Review: Song of the Nile (Cleopatra's Daughter #2) by Stephanie Dray

Song of the Nile by Stephanie Dray

Copy Courtesy of Penguin and Stephanie Dray
Already Released

This is the second book in the series, and you should definitely check out the first - Lily of the Nile - if you haven't read it yet. This review may contain some spoilers if you haven't read the first yet.

Summary
Selene Cleopatra is now a young woman and about to be married off to a man not of her own choosing. The marriage means a throne of her own in Africa, but she still yearns for the throne of Egypt. What price will she be willing to pay to gain it?

Commentary
Banish any doubts you may have had about the sequel. It takes the momentum Dray built up in the second half of the last book, and continues it. What we end up with is a powerful and magical story that will grip you from beginning to end.

Selene comes into her own as she discovers her own powers, and living through her joys, failures, and numerous sorrows is so vivid that I forgot about this time and place while reading. The supporting characters are very well fleshed out and added much to the story. The backdrop is well, stunning.

I highly recommend Song of the Nile to you. It's a wonderful second book, and as I hear that there will be a third one, am eagerly awaiting it.

Star Rating: 4.0/5.0

For an explanation of the Star Rating go here.

Check out prices for Song of the Nile at Amazon

Review: Mastiff (Beka Cooper #3) by Tamora Pierce

Mastiff by Tamora Pierce

Copy Courtesy of Random House
Release Date: TODAY!!!

This is the third book in this series and there may be some spoilers if you haven't read the previous 2 books (Terrier and Bloodhound), but honestly these stories are pretty standalone so you shouldn't worry too much.

Summary
The ultimate task for the best tracker team in the kingdom: Beka and her dog Achoo. The prince has disappeared, and the kingdom is in grave danger unless Beka can track him down. The trail though is a treacherous one, and there will be many twists, turns, and surprises.

Commentary
I'm still squee-ing over having gotten my hands on this book. I may in fact be a bit of a fangirl... tiny teeny HUGE bit. As was decided when I featured this for a Third Sentence Thursday, this series is grittier than some of Pierce's other works, but it's still got the Pierce touch.

I took this book with me on my trip to Taiwan, and I kept wanting to read instead of going off and doing things. I was definitely surprised by how the hunt for the prince turned out, which was yay ^.^ and filled with lots of tense moments. I was able to slide into this story faster than the others perhaps because I've gotten used to the slang of Beka's day.

I think this was a great last book for this trilogy, and it satisfies much better than the Protector of the Small series (in my opinion anyway). I also love how this story wraps back around to George Cooper since we started with a small vignette from his home life at the beginning of the series. So, what are you waiting for? Go get it ^.^

Star Rating: 4.0/5.0

For an explanation of the Star Rating go here.

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Review: Crossed (Matched #2) by Ally Condie

Crossed by Ally Condie

Copy Courtesy of Penguin USA (Dutton)
Release Date: November 1, 2011

This is the second book in this series so this may contain some spoilers if you haven't read the first (Matched) yet. If you haven't yet, you can check out my review of the first book.

Summary
Cassia is out in the Outer Provinces in search of Ky. Ky is in the Outer Provinces being constantly bombarded by the Enemy. The two will journey through this new land, and mayhaps, if fate lines up just so, they will be able to find each other once more.

Commentary
There is a lyrical quality to Ally's writing which just sucks you in and makes you want to keep reading this book. It's just so beautiful that I can't help liking it, and it really makes the story go by without even realizing it.

There is lots more world-building in this second story, and it's woven into the character narration very naturally. While there will likely be only one more book in this series, I do hope there's more to discover yet.

My only real critique of this book is that there is somehow a lack of depth to what is going as though there weren't really strong emotions evoked even when the characters are in danger. Granted, I did worry for them so perhaps it wasn't that bad. I look forward to reading the next book ^.^

Star Rating: 4.0/5.0

For an explanation of the Star Rating go here.

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Review: Legend (Legend #1) by Marie Lu

Legend by Marie Lu

Copy Courtesy of Putnam Juvenile (Division of Penguin)
Release Date: November 29, 2011

Summary
June is a prodigy groomed for the highest echelons of the military. Day is the Republic's most wanted criminal. When Day is accused of killing June's brother, June sets out to bring Day down. Things though aren't all they seem to be in the Republic, and June's quest will change her perspective on everything.

