll have to think of this series as before and after Magic Bleeds, I swear!

The book starts with Kate in lingerie, cooking dinner for Curran because of her lost bet. And the dude stands. her. up. WTF??? Yes , yes, Kate should've destroyed everything on her way to smack Curran but she's grown a lot in the past books and decided to do the mature thing... give him the silent treatment. It all sets the table for the action, and romantic drama to come.

I really liked the different story arcs for this novel. Kate is investigating a deity spreading different plagues in town and she has to bank on all her resources to solve the mystery. Of course, she needed her go-to-guy Saiman, who can't be nice to the sake of being nice. And that's how Kate finds herself at yet another date with him that will put her in trouble. I'm not quite sure how I feel about Saiman, he is kind of pathetic if I am being honest, but he has a quirky side I kind of like. And could the guy be anymore oblivious? When the Beast Lord stares you down, it's time to bow and back out quietly! But I am loosing track.. the deity!... So I really liked the chase for clues, and who the bad guy turned out to be in the end. It is really promising for the big smack down against Roland!

Kate's allegiances will also be challenged in this novel. Who can she turn too when her boss backstabs her,  Saiman only wants her in his bed, Vampires, who would trust them anyway?? and your furry friends turn berzek when facing your foe. She could only count on herself, and her attack poodle, and she had to take some very difficult decisions and I command her for making the best of a terrible situation.

My favorite aspect is of course the romance between Kate and Curran. They FINALLY get physical in this book, and let's just say it's not your typical 'let's get laid'. Nothing's typical about these two anyway, so no surprise there. Despite their shortcomings they supported each other in this novel like never before and i LOVED it. The almost-end really broke my heart and I wanted to cuddle Kate and tell her everything would be ok, even though she'd never let me. She stayed strong in adversity and I was so damn proud of her!

Things have changed, C & K can't never go back and I can't wait to see how their relationship will evolve from here. If you haven't read this series yet, I seriously urge you to do so. One of the best urban fantasy series out there, I promise you!

My favorite quote, It's kind of a spoiler, so beware:

“I surveyed the rest of the Council and looked directly at Mahon. “Some of you know me. Some of you have seen me fight and some of you are my friends. Have your vote. But know this: if you come to remove me, come in force, because if you try to separate me from him, I will kill every single one of you. My hand won't shake. My aim won't falter. My face will be the last thing you‟ll see before you die.”

I jammed the knife into the table and walked out.”

Read an excerpt

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Posted by Tynga at 02:02

 Adult, Ilona Andrews, Kate Daniels, Magic, Paranormal Romance, Penguin, Purchased, Review, Shapeshifter, Urban Fantasy  8 People left their mark

Day Shift by Charlaine Harris

The more I read this series, the more I seem to fall in love with its characters. Mind you, it's only the second book of the series, but Day Shift has revealed a lot of background information about the citizens of Midnight, Texas. The more I think about it, the more I realize the series hasn't really settled with a main character. At least, not yet. It's almost as if the main character is the town, and its citizens are simply supporting the stories it's hosting.

To be quite honest, Day Shift wasn't very thrilling nor was it very engaging. I liked the book enough because I really enjoy the characters, but when it comes to the story, it's a little bit disappointing. The story really begins when Manfred is in Dallas for a working weekend in a hotel, where he plans to meet up with clients and do personal psychic readings. However, the night before he's set to start working, he notices another Midnight, Texas resident, Olivia, dining in the same hotel restaurant. He thinks little of it until the next morning when Olivia's dining companions are found dead in their hotel room. And things get even more complicated when Manfred's own client dies in the middle of the reading. The timing and the circumstances are bad for Manfred's business, especially when he is accused of murdering and stealing from his client.

As suspicions are raised, Manfred is the main focus of the murder investigation and reporters camp out in front of his house in Midnight. Along with the newly renovated and grand reopening of the Midnight Hotel, the town is getting more attention than the residents are used to. The people of Midnight like the fact that their little town is quiet and doesn't get many visitors, and all the action is making some of the residents anxious and unhappy about the unwanted publicity. Manfred and Olivia join together and decide to solve the murder, in order to get rid of the unwanted attention as soon as possible. The more they investigate, the more things get complicated and troublesome.

The main story and mystery surrounds Manfred but the other residents of the town also have their own problems to deal with. The town Reverend, simply referred to as Rev, is charged with the care of a growing boy; Joe finds himself in a situation where the only way to survive is to do something he promised long ago he wouldn't do; Olivia deals with her past and we learn more about who she is, and what she does for a living.

We also meet a few new characters who are living temporarily in the Midnight Hotel. One of these characters is actually linked to Sookie Stackhouse, the main character of Charlaine Harris' other bestselling series. With this link, we confirm our suspicions that this series is based in the same universe as the Sookie Stackhouse books. I highly doubt the author will push this link any further but it's good to know that things may get even more supernatural. Like Bon Temps, Midnight is a special town that seems to attract the supernatural, but the why of this has yet to be investigated.

Overall, I was a little bit disappointed with the main mystery but the various side stories add excitement to the book. For someone that hasn't finished Charlaine Harris' other series, I'm actually quite invested in this new one. I'm really looking forward to reading more about Midnight and its mysterious residents. Who wouldn't be attracted to a town with a witch, a vampire, a psychic, a shape-shifter, a talking cat and angels?

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Posted by Tynga at 03:38

 Ace, angels, Charlaine Harris, Library, Midnight, Midnight Texas, Mystery, Paranormal, Penguin, psychic, Shapeshifter, Texas, Witch  2 People left their mark

The Dangers of Dating a Rebound Vampire by Molly Harper

Honestly, Molly Harper can do no wrong when it comes to writing paranormal romance fiction. She literally has me laughing out loud while reading her paranormal romance books. Combining snarky, remarkable and witty female characters with supernatural hot men is always entertaining, but somehow, Molly Harper is a genius when it comes to humor in paranormal romance. The funny banter and the hilarious situations is what keeps me coming back to this series or her books in general.

Realistically, the plot of The Dangers of Dating a Rebound Vampire isn't all that extravagant, nor is it very detailed, but it does serve the purpose of advancing the story between Gigi and Nik. Gigi has landed the greatest summer job for a computer science undergrad and she's actually looking forward to working for the Vampire Council. However, she never expected to meet up with her mysterious vampire who kissed her and enthralled her during her last Christmas break. She was hurt when her mystery man left her after giving her the earth shattering kiss, without even saying a word. Now, what hurts even more is when Gigi and the mysterious man cross paths again, and he doesn't remember a thing about their heated kiss. Nik feels bad about his selective amnesia, but over time he starts to realize every thought in his mind about Gigi is muddled. Despite the mutual attraction, Nik can't stop trying to kill Gigi (involuntarily), and then forgetting about the attacks, almost as if he's being controlled by magic or something supernatural.

