Prey (Infected, #1) in Read with Pride Northwest

Jul 30, 2012 Kelly (Maybedog) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: what-lgbtqia, where-grr-mine, what-male-protagonist, what-modern-fantasy, how-ebook, what-mm-read, what-mm, what-seattle, what-shifters, what-cover-me-tickled

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Aug 24, 2013 Shelby rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: violence, deserve-additional-reads, disability-injury, m-m, paranormal, eminently-rereadable, law-enforcement-bodyguard-pi, shifters, established-couples, suspense

This is a great version of mystery/suspense novel. I really enjoyed the quality of the writing above everything else. There are still of course a lot of unanswered questions about just what it is that makes Roan different, but I really enjoyed his character and tough guy exterior.

Roan McKichan may have been the only infected to ever serve as police officer but his personality is much better served as a private detective. He stills has a few connections on the police force that don’t hate him fo This is a great version of mystery/suspense novel. I really enjoyed the quality of the writing above everything else. There are still of course a lot of unanswered questions about just what it is that makes Roan different, but I really enjoyed his character and tough guy exterior.

Roan McKichan may have been the only infected to ever serve as police officer but his personality is much better served as a private detective. He stills has a few connections on the police force that don’t hate him for the lion strain disease he was born with and on occasion they’ll ask him to check out some potential infected crimes. With the help of his tiger-strain infected partner Paris Lehane, Roan uses his cat-enhanced senses to find clues the cops never quite seem to catch.

This is one of the most interesting takes on a shifter mythology I’ve ever read. The intricacies of this world were really complex. It’s a really original concept and captured my attention from the first. On top of that the mysteries are well crafted and no one comes across as being either too lack witted or vice versa too over the top know-it-all.

Roan is about as obstinate an alpha male as I’ve ever seen. Yet, I love him anyway. His life would be so much easier of he’d just let Paris in a little bit. He doesn’t have to try to do it all on his own every time. While the development of their relationship does happen before this story starts I did like these two together. Both men have a pretty unique set of skills they were born with to some degree or other, granted Roan’s are strictly genetic while Paris’ are innate but honed to a sharpened edge as a learned liar slut boy extraordinaire. They’ve both also had a pretty rough road because of it all too. Neither one deserved their pasts, but neither would they be the men they are without them. I like that they’re both flawed characters and both cover their insecurities under one whole heck of a lot of bluster. While these mysteries did have a romantic element, both tales were definitely more suspense than romance.

That suspense was very well done too! Little trails of breadcrumbs leading to our killers, crumbs maybe only Roan is really qualified to find. I liked the fact that both stories here were complete and could have been marketed as stand alones. Infected introduces us to the idea of the virus and the differences in the strains. In Prey the changes in the disease in both men are starting to make a more graphic appearance. But while Roan’s disease is more integrated into his system as he was born infected, Paris’ is beginning to damage his body. It definitely makes me worried about their future since Roan clearly loves Paris and losing him to the disease terrifies him.

So really, really, really dislike Eli. Grrrrrr! I really hope at some point he gets what’s coming to him. Nasty man suckering poor unsuspecting children into a situation that has nowhere near the benefits he likes to espouse. Course he has super low morals too. I really do hope Roan gets an opportunity to take his ass out. I know it really must have chafed Roan’s ass to help him out even a little bit.

My only real complaint with this story is it ended a little abruptly for my taste. (view spoiler) Course maybe I’ll get my wish in book two. Overall though I really enjoyed this story whole great big bunches and while I’m ultra nervous to read book two knowing what the end result is there I’m still going for it. I can’t wait to see how Roan’s disease develops and how his relationship with his lion develops. There’s such a potential for awesome crazy things to happen here and I can’t wait to find out what they are. ☺
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Apr 04, 2015 Charley Descoteaux rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: series, gay, uf, mystery

Why did I wait so long to read this?! It's been on my nook, just waiting... I have to grab the rest of the series asap, but the reason is spoilery. If you're curious, read the book--highly recommended! ...more

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Feb 14, 2013 Laylah Hunter rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: m-slash-m, fantasy-other

Really solid start to a series -- I can see why people are hooked on these! The world the author lays out is compelling, and the treatment of shifting really appeals to me in a terrible dystopic way: yes, there are horrible downsides to this change, and yes, one of those downsides is the way other people are going to be monstrously freaked out about it. Main characters are easy to root for and the action makes them fly.

There were a few points where it felt like a more assertive editor might have ...more

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Apr 16, 2013 Paul rated it it was amazing

Shelves: bought_it

Just finished. Wow! Slow to start, but builds the groudwork and then when things start going it's a wild roller-coaster ride all the way to the end. I'm thrilled I held out reading this for the GRNW Reading challenge and can't wait to meet the author and shake her hand.

This is truly a different kind of shifter story and I'm in awe of Ms. Speed's imagination and talent in putting this to paper.

No spoilers, but I will say that if you enjoy a great story, characters and a whopper of a who-dun-it, y ...more

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Aug 27, 2013 Jade rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: m-m, urban-fantasy, sci-fi, i-own

I had very few issues with this-mostly revolving around the 2 MC's romance. The rest however was very entertaining, especially in Roan's sardonic voice. The romance didn't seem to develop-or at least become apparent-until 3/4th's of the book was done-so no 5 stars. But I enjoyed this enough that I have already bought the sequel :D ...more

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