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Edie Spence #2
Moonshifted
Check in to County Hospital’s secret ward—where paranormal activities lead to medical emergencies for one tireless nurse…
After surviving a brutal vampire attack, Nurse Edie Spence is ready to get back to work—attending to supernatural creatures in need of medical help. But her nursing skills are put to the test when she witnesses a hit-and-run on her lunch break. The injured pedestrian is not only a werewolf, he’s the pack leader. And now Edie’s stuck in the middle of an all-out were-war…
With two rival packs fighting tooth and nail, Edie has no intention of crossing enemy lines. But when she meets her patient’s nephew—a tattooed werewolf named Lucas with a predatory gleam in his eye that’s hard to resist—Edie can’t help but choose sides. The question is: can she trust this dangerous new ally? And can she trust her own instincts when she’s near him? Either way, Edie can’t seem to pull away—even if getting involved makes her easy prey…
After surviving a brutal vampire attack, Nurse Edie Spence is ready to get back to work—attending to supernatural creatures in need of medical help. But her nursing skills are put to the test when she witnesses a hit-and-run on her lunch break. The injured pedestrian is not only a werewolf, he’s the pack leader. And now Edie’s stuck in the middle of an all-out were-war…
With two rival packs fighting tooth and nail, Edie has no intention of crossing enemy lines. But when she meets her patient’s nephew—a tattooed werewolf named Lucas with a predatory gleam in his eye that’s hard to resist—Edie can’t help but choose sides. The question is: can she trust this dangerous new ally? And can she trust her own instincts when she’s near him? Either way, Edie can’t seem to pull away—even if getting involved makes her easy prey…
335 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 8, 2012
About the author
Cassie Alexander
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US links:
https://linktr.ee/cassiealexander
Hi there! I'm a registered nurse and author. As Cassandra, I wrote the Year of the Nurse: A Covid-19 Pandemic Memoir. As Cassie, I've written numerous (and very hot!) paranormal romances, sometimes with my friend Kara Lockharte. I live in the Bay Area with one husband, two cats, and one million succulents.
US links:
https://linktr.ee/cassiealexander
Hi there! I'm a registered nurse and author. As Cassandra, I wrote the Year of the Nurse: A Covid-19 Pandemic Memoir. As Cassie, I've written numerous (and very hot!) paranormal romances, sometimes with my friend Kara Lockharte. I live in the Bay Area with one husband, two cats, and one million succulents.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 259 reviews
December 15, 2012
It’s no secret that I love urban fantasy more than any other genre out there, and I love it even more when urban fantasy flirts with horror just a little bit. I discovered the Edie Spence series entirely by accident, really enjoyed Nightshifted, the first book, and now I’m happy to report that the second book didn’t diminish my love for it in the least.
I think what people like most about Edie is that she’s just a regular woman, very non-heroic and plain. She works her night shifts at the hospital, gets conned over and over by her addict brother and pushed around by the supernatural community. She has no lasting relationship, no real friends, and her bond with her family is tenuous at best. One can’t help but feel compassion for Edie and her sad, quiet life, but there are times when she seems just a bit too passive. I like reading about regular people in unusual circumstances, and I don’t necessarily want them to be fearless or heroic, but resourceful would be nice. Edie is often just a pushover, for her brother, her co-workers, the mysterious Shadows and the entire supernatural community, especially the vampires. She gets involved in their business in very odd ways, they get her to do their dirty work with just two words of flattery and then keep her in the dark and fail to protect her from things they brought to her doorstep.
I pulled on my scrubs and all the silver that I currently owned. Between my belt, bracelet, and badge – which might warn me a second or two before any attack –I’d give myself even odds on surviving for five seconds once I was outside my door. Five whole seconds, although not necessarily painless ones.
In Nightshifted, Edie took it upon herself to save a vampire child, and now that vampire child, Anna, asks her to be some kind of Ambassador, involves her in things Edie doesn’t even begin to understand, and then just disappears without protecting her in any way.
There were times when I wanted to yell at Edie to grow a spine, but there would be no point. She is who she is.
"You can't just leave anyone. It's one of your biggest virtues, and one of your worst flaws.
Edie is constantly surrounded by grotesque creatures she relentlessly takes care of, even when it’s not her job to do so. As I said in my opening paragraph, I love it when urban fantasy flirts with horror, and Cassie Alexander balances the fine line between the two wonderfully. Sure, some of the descriptions might turn your stomach (they did mine, and I’m not exactly a delicate flower), but this is what sets the series apart and I really like it.
At this point, I’d hate for Edie to find a steady relationship and then get her act together and become less pathetic (harsh words, Maja, harsh!). I don’t want a man to fix her life, that would be even more pathetic. I want her to find her own footing, start taking care of herself and then maybe get into a serious relationship, preferably with Asher. I like Asher for her, and I have a feeling he wouldn’t just abandon her like Ty (although he did give me reason to think otherwise). He’s charming and attractive and, you know, definitely NOT a zombie. I’ll keep my fingers crossed.
What I really wanted, but didn’t get from Moonshifted was a stronger story. The first half was essentially plotless, or at the very least directionless. So many things were happening at once, and at the same time, nothing was happening at all. I still couldn’t clearly outline the plot for you, nor do I wish to try. For the first 80%, Moonshifted suffered from the worst case of Second Book Syndrome I’ve ever seen, but at least it ended with a bang. Hopefully, the next book, Shapeshifted, will be a bit more exciting in that regard.
I think what people like most about Edie is that she’s just a regular woman, very non-heroic and plain. She works her night shifts at the hospital, gets conned over and over by her addict brother and pushed around by the supernatural community. She has no lasting relationship, no real friends, and her bond with her family is tenuous at best. One can’t help but feel compassion for Edie and her sad, quiet life, but there are times when she seems just a bit too passive. I like reading about regular people in unusual circumstances, and I don’t necessarily want them to be fearless or heroic, but resourceful would be nice. Edie is often just a pushover, for her brother, her co-workers, the mysterious Shadows and the entire supernatural community, especially the vampires. She gets involved in their business in very odd ways, they get her to do their dirty work with just two words of flattery and then keep her in the dark and fail to protect her from things they brought to her doorstep.
I pulled on my scrubs and all the silver that I currently owned. Between my belt, bracelet, and badge – which might warn me a second or two before any attack –I’d give myself even odds on surviving for five seconds once I was outside my door. Five whole seconds, although not necessarily painless ones.
In Nightshifted, Edie took it upon herself to save a vampire child, and now that vampire child, Anna, asks her to be some kind of Ambassador, involves her in things Edie doesn’t even begin to understand, and then just disappears without protecting her in any way.
There were times when I wanted to yell at Edie to grow a spine, but there would be no point. She is who she is.
"You can't just leave anyone. It's one of your biggest virtues, and one of your worst flaws.
Edie is constantly surrounded by grotesque creatures she relentlessly takes care of, even when it’s not her job to do so. As I said in my opening paragraph, I love it when urban fantasy flirts with horror, and Cassie Alexander balances the fine line between the two wonderfully. Sure, some of the descriptions might turn your stomach (they did mine, and I’m not exactly a delicate flower), but this is what sets the series apart and I really like it.
At this point, I’d hate for Edie to find a steady relationship and then get her act together and become less pathetic (harsh words, Maja, harsh!). I don’t want a man to fix her life, that would be even more pathetic. I want her to find her own footing, start taking care of herself and then maybe get into a serious relationship, preferably with Asher. I like Asher for her, and I have a feeling he wouldn’t just abandon her like Ty (although he did give me reason to think otherwise). He’s charming and attractive and, you know, definitely NOT a zombie. I’ll keep my fingers crossed.
What I really wanted, but didn’t get from Moonshifted was a stronger story. The first half was essentially plotless, or at the very least directionless. So many things were happening at once, and at the same time, nothing was happening at all. I still couldn’t clearly outline the plot for you, nor do I wish to try. For the first 80%, Moonshifted suffered from the worst case of Second Book Syndrome I’ve ever seen, but at least it ended with a bang. Hopefully, the next book, Shapeshifted, will be a bit more exciting in that regard.
December 31, 2022
Thanks to Booksiren and Cassie Alexander for the opportunity to read and review this book. I am absolutely loving this series. Edie Spence dives deeper into the supernatural world, and juggles the big dilemma of work-life balance. We delve more into Edie's relationship with her co-workers, and the supernatural studs she meets along the way. This book really made this weeks crazy travel disaster 10x more bearable, and I am jumping right into the third book to start off my New Year.
November 12, 2012
Originally reviewed here @ Angieville.
You'll remember my excitement upon discovering Cassie Alexander and Nightshifted--her fabulous urban fantasy debut. I loved everything about it, from the killer cover to the hard-working, conflicted protagonist inside. When I realized the sequel was set to be published just a few months later I was, well, over the moon. Go on. Raise your hands. I know I'm not the only one who waits (with barely concealed ill grace) a year for each new installment in her favorite series. It can be a hard wait. I understand why, and I am nothing if not extremely grateful for everything that goes into the writing and publishing processes. But it can be a hard wait. That's why two in one year? Such a treat. That said, the closing events of Nightshifted were portentous to say the least. And I was pretty anxious about where Edie would be (and in what condition) when I found her next, who would be around to help her, and who . . . would not.
Edie Spence isn't fresh off the shelf on the Y4 ward of her county hospital anymore. She's earned her stripes and is even approaching tenuous friendships with her fellow seasoned nurses. It's been months now since her cringe-worthy induction into life as a nurse for the undead (and every other supernatural creature that comes their way) and Edie is still rattled by the fallout. Indebted to powers she'd really rather not name and struggling to define her unwanted role in local vampire politics, she's less than pleased to find herself holding vigil over a werewolf alpha in a coma. Edie was on the scene when he was attacked and soon every wolf in the pack is banging down her door looking for clues. This includes a wolf by the name of Lucas who stands to inherit the alpha mantle should the old man not pull through. Lucas is a bundle of contradictions and Edie is 99.9% sure she should keep her distance. But when her home is attacked and the vampires become involved, there is little she can do to stay removed from the action.