Amnesiacs are always fun to read because you never know how things will turn out. Reading about Gigi and Nik definitely was fun even though their relationship wasn't very believable. It felt too much like love at first sight. Gigi's older sister and brother-in-law forbid Gigi from seeing the centuries old vampire, but obviously forbidden love trumps over murderous fugue states from your vampire boyfriend. More scenes and more development between Gigi and Nik would have been fun and desirable.

The nerd in me is thrilled that Molly included so many pop culture references. Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, The Big Bang Theory, The Walking Dead, and Dr. Who references (and many more) were mentioned. Oddly enough, the references were not just thrown into the text for the heck of it. No, they were actually in context and they added an interesting layer to Gigi's character.

A light and fun supernatural read, this book is a definite read for any Molly Harper fans. It may not be the best book in the series, but it's a definite must if you want to read more about the comings and goings of the beloved vampires of the little town called Half-Moon Hollow. I'm glad the original Half-Moon Hollow vampire couple Jane and Gabriel were present, despite their brief appearances, because I really missed reading about their craziness. Gigi and Nik are a great addition to the gang, but I felt their story was a little bit too short, a little rushed for my tastes. I really hope Molly Harper has more vampire or werewolves stories to write because this girl needs her paranormal/pop culture fixes.

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Posted by Tynga at 02:38

 Half Moon Hollow, Magic, Molly Harper, Paranormal Romance, Pocket, Purchased, Review, Shapeshifter, Simon amp; Schuster, Simon Schuster, Vampire, Witch  2 People left their mark

Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews

Kate swore she would stay away from Curran, but just like winter, it seems the guy always comes around, there's no avoiding it. This time, Kate is recruited to investigate shifters murders and it will get very personal when her young friend Derek is a target. Kate will put everything on the line to find and punish the murderer, and it might be her biggest challenge yet.

The Ilona Andrews duo blessed us with yet another thrilling book! Before I get down to business... Gladiator fights!! Yes, yes, also synonymous to awesomeness. If you put aside the whole Kate-Curran romance (and I will get back to that later), the arena fighting was my favorite aspect of this book. Maybe I am a closet gruesome-blood-shedding-action fan, but I can't help it, I always love those kind of fights. So imagine my happiness when I realized we would get a whole tournament! *squeee*

Curran. He is sooo made of awesome. I love him since book one, but I love him more and more with each book. I just love how he intentionally makes Kate squirm under his scrutiny, how he teases her all the time. The way he subtly pursue her, with little attentions here and there also makes me swoon. And did I mention his sense of duty and unique sense of humor? I mean who wouldn't fall for such a great guy, wrapped in such a sexy package?

Kate isn't left in the dust either. She is smart, though, and fights teeth and nails out when someone she cares for is in danger. She is loyal to the end and just about the best friend you could have, because she will never let you down if she can help it. I also really like her dry sense of humor and even though I understand why she doesn't want to get involved with Curran, I have this strong urge to knock some sense into her!

The action was fine, the mystery was great and the new enemy was hate-able (yes yes this is a word...) just the way I like it. I just kept turning page after page, excited the whole way through, and wondering how the whole thing would end. And the answer is?? WITH A BANG! It was simply crazy and I can't wait to see how it will affect the next book.

The Kate Daniels series is awesome, and I can't believe it took me this long to discover it. The good side? I don't have to die in anticipation between each book, at least for a couple more books :) If you haven't started this series yet, I urge you to do so!

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Posted by Tynga at 02:05

 Ilona Andrews, Kate Daniels, Magic, Penguin, Purchased, Review, Shapeshifter, Urban Fantasy  7 People left their mark

Empire of Shadows by Miriam Forster

Mara enrolled the order to atone for her crimes. When she finally sets out to seek her charge, she has a very idealistic idea of how things should be, and she hits really far from the mark. Even though things are nothing like she had hoped, she finds her path anyway, for better or for worst.

Empire of Shadows is a companion novel to City of a Thousand Dolls, a book I have not read. I usually don't read books out of order and the whole time I was wondering if I was missing anything because I hadn't read the first book. Don't get me wrong, I never felt lost or anything while reading, but it kept bothering me. Until the very end that is. When I realized that Empire of Shadows actually takes place roughly 15-20 years before the events of City of a Thousand Dolls. Now I just want to read CoaTD!

First I have to say that I really liked Mara. She is haunted by her past, but she's determined to atone and she has a fierce desire to do the right thing. She earned my respect with her decision to completely refuse to shift to her Sune form has a kind of punishment, but found a way to be strong as a human, and fight for her beliefs.

An aspect of this novel I particularly liked was the friendship between our fierce Mara and Revathi. It wasn't love at first sight between Revathi and I. She was kind of snobbish and arrogant with Mara at first, but I loved how she did not denigrate the Arvi clan at the beginning,  so I was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. Turns out I was right! Their growing bond was a star to this story and I loved to see two young girls driving a YA plot instead of the usual love triangle.

Speaking of love, I really liked Emil on his own. His troubled relationship with his father and his brother, his desire to protect the latest, his yearning to be something else than he is destined to. He was very endearing with his actions both toward Mara and Esmer, his Sune friend. What I liked less, is the way Mara & Emil's relationship evolved. I can believe in chemistry, or even instant attraction, but the way they became each others' center of the universe after only a few shared sentences was not believable.

That being said, I really liked the world-building and the plot. Full of mysteries, action and conspiracies, there was plenty to keep me interested the whole time. And the end? LOVED it. The epilogue completely sold me, and as I said in my intro, I now want to read CoaTD!

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Posted by Tynga at 01:22

 Bhinian Empire, Edelweiss, Fantasy, Harper Collins, Love amp; Romance, Miriam Forster, Miriam Foster, Review, Science Fiction, Shapeshifter, young adult  1 Person left their mark

Desert Bound by Elizabeth Hunter

In the middle of nowhere, there is a small town with a big secret.  They work hard to keep this secret from getting out to the rest of the world.  The death of a local man recently returned to Cambio Springs brings about not only the concern of a killer in their midst but, the fact that many inhabitants aren’t always human may become more widely known.  This gives Dr. Teodora “Ted” Vasquez and Alex McCann more to deal with while also tending to family problems and their on again/off again romance.

