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Dark Regulators #1
Cryptshiver
When a skinned corpse found in a cemetery rises from the dead, supernatural agents Avi Grissom and Jakob Ender hunt for the killer. But Grissom is more interested in his partner’s mysterious disappearance two years ago and his recent return. Something isn’t right with Ender, and the werewolf in Grissom desperately needs to sniff out what has Ender so tight-lipped while fighting off the desire for the secretive vampire that has only grown during his absence. His quest to solve the murder unearths personal truths of vengeance and death magic, and reveals one of their most notorious enemies.
106 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 10, 2014
2 people are currently reading
109 people want to read
About the author
Chacelyn Pierce
12 books33 followersA rocker by heart, Chacelyn Pierce is constantly ear plugged with heavy tunes blaring to stir up the phantom personalities that swarm her mind. It’s no surprise that she enjoys writing and reading to satiate her appetite for the male antagonist in a story. Married to a blatant redhead and mothering a diva, there is never a dull moment in the house. As a native Texan, she doesn't personally own a horse but follows the unwritten southern rule of knowing how to ride one. When she’s not testing the emotional capacity of her characters, she works as a dog groomer.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
May 3, 2016
This series began with a concept that I usually love - supernatural police force - and then immediately complicated itself by starting us off in the middle of a relationship that we, as the audience, are not emotionally invested in. Pierce had to convince us of the sincerity of emotion that comes from a partnership of years falling apart due to abandonment, with the additional complications of the betrayed party cycling through part of the 5 stages of grief (but really only managing to end up in anger again and again) and falling into a drug addiction. There was also the added bonus of a surprise dead sister lurking in Grissom's recent past as well, shoehorned in without adding a goddamn thing to the narrative. Needless to say, I was not persuaded.
To me, this read more as an outline than a novel - if fleshed out (hah!) properly, I could have really enjoyed the plot of "who is this gross skinless zombie?" It would have been great to see Grissom and Ender finally stopped fucking around and put their heads together in order to figure out if Ender's bloodlust issues were relevant to their case. I just really hate miscommunication as a plot device. Ender is over two hundred years old, surely he can adult by now.
Instead, we get some very rushed bits and pieces of a crime scene (why skip the fun forensic parts?) and a strategically placed clairvoyant fae side character who just lobs answers at Grissom. These two were great investigative partners two years ago? Could have fooled me. Everything Grissom "figured out" about their Big Bad came from Clover and Ender was basically a useless lump.
The obligatory sex scene (not including the ) was filled with genre cliches of alpha male provocation and sexy growling and also "taut anus muscles". If I had to have that phrase inside my head, so do you.
NEW THINGS I LEARNED:
⇴ The Battle of Navarino, where Ender was killed and subsequently turned into a vampire, is the subject of some rather lovely art.
[Battle of Navarino by Ivan Aivozovsky, 1846]
To me, this read more as an outline than a novel - if fleshed out (hah!) properly, I could have really enjoyed the plot of "who is this gross skinless zombie?" It would have been great to see Grissom and Ender finally stopped fucking around and put their heads together in order to figure out if Ender's bloodlust issues were relevant to their case. I just really hate miscommunication as a plot device. Ender is over two hundred years old, surely he can adult by now.
Instead, we get some very rushed bits and pieces of a crime scene (why skip the fun forensic parts?) and a strategically placed clairvoyant fae side character who just lobs answers at Grissom. These two were great investigative partners two years ago? Could have fooled me. Everything Grissom "figured out" about their Big Bad came from Clover and Ender was basically a useless lump.
The obligatory sex scene (not including the ) was filled with genre cliches of alpha male provocation and sexy growling and also "taut anus muscles". If I had to have that phrase inside my head, so do you.
NEW THINGS I LEARNED:
⇴ The Battle of Navarino, where Ender was killed and subsequently turned into a vampire, is the subject of some rather lovely art.
