Adult, Urban, Fantasy
NEGOTIATING IS A DELICATE PROCESS… UNTIL SOMEONE STARTS PLAYING DIRTY.
The world is fractured. Few dare to cross the lines dividing the three main factions – Humans, Horned, and Shifters. Except for the Mediators trained to settle inter-factional disputes and enforce the Human Office’s regulations in the lawless zones. Jade Dober is one of those Mediators, though sometimes she feels more like a glorified halfling social worker sent into the hinterlands to make it appear the Office gives a crap. Deep in the Second Nevada Trade Zone is her next case: a human/werewolf halfling, a trade school student, trapped in a “wild” state. The teen’s half-sister wants to claim him under her pack—a sure death sentence—while the school’s principal fights to free the human trapped within the animal. Saving a life is Jade’s stock-in-trade. But when her investigation uncovers an illegal plot to breed a new species of shifter, the resulting ruckus captures the attention of the Horned King. This is bad. Very bad. Because Jade isn’t quite what she seems. And if the Horned King lays claim to her first, no one on this planet—or her own—can save her.
3 out of 5 (good)
Independent Reviewer for Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jade is a Mediator, sent into the Zones to deal with issues that arise between the Human Office and the other species now in the world. The next case is a halfing, human/shifter hybrid, stuck in his shifter state. But the plot around these people getting stuck in their shifter state is far bigger than Jade imagined. And when The Horned King comes a-calling, she knows she may well not get out of this alive. Okay! SO! Really brief summary: started off okay-ish, got really good in the middle and then towards the end, I LITERALLY lost the plot. Totally lost it. Jade is not of this world. And I did like to be kept waiting for her full story. I wasn't entirely sure where the pack of shifter wolves fit in, and The Horned King was a rather....odd character to follow. I just got lost. And I'm sorry I can't write a better worded review, but I usually run with my first feeling, and that is it. Lost. totally and utterly lost. I am surprised I managed to finish it, to be brutally honest. Its getting the three stars because: A) I DID finish it B) I was engaged in the story across the first half C) I did like Jade and what she was trying to do. 3 stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Born and raised in Eastern Europe, Milana grew up with tales of water fairies who seduced men, vampires who seduced women, and Babaroga who’d come to take her away if she didn’t eat her bean soup. She writes about extraterrestrials and fantasy creatures roaming the Earth where she resides with her mate and their three little monsters. Dark world. Brave women. Sassy Romance.