This story has the elements that could make for a very good story.  Romance, paranormal and murder mystery in a small town. For me, it’s all about the story telling and this book did that well.  I liked the way the story progressed over all.  It moves much as you might expect a mystery/romance to without being predictable.  There are just enough red herrings and false trails to make figuring out the answer not so easy.  I was introduced to a world that includes not just shapeshifters but, a small town of them.  My only concern there was there were many places where I thought it slowed down too much.  Some of the conversations felt a bit repetitive or better handled through narrative.  Another exciting or action scene could have brought the pace back up and broken up some of the repetition.  Of course, that could be just a matter of preference.  I’ve always gravitated to the books that have big sword fights between romantic or quiet scenes.

Speaking of romantic scenes, this books has a few.  I don’t want to give too much away but, there are a few occasions of romance and the making of love in this book.  Elizabeth Hunter brings us these scenes without resorting to overly crude language or vulgar depictions. This makes the scenes descriptive yet, relatively mild. When I selected this book, I did not realize it was the second in the Cambio Spring series.  When I finished, I was surprised to find out there was a book before this one.  To me, that shows skill in storytelling.  It’s a rare thing when a book in the middle of a series can stand on its own.

Desert Bound definitely puts a twist on the murder mystery/romance genres by adding shapeshifting to the mix. This definitely one for the paranormal romance fans out there.  If you also like detective/mystery type stories, as I do, you may find this entertaining as well.  Just be aware that this can get a bit more ‘R’ than ‘PG-13’ in some places.



 

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Posted by Tynga at 00:12

 Cambio Springs, desert, Elizabeth Hunter, hunter, Love amp; Romance, Review, Self Published, Shapeshifter, Urban Fantasy  1 Person left their mark

Magic Burns by Ilona Andrews

Kate set out on a mission with her friend Jim. It should've been easy, locate pyromaniac, bag him, cash in and go home. Unfortunately, a mysterious shooter kills their target right in front of them, and Kate finds herself in loads of trouble.

Another amazing installment in this urban fantasy that's slowly climbing its way on my favorite series list. Kate is such a great heroine. She's got spunk, she's though and she's got a big heart. She's a no non-sense girl that somehow always finds herself in the worst positions possible, and manages to finish on top. I really like her attitude and her lines are at time funny, sometimes sarcastic and less often, but no less important, very touching. I really liked every moment of this second book and I hope she won't be as lonely in the future. I liked witnessing her mom instincts kicking in with Julie and I hope we will see more of the girl in the future!

Curran, oh Curran, my only complaint is that there wasn't enough of him. I really love this lion and his attitude. His simple yet magnificent way of showing Kate his interest and two scenes particularly rocked my world. When they fought at about 70% of the book I wanted to get my poms-poms out and do a little cheer dance and the very end when he brew coffee for her, *AAAAAAAwwwwwwwwwwwwww* too cute for words. This is promising, and god I can't wait for more!

The actions was once again quite satisfying but i have to confess I had a hard time keeping track of all the mythology involved. There were just so many myths blending together that my sleepless brain just couldn't handle it lol It didn't hinder my enjoyment of the novel though, so all is well. On the plus side, the characterization was a smooth ride this time around. Having just read the first book the characters were familiar and the few knew ones where easier to integrate.

The Kate Daniels series is a great urban fantasy ride and if like me you are late to the show, I urge you to give it a shot. Fans of Jeaniene Frost and Patricia Briggs are sure to find something to like!



 

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Posted by Tynga at 02:12

 Adult, Ilona Andrews, Kate Daniels, Magic, Penguin, Purchased, Review, Shapeshifter, Urban Fantasy  1 Person left their mark

Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews

Back in 2011 Jenn dared us to read Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews, and I finally picked it up (better late then never right?). I've had the book in print for years, but there was a recent sale on amazon with each ebook in the series (except the most recent one) on sale for 2$ a piece so I jumped on the opportunity and read it on my kindle (which is much more convenient for middle of the night reading).

Magic Bites takes place in a dystopian set up where we pushed technology so far that it crashed and ancient magic took control. Magic flickers in and out, kicking modern technology out of service randomly, which is quite inconvenient, and eats away the old skyscrapers, leaving destruction in its wake. I have to confess, it took me quite a while to fully grasp the extend of this weird world, but now that I have a picture in my mind, I really like it.

Kate is the perfect urban fantasy heroine, she's strong, independent, foul-mouthed and has some kind of mysterious power. On her quest to find a dear friend's killer, she is confronted with the perfect paranormal romance hero, Curran. He is fierce, stubborn, and scary as hell. No romance has developed thus far, but I'm sure there is some in store in the following novels. I really liked both characters and I can't wait to learn more about them and their bulging relationship.

Ilona Andrews created quite an amazing lore. On one side you have the Pack, a collection of shapechangers lead by Curran, on the other side you have the People, a group of necromancers mind-controlling vampires like they are tools. There are many kind of vampires in literature, but it's the first time I see them portrayed as vulgar mindless puppets. I was quite surprised! Kate also possess some weird magic in her blood (a legacy from her mysterious father) and I'm really curious about the details!

If I had one complain about this novel it would be that there a lot of meaningful secondary characters. It isn't a bad thing in itself, but i have a terrible memory when it comes to characters' names and I struggled keeping track of everyone involved in this murder investigation. That being said, I grew quite fond of Derek, a fun youngster and I'm very curious about Saiman even though he only makes a short appearance in this novel.

The conclusion was full of action and I will pick up the second novel sooner rather than later ^^



 

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Posted by Tynga at 01:23

 Adult, Dystopian, Ilona Andrews, Kate Daniels, Penguin, Purchased, Review, Shapeshifter, Urban Fantasy, Vampire  9 People left their mark

Hawksong by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

Many of us have a few books that hold a special place on our bookshelves because they will forever remain favorites. For me, HAWKSONG was a teenage favorite of mine and I've stopped counting how many times I've read it. It's not because it's written exceptionally well or because it has an amazing story. On the contrary, the writing is relatively simple and the story, while being original, could be a little bit more detailed. I think it became a favorite of mine because as a high school student, about 10 years ago, this genre was just starting to become popular for teens and this was simply the book that caught my attention.

The book is about Danica Shardae, an avian shapeshifter who is heir to the avian throne, and Zane Cobriana the serpent shapeshifting king. Ever since avian and serpent history can remember, their two courts have been at war, killing each other for a reason that has been lost over the years. Both these leaders wish for peace and the end of senseless killings, but both also fear assassination despite wanting the same thing. Together, Danica and Zane work together to form an alliance, that will forever change their courts and their lives. They both agree that marriage is the only thing that will keep their subjects from retaliating against the alliance but despite their good intentions, the violence doesn't end.