[Battle of Navarino by Ivan Aivozovsky, 1846]
March 12, 2023
Re-Read 03/2023
So, this wasn't as good as I remembered, but I still enjoyed it. It would have been nice had it been longer with a little more context for the world; we know very little about it other than humans know paranormal creatures exist. I am sad that the series never panned out but this did end on a satisfactory HFN note.
****Reviewed for Prism Book Alliance****
4.5 Stars
This is no sparkling vampire story (not that I have anything against Twilight, I loved Twilight for what it was). However, this is a gritty, dark paranormal world where vampires can and will drain you and werewolves lose themselves at the full moon. Throw in some evil magic users, and a paranormal task force to keep the humans protected from the more unsavory bumps in the night and you have Cryptshiver.
Though I found the beginning a bit repetitive while trying to get out the back story, once Ender and Grissom get into the case and the heart of the story, the narrative smoothed out. I found both main characters interesting and I could feel the connection between them. I enjoyed the mystery and the relationship. While the story progressed quickly, I didn’t feel anything was missing. I eagerly look forward to further books in this series!
So, this wasn't as good as I remembered, but I still enjoyed it. It would have been nice had it been longer with a little more context for the world; we know very little about it other than humans know paranormal creatures exist. I am sad that the series never panned out but this did end on a satisfactory HFN note.
****Reviewed for Prism Book Alliance****
4.5 Stars
This is no sparkling vampire story (not that I have anything against Twilight, I loved Twilight for what it was). However, this is a gritty, dark paranormal world where vampires can and will drain you and werewolves lose themselves at the full moon. Throw in some evil magic users, and a paranormal task force to keep the humans protected from the more unsavory bumps in the night and you have Cryptshiver.
Though I found the beginning a bit repetitive while trying to get out the back story, once Ender and Grissom get into the case and the heart of the story, the narrative smoothed out. I found both main characters interesting and I could feel the connection between them. I enjoyed the mystery and the relationship. While the story progressed quickly, I didn’t feel anything was missing. I eagerly look forward to further books in this series!
July 25, 2014
4.5 stars ~ rounded up
Big smiles because this was great! A paranormal treat that pulled me in from the moment I picked it up and discovered Chacelyn Pierce's really easy writing style. With an urban fantasy feel, that jumped out at me as soon as I entered 'Mean Priest,' the seedy city bar that catered to all the supernatural creatures who inhabit Chacelyn's paranormal universe, I knew I was on to a winner. It's the place where we first meet yummy Avi Grissom, Alpha werewolf and cop or Regulator as they're known in this particular world, a group of otherworldly creatures who police the paranormal sector and work the cases that the human cops can't handle. He's there to meet up with his former partner Jakob Enders, a beautiful vampire who, two years before, just upped and left with no warning after they closed a really hard, messy case, and who has reappeared...just as abruptly as he disappeared!
These two have a lot of history and before Enders did his vanishing act, they were best friends and the top Regulator team on the force. A formidable duo to be reckoned with. Grissom had always felt an attraction for his vampire partner but had never shown or acted on it because emotionally cool and collected Enders hadn't sent out any vibes to even hint that he was a sexual creature at all. On the flip side, Enders had in fact felt stirrings for Grissom but had never let it show because he'd thought that Grissom didn't find Vampires particularly sexually appealing—typical case of non communication, and having been celibate for nearly two decades, just closed off those feelings and continued to throw himself into his work. So they'd kept their relationship purely professional, but still formed a closeness and a bond like most long term partners do, helping each other outside of work with personal things that transcended just a casual friendship.
At the start Grissom is mad as hell at his ex partner for turning up again out of the blue, and even more pissed because Enders is keeping the reason why to himself, with no explanations or apologies, even when asked outright, so their reunion is a rocky one! But despite that his old feelings are fighting with the anger he's harbouring.
'He wanted to hug his old friend, welcome him back, ask why he fucking left, and then punch him in the mouth for doing so. The way he suffered facing Jakob proved he hadn't fully healed.'
