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Shades of Fury #1
Red Hot Fury
View our feature on Kasey Mackenzie’s Red Hot Fury . Introducing a sizzling new urban fantasy series featuring Marissa Holloway, an immortal Fury who doesn't just get mad...she gets even.
As a Fury, Marissa Holloway belongs to an Arcane race that has avenged wrongdoing since time immemorial. As Boston's chief magical investigator for the past five years, she's doing what she was born to solve supernatural crimes.
But Riss's investigation into a dead sister Fury leads to her being inexplicably suspended from her job. And to uncover the truth behind this cover-up, she'll have to turn to her shape-shifting Warhound ex for help.
As a Fury, Marissa Holloway belongs to an Arcane race that has avenged wrongdoing since time immemorial. As Boston's chief magical investigator for the past five years, she's doing what she was born to solve supernatural crimes.
But Riss's investigation into a dead sister Fury leads to her being inexplicably suspended from her job. And to uncover the truth behind this cover-up, she'll have to turn to her shape-shifting Warhound ex for help.
337 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 29, 2010
22 people are currently reading
3354 people want to read
About the author
Kasey MacKenzie
20 books168 followersKasey Mackenzie lives with her husband and son in St. Louis, Missouri; home of the Gateway Arch, the baseball Cardinals, and the world’s greatest thin-crust pizza. Kasey was one of those students who always had her nose in a book—so no big surprise when she was voted “Teacher’s Pet” in her high school yearbook. Today, she is a voracious reader of fantasy, romance, suspense, and “soft” science fiction. She adores her German shepherd puppy, two cats, playing softball, and has recently taken up knitting. So far she can cast on, do the knit stitch, and cast off. Hey, it’s a start!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 154 reviews
May 19, 2010
For about the first forty pages, RED HOT FURY has a rocky start, but after it gets over that hump it's a worthwhile read. The Furies are an interesting breed that brings a welcome change from all the vampires, weres, witches, et al. to the urban fantasy genre, and the author adds her own spin to the species. Marissa, or rather Riss, is a tough, sarcastic, sure-of-herself character that won't appeal to everyone, but if you like them more on the gritty side then she might be the heroine for you. The world is interesting and there are good ideas, which includes Greek, Egyptian, and European mythology, but unfortunately the execution could have been better. Sometimes I was confused by explanations of the world, organizations, magic, etc., all of which, at times, were vague and periodically the dialogue fell flat. Adding to that, there was an unnecessary number of action scenes and a few too many characters to keep completely straight. However, there were some nice twists and turns, and although I saw the big reveal coming a mile away, I enjoyed the book and will look for the second in the series. Hopefully, all the kinks will be ironed out for that one. It's not quite a 4-star book, but a little better than a 3, so I'll settle for 3.5 stars.
Provided to me free for review through Amazon Vine.
Provided to me free for review through Amazon Vine.
December 1, 2011
This book could have had potential. The premise and the idea of the Fury is actually pretty novel and unique. Furies are driven by their Rage which gives them special uber-powers. They are governed by the Sisterhood comprised of Furies of different types, overlooking the peace accord between the mundanes and arcanes.
I liked the overall plot of solving a supernatural conspiracy and murder mystery. Riss, or Marissa, was the Chief Investigator of the Magical Crime Unit. In this book, she was driven to solve the disappearance of her best friend and the death of a sidhe who took the appearance of the said best friend. The book read much like a mystery, with paranormal and fantastical elements thrown into the mix.
It would have been a fun read, because the whole setup wasn’t bad at all. It fell flat on its figurative ass, in my opinion, was the fact that the female protagonist of the story, Riss, was just plain ANNOYING!!! Her characterization was inconsistent – one minute she’d be all badass and hard-ass, then the next minute she’d go all stupid and emotional. Okay, so the author chalked it all up to the fact that she was a Fury and that it was natural for Furies to have their moments. However, throughout the entire book, I found that I couldn’t really get into liking her as a main. Her often snarky and supposedly humorous remarks drove me crazy (not in a nice way), and I honestly did not find any fun or humour at all. She also had an ego that was the size of a mountain. I usually didn’t mind heroines who were capable with a bit of arrogance, but she could be too hot-headed sometimes (again, because she was a Fury!!)
There was a bit of romance in the book – yeah, I had to admit, some romance always spiced up a book and made it all the more interesting. BUT, her so-called romance with her old-flame, Scott, was not very convincing. I didn’t find Scott at all attractive and I just took their relationship at face value – because that was what I was told by the author. (*shrug*)
There were also some hiccups experienced with the plot weaving as well. I did not see the purpose nor the reason why Sean, Scott’s little brother, was positioned to have some sort of infatuation for Riss and even attempted to kiss her!! Eewww... Sean had a very short and minor appearance in the book and then he went missing. That felt awkward and unnecessary. Okay, so may be the author was setting up a sub-plot and leaving bread crumbs for subsequent novels in the series, but I thought it could have been executed a little more smoothly and convincingly. In addition, Riss’ reunion with her mother and genetically-produced younger brother felt very contrived. It was just not easy to buy into the whole “we escaped the bad guys” blah blah blah... It was probably a quick an easy way for the author to get on with her storytelling without giving too much detail on the whole escape. That just felt somewhat hasty and sloppy...
Oh, not to mention, if you are reading my review, are you noticing all those italicized words?!? Oh yes, I’m just doing what the author oh-so-loved doing – she had a tendency to italicize words in every other sentence on every other page, in attempts to emphasize certain words. This just drove me BONKERS!!!! It was an absolute eyesore and was often unnecessary. Seriously, was it really necessary to emphasize the I or you when Riss was speaking to others. Oh my gawd!!!! I kid you not... I even went back to the book, and I could find at least one, if not more, italicized word on almost every page that I turned!!!!
Having said all this though, quite honestly, this wasn’t a bad book. Really, it was actually okay for book #1, in what I can foresee as a long running series. The heroine, Riss, may even be funny and awesome to some readers. However, I, having been spoiled by many good books and series, think I have been “ruined”, so I simply thought that this novel paled in comparison.
I decided to give 2.5 stars to this book, because while I thought it was more than just okay, I didn’t “like” it – not really. The plot and storyline was interesting enough to keep me going, but in the end I still felt a bit of “meh”. Hopefully the next instalment would be executed better.
I liked the overall plot of solving a supernatural conspiracy and murder mystery. Riss, or Marissa, was the Chief Investigator of the Magical Crime Unit. In this book, she was driven to solve the disappearance of her best friend and the death of a sidhe who took the appearance of the said best friend. The book read much like a mystery, with paranormal and fantastical elements thrown into the mix.
It would have been a fun read, because the whole setup wasn’t bad at all. It fell flat on its figurative ass, in my opinion, was the fact that the female protagonist of the story, Riss, was just plain ANNOYING!!! Her characterization was inconsistent – one minute she’d be all badass and hard-ass, then the next minute she’d go all stupid and emotional. Okay, so the author chalked it all up to the fact that she was a Fury and that it was natural for Furies to have their moments. However, throughout the entire book, I found that I couldn’t really get into liking her as a main. Her often snarky and supposedly humorous remarks drove me crazy (not in a nice way), and I honestly did not find any fun or humour at all. She also had an ego that was the size of a mountain. I usually didn’t mind heroines who were capable with a bit of arrogance, but she could be too hot-headed sometimes (again, because she was a Fury!!)
