review: moon called by patricia briggs

Moon Called by Patricia Briggs
January 31st, 2006
ACE (Penguin)
Urban Fantasy
Mercedes Thompson #1


I bought this from Amazon Kindle.


Author's Website | Goodreads
Amazon | Book Depository

Werewolves can be dangerous if you get in their way, but they'll leave you alone if you are careful. They are very good at hiding their natures from the human population, but I'm not human. I know them when I meet them, and they know me, too.

Mercy Thompson's sexy next-door neighbor is a werewolf. 

She's tinkering with a VW bus at her mechanic shop that happens to belong to a vampire. 

But then, Mercy Thompson is not exactly normal herself ... and her connection to the world of things that go bump in the night is about to get her into a whole lot of trouble.

I've seen the covers for the Mercy Thompson books at the library, online, and basically all over the place. I've been meaning to get into this series for a few years now, but never really felt like expending the effort to really try. I bought the first of Ms. Briggs' ALPHA AND OMEGA series this past week and after finishing that, I decided I may as well get the backstory about Mercy and Samuel while I was at it.

I'm so damn glad I did.

I love Mercy's voice, her attitude, her abilities, and how she understands her limits. I adore her friends (Warren and Kyle are my favorites!!! *quiet squeal*). I love her two men--Adam and Sam. Gawd. So much Alpa in one book. *shivers* I just loved this book. I'm about to buy the 2nd book, as well as the next in the ALPHA AND OMEGA series.

I loved the significance of Mercy's tattoo, and the foreshadowing from the vampires.

Moon Called is a very fast paced read, without being so fast that you feel like you've missed something. The progression from Mystery to Gathering Clues to SOLUTION is nicely done, and I loved the ending for Adam's old friend.

All in all, I hate myself for waiting so long to get started in this series, but I foresee myself quickly making my way through them all here shortly. LOL

Cover: 4 Stars
Characters: 4 Stars
Concept:: 5 Stars

Overall: 4 Stars

review: frost moon by anthony francis

Frost Moon by Anthony Francis
April 6th, 2010
Bell Bridge Books
Urban Fantasy
Skindancer #1


I requested this as an ebook from Netgalley.com. 


Author's Website |  Goodreads
Amazon | Book Depository

In an alternate Atlanta where magic is practiced openly, where shapeshifters party at the urban clubs and vampires rule the southern nights like gangsters, where demure witches sip coffees at the local cafes and mysterious creatures command the dark caverns beneath the city, Dakota Frost's talents are coveted by all: She's the best magical tattoo artist in the southeast: a SkinDancer, able to bring her amazing tats to life.  

When a serial killer begins stalking Atlanta's tattooed elite, the police and Feds seek Dakota's help. Can she find the killer in the dark fringe of the city's magical Edgeworld? What kind of enemies and allies will she attract among the powerful outcasts and tormented loners, who see her as a threat, a seduction, an unexpected champion . . . or as delicious prey.

So, I requested this based purely on a whim. I'll be perfectly honest: Dakota's appearance almost put me off. I admittedly like my heroine's small in stature and a bit less...I dunno exactly how to describe her. She's...bad ass but not. She very much gives off the image of a bad ass without actually being one. Make sense?

But before I really start talking about the book--let me just say how much I love that cover. OMG. You have to read the book to really understand how awesome that cover is because can we say appropriate? It's so rare for a cover-person to even remotely resemble the actual character that when it happens, it's awesome. So yeah. LOVE the cover.

OKAY. So. Book. I came close to not reading this. But...I don't know what it is but it just sucked me in. The idea of tattoos being a magic in and of themselves, the art and the interaction of skin and ink, design and intent...god that just really caught me. I loved Dakota and Cinnamon's initial relationship--I admit, I was so disappointed when it changed and got all platonic-y. *sadface*

I never really got attached to the possible love interests--I mean, they're all perfectly lovely, but none...just screamed PERFECT YES ME OBVIOUSLY IT'S ME, like so many heros do. Maybe it's because there was never really a specific hero? I don't know. I don't know what to make of Dakota's ex-girlfriend. I loved that Dakota was bi and that it's not just a "oh yeah she likes girls too but here let's just bring out ALL THE PENIS" like so many do. There was an actual girlfriend and there was chemistry and it was kind of tempting to want them back together...gah.

This book was addictive, it really was. So obviously I got the sequel...*grin*

All in all, a great book. Well worth the time to read. My only real complaint is that there really isn't a set love match (one or even two) and I really do like a good romance. LOL

Cover: 4 Stars
Characters: 4 Stars
Concept: 5 Stars

Overall Rating: 5 Stars