Commentary
Yeah, yeah, I know, it's another dystopian book, but this one is pretty good. It's written in dual-narrative with alternating chapters between June and Day. Some people have said that the printing of the two characters with different colors is distracting, but I liked it since it was a very visual indicator of the switch between narrators.

Pacing was pretty quick although perhaps because of the moments each chapter ends at (lots of mini-cliff hangers) it didn't feel like it went too fast because you had to wait for the juicy parts even if only for a chapter. I also have a certain liking for child geniuses so even though they have a lot of talents and there may be cries of Mary Su and such, I enjoyed it because the premise for their many talents was established to my satisfaction.

It's light on the romance, which I liked although this may be disappointing to some, and the fleshing out of the world was sprinkled in throughout the book, which gave a sense of complexity without being overwhelmed with information. I, for one, am looking forward to the next book.

Star Rating: 4.0/5.0

For an explanation of the Star Rating go here.

Check out prices for Legend at Amazon

Review: Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez

Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez

Copy Courtesy of Simon and Schuster
Release Date: Oct 18, 2011

Summary
The top of the violin world comes together every four years to choose a star at the Guarneri competition, and Carmen is one of those select few chosen to compete. To be at the top, Carmen has sacrificed everything, but when Jeremy, her main competitor, enters the picture, Carmen starts to wonder whether any of it was really worth it.

Commentary
Wow, I was surprised. In the first scene of the book, Carmen is poised to throw away a $1.2million violin (a Stradivarius for those who know anything about violins), and I was poised to not like the book because while that is a dramatic gesture, I wasn’t sure I could take such a horrific waste of money whether or not it was mean to be a gesture or not. Virtuosity though, turned around and surprised me with an engaging story, personable characters, and a building tension that broke at just the right moment.

Carmen’s slow realization throughout this book of the gilded cage surrounding her is not a new story, but it is told so well that it doesn’t need to be new to be great. The way Carmen’s addiction to an anti-anxiety medicine played out might have been a tad unrealistic since it seemed a bit too easy, but the thoughts which went through her head were well-written.

Maybe it’s because I don’t read that much contemporary fiction that I thought this one was good or perhaps it’s because it was good ^.^ Either way, this is a book you should get on the bandwagon for reading.

Star Rating: 4.0/5.0

For an explanation of the Star Rating go here.

Check out prices for Virtuosity at Amazon

Review: Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25 (Michael Vey #1) by Richard Paul Evans

Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25 by Richard Paul Evans

Copy Courtesy of Simon and Schuster
Already Published

Summary
Michael Vey has never fit in due in part to his Tourette's syndrome and also the constant moves he's had since he was younger. Michael, though, has power he can deliver very powerful electric shocks, and when the most popular girl in school reveals that she too has a special power, they accidentally alert a very powerful organization to their existence. One which will stop at nothing to control them.

Commentary
Ok, so the basics of this plot are very typical kind of mutant children (super-hero) and evil organizations, but the execution puts this story at the top of the heap. You might not think a lot about research for a book like this, but this author has done his homework from the thoughts and actions of someone with Tourette's to the mechanics of electricity in various situations.

Michael is bumbling at times, but he's got a lot of spunk which really made me want to cheer him on. Also, while there is a lot of information that he needs to convey about himself and his abilities, there is never a feeling that the author is just having an info-dump and plausibility be damned.

There is a secondary character called Ostin (pronounced Austin), who is incredibly endearing. He's a know-it-all and likes to spout off facts about everything, but instead of glossing over his lines with summaries, the author actually puts in the relevant facts that Ostin says. These little additions really built up the character and made him realistic despite the incredible claims on his intellect.

You NEED to read this book. It's got just the perfect mix of action, suspense, interpersonal relationships, and character building. I am eagerly (did I mention eagerly?) awaiting the next book in the series.

Star Rating: 4.5/5.0

For an explanation of the Star Rating go here.

Check out prices for Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25 at Amazon

Review: The Falling Machine (The Society of Steam #1) by Andrew P. Mayer

The Falling Machine by Andrew P. Mayer

Copy Courtesy of Pyr Books
Already Published

Summary
Sarah's father is a member of the Paragons, a group of super heroes with steampunk weapons that fight off the bad guys, but when the leader of this group is assassinated in front of her, it may be up to Sarah and the Automaton (the leader's greatest creation, a robot with really good AI) to save the day. Of course, this is complicated by the fact that in her day and age, women are basically objects to be possessed by men.