There was a bit of romance in the book – yeah, I had to admit, some romance always spiced up a book and made it all the more interesting. BUT, her so-called romance with her old-flame, Scott, was not very convincing. I didn’t find Scott at all attractive and I just took their relationship at face value – because that was what I was told by the author. (*shrug*)
There were also some hiccups experienced with the plot weaving as well. I did not see the purpose nor the reason why Sean, Scott’s little brother, was positioned to have some sort of infatuation for Riss and even attempted to kiss her!! Eewww... Sean had a very short and minor appearance in the book and then he went missing. That felt awkward and unnecessary. Okay, so may be the author was setting up a sub-plot and leaving bread crumbs for subsequent novels in the series, but I thought it could have been executed a little more smoothly and convincingly. In addition, Riss’ reunion with her mother and genetically-produced younger brother felt very contrived. It was just not easy to buy into the whole “we escaped the bad guys” blah blah blah... It was probably a quick an easy way for the author to get on with her storytelling without giving too much detail on the whole escape. That just felt somewhat hasty and sloppy...
Oh, not to mention, if you are reading my review, are you noticing all those italicized words?!? Oh yes, I’m just doing what the author oh-so-loved doing – she had a tendency to italicize words in every other sentence on every other page, in attempts to emphasize certain words. This just drove me BONKERS!!!! It was an absolute eyesore and was often unnecessary. Seriously, was it really necessary to emphasize the I or you when Riss was speaking to others. Oh my gawd!!!! I kid you not... I even went back to the book, and I could find at least one, if not more, italicized word on almost every page that I turned!!!!
Having said all this though, quite honestly, this wasn’t a bad book. Really, it was actually okay for book #1, in what I can foresee as a long running series. The heroine, Riss, may even be funny and awesome to some readers. However, I, having been spoiled by many good books and series, think I have been “ruined”, so I simply thought that this novel paled in comparison.
I decided to give 2.5 stars to this book, because while I thought it was more than just okay, I didn’t “like” it – not really. The plot and storyline was interesting enough to keep me going, but in the end I still felt a bit of “meh”. Hopefully the next instalment would be executed better.
June 8, 2010
Look out, paranormal baddies; Marissa Holloway is on the job. Riss is a Fury, and her mission is to fight supernatural crime. Kasey MacKenzie bases her Furies on the ones from Greek mythology, but with a twist. In myth, there were three Furies: Alecto, Tisiphone, and Megaera. Here, these names represent not individual Furies, but classes of Furies. Riss is a Tisiphone. This means she wears red and deals mainly with homicides.
(Unfortunately, MacKenzie doesn’t do as much with this concept as one might hope. We don’t learn much about the Alecto and Megaera Furies beyond the colors they wear. This may be elaborated upon in later books.)
As Red Hot Fury begins, Riss is called to a murder scene. The body is that of a Fury, specifically Riss’s best friend Vanessa. Yet something is fishy about the crime. Vanessa’s body doesn’t seem quite right magically speaking, and besides, Riss thought Vanessa died several years ago at the hands of a jealous ex. As Riss investigates the case, she uncovers a sinister conspiracy, and learns that almost every conclusion she jumped to in the past was wrong.
The plot of Red Hot Fury is fast and, well, furious. MacKenzie keeps the excitement at a high level throughout most of the book, and combines the action with a compelling romance between two characters who royally screwed up their relationship years ago but now have a second chance to work things out.
At times, though, the plot moves too quickly. Several times, MacKenzie skims over scenes, rather than using them to their fullest potential. At one point, Scott drops an emotional bombshell on Marissa. Do they kiss? Does she stomp off? Do they just stare awkwardly at each other for a few minutes? We don’t know, because the chapter ends there, and as the next chapter begins, the characters are doing something completely different. Later, a tenuous group of allies prepare to make a blood oath to each other. What is the ritual like? How is the oath worded; are there loopholes? Who is enthusiastic? Who is reluctant? Who acts shifty? Again, we don’t know; in the next paragraph it’s a done deal.
There are other problematic elements, including a few instances of infodump-by-dialogue, and the weps. Riss refers to weapons as “weps.” This would be fine once or twice, but the term is used so often that it becomes distracting. You know how if you stare at a word too long, it loses its meaning and you just end up thinking about what a funny-looking word it is? I don’t think it would have been nearly as bothersome if she’d just used weapons or guns or knives. The reader’s brain would process the familiar words and move along. It’s like using overly vivid dialogue tags instead of “said.” “Said” is unobtrusive, but if everyone is exclaiming or snarling or hissing their words, it throws the reader out of the story. So it is with the weps.
However, the idea of a Fury-based urban fantasy is original enough, and the story entertaining enough despite its flaws, that I plan to continue with the Shades of Fury series. It has a lot of potential; it just needs some ironing out.
(Unfortunately, MacKenzie doesn’t do as much with this concept as one might hope. We don’t learn much about the Alecto and Megaera Furies beyond the colors they wear. This may be elaborated upon in later books.)
As Red Hot Fury begins, Riss is called to a murder scene. The body is that of a Fury, specifically Riss’s best friend Vanessa. Yet something is fishy about the crime. Vanessa’s body doesn’t seem quite right magically speaking, and besides, Riss thought Vanessa died several years ago at the hands of a jealous ex. As Riss investigates the case, she uncovers a sinister conspiracy, and learns that almost every conclusion she jumped to in the past was wrong.
The plot of Red Hot Fury is fast and, well, furious. MacKenzie keeps the excitement at a high level throughout most of the book, and combines the action with a compelling romance between two characters who royally screwed up their relationship years ago but now have a second chance to work things out.
At times, though, the plot moves too quickly. Several times, MacKenzie skims over scenes, rather than using them to their fullest potential. At one point, Scott drops an emotional bombshell on Marissa. Do they kiss? Does she stomp off? Do they just stare awkwardly at each other for a few minutes? We don’t know, because the chapter ends there, and as the next chapter begins, the characters are doing something completely different. Later, a tenuous group of allies prepare to make a blood oath to each other. What is the ritual like? How is the oath worded; are there loopholes? Who is enthusiastic? Who is reluctant? Who acts shifty? Again, we don’t know; in the next paragraph it’s a done deal.
There are other problematic elements, including a few instances of infodump-by-dialogue, and the weps. Riss refers to weapons as “weps.” This would be fine once or twice, but the term is used so often that it becomes distracting. You know how if you stare at a word too long, it loses its meaning and you just end up thinking about what a funny-looking word it is? I don’t think it would have been nearly as bothersome if she’d just used weapons or guns or knives. The reader’s brain would process the familiar words and move along. It’s like using overly vivid dialogue tags instead of “said.” “Said” is unobtrusive, but if everyone is exclaiming or snarling or hissing their words, it throws the reader out of the story. So it is with the weps.
However, the idea of a Fury-based urban fantasy is original enough, and the story entertaining enough despite its flaws, that I plan to continue with the Shades of Fury series. It has a lot of potential; it just needs some ironing out.
September 6, 2010
Really enjoyed this one! I don't think I've read a book featuring furies before, and never really knew their mythology. Love it when I come across new myths and legends! Liked the background provided about harpies and warhounds as well. Very cool!