Cue some pretty great tension, both angry and underlying sexual, as the two of them are made to join forces again by their Chief, Captain Marx (nice to see a woman filling that role for a change!) on a case involving brutally mutilated corpses, magic cults and reanimation...and what a blast it was! Grissom and Enders are two fantastic characters and another instant attraction for me to two sexy, conflicted but really likeable guys!
Shifter and vamp partnerships are nothing new in the paranormal genre so it's hard to bring something new to the table, and in a way that stands with this little gem, there are still recognisable plot tropes scattered amongst it but the overall feel of the story still felt different to what I've mostly read in the m/m paranormal field and going back to the comparison earlier of urban fantasy, I think that's what the difference was. It felt like something, that once again, would transpose very nicely onto the small screen. If this was a TV series...after the watershed *winks* ... I'd be very happy to tune in weekly and I could see (with the right actors of course...think a hairy and fangy Sam & Dean, LOL) the two lead characters becoming cult favourites....For the rest of my review follow link~ http://bit.ly/Uwge4Z
Big smiles because this was great! A paranormal treat that pulled me in from the moment I picked it up and discovered Chacelyn Pierce's really easy writing style. With an urban fantasy feel, that jumped out at me as soon as I entered 'Mean Priest,' the seedy city bar that catered to all the supernatural creatures who inhabit Chacelyn's paranormal universe, I knew I was on to a winner. It's the place where we first meet yummy Avi Grissom, Alpha werewolf and cop or Regulator as they're known in this particular world, a group of otherworldly creatures who police the paranormal sector and work the cases that the human cops can't handle. He's there to meet up with his former partner Jakob Enders, a beautiful vampire who, two years before, just upped and left with no warning after they closed a really hard, messy case, and who has reappeared...just as abruptly as he disappeared!
These two have a lot of history and before Enders did his vanishing act, they were best friends and the top Regulator team on the force. A formidable duo to be reckoned with. Grissom had always felt an attraction for his vampire partner but had never shown or acted on it because emotionally cool and collected Enders hadn't sent out any vibes to even hint that he was a sexual creature at all. On the flip side, Enders had in fact felt stirrings for Grissom but had never let it show because he'd thought that Grissom didn't find Vampires particularly sexually appealing—typical case of non communication, and having been celibate for nearly two decades, just closed off those feelings and continued to throw himself into his work. So they'd kept their relationship purely professional, but still formed a closeness and a bond like most long term partners do, helping each other outside of work with personal things that transcended just a casual friendship.
At the start Grissom is mad as hell at his ex partner for turning up again out of the blue, and even more pissed because Enders is keeping the reason why to himself, with no explanations or apologies, even when asked outright, so their reunion is a rocky one! But despite that his old feelings are fighting with the anger he's harbouring.
'He wanted to hug his old friend, welcome him back, ask why he fucking left, and then punch him in the mouth for doing so. The way he suffered facing Jakob proved he hadn't fully healed.'
Cue some pretty great tension, both angry and underlying sexual, as the two of them are made to join forces again by their Chief, Captain Marx (nice to see a woman filling that role for a change!) on a case involving brutally mutilated corpses, magic cults and reanimation...and what a blast it was! Grissom and Enders are two fantastic characters and another instant attraction for me to two sexy, conflicted but really likeable guys!
Shifter and vamp partnerships are nothing new in the paranormal genre so it's hard to bring something new to the table, and in a way that stands with this little gem, there are still recognisable plot tropes scattered amongst it but the overall feel of the story still felt different to what I've mostly read in the m/m paranormal field and going back to the comparison earlier of urban fantasy, I think that's what the difference was. It felt like something, that once again, would transpose very nicely onto the small screen. If this was a TV series...after the watershed *winks* ... I'd be very happy to tune in weekly and I could see (with the right actors of course...think a hairy and fangy Sam & Dean, LOL) the two lead characters becoming cult favourites....For the rest of my review follow link~ http://bit.ly/Uwge4Z
July 27, 2014
This had lots of stuff I enjoy, paranormal, shifters, vamps, set in a dark world where regulators (cops) investigate paranormal cases. The story opens with Avi Grissom (wolf shifter) getting his partner back after he disappeared two years ago without a word to Avi (vamp). Jacob Ender is back to the job and life he loves, after being gone for two years. Ender has a problem tho, his hunger for blood is obsessive, and controlling it is proving to be almost impossible. He is also back with the partner he never forgot. Grissom and Ender have a case to solve that includes magic, zombies (well one zombie actually), and a skinned corpse.