War and political intrigue might be the main themes of the story but I truly believe it's a love story at heart. Danica always thought she would marry another, a childhood friend of hers, but when the marriage to Zane is first proposed by peacekeepers, she is almost disgusted by the idea. Danica is a stoic person and adheres strongly to the Avian reserve, always keeping her feelings to herself, while Zane is more liberal and free with his feelings, like all Serpientes.  Zane lives in a culture that thrives on touch and affection, while Danica's people tend to frown upon displays of affection in public. Their cultures couldn't be more different, yet they decide to try as hard as possible to find a way to keep the peace. Love might be too strong a word to describe what goes on between Zane and Danica but I truly believe they end up caring for one another.

The way the author portrays the racism and hate between the two culture is quite realistic. Obviously I'm not talking about the shapeshifting part but about the different beliefs and ways of thinking. Our world can definitely improve when it comes to accepting different cultures and I think I read this book at the right time because I strongly believe the message of acceptance must be grasped by everyone, especially teens.

What I find really special (and maybe a little confusing) about this book is that you never really know if this is a fantasy world, or if it's a hidden society in our human world. The author doesn't reveal much about the actual setting and despite this fact, it really doesn't matter because the story holds on its own. The author doesn't reveal much about the time frame either because wars are fought with swords and arrows, but the women wear pants and are included on the battlefield.

Like I said, HAWKSONG is a personal favorite of mine, and I don't think anyone will ever be able to change my mind. I have no clue if it's because I have a biased opinion because I read this book as an impressionable teen or not, but one thing I know for sure, even after all these years, I can read this book time and time again.

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Posted by Tynga at 02:00

 Amelia Atwater-Rhodes, Delacorte, Paranormal, Purchased, Random House, Review, Shapeshifter, The Kiesha'ra, YA, young adult  3 People left their mark

Fury of Desire by Coreene Callahan

Wick's story is finally here! It feels like I haven't read a Dragonfury book in forever, even though it's only been a year since the previous one was published. The first three books were published only a few month apart, so prior to this fourth one, I guess I felt lucky to be able to buy and read them so close to one another. After about a year of waiting, we finally get to read Wick's story and let me tell you, the wait is definitively worth it.

Wick is the sort of character that grows on you because of his mysteriousness and his bad boy attitude. A loner and a guy that doesn't say much, we didn't get to know him all that much in the previous books. In FURY OF DESIRE, we finally understand why he's  such a broken character and why he will go to such great lengths to avoid contact with another dragon or human. His past is a dark one and I feel very sympathetic towards him and his sad childhood. Even though it's to be expected, I'm actually happy that he found a mate of his own to love and to protect him from his past.

Personally, I find J.J. (or Jamison) is a character full of clichés. A girl that was in an abusive relationship, she was forced to take matter into her own hands when her boyfriend threatened to kill her sister, Tania. In jail for killing said boyfriend, she's then abused by a horrible prison guard and she will do just about anything to be set free. Especially after getting beaten close to death, which lands her in the hospital with life threatening injuries. In comes Wick to save the day. So in my opinion, quite a cliché character and relationship, but still very entertaining. The scenes between Jamison and Wick are delightful, and even if Wick is a character that doesn't say much, the dialogue between the two is so entertaining.

I love how this series is expanding with each new book. At first, the series concentrated on dragon conflicts within the city of Seattle, but now the war between dragons is going international. Many different background characters now play a role in the battle between "good" dragons and "bad" dragons, some by simply backing it financially while others trying to get involved first hand. The world of dragonkind politics is a complicated one and I think Coreene Callahan has only given us an brief introduction. I anticipate more plot twists and intrigue in future books.

A paranormal romance at heart, like all the other books of the series, FURY OF DESIRE isn't without a good dose of action. However,  it feels like there was a little less romance in this one, compared to the first three, but that made the scenes between Wick and Jamison that much more precious. The romance will leave you desiring more, while the action will keep you on edge. I probably said it before, but I highly recommend this series, if you're a fan of the genre.

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Posted by Tynga at 03:10

 Adult, Coreene Callahan, Dragon, Dragonfury, Montlake Romance, Paranormal Romance, Publisher, Review, Romance, Shapeshifter  1 Person left their mark

Empath by Becca J. Campbell Blog Tour

I was attracted to EMPATH by the original concept of supernatural "powers" that are viewed as flaws instead of gifts by the characters. The majority of paranormal books in general concentrate on using special abilities for some greater good or to help others, but in this book, the main character Jade tries to ignore her ability as much as possible. Ever since she can remember, she's had the ability to feel other people's emotions and while that sounds interesting, it has forced Jade to live a sheltered life. Her parents figured early on that strong emotions and being around people was difficult for Jade so they home-schooled her and protected her from society as much as possible.

It's kind of cliché to meet Jade as she tries to integrate herself in college life for the first time, but for some reason, it's a cliché that I really don't mind. It works for the story and we learn along with Jade how difficult it is for her to be around so many people. Her ability not only cripples her at first, but makes her almost unable to function and concentrate in her college class. With time, she learns to cope with her ability to a certain degree, but never fully controlling it. Because of her initial inability to control her empathy, Jade comes off as a weak person, a sheltered character. I found it hard to connect with her because her naivety was just a little too much, but with time she grew on me. Especially as she started to make friends with Cam and his sibling. Soon after she meets Cam, Jade discovers that he has his own flaw, but unlike Jade, he has learnt to make the best of it and see it as a gift instead.

One character that remains a mystery, even after finishing the book, is Logan. A professor at Jade's college, he comes in and saves Jade at the most opportunistic time, whether it's saving her from failing her first college class or saving her from a more physical threat. We eventually find out that he has his own special ability, and like Jade he sees it more as a curse. His ability has also forced him to live a secluded life, never getting close to anyone in fear of revealing too much about himself.

One thing that wasn't really explained was how the special abilities came to be. Jade and Logan seemed to have been born with them, or acquired them at a very early age, while Cam developed his after sustaining an injury to his head during a traumatic accident. Hopefully we'll get more insight about why these young people have these abilities, later in the series.