Commentary
Ok, I will admit this book may seem slow at times (I was perfectly happy with the speed), but oh the steampunkery and sleuthing! I also love how the author keeps you guessing as to whether a character will be able to get out of a tough situation, and if they do, how on earth they did it without making the reader agonize for too long.

Despite the multiple points of views, each viewpoint was delineated by chapters and it is very clear from the beginning who you are following so I never lost track. There is a lot of male chauvinism in the book, but it was appropriate to the era this book was set in although I still wanted to smack some of the male characters.

I think this was a really good addition to the Steampunk genre even though it did end on a major cliff-hanger that really leaves you going noooooo I need answers! I'm looking forward to seeing what the author does with the next book (Hearts of Smoke and Steam).

Star Rating: 4.0/5.0

For an explanation of the Star Rating go here.

Check out prices for The Falling Machine at Amazon

Review: The Magicians' Guild (Black Magician Trilogy #1) by Trudi Canavan

The Magicians' Guild by Trudi Canavan

Summary
Sonea throws a rock that changes her life when it pentrates a magical shield. Soon the Magicians' Guild hunt for this new untrained girl whose power when it gets beyond her control could destroy the city.

Commentary
The basic idea behind this book isn't new, you have a girl who is not from the nobility developing magic powers, and now the magicians who are nobles must find her. Usually though, the finding of the girl/boy is quick, but this time the chase is the main focus of the book. This felt much more realistic to me although I almost couldn't take the tension of it.

This is not much for a happy book because of the tension with very few downtime moments for Sonea. I do wish that had been broken up a bit more, however, Sonea was well developed, and there was a realistic gamut of reactions from those within the Guild as well as political maneuvering throughout the Guild as well as the seedy underworld of the city.

If you're looking for a fluffy read, this is not for you. If you want tense action, high fantasy, and realism though this might just be the book for you. I really liked it, and I hope you will too.

Star Rating: 4.0/5.0

For an explanation of the Star Rating go here.

Check out prices for The Magicians' Guild at Amazon

Review: Kitty and the Midnight Hour (Kitty Norville #1) by Carrie Vaughn

Kitty and the Midnight Hour by Carrie Vaughn

Summary
Kitty is a DJ on the midnight shift, and well she's also a werewolf. One day she gives some advice to someone else who is supernatural on the show, and ratings shoot through the roof. Now though, the rest of her pack and at least the local vampires don't like her, and Kitty must learn to find her own way.

Commentary
I've been having a streak of pretty good urban fantasy novels, which makes me happy since I had begun to have a dim view of this genre before. I'm still a bit wary, but Kitty is another big plus for UF especially because she doesn't start out as any sort of ass-kicking super-heroine. In fact, she's bottom of the pack, which is something I hadn't read yet (well I guess there was Alpha and Omega, but that was a bit different in nature).

I definitely liked the backdrop of a DJ show, and the callers were lots of fun to read about. Granted I really don't know how authentic it was. Also, as the show grows, Kitty grows as well which I really liked.

There was only a tiny bit of romance in this book although there may be more development in the next book. I quite enjoy the slow pacing of the romance, which is somewhat reminiscent of the pacing in the Mercy Thompson series. Even though Kitty is not quite as kick-butt as some of the other UF heroines, I think you guys will still enjoy following her.

Star Rating: 4.0/5.0

For an explanation of the Star Rating go here.

Check out prices for Kitty and the Midnight Hour at Amazon

Review: Hard Spell (Occult Crimes Unit Investigation #1) by Justin Gustainis

Hard Spell by Justin Gustainis

Copy Courtesy of Justin Gustanis and Angry Robot Books
Already Released

Summary
Stan works for the Supernatural Division of the Scranton Police Department. Scranton, it would seem, is very attractive to the supernatural set. When vampires start turning up dead though, it's Stan's job to figure it all out even if he doesn't like vampires all that much.

Commentary
This book delivers exactly what it promised - a gritty story about supernatural folk as seen by one mundane cop. It pulls on many existing beliefs about the paranormal especially as it pertains to the undead varieties, but it's almost refreshing to find a story where all the pre-existing rules such as sunrise, silver, holy water, garlic, and wooden stakes apply since so many books throw one or more of them out the window.

