Review of The Prisoner in the Sky by F.R. Colom-Brana

 Review of “The Prisoner in the Sky” by F.R. Colom-Brana

*Small disclaimer, while I do not know the author personally, this book was given to me as a gift by a family member that does know the author. I will give my honest opinion on the book, but just note there is a small connection to the author.*

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The Prisoner in the Sky is based on Gods and Angels mythology, but the themes and tone aren’t heavy handed Christian messages. The story is about a Nephilim (part human, part angel) named Athed, that is framed for the murder of the Arch Angel Lumen. On the run to complete Lumen’s quest, Athed is joined by a motley crew, some of whom die. Others join him on his quest across the land to the Fortress in the Sky to finish what Lumen started.

This book has a simple plot that is easy to follow, and travels across several landscapes in pursuit of the mission. The characters are likable even though they are a bit one note. Unfortunately, some of the best characters don’t survive until the end. The author is not afraid to kill of characters, which does add to the stakes and tension of the journey. While there are some romantic relationships, they are subtle and do not interfere with the plot.

One of the things that I like about this book is the setting. It feels like a fantasy world out of Game of Thrones, except that the technology is a bit different. This story uses motor bikes, and to good effect. I like this blending of the fantasy world with some modern conveniences, it makes this story unique. Throughout the book, the characters travel from the coastal capital city to the desert to the forest and finally the Fortress in the sky. The sprawling landscapes help pace the story and keep the plot moving forward because somethings are gained and lost at each place.

The book is an easy read, while there are some minor issues in the writing (sentence structure, grammar and cliché dialogue) it doesn’t detract from the narrative and are things the author could fix, if he writes another book. We learn early in the book what the main goal is, and the book ends having fulfilled part of the first part of Lumen’s plan. The ending of this first book is a big cliffhanger, so I would love to see where this story goes from here.

Overall, this is a light, fun fantasy book with interesting mythology and some likable characters. Even though this is written by a first-time author and has some problems, Colom-Brana has the imagination and vision to tell story that captures your attention. I hope that Colom-Brana writes the sequel.

Review of River Marked by Patricia Briggs

A review of “River Marked” A Mercy Thompson novel by Patricia Briggs

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After hating the last book, I was reluctant to start reading this book. However, this book starts off with some charm and moves along quickly to the main plot. The novel book ends the story with Mercy and Stefan the vampire. It opens with Mercy trying to take care of Stefan and then Stefan helps take care of Mercy at the end. Both commiserating over that fact that they need help and aren't used to asking for it. I've always enjoyed Stefan the vampire, there was always this flirty, sexual tension between the two characters. This book really shows that they are just friends that care about each other, despite him being a vampire.

We get the return of Mercy's mom and are introduced to her two half-sisters. I was surprised that in book six, Mercy and Adam are getting married. It feels a bit rushed to me, and I do have some issues with their relationship. They are too possessive of each other, are constantly arguing and then constantly having sex. This book attempts to show the two having common interest in the outdoors and camping, but they fight too much with each other. I want to know what it is about Adam that Mercy loves other than he's super model hot; and what is it about Mercy that Adam loves so much. By the end of the book, they start working together more and trusting each other, so there is some relationship development.

Unlike the last book, which had too many plots’ lines, this novel sticks to one main plot line and expands the world building. We finally learn the truth about Mercy's father, and why she can shift into a coyote and is somewhat averse to magic and can see ghosts. She is a descendant of an ancient Native American Spirit known as Coyote. The story doesn't fully explain the difference in magic between the Spirit animals and the Fae magic, so it gets a bit confusing at times.

The main plot line is that Mercy and Adam were arranged to be at this camp site to investigate a river creature that is killing people. A fae called Otter-kin are introduced as the prime suspect but it turns out the real big bad is the River Devil, a Kraken or Scylla like creature that marks people to do her bidding. Except that Mercy can resist her thrall because of her connection to Coyote. Mercy with the help of the other Spirit Animals, plan to kill the River Devil after Mercy realizes her dreams are real events that the River Devil has committed. In the end, Mercy struggles to defeat the River Devil and comes out with several severe injuries that leave her in a wheelchair. Adam even gets a few scenes struggling with his wolf.