The antagonist of this story is a little too freaky for me. Personally, I never really like following the antagonist's point of view in a story because it always seems forced and not quite real. EMPATH is no exception to this irritation, and while it would be difficult to really get an in depth look at the antagonist's reasons without his point of view, it might have been advantageous to hear about him from a third party or through other means. We first really hear of him when Jade overhears a conversation between two college girls discussing a murder, but that's the only time Jade is made aware of him, and then ultimetely forgets about it. Media and news could have built on the thriller/murder mystery aspect of the story, and even if the antagonist's point of view was necessary, it could have built the suspense if Jade would have been more aware of him in the early parts of the book.

EMPATH will literally take you on a roller-coaster ride of emotions. At first, it felt like there was too much emphasis on the description of emotions but that was probably done on purpose, for us to really understand what Jade is going through. A decent beginning to a series, the flow of the story was bumpy at the beginning, and some scenes seemed unimportant and irrelevant. I did enjoy the ending and how the author left us with unfinished business, setting us up for a sequel.

------------

 

During the Empath Blog Tour (September 16th - October 20th), the first book in the Flawed series will be on sale for a discounted price of $0.99. Grab it for cheap while you can!

 About the author

Becca J. Campbell is the author of the New Adult Romantic Science Fiction novels Foreign Identity and Gateway to Reality, New Adult Romantic Paranormal Thriller Empath (The Flawed Series #1), and  Sub-Normal, a series of Science Fiction short stories.

An avid lover of stories that tiptoe the line between fantasy and reality (even when they plunge off one side or the other), Becca looks for new angles on bridging the gap between the two. She holds a special place in her heart for any story that involves superpowers or time travel. Her passion is defying the limits of her own creativity. You can find her on her Author Blog, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Pinterest, and Amazon.

 

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Posted by Tynga at 03:00

 Becca J. Campbell, blog tour, giveaway, mind reading, New adult, Paranormal Romance, Review, Shapeshifter, The Flawed Series, young adult  Leave your mark

Thornhill by Kathleen Peacock

THORNHILL was one of my most anticipated releases of Fall 2013. Kathleen Peacock's HEMLOCK was one of my favorite YA debuts last year, and I couldn't wait to see what else she would come up with. I greedily dove into THORNHILL as soon as I received it and while it didn't wow me as much as its predecessor, it was still a decent sequel, and it definitively kept me interested in the story. HEMLOCK was more of a murder mystery/thriller with paranormal elements, but this sequel was more of an in depth look on how being a werewolf can turn your life upside down.

The story picks up exactly where it left off, with Mac running away from her hometown, chasing after Kyle, the boy she loves. As a newly turned werewolf, Kyle feels that the small town life isn't the right fit for him, especially since everyone would eventually find out about his lupine disease, one way or another. He thinks running away to Denver would be safer for everyone, especially Mac who he doesn't want to involve in his werewolf life. Jason, another boy that has a not-so-secret crush on Mac follows her to Denver, to make sure that she stays safe and doesn't get into too much trouble. The trio find themselves yet again in an odd love triangle and in a mystery that could affect everyone's lives.

What's I find really interesting about this series is how people truly believe that being a werewolf is a disease. The shift being something werewolves need to be cured from. The general human population believe that it's unacceptable to have werewolves living among them, going to school with their children, to the point where the government has created prison camps where all werewolves are shipped to, without having done anything--simply because they have been singled out as a werewolf. Thornhill is one of these camps. However, it does seem to be different from the others so far. First, it only houses werewolves under 18 years of age and second, some mysterious experiments seem to be happening within the wall of the prison. Like I said, the general human population really believes werewolves can be cured from the Lupine Syndrome, even if it takes imprisoning minors for simply being themselves.

When Kyle is captured and sent to this camp, Mac feels obligated to follow him into Thornhill in order to find a way to escape together. I'm not exactly sure why she absolutely wants to stay in the camp when she can reveal to her jailors that she's human and could be sent on her merry way, but I imagine it's her allegiance to Kyle--and her conscience--that makes her stay. The help they get in this jail is really unexpected, and I won't reveal too much because I'm not the spoiler type, but you can definitively look forward to meeting someone unexpected.

While Mac is the main character and a great narrator, I think my favorite character in this book is Jason. His one-liners and his sarcastic comments offer unexpected comic relief during somber scenes. His faithfulness to his best friend Kyle and Mac allows him to redeem himself, after being so adamant in Hemlock to help rid all werewolves from society.

While this series is really becoming a great werewolf story, what makes it so great is Kathleen Peacock's ability to throw in real life lesson into the mix. The prejudice against werewolves is something we can all relate too. Obviously not the werewolf part, but prejudice in general. Whether we've been a subject of prejudice or we've been guilty of judging other people based on appearances, we've all been there at one point or another in our lives. I think children and teens are even more subject to it so it's really appropriate to find it as a theme in this YA series.

I love the feel of this series, the darkness and secrecy surrounding the characters and the setting. It's mysterious enough to keep you interested, yet it reveals enough throughout the books for you to be comfortable with the story. It's definitely a series I'll keep reading and Kathleen Peacock remains on my auto-buy list after gaining the spot with HEMLOCK.

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Posted by Tynga at 03:41

 Harper Collins, Hemlock, Katherine Tegen Books, Kathleen Peacock, Paranormal, Purchased, Review, Shapeshifter, werewolves, young adult  2 People left their mark

Wolf With Benefits by Shelly Laurenston

I guess you could say I’m sort of addicted to Shelly Laurenston’s books. I’ve read about half of her Pride books in less than a year and I keep going back for more (there’s eight in total and WOLF WITH BENEFITS is the latest one). She definitely entertains with her quirky characters and their non-stop witty humor. You have to be in the mood for funny moments because there’s probably a laugh-out-loud moment in every chapter. Each book tells the story of a different shapeshifting couple and that’s excellent because that means you can pick up any book from the series and not be completely lost. However, some characters do come back from previous stories so reading them in order could be helpful to understand some minor details. But you can trust me when I say it’s not necessary.

A new couple in every book does mean that characters are starting to add up. I might have said it before, but I find that Shelly always includes too many characters. As a reader, that can get confusing when trying to keep track of everyone. Especially with this latest book where the main character, Toni, doesn’t just have a few siblings. She has 10! And all of them prodigies with special talents in the arts, in music and in academics. Out of all her siblings, she’s the only one that doesn’t have a special talent, and as the oldest of jackal offspring, she has taken the unofficial job of manager/nanny/caretaker while her parents are busy doing their own thing. Managing their schedules is a full time job, and when Toni decides to enter the workforce and finally get a real paying job, it’s chaos at home as everything crumbles because Toni isn’t there anymore to prevent fights and control everyone’s agendas.

