I accepted a copy of New Moon for review. It was also featured on Sadie’s Spotlight.
A Crimson Shadow & Scarlet Night spinoff novel…
It’s hard to hide when the forbidden magic you wield is written on your skin…
“Skin witch” Mikkie Locke has spent her life running; running from her past, running from hunters, and running from a destiny she doesn’t want. And when you’re a Taroe working in an “in plain sight” magic shop, that’s easier said than done. Every day she’s away from the protection of her tribe is a day she’s risking death. The enchanted tattoos that cover her body are a constant reminder of who and what she is are a beacon to her enemies that scream “KILL ME!” to those who hunt her and other nonhumans; other creatures of the mythos community.
And the danger has just become more severe.
A new group of anti-mythos hunters have come to town, and she knows that the time has come once again to run. But Mikkie is tired of running, and between her anger, her assets, and the small team of four strong, sexy men who have her back, she’s beginning to think she might have a chance.
But in an ever-changing world, this breed of hunter has decided to make changes of their own. The stage is set for a war, and there’s more on the line than their lives…
Megan J. Parker lives in upstate New York and is normally found lounging in the writing office with her husband and fellow author, Nathan Squiers.
Since the debut of her first novel, Scarlet Night, Megan J. Parker has gained international recognition and has been a bestseller in paranormal romance and dark fantasy. Her first novel, Scarlet Night, also was a runner up for 2013’s Best New Series Award on the blog, Paranormal Craving. In 2016, she became a USA Today bestselling author and since then, has been on the list three times.
In her down time, she likes reading and designing new logos and videos. Her passion for telling stories is portrayed in all her work and when there’s a story to tell, you can be sure she’ll tell it to its full extent. She is finally fulfilling her dream of owning a design company along with her literary career at EmCat Designs.
Nathan Squiers, along with his loving wife & fellow author, Megan J. Parker, two incredibly demanding demons wearing cat-suits, and a pair of “fur baby” huskies, is a resident of Upstate New York. When he isn’t dividing his time between writing or “nerding out” over comics, anime, or movie marathons, he’s chasing dreams of amateur body building. If he can’t be found in a movie theater, comic shop, or gym, chances are “the itch” has driven him into the chair at a piercing/tattoo shop… or he’s been “kidnapped” by loving family or friends and forced to engage in an alien task called “fun.”
Ok, I have an admission before I get into this review. I did not know that this is a spinoff novel when I accepted it to read. But having read it, I don’t believe that it IS a spinoff. I believe it is part of a series, probably Behind the Veil if I had to guess. This book, in my opinion, does not stand on its own. It’s readable; I read it. But up until the VERY end, references are made to past events, comments are made that make little sense without the history, characters the reader has no attachment to come and go because they’re from past books. Being readable isn’t really enough when you’re reminded on every other page that you’re missing something important.
It’s such a shame that I had a deadline to review this book too. Because (after I got done raging at having unknowingly picked up what is, IMO, probably book 5 in a series) I quickly decided I liked the writing style and the authors’ obvious sense of humor. I would have otherwise set it aside to start at the beginning of the series. (I even have books one and three; though I have no idea why only those two.)
Once you get past the first ~8-10% and into the meat of the plot, you find a very sweet story, with characters you really just can’t help but like. Yes, there’s too much exposition and the plot remains quite shallow. But there’s an interesting discourse on what is a relationship and what qualifies as love. Plus, finding a polyamorous relationship in an M/F PNR is nice too. It calls itself a “reverse harem,” which is kind of a fad right now. But somehow, though the exact definition of RH is hazy for me, it feels more honest to call Mikki and ‘her boys” relationship polyamorous than a reverse harem. But I understand branding, so whatever.
I read an Advanced Readers Copy, which are usually pre-final edits, so, I can’t speak to editing. But all in all, as I said, I have some of the previous books and I plan to move them up the TBR and read them soon than later, which really tells you everything you need to know. I had complaints, but I want more.
Follow the tour dates HERE for further special content!
$25 Amazon gift card & hardcover copy of NOIR (book one of the Crimson Shadow series) & paperback of Scarlet Night
OR
$25 Amazon gift card & e-copies for both books if international winner
