Looking for a bingeable paranormal series to sink your teeth into? Fans of the Anita Blake and Sookie Stackhouse series are loving Lilith Mercury.
This is Book One in the Lilith Mercury Series.
Dr. Alfred Moody saved her life, but the werewolf, Marco may hold the key to her heart. She's torn between the man who saved her humanity and the one who makes her want to embrace the beast.
This series gets hotter as it goes. However, Book One is NOT super spicy. Someday Lilith will have a happy ending, but this is only the beginning.
This book contains graphic language and graphic violence.
I write what I enjoy in the hopes that others will enjoy it as well. I've always been drawn to the macabre. Vampires, werewolves, you name it.
I've never written about the paranormal because it's popular. I do it because that's what I'm interested in. If the vampire fad ever passes, I'll still be sitting here in my Dracula cape, getting my fang on.
This is a high-level review of the series as a whole with few if any details & absolutely no spoilers.
World building In a world with discrimination I don't find it difficult to believe this type of behavior extends past the human race/Earth. Species discrimination plays a fundamental role in this series. Similarly to what we see IRL discrimination breeds hatred & is responsible for many injustices. I found the history of werewolves & vampires an interesting layer of depth in this world. I also found Lilith's circumstances & personal angst easily believable. Honestly, I doubt any reader will have difficulties with thier suspense of disbelief. The author kept everything incredibly reasonable.
Location & Timeline Florida USA - Current timeline
Supernatural Element Vampires, wizards, shape-shifters, winged beings, witches & extraterrestrial beings all exist in this world. The publics's knowledge & the readers familiarity of each species is constantly in flux as the series progresses.
Protagonist & Romance The protagonist Lilith was a refreshing change of pace. She's an artist at heart, an empath due to genetics & a hunter by circumstance. I'll leave her race as a surprise for those of you who decide to follow the series to completion. I'll keep the romance element undisclosed. Lilith's love life is riddled with heartbreak & disappointment. For an artist whose biggest desire is to find love it's truly a sad development. I expect strong emotions & yes even angst from an empathetic artist, I expect ass kicking from a hunter/executioner & Lilith delivers believable amounts adding multiple layers & dimensions to her character. I'm typically not a fan of angst but the author did a fantastic job keeping the necessary angst at tolerable levels. Overall (Romance aside) Lilith made decent decisions & had good problem solving skills.
Pet-peeves This series is not a traditional "one true love" or "one true pairing" type series. Be prepared for multiple lovers as the series progresses this becomes more evident. A h who is an empath "in love with love". Expect strong feelings. If you enjoy reading from a h POV that is as emotional deep as a glass of water this is not the series for you.
Editing I didn't find any glaring grammatical or spelling errors.
Genre This is not YA & although the series include some detective work don't expect masterful mysteries. I'd go with PNR light UF without the cliches. i.e h that's TSTL or ridiculously stronger than she should be. Lilith is powerful & her power level does change as the series progresses but it's not without reason or difficulties.
Rating: 3/3.5 stars (Book 1) 4.5 (series)
Recommendation Yes, this is an excellent series to marathon if you're in the mood for fluff.
This book started off a bit slow, but improved in the middle. But then, towards the end, bombed. I totally got angry with the direction the story went & almost put the book up! I really don't like the main character, Lilith. I actually liked Alfred, Eli & Marco. When she gets "involved" with Alfred -& says she's "in love with him", but the minute he leaves for work with her father for a few months, she's off flirting around with Eli & inviting him over & then going back to Marco's bar by herself to pursue him, then spending a week with Marco, this really just turned my stomache. Lilith seemed too immature with a jealous streak & bad temper. Her complaining about the ex-boyfriends who didn't do right by her, but she's no better than the ex-boyfriends in her relationships. Lilth Is only concerned with her self. This character was a total turn off to me. It left me frustrated that I wasted time reading this book. The writing flowed enough to keep me reading for the most part, but had I known it would end the way it did, would not have bothered reading this book. If you like the heroines in your romances to be mature & loyal & endings with HEA's, don't bother reading this. I know I won't bother picking up the remaining 6 books in the series from this author.
Red (Lilith Mercury Werewolf Hunter) Tracey H. Kitts
I was given this copy by author free for review, but as always on the basis that my opinion is honestly held, and whether paid for or free my views are not influenced by that. Integrity is important to me and gushing false reviews do neither author or reader any favours. As always my views are what I honestly feel about this book.
