Something dark roams the woods of Montana. Something even Ezekiel, wizard of the second circle, is at a loss to explain. Some speak of a warlock, others of a necromancer. One thing is certain: vampires are walking the streets in broad daylight and that’s plain wrong!
When Ezekiel turns to shape shifter Michael Biörn for help, Michael tracks down the mysterious enemy to his lair in the heart of the forest. But even this apex predator finds himself in over his head, and with much more than his own life at stake, Michael must race to untangle the enemy’s intricate web of deception if he’s to defeat him and rid the world of his evil.
Marc Daniel is the author of Shadow Pack, an urban fantasy novel and first book of the Michael Biörn series. After spending significant amount of time in Ohio, France, and Montana, Marc is currently living in Texas where he writes as a full time hobby.
Marc developed a taste for mystery novels very young, and was definitely hooked to the genre by age 11 after reading Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None. The Queen of Crime's unparalleled talent for mystery has had a strong influence on Marc’s desire to write and this is reflected in his novels. His taste for science fiction literature came a couple years later after stumbling upon The Dreaming Jewls by Theodore Sturgeon. Simak, Asimov, Van Vogt, Zimmer Bradley, Wells, Bradburry followed in short order. Marc was 18 when he read Frank Herbert’s Dune, his first space opera, and was immediately fascinated by the genre. He spent the next few years reading Space opera sagas almost exclusively (Herbert, Anderson, Bordage, etc) with the exception of the occasional Agatha Christie. He discovered fantasy much later at age 25 with Tolkien’s Lord Of The Rings trilogy. In the years following, his reading started gravitating more and more towards this literary style. Surprisingly enough, it took Marc another eight years to read his first urban fantasy, Patricia Brigg’s Moon Called, and to realize he wanted more. Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files series partially tamed his appetite but his thirst could only be quenched by writing his own series. A year later, Shadow Pack was born.
Marc is currently working on book #2 of the Michael Biörn series and is having way too much fun with the story line.
This was a good book. It kept me entertained all the was through. It was about our hero Michael who was an 800 pound bear shifter and his friend Ezekiel, the wizard, who got into it with another wizard and ended up in a coma for most of the story.
It included a lot of vampires and the High King of the Elves, Dariel, his wife Leana and their spoiled and troublesome daughter Maya. As well as, Serafin, the bad wizard and, Dragos the main vampire. There was also Olivia, who became a werewolf in the last book when she was bitten, and Lucy, Olivia’s sister and Sheila, Michael’s on-again off-again girlfriend who was a reporter. AND every one of these characters had an important role in the book.
SO, YAY! It was written in the 3rd person and we got to see, hear, feel and know what everyone was doing. Both books were worth the read.
No romance and the F-bomb was used 9 times.
As to the narration: John McLain got 3 stars from me in the last book, but he’ll only get 2 this time. His women’s voices were just terrible. It was like he couldn’t even bothered trying to sound feminine.
“Unholy Trinity” the second novel in the thrilling paranormal Michael Biörn series begins with missing University students; an attack on the daughter of Elven King Dariel; the uncovering of a vampire covenant of day-walkers; and a growing suspicion that there’s a necromancer and warlock on the loose who are not only building an army but are formulating a sinister plan that includes capturing Michael a werebear when he shifts and his werewolf protégé Olivia.
Set in Bozeman the plot opens with a frat party where Olivia’s werewolf nature takes over and she beats up several football players attempting to rape her and her sister Lucy. Told from several perspectives as multiple story lines weave together the action escalates as Michael and Ezekiel, a Wizard of the Second Circle investigating rumors of the day-walkers walk into a trap, the werebear saving the wizard while Olivia twice is faced with a vampire attack only to be saved by the pack of wolves who have been asked to watch over when she’s in the forest.
Fast-paced this plot vibrates with action with every twist and turn as Dragos day-walkers enlist more teens for their army and their blood bank at the farm. Told for multiple perspectives intensity and suspense increase when Michael and the fae Leka confront the Western Covenant for information only to face a possible war with the werebear's refusal to have them take down Dragos.
Marc Daniel has a flare for creating complex and compelling characters like Michael Biörn an ancient Viking and modern-day park ranger who can shift into an 800lb werebear to defeat his enemies. Overbearing, taciturn and tough but gifted with magnetic charisma, he’s dependable and caring looking after Olivia, the University student and werewolf he’s agreed to take under his wing.
Yet it’s the cold heartless cruelty of Dragos; the manipulative, conniving of the ambitious Serafin; and the resourceful, self-confidence of the devious Maya that add a terrifying chill to the story.
And when you think that you know who is pulling the strings in the sinister plan underlining the “Unholy Trinity” be prepared to be surprised with tricks, traps and betrayals you never expected. This is a well-developed, exciting sequel and i can’t wait for the next book in this fascinating series.
This is book two in the Michael Biorn series, a shape shifter, who has lived on our planet for over a thousand years. He has recently had to spend months looking after and mentoring a newly made werewolf. She has now returned to university, but had to move to Montana where Michael is based, which leaves her to resent his presence. The new pup is called Olivia and her sister, Lucy, has also moved to live with her as their parents were killed just over a year ago.
