Moon Called by Patricia Briggs

In honor of Halloween I decided to review one of my favorite sci-fi/fantasy series that will make wonder what really does go bump in the night. Moon Called by Patricia Briggs is the first book in the Mercedes Thompson series. Mercedes Thompson (Mercy) appears to be your average Volkswagen mechanic in in the Tri-City area of Washington State. Mercy is anything but normal for many reasons:

• Mercy Thompson is a shape shifter. She shifts into a coyote and as far as she knows she is the last of her kind.
• When Mercy was a baby, her mother decided she could not raise a shape shifter and dropped her off in Montana with Bran and his clan. Bran is the Marrok, otherwise known as the leader of the North American werewolves.
• Mercy’s mentor, former boss, and father figure, Zee, is a Fae. In Mercy’s world the Fae are no longer in hiding and the world is aware of their existence. However, the world only knows what the Fae want them to know, and that isn’t much. The extent of magical abilities of the Fae is still a well-kept secret.
• Mercy’s neighbor is Adam, the Alpha of the local werewolf pack. The werewolves only tolerate Mercy’s presence and only because Adam has told them to leave her alone.
• One of Mercy’s closest friends, Stefan is a vampire who drives an old Volkswagen van.

Mercy attracts trouble but she is clever, wily and knows when to run instead of fight. When she finds a young werewolf sleeping in Stefan’s Volkswagen van she tries to decide if introducing him to Adam is a good idea. Unfortunately she waits to long and some shadowy characters (unfamiliar werewolves) kill Mercy’s young charge. Adam’s pack is attacked, his teenage daughter is taken and he is injured so badly that Mercy’s only option is to take him to the Marrok. The problem with taking Adam to the Marrok is that there is a chance Mercy will run into Samuel, Bran’s oldest son and the man Mercy was convinced she would marry. Obviously that didn’t work out the way she planned. The attack of the young werewolf and on Adam’s clan signals something more sinister than conflicts between werewolf packs.

What I enjoy about the Mercy Thompson series is that Patricia Briggs writes her characters as flawed individuals who take responsibility for their actions and make no excuses for who they are. Mercy is extremely loyal to those she loves, even if they have not always been good to her. While she gets herself in trouble, she rescues her friends as often as they rescue her. Mercy is not a damsel in distress. There is no clear line between good and evil and the relationship between all the “magical” races is complicated and not always friendly. As the last of her kind, most of the magical races have no idea what to make of Mercy. Should she be pitied, coveted or eliminated? One thing is for certain, Mercy seems to bring out strong emotions in all of the races she encounters. The world of Mercy Thompson seems believable even with the supernatural elements. Briggs and Mercy Thompson is a good choice for those who want to try out the sci-fi/fantasy genre. Yes this is an alternate world, but the basis is grounded in the “real” world so there are very familiar elements. As the series progresses it does delve more deeply into the myths of vampires, werewolves and other supernatural beings.

To date Patricia Brigg’s has written 6 books in the series, Moon Called, Blood Bound, Iron Kissed, Bone Crossed, Silver Borne and River Marked. I would recommend reading the books in order as each one builds upon the previous relationships and story-lines. My only wish was that Briggs would write faster because I am eagerly awaiting the seventh book in the series. Unfortunately, according to Brigg’s website, it is scheduled for release in the spring of 2013. In the meantime, Brigg’s has another series that is a spin-off of Mercy Thompson called Alpha and Omega. This series focuses on Charles, also a werewolf, the brother of Samuel and son of Bran. Book 3 of the Alpha and Omega series, Fair Game, is scheduled to come out in early 2012.

~Amy, Adult Services

Books that bite back: Paranormal romances

Looking for a romantic, steamy read with a touch of the supernatural? This month, we're featuring authors of the highly-popular paranormal romance genre. Much more than vampires, many long-running series feature all sorts of creatures like shape-shifters (not just werewolves!), immortals, the magical & strange and even zombies! Of course, there are plenty of blood-suckers for those who can't resist their charm.

Here are some highlights from our most popular series in our collection. If you'd like to know more, stop by the Recommendations Desk or e-mail us at yourlibrarian@dubuque.lib.ia.us

Vampires
Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost (Romance Frost) - The series Night Huntress follows half-vampire, half-human Catherine Crawfield searching for vengeance against her vampire father. In the first installment, Cat's plans go awry when she is captured by vampire bounty hunter Bones.