I'd read Frank and the werewolf trainer on my kindle when it was in the free listings and enjoyed the writing style so looked for more by the same author. To my delight Tracey has several books out and this was the one I began next. Its the first in a series of six and containing shape shifters was bound to hook my attention. Lilith is a werewolf hunter and was attacked by werewolves some years back. In an effort to save her life she was given an experimental vaccination which stopped her changing fully but gave her some side effects. She now works on Earth with yummy Italian scientist Alfred (swoon) killing rogue werewolves. Her father is back on another planet Terra where the werewolf virus began.
It took some time to get “into” the book as there is a whole new world and set of characters to learn and integrate. Its always the same with a new series though and best if characters are introduced gently as Tracey has done so we can really get to know and regard them as real people. There are some dangerous scenes where Lilith faces threats to her life, but most of the book centres around the characters and the problems faced by werewolves. Once infected with the virus they become outlaws and officially face death regardless of their actions, though Lilith focusses on killing only rogues who threaten humans. We get introduced to a cast of characters including her good friend Kat, the yummy and caring Alfred, the local policeman Elijah - another goodlooking guy with a heart - and of course the delicious and enigmatic bad boy Marco, former hunter; now following an attack he's Alpha to the local pack. From having had a slow love life Lilith is now getting attention from three great men.
The series is planned as erotic but this book only contains suggestions of what is to follow but enough to tell that Tracey can write a good and stimulating sex scene. Some writers do this well and others – well, as a reader I just want to cringe at what’s written...its great to find someone who can write about sex and love without resorting to overworked clichés ( and being a reader who enjoys erotic writing I did sneak a look into book two to check that she writes these scenes as well as I thought she would) I really enjoyed this book – the characters are well fleshed and I felt they were real and I cared what happened to them. The setting up of the love triangle – well am I team Alfred or team Marco? I just don't know as they're both so well written and potentially a good match for Lilith. Usually in this situation one stands out for me above another but here I simply can't choose. Good job I'm a reader not the author :)
Liliths “powers” remind me a little of Anita Blake, from the Laurell Hamilton series , Cat from the Jeannine Frost Huntress series and even a bit of Sookie Stackhouse. They allow the series to evolve and not be limited to one aspect of the supernatural. Personally I'd place Tracy’s writing on a par with those authors too, I feel she's that good and they are among my favourites. The journal Marco finds and gives to Lilith which has words from an ancestor looks to be fixed in the series and I enjoyed the voice of her great great grandfather and love the way its magical, and so words change according to the reader. This novel is a promising start to what looks like a series that will join my “keepers” for re reading.
Its a great length at 508 KB/ 230 pages and will keep the reader engrossed for many hours. It's value for money too at just £2.30 for kindle and is also available as paperback for £9.33. Its well edited with few spelling or grammar errors – those can detract so much from a story and are important to get right. Now for the stars: four stars, (I’m picky and its hard for the first in a series to warrant five stars)and I think as the series progress they are going to be five stars if writing keeps up like this.
* gained for: "The book caught my interest in first five pages."
* gained for: "I thought about the book when I was forced to set it down and re-enter society."
* gained for: "There were no info dumps, poor writing, or copy edit mistakes that jerked me out of the story."
* gained for: "I was sad when the book ended. I want more!!"
The novel failed to gain stars for these items:
NO STAR gained for: "That's it. I'm hooked on this author I will automatically buy anything s/he writes." (I'm not 100% hooked yet, but I'd say at this moment I'm almost there. I absolutely loved - LOVED - this book and I CANNOT wait to read #2.)
An interesting book but it didn't peak my interest like it should. Lily is basically a werewolf hunting black widow complete with red hair and black cat suit. She's more concerned about if she should have a relationship with a hot were, a kind cop or even get hot Italian butler/scientist/caretaker. I really expected more
Great start of the series. Romance, hot scene and a good joke.... Only the mail character and her short hair are the only minors. if that is all ? Start today with this exciting paranormal romance series!
oh. and the pjs in this series... I think they have a TON of laundry in a week!
It really took me a while to get lost in this story. I'm not sure if it was just me or if it was because I found the female MC rather hard to like.
Lilith, yes, she kicks a bit of ass & has survived a horrendous werewolf attack that left her feeling like she is living between two worlds. For me she came across as someone filled with self delusion and not being honest with herself about her feelings especially about the men in her life.
Speaking of men - this one had loads of candidates for Lilith to chose from. First there's Alfred - her living companion and scientist. I know Lilith says she has a thing for older men but for the life of me I couldn't see their relationship the way she did. Through out most of the book she proclaims to "love" him - but it was a bit hard to see that since he was away on a mission with her father for at least half the story.
Then we have Marco - the hot & steamy former hunter, turned werewolf alpha & nightclub owner. Now, I completely get Lilith with this guy - the tension rolls off the pages when they are together - but Lilith can't get past herself to see how she really feels about him.