Really liked Riss, the Fury who is trying to track down why Arcanes have been disappearing, and why someone wants her to think that her missing best friend is dead. She's one of those kickass heroines that I love, and I really liked her. Maybe it was her struggle to do the right thing, and keep a lid on her rage? I can totally relate to that. (be afraid! be very afraid!) *L*
Anyway, once Riss is suspended from her job as Chief Magical Investigator and realizes that assassins are trying to kill her, she turns to the only person she can trust to keep her safe; her ex-love, Scott. Helps that his family are warhound mercenaries, another species I wasn't familiar with. Let's pause for a moment and bask in the sheer animal magnetism of Scott the warhound....*sigh*...um, sorry, where was I?
So we have a Fury trying to solve a mystery with no back-up, while on the run from the authorities and assassins both. The possibility of sparks flying with an ex. The discovery that Arcanes have been disappearing over the last few years. All connected to a horrible, evil plot that could lead to war between the races. Whoa!
Really enjoyed this book! Good action, interesting characters, a great heroine, sexy-yet-not-annoying men, and an actual plot! Kasey is a very talented writer, and I really enjoyed the universe she came up with. This is listed as a Shades of Fury novel, so hoping that it will be a series! Would love to see more of Riss and Scott, want to see what happens with Cori, curious about how Olivia will turn out, want more of the harpies, and would like to meet more of the Murphy clan. And did I mention my new fascination with warhounds?
Really liked Riss, the Fury who is trying to track down why Arcanes have been disappearing, and why someone wants her to think that her missing best friend is dead. She's one of those kickass heroines that I love, and I really liked her. Maybe it was her struggle to do the right thing, and keep a lid on her rage? I can totally relate to that. (be afraid! be very afraid!) *L*
Anyway, once Riss is suspended from her job as Chief Magical Investigator and realizes that assassins are trying to kill her, she turns to the only person she can trust to keep her safe; her ex-love, Scott. Helps that his family are warhound mercenaries, another species I wasn't familiar with. Let's pause for a moment and bask in the sheer animal magnetism of Scott the warhound....*sigh*...um, sorry, where was I?
So we have a Fury trying to solve a mystery with no back-up, while on the run from the authorities and assassins both. The possibility of sparks flying with an ex. The discovery that Arcanes have been disappearing over the last few years. All connected to a horrible, evil plot that could lead to war between the races. Whoa!
Really enjoyed this book! Good action, interesting characters, a great heroine, sexy-yet-not-annoying men, and an actual plot! Kasey is a very talented writer, and I really enjoyed the universe she came up with. This is listed as a Shades of Fury novel, so hoping that it will be a series! Would love to see more of Riss and Scott, want to see what happens with Cori, curious about how Olivia will turn out, want more of the harpies, and would like to meet more of the Murphy clan. And did I mention my new fascination with warhounds?
February 22, 2016
A non-vampire/werewolf book! It was nice to have something different. A Fury (and her Rage). While this was entertaining and interesting (mythology and the different Furies classes- Megaera, Tisiphone, and Alecto), it was off for me. Riss was, at times, awesome, and at others, meh. (I liked her, I didn't, I liked her, I wanted to slap her, and etc). Nice family twist. The traitor is easily guessed. And what was the deal with Sean? That came out of nowhere.
Not bad, not awesome.
Not bad, not awesome.
April 22, 2021
Review to come
December 30, 2010
I got this book through the Amazon vine program as an Advanced Reading Copy. It is the first book in the Shades of Fury series, I was unable to find how many books are planned for this series. The book was okay; there were some great things about it and a number of flaws in it too.
Riss is a Fury, sworn to protect mortals from non-mortals, she works for the Sisterhood and as the head of Magical Investigations in the local police department. When the body of a sister Fury washes up, Riss is Mandated to find out what is going on. Suddenly she is relieved from her position on the police force and people are out to kill her. Now she has to uncover a plot that will influence mortals and non-mortals alike; that plot may have to less to do with magic and more to do with genetic engineering and betrayal.
I'll start with what I really liked about this book. It is very fast-paced with lots of action and the action scenes are fairly well done. It is a good brainless read; if you don't think too hard and just enjoy the ride you will probably enjoy the book. I loved the idea of Furies and other mythological creatures alive and well in our society. It was nice to read about a Mythology based alternate world as opposed to the tons of fairy books and vampire/werewolf books out there. Riss is also a pretty likable character and her ex-boyfriend Scott was great to read about too.
There was a lot I didn't like about this book though. The writing, especially in the beginning, is disjointed and juvenile to the point of painfulness. The sentences were clipped and short and just sounded unnatural. This improved as the book continued. The world itself, how things worked, and how the races were related was confusing and unexplained. As I said, if you don't think about the surrounding world too much and don't pay too much attention to inconsistencies...then things are okay...but when you start thinking and trying to make sense of the whole world and how everything interacts on a broader sense...well it just doesn't make sense.
The author glosses over a lot of things that she doesn't want to explain in detail, which is okay but makes things harder to understand and at times come across as laziness on the author's part. Also the interaction between Riss and Scott is a bit odd at times. Sometimes they have great chemistry and then it just disappears. I know they were supposed to be an on-again, off-again type of thing but if was almost like reading about two different Riss/Scott sets because the characterization was just so inconsistent.
There are a couple other minor quibbles. All the characters' names are shortened from their originals (Riss was Marissa, Ness for Vanessa, etc) which was just weird and unnecessary. Lots of other terms are abbreviated too; like weapons are Weps...at one point there was a sentence with at least three acronyms in it, it sounded awkward and not at all like the way someone would really describe something.
The story was pretty well wrapped up, leaving just a couple threads dangling for the next book. Will I read the next book? I am not sure, this book just could have "first book in a series syndrome" and with more experience the writing and world-building might improve.
I read a ton of urban fantasies and so I was eager to like this one. Unfortunately the unfocused, fractured writing and the unrealized world just turned me off some. It is a really a pity because I love the idea of a mythology based urban fantasy and I really loved some of the things the author did with the characters' powers. This book gets just barely an okay from me. There are much better series out there to read. Try October Daye series by Seanan McGuire, the Jane Yellowrock series by Faith Hunter, or Jaz Parks series by Jennifer Rardin...all of these series are better than this one.
Riss is a Fury, sworn to protect mortals from non-mortals, she works for the Sisterhood and as the head of Magical Investigations in the local police department. When the body of a sister Fury washes up, Riss is Mandated to find out what is going on. Suddenly she is relieved from her position on the police force and people are out to kill her. Now she has to uncover a plot that will influence mortals and non-mortals alike; that plot may have to less to do with magic and more to do with genetic engineering and betrayal.
I'll start with what I really liked about this book. It is very fast-paced with lots of action and the action scenes are fairly well done. It is a good brainless read; if you don't think too hard and just enjoy the ride you will probably enjoy the book. I loved the idea of Furies and other mythological creatures alive and well in our society. It was nice to read about a Mythology based alternate world as opposed to the tons of fairy books and vampire/werewolf books out there. Riss is also a pretty likable character and her ex-boyfriend Scott was great to read about too.
There was a lot I didn't like about this book though. The writing, especially in the beginning, is disjointed and juvenile to the point of painfulness. The sentences were clipped and short and just sounded unnatural. This improved as the book continued. The world itself, how things worked, and how the races were related was confusing and unexplained. As I said, if you don't think about the surrounding world too much and don't pay too much attention to inconsistencies...then things are okay...but when you start thinking and trying to make sense of the whole world and how everything interacts on a broader sense...well it just doesn't make sense.