I enjoyed this little story, I enjoyed the partnership and the chemistry between the two MC’s. I also appreciated the author’s take on shifters, as a dark part of a person that needs to be controlled and dangerous. My issue with this story, it was too short. Give me more!
I enjoyed this little story, I enjoyed the partnership and the chemistry between the two MC’s. I also appreciated the author’s take on shifters, as a dark part of a person that needs to be controlled and dangerous. My issue with this story, it was too short. Give me more!
August 26, 2014
“With you, I can take on anything,”
Ah, this was definitely a great start to a series :)
4 rounded up twinkling stars, cause the ending left me feel good and excited for more *winkwink*
Ah, this was definitely a great start to a series :)
4 rounded up twinkling stars, cause the ending left me feel good and excited for more *winkwink*
June 14, 2014
Good start of a series.
August 9, 2016
This was so bad, I have absolutely no interest in the rest of the series. Usually even with a two star book I'm curious about what happens, but not here. I'm not even motivated to write a proper review. So here are my notes:
This is all over the place.
Wow, nary a trite trope left unused. Graceful cold vampire? Check. Wild sex starved werewolf? Check. Tidy and messy desks respectively? Check. Grizzled old cemetery caretaker? Check. Who says "ain't" and "lady friend" and has poor eyesight? Check. The police all hate and fear the elite paranormal detectives? Check. and on it goes. Plus, they are in their own heads way too much and tell us how they feel ad nauseum.
This is a terrible mystery. There isn't enough information to even understand what's happening let alone figure it out yourself. New information comes to light after the MC has figured something out. And none of it logically flows. Again, it's all over the place. The characters are inconsistent despite the triteness of the werewolf bad boy with his leather jacket and motorcycle and the vamp with his big mansion.
I feel like I should know who these people are like it's a sequel. They are talking about the bad guy like they've known him for years. They barely mentioned him in one short scene.
The sexist comments are really repulsive, too. Yes, let's compare a woman's rage at a violent killing machine of a creature that's targeting her city with her having PMS."
I'm too hung up on the stupid names. Ender? Really? Does anyone hear that name without thinking of the Ender of Ender's Game? And then the captain is Marx. Ugh.
1.5 stars
This is all over the place.
Wow, nary a trite trope left unused. Graceful cold vampire? Check. Wild sex starved werewolf? Check. Tidy and messy desks respectively? Check. Grizzled old cemetery caretaker? Check. Who says "ain't" and "lady friend" and has poor eyesight? Check. The police all hate and fear the elite paranormal detectives? Check. and on it goes. Plus, they are in their own heads way too much and tell us how they feel ad nauseum.
This is a terrible mystery. There isn't enough information to even understand what's happening let alone figure it out yourself. New information comes to light after the MC has figured something out. And none of it logically flows. Again, it's all over the place. The characters are inconsistent despite the triteness of the werewolf bad boy with his leather jacket and motorcycle and the vamp with his big mansion.
I feel like I should know who these people are like it's a sequel. They are talking about the bad guy like they've known him for years. They barely mentioned him in one short scene.
The sexist comments are really repulsive, too. Yes, let's compare a woman's rage at a violent killing machine of a creature that's targeting her city with her having PMS."
I'm too hung up on the stupid names. Ender? Really? Does anyone hear that name without thinking of the Ender of Ender's Game? And then the captain is Marx. Ugh.
1.5 stars
June 30, 2014
4.5 Rating
Trust in your work partner is essential, particularly when your job is enforcing the laws governing the supernatural community. But agents Avi Grissom and Jakob Ender have misplaced the very attribute that made them the best team in the agency.
