Some quote on the book or other promises that you'll read this one in one go, and I pretty well did. I was getting interrupted during the last chapter quite a bit and I wanted to snarl at people.
For the record, I would like to state that the ending of the previous book, well...what you think is about to happen, doesn't. Whew. The author actually handles the aftermath of it pretty well.
Anyhoo, current plot: Mercy's vamp friend Stefan is literally dropped into her living room, in a near-death state, and he can barely get out the words, "She knows." Which is to say, head vampire Marsilia knows that Mercy knows what she did in Blood Bound, and she's pissed and wants Mercy dead (and puts the crossed bones of the title on her door for all to see). She's also tortured the hell out of Stefan and killed his family of blood donors. She might not be able to kill Mercy, seeing as Mercy's just become Adam's mate officially and thus a pack member. But if she can't outright get Mercy, she'll go after Mercy's human friends and pack members.
(There's a particularly cool scene involving an abominable snow elf I just want to cite here without further spoilage. Also, a SPOOKY cameo, and some commentary on how Mercy may be more like Coyote with the chaos. Boy, does this come up.)
Right as Mercy finds out this information, Amber, a girl she knew from college, shows up at her door wanting help with a ghost. This seems downright suspicious to our characters, since Amber was a friend of a friend and not someone Mercy was close to. Plus the timing of offering her a trip away in order to get her away from Marsilia seems all too convenient. But pro'ing and con-ing aside, Mercy eventually elects to go. Amber lives in Spokane, where the supernatural population consists of one vampire, James "The Monster" Blackwood, and NOBODY ELSE supernatural is allowed in. Mercy's friends think that since she smells like dog/coyote the way a pet owner would, she should be able to blend in as long as she doesn't show up at Blackwood's door, right?
Hahahahahahah, no, he's a client of Amber's husband and he's just come for dinner. Next thing you know, Mercy's getting bites in the middle of the night, bites that have consequences...and Stefan needs to step in and help, regardless of how Adam might feel about it. As for the ghost story, Amber's deaf son Chad is well aware of the pissy ghost in his room. He's also a pretty plucky kid and I loved him, as did Mercy. After the ghost tries to freeze Chad to death, Mercy advises the family to get the heck out, and does herself. But while at the house, she's figured out that Amber is blood n' sex bait to Blackwood and she doesn't even know it. How do you solve that situation? Did Blackwood target Mercy directly to make sure she ended up in his reach? Is this another plot against Marsilia?
The two plots sort of tie together, and I was pretty well gripped into the novel by the time one wound up and the other really got going. I was hypnotized to the end. Four stars.
I loved this book! I guess I just really like the series... Another year before another book comes out. Did you read Cry Wolf? I can't remember, but if you haven't I do recommend it!
Posted by: Kailana | March 12, 2009 at 08:37 AM