The author glosses over a lot of things that she doesn't want to explain in detail, which is okay but makes things harder to understand and at times come across as laziness on the author's part. Also the interaction between Riss and Scott is a bit odd at times. Sometimes they have great chemistry and then it just disappears. I know they were supposed to be an on-again, off-again type of thing but if was almost like reading about two different Riss/Scott sets because the characterization was just so inconsistent.
There are a couple other minor quibbles. All the characters' names are shortened from their originals (Riss was Marissa, Ness for Vanessa, etc) which was just weird and unnecessary. Lots of other terms are abbreviated too; like weapons are Weps...at one point there was a sentence with at least three acronyms in it, it sounded awkward and not at all like the way someone would really describe something.
The story was pretty well wrapped up, leaving just a couple threads dangling for the next book. Will I read the next book? I am not sure, this book just could have "first book in a series syndrome" and with more experience the writing and world-building might improve.
I read a ton of urban fantasies and so I was eager to like this one. Unfortunately the unfocused, fractured writing and the unrealized world just turned me off some. It is a really a pity because I love the idea of a mythology based urban fantasy and I really loved some of the things the author did with the characters' powers. This book gets just barely an okay from me. There are much better series out there to read. Try October Daye series by Seanan McGuire, the Jane Yellowrock series by Faith Hunter, or Jaz Parks series by Jennifer Rardin...all of these series are better than this one.
April 15, 2013
Dosta mi je više ovih heroina koje moraju da spasavaju ceo svet, nikad ne spavaju, piju kafu na litre i ne funkcionišu bez nje- tata ili mama su neke opasne face a one su ni tamo ni ovamo(roditelji nisu u celoj priči zato što su umrli nekim nesrećnim slučajem)...
Da ne pominjem da uvek izvuku deblji kraj jer nemaju pokriće za aroganciju i glupavo ponašanje pa su uvek u zavojima i ranama koje nemaju vremena da leče, jer su do sad vodile miran život, a onda im je odjednom nešto upalo u stan i odnelo vrata ili prozore...
Naravno, ne smemo da zaboravimo mušku polovinu koja je obično povučena ali neverovatno seksi i pametna...na kraju obično umire i ostavlja nam jadnu heroinu trudnu, ali nemojte očajavati, uvek ima dovoljno dobrovoljaca da joj prave društvo...
DOSTA VIŠE BREEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!! -_-
Da ne pominjem da uvek izvuku deblji kraj jer nemaju pokriće za aroganciju i glupavo ponašanje pa su uvek u zavojima i ranama koje nemaju vremena da leče, jer su do sad vodile miran život, a onda im je odjednom nešto upalo u stan i odnelo vrata ili prozore...
Naravno, ne smemo da zaboravimo mušku polovinu koja je obično povučena ali neverovatno seksi i pametna...na kraju obično umire i ostavlja nam jadnu heroinu trudnu, ali nemojte očajavati, uvek ima dovoljno dobrovoljaca da joj prave društvo...
DOSTA VIŠE BREEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!! -_-
May 6, 2018
I don’t understand— I really don’t.
Is it a new writing fad to have characters and their actions make no sense?
That’s how this book felt.
NONE of the characters made sense.
NONE of their actions made sense.
And I was so looking forward to this book.
DNF’ed @ less than 50%.
Is it a new writing fad to have characters and their actions make no sense?
That’s how this book felt.
NONE of the characters made sense.
NONE of their actions made sense.
And I was so looking forward to this book.
DNF’ed @ less than 50%.
January 21, 2011
Forgive me if this review contains some ranting. Red Hot Fury started off on a bad note for me. The main character instantly comes off as an irritated cop. There is entirely too much slang and attitude in the first few pages. Complain, complain, give someone attitude, yell at someone, attitude, attitude, complain. Needless to say, the main character Riss got under my skin from the start. I got past it and started to be interested in the mystery. A thought to be extinct group of paranormals turns out to be alive and part of a breeding program. Riss meets up with her ex, fights with him a lot, and works on solving the mystery. The culprit is pretty predictable, and the storytelling here is as flawed as the main character. The mystery solving is slow, and most of the novel is comprised of characters going from place to place getting into groaning matches with each other. The main character and her ex bicker constantly, no one seems to get along with each other, and honestly it was physically irritating to read. I wanted to grind my teeth and throw something numerous times.
The world building is a bit sketchy as well. We get a history lesson from our main character about some of the paranormal beings (arcanes) but nothing is explained completely. I don't necessarily like being told every little detail about every single race, but throwing them around haphazardly and hoping the reader figures it out isn't good enough either. There was never, hello reader, I am a fury and I have the following abilities. Instead it was "oh by the way look at this blue stuff I can make" halfway into the novel. I'm also not sure if furies by nature are mean, rude, obnoxious, and generally unpleasant, or if that was just the main character. She gets mad over EVERYTHING. That may be part of the nature of a fury, and if so I really don't see how that is supposed to be appealing.
There is one thing that made me almost stop reading this book more than any other, and it is the dreaded "but wait, that would mean...no it can't be." Let me explain. When Riss is trying to figure out what type of being Mac is she sees that his eyes are green, almost comes to a conclusion, and then says no it couldn't be. Obviously, the author is trying to draw our attention to this fact. If Riss would have said he had green eyes, I would have read right past it and not though about it. Instead she draws our attention to it, says it must be impossible, and I instantly figure it out. I don't like figuring things out only to have them revealed to me later like they are some big secret. It happened again toward the end when the traitor is being discovered, but I won't get into that one. Hey, was that Colonel Mustard leaving the conservatory? What's that in his hand? A candlestick...but that would mean...no it can't be.
In summary, Red Hot Fury has irritating characters, a barely passable mystery and plot, bad world building, and constant bickering. Just because this book has a main character that is not your typical vampire or werewolf does not mean it is unique or interesting. Also, frequent cursing, an atrocious attitude, and a short temper, does not make a character tough and is not appealing in the slightest.
The world building is a bit sketchy as well. We get a history lesson from our main character about some of the paranormal beings (arcanes) but nothing is explained completely. I don't necessarily like being told every little detail about every single race, but throwing them around haphazardly and hoping the reader figures it out isn't good enough either. There was never, hello reader, I am a fury and I have the following abilities. Instead it was "oh by the way look at this blue stuff I can make" halfway into the novel. I'm also not sure if furies by nature are mean, rude, obnoxious, and generally unpleasant, or if that was just the main character. She gets mad over EVERYTHING. That may be part of the nature of a fury, and if so I really don't see how that is supposed to be appealing.
There is one thing that made me almost stop reading this book more than any other, and it is the dreaded "but wait, that would mean...no it can't be." Let me explain. When Riss is trying to figure out what type of being Mac is she sees that his eyes are green, almost comes to a conclusion, and then says no it couldn't be. Obviously, the author is trying to draw our attention to this fact. If Riss would have said he had green eyes, I would have read right past it and not though about it. Instead she draws our attention to it, says it must be impossible, and I instantly figure it out. I don't like figuring things out only to have them revealed to me later like they are some big secret. It happened again toward the end when the traitor is being discovered, but I won't get into that one. Hey, was that Colonel Mustard leaving the conservatory? What's that in his hand? A candlestick...but that would mean...no it can't be.
In summary, Red Hot Fury has irritating characters, a barely passable mystery and plot, bad world building, and constant bickering. Just because this book has a main character that is not your typical vampire or werewolf does not mean it is unique or interesting. Also, frequent cursing, an atrocious attitude, and a short temper, does not make a character tough and is not appealing in the slightest.