What I like about this book, is the threat level of the River Devil is shown often instead of being told. The story has stakes, and Mercy doesn't easily defeat the villain unscathed. There are real consequences to this plot and the danger feels real. At one point Mercy must make a decision to sacrifice herself in order to save some little kids. But she is the key to taking out the River Devil, so if she dies the creature will only continue to kill more people. It's a tough choice, that adds to the urgency and danger of the situation.

This is by far the best book since book 3, and a big part of it is that it has a focused story line. We get some good back story on Mercy's father; we learn more about the Native American magic and shape shifters; and even some good relationship development between Mercy and Adam. This story feels fresh, and something new other than vampires and evil fae magic. I like taking the main characters away from the wolf pack, and their comfort zone.

 

So, I really enjoyed this book, especially after the last book. This gives me hope that the series can still be good, and book 5 was just a misfire. Looking forward to reading the next book and seeing where the characters go from here. Especially now that Mercy and Adam are married and that we finally learned the reveal of Mercy's father. What will future stories focus on?

Review of Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs

 

A review of “Silver Borne”  a Mercy Thompson novel by Patricia Briggs

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So far, the fifth book in this series is my least favorite. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this book the way I did the others, I was so frustrated with the plot I had to take a break from reading it before I continued. This book takes place shortly after the last book. Mercy and Adam are fully a couple now, and there is some sort of wolf pack magic where the pack can communicate telepathically. This causes Mercy to freak out and be uncomfortable, because someone is messing with her mind.

 

The problem I have with this book, is that there are too many old and new plot lines in this book, and some don't get resolved or have to do with one another. So, there the ongoing Mercy and Adam love story that is now interrupted by a pack member trying to break them up. This plot line leads to a conspiracy to overthrow Adam and gets resolved easily. Then there is a separate story line about Samuel's attempted suicide, and how his wolf is in control and Mercy needs to save him. No one really talks to Samuel about his attempted suicide and in the end, he finds something or someone to live for, so we'll see where this plot line goes. The only thing this plot line adds to is that it forces Sam and Mercy to stick together for the whole book and they team up to solve a mystery.

 

Then there is the “main” plot where a TV bounty hunter gets a false warrant to capture Adam, only to cover up someone trying to kill Mercy. The bounty hunter never returns and his producer that sets him up is the fae that tried to kill Mercy, but both get dropped. This is all to obtain the book that Mercy borrowed from a fae back in the third book. The book owner is missing, and Mercy investigates to uncover the Fae Queen, who wants that book. The problem with this story line, is that it loses focus, doesn't build up any mystery, the bounty hunter part is useless, and the Fae Queen captures Mercy's employee Gabriel, instead of capturing Mercy. Then it's all too easy to find, trick and defeat the Fae Queen.

 

There is just so much going on in the novel that it doesn't not flow properly from plot to plot. These books have never had huge character depths and emotional connections, but this book really lacks the impact these characters have on each other and their environment. Mercy's house burns down with all her possessions (the cat lives) and yet we don't get any of her reaction, other than 'oh that's sad'. This book just doesn't deal with the situations properly.

 

One of the things I do like about his book (there's not much), is that it delves deeper into the Fae realm. We get a lot of the character Z, we learn more about how the fae home world Underhill works, and how their magic works. We get a new fae character that has a history with Samuel and is super powerful. I love learning about how the fae folk and magic work in this world. I'm still enjoying some of the cheesy romance stuff, it's not too sexy but I like flirting the line.

I hope that the next book gets better in terms of plot. I understand that five books in, there's a lot of stuff to build on and continue, but the stories need to flow together in a way that doesn't feel incomplete or disjointed. I'm going to take a break from the series to listen to other things before I come back to the series. I still like these characters, so I'm hopeful that none of the other books are as bad as this one.

Thanks for reading my reviews. If you like werewolf stories and female lead characters, then check out my story on Wattpad, "The Lunar Spirit". Lycan Livonia Dane returns to her old pack house, for the Lunar Ball. Liv finds herself drawn to her childhood bully, Lucas while also reconnecting with her old friend, Jepson. When the Ball is attacked by vampires, Liv is pulled into the action, while trying to find her lunar spirit mate. Will it be Lucas or her brooding childhood friend Jepson? Or possibly someone else? Struggling with her feelings for each man, Liv aids in the investigation and war against the vampires.

https://www.wattpad.com/story/306771957-the-lunar-spirit