It takes Toni a little while to realise she has to start living her own life, and not the life of her brothers and sisters. I think it’s Ricky Lee, a huge wolf who’s attracted to her messy hair, that finally helps her realise that her own life is worth living the way she wants it, and not the way her family demands it. Toni and Ricky Lee are an unlikely duo. Jackals and wolves don’t always get along but Toni eventually warm up to Ricky Lee’s wolfy charm. They make a great team, especially when they go Siberia to negotiate with unpleasant bear shifters. Not only are they frigid, these bear are very serious when it comes to negotiating hockey. As a new member of the administration of an elite shifters-only hockey team, not only is this negotiation important to the hockey team and for her new job, it’s also important to Toni because it’s the only way she can prove that she’s much more than a nanny. However, bears aren’t the only new thing Toni has to worry about. Her little brother Freddy has gotten involved in something major and has been kidnapped, probably because his sticky fingers compelled him to steal something very important in the world of bad guys. It’s no wonder Toni has separation anxiety when she leaves her family. The first time she’s truly away from them, her younger brother gets into a huge amount of trouble.

Although I found this book rather slow and lacking in some action and story elements, it was still a very fun read. It was somewhat repetitive when it came to organising the jackal clan and the fights between the siblings. On the other hand, it didn’t hurt that the story involved hockey players. Since I’m a big fan of the sport, I can’t really complain about that. I only wish there could have been more hockey action. The book also redeemed itself with the great character interactions since the author excels at easy and fun dialogue. I can’t wait to see which shapeshifters she’ll pair up next and see what new mess will arise in her shapeshifting world.

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Posted by Tynga at 03:00

 Kensington, Library, Paranormal Romance, Pride, Review, Shapeshifter, Shelly Laurenston  1 Person left their mark

Pretty When She Destroys by Rhiannon Frater

Book Stats:

Reading level: Adult
eBook: n/a
Genre: Urban Fantasy 
Publisher: Self published
Release date: August 27, 2013

Series: Pretty When She Dies #3

Reviewed by: Stéphanie

Source: ebook from author for book tour

Purchase: Not yet available

Amaliya Vezorak always believed she was destined to live a failed life in obscurity until she was brutally murdered by an ancient vampire named The Summoner and reborn as a powerful vampire necromancer. Now it is up to her to save the world…

To be honest, I did not expect the conclusion of this trilogy to go where it went. In a way, that’s why Rhiannon Frater is so brilliant. She has the ability to write great stories and surprise you at every turn. I was definitely expecting a final battle between the main character Amaliya and her arch nemesis, The Summoner and that was delivered, but everything about it was unexpected, and definitely entertaining.

Personally, I think when it comes to writing, Rhiannon Frater’s strong point is creating great character. Amaliya and Cian, from the very beginning, had good strong chemistry, and I loved seeing it evolve throughout the trilogy. Theirs was definitely not your typical romance, but it’s the type of love that could and did stand against the true test of time: the end of the world. Their relationship, however, isn’t without its faults but the connectedness between the character is what anyone would dream to have in any relationship. Their ability to feel each other’s emotions and read some of each other’s thoughts also helped them bond and really forge and strong duo. Personally, being able to read my boyfriend’s thoughts and feelings would creep the hell out of me, but for Amaliya and Cian, it simply allowed their bond to be that much stronger. Cian and Amaliya were by far my favorite characters but the rest of the cast were also very notable.

Cian’s cabal is definitely the most eclectic Scooby gang since Buffy the Vampire Slayer. You wouldn’t expect this odd bunch to be able to save the world but that’s what makes it that much more fun. Cassandra, Cian’s dhampir daughter and her girlfriend Aimee, the white witch, make an unlikely couple but really works in this urban fantasy. What’s more, the homosexual relationship wasn’t placed there to prove a point, but because it was probably second nature for the author to write about this type of relationship. The rest of the Scooby gang included a ghost whisperer, a pseudo bookworm leader, a shapeshifter and a brother-sister techno geek team. (Please note that I call them the Scooby gang but they never do call themselves that.) When you look at it this way, it really has many similarities to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, including saving the world from total evil domination. However, the biggest difference is that the main character is actually a vampire herself, but one with a conscience, obviously.

Overall, the novel was a great one but the pace of the story was a bit slow at times, and a little too fast in others. The flow could have been a little better but despite this small inconvenience, it was a great urban fantasy novel. The antagonist was as crazy as you might expect, and if it weren’t for the Summoner, I don’t think Amaliya would be the vampire she is without him. With an antagonist like the Summoner, that author was definitely not afraid to kill innocents bystanders. Truthfully, I expected more members of the Scooby gang to be killed off and while it would have been sad, I think more deaths on the good guys’ side would have been more realistic. Speaking of realistic, while I’m a big fan of happily-ever-after endings, I think the end of this book was a little too happily-ever-after. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate the ending, I just thought it would have been a little different.

PRETTY WHEN SHE DESTROYS is a great conclusion to this epic trilogy and I highly recommend the whole trilogy to vampire and Buffy fans alike. Rhiannon’s dry humor and sarcasm shines throughout the book with Amaliya’s character. I’ve come to expect great things from Rhiannon and whether you read her self-published books or her big publisher books, you’ll never be disappointed. Her individual writing style is obvious in everything she writes and with this trilogy over, I’m anxious to see what she comes up with next.

Don’t forget to check out my post from last week for the PRETTY WHEN SHE DESTROYS blog tour, and your chance to win awesome prizes! You don’t want to miss out on this series!

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Posted by Unknown at 07:15

 ghost, Review, Rhiannon Frater, Shapeshifter, Vampire, Witch, Zombies  Leave your mark

Pretty When She Destroys by Rhiannon Frater

To be honest, I did not expect the conclusion of this trilogy to go where it went. In a way, that’s why Rhiannon Frater is so brilliant. She has the ability to write great stories and surprise you at every turn. I was definitely expecting a final battle between the main character Amaliya and her arch nemesis, The Summoner and that was delivered, but everything about it was unexpected, and definitely entertaining.

Personally, I think when it comes to writing, Rhiannon Frater’s strong point is creating great character. Amaliya and Cian, from the very beginning, had good strong chemistry, and I loved seeing it evolve throughout the trilogy. Theirs was definitely not your typical romance, but it’s the type of love that could and did stand against the true test of time: the end of the world. Their relationship, however, isn’t without its faults but the connectedness between the character is what anyone would dream to have in any relationship. Their ability to feel each other’s emotions and read some of each other’s thoughts also helped them bond and really forge and strong duo. Personally, being able to read my boyfriend’s thoughts and feelings would creep the hell out of me, but for Amaliya and Cian, it simply allowed their bond to be that much stronger. Cian and Amaliya were by far my favorite characters but the rest of the cast were also very notable.