July 9, 2012
Review originally posted on my blog: A Book Obsession..
Marissa's duty as a Fury is to solve supernatural crimes and hold the fragile peace between humans and the Arcane. As the chief magical investigator for the Boston police department, she takes all the strange calls. Her latest case hits too close to home when her dead Fury sister washes up on the shore. But things aren't as they seem and she quickly finds herself suspended for sticking her nose too far into things that someone would rather keep covered up. As the heat picks up, the only person she can trust is her ex, Scott a shape-shifting Warhound. But they didn't exactly part on the best terms, and getting his help may just take a miracle. Groveling doesn't come easy for this Fury.
I absolutely love Riss's character. She is so incredibly passionate about everything, and I'm not talking in a sexual sense. (Although there are some steamy scenes.) All of her emotions are so intense it is like she is at full throttle 100% of the time, be it in anger, love, or a single minded need for revenge. Some may see this as a flaw, but I really loved it, even when she fanned her own ego as I didn't get the conceited vibe from it. This passion makes her rather reckless and apt to leaping before she looks, but nothing can be said against her loyalty to her sister Fury. I will say that as the book progresses she seemed to make an effort to slow herself down just a little in order to make better decisions.
I loved the romance aspect of the book even though it played a much smaller part. There was so much sexual tension between Riss and Scott that they practically sizzled. But don't expect an easy road as there is so much hurt between them as things ended very badly in the past. There is so much anger between them, especially as Riss lets her Fury sparks fly. However, even as they both resent the situation that forced them together again, the connection between them is apparent from the very start. Honestly, I'm a sucker for past loves reuniting, even if it is under less than favorable circumstances, so this only added to my enjoyment of Red Hot Fury.
Not only is there an awesome narrator and a good romantic subplot, Red Hot Fury features a really incredible mythology. There are Furies, Harpies, Shifters, and a plethora more of supernatural creatures that live in the modern world. There is a very fragile peace between them and humans. The tension is absolutely palpable as the Furies are the only thing keeping a full scale war from breaking out. So, if you like an action pack adventure featuring a kick butt heroine on a mission with a little slice of romance on the side, then Red Hot Fury is just the book for you.
Marissa's duty as a Fury is to solve supernatural crimes and hold the fragile peace between humans and the Arcane. As the chief magical investigator for the Boston police department, she takes all the strange calls. Her latest case hits too close to home when her dead Fury sister washes up on the shore. But things aren't as they seem and she quickly finds herself suspended for sticking her nose too far into things that someone would rather keep covered up. As the heat picks up, the only person she can trust is her ex, Scott a shape-shifting Warhound. But they didn't exactly part on the best terms, and getting his help may just take a miracle. Groveling doesn't come easy for this Fury.
I absolutely love Riss's character. She is so incredibly passionate about everything, and I'm not talking in a sexual sense. (Although there are some steamy scenes.) All of her emotions are so intense it is like she is at full throttle 100% of the time, be it in anger, love, or a single minded need for revenge. Some may see this as a flaw, but I really loved it, even when she fanned her own ego as I didn't get the conceited vibe from it. This passion makes her rather reckless and apt to leaping before she looks, but nothing can be said against her loyalty to her sister Fury. I will say that as the book progresses she seemed to make an effort to slow herself down just a little in order to make better decisions.
I loved the romance aspect of the book even though it played a much smaller part. There was so much sexual tension between Riss and Scott that they practically sizzled. But don't expect an easy road as there is so much hurt between them as things ended very badly in the past. There is so much anger between them, especially as Riss lets her Fury sparks fly. However, even as they both resent the situation that forced them together again, the connection between them is apparent from the very start. Honestly, I'm a sucker for past loves reuniting, even if it is under less than favorable circumstances, so this only added to my enjoyment of Red Hot Fury.
Not only is there an awesome narrator and a good romantic subplot, Red Hot Fury features a really incredible mythology. There are Furies, Harpies, Shifters, and a plethora more of supernatural creatures that live in the modern world. There is a very fragile peace between them and humans. The tension is absolutely palpable as the Furies are the only thing keeping a full scale war from breaking out. So, if you like an action pack adventure featuring a kick butt heroine on a mission with a little slice of romance on the side, then Red Hot Fury is just the book for you.
August 10, 2011
I chose this book because I love urban fantasy, and even paranormal romance when done well. Unfortunately, I think this book was just trying too hard. I felt like the entire beginning of the book was screaming "see, look how original my world is!" by throwing descriptions at the reader. When, it fact, most of the elements were taken from other popular urban fantasy series. Jim Butcher, Kim Harrison, and Marc Del Franco have already done most of what's here including: 1) the uber-powerful Council of Wizards, err, Elders, that won't intervene 2) an accord/treaty between supernaturals and non 3) a hero/ine working with the mortal police on supernatural matters 4) even the gangster who's bad but necessary to the case (Marcone, Trent, Carrington). Plus, I think I may be bored with the kick-butt heroine who is, once again, being set-up as part of a massive conspiracy and has to go to her scorching hot ex that she is still in love with for help. This is where I feel Red Hot Fury veered into paranormal romance rather than being the urban fantasy it is billed as. In the middle of crisis, she's thinking how sexy his voice is? Leaving her sixteen year-old niece to run for the car while she rushes to save him in a fight? It just didn't work, for urban fantasy or para romance. Lastly, the character development is weak. Everyone comes off as a cardboard cut-out, even Marissa. So, why did I give it three stars?
The book got an extra star for the creation of Furies (based somewhat on valkyries and the like), with their living tattoos. It's tough to invent, or reinvent, a supernatural race that hasn't been done to death before. I liked how Furies come into being, their powers, wings, etc. All would make for exciting material, if executed better. Not every urban fantasy series has to have earth-shattering conspiracies that could doom the human race. Why not someone secure in their role, with an established relationship, solving crimes? Why does a heroine always have to be a b!tch? This wasn't a bad book, especially for someone who is looking for paranormal romance, or just getting their feet wet in urban fantasy. However, for avid readers of the genre, this just wasn't up to par. I don't think I'll be back for more.
The book got an extra star for the creation of Furies (based somewhat on valkyries and the like), with their living tattoos. It's tough to invent, or reinvent, a supernatural race that hasn't been done to death before. I liked how Furies come into being, their powers, wings, etc. All would make for exciting material, if executed better. Not every urban fantasy series has to have earth-shattering conspiracies that could doom the human race. Why not someone secure in their role, with an established relationship, solving crimes? Why does a heroine always have to be a b!tch? This wasn't a bad book, especially for someone who is looking for paranormal romance, or just getting their feet wet in urban fantasy. However, for avid readers of the genre, this just wasn't up to par. I don't think I'll be back for more.
January 2, 2011
Riss is a Fury, which means if you are a bad guy, you wouldn’t like her when she’s angry.
Riss has people after her, loved ones betraying her, and an ex who might be more.
Storyline: As a Fury, Marissa Holloway belongs to an Arcane race that has avenged wrongdoing since time immemorial. As Boston’s Chief Magical Investigator for the past five years, she’s doing what she was born to: solving supernatural crimes.
It’s far from business as usual when the body of one of Riss’s sister Furies washes up in Boston harbor. Riss discovers that the corpse’s identity has been magically altered, but as soon as she reports her findings, she’s immediately—and inexplicably—suspended from her job. Then a human assassin makes an attempt on her life, and Riss starts to realize that someone may be trying to stir up strife between mortals and Arcanes.
