Review | Exiled, M.R. Merrick

Exiled by M.R. Merrick
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Seamless blending of fantasy and highly colourful thrills:

Chase Williams is an angry young man, disappointed in what he sees as his own failures to live up to his bloodline legacy. The son of a displeased father, yet a skilful fighter and hunter, he is also, unknowingly, destined for a role as Protector – which, despite his misgivings about his own abilities – the story gradually shows is his true calling. The question posed throughout the novel is – can he live up to it?

Exiled from the Circle for failure to reach his expected potential, Chase and his mother take to the urban environment – living a struggling existence, one in which Chase – a hunter – is constantly battling for his life against demons and killers. He is also trying to work out the duplicitous plans of the Council, whose schemes seem altogether contrary to everything Chase understands about them, and which plans are as evil in their intent as anything the Underworld might plot. He forms a reluctant alliance with a disaffected Council Vampire, Marcus… and with Rayna, a sassy and ever so damn sexy witch.

Battling for his life, fighting to protect his mother and his allies, Chase’s life is one long scrap for survival and understanding. It’s also a voyage of discovery, as he gradually realises that he might have more power than anyone could have expected: it really all depends on how much stress he’s put under!

This is a vivid and graphic fantasy story, with non-stop action and suspense. It slides neatly between urban scenery and an alternate dimensional arena. It’s also a story of conspiracy and double-dealing… making you wonder who the hell can Chase trust. There is a delicate romance element between he and Rayna – and Rayna herself is a strong secondary character, with a role to play that’s far more important than you could possibly guess.

A furious, all-action adventure story set with a backdrop of magic, demons, and vampires. Richly detailed and descriptive, this fantasy crosses genres effortlessly. Thoroughly engrossing story. Recommended.


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Review | Blood Legacy, Marianne Morea

Blood Legacy by Marianne Morea
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An intense and thrilling vampire epic:

This is an incredibly detailed and fast-paced paranormal story that had me hooked from the first page and rushing through the story to see what came next.

Carlos was unwillingly turned three centuries ago, since which time he has fought determinedly to resist his vampiric dark side, and fight for justice no matter what it costs. Trina is an unknowing ‘sensitive’ who can see more of the vampire world than she understands… or wants to see. At its heart, this is a simple love story; yet underpinning that kernel of romance is a vast story of confusing attractions and history, which elements combine to make a high-tension suspense plot.

Carlos and Trina are inexplicably attracted to one other: the ancient vampire with incredible powers, and the innocent waitress with as yet undiscovered abilities. The story spans three hundred years, has some beautifully detailed insights to Spanish culture, touches on the Spanish Inquisition, and – above all – twists and turns in a way that every clue dropped throughout the story is a riddle to a surprising turn of events.

The story is richly detailed, deliciously violent without crossing into gratuitous, with excellent prose quality and vivid detail. Both the sex and romance are described in a tasteful way, with no indulgences permitted. This book also rids itself of vampire clichés, and highlights the somewhat unusual routines of a vampire.

The conclusion is not, in any way, as inevitable as you might expect in any romance story. Edge-of-the-seat suspense. Recommended.


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