Kiss of Midnight by Lara Adrian (Romance Adrian) - The first book in the Midnight Breed series features the Breed, a race of vampires sworn to protect humans from the threat of the Rogues. After meeting Breed warrior Lucan Thorne, Gabrielle Maxwell is drawn into the dangerous world of hunter vampires, one that is on the edge of an apocalyptic blood war.

Shape-Shifters

Mercury's War by Lora Leigh (Romance Leigh) - Leigh's Breed follows a genetically-altered race of feline & canine shape-shifters. Mercury's War follows Ria Rodriguez as she goes undercover to expose a traitor and instead encounters Mercury Warrant, one of the greatest Breeds created, who wants her for his mate.

Kissing Midnight by Emma Holly (Romance Holly) - The Fitz Clare Chronicles, a historical paranormal romance series, features a race of immortal shape-shifters - the upyr.The first installment follows upyr Edmund Fitz Clare as he battles his attraction to Estelle Berebger as they are both drawn into London's dark underground to prevent an ancient conflict from destroying both their worlds.

Magic & Immortals

Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning (Romance Moning) - The first installment of the Fever novels begins with MacKayla "Mac" Lane investigating the strange circumstances of her sister's death in Ireland. Mac is quickly drawn into an extraordinary world of magic, and finds an unlikely mentor in the darkly dangerous Jericho Barrons.

Second Sight by Amanda Quick (Fiction Quick) - The first novel of the Arcane Society series finds secretive psychic Venetia Milton hired to photograph the Arcane Society's collection of alchemical artifacts, currently in the care of Gabriel Jones. Deciding that it's now or never for love, Venetia seduces him, only to lose him in a fire set by a nefarious enemy. She is quite stunned when, after establishing herself as his widow, Gabriel reappears on her doorstep, very much alive and afraid for his life.

Zombies
I Kissed a Zombie and I Liked It by Adam Selzer (eBook Selzer) - Living in the post-human era in which zombies, vampire and werewolves are the norm, dating is the last thing on 18-year-old Algonquin "Alley" Rhodes' mind. But, after covering a local band for her high school newspaper, Alley falls head over heels with guest singer Doug, a zombie. Things get even more dangerous for Alley when her classmate Will demands to turn her into a vampire, and even her undead boyfriend may be unable to stop him.

My Zombie Valentine by Katie MacAlister, Angie Fox, Marianne Mancusi and Lisa Cach (Romance Short My) - A collection of four lighthearted romances, including a tale of a miscast voodoo love spell that brings a woman's one true - and undead - love to her and another of a B horror movie set where a makeup artist quickly learns that art can imitate life.

Happy reading!

~ Allison, Adult Services

Read Alike: J.R. Ward

J.R. Ward is a bestselling author of paranormal romances. Her stories contain a blend of adrenaline-fueled danger and erotic stories. Ward is best known for her vampire-based Black Dagger Brotherhood series beginning with Dark Lover about six vampire brothers who are fighting for the very existence of their race. In 2009 Ward started her new Fallen Angels series beginning with Covet. Ward's novels are plot-driven, fast-paced, steamy and violent. If you are a fan of J.R. Ward and the Black Dagger Brotherhood or paranormal romances in general, we suggest the following:

Kresley Cole’s Immortals After Dark series starting with A Hunger Like No Other

• Seeking revenge for years of torture from the vampire horde, Laclain MacRieve, leader of the Lykae Clan of werewolves, abducts the ethereal Emmaline, a young woman who is half Valkyrie and half vampire, and finds himself falling in love with his captive.

Christina Dodd’s Darkness Chosen series starting with Scent of Darkness

• When the man she loves, Jasha Wilder, turns into a wolf before her very eyes, Ann Smith soon discovers that she has been chosen to break the curse that binds his soul.

Lara Adrian’s Midnight Breeds series starting with Kiss of Midnight

• Drawn to the enigmatic stranger she sees across the room in a crowded dance club, Gabrielle Maxwell is drawn into the dark and dangerous world of hunter vampires, one in which a blood war is on the edge of ignition, when she falls for Lucan Thorne, a vampire Breed warrior sworn to protect other vampires and humans from the threat of the Rogues.

Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark Hunter series starting with Fantasy Lover

• Cursed to remain a love slave for eternity, Julian of Macedon finds himself falling for his latest owner, Grace Alexander, who might hold the key to breaking the curse.

Alexis Morgan’s Paladins of Darkness series starting with Dark Protector

• Devlin Bane, an immortal Paladin warrior in the centuries-long battle against evil, is destined to die and be revived over and over again in his quest to protect humankind from the Others, until he finds himself coming ever closer to losing his humanity and falling in love with Dr. Laurel Young, the Handler who revives him every time he dies.

Jacquelyn Franks Nightwalkers series starting with Jacob

• When Jacob, a Nightwalker who is forbidden to love a human, saves Isabella's life, he is torn between his duty as Enforcer of the Nightwalkers and his attraction to Isabella.

Additional series and authors include the Psy-Changelings series by Nalini Singh, the Argeneau series by Lynsay Sands, Dark series by Christine Feehan, and the Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost.

Please stop by the Recommendations Desk on the first floor, check out NoveList Plus on the library's website, or visit W. 11th & Bluff next week for more reading suggestions. Or submit a Personal Recommendations request, and we'll create a reading list just for you!

Atlantis Redeemed by Alyssa Day

This will be my last official book review for Carnegie Stout, as I have accepted a position with the State Library of Iowa, but I have several Read Alike posts coming up on ‘cozy mysteries.’ If you don’t know what cozies are, stay tuned to W. 11th & Bluff.

I realized we haven’t reviewed many romances here, so I thought I would find a newer one to read. I asked a colleague for some suggestions and finally picked Atlantis Redeemed by Alyssa Day. It is number five of the “Warriors of Poseidon” series. One complaint I read about this particular title, was that it was not very well tied to the rest of the series, but as this is the only one I read, that wasn’t an issue. In fact, I felt it was fine as a stand-alone title.

Imagine being cursed by a god, “for all eternity, until such time as you meet your one true mate, you will feel no emotion. Neither sadness nor joy, neither rage nor delight.” Brennan, a warrior of Poseidon, has angered the god and brought down this horrible curse. But when he finally meets Tiernan, all his emotions, stored up over centuries, come flooding back. The second half of the curse: Brennan will forget her, as soon as she is out of his sight. Tiernan’s gift, the ability to detect lies, comes in handy as an investigative reporter. She and Brennan must find out the truth about scientists conducting experiments on humans and shape shifters. Throw in a vampire enclave and you have a fast paced, exciting story.

There are some steamy parts as Brennan and Tiernan explore their relationship, under the restrictions of the curse. It takes all parties: the shape shifters - a wolf pack in Yellowstone, the vampires, the Atlanteans and the human Tiernan working together to defeat the evil scientists. Poseidon finally relents and Brennan and Tiernan get their happily ever after.

Read Alike: Laurell K. Hamilton

Laurell K. Hamilton

www.laurellkhamilton.org

(Caution: Hamilton's writing often contains explicit sexual content and language.)

Popular with Fantasy, Horror, and Mystery readers, early novels in Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series may also intrigue Hardboiled/Noir readers. In alt-reality St. Louis, vampires possess legally recognized minority status. Special enforcers, like tough-but-vulnerable Anita, keep them in line with the law. Sexual tension and violence simmer among unusual (often quasi-human) characters.

Start with Guilty Pleasures: When innocent vampires are found murdered, the city's most powerful vampire hires Anita Blake, a vampire hunter known as "The Executioner," to investigate the crimes.

More recently, Hamilton has applied her successful 'folklore-meets-gritty-urban-reality' formula to her Merry Gentry series, whose title character is a Faery royal-turned-private-investigator in L.A. Running away from her evil aunt, fairy princess Meredith Gentry hides out in the mortal world as a private detective specializing in supernatural crimes in this thrilling and sexy series.

Start with A Kiss of Shadows: Mixed-blood Princess Meredith NicEssus, however, has fled the faerie world to pass for three years as Merry Gentry, a human with some fey blood who works in Los Angeles with a detective agency that specializes in supernatural problems and magical solutions. Suddenly outed as the missing princess and fearing that her aunt, the Queen of Air and Darkness, will kill her, she makes a desperate run aided by her detective pals.