When a Fury gets mad, she gets even, and Riss is determined to untangle this case. Without the support of the mortal PD, Riss turns to the one man she can trust to watch her back—shapeshifting Warhound Scott Murphy. But since Scott is also Riss’s ex, she’ll have to keep a tight leash on more than just the supernatural rage that feeds her power as they try to solve a murder—and stop a war.
Riss lives in a very complex world populated by numerous members of the arcane that includes Furies, Harpies, Warhounds, Fae, Phoenixes, Giants, Sidhe, Cats, Oracles, Druids, Witches and Goblins. Not to mention normal and not so normal humans – all of which have their own magical powers and/or skills that they brought to help or hinder Riss’ investigation.
If you're looking for vampires, or werewolves, and Fae, don't read this book. You'll be sadly disappointed. If you're looking for a new UF novel with a hint of romantic interests with the main character, there is a hint but that's all. This is the first novel, and of course, experiences some hiccups as such.
The writer uses references from the Greek, Roman, Celtic and Eqyptian mythology in order to tell this story. I liked the book, but, hope the next release is better.
Green-Eyed Envy releases June 28, 2011
Riss has people after her, loved ones betraying her, and an ex who might be more.
Storyline: As a Fury, Marissa Holloway belongs to an Arcane race that has avenged wrongdoing since time immemorial. As Boston’s Chief Magical Investigator for the past five years, she’s doing what she was born to: solving supernatural crimes.
It’s far from business as usual when the body of one of Riss’s sister Furies washes up in Boston harbor. Riss discovers that the corpse’s identity has been magically altered, but as soon as she reports her findings, she’s immediately—and inexplicably—suspended from her job. Then a human assassin makes an attempt on her life, and Riss starts to realize that someone may be trying to stir up strife between mortals and Arcanes.
When a Fury gets mad, she gets even, and Riss is determined to untangle this case. Without the support of the mortal PD, Riss turns to the one man she can trust to watch her back—shapeshifting Warhound Scott Murphy. But since Scott is also Riss’s ex, she’ll have to keep a tight leash on more than just the supernatural rage that feeds her power as they try to solve a murder—and stop a war.
Riss lives in a very complex world populated by numerous members of the arcane that includes Furies, Harpies, Warhounds, Fae, Phoenixes, Giants, Sidhe, Cats, Oracles, Druids, Witches and Goblins. Not to mention normal and not so normal humans – all of which have their own magical powers and/or skills that they brought to help or hinder Riss’ investigation.
If you're looking for vampires, or werewolves, and Fae, don't read this book. You'll be sadly disappointed. If you're looking for a new UF novel with a hint of romantic interests with the main character, there is a hint but that's all. This is the first novel, and of course, experiences some hiccups as such.
The writer uses references from the Greek, Roman, Celtic and Eqyptian mythology in order to tell this story. I liked the book, but, hope the next release is better.
Green-Eyed Envy releases June 28, 2011
July 28, 2010
Favorite Quote: "You want one of your own don't you?"
"One? Riss, I'm a hound."
"Oh gods...you want a litter?"
Marissa Holloway is a Fury and has worked as the chief magical investigator for the Boston PD for over five years. She had no idea that the murder scene she had been called to will end up changing her entire world in one brief second. Once she determines that a corpse's identity has magically altered she is suspended from her job, a mortal assassin tries to kill her, and she becomes the key player in the beginning of a war between the mortals and the arcane.
A magical race that avenges wrong doing in the magical world, Riss is called to a crime scene that shows one of her sisters murdered. But further analysis shows it is not a fellow Fury but a nody just made to look like her. When Riss goes back to the office she is inexplicably suspended and an assassin tries to kill her. After convening with the Fury elders, she finds herself on her own with no back up and no clues. So she does what any self respecting woman would do...she contacts her ex.
Scott Murphy is a man of many things. Warhound, bodyguard, merc, and until recently, Riss's boyfriend. But that's all in the past and now Riss needs protection. When Scott and Riss begin to investigate they find a shocking conspiracy.. Someone is kidnapping arcane beings and experimenting on them. And no one is who you think they are.
Read more of my review at Smexy Books
"One? Riss, I'm a hound."
"Oh gods...you want a litter?"
Marissa Holloway is a Fury and has worked as the chief magical investigator for the Boston PD for over five years. She had no idea that the murder scene she had been called to will end up changing her entire world in one brief second. Once she determines that a corpse's identity has magically altered she is suspended from her job, a mortal assassin tries to kill her, and she becomes the key player in the beginning of a war between the mortals and the arcane.
A magical race that avenges wrong doing in the magical world, Riss is called to a crime scene that shows one of her sisters murdered. But further analysis shows it is not a fellow Fury but a nody just made to look like her. When Riss goes back to the office she is inexplicably suspended and an assassin tries to kill her. After convening with the Fury elders, she finds herself on her own with no back up and no clues. So she does what any self respecting woman would do...she contacts her ex.
Scott Murphy is a man of many things. Warhound, bodyguard, merc, and until recently, Riss's boyfriend. But that's all in the past and now Riss needs protection. When Scott and Riss begin to investigate they find a shocking conspiracy.. Someone is kidnapping arcane beings and experimenting on them. And no one is who you think they are.
Read more of my review at Smexy Books
March 5, 2014
I'm not sure why this book got such a low rating by reviewers. I can think of several that had an over 4 star rating that sucked.
The storyline is very original. I can't ever remember reading a paranormal book that had a Fury as a main character, along with a Warhound. That within itself made it interesting. I did know who the bad guy was going to be, that was pretty obvious throughout most of the book. But I was surprised about Mac. I actually ended up liking that surprise. The dynamics of both families were fun to read about.
I liked the characters individually. Marissa is a tough as nails Fury. She works for the norms as Boston's Chief Magical Investigator making sure the arcane stay in line. Scott is her Ex boyfriend that comes from a family of Mercs. He also just happens to be a Warhound. I enjoyed the dynamic between both characters, but I hated how stupid both could be when it came to each other and their relationship. It's always hard for me to believe that people on general can be that stupid when dealing with people we love, so when I read this kind of crap in a book, well it just doesn't jive.
Out of everything tho, that is my only two gripes. Even the supporting characters I really liked. Mac was a great character that ending up having a very interesting story. (Trying not to spoil) Trinity was also a fun edition. Even Riss' brother and niece added something to the story.
At any rate, I liked this book and will definitely be reading the next in the series. 4 stars
The storyline is very original. I can't ever remember reading a paranormal book that had a Fury as a main character, along with a Warhound. That within itself made it interesting. I did know who the bad guy was going to be, that was pretty obvious throughout most of the book. But I was surprised about Mac. I actually ended up liking that surprise. The dynamics of both families were fun to read about.
I liked the characters individually. Marissa is a tough as nails Fury. She works for the norms as Boston's Chief Magical Investigator making sure the arcane stay in line. Scott is her Ex boyfriend that comes from a family of Mercs. He also just happens to be a Warhound. I enjoyed the dynamic between both characters, but I hated how stupid both could be when it came to each other and their relationship. It's always hard for me to believe that people on general can be that stupid when dealing with people we love, so when I read this kind of crap in a book, well it just doesn't jive.
