MERCY THOMPSON series

Moon Called by Patricia Briggs
Book 1 of the Mercy Thompson series
Genre: urban fantasy

About Moon Called:

Mercedes "Mercy" Thompson is a talented Volkswagen mechanic living in the Tri-Cities area of Washington. She also happens to be a walker, a magical being with the power to shift into a coyote at will. Mercy's next-door neighbor is a werewolf. Her former boss is a gremlin. And she's fixing a bus for a vampire. This is the world of Mercy Thompson, one that looks a lot like ours but is populated by those things that go bump in the night. And Mercy's connection to those things is about to get her into some serious hot water...

Source: Info in the About Moon Called was taken from GoodReads at http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/71811.Moon_Called on 11/07/2013.

Review:

Masterpiece story telling quality which makes this book stand out in a congested genre! Character development is superb, giving us not just characters but friends to sympathize and empathize with. World building is believable. Seemlessly blending paranormal with modern society. Love Patricia Briggs!

Source: Review of Moon Called was taken from http://www.cherrymischievous.com/2008/01/moon-called.html on 11/07/2013.

Empirical Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 5
Character development = 4.5
Story itself = 4.5
Ending = 4.5
World building = 5
Cover art = 4.5
Pace = 5
Plot = 4

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 cherries


Books In The Mercy Thompson Series:

HUROG Doulogy

Dragon Blood by Patricia Briggs
Book 2 of the Hurog doulogy
Read by Joe Manganiello
Genre: high fantasy
Format: paperback & audiobook

About Dragon Blood:

As the rebellion grows against High King Jakoven, Ward, ruler of Hurog, realizes he must join with the rebels. However, Jakoven can crush his enemies with dragon’s blood. The very blood that courses through Ward’s veins.

Source: Info in the About Dragon Blood was taken from GoodReads at http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/285208.Dragon_Blood on 21/11/2011.

My Thoughts:

I bought this book because I just have to read it after I listened to Dragon Bones. I just wanted more Hurog goodness from Patricia Briggs! At first, I bought Dragon Bones (Book 1) just because I wanted to hear Joe Manganiello's deep timbred voice. It wasn't really the book, it was Joe. But with Dragon Blood, it's the story and not about Joe's voice anymore. I would credit Patricia Briggs' wonderful story telling quality for that shift in the magnetic force!This book is infinitely more interesting for having read Book 1. Reading Book 1 first is therefore highly recommended, though it makes the story seems like a very thick book to read (2 volumes). Having said that, I have to say that it feels too short and there are no more books in this series! Now, it would be difficult for me to find something which is as good to read to stem the tide of withdrawal symptoms! And that is the only down side of this book... The paperbacks (of both Book 1 and 2) is normal-sized and the font is not big so the actual size of the book is not short, but because I read it too quickly, it felt short. So, yes, this is a very fast read...

I am a touchy-feely and a visual reader. That means that the cover art plays a big role in my reading habit. I have to say that I am not fond of the cover art at all! Yet despite that strong deterrent I love this doulogy! That just shows you of how good a read I found this book!

Source: This review was taken from http://www.cherrymischievous.com/2013/05/review-dragon-blood.html.

Empirical Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 5
Character development = 5
Story itself = 5
Ending = 5
World building = 5
Cover art = 3.5
Pace = 5
Narration = 5

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 cherries


Original review published at: Cherry Mischievous.

Dragon Bones by Patricia Briggs
Book 1 of the Hurog doulogy
Read by Joe Manganiello
Format: audiobook
Genre: high fantasy

About Dragon Bones:

Riding into a war that's heating up on the border, Ward, the new lord of Herzog, is sure he's on the fast track to glory. But soon his mission takes a deadly turn. For he has seen a pile of magical dragon bones hidden deep beneath Hurog Keep. The bones could prove to be dangerous in the wrong hands, and Ward is certain his enemies will stop at nothing to possess them.

Source: Info in the About Dragon Bones was taken from GoodReads at http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/123408.Dragon_Bones on 17/11/2011.