Next we have Eli, a super sweet cop and human. Lilith flirts with him shamelessly and I like their relationship. Mostly because he's a likeable guy & it doesn't hurt that he claims to have grown up in my neck of the woods (really curious how the author chose that as his background).
There are lots of twists and turns in this story, a bit of steam and tensions but mostly mild and in spite of the title not a whole lot of werewolf hunting - looking to see how the next installment panes out.
It started off interesting and it’s a very interesting concept, but I CANNOT stand the MC. She’s way too self-centered. I understand that she went through some messed up stuff, but that doesn’t mean its okay to continue to plot the murder of a woman who is bally her eyes out because her husband (the MC’s ex-boyfriend/ first love) abused her. The MC even admit the woman probably came to her because she had no one else and how sad that was. But did that stop her from her murderous plot to kill her? Nope. It didn’t. I can't deal with that kind of selfishness. Not to mention another woman was automatically slutty and deserved to be murder too because she looked like the other woman. What the hell? So suffice it say, I didn’t finish the book. I got to 22%.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Not quite what I'm use to in a werewolf story, but Kitts did a wonderful job with this twist from the norm. The characters were definitely keepers going forward and I can't wait to read Book 2. Marco and Lilith have great chemistry, but there is still a lot between her and Alfred. We also have her ancestry with a Wizard to keep in mind, so without adding any spoilers to the mix I whole heartedly recommend this series.
Lilith Mercury character is a tough cookie as a slayer. However interesting her one flaw is she is part wolf. Yet . . . she is a killer of were wolf's. If you're a reader of drama with a intriguing romance. With Lilith being drawn to many and all seem to be in her eyes handsome and captivating. This novel is worthy.
Lilith is a bad ass chick who can take care of herself. For only being 24, she has gone through a lot. She has a best friend that everyone needs in their life. Then the guys she has chasing after her, I'm like why choose?? Have them all!
Wonderful story. I absolutely loved the characters and the story was very well written. The author does a great job of layering the story so it keeps you enthralled to the very end. Can't wait to read the next book.
I thought this was so cool. I really enjoyed Marco. I feel bad for her with her multiple love interests. She has no idea who to pick because of other factors that are not in her control. I can’t wait to find out what happens next
I'm torn on this review. I feel like the book is a bit long winded and at points gets a little weirdly worded but I liked the story enough to continue.
I wasn’t that into it to begin with but I finished the book to see if Red and Alfred get together. SPOILER they don’t. I was definitely disappointed. I will not be finishing the series
This is the first i have read by Tracey Kitts. As i reader i was sucked in and vested in the outcome. Lilith is a werewolf Hunter. Victim of a werewolf attack, she received an experimental vaccine that halted the virus but left her with unusual abilities. She resides with Alfred, a scientist who is also her Dad's former partner. She has a few quality human friends who know about her world. She's an unusual UF character as not only is she bad ass, but she paints, writes poetry and sketches for her mental health. She is managing until she meets Marco. He had worked for her father, was a hunter and was bitten. Now he's the Alpha of the area Pack. Drama ensues and Lilith struggles with accepting who she is, how others see her, her duty as a hunter and her feelings for the men in her life. At times, her internal dialog can be a bit much, but overall a well written and fleshed out world and characters.
DNF'd this at 57% b/c the relationships are all based on how horny the FMC is. I wouldn't have had such a problem with it, except that instead of owning up to the truth of it Lilith tries to pass things off as being in love with I don't remember which or even how many men. YAY for self-deluded heroines, I guess?!! *ugh*
Everything about this book came off as stilted and mechanical: the writing, the world-building(what little there was of it), the setting, the underwhelming fight scenes/descriptions, the characterization(nonexistent though it was), the forgettable(as mentioned above) and pitiful excuse of a romance. . . everything.
Love this book. It's hard to find a PNR story that pulls you into it's pages from the beginning and won't let go. I found my self trying to seek time in between my hectic work day to sneak a peek at what happens next. The characters take on a life of their own, making it extremely easy to relate and 'feel' the events as they unfold.
This series offers a broad cast of humans, wizards, werewolves, hunters and yet promises more. I have to say I am hooked and look forward to reading more in this series.
Outstanding I absolutely love this lady (Tracey H Kitts AND Lilith Mercury) I was just totally engrossed from word one. I laughed I cried(literally) I never wanted the book to end and fortunately there's more than one. This is one independent bad ass woman. Take my advise read this series and her others this lady is awesome.
It definitely was an interesting novel to read. Lilith has a lot of men in her life and while Alfred has a dark side and Lilith claims to love him, I can't help but think that Marco is the right one for her, right now. He has this intense passion about him that is hard not to want.