Edie is nobody's fool and I love her for that. With the possible exception of her brother, she has very few blind spots. She does her best to avoid disaster scenarios. She really does. Unfortunately, her world has teeth and seems to be supremely uninterested in cutting her a break. That's not to say that she's without her share of foibles. But even when she's making a clear mistake, she remains fully cognizant that it is her choice and that she is making it. Usually to fend off something even darker, for which I can rarely fault her even as it fills me with concern for her and the bleakness that surrounds her. Edie is flawed and lonely and allergic to asking for help for herself and I am incredibly fond of her. Witness a couple of reasons why (taken from my uncorrected ARC):
Her heartrending frankness hits me every time.
Alexander graces this novel with the perfect amount of humor and horror. Edie's life is awash in gray. Worn down by her relentless job, her succubus of a brother, and the demands of the paranormal, she's acutely wary of any scraps of happiness that float her way. I understand her caution, especially given how she's been burned in the past. But I can't help but hope for her, too. I enjoyed her interactions with the her fellow nurses (Gina in particular) and the local weres (Lucas in particular) immensely. And her encounters with the elusive Asher fill me with alternating glee and uncertainty. I choose to view these tentative forays as harbingers of the hope she deserves. My concerns and hopes aside, MOONSHIFTED absolutely shone in the sequel department, extending my affection for the characters, while introducing new angles to sink my teeth into. It also possesses one humdinger of a climax. I was swept away in the force with which it built and the raging rush to the finish. I'm more attached to Edie than ever. This is urban fantasy of the highest order. However will I survive the wait for book three?
You'll remember my excitement upon discovering Cassie Alexander and Nightshifted--her fabulous urban fantasy debut. I loved everything about it, from the killer cover to the hard-working, conflicted protagonist inside. When I realized the sequel was set to be published just a few months later I was, well, over the moon. Go on. Raise your hands. I know I'm not the only one who waits (with barely concealed ill grace) a year for each new installment in her favorite series. It can be a hard wait. I understand why, and I am nothing if not extremely grateful for everything that goes into the writing and publishing processes. But it can be a hard wait. That's why two in one year? Such a treat. That said, the closing events of Nightshifted were portentous to say the least. And I was pretty anxious about where Edie would be (and in what condition) when I found her next, who would be around to help her, and who . . . would not.
Edie Spence isn't fresh off the shelf on the Y4 ward of her county hospital anymore. She's earned her stripes and is even approaching tenuous friendships with her fellow seasoned nurses. It's been months now since her cringe-worthy induction into life as a nurse for the undead (and every other supernatural creature that comes their way) and Edie is still rattled by the fallout. Indebted to powers she'd really rather not name and struggling to define her unwanted role in local vampire politics, she's less than pleased to find herself holding vigil over a werewolf alpha in a coma. Edie was on the scene when he was attacked and soon every wolf in the pack is banging down her door looking for clues. This includes a wolf by the name of Lucas who stands to inherit the alpha mantle should the old man not pull through. Lucas is a bundle of contradictions and Edie is 99.9% sure she should keep her distance. But when her home is attacked and the vampires become involved, there is little she can do to stay removed from the action.
Edie is nobody's fool and I love her for that. With the possible exception of her brother, she has very few blind spots. She does her best to avoid disaster scenarios. She really does. Unfortunately, her world has teeth and seems to be supremely uninterested in cutting her a break. That's not to say that she's without her share of foibles. But even when she's making a clear mistake, she remains fully cognizant that it is her choice and that she is making it. Usually to fend off something even darker, for which I can rarely fault her even as it fills me with concern for her and the bleakness that surrounds her. Edie is flawed and lonely and allergic to asking for help for herself and I am incredibly fond of her. Witness a couple of reasons why (taken from my uncorrected ARC):
"I introduced him to my parents, Edie. I thought he was the one."
I didn't know what to say. I didn't think I'd ever felt like that. I'd stood on the edge of The Oneness before, and maybe peeked into the valley below, but I'd never made the final jump. I'd learned that if you thought of people as disposable, it hurt less when they disposed of you.
Her heartrending frankness hits me every time.
Asher met me at the door, looking like the Asher I knew best. Olive skin, dark hair, dark brown eyes. He took one look at me, and then past me at Gina, still slumped over in my passenger seat. "You want to put her in a spare room, or a spare bathroom?"
"Someplace with a lot of tile."
He followed me out to my car, and we retrieved her. Gina kept murmuring things that sounded sad, while Asher helped me help her down his entry hall. We made it up the stairs together, and I arranged her inside a claw-foot tub while Asher went to get extra towels. I sat on the toilet beside her, petting her hair, and Asher returned to lean against the wall.
"Do I want to know what happened?"
"Girl meets were-bear, girl falls for were-bear, were-bear says if you love me you'll let me bite you, girls says good-bye." I wished I had an IV start kit and a banana bag--IV fluids with vitamins and minerals--right about then. We could've set her impending hangover straight in no time.
Asher's eyebrows rose high up his forehead. "I meant at your house."
Alexander graces this novel with the perfect amount of humor and horror. Edie's life is awash in gray. Worn down by her relentless job, her succubus of a brother, and the demands of the paranormal, she's acutely wary of any scraps of happiness that float her way. I understand her caution, especially given how she's been burned in the past. But I can't help but hope for her, too. I enjoyed her interactions with the her fellow nurses (Gina in particular) and the local weres (Lucas in particular) immensely. And her encounters with the elusive Asher fill me with alternating glee and uncertainty. I choose to view these tentative forays as harbingers of the hope she deserves. My concerns and hopes aside, MOONSHIFTED absolutely shone in the sequel department, extending my affection for the characters, while introducing new angles to sink my teeth into. It also possesses one humdinger of a climax. I was swept away in the force with which it built and the raging rush to the finish. I'm more attached to Edie than ever. This is urban fantasy of the highest order. However will I survive the wait for book three?
December 6, 2012
4.5/5
Despite oh so very deceiving synopsis, Moonshifted is not about choosing sides or men. Just like Nightshifted, it is a constant attempt of one lonely human with a big heart to survive among scary supernatural forces. That's it.
Nurse Edie doesn't have any superpowers, she is not particularly pretty, especially working night shifts (Edie, I know how you feel. I don't like the look of myself in the mirror after a week of night shifts too) and she doesn't have awesome powers of deduction. In other words, she is normal just like us. An overworked, young health worker with no life and desire to help at the most unfortunate moments.
Edie barely escaped a vampire trial in Nightshifted, and she gets right in the middle of werewolf power games when a truck hits a werewolf king of her city. On the other hand her vampire friend Anna asks her a big favour and Edie can't refuse little girl she saved once before...
Now vampires hustle her and some odd zombie-like werewolves are trying to eat her, and she is tired of being the one who solves all the mysteries, and it's Christmas and her sofa has bad blood spots on it, and her parents are coming for dinner. It's too much, it's too dangerous, and again she is way over her head...
I love that I felt for Edie so much, that the author could make us feel her constant fatigue, desperation and desire to just get it over with and have some sleep.
Moonshifted is a better, stronger book than Nightshifted. Edie carves her own way, not necessarily traditional for urban fantasy heroines but that's what so good about this series. You really don't know what awaits around the corner.
Highly recommended for all urban fantasy fans, medical professionals and night shift workers around the world. :)
Despite oh so very deceiving synopsis, Moonshifted is not about choosing sides or men. Just like Nightshifted, it is a constant attempt of one lonely human with a big heart to survive among scary supernatural forces. That's it.
Nurse Edie doesn't have any superpowers, she is not particularly pretty, especially working night shifts (Edie, I know how you feel. I don't like the look of myself in the mirror after a week of night shifts too) and she doesn't have awesome powers of deduction. In other words, she is normal just like us. An overworked, young health worker with no life and desire to help at the most unfortunate moments.
Edie barely escaped a vampire trial in Nightshifted, and she gets right in the middle of werewolf power games when a truck hits a werewolf king of her city. On the other hand her vampire friend Anna asks her a big favour and Edie can't refuse little girl she saved once before...
Now vampires hustle her and some odd zombie-like werewolves are trying to eat her, and she is tired of being the one who solves all the mysteries, and it's Christmas and her sofa has bad blood spots on it, and her parents are coming for dinner. It's too much, it's too dangerous, and again she is way over her head...
I love that I felt for Edie so much, that the author could make us feel her constant fatigue, desperation and desire to just get it over with and have some sleep.
Moonshifted is a better, stronger book than Nightshifted. Edie carves her own way, not necessarily traditional for urban fantasy heroines but that's what so good about this series. You really don't know what awaits around the corner.
Highly recommended for all urban fantasy fans, medical professionals and night shift workers around the world. :)
February 19, 2016
3.75 stars
June 4, 2013
You may also read my review here: http://www.mybookishways.com/2013/06/...
Moonshifted starts up pretty soon after Nightshifted leaves off, with Edie still recovering from a very nasty vampire attack. Her heart is still smarting after her lover, Ti, takes off to who knows where. So yeah, Edie’s not in a great place, but when she witnesses a hit and run right in front of her hospital, she has little time to think about herself when she’s trying to keep a man from bleeding out in the street. Soon, Edie finds out that the victim is the alpha of the local werewolf pack, and now the pack is in turmoil. If he doesn’t survive, all hell could break loose. Edie has also been asked to be Anna the vampire’s Ambassador of the Sun, which Anna insists is only a ceremonial role, and only for one night, but Edie is dubious. She can hardly say no, but it doesn’t mean she won’t dread it. Oh, did I mention Dren shows up claiming Edie owes him for the loss of his hand and takes to following her? It doesn’t stop there, guys. The hits just keep coming for Edie. Asher, shapeshifter and former lover, comes back into her life, there’s a hot werewolf that’s paying lots of attention to her, vampire and werewolf wars, then there’s the whole matter of Gideon, Anna’s protector, which is kind of a gross/awesome/wonderful highlight of the book. Trust me on this one. If I tell you (and I so want to tell you), it will ruin it, but you’ll love it. Oh, and she has to do Christmas with her family, including her addict brother. See? Told you Edie had a full plate!