Out of everything tho, that is my only two gripes. Even the supporting characters I really liked. Mac was a great character that ending up having a very interesting story. (Trying not to spoil) Trinity was also a fun edition. Even Riss' brother and niece added something to the story.
At any rate, I liked this book and will definitely be reading the next in the series. 4 stars
September 14, 2015
3.5 Stars
With urban fantasy, it can be easy to fall prey to stereotypes. In this book, I feel that the author was trying to fight stereotypes on every front. First of all, this is the first book I have read with the main character as a Fury. Secondly, this book heavily mixed science fiction into the urban fantasy genre. The blend was interesting to say the least but I also can’t say that it really worked for me either. The science heavy parts relating to extinction and cloning were a little confusing and either way, mostly boring. I really did like Riss, she was sassy, brutally honest, and witty but very aware of her own imperfections.
I’d spoken aloud without thinking again. That had a grin spreading across my lips…
Furies are not characters that even show up that often in fantasy, urban or otherwise so it was great to see an unusual main character (other than the standard vampire, mage or shape-shifter). The detail and set-up for the whole race and situation was pretty good, loved Nike and Nemesis, even if the war history part of the plot was a bit hazy. There were some great Greek history references to bolster the whole plot and concept of the Fury as well (character names and the Oracle race come to mind immediately). The history between Scott and Riss was a little weak and I didn’t feel that connected to their story as a couple. Overall I enjoyed the story and characters. I wouldn’t turn down the sequel but at the same time, I don’t think I will be actively seeking it out at this moment.
With urban fantasy, it can be easy to fall prey to stereotypes. In this book, I feel that the author was trying to fight stereotypes on every front. First of all, this is the first book I have read with the main character as a Fury. Secondly, this book heavily mixed science fiction into the urban fantasy genre. The blend was interesting to say the least but I also can’t say that it really worked for me either. The science heavy parts relating to extinction and cloning were a little confusing and either way, mostly boring. I really did like Riss, she was sassy, brutally honest, and witty but very aware of her own imperfections.
I’d spoken aloud without thinking again. That had a grin spreading across my lips…
Furies are not characters that even show up that often in fantasy, urban or otherwise so it was great to see an unusual main character (other than the standard vampire, mage or shape-shifter). The detail and set-up for the whole race and situation was pretty good, loved Nike and Nemesis, even if the war history part of the plot was a bit hazy. There were some great Greek history references to bolster the whole plot and concept of the Fury as well (character names and the Oracle race come to mind immediately). The history between Scott and Riss was a little weak and I didn’t feel that connected to their story as a couple. Overall I enjoyed the story and characters. I wouldn’t turn down the sequel but at the same time, I don’t think I will be actively seeking it out at this moment.
November 27, 2010
Review posted at http://urbanfantasyinvestigations.blo...
This is the first book in a brand new series by a brand new Author and WOW was it great. Marissa (Riss) is a fun, sexy, independent Fury who works with the Boston PD as there Chief Magical Investigator and someone is trying to kill her at every turn she takes. Riss is called to a murder scene to find that the victim is her missing Best friend who has been gone for years and then discovers that it isn't her body at all just a double made to look exactly like her. This leads to her investigating the whole thing which sends a group of bad guys after her that want her dead before she figures out their secret. Scott Murphy Riss's Ex is a shapeshifting Warhound (kinda like a private Eye/bodyguard) who is smoking hot and goes along for the ride. I thoroughly enjoyed Red Hot Fury, I thought the whole concept of the book was fantastic. There is tons of action and mystery to keep you interested. There isn't a ton of romance in here but there is some high sexual tension at some points. All in all a great start for Kasey Mackenzie.
This is the first book in a brand new series by a brand new Author and WOW was it great. Marissa (Riss) is a fun, sexy, independent Fury who works with the Boston PD as there Chief Magical Investigator and someone is trying to kill her at every turn she takes. Riss is called to a murder scene to find that the victim is her missing Best friend who has been gone for years and then discovers that it isn't her body at all just a double made to look exactly like her. This leads to her investigating the whole thing which sends a group of bad guys after her that want her dead before she figures out their secret. Scott Murphy Riss's Ex is a shapeshifting Warhound (kinda like a private Eye/bodyguard) who is smoking hot and goes along for the ride. I thoroughly enjoyed Red Hot Fury, I thought the whole concept of the book was fantastic. There is tons of action and mystery to keep you interested. There isn't a ton of romance in here but there is some high sexual tension at some points. All in all a great start for Kasey Mackenzie.
March 15, 2016
It was the vivid colours of the book covers that first caught my attention and having a story with an MC that was a Fury seemed different from the other books that I had read in the genre. I was certainly intrigued. Riss was interesting and when she was in kickass mode, I liked her.
I thought that it was going to be a good book as I liked the beginning but as soon as we got to all the angst with her ex and his brother, it turned into every UF book I haven't enjoyed with a whiny MC and a lacklustre romance element that failed to work on any level. It was such a pity because I felt that there was real potential with Riss but instead of a creative novel, it seemed the writer chose to go into paranormal romance cliche mode and all originality went out the window. Bummer!
I thought that it was going to be a good book as I liked the beginning but as soon as we got to all the angst with her ex and his brother, it turned into every UF book I haven't enjoyed with a whiny MC and a lacklustre romance element that failed to work on any level. It was such a pity because I felt that there was real potential with Riss but instead of a creative novel, it seemed the writer chose to go into paranormal romance cliche mode and all originality went out the window. Bummer!
September 18, 2010
It was a 3.5 star read but got the extra half star for having some unusual paranormals (furies, harpies, giants, warhounds, etc), which was a nice change. Good story. I liked the heroine and hero as well as the assorted supporting characters. Very interesting world that I'm looking forward to revisiting soon. I did figure out who the bad guy was way before Rissa, but I figure she was just too busy staying alive to have the time to think about it.
February 8, 2017
never have I read a book about a fury in all my days of reading, so I t a little hesitant about it first. but reading through the first few chapters It really grasped a good hold on my attention, and I took every possible chance I could get to read this. And at the end I was a little upset that the book was over.
July 2, 2010
Apparently, I'm really not too fond of the core personality of Furies. The concept was intriguing, and I enjoyed learning about the other arcane races, but Marissa's behavior and reactions grated after the first three chapters. I'm not keen on Donald Duck's behavior either, so don't take my word as platinum.
September 7, 2010
It took me a while to get into the story, although I'm not sure exactly why. The world is unique and imaginative. The characters are well-drawn. Some of the plot-twists took me by surprise, some of them I saw coming well ahead of time. Overall, a good debut novel.
I'll probably read the next book in the series.
I'll probably read the next book in the series.
June 30, 2018
When I moved out of home, a lot of my books got boxed up. And sadly this was one of them. But, recently I was able to unpack all of the amazing books that I have stashed over the years and really sink my teeth into them. I read the majority of this in one night. Even though I knew what was going to happen (kind of, it’s been a long time), it still completely swept me away and pulled me in from the very first moment. So much so that I picked up Green-Eyed Envy immediately afterwards. Like I said, it’s just that good.
Furies in the folklore are something that fascinates me – really, anything paranormal and feminine is going to fascinate me if I’m honest. And I really like how this paranormal paragon of justice is also a cop in the story – it helps to layer the paranormal on top of the reality. It’s also a little fun to read a story that starts as a paranormal murder mystery. It quickly turns into something far more complex and intense, but at the very beginning, it lulls you into thinking this is going to be a little bit of a paranormal crime type story.