You can sense the demons that haunt Stan throughout the book, and the revelations of his background come in piecemeal although the one big revelation does seem a bit forced. He was a realistic and interesting if not particularly happy character to follow.

This will likely appeal to Jim Butcher type fans, and I definitely like the re-purposing that Gustainis has done with a lot of historical events as well as modern-day stuff. All in all, a good and engaging story.

Star Rating: 4.0/5.0

For an explanation of the Star Rating go here.

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This is now a Book Party Post

Review: Revenge of the Witch (The Last Apprentice #1) by Joseph Delaney

Revenge of the Witch by Joseph Delaney

This is an audiobook review!

Summary
Tom is apprenticed to the county Spook, who helps to keep the evil away. Unfortunately, Spooks are also feared by many so Tom may not have many friends, and well, there may be some witches to content with. Witches are dangerous they are.

Commentary
Girls with pointy shoes are dangerous! This is somewhat classified as horror (perhaps because it's scary feeling?), which is usually not a genre that particularly interests me, but I did enjoy this one especially because of statements like the previous one.

The narrator did an excellent job with the different voices, and he brought the lighthearted, scary, and all the other parts to life. I was a bit annoyed by Tom's continual insistence that he had no choice for things, but other than that he was an interesting character to follow.

If you like audiobooks, I suggest you try this one in audio. Otherwise, I still suggest you give it a read because the author does a great job of knowing what readers expect and not always following that expectation so there is a real element of suspense.

Star Rating: 4.0/5.0

For an explanation of the Star Rating go here.

Check out prices for Revenge of the Witch at Amazon

Book Review Party Post

Review: Heartless (The Parasol Protectorate #4) by Gail Carriger

Heartless by Gail Carriger

This is the 4th book in the series, and there may be some spoilers in the Summary if you haven't read the previous books yet. (Soulless #1, Changeless #2, and Blameless #3)

Summary
Alexia's pregnancy is making the vampires very very unhappy, and there is a warning of an assassination attempt on the Queen from a mad ghost. Alexia certainly has her hands full.

Commentary
Heartless was witty as ever, and I had forgotten how much I missed the banter between Alexia and her husband. You would think that there wasn't as much story with a couple that was well established with all the YA books which deal with boy and girl meeting, but that is certainly not a problem with The Parasol Protectorate series. I have yet to get tired of the characters.

I do admit that the enjoyment of this book had less to do with the plot on the Queen and a whole lot more on all the dialogue, which I think is perhaps rare for me as I usually talk about world-building and character development. I definitely giggled my way through this book.

So, if you enjoyed the previous books in the series (I really do suggest you read these books in order as the relationships are built up over the course of the series) you should enjoy this one as well. I am definitely looking forward to the next book - Timeless ^.^

Star Rating: 4.0/5.0

For an explanation of the Star Rating go here.

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This is now a Book Review Party post

Review: La Femme Fatale by Marilyn Yu

La Femme Fatale by Marilyn Yu

Copy Courtesy of Marilyn Yu
Release Date: Aug 1, 2011

Summary
Life of a vampire called Eve through a deck of cards. (Yep that's my summary and I'm sticking with it)

Couple pictures of the cards:






Commentary
I love this concept for a book. Sure it's artsy, and I'm not that big on artsy. But, it's just novel enough for me to enjoy it although I wouldn't say that there's much depth to the story. Also, the pictures are pretty nice although perhaps a bit clip-arty.

There is a companion book that gives you the full story as well as some explanation of each card. Some of the cards don't actually have story components on it; instead, they have other pictures. The author suggests that you could use the deck much like tarot cards and/or come up with your own ideas.

Essentially, this is something that I want to touch and play with.

Star Rating: 4.0/5.0

For an explanation of the Star Rating go here.

Check out prices for La Femme Fatale at Amazon

Review: Naamah's Blessing (Naamah's Trilogy #3) by Jacqueline Carey

Naamah's Blessing by Jacqueline Carey

This is the third book in the Naamah Trilogy, as such there may be some minor spoilers in the Summary portion if you haven't read the previous two. Apparently I didn't review either of those books on the blog so I'm linking you to Goodreads instead Naamah's Kiss (Book 1) and Naamah's Curse (Book 2).

Summary
Moirin finally has a chance to return to Terre d'Ange, but it is not as vibrant a place without Jehanne there. Also, the Prince is off on an expedition on the other side of the world, and with him is Ralph de Mereliot, who Moirin must face and perhaps even stop although she knows not why.

