Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Book Review of Wild Thing: Animal Magnetism / Paradise / Hunter Kiss / Wild Hearts in Atlantis

jai avatar reviewed on + 310 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 9


A paranormal anthology by 4 romance authors. Trade paperback. I won a copy of this book and it was signed (!!) so no way I can repost it - sorry. The stories are:
1) Animal Magnetism by Maggie Shayne - a vet with a special talent for communicating with animals (Dr Macy McNamara) meets police officer Jay Harris when he comes into her examination room with a bleeding dog. The dog was shot while trying to protect her owner from a rapist and is the only witness who can identify him. Now Macy, who has spent most of her life hiding her talent and being cold towards people, must convince the detective that she is not crazy and the dog told her who the rapist is. A pleasant/comfort sort of read.
2) Paradise by Meljean Brook - part of her Guardian series, which I had never read before. I had no problems understanding this world though - some very interesting world-building details that I enjoyed, and backstory of the past/relationships with other characters is explained well. A demon is stalking vampires and the Guardian Selah teams up with Paradise, Oregon vampire leader Lucus Marsden to stop the killings. I really appreciated the details about the nature of vampires/Guardians that this author explained to the reader (eg. vampires can't taste food, only blood, Guardians abilities have to do with their past life).
3) Hunter Kiss by Marjorie M. Liu - an introduction to a new series about Maxine Kiss - a demon hunter whose living tattoos protect her from harm but are also her curse. Really interesting character and world. Told from a first person present tense viewpoint. I was really surprised by the quality of the writing in this one. Very different in a good way from the other book I've read by this author.
4) Wild Hearts in Atlantis by Alyssa Day - Atlantean warriors, centuries old battle vampires and shapeshifters to protect humanity. In a world where vampires are becoming increasingly powerful politically, the Atlanteans must ally with some shapeshifters who haven't sided with the vampires. Bastian is the ambassador sent for this task and his first contact is half-shapshifter Kat Fiero, who he carries a torch for. I had trouble with the dialog in this one. Seemed to switch from modern day slangish vernacular to a stilted formal speech..