I have to say that I have only stayed with this series out of respect for Ms. Briggs writing skills, paranormal romance is so not my thing anymore. I don't need to read about sex or relationships, I want the magic and magic world to be #1 in a story. In addition, it seems like so many paranormal writers go down the same old vampire (or god forbid dhampir(ugh)) werewolf, demon witch route, that you wouldn't even notice if they took out the 'paranormal'.

With that said, I really enjoyed this story. I felt that the characterization of Mercy is evolving without her becoming the all-powerful Mary Sue--such a relief. The entire story took place away from her home base and it was a nice change.

Paranormal romance fans might bemoan the total lack of sex, but since I was doing this one as an audiobook, I was happy. A solid installment to the series and my favorite one so far. ( )

Vampires

The dual storylines really kind of threw me, even though I know its really the only way the story could be told with the plot line being what it was. ( )

Hard to believe we're 10 books into the series, it's still handling as well as ever blending the werewolves/vamps/fae into different storylines with the characters own personal issues at just the right amounts.

Mercy gets kidnapped by another Vamp lord looking to make a point that the Tri-Cities can't hold the deal they brokered in the last book. Hence Adam et al go to 'negotiate' knowing that Mercy seldom needs rescuing.

This might be the first book where Adam gets a POV of his own. intersperced with Mercy. The timeline is slightly out of synchronicity but just about works, helped by the chapter headings which is slightly odd because it's not at all clear why Mercy would be talking to the reader, it's not like these are diary entries. Much of the book is set in Prague, and as I'd coincidentally just returned from there, I felt happy that t he descriptions were accurate enough - I'm guessing the author had too. ( )

surprise!