The woods and forests around the university are now a danger zone and there have been multiple students going missing from the university and local area. All late teens to early twenties. Something strange is definitely going on and Michael is trying to find out who may be behind it. The local elf community will not intervene as they never do with human matters.
Michael has to contact old friends and contacts, as day walking vampires have appeared in the town and there are rumours of a very powerful wizard and a necromancer in the mix as well. One person he has to contact for help is his ex-girlfriend, Sheila, a journalist who almost broke a story, the previous year, of the existence of werewolves. This time he needs her to look into the student and missing young people and see if there is any pattern. The only problem is, she doesn’t want to speak to him since their breakup and won’t return his calls.
He has to do all of this, whilst also trying to keep Olivia safe and call on his old wizard friend Ez. This is a great read with plenty of good character description and backgrounds. A mix of different foes and a bit of a thriller style with the action going on between each of the sides in the story. I enjoyed reading this and will now go back and read book one, Shadow Pack and the short story preview, Michael Biorn. I look forward to seeing what else will be done with some of these main characters.
I received an ARC copy of the book from Hidden Gems and I have freely given my own opinion above. I would gladly read other books from this author. Good mixture of action, fantasy characters and pace.
This one takes off pretty close to the end of the last one, there's a few months of werewolf training that we skip but it's practically a continuation.
This book is kind of a war between vampires and were creatures. Marc Daniel has excellent worldbuilding that makes these supernatural elements work really nice in it's urban setting, kind of similarly to Kevin Hearne's Iron Druid series.
What I don't like about this one in the romantic elements. The cliffhanger of book one is just kind of glossed over and the man character never really speaks about it again despite how hugely serious it is. And Olivia, a newly turned werewolf, shouldn't really be getting into dating at all at this point - although it's acknowledged at least. It feels weird especially since (minor spoilers) she's in another romance back to back in the next book.
And personally as much as I like Daniel's writing for say 90% of the novel, I don't like how the writing lingers on women's appearances. They have distinct personalities and it's understandable mentioned when, say, the investigative reporter uses being pretty to get someone to talk, but everyone other female character is just gorgeous, tiny, and shapely in one way or another. Enough to stick out and be distracting.
Michael had finished training Olivia on how to control her inner wolf. He just beginning to relax when an old wizard friend, Ezekiel, comes to see him in the woods. It seems young adults were going missing, vampire attacked were up including a Fae princess. It seems a necromancer, the Fae, vampires, wizards and wolves are all involved. But to what end and who is really behind it all?
This is titled An Urban Fantasy Mystery but I think it is much more of a thriller. It is an extremely complex storyline with a lot twists, turns and surprises that keep you guessing until the end. The suspense is expertly crafted. The characters were interesting, well developed and creative. The narrative was essential to defining the characters in greater detail and describing the setting. The non stop action was detailed, at times very graphic and overall really well done. I thought this book was more creative that the first book and found it hard to put down. If your into page-turning mysteries with a fantasy flare try this one.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Michale Biorn, our favorite Park Ranger/werebear, is back, along with Ezekiel, his powerful wizard friend, & Olivia, a werewolf pup & a sort of fictive-kin niece (who has trouble grasping the fact that her mentor actually knows more than she does about living the preternatural life). There has been a rash of young people, mostly college students, disappearing. The problems our friends face in trying to figure out, and stop, what is happening, include vampires (who do have to eat, after all, and some of whom are "day walkers"), an evil warlock (who is in league with an ancient, very powerful vampire) and elves (whose real goals & motives are not necessarily what they would have you believe).
In truth, while I like the key characters, I did not enjoy this one as much as the first, primarily because Daniel had so many different types of beings involved that initially I found it hard to keep them straight, which interfered with following the plot.
The author spent a lot of time setting up this book with multiple storylines with different characters that come together and swing apart and interweave. It was a lot to absorb in one book; I found it a little too much to properly appreciate at one time. What made it more difficult to appreciate is that unlike book 1, this novel started both storylines very slowly - the action did not really begin until Chapter 10 (which was 10% of the way into the book). Once the action began though, Olivia's storyline looks very like Jim Butcher's "Son of Bigfoot" stories while Michael's storyline looks a lot like Michael Ruger's "Naming Day". Both storylines were worth reading, but seriously, this novel might have worked better as 2 novels rather than 1.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Unholy Trinity is the second book in the Michael Biorn series. Michael has relocated his young protegee, Olivia, to Yellowstone to keep her safe and to teach her how to control her inner beast, now that she is a newly minted werewolf. Olivia and her sister, Lucy, are attending college in Bozeman, Montana, and it is there that they begin a series of run-ins with a colony of vampires. In this story not everyone is who he or she seems to be, so you will be guessing until the end of the book. Marc Daniel introduces us to interesting new characters, and further fleshes out the existing characters, giving us more insight into their back stories. This book is great recreational reading that will keep you entertained until the very end, and will make you eager to read the next installment in this series.