I was delighted with Nightshifted but I was kind of blown away by Moonshifted. Cassie Alexander has brought the awesome with a layered narrative that positively crackles with tension. Edie is tough, but she doesn’t seem to know it, which is what I love about her, and I keep hoping she’ll find someone to make her happy, but hers is not an easy life, and she certainly doesn’t have an easy job. In short, her life is not all that conducive to romance, but like I said, I remain very hopeful. You’ll meet old favorites from Nightshifted and some new ones that are wonderful and you’ll be left with a pretty jaw-dropping ending. The author not only takes urban fantasy to new and exciting places, but she also adds in horror and even SF elements that make this series even more unique. My review of Shapeshifted is coming up soon, and if you’re like me, you’ll want to move right on to it after finishing Moonshifted. You won’t be disappointed. This is one of my favorite new UF series, and a standout in a somewhat saturated genre. Don’t miss this one!
Moonshifted starts up pretty soon after Nightshifted leaves off, with Edie still recovering from a very nasty vampire attack. Her heart is still smarting after her lover, Ti, takes off to who knows where. So yeah, Edie’s not in a great place, but when she witnesses a hit and run right in front of her hospital, she has little time to think about herself when she’s trying to keep a man from bleeding out in the street. Soon, Edie finds out that the victim is the alpha of the local werewolf pack, and now the pack is in turmoil. If he doesn’t survive, all hell could break loose. Edie has also been asked to be Anna the vampire’s Ambassador of the Sun, which Anna insists is only a ceremonial role, and only for one night, but Edie is dubious. She can hardly say no, but it doesn’t mean she won’t dread it. Oh, did I mention Dren shows up claiming Edie owes him for the loss of his hand and takes to following her? It doesn’t stop there, guys. The hits just keep coming for Edie. Asher, shapeshifter and former lover, comes back into her life, there’s a hot werewolf that’s paying lots of attention to her, vampire and werewolf wars, then there’s the whole matter of Gideon, Anna’s protector, which is kind of a gross/awesome/wonderful highlight of the book. Trust me on this one. If I tell you (and I so want to tell you), it will ruin it, but you’ll love it. Oh, and she has to do Christmas with her family, including her addict brother. See? Told you Edie had a full plate!
I was delighted with Nightshifted but I was kind of blown away by Moonshifted. Cassie Alexander has brought the awesome with a layered narrative that positively crackles with tension. Edie is tough, but she doesn’t seem to know it, which is what I love about her, and I keep hoping she’ll find someone to make her happy, but hers is not an easy life, and she certainly doesn’t have an easy job. In short, her life is not all that conducive to romance, but like I said, I remain very hopeful. You’ll meet old favorites from Nightshifted and some new ones that are wonderful and you’ll be left with a pretty jaw-dropping ending. The author not only takes urban fantasy to new and exciting places, but she also adds in horror and even SF elements that make this series even more unique. My review of Shapeshifted is coming up soon, and if you’re like me, you’ll want to move right on to it after finishing Moonshifted. You won’t be disappointed. This is one of my favorite new UF series, and a standout in a somewhat saturated genre. Don’t miss this one!
March 5, 2013
3.5 stars. This one had a lot of little annoyances again, and a bit of a wandering plot, but overall I'm still a fan of the book and the series. It didn't start off well; I don't like stupid coincidences just to make things easier for the author. In the entire city Dren the evil vampire with a grudge against Edie and Asher the shapeshifter who's her former lover both just happened to be at the same Target as she was on Christmas Eve? Dren didn't even act like he'd followed her there. There was a weak excuse for Asher to be there, but the idea that of all the places in town that he just happened to be where she was on that night was dumb. It sure didn't set the right tone for me starting the book.
Then there were numerous annoyances after that. Edie was constantly such a brat about her zombie ex, Ti. It's fine to admit that him leaving hurt, but to resent it so much that it was mentioned over and over again was so immature. How many times did she whine about him leaving, "with no guarantee he'd ever be back." (Boy did she repeat that a lot. Did he owe her a guarantee after knowing her for such a short period of time?) He barely knew her and he risked everything for her. She isn't the one who'd be killed, or captured and researched forever, for just being what he is if people found out what he is. And he risked them finding out to save her. "Him choosing to keep his cover over me hurt." What else was he supposed to do? Especially because he so blatantly looked so different from normal humans with his patchwork body parts that he got rushing to save her, he didn't have time to match parts like he normally would. He had to go into hiding, had to change jobs and identities even after he was healed. Clearly the author wants to keep his memory alive so that he can be brought back in future installments, but the constant whining wasn't the right way to win our favor for a guy who wasn't such a great hero the first time around anyway. Here's hoping for a better outing in book three.
And how about that totally bizarre sex scene? The whole scene was so out of nowhere. I'm still not quite sure I get who this girl is. Is she a doormat who lets everyone take advantage of her or a strong, sexy woman? Where did this sudden enjoyment of pain that she mentions several times throughout the book come from? Is it an attempt by the author to explain her weak personality, or to give her more depth? The explicit sex scene just felt very out of place in the context of the rest of the book, which was straight urban fantasy, very much not erotica or even much in the romance department, despite Edie's constant whining about Ti. I don't mind sexy books, it just seemed really out of character. Of course, now that I think about it, this is the same woman who had a one night stand with Asher in the first book and didn't use a condom, despite being a nurse, so maybe it is consistent with her character and I'm just not seeing it yet.
And yet with all of the little annoying things, the farther I got into it the more I enjoyed it. The author's experience as a nurse really paid off again. As with with first book, I thought it made the story really realistic without coming across too heavy-handed or overly detailed. I was able to picture the hospital and her work so clearly, it's really the not-so-secret weapon in this series. But it isn't the only positive. I kind of guessed the bad guy, but it wasn't super obvious and there were a few twists to keep things interesting. Sike was her usually cool self this time around. Edie's family relations continued to make her relatable; my family might not be quite so screwed up but I think most people will find something to identify with somewhere in her loyalty to and frustration with her brother, mother and step-father. Her friendship with fellow nurse Gina was expanded. I don't really get why Asher does so many things for Edie yet, but at least there was an attempt to fill in who he is a bit more as well.
So the story was inconsistently paced and it does wander a bit, and that sex scene was truly odd, and there were some annoyances that were what I'd call bad a matter of taste, and some that I really hope the author will learn to do without as she gets more experienced, like using dumb coincidences as plot devices instead of coming up with things that make more sense. But in the end there's still a lot to recommend about this book and this series. The world is vividly drawn and compelling and I think most fans of urban fantasy would enjoy giving it a try.
Then there were numerous annoyances after that. Edie was constantly such a brat about her zombie ex, Ti. It's fine to admit that him leaving hurt, but to resent it so much that it was mentioned over and over again was so immature. How many times did she whine about him leaving, "with no guarantee he'd ever be back." (Boy did she repeat that a lot. Did he owe her a guarantee after knowing her for such a short period of time?) He barely knew her and he risked everything for her. She isn't the one who'd be killed, or captured and researched forever, for just being what he is if people found out what he is. And he risked them finding out to save her. "Him choosing to keep his cover over me hurt." What else was he supposed to do? Especially because he so blatantly looked so different from normal humans with his patchwork body parts that he got rushing to save her, he didn't have time to match parts like he normally would. He had to go into hiding, had to change jobs and identities even after he was healed. Clearly the author wants to keep his memory alive so that he can be brought back in future installments, but the constant whining wasn't the right way to win our favor for a guy who wasn't such a great hero the first time around anyway. Here's hoping for a better outing in book three.
And how about that totally bizarre sex scene? The whole scene was so out of nowhere. I'm still not quite sure I get who this girl is. Is she a doormat who lets everyone take advantage of her or a strong, sexy woman? Where did this sudden enjoyment of pain that she mentions several times throughout the book come from? Is it an attempt by the author to explain her weak personality, or to give her more depth? The explicit sex scene just felt very out of place in the context of the rest of the book, which was straight urban fantasy, very much not erotica or even much in the romance department, despite Edie's constant whining about Ti. I don't mind sexy books, it just seemed really out of character. Of course, now that I think about it, this is the same woman who had a one night stand with Asher in the first book and didn't use a condom, despite being a nurse, so maybe it is consistent with her character and I'm just not seeing it yet.
And yet with all of the little annoying things, the farther I got into it the more I enjoyed it. The author's experience as a nurse really paid off again. As with with first book, I thought it made the story really realistic without coming across too heavy-handed or overly detailed. I was able to picture the hospital and her work so clearly, it's really the not-so-secret weapon in this series. But it isn't the only positive. I kind of guessed the bad guy, but it wasn't super obvious and there were a few twists to keep things interesting. Sike was her usually cool self this time around. Edie's family relations continued to make her relatable; my family might not be quite so screwed up but I think most people will find something to identify with somewhere in her loyalty to and frustration with her brother, mother and step-father. Her friendship with fellow nurse Gina was expanded. I don't really get why Asher does so many things for Edie yet, but at least there was an attempt to fill in who he is a bit more as well.
So the story was inconsistently paced and it does wander a bit, and that sex scene was truly odd, and there were some annoyances that were what I'd call bad a matter of taste, and some that I really hope the author will learn to do without as she gets more experienced, like using dumb coincidences as plot devices instead of coming up with things that make more sense. But in the end there's still a lot to recommend about this book and this series. The world is vividly drawn and compelling and I think most fans of urban fantasy would enjoy giving it a try.
May 4, 2016
I really enjoyed this sequel to book one in the Edie Spence series, Nightshifted. It was a fun read and very engaging. I had trouble finding a good place to pause for the night while I was reading it. This is always a sign of a good book for me. :-)
A couple things I didn't like, though: Early in Edie's acquaintance with Lucas, I had wondered if he would be Edie's next "conquest" and :-( I haven't liked how she's gone about finding in either of these first two books. I'm all for romance in books, but I almost think this series would be better without the relationships Edie has.
The other big thing I didn't really like was the ending. But this might just be me. In the end, Edie Sadly, we weren't told.
I'm now very eager to read book three!
I did enjoy - even really enjoy - this book two despite my dissatisfaction over the aforementioned grievances. There was even a line that surprised a laugh out of me. :-)
On page 160, at the end of Chapter Twenty-Seven, Edie is sharing a kiss with Asher while Gina is upstairs in his bathtub, passed out from drinking her sorrows away. All of a sudden, "a retching sound" is heard. Edie breaks their kiss and Asher has this line: "'Let me guess,' he said, after a long inhale. 'The sound of retching is like a mating call to a wild nurse.'" lol!!! :-)
All in all, I did enjoy this book. I'm hoping to continue my adventures with Edie soon. Hopefully my library has book three. :-) (And maybe Ti will return in book three? I was hoping to see him again in this book, but both Edie and I were disappointed.)