As with most stories, there is a romantic entanglement throughout Red Hot Fury. However, instead of being a budding romance, it is Riss’ ex that provides the emotional entanglements that raise the stakes of the story. As much as you kind of know that they will eventually end up together (because they always do, and we always enjoy it), I liked the added complication of a past breakup and all of the hot headed words that that entails. The past really informs all of the relationships throughout this tale and the slow unravelling of what is happening along both timelines makes you want to turn each and every page as quickly as possible.
Furies in the folklore are something that fascinates me – really, anything paranormal and feminine is going to fascinate me if I’m honest. And I really like how this paranormal paragon of justice is also a cop in the story – it helps to layer the paranormal on top of the reality. It’s also a little fun to read a story that starts as a paranormal murder mystery. It quickly turns into something far more complex and intense, but at the very beginning, it lulls you into thinking this is going to be a little bit of a paranormal crime type story.
As with most stories, there is a romantic entanglement throughout Red Hot Fury. However, instead of being a budding romance, it is Riss’ ex that provides the emotional entanglements that raise the stakes of the story. As much as you kind of know that they will eventually end up together (because they always do, and we always enjoy it), I liked the added complication of a past breakup and all of the hot headed words that that entails. The past really informs all of the relationships throughout this tale and the slow unravelling of what is happening along both timelines makes you want to turn each and every page as quickly as possible.
June 13, 2020
This book takes a lot of myths and legends and brings them together in a unique, and totally believable way, so that the story flows without all that irritating little blips that make you stop and research the irritant.
The main character, Marissa, aka Riss, is a Fury, as in the ancient Greek demi-goddesses of vengeance. Their role in this story is to ensure that retribution falls on those who murder arcanes, who are defined as any sentient being that is NOT human. Giants, Furies, Harpies and Sidhe all fall in this category, and are protected by the Furies, and above them a not really defined God or Goddess pantheon.
The gods are not really active, so don't need to be defined. In fact, bringing in just the little that was, turned out to be just perfect.
The story itself revolves around missing arcane people, one of whom happens to be Marissa's best friend, sister of the heart, and sister Fury. Together she and some friends begin to research what is happening. Digging around discovers it is more than just one missing, and further digging embroils the group in a potential major cataclysm.
Excellently done, and very difficult to share what I felt were the high points without putting in major spoilers. I will just say that I liked/disliked characters, not the way they were drawn, but because of the personification that MacKenzie used. There were a couple of gaffes, which I felt were editorial issues, but other than that, outstanding!
The main character, Marissa, aka Riss, is a Fury, as in the ancient Greek demi-goddesses of vengeance. Their role in this story is to ensure that retribution falls on those who murder arcanes, who are defined as any sentient being that is NOT human. Giants, Furies, Harpies and Sidhe all fall in this category, and are protected by the Furies, and above them a not really defined God or Goddess pantheon.
The gods are not really active, so don't need to be defined. In fact, bringing in just the little that was, turned out to be just perfect.
The story itself revolves around missing arcane people, one of whom happens to be Marissa's best friend, sister of the heart, and sister Fury. Together she and some friends begin to research what is happening. Digging around discovers it is more than just one missing, and further digging embroils the group in a potential major cataclysm.
Excellently done, and very difficult to share what I felt were the high points without putting in major spoilers. I will just say that I liked/disliked characters, not the way they were drawn, but because of the personification that MacKenzie used. There were a couple of gaffes, which I felt were editorial issues, but other than that, outstanding!
April 12, 2020
This book tried to do a lot and most of it didn't really work. There were lots of stuff thrown together and it was a difficult for me to stay with it - to remember all the characters and what was going where and honestly, half the time I didn't care much. It was a difficult book for me to finish.
This girl Marissa (Rissa - several of the characters have annoying shortened names) is a Fury which means she can impersonate anyone, has crazy strength and speed, can figure out what anyone is, can fly and even changes into a bad ass red leather costume for her Fury stuff. She thinks a lot of herself and is not completely likeable. The story didn't follow a straight line for me as it was all over the place. The love story faltered for me too as it was convoluted.
The author tried to make it more complex so readers couldn't figure out where it was going - but she went overboard and it was quite contrived.
It is the first book in the series so maybe it gets better, but I won't be finding out.
This girl Marissa (Rissa - several of the characters have annoying shortened names) is a Fury which means she can impersonate anyone, has crazy strength and speed, can figure out what anyone is, can fly and even changes into a bad ass red leather costume for her Fury stuff. She thinks a lot of herself and is not completely likeable. The story didn't follow a straight line for me as it was all over the place. The love story faltered for me too as it was convoluted.
The author tried to make it more complex so readers couldn't figure out where it was going - but she went overboard and it was quite contrived.
It is the first book in the series so maybe it gets better, but I won't be finding out.
November 16, 2018
From the minute the heroine walked onto the first page carrying a Starbucks cup, I knew this wasn't going to work for me. It's Boston - she's not drinking Dunks because? A few pages later she tells us that "most people" in Boston call the subway the T... no, that would be everyone. Everyone calls it the T. Anyway, there's not much of a sense of place in this book, which is something I really enjoy in urban fantasy so I was sad to see it missing. There was also way too much exposition and way too much going on - it felt like every other page I was tripping over a new magical entity, a new piece of alternate history, or a new character (complete with backstory). It was very slow going and I decided to stop a few chapters in, because while I knew all about the heroine's ex-boyfriend's sister's bad manners, I still didn't have a feel for the heroine herself or why I should care.
November 4, 2019
I found myself enjoying the ride of this book, primarily due to MacKenzie's bias towards action scenes, more than I had expected to. Yes, the characters have more than a few 'duh' moments (how many times do you have to get ambushed before figuring out that the bad guys are somehow tracking you?), magic solves an awful lot of problems, and there are plenty of threads left hanging. But the world is interesting, some (if not all) of the plot twists were unexpected, and the romance element that seems to be required in Urban Fantasy these days wasn't too painful. Overall, Recommended (but keep your expectations on the low side).
March 16, 2017
The world was interesting and I enjoyed the different mix of arcane races in this book, among them are Furies, Warhounds and Oracles. Instead of three furies, there are three types of fury. The Furies have maintained the peace between mortals and arcane since the end of the War. Marissa is the Chief Magical Investigator assigned to the police department. When she discovers that a recent body isn't quite what it appears, she's suddenly suspended, attacked by assassins and on the run. As a Fury, Marissa struggles with Rage, which left unchecked could cause her to turn into a Harpy. She's quick to anger & hot tempered, this is an integral part of who she is, but it did get annoying a few times.
The plot was engaging, but I wish the villain's identity would have been a little more surprising.
Since I already have book 2 (I picked up both during Borders' going-out-of-business sales.), I will probably read it at some point.
The plot was engaging, but I wish the villain's identity would have been a little more surprising.
Since I already have book 2 (I picked up both during Borders' going-out-of-business sales.), I will probably read it at some point.
October 22, 2020
This book had so many errors I’m baffled as to how it got published, heck passed the editors table at all.
The idea was fun and might’ve been a good read but the execution? Absolutely horrifying. I can’t believe some people rated this a 5 star... Did we read the same book?
The idea was fun and might’ve been a good read but the execution? Absolutely horrifying. I can’t believe some people rated this a 5 star... Did we read the same book?
July 27, 2018
2.5 Stars
I really wanted to like this sigh. . .
I really wanted to like this sigh. . .
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