Commentary
And she's back! Carey that is. After a somewhat disappointing second novel to this trilogy, the third novel brings back the level of writing, world building, and adventure which I've come to expect from her. BTW I am somewhat of a Carey fan (huge understatement).

Sadly, we still don't get to spend that much time in Terre d'Ange, but this is the case in all but Kushiel's Dart so that's not really a surprise. The exploration we get to do is fun as per usual ^.^ Possibly the best part of this book is Bao who cracks some great one-liners throughout the book, which is something we never really got with Joscelin or Imriel in the previous series since they were both so serious.

Now, there is still doom and gloom in this book, but really this series hasn't been as dark as the previous ones. If you like Carey's style of writing, you will like this book. If you haven't tried any of her books yet, I recommend starting with Kushiel's Dart.

Star Rating: 4.5/5.0

For an explanation of the Star Rating go here.

Review: Geth and the Return of the Lithens (Beyond Foo #1) by Obert Skye

Geth and the Return of the Lithens by Obert Skye

Copy Courtesy of Shadow Mountain Press
Already Published

Summary
Geth is bored now that his adventuring days are part, and Foo is once again balanced. Obviously, this means that he should go looking for trouble, and that's exactly what he finds beyond the borders of Foo.

Commentary
This was such a fun little book. Geth is perpetually optimistic, which might be mistaken for sarcasm, but it's hilarious that he really means what he's saying. Clover, who accompanies Geth on his adventures, is delightfully snarky.

The best part of this book is the dialogue (internal character as well as between characters). I laughed through a lot of this book ^.^ I wasn't overly excited about the constant message from the author that you shouldn't just accept life as it is, but I could overlook it because of the amusement factor.

This is a book I think a lot of people would enjoy just as a light read and for giggles since the main host of characters are a lot of fun. I look forward to seeing what else this series will bring to the table.

Star Rating: 4.0/5.0

For an explanation of the Star Rating go here.

Review: Eon by Alison Goodman

Eon by Alison Goodman

Summary
Eon is a candidate to become an apprentice Dragoneye, which will bond him to an energy dragon. Even as the test for apprenticeship takes place, political turmoil threatens the Imperial Throne, and Eon is drawn into its subtleties. There is only one small catch, he is actually she - Eona - and female Dragoneyes are forbidden; discovery would mean death.

Commentary
Aaahh the ending! Oh wait, you probably want to hear about the rest of the book before I lament about the cliff hanger. So, I'm liking the somewhat Asian backdrop of this story, but I may be slightly biased. There are just not enough books set in Asia!

Dragons! There are dragons! Have I mentioned I like dragons? Well I do, so I'm biased in that respect too although the dragons don't really talk... they're more tools at least in this book rather than thinking beings (although they do kind of whisper intent and pick up on emotions). I'm hoping there will be more interactions in the next one.

There is a lot of time spent on political posturing, but this is also something I enjoy so I'm starting to think this book was written for my tastes ^.^ Eon isn't exactly a guns-blazing heroine, but I felt that her reactions were true to the predicament she found herself in without ever resorting to whiny-ness.

So to reiterate! Politics! Dragons! Asia! I'm liking where this was and where it is heading although now I'm Jonesing for the next book especially because, as I mentioned, the ending is a cliff-hanger.

Star Rating: 4.0/5.0

For an explanation of the Star Rating go here.

Check out prices for Eon at Amazon

Review: The Uncertain Places by Lisa Goldstein

The Uncertain Places by Lisa Goldstein

Copy Courtesy of Tachyon Publications
Release Date: June 15, 2011 (Although Amazon is already shipping copies)

Summary
In fairy tales which were hidden from this world, there is a story of a family which is blessed with good fortune. In exchange, one girl from that family must give up 7 years of her life to the other world, the faerie realm. Will Tayler falls in love with just such a girl, Livvy Feierabend, but he will not take giving her up for 7 years.

Commentary
I have been disappointed many times by lackluster fairy tale retellings, but this one was good, really good. I was enchanted from the moment I picked up the book until the moment I finished. It manages to capture that touch of fae which is at once serious and wild.

Somehow, Lisa manages to introduce you to many of the intricacies of the faerie world while never making you feel like you're overwhelmed with information. Her characters are decidedly odd, but you still can't help rooting for them.