First read, but not reviewed, in June-ish 2014.
Read for second time, and reviewed, January 28-29, 2016.
A couple things I didn't like, though: Early in Edie's acquaintance with Lucas, I had wondered if he would be Edie's next "conquest" and :-( I haven't liked how she's gone about finding in either of these first two books. I'm all for romance in books, but I almost think this series would be better without the relationships Edie has.
The other big thing I didn't really like was the ending. But this might just be me. In the end, Edie Sadly, we weren't told.
I'm now very eager to read book three!
I did enjoy - even really enjoy - this book two despite my dissatisfaction over the aforementioned grievances. There was even a line that surprised a laugh out of me. :-)
On page 160, at the end of Chapter Twenty-Seven, Edie is sharing a kiss with Asher while Gina is upstairs in his bathtub, passed out from drinking her sorrows away. All of a sudden, "a retching sound" is heard. Edie breaks their kiss and Asher has this line: "'Let me guess,' he said, after a long inhale. 'The sound of retching is like a mating call to a wild nurse.'" lol!!! :-)
All in all, I did enjoy this book. I'm hoping to continue my adventures with Edie soon. Hopefully my library has book three. :-) (And maybe Ti will return in book three? I was hoping to see him again in this book, but both Edie and I were disappointed.)
First read, but not reviewed, in June-ish 2014.
Read for second time, and reviewed, January 28-29, 2016.
November 11, 2013
K so I'm seriously loving Edie Spence. This book is totally different from the first one and if she's working towards so overall goal it's not apparent at this point. Oh, there are overall themes--weres hate vampires, vampires hate weres, shadows are assholes, etc., but there's not some great unification objective or something.
In fact, Edie has no super powers whatsoever. That's right, in a world of supernatural creatures, Edie Spence is not a supernatural. She's H-U-M-A-N. She's had some brushes with changeover type situations, but none of them stick.
In addition to being human and still sassy, she's quirky and hilarious. Whether she's talking about snozzberries tasting like snozzberries or Grandfather blacksmithing himself a cyborg, she doesn't make me cackle, but she's got "wry grin" down.
Speaking of Grandfather, he might just be one of my all-time favorite secondary characters. He's kind of like a no-english speaking poltergeist version of Zee (Siebold Adelbertsmiter).
So yeah.
The ending would have ticked me off if the next book wasn't already out, but it is, so I'm not gonna complain. All Edie needs now is a steady guy and a definitive mission.
In fact, Edie has no super powers whatsoever. That's right, in a world of supernatural creatures, Edie Spence is not a supernatural. She's H-U-M-A-N. She's had some brushes with changeover type situations, but none of them stick.
In addition to being human and still sassy, she's quirky and hilarious. Whether she's talking about snozzberries tasting like snozzberries or Grandfather blacksmithing himself a cyborg, she doesn't make me cackle, but she's got "wry grin" down.
Speaking of Grandfather, he might just be one of my all-time favorite secondary characters. He's kind of like a no-english speaking poltergeist version of Zee (Siebold Adelbertsmiter).
So yeah.
The ending would have ticked me off if the next book wasn't already out, but it is, so I'm not gonna complain. All Edie needs now is a steady guy and a definitive mission.
December 26, 2012
The previous romance that grossed me out is a memory so I was able to read this book without cringing and actually ended up enjoying it more than the first book probably for the same reason. Edie does find some quick romantic entanglements but nothing long term so far. Big changes at the end of the book!!!
July 14, 2013
In all honesty, I'd rate this book just a shade above crap, that is if you're considering it within the realm of a published novel with even a hint of literary merit. If, by chance, you're interested in sub-par porn with an needlessly and poorly executed elaborate plot, then this is the book for you!
Seriously, I'm disappointed. The first book wasn't exactly a mind-blowing pieces of literature either, Alexander is certainly not a Dickens, but it was fun and entertaining. The main character was a strong woman, mildly promiscuous, but not slutty, and then Moonshifted happened.
The interesting werewolf/vampire dynamic, though elaborated upon in the next book, did not draw me further into the book's universe. I had wrongfully predicted after reading the first book, that I would be interested in the following two, but as it turns out, I no longer have plans to read the third installment. The main character was a total slut in this story, and practically owned up to it. I can assure you, I am no prude, but books like this, where the protagonist seems to have an implicit goal to have kinky sex with a member of every present species in the series before it ends, is part of the reason that the Urban Fantasy genre gets a bad rap. It is becoming a stereotype that I abhor.
Also, if an author is going to obviously add a character into the story in order for them to conveniently save the main character, it needs to be done tactfully. It must also not be overused. This is the second time that Alexander has done this. The first instance was Asher, who then played a similar role in the second book as the first, and then the second example was the bear-shapeshifting boyfriend, who had only a tentative attachment to the main character. No doubt Alexander employed this method so that the reader "wouldn't see it coming".
My intelligence has been insulted.
This kind of writing is painfully formulaic and reminiscent of -shudder- Stephanie Meyer. And yet even Meyer employed strategic symbolism. Moonshifted reeks of amateur mimicry, to the point that I've read fanfiction more original than this.
My advice, don't read this book, and if you don't believe me, that's fine, go rad it and then afterwards regret having wasted precious moments of your life.
Seriously, I'm disappointed. The first book wasn't exactly a mind-blowing pieces of literature either, Alexander is certainly not a Dickens, but it was fun and entertaining. The main character was a strong woman, mildly promiscuous, but not slutty, and then Moonshifted happened.
The interesting werewolf/vampire dynamic, though elaborated upon in the next book, did not draw me further into the book's universe. I had wrongfully predicted after reading the first book, that I would be interested in the following two, but as it turns out, I no longer have plans to read the third installment. The main character was a total slut in this story, and practically owned up to it. I can assure you, I am no prude, but books like this, where the protagonist seems to have an implicit goal to have kinky sex with a member of every present species in the series before it ends, is part of the reason that the Urban Fantasy genre gets a bad rap. It is becoming a stereotype that I abhor.
Also, if an author is going to obviously add a character into the story in order for them to conveniently save the main character, it needs to be done tactfully. It must also not be overused. This is the second time that Alexander has done this. The first instance was Asher, who then played a similar role in the second book as the first, and then the second example was the bear-shapeshifting boyfriend, who had only a tentative attachment to the main character. No doubt Alexander employed this method so that the reader "wouldn't see it coming".
My intelligence has been insulted.
This kind of writing is painfully formulaic and reminiscent of -shudder- Stephanie Meyer. And yet even Meyer employed strategic symbolism. Moonshifted reeks of amateur mimicry, to the point that I've read fanfiction more original than this.
My advice, don't read this book, and if you don't believe me, that's fine, go rad it and then afterwards regret having wasted precious moments of your life.
November 26, 2012
4.5 stars - Even better than the first!
{This review was originally published on Clear Eyes, Full Shelves.}
Cassie Alexander's debut novel, Nightshifted, was one of the more memorable and creative urban fantasies I've read in a long time. Needless to say, I was thrilled to get my hands on an early copy of Moonshifted, Nightshifted's fast-paced and riveting sequel.
[Note: I have made every attempt to avoid spoilers for Nightshifted. Read my review of that book Read my review of that book here.]
Moonshifted picks up shortly after the events of Nightshifted, in which nurse Edie Spence finds herself embroiled in a terrifying battle with supernatural creatures, barely escaping with her life. Edie is still a nurse on Y4, the secret ward for paranormal beings of all sorts, as part of a deal to save her brother from addiction. She's still broke, she's still lonely and she's still self-destructive. The only thing that's changed is that she's started to form connections with her follow Y4 indentured health care workers, all of whom have a story about why they're trapped in a dead end job caring for the paranormal.
While on her lunch break with one of those co-workers, Edie witnesses a man being struck by a hit and run driver. Except the man isn't actually a human--he's a werewolf. Edie and her coworker save the werewolf, but it lands her in the position of caring for the werewolf who's in a coma on Y4. Meanwhile, in the midst of this, Edie's also roped into further involvement with Anna, the teenager vampire she saved in the previous novel.
It's not long before the injured man's werewolf pack descends on the ward and Edie finds herself entangled in an internal conflict within the pack, and with her interesting piqued by Lucas, who is in line to becoem pack leader, should Edie's patient die.
Edie tries to remain level-headed within the chaos swirling around her, but once her apartment is ransacked by vampires, she has no choice by to align herself with Lucas in order to save herself.
This is why I like this series and Edie's character so much: she does what she has to do, even when the choices are terrible.
Despite that Edie is in a pretty lousy situation, she's very aware of herself and the impact of her actions. Even when she makes bad choices (as in the first novel with her self-destructive behavior related to men), there's awareness about the potential for really bad things to happen.
This is refreshing considering that in so much urban fantasy--and even more so in its cousin paranormal romance--the female leads don't have a tremendous amount of agency, nor do they suffer the consequences of their actions and decisions. For Edie Spence, consequences are a daily reality.
But that's not to say Moonshifted is all serious and angsty. Because Edie's finally making connections with other people (besides her ne'er-do-well brother), the humor that was present in the first book is even more pronounced in the sequel.
Particularly fun is Edie's growing closeness with Gina, a coworker from Y4, who has paranormal problems of her own.
Moonshifted raises the stakes for Edie in the next book, Shapeshifted, and because of the events at the climax of Moonshifted, I can't even begin to guess where this series is headed. (Incidentally, I would not characterize the ending as a "cliffhanger," because the story in Moonshifted is resolved, but Big Things happen at the end which left me internally screaming that I want Shapeshifted NOW!) I'm particularly curious how Edie's relationships (both with her friends from Y4 and her maybe-something with Lucas, the werewolf leader) will play out, given that her life is in such tumult.
Alexander is ruthless with Edie, never really giving her a break and pushing her to the point that I wonder how she'll find a way to be happy and "normal." Things look bleak for Edie, and I wonder what other obstacles will be thrown into her path--and if a certain zombie will return. Naturally, I cannot wait to follow her journey.
