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Review – Shift June 5, 2012

Posted by thehypermonkey in 4.5 stars, Urban Fantasy.
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Title: Shift

Author: M. R. Merrick

Genre: YA Urban Fantasy

Publisher: M. R. Merrick

Publish date: February 1, 2012

ISBN-10: 0987726242

Available at: Amazon – Barnes and Noble 

Summary:

Chase is trying to reconcile himself with the death of his mother while Rayna tries to shift to her beast before it kills her. Meanwhile, Chase discovers secrets Marcus has pertaining to his mother and her death as well as the events leading to Rayna’s abduction to the other realm. Riley is still alive and gathering an army. Will Chase work with the Circle to battle his father and the army he’s massing? Or will Chase find an army of his own?

Review:

I thought this book got rolling right away. It begins with a meeting with the Circle and the action got going right away. The thrills just continue on from there, but it wasn’t without rhyme or reason. The plot was well developed and well thought out.

I loved the way the characters continued to evolve. Chase continued to mature as a person and as a leader. Rayna continued to grow as well as Willy. Whereas Marcus peeled back his layers like an onion. While Tiki showed off his many and varied facets.

The addition of the pack of werecats was something I adored as they’re my favorite paranormal creature. Between the werecat pride and the werewolf pack, the new characters continued to pour in and add even more sparkle to the book.

Chase and Rayna’s relationship revved up in this book. It wasn’t hot and steamy but there was definitely some chemistry. It was just the right amount of romance to the mix. It wasn’t over-powering. There was enough to know that it existed and to keep it interesting.

The relationship between Marcus and Chase changed too. I can’t give too much away, but it was enough to tug at my heartstrings. With Chase being left alone in the world with no one to care about him, it’s heat-warming to know that there’s an adult there that does look out for him and have his best interests at heart.

I love how Willy evolved in this book. I’ve always had a soft spot for him. I’ve always rooted for him and it’s good to know that he gave me something to root for. His growth in this book was particularly significant to me, because it was the most radical.

Although the end was somewhat predictable, it didn’t take away from the enjoyment of it.  Needless to say, I cannot wait for the third book of this series!

Exiled February 6, 2012

Posted by thehypermonkey in 4.5 stars, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy.
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Exiled

by M. R. Merrick

(also available in paperback)

From Goodreads:

Chase Williams is a demon hunter in the Circle, or at least he was supposed to be. On his fifteenth birthday, Chase stepped up to the altar to claim his elemental power, but it never came. Elemental magic is passed down to a hunter through the bloodline, but on Chase’s birthday, the bloodline stopped.

Exiled without the Circle’s protection, Chase has spent two years trying to survive a world riddled with half-demons and magic. When he has a run in with a frightened and seemingly innocent demon, he learns the Circle’s agenda has changed: the Circle plans to unlock a portal and unleash pure-blood demons into the world. Vowing to stop them, and knowing he can’t do it alone, Chase forms a reluctant alliance with Rayna — a sexy witch with an attitude and a secret.

In their attempt to stop them, Chase and Rayna find themselves in the middle of the Circle’s plan, leaving one of them to decide what their friendship is worth, and the other’s life depending on it.

This book had everything good. Character development, amazing fantasy, and a fast-paced plot. I loved it!

Chase was an entirely sympathetic and likable character. He wasn’t one of those whiny little teenagers. No! He had spine! Although he made bad decisions, he owned up to them. He admitted his mistakes and short-comings. Something I really came to admire.

Rayna was spunky too. She could hold her own in a fight and then some. Plus, she could charm the pants off of a very ancient vampire. She was also very intriguing with her half-witch and half- demon blood.

I’m not a fan of romance.  So when her interactions with Chase weren’t too romantic and I didn’t have to skim and skip. I was quite relieved. They had a natural relationship.

This book borders on urban fantasy as it touches on the real world but never really enters it. There are mentions of it, but you never really delve into it. I liked that about it.

One action scene after another left me breathless. I never stopped wondering when it would stop. It was so fast-paced, the story seemed to fly by.

I look forward to the next book and I hope I don’t have to wait too long for it! If it’s as good as the first, it promises to be a good one!

4.5 of 5 stars