Mortal Danger by Eileen Wilks

Title:  Mortal Danger
Author: Eileen Wilks
Series: World of the Lupi Book 2
Publish Date: January 1, 2005
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance
Perspective: Third Person

Publisher’s Description: Former homicide cop Lily Yu has a lot on her plate. There’s her sister’s wedding, a missing magical staff with unknown powers, and her grandmother’s sudden decision to visit the old country just when Lily could use a little advice. Maybe she should turn to the man she’s involved with, but for all the passion that flares between them, she doesn’t really know Rule Turner. Yet she’s tied to him for life, both of them caught in an unbreakable mate bond.

That Rule is a werewolf, prince of his people, only complicates matters.

Now an agent in a special unit of the FBI’s Magical Crimes Division, Lily’s job is to hunt down Harlowe, a charismatic cult leader bent on bringing an ancient evil into the world. But what Lily doesn’t realize is that Harlowe has set a trap-for her. And then the unthinkable happens.

In the blink of any eye Lily’s world divides and collides, and she is thrust into a new and frightening reality. Her only hope will be to trust Rule-and herself-or Lily will be lost forever…

SPOILERS!

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Invested Ivana says…

This review is part of my ongoing effort to review the World of the Lupi series by Eileen Wilks in the GraphicAudio format.  Other reviews in the series include:

• Originally Human – a short story prequel.
• Tempting Danger – Book 1

My thoughts on Mortal Danger are really mixed, so I’m going to use the Liked/Didn’t Like format.

What I Liked:  Lily and Rule continue to build a real relationship around the forced mate bond.  They argue and make up and learn to appreciate each other.  So while the reasons for the relationship are forced, they are creating something real.

One of the scenes I enjoyed the most came at the beginning of the book.  Lily and Rule are at a reception for Lily’s sister’s wedding.  From Lily’s point of view, we get to see more of her relationship with her family, including a domineering cousin and Lily’s younger sister, Beth.  From Rule’s point of view, we learn how he feels about his public persona.  Rule is getting groped by an older auntie of Lily’s, and though Rule is patient and kind with the old woman, he does think about how often he’s objectified because of his semi-royal, playboy reputation.  It’s hard to feel too sorry for Rule, being gorgeous and famous; but, it’s not often we get to hear the perspective of a man who’s being objectified, so it is refreshing.

I like the “relationship” between Cynna and Cullen, too.  They are spiky with each other, two dominate personalities circling each other, taking each other’s measure.

Finally, we get to learn more about the werewolf culture and spiritual practices, which I find very interesting.

What I didn’t like:  I didn’t care for the portrayal of Hel and demons – particularly because of all the sexual references that I didn’t feel were necessary.  It felt as if the author was trying to titillate a fifteen year-old boy with the overt sexual descriptions.

I also wasn’t too fond if the splitting of Lily – one in our world and one in Hel – and the solution to bringing her back together.  That felt fairly contrived to me.

Narrator:  Again, the GraphicAudio full cast recording made the world pretty rich.  I particularly like the actress who voiced Cynna – she gave Cynna the perfect personality.

Overall:  ♥ ♥ ♥ Otherwise, I felt this book was more Urban Fantasy than the last one, focusing more on the adventure than on the building of the relationships.  I can’t say I loved it, but I’m going to stick with the series for a few more books, at least, believing there more good stuff to come.

Other reviews:

• All About Romance
• Errant Dreams
• Rabid Reads

No promotional consideration was granted for this review.