Cassie Alexander's Edie Spence series, along with Jenn Bennett's Jenn Bennett's Arcadia Bell books, stand out among a sea of new urban fantasy series as distictive, creative and as striking the right balance between action and character drama. If you're a fan of urban fantasy and your not reading both, you're missing out.
FNL Character Rating: Tyra Collette
Disclosure: A review copy was provided to me by the publisher.
Initial reaction:
Can I have book three now, please? Good grief, poor Edie.
{This review was originally published on Clear Eyes, Full Shelves.}
Cassie Alexander's debut novel, Nightshifted, was one of the more memorable and creative urban fantasies I've read in a long time. Needless to say, I was thrilled to get my hands on an early copy of Moonshifted, Nightshifted's fast-paced and riveting sequel.
[Note: I have made every attempt to avoid spoilers for Nightshifted. Read my review of that book Read my review of that book here.]
Moonshifted picks up shortly after the events of Nightshifted, in which nurse Edie Spence finds herself embroiled in a terrifying battle with supernatural creatures, barely escaping with her life. Edie is still a nurse on Y4, the secret ward for paranormal beings of all sorts, as part of a deal to save her brother from addiction. She's still broke, she's still lonely and she's still self-destructive. The only thing that's changed is that she's started to form connections with her follow Y4 indentured health care workers, all of whom have a story about why they're trapped in a dead end job caring for the paranormal.
Floor Y4 catered to the supernatural creatures that no one else knew about: werecreatures in their mortal phases, the daytime servants of the vampires, the sanctioned donors of the vampires, and shapeshifters that occasionally went insane. And sometimes zombies, whom nurses occasionally dated, with poor outcomes. At the thought of my now twice-dead love life, my urge to make small talk chilled.
While on her lunch break with one of those co-workers, Edie witnesses a man being struck by a hit and run driver. Except the man isn't actually a human--he's a werewolf. Edie and her coworker save the werewolf, but it lands her in the position of caring for the werewolf who's in a coma on Y4. Meanwhile, in the midst of this, Edie's also roped into further involvement with Anna, the teenager vampire she saved in the previous novel.
It's not long before the injured man's werewolf pack descends on the ward and Edie finds herself entangled in an internal conflict within the pack, and with her interesting piqued by Lucas, who is in line to becoem pack leader, should Edie's patient die.
Edie tries to remain level-headed within the chaos swirling around her, but once her apartment is ransacked by vampires, she has no choice by to align herself with Lucas in order to save herself.
This is why I like this series and Edie's character so much: she does what she has to do, even when the choices are terrible.
Despite that Edie is in a pretty lousy situation, she's very aware of herself and the impact of her actions. Even when she makes bad choices (as in the first novel with her self-destructive behavior related to men), there's awareness about the potential for really bad things to happen.
I’d just pledged my help to a teenage-looking but hundred-year-old vampire whom I knew had a temper and a half. There was no way this could end badly, right?
This is refreshing considering that in so much urban fantasy--and even more so in its cousin paranormal romance--the female leads don't have a tremendous amount of agency, nor do they suffer the consequences of their actions and decisions. For Edie Spence, consequences are a daily reality.
“Can your friend in the friend zone make a friendly suggestion?”
“Certainly.”
“This time. For real. Get the fuck out of town.”
I bit my lip and looked at the hardwood floor. “I still need my job to protect Jake, Asher.”
“He looked pretty clean to me.”
“Yeah, he’s good at that.”
I put my hands up to my head and ran them through my hair. “There’s just never any guarantee it will last.”
“You know, some people who knew you might say your life was worth a little more than his.”
I lifted my head up and glared at him. “Asher—”
“You’re a nurse, you help people, you give back to the community—you pay taxes. What does he do?”
“He’s my brother—” I protested.
“A lot of people start off life with siblings. But when you die, you die alone.”
I inhaled and exhaled a few times. “I’m not ready to give up on him yet.”
“I bet. It’s fun feeling needed, until it gets you killed.”
But that's not to say Moonshifted is all serious and angsty. Because Edie's finally making connections with other people (besides her ne'er-do-well brother), the humor that was present in the first book is even more pronounced in the sequel.
I thought about asking him for inappropriate things— then briefly remembered the naked men I’d just seen and Gideon’s parts at home. I really didn’t need any more random genitalia in my life, and Gina and I needed to go.
Particularly fun is Edie's growing closeness with Gina, a coworker from Y4, who has paranormal problems of her own.
“Let me get this straight. You were dating a were . . . bear?”
She nodded sorrowfully, her face cradled against the side of the porcelain bowl. “I have to ask. Were there any brightly colored insignias on his chest? Like a rainbow, or an ice cream cone?”
“What?” she said, peering up. “You know. Like a Care Bear.”
“Fuck you, Edie.” She closed her eyes, like that would make me disappear.
“I’m just saying that if I were dating a were- bear, I would carefully check him over for any lame tattoos. Like of candy canes. Or sunshine.”
“Fuck you and fucking were-bears.” She snorted.
Moonshifted raises the stakes for Edie in the next book, Shapeshifted, and because of the events at the climax of Moonshifted, I can't even begin to guess where this series is headed. (Incidentally, I would not characterize the ending as a "cliffhanger," because the story in Moonshifted is resolved, but Big Things happen at the end which left me internally screaming that I want Shapeshifted NOW!) I'm particularly curious how Edie's relationships (both with her friends from Y4 and her maybe-something with Lucas, the werewolf leader) will play out, given that her life is in such tumult.
Alexander is ruthless with Edie, never really giving her a break and pushing her to the point that I wonder how she'll find a way to be happy and "normal." Things look bleak for Edie, and I wonder what other obstacles will be thrown into her path--and if a certain zombie will return. Naturally, I cannot wait to follow her journey.
Cassie Alexander's Edie Spence series, along with Jenn Bennett's Jenn Bennett's Arcadia Bell books, stand out among a sea of new urban fantasy series as distictive, creative and as striking the right balance between action and character drama. If you're a fan of urban fantasy and your not reading both, you're missing out.
FNL Character Rating: Tyra Collette
Disclosure: A review copy was provided to me by the publisher.
Initial reaction:
Can I have book three now, please? Good grief, poor Edie.
November 2, 2022
Moonshifted is the second book in the Edie Spence series and is just as great if not better than the first book Nightshifted. I fell in love with the Edie Spence series when I read the summary for Nightshifted. After reading Nightshifted I couldn’t wait for the next book Moonshifted to make its appearance and after waiting patiently it has finally arrived.
Edie Spence is a nurse who works the night shift on the Y4, the secret ward hidden in the bowels of the County Hospital. Why is Y4 a secret ward you may ask? Well, it is kept secret because of its patients. All the patients on Y4 are werewolves, vampires, zombies, and all paranormal creatures. Edie is human but she knows all about the paranormal world.
Moonshifted has plenty of ways to keep your interest from the first page to the last as it likes to hold onto its secrets revealing them slowly. Moonshifted definitely kept me on the edge of my seat trying to figure it all out. I couldn’t turn those pages fast enough. The suspense kept me hooked from one page to the next.
Edie has this great big heart and she is always trying to help someone in any way she can no matter if they are human, vampire, werewolf, or zombie even if that means just listening to what they have to say.
Moonshifted opens just as Edie and a co-worker are just arriving for their shift at the hospital when they witnessed a man get hit by a car and then the car just speeds away without even stopping to check on the guy. It is a good thing that Edie happens to be there as the man is a werewolf. The last thing humans or the paranormal world need is for humans to see someone turn into a werewolf.
Edie has a lot to deal with in Moonshifted. A young girl vampire whom she took care of in Nightshifted arrives on her doorstep wanting her help to become the leader of her own pack. Then she has her brother to deal with once he arrives at her doorstep as well.
I highly recommend Moonshifted to all paranormal fans! Grab your copy of Moonshifted today!
Edie Spence is a nurse who works the night shift on the Y4, the secret ward hidden in the bowels of the County Hospital. Why is Y4 a secret ward you may ask? Well, it is kept secret because of its patients. All the patients on Y4 are werewolves, vampires, zombies, and all paranormal creatures. Edie is human but she knows all about the paranormal world.
Moonshifted has plenty of ways to keep your interest from the first page to the last as it likes to hold onto its secrets revealing them slowly. Moonshifted definitely kept me on the edge of my seat trying to figure it all out. I couldn’t turn those pages fast enough. The suspense kept me hooked from one page to the next.
Edie has this great big heart and she is always trying to help someone in any way she can no matter if they are human, vampire, werewolf, or zombie even if that means just listening to what they have to say.
Moonshifted opens just as Edie and a co-worker are just arriving for their shift at the hospital when they witnessed a man get hit by a car and then the car just speeds away without even stopping to check on the guy. It is a good thing that Edie happens to be there as the man is a werewolf. The last thing humans or the paranormal world need is for humans to see someone turn into a werewolf.
Edie has a lot to deal with in Moonshifted. A young girl vampire whom she took care of in Nightshifted arrives on her doorstep wanting her help to become the leader of her own pack. Then she has her brother to deal with once he arrives at her doorstep as well.
I highly recommend Moonshifted to all paranormal fans! Grab your copy of Moonshifted today!
February 19, 2013
Edie Spence, nurse on Y4, the secret floor of County Central Hospital where the supernatural are treated – the vampires, the werewolves and, in the past, even zombies and dragons. She doesn’t have nearly enough time, especially with the holidays coming up, and even less money hence her taking overtime during the holidays in the hope of more money to pad her rapidly disappearing paycheck.
That in itself would be exhausting, but that’s before the king of the werewolves gets run over in a hit and run right in front of her. He’s badly injured to the point of death and even the medical professionals on Y4 can’t raise the dead – but the werewolf politics should he die (and the accusations that fly) are dangerous things to get in the middle of.
And then there’s Anna, the vampire she preciously helped and even considers a friend. She has a job for Edie as she prepares to found her own vampire house, a job that requires her to keep a ceremonial knife safe.
Whichever is the cause – werewolf or knife –people start trying to kill her, ransacking her home and even risking the wrath of the shadows, the hospital’s mystical protectors, to get at her. And to make matters worse, her drug dealing brother is digging himself into trouble, her parents are coming for Christmas dinner and she has a German Ghostly Cyborg eating her electronics.