Cian’s cabal is definitely the most eclectic Scooby gang since Buffy the Vampire Slayer. You wouldn’t expect this odd bunch to be able to save the world but that’s what makes it that much more fun. Cassandra, Cian’s dhampir daughter and her girlfriend Aimee, the white witch, make an unlikely couple but really works in this urban fantasy. What’s more, the homosexual relationship wasn’t placed there to prove a point, but because it was probably second nature for the author to write about this type of relationship. The rest of the Scooby gang included a ghost whisperer, a pseudo bookworm leader, a shapeshifter and a brother-sister techno geek team. (Please note that I call them the Scooby gang but they never do call themselves that.) When you look at it this way, it really has many similarities to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, including saving the world from total evil domination. However, the biggest difference is that the main character is actually a vampire herself, but one with a conscience, obviously.

Overall, the novel was a great one but the pace of the story was a bit slow at times, and a little too fast in others. The flow could have been a little better but despite this small inconvenience, it was a great urban fantasy novel. The antagonist was as crazy as you might expect, and if it weren’t for the Summoner, I don’t think Amaliya would be the vampire she is without him. With an antagonist like the Summoner, that author was definitely not afraid to kill innocents bystanders. Truthfully, I expected more members of the Scooby gang to be killed off and while it would have been sad, I think more deaths on the good guys’ side would have been more realistic. Speaking of realistic, while I’m a big fan of happily-ever-after endings, I think the end of this book was a little too happily-ever-after. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate the ending, I just thought it would have been a little different.

PRETTY WHEN SHE DESTROYS is a great conclusion to this epic trilogy and I highly recommend the whole trilogy to vampire and Buffy fans alike. Rhiannon’s dry humor and sarcasm shines throughout the book with Amaliya’s character. I’ve come to expect great things from Rhiannon and whether you read her self-published books or her big publisher books, you’ll never be disappointed. Her individual writing style is obvious in everything she writes and with this trilogy over, I’m anxious to see what she comes up with next.

Don’t forget to check out my post from last week for the PRETTY WHEN SHE DESTROYS blog tour, and your chance to win awesome prizes! You don’t want to miss out on this series!

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Posted by Tynga at 03:15

 Author, ghost, Pretty When She Dies, Review, Rhiannon Frater, Self Published, Shapeshifter, Urban Fantasy, Vampire, Witch, Zombies  Leave your mark

Storm Force by Susannah Sandlin

Book stats:
Reading level: Adult
e-book: 342 pages
Genre: Paranormal romance
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Release date: June 18, 2013

Series: n/a

Source: Review copy from Bewitching Book Tours

Reviewed by: Jenn

Purchase: Amazon

As leader of the elite counter-terrorism team Omega Force, former army ranger Jack “Kell” Kellison is always focused on getting the job done. So when a Houston high-rise is bombed and the governor killed or missing, Kell’s mission is clear: infiltrate the group suspected of the bombing and neutralize the threat by any means necessary. But once Kell meets beautiful chief suspect Mori Chastaine, he realizes there’s more to this case than meets the eye. And more to Mori than any man—any human man—could imagine.

Mori Chastaine is running out of options. Suspected for a crime she didn’t commit, forced into a marriage she doesn’t want, she sees no escape—until Kell walks through her door. A lifetime hiding her true nature warns her Kell might not be who he seems. But he could be the only one able to help save more innocent humans from becoming pawns in an ancient paranormal power play. If Mori reveals her secret, will Kell join her fight? Or will she become his next target?

If you've been following the blog for a while, you know i enjoy Susannah Sandlin/Suzanne Johnson's work. Needless to say, when I heard she was writing a new paranormal romance that's a loose offshoot of her Penton Legacy vampire novels, I was quite excited, especially since it was being released as a Kindle serial. But then I couldn't get it because I lived in Canada so I had to wait until the full novel was written to get my hands on STORM FORCE. But I'm happy to report that STORM FORCE is a nice paranormal romance with a lot of suspense added in. It actually reads like a paranormal suspense novel that just happens to have supernatural characters in it, which is just my cup of tea.

One of the neatest things about STORM FORCE is that the lead couple have an unusual power dynamic. Mori is more than human and is consequently more physically powerful than Kell. It's a pairing that's less commonly seen in the genre and it was kind of refreshing to watch this alpha Ranger man deal with the fact that his romantic interest is being sparked by someone who could throw him out a window if she was in the mood. Thankfully, he knows that her strength doesn't make him weak because I hate those characters who can only see others' strengths as detractions. I adore strong women -- in fiction and in real life -- and I can't stand it when people react badly to capable women.

Rant aside, I also like how much this novel stands alone. You don't have to be familiar with the Penton Legacy books to read STORM FORCE so if the blurb appeals, you should pick it up. STORM FORCE reads very well as a stand-alone novel and you'll quickly be sucked into the mystery of who set the bomb and why they're framing Mori for it. The answer is unexpected -- and revealed early enough in the novel that you'll get to see the ramifications, which is great. Knowing the who and they why really up the stakes and it makes STORM FORCE a roller coaster of a novel.

There are also some nice humorous moments in STORM FORCE. One of my favourite characters is Robin, an eagle shifter with a lot of attitude. I really liked her boldness and also the fact that she was an eagle shifter since we don't see a ton of avian shifters in the literature. I do hope she gets her own novel at some point because I'd love to spend more time with her.

If you're looking for a suspenseful paranormal romance, look no further than STORM FORCE. Sandlin has created a great story with a compelling cast and you'll be hooked from the first page!

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Posted by jenn at 05:00

 Montlake Romance, Review, Shapeshifter, Susannah Sandlin, Suzanne Johnson  4 People left their mark

Storm Force by Susannah Sandlin

If you've been following the blog for a while, you know I enjoy Susannah Sandlin/Suzanne Johnson's work. Needless to say, when I heard she was writing a new paranormal romance that's a loose offshoot of her Penton Legacy vampire novels, I was quite excited, especially since it was being released as a Kindle serial. But then I couldn't get it because I lived in Canada so I had to wait until the full novel was written to get my hands on STORM FORCE. But I'm happy to report that STORM FORCE is a nice paranormal romance with a lot of suspense added in. It actually reads like a paranormal suspense novel that just happens to have supernatural characters in it, which is just my cup of tea.