Cryptshiver is a tantalizing story sheathed in dark magic along with emotional chaos. The setting is Dallas. The characters are creditable.
Avi Grissom is a recently turned werewolf, a pack-less wolf with alpha traits. His ill-tempered disposition was made even more so when Ender disappeared for years without a trace. Although Ender has returned, Avi is immediately aware of the changes; nevertheless Ender refuses to talk about the reasons for his absence.
Vampire Ender had prided himself on his ability to always be in control. However, Ender undergoes an unexpected alteration that has left him confused, as well as clueless. Fearing the worst, Ender leaves Dallas to seek out isolation.
Chacelyn Pierce has created an exciting enjoyable saga joining together an unrequited intimate desire between Avi and Ender, psychotic murderers, bloodlust, addictive herbal consumption plus a touch of humor.
Trust in your work partner is essential, particularly when your job is enforcing the laws governing the supernatural community. But agents Avi Grissom and Jakob Ender have misplaced the very attribute that made them the best team in the agency.
Cryptshiver is a tantalizing story sheathed in dark magic along with emotional chaos. The setting is Dallas. The characters are creditable.
Avi Grissom is a recently turned werewolf, a pack-less wolf with alpha traits. His ill-tempered disposition was made even more so when Ender disappeared for years without a trace. Although Ender has returned, Avi is immediately aware of the changes; nevertheless Ender refuses to talk about the reasons for his absence.
Vampire Ender had prided himself on his ability to always be in control. However, Ender undergoes an unexpected alteration that has left him confused, as well as clueless. Fearing the worst, Ender leaves Dallas to seek out isolation.
Chacelyn Pierce has created an exciting enjoyable saga joining together an unrequited intimate desire between Avi and Ender, psychotic murderers, bloodlust, addictive herbal consumption plus a touch of humor.
September 6, 2015
This was an enjoyable story. I enjoyed the way the author used the different paranormals that were in the story. I didn't find the mystery particularly "mysterious" but it was a solid read and created a good base for the series as a first book.
June 21, 2014
3.5 stars
July 25, 2014
4.5 Stars
For me, fantasy/paranormal can be a hit or miss. Either the author has me lost in the world building, or the plot is just too complicated for a simple mind like mine to grasp. Even though the Cryptshiver blurb sounded promising, giving a new-to-me author a chance…well…it can sometimes prove to be a time consuming mistake.
Now there were two things that helped in making up my mind to give Cryptshiver a chance.
1. It’s a short story (106 pages)
And
2. I cannot resist the lure of a mystery.
As dark regulators, Avi Grissom and Jakob Ender were known as the best at hunting down evil doers. But that all changed when Ender disappeared for two years. Avi took it personally when his best friend left the country without so much as a goodbye. So when Jakob returns, there’s some serious hurt and bitterness on Avi’s part that the two have been paired up again. Also, it didn’t help matters that Avi has always had the hots for his partner, but since Jakob has never shown that he swung that way. Avi pretty much kept his wolfish desires to himself. What Avi doesn’t know, however, is his vampire partner feels the same way too.
While the reader learns the whys of Jakob leaving the country, and about his subsequent return, it takes several angsty moments throughout this supernatural mystery for Avi to discover Jakob’s well kept secret. Not only could it end Jakob Ender’s career as a dark regulator but his life as well. I had my emotional moment in the story when Avi had to choose to kill Jakob to end the darkness that resided within him.
Did I also mention that it’s an absolute joy when I find a new author and their story captivates me?
1. I loved the fact that Cryptshiver caught my interest right away.
2. The world building wasn’t over-complicated.
3. The writing was mature.
5. I didn’t have to go back and forth to a glossary to figure out what a word meant in that particular made- up language.
And
6. The mystery was interesting.
Speaking of mystery, since this is what attracted me to Cryptshiver in the first place, the only problem I had with it was more detail could have been added to the mix, especially learning more about the bad guy involved; though I did loved what I learned about the regulator chief. Nice twist there, Chacelyn.
So with this in mind, I’m giving Cryptshiver a 4.5 star rating. What can I say, except that I want more? I’ll be keeping an eye out for the sequel.