That was immense fun. I liked the first book, Nightshifted, and found it interesting and pretty entertaining, but Moonshifted is head and shoulders above it. With the beginning of this world introduced, we’re now running with this story in all directions and nearly everything is pretty much excellent.
The world building is incredible – there has been such a lot of research that has gone into the various supernatural lores that are relevant in this book – including the 101 ways to make a werewolf which is drawing on some really obscure legends that I had to re-look up and I thought I was pretty overwhelmed with shapeshifter legends already. The way the vampires work, the way the werewolves work – they’re all really really deep and with their own separate twists that add a lot of originality to the story; concepts like the werewolves’ shorter life span (which makes so much sense when described) and the vampire shortage not of human blood, but of actual vampire blood since it takes so long for them to produce. All of these add wonderful new facets to old myths and legends and a completely new spin on everything.
But along with the mystical world building which is wide open and growing, there’s also the powerful realities of being a nurse. I love books when the protagonist has a profession and I’m left thinking “this author has worked this job” because it’s so real, they’ve either worked it or really put some sterling effort into making it real. John Hartness does it, Diana Rowland does it and Cassie Alexander certainly does it. It’s not glamourised, it’s not sugar coated and it’s not clean – but the nitty gritty of nursing is there, the good and the icky, the sheer value and importance of it coupled with how undervalued and difficult it is. It’s a really good depiction and makes the entire series so much stronger and more real because of it.
What is best about both of these elements of world building is that they’re used appropriately. There’s no massive info dumps and no long monologues. It is shown rather than told, what we need to know is revealed in as much detail as we need to know it. It’s completely restrained and leaves me hungry to know more – like what exactly the Consortium, and Meaty, actually are for one! everything feels natural because the knowledge is presented in a realistic fashion without every leaving us floundering.
And the story is fun – it intertwines excellently with Edie’s life but her life doesn’t stop because of it. This is something else I love about this book, in a lot of Urban Fantasy it feels like the protagonist can just put their entire lives on pause while they deal with the plot of the book. Edie isn’t like that – she has a job, she needs money, she even needs the desperate holiday overtime. She can’t just not take those extra hours because the plot has been dropped on her, life goes on. And it’s not just her job – she has family she can’t just drop because dramas are happening, she had her brother and his issues, she has her parents coming round for Christmas Dinner. She can’t cancel all this – and she has to clean up the flat ready for them – just because she has plot drama! Life goes on! Perhaps most impressive to me is Edie’s friend’s – they have their own lives, their own issues and that isn’t subsumed because of Edie’s plot issues. Charles has a thing with werewolves, he’s not setting that aside because Edie is having problems. Gina has relationship drama, Edie can’t just ignore it because of plot reasons – he’s Gina’s friend, she owes it to her to be supportive. Edie can’t just refuse Anna’s plea because it would be convenient to do otherwise. This is such a change from so many urban fantasies where friends just exist to support the protagonist.
But aside from twining nicely with both the world building and Edie’s life, the plot is fascinating. It’s excellently paced and written, even with those elements blended into it, the book continues moving forward and never has slow periods. Even Edie having to go buy a couch cover just fits so neatly and adds to the book, these mundane tasks all add something, all develop something and help highlight the relationships without long monologues or info dumps. The mystery behind the injured werewolf king is a curious one. From the beginning I realised that the accused was clearly not the person behind it – it was too obviously a red herring – but I didn’t even remotely predict who was actually behind the attack nor how it all came together with werewolf and vampire politics interlinking. It was really well done, all made sense, and all was a complete surprise. On top of the mystery, the actions scenes, when they arrive, were well written and had that perfect balance of pace versus description.
Read More
That in itself would be exhausting, but that’s before the king of the werewolves gets run over in a hit and run right in front of her. He’s badly injured to the point of death and even the medical professionals on Y4 can’t raise the dead – but the werewolf politics should he die (and the accusations that fly) are dangerous things to get in the middle of.
And then there’s Anna, the vampire she preciously helped and even considers a friend. She has a job for Edie as she prepares to found her own vampire house, a job that requires her to keep a ceremonial knife safe.
Whichever is the cause – werewolf or knife –people start trying to kill her, ransacking her home and even risking the wrath of the shadows, the hospital’s mystical protectors, to get at her. And to make matters worse, her drug dealing brother is digging himself into trouble, her parents are coming for Christmas dinner and she has a German Ghostly Cyborg eating her electronics.
That was immense fun. I liked the first book, Nightshifted, and found it interesting and pretty entertaining, but Moonshifted is head and shoulders above it. With the beginning of this world introduced, we’re now running with this story in all directions and nearly everything is pretty much excellent.
The world building is incredible – there has been such a lot of research that has gone into the various supernatural lores that are relevant in this book – including the 101 ways to make a werewolf which is drawing on some really obscure legends that I had to re-look up and I thought I was pretty overwhelmed with shapeshifter legends already. The way the vampires work, the way the werewolves work – they’re all really really deep and with their own separate twists that add a lot of originality to the story; concepts like the werewolves’ shorter life span (which makes so much sense when described) and the vampire shortage not of human blood, but of actual vampire blood since it takes so long for them to produce. All of these add wonderful new facets to old myths and legends and a completely new spin on everything.
But along with the mystical world building which is wide open and growing, there’s also the powerful realities of being a nurse. I love books when the protagonist has a profession and I’m left thinking “this author has worked this job” because it’s so real, they’ve either worked it or really put some sterling effort into making it real. John Hartness does it, Diana Rowland does it and Cassie Alexander certainly does it. It’s not glamourised, it’s not sugar coated and it’s not clean – but the nitty gritty of nursing is there, the good and the icky, the sheer value and importance of it coupled with how undervalued and difficult it is. It’s a really good depiction and makes the entire series so much stronger and more real because of it.
What is best about both of these elements of world building is that they’re used appropriately. There’s no massive info dumps and no long monologues. It is shown rather than told, what we need to know is revealed in as much detail as we need to know it. It’s completely restrained and leaves me hungry to know more – like what exactly the Consortium, and Meaty, actually are for one! everything feels natural because the knowledge is presented in a realistic fashion without every leaving us floundering.
And the story is fun – it intertwines excellently with Edie’s life but her life doesn’t stop because of it. This is something else I love about this book, in a lot of Urban Fantasy it feels like the protagonist can just put their entire lives on pause while they deal with the plot of the book. Edie isn’t like that – she has a job, she needs money, she even needs the desperate holiday overtime. She can’t just not take those extra hours because the plot has been dropped on her, life goes on. And it’s not just her job – she has family she can’t just drop because dramas are happening, she had her brother and his issues, she has her parents coming round for Christmas Dinner. She can’t cancel all this – and she has to clean up the flat ready for them – just because she has plot drama! Life goes on! Perhaps most impressive to me is Edie’s friend’s – they have their own lives, their own issues and that isn’t subsumed because of Edie’s plot issues. Charles has a thing with werewolves, he’s not setting that aside because Edie is having problems. Gina has relationship drama, Edie can’t just ignore it because of plot reasons – he’s Gina’s friend, she owes it to her to be supportive. Edie can’t just refuse Anna’s plea because it would be convenient to do otherwise. This is such a change from so many urban fantasies where friends just exist to support the protagonist.
But aside from twining nicely with both the world building and Edie’s life, the plot is fascinating. It’s excellently paced and written, even with those elements blended into it, the book continues moving forward and never has slow periods. Even Edie having to go buy a couch cover just fits so neatly and adds to the book, these mundane tasks all add something, all develop something and help highlight the relationships without long monologues or info dumps. The mystery behind the injured werewolf king is a curious one. From the beginning I realised that the accused was clearly not the person behind it – it was too obviously a red herring – but I didn’t even remotely predict who was actually behind the attack nor how it all came together with werewolf and vampire politics interlinking. It was really well done, all made sense, and all was a complete surprise. On top of the mystery, the actions scenes, when they arrive, were well written and had that perfect balance of pace versus description.
Read More
August 11, 2020
**Spoilerish towards the end**
Really enjoying this series. I like the fact that the heroine is not enamored by paranormals. She likes being part of their world (mostly) and likes being a nurse, but she doesn't idolize them. She has friends like Ana, but has no desire to be them.
Strange to say, but I like that the heroine is a little closed off emotionally. She keeps people at a distance. She does not let that keep her from having an active social life, though. She is not promiscuous, but she is not saving herself for her OTL. Although she has men who are constants in her life, she is not tied to one in particular romantically. It gives the reader a chance to get to know her as an individual, not part of an immediate couple.
I listened to both of these through my library, but they have no more in the series. I want to know what will happen now that she is shunned. I want to know what this means for her personally, career wise, and what it means to Jake.
Really enjoying this series. I like the fact that the heroine is not enamored by paranormals. She likes being part of their world (mostly) and likes being a nurse, but she doesn't idolize them. She has friends like Ana, but has no desire to be them.
Strange to say, but I like that the heroine is a little closed off emotionally. She keeps people at a distance. She does not let that keep her from having an active social life, though. She is not promiscuous, but she is not saving herself for her OTL. Although she has men who are constants in her life, she is not tied to one in particular romantically. It gives the reader a chance to get to know her as an individual, not part of an immediate couple.
I listened to both of these through my library, but they have no more in the series. I want to know what will happen now that she is shunned. I want to know what this means for her personally, career wise, and what it means to Jake.
October 19, 2022
Edie is back at work hospital after her vampire attack. She witnesses a hit and run accident then finds herself in the thick of things again. A were war and Anna’s initiation ceremony makes Edie one busy nurse! This series is a fresh take on the supernatural world. Can’t get enough of these characters. I couldn’t read this fast enough and can’t wait to see what Edie is up against next!
*ARC provided by BookSirens for an honest review.
*ARC provided by BookSirens for an honest review.
November 4, 2022
I loved the first book, and I think this one was even better. Edie’s life is anything but uncomplicated to begin with, and this holiday season only added more into the mix. I was immediately swept up in the chaos of everything going on around her and desperately clinging on to find out how it would all turn out. And now that I know, I’m more anxious than ever to discover what direction her life is going to take next.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Booksprout.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Booksprout.
