"The start to a wonderful paranormal action adventure series"
Crimson City by Liz Maverick kicks off what is sure to be
a wonderful paranormal action adventure series. Once in the not too distant past, the city of Los Angeles,
now known as the Crimson City, was totally different. Like
most cities the humans of the world ruled it. Now it is a
battleground between vampires and werewolves, with humans
being the unfortunates caught in the middle. The vampires are in charge now and the extravagance of
their way of life high above in the skyscrapers seems to
reaffirm this. Until the day that a mech, part human and
part mechanical robot, breaks into their lair and destroys
the Dumont men, the leaders of the vampire community,
while their sister, Fleur watches in horror. She is
spared, presumably due to the fact she is the least likely
candidate to take over leadership as a result of a bad
decision she made years ago. Dain Reston, human police officer in the Crimson City and
his partner Cyd are the first on the scene, totally
unprepared for what was to follow. In the lovely face of
Fleur, he is confronted with the horrors of his past and
the brutal death of his late wife. After the war between
the species, an uneasy truce was developed between all
three yet now it appears to have been broken. Dain and
Fleur must now put their respective animosities for the
other kinds aside so as to work together to discover who
is behind this attack and those to follow. Neither
expected that in the midst of such horrors a love would
grow between them... a love that would challenge all they
know and believe. Crimson City is an innovative new series that will
intrigue fans of paranormal romance, science
fiction/fantasy and romantic suspense. The world building
that begins with this, the first in the planned four-book
series, is brilliantly done and easily believable. Readers
will also pick up on some similarities between this book
and the movie Underworld. There are some comparable ideas
between the two, but this tale is still wonderfully
original in its delivery. The plot drives on powerfully, drawing readers in its wake
as they sit on the edge of their seats waiting for what
will come next. Some shocking plot twists are revealed
that will make one eagerly anticipate future books. Yet
there are enough mysteries still kept hidden, which are
obviously meant to carry over into the remaining three
books of the Crimson City series. All of the characters found on these pages are complex
individuals with their own faults and flaws. Dain is
tortured by the death of the wife he can't quite remember
on his own. Fleur still suffers the aftereffects of a heat-
of-the-moment decision she made several years ago. Her
kind looks down on her for those mistakes and she is
forced to prove herself to be the strong independent woman
she is. Fleur and Dain are drawn to each other from the
moment they meet, in spite of their differences and their
personal biases. How they overcome their past mistakes is
touching to share and one will feel for them through it
all. Secondary characters add their own touches to the story in
their diversity. Cyd is tormented by what she has seen and
done in the past, causing her to seek respite in not
necessarily the best of ways. The friendship she and Dain
share adds to the plot and is expected to possibly be
played out in future books. Though the werewolves play a
lesser role in this book, it is evident they are a force
to be reckoned with as well and readers will look forward
to future books in the series from their perspective.
There is a touch of mystery found through some of the
other secondary characters that throw a wrench in to the
works when some of their secrets are revealed. In short, if one wants a refreshingly unique look at the
worlds of vampires and werewolves with some paranormal
beings thrown in to the mix, then Crimson City by Liz
Maverick is sure to deliver. © Kelley A. Hartsell, October 2005. All rights reserved.
Reviewed by Kelley Hartsell
Courtesy Love Romances
Posted November 22, 2005
SummaryOnce, this was the City of Angels. The angels are no
longer in charge.
From the extravagant appetites of the vampire world above,
to the gritty defiance of the werewolves below, the
specter of darkness lives around every corner, the hope of
paradise in every heart. All walk freely with humans in a
tentative peace, but to live in Los Angeles is to balance
on the edge of a knife. One woman knows better than most
that death lurks here in nights of bliss or hails of UV
bullets. She's about to be tested, to taste true thirst.
She's about to regain the power she's long been denied.
And Fleur Dumont is about to meet the one man who may
understand her: a tormented protector who's lost his way
and all he loved.
Theirs is one tale of many. This is Crimson City, where
desire meets danger and more than just the stars come out
at night.
Other books in the series:
A Taste
of Crimson by Marjorie M. Liu - August 05
Through a
Crimson Veil by Patti O'Shea - October 05
A Darker
Crimson by Carolyn Jewel - November 05
Seduced
by Crimson by Jade Lee - March 06
Crimson
Rogue by Liz Maverick - Apr 06
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