Fans of Anita Blake and Merry Gentry may also enjoy:

Jim Butcher’s Dresden files: Butcher's dry, laconic tone tempers highly supernatural elements with earthy believability. Harry Dresden, titular protagonist of the Dresden Files series, first attracted Fantasy fans: An unshaven Wizard and Private-Eye for Hire in alt-reality Chicago where the police often need his (unofficial) help. Fast-paced action and good story-telling abounds, interlaced with humor from wry to near-slapstick. Storm Front: With rent past due and a decent meal becoming an issue of some importance, Harry needs work, and soon. A call from a distraught wife, and another from Lt Murphy of the Chicago PD Special Investigation Unit makes Harry believe things are looking up, but they are about to get worse, much worse. Someone is harnessing immense supernatural forces to commit a series of grisly murders.

Patricia Briggs' Mercy Jackson series: Briggs writing style keeps the plot racing and she seamlessly mixes romance with fantasy, mystery and adventure. The characters are engaging and will satisfy both vampire and werewolf/shapeshifter fans. Moon Called: While trying to live a so-called normal existence, mechanic Mercy Thompson, a shape shifter raised by werewolves, gets into trouble with the gremlins, witches, and vampires with whom she deals on a daily basis.

Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark Hunter Series: Kenyon is a leading writer in Paranormal Romance, offering readers an addictive blend of mythology, magic and sexy love stories in her vampire-based Dark-Hunter series. Kenyon populates her world with complex characters. These characters are never clearly good or bad, and the villain of one book can become the hero of the next. Kenyon builds her world with vivid details of the setting, often New Orleans, and the characters' homes, weapons, and relationships. Night Pleasures: A handsome immortal finds himself drawn despite himself to the prim and proper Amanda Devereaux, a smart, witty, and conservative young woman who wants nothing to do with the paranormal, in the first novel in the Dark-Hunter series.

Charlaine Harris’ Southern Vampire Series (better known as True Blood): The Sookie Stackhouse novels feature a female protagonist living in avividly portrayed small Southern town. These Mysteries are not truly dark or disturbing. Dead Until Dark: Sookie Stackhouse is a cocktail waitress in small-town Louisiana, but she keeps to herself and doesn't date much because of her "disability" to read minds. When she meets Bill, Sookie can't hear a word he's thinking. He's the type of guy she's waited for all of her life, but he has a disability, too--he's a vampire with a bad reputation. When one of Sookie's coworkers is killed, she fears she's next.

Karen Marie Moning’s Fever series: Moning writes steamy hot romances with a strong supernatural angle. Her historical romances feature rugged Scottish settings and time travel that spans centuries, while her contemporary romances feature our own familiar world alongside the world of the Fae. Elements of mystery and suspense frequently figure in her stories, which are told in a captivating, page-turning style. Strong characters, vivid descriptive details, and sizzling sex scenes will seduce readers into Moning's Urban Fantasy worlds. Darkfever: Mac is stunned to discover that her sister's murder was far more than a random act of violence and resents the awakening of a mysterious ability to sense the Fae and their talismans, a talent that sends her on a quest to find a mystical book of dark power.

Kim Harrison’s The Hollow’s Series: Readers are charmed by Kim Harrison's deft mix of human and non-human characters living in an alternate world, as they follow witch and bounty hunter Rachel Morgan on her adventures. Smart-mouthed and strong-willed Rachel lives in a small unearthly community within Cincinnati called The Hollows, in which mythical beings coexist with their human counterparts. Readers are treated to highly imaginative facts and histories of these strange creatures as Harrison creates gripping and elaborate plots and subplots to keep her readers guessing. Dead Witch Walking: Sexy bounty hunter and witch Rachel Morgan prowls the dark streets of Cincinnati, keeping tabs on the vampires and other creatures of the supernatural that prey on the city's innocent and vulnerable inhabitants.

Jeaniene Frost Night Huntress series: New York Times bestselling author combines paranormal romance with urban fantasy fiction. Her Night Huntress series combines a winning blend of humor, sex, and real emotion that will leave readers eager for more. Halfway to the Grave: Half-vampire Catherine Crawfield pursues the undead with a vengeance in the hope that one of her prey will be the father who ruined her mother's life, but her plans go awry when she is captured by Bones, a vampire bounty hunter.

Please stop by the Recommendations Desk on the first floor, check out NoveList Plus on the library's website, or visit W. 11th & Bluff next week for more reading suggestions. Or submit a Personal Recommendations request, and we'll create a reading list just for you!