November 3, 2022
The Edie Spence series continues it's fun in this second book and it has quite the mystery in it. Full of action, this well paced story took me on quite the reading ride. We do get some romantic moments in this, basically, UF story, but no real romance. The ending was wild and I had no anticipation of 'who done it' - which I loved. All great fun but now I'm anxious to dive into the next book :D
February 5, 2018
I liked this one better than the last one. Edie seems to have smartened up a little bit, the brother was less annoying, the plot made more sense (ish). And there was less Grandfather, but it a WEIRD Way.
July 23, 2023
Ever since finishing this second book in the Edie Spence series, I have been caught in a whirlwind! Cassie Alexander is a fabulous writer who creates her paranormal worlds so realistically, and they are quite relatable.
This series is of Edie Spence, nurse at Y4, who is stuck in her job because she made a deal. A deal that, if broken, could risk her brother's life. Edie is a normal human, stuck in a paranormal world.
I laughed, I gasped, I cried, and I rooted for Edie the whole way through. The hurdles one would experience in real life are just a little more challenging when peppered with some paranormal aspects!
This book can be read as a standalone, and you wouldn't miss a beat, but get the full experience and start this series from book 1! I highly encourage anyone interested in the paranormal, a little mystery, and a little spice, pick up this series!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This series is of Edie Spence, nurse at Y4, who is stuck in her job because she made a deal. A deal that, if broken, could risk her brother's life. Edie is a normal human, stuck in a paranormal world.
I laughed, I gasped, I cried, and I rooted for Edie the whole way through. The hurdles one would experience in real life are just a little more challenging when peppered with some paranormal aspects!
This book can be read as a standalone, and you wouldn't miss a beat, but get the full experience and start this series from book 1! I highly encourage anyone interested in the paranormal, a little mystery, and a little spice, pick up this series!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 17, 2016
I liked the plot in this one much better than the plot in the first book. However, I find myself growing weary of the way the supernaturals constantly coerce and con Edie into doing things for them without giving her any explanations or choices in the matter. Then, when the shit hits the fan, they never seem to have her back and she's left to pick up the pieces all on her own.
Some of this is Edie's own fault. She has an abundance of do-gooder tendencies and she seems to be a bit of a doormat at times. She's also constantly being taken advantage of by her ex-junkie brother, he's the reason she had to take the crappy low paying job in the first place. In exchange, the powers that be, so to speak have promised to keep him clean. Their method, is to simply take away his ability to become high, no matter what he shoots or smokes. I can understand Edie's need to save her brother keeping her under their thumb. What I can't understand is her constant gullibility in helping the rest of the supernatural community, the ones that have nothing at all to do with her brother or the bargain she made for him. Her brother, although he can't physically obtain any type of high, still retains his shifty untrustworthy ways and tends to walk all over Edie, preying on her sympathy, stealing from her and pawning her things etc..
I am so ready for Edie to have some type of screaming breakdown. Enough is enough for crying out loud.
Then the ending. I didn't quite understand it, I mean I know what happened. Edie took drastic measures to prevent something happening which might have had devastating consequences. No one thanks her of course, not at all. She ends up being shunned, by the baby vampire queen she is constantly saving. This might have been a blessing in disguise because the vampires are total shits for the most part, but it applied to the entire supernatural community. This I didn't understand. I never read any explanations or had any indication that the vampires were in any position of authority over the weres, shapeshifters, zombies and all the rest, much less the shadows, those controlling the hospital who are keeping at bay the addictions of Edie's brother Jake.
This was a huge disappointment to me. I am quite tired of vampires consistently being at the top of the food chain. Especially when there are so many possibilities out there in paranormal land.
Some of this is Edie's own fault. She has an abundance of do-gooder tendencies and she seems to be a bit of a doormat at times. She's also constantly being taken advantage of by her ex-junkie brother, he's the reason she had to take the crappy low paying job in the first place. In exchange, the powers that be, so to speak have promised to keep him clean. Their method, is to simply take away his ability to become high, no matter what he shoots or smokes. I can understand Edie's need to save her brother keeping her under their thumb. What I can't understand is her constant gullibility in helping the rest of the supernatural community, the ones that have nothing at all to do with her brother or the bargain she made for him. Her brother, although he can't physically obtain any type of high, still retains his shifty untrustworthy ways and tends to walk all over Edie, preying on her sympathy, stealing from her and pawning her things etc..
I am so ready for Edie to have some type of screaming breakdown. Enough is enough for crying out loud.
Then the ending. I didn't quite understand it, I mean I know what happened. Edie took drastic measures to prevent something happening which might have had devastating consequences. No one thanks her of course, not at all. She ends up being shunned, by the baby vampire queen she is constantly saving. This might have been a blessing in disguise because the vampires are total shits for the most part, but it applied to the entire supernatural community. This I didn't understand. I never read any explanations or had any indication that the vampires were in any position of authority over the weres, shapeshifters, zombies and all the rest, much less the shadows, those controlling the hospital who are keeping at bay the addictions of Edie's brother Jake.
This was a huge disappointment to me. I am quite tired of vampires consistently being at the top of the food chain. Especially when there are so many possibilities out there in paranormal land.
January 4, 2013
Review Courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy
Where NIGHTSHIFTED, the first book in the Edie Spence series setup Edie’s crazy life and hospital job, MOONSHIFTED expanded on the danger and supernatural consequences of Edie’s actions as a nurse in the Y4 wing of her hospital. The first book focused heavily on vampires and, while they are featured in MOONSHIFTED I was excited to see my favorite supernatural creatures, werewolves, be the focus of this book. Their introduction and the plot surrounding the issues of werewolf pack leadership really helped increase the scope and detail of the world Edie exists in.
The pacing in MOONSHIFTED is quick and the writing is sharp. I especially appreciated the balance maintained between humor and horror as too much of one could have soured the book. There were instances where the gory descriptions of characters needed some levity to maintain the lighter tone of this series.
Edie really feels relatable as she consistently makes mistakes and errors in judgement and has to face the consequences of her decisions with intelligence, wit, and some help from her friends. Its almost ridiculously amusing how she tries to stay out of trouble yet every attempt she makes to stay safe brings more supernatural problems to her door…
MOONSHIFTED is an excellent continuation of what is fast becoming one of my must read series and it ends on a huge cliffhanger that has me waiting impatiently for the next book in the Edie Spence series, SHAPESHIFTED, coming out June 4, 2013.
Sexual Content: graphic sex scene
Where NIGHTSHIFTED, the first book in the Edie Spence series setup Edie’s crazy life and hospital job, MOONSHIFTED expanded on the danger and supernatural consequences of Edie’s actions as a nurse in the Y4 wing of her hospital. The first book focused heavily on vampires and, while they are featured in MOONSHIFTED I was excited to see my favorite supernatural creatures, werewolves, be the focus of this book. Their introduction and the plot surrounding the issues of werewolf pack leadership really helped increase the scope and detail of the world Edie exists in.
The pacing in MOONSHIFTED is quick and the writing is sharp. I especially appreciated the balance maintained between humor and horror as too much of one could have soured the book. There were instances where the gory descriptions of characters needed some levity to maintain the lighter tone of this series.
Edie really feels relatable as she consistently makes mistakes and errors in judgement and has to face the consequences of her decisions with intelligence, wit, and some help from her friends. Its almost ridiculously amusing how she tries to stay out of trouble yet every attempt she makes to stay safe brings more supernatural problems to her door…
MOONSHIFTED is an excellent continuation of what is fast becoming one of my must read series and it ends on a huge cliffhanger that has me waiting impatiently for the next book in the Edie Spence series, SHAPESHIFTED, coming out June 4, 2013.
Sexual Content: graphic sex scene
December 3, 2012
Edie would do anything for those she cares about and that is how she ended up being a nurse in Y4. MOONSHIFTED picks up right where NIGHTSHIFTED ended and is full of action, fantastic characters and situations that will make you want to kick some bad guys were it counts.
When Edie and her coworker witness a hit and run outside of the hospital while on lunch break they jump in to help. Not only does the patient end up being someone that belongs on Y4 but his presence is the cause of most of the problems in MOONSHIFTED. This series has been really easy to fall into. The world is fun and full of interesting characters and situations. The heroine Edie is not only human but is new to the paranormal world. She makes friends easily and is really easy to like. After her zombie boyfriend left to save his own butt Edie is feeling alone and left behind. She has a few different romantic interests in book 2 and I honestly liked both but I don't see anything major happening between any of them anytime soon. I really hope zombie man doesn't return though. I would have to rip off one of his arms and beat him over the head with it or something. I was truly shocked with some of the situations that were thrown at Edie in MOONSHIFTED. She tends to handle things with her head held high with her allies by her side.
What is up with the ending? What a twist and what a mess after all Edie has been through and sacrificed. We all know that something will happen in book 3 to bring her back into the fold but I cant imagine what that will be. This is a great series to get lost in.
When Edie and her coworker witness a hit and run outside of the hospital while on lunch break they jump in to help. Not only does the patient end up being someone that belongs on Y4 but his presence is the cause of most of the problems in MOONSHIFTED. This series has been really easy to fall into. The world is fun and full of interesting characters and situations. The heroine Edie is not only human but is new to the paranormal world. She makes friends easily and is really easy to like. After her zombie boyfriend left to save his own butt Edie is feeling alone and left behind. She has a few different romantic interests in book 2 and I honestly liked both but I don't see anything major happening between any of them anytime soon. I really hope zombie man doesn't return though. I would have to rip off one of his arms and beat him over the head with it or something. I was truly shocked with some of the situations that were thrown at Edie in MOONSHIFTED. She tends to handle things with her head held high with her allies by her side.
What is up with the ending? What a twist and what a mess after all Edie has been through and sacrificed. We all know that something will happen in book 3 to bring her back into the fold but I cant imagine what that will be. This is a great series to get lost in.
January 26, 2014
Moonshifted
An Edie Spence Novel
Cassie Alexander
…
I am so glad that I had the good judgment to give this author another try. I had been slightly unhappy with the last book but had seen the potential and this second novel is fantastic! If I was unhappy with the lack of world building in the last book, the author made up for that lack in this one. I now know so much more about Edie’s world and it really helps to get the reader ‘into’ the story/
Things are going tremendously weird in Edie’s’ life lately…the holidays…a were hit and run right in front of her - a were-war (well sort of) , Vampires’ ascending and being Anne’s Ambassador and sex but no romance. Jake (Edie’s brother) sort of going legitimate. Things going on behind the scenes and even a new type of creature. Well a self-made one at any rate. Wow. It was enough to nearly boggle the mind! I truly loved it.