For me, fantasy/paranormal can be a hit or miss. Either the author has me lost in the world building, or the plot is just too complicated for a simple mind like mine to grasp. Even though the Cryptshiver blurb sounded promising, giving a new-to-me author a chance…well…it can sometimes prove to be a time consuming mistake.
Now there were two things that helped in making up my mind to give Cryptshiver a chance.
1. It’s a short story (106 pages)
And
2. I cannot resist the lure of a mystery.
As dark regulators, Avi Grissom and Jakob Ender were known as the best at hunting down evil doers. But that all changed when Ender disappeared for two years. Avi took it personally when his best friend left the country without so much as a goodbye. So when Jakob returns, there’s some serious hurt and bitterness on Avi’s part that the two have been paired up again. Also, it didn’t help matters that Avi has always had the hots for his partner, but since Jakob has never shown that he swung that way. Avi pretty much kept his wolfish desires to himself. What Avi doesn’t know, however, is his vampire partner feels the same way too.
While the reader learns the whys of Jakob leaving the country, and about his subsequent return, it takes several angsty moments throughout this supernatural mystery for Avi to discover Jakob’s well kept secret. Not only could it end Jakob Ender’s career as a dark regulator but his life as well. I had my emotional moment in the story when Avi had to choose to kill Jakob to end the darkness that resided within him.
Did I also mention that it’s an absolute joy when I find a new author and their story captivates me?
1. I loved the fact that Cryptshiver caught my interest right away.
2. The world building wasn’t over-complicated.
3. The writing was mature.
5. I didn’t have to go back and forth to a glossary to figure out what a word meant in that particular made- up language.
And
6. The mystery was interesting.
Speaking of mystery, since this is what attracted me to Cryptshiver in the first place, the only problem I had with it was more detail could have been added to the mix, especially learning more about the bad guy involved; though I did loved what I learned about the regulator chief. Nice twist there, Chacelyn.
So with this in mind, I’m giving Cryptshiver a 4.5 star rating. What can I say, except that I want more? I’ll be keeping an eye out for the sequel.
February 18, 2016
Full review on All About Romance - http://likesbooks.com/cgi-bin/bookRev...
After leaving Dallas, and his Regulator partner Avi Grissom, for several years, Jakob Ender is having trouble trying to get back into the swing of things. As a vampire, he must drink blood to survive, and his bloodlust has been out of control for several years now, since his last mission with the Regulators to take down an evil warlock. It’s really just too bad he didn’t tell Grissom anything about this before he left - the alpha werewolf was not pleased at being abandoned.
And it wasn’t just that his partner left with no word - Grissom was worried about Ender, convinced that something had happened, and over the years the worry turned to anger and addiction. The relief Grissom feels seems to indicate more than just caring for your partner, but neither Grissom nor Ender seem able to admit their feelings. Grissom most definitely does not want to work with Ender again, but a mysterious and disturbing death in a local cemetery (just where the evil warlock from a few years ago happens to be buried) has them chasing leads and each other through a supernatural world.
Both Grissom and Ender are really great characters. Grissom’s anger makes perfect sense - his partner and best friend up and disappeared for years and then comes back with absolutely no excuse, or at least not one he’s willing to share, even when asked. Anyone would find that infuriating. I’d be pretty pissed myself if that happened. And Ender has a decent reason for not wanting to share, which then leads into more supernatural trouble, which leads to the climax (pun fully intended) of the story. It all comes together really well.
We also have a fae detective who is a clairvoyant - she sees that there is something more going on with Ender, and turns out to be a key player in how things work out in the end. And then there’s Captain Marx, the tough-as-nails Regulator with snazzy business suits and bouncy blonde curls, who (even in the midst of a bloodbath) manages to keep herself positively pristine - she’s more than meets the eye, and kinda kick-ass. I really liked both of them - they were strong female secondary characters who actually played large roles in the plot. It’s all too common for gay romances of all kinds to focus just on the men in the story and leave out female characters altogether. I think that this one has a great balance.
