Vicious Circle - Persephone Alcmedi Bk1 - Linda Robertson

Persephone "Seph" Alcmedi is a witch trying to make ends meet. Juggling her newspaper column, the odd tarot reading and the kenneling of Werewolves on the full moon is just barely letting her get by. Werewolves and witches are not supposed to mingle, but what's a witch to do when cash is needed. It doesn't hurt that she able to be near Johnny as well because of this. Although once her Nana moves in after being kicked out of her nursing home Seph doesn't know where the money's going to come from to meet her new expenses.

Seph's Werewolf friends Lorrie is suddenly murdered, and enter the High Priestess of the local coven. She knows exactly who killed Lorrie, and she has a job for Seph. Kill Goliath Kline, Lorrie's killer, and make beau coup bucks in the process. Seph is no one's damsel in distress, but she knows that this is beyond her. She's going to need help from motorcycle riding Johnny, the 6'2" leather clad lead singer/werewolf, to pull this off. Although sparks fly whenever the two get together there isn't too much time for love with the well nigh invincible Goliath Kline awaiting them.

This first book in the Persephone Alcmedi series is a fun romp of a novel. Ms. Robertson certainly hits all the right notes in Vicious Circle. Seph is a witch, but not perfect by any means. She still learning her craft and trying to make ends meet like anyone would do in her situation. She loves her Nana and is righteously pissed when her care facility kicks her out, but with Lorrie's murder there's no time to sort that. Seph acts as any of us would and it makes her endearing and easy for the reader to root for.

The bad boy Johnny, who sings for the techno-metal-Goth band Lycanthropia (why do I think those are three great tastes that don't taste that good together), is also around to help. His crush on Seph is sweet considering who and what he is and you hope that Seph will stop hiding behind Nana and respond. I don't remember David (Seph) having anyone like Johnny about with his trial with Goliath, but there he is nevertheless.

There are a few new ideas on the supernatural side of things, but I never truly believed it wouldn't work out for Seph. Lighthearted is the word that comes to mind when reading Vicious Circle. If you want to turn off your brain for a while and just go with it, Vicious Circle will be completely entertaining.

Hallowed Circle, Persephone Alcmedi Bk 2, hits stores December 29th.

Vicious Circle receives 2.5 Star out of 4.

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Moon Called - Mercy Thompson Bk 1, Patricia Briggs

Mercy (Mercedes) Thompson is a mechanic who specializes in German automobiles (because if your name is Mercedes, you’re either a trust fund baby or you fix Bavarian cars). She lives in the Tri-Cites of Richland, Pasco and Kennewick at the neck of the Snake and Columbia rivers in Washington State and just happens to be a "skinwalker" capable of changing into a coyote with a preternatural nose for magic and scenting other creatures.

In a world that is aware of the existence of lesser fae, but unaware of vampires and werewolves (or shapechangers) Mercy is very firmly in the closet. The magical beings that are known live out their lives on reservations, and the werewolves in the nation are on the verge of making themselves known if they can figure out how to "come out’" on their terms.

Moon Called (Mercy Thompson, Book 1) begins with a young werewolf named Mac asking Mercy for a job. Knowing she should send him on his way but feeling sorry for him, Mercy gives him one. Mac has apparently escaped from a lab where he was being experimented upon. The laboratory wants him back and sends men to retrieve him. After Mercy kills one of these men, she knows that the only person who can help Mac is her next-door neighbour, Adam, who’s the local werewolf Alpha.

Mercy must go to Montana after finding a surprise on her doorstep and barely saving a severely beaten Adam. Adam’s fifteen-year-old daughter has been kidnapped, but before searching for her, Mercy knows that the only place Adam can be healed is in the hands of the werewolf clan that raised her: the clan of the Marrok, the Alpha of all North American werewolves, and where her first love Samuel is.

Ms. Briggs's humour is what keeps this story from falling into the trap of being bogged down in the shear numbers of supernatural creatures in Moon Called (Mercy Thompson, Book 1). The story is laid out well but is complex, nevertheless. You can definitely tell that there are more books in the series from the amount of story that is introduced in the first Mercy Thompson book. Ms. Briggs deftly transports you from scene to scene, and how smoothly she accomplishes this shows you what talented storyteller she is.

Fans of Sookie Stackhouse, novels will enjoy these books. Not only for their supernatural-meeting-the-real-world roots, but also for the humour shared between the two. This opening novel in the series has something for every fan of Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance genre: Supernaturals (Skinwalkers, Werewolves, Vampires, Witches, heh…Gremlins), beginnings of a love triangle (Mercy/Adam/Samuel) and a plucky heroine (with the best tattoos in the genre).

If you’re looking for a great series to start, (and a personal favourite) Moon Called (Mercy Thompson, Book 1) is for you. With the release of book four, the Mercy Thompson series shows no signs of stopping.

Moon Called (Mercy Thompson, Book 1) rightfully receives a Classic rating from me: 4 out of 4 Stars.

Ms. Briggs second book in her Alpha & Omega series Hunting Ground (Alpha & Omega, Book 2) is due August 2009.

Please make sure to visit her website.