I was kept breathless until the very end of the book and the surprise climax…well…let’s just say it really comes as a surprise to me. I’m so not sure where Ms Alexander is going to take this series because I did not and will not read the synopsis of the next book that was at the end of this one (I love surprises!).
Thank you Ms Alexander for giving me such a fun few hours! This was a riveting, engrossing and enthralling, FUN read.
An Edie Spence Novel
Cassie Alexander
…
I am so glad that I had the good judgment to give this author another try. I had been slightly unhappy with the last book but had seen the potential and this second novel is fantastic! If I was unhappy with the lack of world building in the last book, the author made up for that lack in this one. I now know so much more about Edie’s world and it really helps to get the reader ‘into’ the story/
Things are going tremendously weird in Edie’s’ life lately…the holidays…a were hit and run right in front of her - a were-war (well sort of) , Vampires’ ascending and being Anne’s Ambassador and sex but no romance. Jake (Edie’s brother) sort of going legitimate. Things going on behind the scenes and even a new type of creature. Well a self-made one at any rate. Wow. It was enough to nearly boggle the mind! I truly loved it.
I was kept breathless until the very end of the book and the surprise climax…well…let’s just say it really comes as a surprise to me. I’m so not sure where Ms Alexander is going to take this series because I did not and will not read the synopsis of the next book that was at the end of this one (I love surprises!).
Thank you Ms Alexander for giving me such a fun few hours! This was a riveting, engrossing and enthralling, FUN read.
October 24, 2012
I was provided this Advance Reader Copy by the publisher.
Alexander begins this book with the same brisk action and unique perspective that made the first book, Nightshifted, so enjoyable. Alexander is a real-life nurse, and brings that realism to her urban fantasy featuring a nurse working on Y4, the top-secret paranormal creature wing of the hospital. There are a gazillion urban fantasies out there right now, and for me that touch of medical realism is what sets this series apart and makes it an engrossing (and sometimes gross!) read.
The plot and pace are well-woven here. Edie must balance paranormal shenanigans at work, paranormal shenanigans outside of work, and the urge to save the junkie brother. The only thing I find irksome is Edie's habit of one-night stands. She had to have some kind of personality flaw, I know, but it makes me feel like staging an intervention for her.
Also, this book deserves an award for 'most creative use of an MRI machine.'
I read a lot of urban fantasies. I've tried to follow a number of series, only to drop them by the wayside. This series--free copies or not--is one I will continue reading. It pleases the fantasy-lover and layman-medical-geek in me alike.
January 19, 2013
Moonshifted is the 2nd book in the Edie Spence series and I LOVED it!! It was such a fun read. The story became more indepth and the ending was unexpected. The ending did what an ending in a series should do....make the reader excited to continue the story. In this novel, we see Edie continuing her dangerous nursing job on y4 the top secret, supernatural floor of the hospital. She witnesses and hit and run while she is on a break that results in a were-war. Edie is in the middle of werewolves, vampires,shadows, daytimers, and even a shapeshifter for good measure. As if that wasn't enough this story takes place around the holidays so you know what that means.....family that doesn't know anything about the supernatural world that Edie has been thrust into. I felt like Alexander really hit her "writing groove" with this book it was a much smoother read than part 1 and I would definately recommend it. I will be checking out part 3 when it comes out.
March 11, 2016
Moonshifted, sadly, is not as good as its predecessor. The plot of the first book was tight and suspenseful, whereas the storyline in Moonshifted is rather confusing and disjointed. The first installment also had a surprisingly sweet romance that provided some relief from the grimness of the rest of the book. Now that's gone, replaced by a mess of romantic entanglements that don't really do anything for the story. The writing is not as polished, and the whole final quarter of the book felt slapped together, complete with overly dramatic dialogue, moments that were supposed to be emotional but weren't, and rushed explanations that didn't completely make sense. To be clear, I didn't hate this book. In fact, there were parts of it I really enjoyed! But in comparison to the first book, Moonshifted was a bit of a letdown.
January 26, 2013
Great book, started it last night and was half way done before I knew it.
November 1, 2022
Moonshifted
As reluctant as I am to give any book five stars I can find no reason to withhold it from this delicious work.
The flow is wonderful, moving easily from start to finish with nothing to slow the reader down. The setting is amazing, (I want an application for Y4), and the supporting characters are well-developed and fully formed so that they not only have a function in the story but also have a reason to be there in the first place.
And the amazing central character, whole and complete with both back story and integration into the plot is one of the few characters in urban fantasy with actual human flaws and behaviors.
This character has the same sort of disregard for what is right and proper as do most physical humans. Knowing what is okay and doing what is okay is never the same nor are they easy when lust kicks in. Unlike so many other urban fantasy characters who seem to have taken a vow of celibacy this character fights with urges just as most ‘real’ people do. And when finally giving in to a bad idea, the second-guessing starts followed by the remorse a live individual would feel. This makes for a much more believable and enjoyable character and one that the reader can identify with and guiltlessly pull for even if the situation is strange and fantastical.
Usually, the central character struggles with confused passion. In this book that is not the case. There is plenty of passion and some interesting potential pairings but none of the hangdog vacillation so common. This character does what the moment offers and lets the dust settle where it may. A much healthier and better for the reader result. Don’t change that and you’ll have a reader for life.
If there is a flaw and I am not completely certain it is a flaw, the antagonist is ever so slightly melodramatic. Rather than being sinister and menacing, he seems desperate and boastful. Now it could be that I am more bloodthirsty than the average reader and so this might be a personal quirk.
But given all the pluses this book has, even a huge flaw, of which there are none, could be forgivable. It lacks one thing to make it perfect, the next book.
Skip the tension of Thanksgiving, make excuses, buy a good bottle of wine and have takeout, draw the curtains and read. It will make Thanksgiving better than ever!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
As reluctant as I am to give any book five stars I can find no reason to withhold it from this delicious work.
The flow is wonderful, moving easily from start to finish with nothing to slow the reader down. The setting is amazing, (I want an application for Y4), and the supporting characters are well-developed and fully formed so that they not only have a function in the story but also have a reason to be there in the first place.
And the amazing central character, whole and complete with both back story and integration into the plot is one of the few characters in urban fantasy with actual human flaws and behaviors.
This character has the same sort of disregard for what is right and proper as do most physical humans. Knowing what is okay and doing what is okay is never the same nor are they easy when lust kicks in. Unlike so many other urban fantasy characters who seem to have taken a vow of celibacy this character fights with urges just as most ‘real’ people do. And when finally giving in to a bad idea, the second-guessing starts followed by the remorse a live individual would feel. This makes for a much more believable and enjoyable character and one that the reader can identify with and guiltlessly pull for even if the situation is strange and fantastical.
Usually, the central character struggles with confused passion. In this book that is not the case. There is plenty of passion and some interesting potential pairings but none of the hangdog vacillation so common. This character does what the moment offers and lets the dust settle where it may. A much healthier and better for the reader result. Don’t change that and you’ll have a reader for life.
If there is a flaw and I am not completely certain it is a flaw, the antagonist is ever so slightly melodramatic. Rather than being sinister and menacing, he seems desperate and boastful. Now it could be that I am more bloodthirsty than the average reader and so this might be a personal quirk.
But given all the pluses this book has, even a huge flaw, of which there are none, could be forgivable. It lacks one thing to make it perfect, the next book.
Skip the tension of Thanksgiving, make excuses, buy a good bottle of wine and have takeout, draw the curtains and read. It will make Thanksgiving better than ever!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 5, 2022
I really enjoyed this second book in this series. Edie is an interesting character - she's just a mere mortal human, with no special powers, but one who knows all about the supernatural beings through her job on the secret Y4 ward at the local hospital. She does come across as a bit naive at times, especially where her brother was concerned, but I think that is part of her attraction.
The previous book revolved around her involvement with vampires and although they make yet another appearance this time, the main focus was on the local werewolf pack after the alpha is severely injured in a hit and run right outside the hospital. Edie has to learn their ways and deal with the consequences as well.
There was a touch of romance between Edie and the soon to-be-new alpha Lucas, but she did almost everything she could to use him and push him away. He seemed to be very interested in her, but she's still very much hung up on her ex zombie boyfriend Ti, which considering their relationship was very short lived, seemed a bit odd. Why was she still so obsessed with him? Maybe it was the fact that he had left without giving her any proper closure on their relationship. But to me, that would have been more than enough to forget him!
I loved the action and pace of this book - there never seemed to be a slow moment! Some of it was a touch gory at times, but I love that! Edie managed to cope with what has going on around her as best she could, but you could tell how difficult she was finding everything that was going on. Despite working at Y4, she almost had had enough of the fights, the constant attacks on her life, her involvement with things she didn't want to be involved in! Maybe now after the ending, she will get that chance!
I received a copy of this book through Book Sirens but this review is my own honest one.
The previous book revolved around her involvement with vampires and although they make yet another appearance this time, the main focus was on the local werewolf pack after the alpha is severely injured in a hit and run right outside the hospital. Edie has to learn their ways and deal with the consequences as well.
There was a touch of romance between Edie and the soon to-be-new alpha Lucas, but she did almost everything she could to use him and push him away. He seemed to be very interested in her, but she's still very much hung up on her ex zombie boyfriend Ti, which considering their relationship was very short lived, seemed a bit odd. Why was she still so obsessed with him? Maybe it was the fact that he had left without giving her any proper closure on their relationship. But to me, that would have been more than enough to forget him!
I loved the action and pace of this book - there never seemed to be a slow moment! Some of it was a touch gory at times, but I love that! Edie managed to cope with what has going on around her as best she could, but you could tell how difficult she was finding everything that was going on. Despite working at Y4, she almost had had enough of the fights, the constant attacks on her life, her involvement with things she didn't want to be involved in! Maybe now after the ending, she will get that chance!
I received a copy of this book through Book Sirens but this review is my own honest one.
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