After leaving Dallas, and his Regulator partner Avi Grissom, for several years, Jakob Ender is having trouble trying to get back into the swing of things. As a vampire, he must drink blood to survive, and his bloodlust has been out of control for several years now, since his last mission with the Regulators to take down an evil warlock. It’s really just too bad he didn’t tell Grissom anything about this before he left - the alpha werewolf was not pleased at being abandoned.
And it wasn’t just that his partner left with no word - Grissom was worried about Ender, convinced that something had happened, and over the years the worry turned to anger and addiction. The relief Grissom feels seems to indicate more than just caring for your partner, but neither Grissom nor Ender seem able to admit their feelings. Grissom most definitely does not want to work with Ender again, but a mysterious and disturbing death in a local cemetery (just where the evil warlock from a few years ago happens to be buried) has them chasing leads and each other through a supernatural world.
Both Grissom and Ender are really great characters. Grissom’s anger makes perfect sense - his partner and best friend up and disappeared for years and then comes back with absolutely no excuse, or at least not one he’s willing to share, even when asked. Anyone would find that infuriating. I’d be pretty pissed myself if that happened. And Ender has a decent reason for not wanting to share, which then leads into more supernatural trouble, which leads to the climax (pun fully intended) of the story. It all comes together really well.
We also have a fae detective who is a clairvoyant - she sees that there is something more going on with Ender, and turns out to be a key player in how things work out in the end. And then there’s Captain Marx, the tough-as-nails Regulator with snazzy business suits and bouncy blonde curls, who (even in the midst of a bloodbath) manages to keep herself positively pristine - she’s more than meets the eye, and kinda kick-ass. I really liked both of them - they were strong female secondary characters who actually played large roles in the plot. It’s all too common for gay romances of all kinds to focus just on the men in the story and leave out female characters altogether. I think that this one has a great balance.
September 21, 2014
This review can be found at The Blogger Girls.
After a two year absence, Jakob Ender is back in town and once again Avi Grissom’s partner. This time around, things are not comfortable between them especially since Grissom is angry Ender disappeared and resentful that he’s back again with no explanation for leaving. But they have to put their issues behind when they’re called in to solve the case of a skinned corpse. As the case gets more intense and new facts come to light, things get more and more complicated. What are these two supposed to do when they realize the case gets too close for comfort?
I must say, this was a very interesting story. As a guilty pleasure, I love it when there are paranormal agencies that merge different species together. I always find those stories tons of fun because there’s usually some interspecies issues going on. With this one, while Ender is a vampire and Grissom is the big alpha wolf, there’s more sexual tension than anything else. The two can’t deny their attraction and I liked that years of lust had bottled up between them.
You don’t really know much about them as characters besides the fact that Ender is struggling to contain his hunger and Grissom can’t forgive Ender for leaving but what there is gives you enough to understand the story. However, because of that, I felt like it was weak on both the mystery and character development. We get a little snapshot into who Ender and Grissom are but I didn’t really feel like I knew them, especially since they had such a big past together. I would have also liked to experience more of Grissom and his shifter side.
In the end, this was still a good start to a new series. While the mystery didn’t have as much time to mature as I would have liked, I still liked the concept behind it and I’m looking forward to seeing where things go from here. Will the next book be about Ender and Grissom, as well, or will there be new players that get their story? I’m eager to find out!
After a two year absence, Jakob Ender is back in town and once again Avi Grissom’s partner. This time around, things are not comfortable between them especially since Grissom is angry Ender disappeared and resentful that he’s back again with no explanation for leaving. But they have to put their issues behind when they’re called in to solve the case of a skinned corpse. As the case gets more intense and new facts come to light, things get more and more complicated. What are these two supposed to do when they realize the case gets too close for comfort?
I must say, this was a very interesting story. As a guilty pleasure, I love it when there are paranormal agencies that merge different species together. I always find those stories tons of fun because there’s usually some interspecies issues going on. With this one, while Ender is a vampire and Grissom is the big alpha wolf, there’s more sexual tension than anything else. The two can’t deny their attraction and I liked that years of lust had bottled up between them.