One of the neatest things about STORM FORCE is that the lead couple have an unusual power dynamic. Mori is more than human and is consequently more physically powerful than Kell. It's a pairing that's less commonly seen in the genre and it was kind of refreshing to watch this alpha Ranger man deal with the fact that his romantic interest is being sparked by someone who could throw him out a window if she was in the mood. Thankfully, he knows that her strength doesn't make him weak because I hate those characters who can only see others' strengths as detractions. I adore strong women -- in fiction and in real life -- and I can't stand it when people react badly to capable women.

Rant aside, I also like how much this novel stands alone. You don't have to be familiar with the Penton Legacy books to read STORM FORCE so if the blurb appeals, you should pick it up. STORM FORCE reads very well as a stand-alone novel and you'll quickly be sucked into the mystery of who set the bomb and why they're framing Mori for it. The answer is unexpected -- and revealed early enough in the novel that you'll get to see the ramifications, which is great. Knowing the who and they why really up the stakes and it makes STORM FORCE a roller coaster of a novel.

There are also some nice humorous moments in STORM FORCE. One of my favourite characters is Robin, an eagle shifter with a lot of attitude. I really liked her boldness and also the fact that she was an eagle shifter since we don't see a ton of avian shifters in the literature. I do hope she gets her own novel at some point because I'd love to spend more time with her.

If you're looking for a suspenseful paranormal romance, look no further than STORM FORCE. Sandlin has created a great story with a compelling cast and you'll be hooked from the first page!

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Posted by Tynga at 01:00

 Adult, Bewitching Book Tours, Montlake Romance, Omega Force, Paranormal Romance, Review, Shapeshifter, Susannah Sandlin, Suzanne Johnson  5 People left their mark

Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs

Book Stats:
Reading level: Adult
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Ace Hardcover
Release date: March 5, 2013

Series: Mercy Thompson #7

Source: Personal shelf

Reviewed by: Tynga

Purchase: Amazon | Book depository

Mercy Thompson’s life has undergone a seismic change. Becoming the mate of Adam Hauptman—the charismatic Alpha of the local werewolf pack—has made her a stepmother to his daughter Jesse, a relationship that brings moments of blissful normalcy to Mercy’s life. But on the edges of humanity, what passes for a minor mishap on an ordinary day can turn into so much more…

After an accident in bumper-to-bumper traffic, Mercy and Jesse can’t reach Adam—or anyone else in the pack for that matter. They’ve all been abducted.

Through their mating bond, all Mercy knows is that Adam is angry and in pain. With the werewolves fighting a political battle to gain acceptance from the public, Mercy fears Adam’s disappearance may be related—and that he and the pack are in serious danger. Outclassed and on her own, Mercy may be forced to seek assistance from any ally she can get, no matter how unlikely.

Mercy has always had a way to get herself into trouble, but this time around it’s her husband and mate Adam who’s in trouble, and she gets to play hero. Don’t get me wrong, playing hero isn’t easy either and Mercy gets her fair share of bumps and bruises along the way, but who would’ve thought little Coyote would be the key to save both the werewolf pack and the local vampire seethe?

The Mercy Thompson series is one of my favourites urban fantasy out there, and this instalment didn’t disappoint. My only complaint would be that it was over way too fast. I don’t know if it’s Patricia Briggs’ writing style or if the word count on her novels isn’t that high but it always feels likes it’s too short. Especially since we have to wait quite a while between releases. I’m telling you, I can’t get enough of Mercy and her friends!

This time around the plot revolves around the whole pack being kidnapped by pseudo government agents and Mercy’s quest to find and free them. She has to call on old friends to accomplish her mission and I enjoyed seeing them again. The novel is, per usual, filled with heart-pounding action and keeping-you-on-the-edge-of-your-seat suspense. I blindly followed our hero every step of the way, and didn’t quite grasp the intensity of the betrayal until the final unveiling. 

Mercy’s world is really rich and entertaining  and with each book I feel like coming back home. I just love it! The lore is entertaining with werewolves, fey, witches, vampires and a single coyote involved. Each race has it knack and Mercy always does her best to walk the line and profit from each strength and trying not to make too many enemies. The ambiguity is maddening hehe.

I really like this series and I strongly suggest you give it a shot, starting with Moon Called. Frost Burned being the 7th books in the series, I can feel it coming to an end and I’m already saddened by the prospect of not visiting Mercy’s world anymore, but I’m really impatient for the next book called Night Broken.

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Posted by Tynga at 03:57

 Patricia Briggs, Penguin, Review, Shapeshifter, werewolf  155 People left their mark

Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs

Mercy has always had a way to get herself into trouble, but this time around it’s her husband and mate Adam who’s in trouble, and she gets to play hero. Don’t get me wrong, playing hero isn’t easy either and Mercy gets her fair share of bumps and bruises along the way, but who would’ve thought little Coyote would be the key to save both the werewolf pack and the local vampire seethe?

The Mercy Thompson series is one of my favourites urban fantasy out there, and this instalment didn’t disappoint. My only complaint would be that it was over way too fast. I don’t know if it’s Patricia Briggs’ writing style or if the word count on her novels isn’t that high but it always feels likes it’s too short. Especially since we have to wait quite a while between releases. I’m telling you, I can’t get enough of Mercy and her friends!

This time around the plot revolves around the whole pack being kidnapped by pseudo government agents and Mercy’s quest to find and free them. She has to call on old friends to accomplish her mission and I enjoyed seeing them again. The novel is, per usual, filled with heart-pounding action and keeping-you-on-the-edge-of-your-seat suspense. I blindly followed our hero every step of the way, and didn’t quite grasp the intensity of the betrayal until the final unveiling.

Mercy’s world is really rich and entertaining  and with each book I feel like coming back home. I just love it! The lore is entertaining with werewolves, fey, witches, vampires and a single coyote involved. Each race has it knack and Mercy always does her best to walk the line and profit from each strength and trying not to make too many enemies. The ambiguity is maddening hehe.

I really like this series and I strongly suggest you give it a shot, starting with Moon Called. Frost Burned being the 7th books in the series, I can feel it coming to an end and I’m already saddened by the prospect of not visiting Mercy’s world anymore, but I’m really impatient for the next book called Night Broken.

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Posted by Tynga at 23:57

 Ace, Adult, Mercy Thompson, Patricia Briggs, Penguin, Purchased, Review, Shapeshifter, Urban Fantasy, werewolf  45 People left their mark