My Thoughts:

Okey, so I bought this audiobook because I wanna listen to Joe Manganiello's deep-timbred voice. Can you blame me? Anyway, I like his voice so that makes the narrator a 5 out of 5, right? Well, the thing is I had to buy the paperback as well because there were parts I couldn't quite understand and had to replay them a few times before I understand it. Having the book to read as well makes it easier for me. But I am pretty sure this is a fault on my part rather than Joe Manganiello's narration. And besides he is not really a professional audiobook reader like Johanna Parker and Jenna Lamia, now is he? He is a model, for Christ's sake!! Look at him! -->

However, Patricia Briggs' story telling quality is masterful! As per usual. And since I am a long time Patricia Briggs fan, that is biased as well. I am just disappointed that there isn't much dragons in this book. When I first encountered this book, I was expecting a dragon or two, by it's title. But more like just dragon remains, i.e., dragon bones. And if you are like me, a dragon freak, then that is a downer, because I like to see dragons flying. Anyway, Patricia Briggs' world building makes up for it because it is simply fabulous!! As you might have surmised by now that I really loved listening to this book... so I'd give it a 4.5 out of 5.

Source: This review was taken from http://www.cherrymischievous.com/2011/12/review-dragon-bones.html.

Empirical Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 5
Character development = 4.5
Story itself = 4
Ending = 4.5
World building = 5
Cover art = 3
Pace = N/A
Narration = 4.5

Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 cherries


Original review published at: Cherry Mischievous.

Books In The HUROG Doulogy:

WRITTEN IN RED

Written In Red by Anne Bishop
Read by Alexandra Harris
Book 1 of the The Others series
Genre: urban fantasy
Format: hardback & audiobook

About Written In Red:

No one creates realms like New York Times bestselling author Anne Bishop. Now in a thrilling new fantasy series, enter a world inhabited by the Others, unearthly entities — vampires and shape-shifters among them — who rule the Earth and whose prey are humans.

As a cassandra sangue, or blood prophet, Meg Corbyn can see the future when her skin is cut — a gift that feels more like a curse. Meg’s Controller keeps her enslaved so he can have full access to her visions. But when she escapes, the only safe place Meg can hide is at the Lakeside Courtyard — a business district operated by the Others.

Shape-shifter Simon Wolfgard is reluctant to hire the stranger who inquires about the Human Liaison job. First, he senses she’s keeping a secret, and second, she doesn’t smell like human prey. Yet a stronger instinct propels him to give Meg the job. And when he learns the truth about Meg and that she’s wanted by the government, he’ll have to decide if she’s worth the fight between humans and the Others that will surely follow.

Source: Info in the About Written In Red was taken from GoodReads at http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15711341-written-in-red?ac=1 on 08/04/2013.

Review:

I'm not sure if it is Alexandra Harris' reading style which made me like this book a little less than I think I ought to. Or Anne Bishop's writing style in this particular book which did not translate well into an audiobook. Or a lack in the audiobook director's part in the skills and talent department. Or maybe it's me as a reader, or a combination of factors... Either way, I find Alexandra Harris' narration hard to follow that I bought a printed copy to read-along with the audiobook format. Don't get me wrong, the words are clear and distinct. The quality of her voice is pleasing to the ears. But Alexandra Harris does not give any indication when the scene changes. No pauses. No changes in tone or diction. Nothing. And that confuses me like hell. It is only after a sentence or two when the story lines no longer make sense that I realised that the people talking has changed. That the scene has changed. And I rewind to see if I missed anything. This made the pace slow that eventually I gave up on the audiobook about three quarters into it and proceeded reading the hardback without the audio. So I would not count the narration into rating this book because I did not really finish listening to the audio format. And I don't think I would be listening to Alexandra Harris again.

I've always been Anne Bishop's fan since I read her book, Sebastian. I like this author's voice! The main reason why this book got bought in the first place. Secondly, I like the cover art. I don't know what Anne Bishop did to please the Cover Art Goddess, but she sure was blessed with this book! Another thing I like about this book is the beautiful world building. But then again, this is Anne Bishop we're talking about here. So of course the world building is masterful! This book was slow going for me at the start mainly due to the audiobook but once I decided to abandon the audio this book just whizzed through and the next thing I knew, I was on the last page... And craving Murder Of Crows (Book 2)!! March come around already!!

Empirical Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 5
Character development = 4.5
Story itself = 5
Ending = 4.5
World building = 5
Cover art = 5
Pace = 4.5(18hours & 33minutes listening time)
Plot = 4.5
(Narration = 2)

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 cherries


Books In The Others Series:
               



Updated: 3 July 2014 - Books in the series.
Updated: 18 Mar 2024 - Books in the series.