December 21, 2012

Review: Shift by M.R. Merrick

Shift (The Protector #2)
Author: M.R. Merrick
Publisher: Self Published
Publication Date: February 1, 2012
Pages: 350
Source: Ebook for review from author

Devastated by a terrible loss, Chase is trying to balance the life he’s been left with, a family he’s still getting to know, and power he never thought he’d have. He doesn’t understand why the Goddess has named him the Protector and granted him two gifts: the Mark, a tattoo that now covers his back, and the ring. But between getting interrogated by the Circle and psychic attacks from Riley, the Mark is the least of his concern. There’s a demon inside Rayna that’s fighting to be released, and it’s not her inner witch. It’s something else—a monster threatening to tear her apart.

As Chase struggles to control his magic, his enemies are closing in. Everyone has staked a claim on his ring, and destroying it may be his only chance to stop Riley. But Chase must decide if stopping him is worth risking the lives of everyone he cares about, or if protecting the ring will be enough to save his world.

Review: Fantastic sequel to Exiled!!! This book was filled with action (definitely my type of book)! I'm just going to jump right into this! Rayna. She was struggling with the beast inside her. She tried so desperately to control it but it wasn't enough. I was very glad that Chief offered to help her with that. HE really helped Rayna with her struggles of becoming a Werecat and the transformation into it. I was also happy that not only was he helping Rayna with her inner Werecat, but also helping Chase keep people out of his dreams. Chief definitely became a big help to everyone! I was very happy though that Rayna got her inner Werecat under control though. Now that she learned how to control it, and has other people like her she definitely has come to terms much more easily with what she is! 

Chase. Man. This guy like never gets a break. He was already having a hard time keeping control of his two elements, now we're adding two more into the mix along with the art of blocking people from getting into his dreams. Man. He seriously got so much more put on his plate in this book. Though I definitely liked seeing him gain the Air and Earth powers. Despite the fact he probably got those certain powers because of his mark, I was really happy to see those incorporated more into the story. I liked learning what each element could do! I also really felt bad for him because of the huge fights he got in with Marcus in this book. He found out Marcus kept a huge amount of things from him. One of those things concerning his mom. It was like he found out those people he was trusting had been hiding things from him right when he was having trouble with his powers and really needed those people the most. I really felt for Chase in this book! 

I also really felt bad that Chase had to give up the ring and the dagger he found. He is trying so freaking hard to stop his father from raising the demon god but its like he just keeps encountering tons of setbacks. I was however semi pleased with the ending... I was unhappy that Chase's dad attacked the Shadowpack and killed a ton of them. But out of it came a good thing. The Shadowpack got a new, better leader. And the Shadowpack (werewolves) and the Hollowlights (Werecats) both decided to get over their past problems with old leaders and form an alliance for the greater good of defeating Riley (Chase's dad). 

5 Stars!