This telling is woven with a great attention to detail, and you will find bits and pieces coming together in unexpected ways. There is nothing left dangling even though this is not your typical fairy tale. And really, you have to read this book to understand the undertones of almost sinister whimsy which runs throughout the book since I cannot adequately describe it.

Star Rating: 4.0/5.0

For an explanation of the Star Rating go here.

Check out prices for The Uncertain Places at Amazon

Review: The Dead and the Gone (Last Survivors #2) by Susan Beth Pfeffer

The Dead and the Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer

*Note, this is the second in the Last Survivors series, but you can read them out of order. If you haven't heard of this series, check out my review of Life as We Knew It (which is the first book).

Summary
Alex Morales is 17 when the moon is knocked off its previous orbit. When his parents fail to come home, he is left to try and keep himself and his two sisters alive in the heart of New York City.

Commentary
Alex's situation is really tough. His family was quite poor to begin with so he must struggle constantly to find supplies, and he was pretty ill-prepared to begin with as he doesn't quite believe the news in the beginning. I think this added an even more desperate edge to his story.

The post-apocalyptic New York City is really wonderfully described, and I really enjoyed the continuing sense of decay as all the wealthy people are evacuated while the poor scrabble to survive or die since they have no good way to get out. Those who read it may be reminded of the aftermath of Katrina.

I really liked this second installment although I think the first one was better, so if you really had to choose, you should read that one. If you've read the first one, you should consider reading this one too ^.^

Star Rating: 4.0/5.0

For an explanation of the Star Rating go here.

Check out prices for The Dead and the Gone at Amazon

Review: Deathless by Catherynne M. Valente

Deathless by Catherynne M. Valente

Copy Courtesy of Tor Books
Already Released

Summary
This is the story of a girl, who saw some birds turn into husbands for her sisters. This is a story of Koschei the Deathless, who is a central figure of many a Russian folklore tale. This is also a story of Communism in Russia.

Commentary
Fair warning to all of you, this is not an easy read. The style of Valente is a beautifully complex story weaving, and if you try to hurry your way through this book, I promise you will get lost. But, if you take this book at a more thought-engaged pace, this proves to be an excellent book.

It's very rare for a story to make weird seem fitting, and this book has more than its fair share of weirdness as well as more than its fair share of fitting. The characters are reminiscent of a fairy tale, but one which has a much more Brothers' Grimm bent than any Disney version. The backdrop of Communist Russia gives the whole story a tone of hopelessness which will make you ache for the characters.

This a great story, but I will be the first to admit that it is not for everyone. It is not a cliche romance novel to be read and forgotten, nor is it a happy little coming of age tale. No, Deathless is for those who want to be whirled into a world that is at the same time brutal and loving, cold and kind, and definitely out of the ordinary.

Star Rating: 4.0/5.0

For an explanation of the Star Rating go here.

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Review: River Marked (Mercy Thompson #6) by Patricia Briggs

River Marked by Patricia Briggs

This is the 6th book in the series, so if you haven't read any of them (or only the first couple) you may want to be cautious as there are spoilers in the review that follows. I've reviewed Book #1 - Moon Called as well as Book #2 - Blood Bound if you want to check those out ^.^ This is a fantastic series so if you haven't picked it up, you really should!

Summary
Mercy and her mate, Adam, are on their honeymoon! Course they don't go somewhere all fancy, they end up on a camping trip with a trailer provided by... well a faerie. While they are enjoying each other, they also become embroiled with a river monster because faeries don't do nice things for just any reason.

Commentary
Somehow, I just never get tired of Mercy Thompson, and her hunky now husband Adam. The beginning starts off with funnery as we get reacquainted with old beloved characters, and then we quickly reach the honeymoon, where of course the bit with the faeries comes into play.

My favorite part of this is really the interactions with Coyote, who is a 'god' of the Native Americans. He brings all sorts of amusing scenes and exploration of Native American culture into play in this book. Briggs really does a great job of interweaving these bits in, and of course Mercy is as strong a character as ever.

I will admit that this story feels a bit like a side quest, which doesn't make it bad, but it doesn't move Mercy's story forward a whole lot. Granted, it was nice to have a book mostly focused on only Mercy and Adam. Fans of Mercy should definitely pick this book up as it's a good addition to her universe.

Star Rating: 4.0/5.0

For an explanation of the Star Rating go here.

Check out prices for River Marked at Amazon