Daniel has found his voice and stride in this book. The story is whimsical and fierce at the same time, the right amount of action and adventure with battle scenes that entertain without the description being too gory and distracting. The author has opened the supernatural and preternatural realms with introductions to these worlds that are intriguing and leaving the reader wanting to learn more about those societies. The ending is a hold on to your pants whirl wind with lots of facts and story lines unraveling requiring potentially multiple reads to get all the intricacies, but once you got it, you will wish that you could move on to the next book.
I loved this book. The characters are relatable, especially Michael Biornn. He worries about his friends, always tries to do the right thing and is willing to stick his neck way out to help. I love the interaction between the characters and it was nice to learn more about Ez and his childhood. There are recurring characters and some new characters that I hope will be in future books. Michael starts out doing a favour for a friend and is drawn into a series of events that test him and others to the extreme. An excellent read and this series has become my new favourite. Can't wait to read the next story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
It's been a long wait for this second book in the series, but the wait has been worth it!
I am not a fan of the fantasy genre as a rule but Marc somehow manages to weave the fantastical elements in such a way that they don't feel preposterous or make you roll your eyes.
I really enjoyed seeing Michael and Olivia again, as well as the new (and old) characters in the story. It is told very well, with good pace, character development, detail and description.
I hope I don't have to wait as long for the next one! :)
This is the second book in the Michael Biorn series
This was a very good read like the first book this is a paranatural mystery / Urban Legend genre and this book does it very well . If you like figuring out who ,why ,where and how you'll love these books I love figuring out what's going on and the characters are solid and relatable even if most are supernatural beings . This book kept me on the edge of my seat but with some really good twist too I'm looking forward too the next book .
This is a great sequel to the first of the series. It continues in the same vein but with the add of different races such as elves. We also encounter necromancers, and more mages, more shifters and werebeasts and vampires. I loved following Michael and his protégé, his friend's daughter. I tried to guess what would happen next without much success I admit. Lots of twists in this action packed urban fantasy.
A wonderful story with strong supernatural characters.
This second Michael Biorn book by Marc Daniel is exciting. Michael races to help an old friend and gets caught up in vampire politics all the while trying to protect his young werewolf charge. Michael is a good, strong supernatural character that I enjoy learning more about and can't wait to see who he tries to save next. A must read!
Marc Daniel is fast becoming a favorite author. "Unholy Trinity" is the second of Michael Biörn's adventures, and is as engrossing as the first one was. A paranormal mystery with urban fantasy elements, a complex and intriguing plotline and well developed characters, the book kept my interest from start to finish. I'll definitely read more of Michael Biörn's stories.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
One of the best books I have read in years !!!! Michael has his work cut out trying to solve the disappearances that are happening all around him while trying to keep a wolf pup out of danger but needing the help of a journalist is just part of the problem he is facing ….. Can Michael solve the mystery before it is to late...… Grab the book to find out !
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
*I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review* It was an interesting read full of preternatural and supernatural creatures of all sorts, although I felt it wasn't as exciting as the first book. I enjoyed the inclusion of the child chapters though, I though they were really interesting. I also liked the fact that I couldn't guess who was behind it all until the very end.
More mystery than "shifter story" the Michael Biorn books are complex and intriguing. Interesting characters & well thought plots make for a good reading experience. Try them, if you haven't already. I do recommend starting with Shadow Pack, because these books don't spend the first chapters doing an exposition dump. Very nice work, Mr. Daniels!
This was a great follow up to Shadow Pack and a great addition to the Michael Biörn series. The character growth and world development made this a page turning read. All in all a very enjoyable read and I'm already looking forward to reading more in this series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I have waited over a year for this installment into the Michael Biörn story. And I must say the author did not disappoint. There was no way I could have seen where the story line was taking me. The book is filled with action, much anticipation and a load of surprises. The main character Michael holds true to his original introduction into this genre. I am awaiting the next installment.
I enjoyed everything about the book except Olivia making only bad decisions. It seemed like Michael was dealing with other people's poor decisions the whole book. Also I didn't really get if the queen knew what was going on or not.
I alrdy got book 3, I hope Olivia isn't in it she wasn't good in book 1 or 2.
This is an intriguing Paranormal read. The storyline is engaging, good-paced has twists and great characters. I enjoyed this entertaining read. I voluntarily read an ARC and this is my honest review.
I love this series. A new twist to paranormal or fantasy that keeps you reading until the very end. And even the very last sentence has the sly little mystery. But please let Michael and Sheila get together, what a team.
The first book was enjoyable and kept my attention enough to see where the second would go. I just say that I am extremely pleased. The story flowed much smoother and I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I can't wait to read more.
This book will keep you guessing through the whole thing. I thought I had it figured out but was totally wrong. Great writing and interesting plot line. I can't wait to get the next one. Keep up the great work Marc!
Unholy Trinity is full of twists and turns that will keep you glued in. I enjoyed the storyline, the characters and the plot. The author’s use of history was rather entertaining.
This series is a fun mix of paranormal fantasy and mystery. The mystery parts keep you guessing right up to the end,with well written characters in a fun plot line
This is the second book in the series and just as hard to put down as the first. I'm looking forward to the next one. I highly recommend this series and this author!