You don’t really know much about them as characters besides the fact that Ender is struggling to contain his hunger and Grissom can’t forgive Ender for leaving but what there is gives you enough to understand the story. However, because of that, I felt like it was weak on both the mystery and character development. We get a little snapshot into who Ender and Grissom are but I didn’t really feel like I knew them, especially since they had such a big past together. I would have also liked to experience more of Grissom and his shifter side.
In the end, this was still a good start to a new series. While the mystery didn’t have as much time to mature as I would have liked, I still liked the concept behind it and I’m looking forward to seeing where things go from here. Will the next book be about Ender and Grissom, as well, or will there be new players that get their story? I’m eager to find out!
December 24, 2015
I loved this story and didn't want it to end! The setting atmosphere was perfect, a dark urban fantasy, where Regulators are the law enforcement against evil paranormal beings. A good mystery plot with a twist I didn't see coming at all.
A bloody skinless corpse found at the cemetery has been assigned to Grissom and Ender, shifter and vamp, the best Regulator agents in the city. But the mysteries doesn't stop with their case. There are more secrets between the two agents, that raises the tension to full volume. Such as, where has Ender been the last 2 years?
I loved how the author entwined the mystery behind Ender, witholding the the knowledge from the readers, not just from his partner, to build that sexual and trust tension between the two. It created a combustible explosion between the two, as in the good kind. I see great potential for a series. Can't wait for the next book!
A bloody skinless corpse found at the cemetery has been assigned to Grissom and Ender, shifter and vamp, the best Regulator agents in the city. But the mysteries doesn't stop with their case. There are more secrets between the two agents, that raises the tension to full volume. Such as, where has Ender been the last 2 years?
I loved how the author entwined the mystery behind Ender, witholding the the knowledge from the readers, not just from his partner, to build that sexual and trust tension between the two. It created a combustible explosion between the two, as in the good kind. I see great potential for a series. Can't wait for the next book!
February 20, 2016
Oh how I hope there's more in this series.
A Vampire and a Werewolf as partners for the Regulators, which is basically a team of cops for the paranormal. They keep all the "monsters" at bay.
Ender comes back from a 2 year hiatus and Avi wants to stay mad but can't find it in him. He wants to know what Ender is hiding and is hurt he is keeping things from him.
It isn't long though for Avi to get answers. It seems their last case together is linked to a new case and Ender is the Prime target.
I loved the concept of this whole book, a were and a vamp, partners in both aspects. The agency they work for is a mystery in itself as they're not sure who "upper management" is.
I think this could be a really great series. Both characters are awesome in their own rights and I think together they could light up the pages
A Vampire and a Werewolf as partners for the Regulators, which is basically a team of cops for the paranormal. They keep all the "monsters" at bay.
Ender comes back from a 2 year hiatus and Avi wants to stay mad but can't find it in him. He wants to know what Ender is hiding and is hurt he is keeping things from him.
It isn't long though for Avi to get answers. It seems their last case together is linked to a new case and Ender is the Prime target.
I loved the concept of this whole book, a were and a vamp, partners in both aspects. The agency they work for is a mystery in itself as they're not sure who "upper management" is.
I think this could be a really great series. Both characters are awesome in their own rights and I think together they could light up the pages
February 8, 2017
Werewolves? Vampires? BOTH?! Count me in! Throw in the crime drama angle and we've got the promise of a good book, and I wasn't disappointed. I quite enjoyed the characters and their complicated relationship. The case they worked was interesting and I loved the twist of how it was connected with Ender's problems. There was a great world set up here and I'd really like to see it expand into more adventures for this pair. It left me wanting more, feeling like they were only getting started.
November 6, 2014
Interesting introduction to a new series. Avi and Jakob are regulators and used to be partners until Jakob disappeared. Now he is bad and the feelings they both have for each other are rising to the surface. Can a werewolf and a vampire really find happiness together?
September 13, 2014
2.75 stars.
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