Mark E. Cooper

Inconsistent, repetitive words/phrases, shallow characters, a bit boring. What appears to be an effort to keep the reader guessing actually feels like a disjointed, under developed mess with a distinct lack of endearing characters. I have no idea (1/4 through the book) which character is even the main character. Still & all, truthfully I don't even care.

As of page 132 we have:

1) An uber wealthy Vamp kidnapping and/or coercing/bribing various top scientists to work on some unspecified genetics project regard immortality and Fae.

2) A doctor who refuses to discriminate against "non-humans" regarding treatment winds up getting bitten by a wolf and infected. He refuses to cooperate with the Anti Monster League (yeah, I know...lamest name EVER) and the powers that be making himself a target and has to go on the lamb, giving up his medical career and looking for revenge.

3) Is he a good guy or a bad guy super hot Vamp is trying to build an army to protect his ass-ets from the AML. He reaches out to the completely superficial and insecure daughter of the money behind the AML. She of course helps right away without question all trusting and needy.

4) Two thugs go to rip off an old lady and find a were instead. Their decapitated bodies in an alley introduce detective hard ass & her crew on the hunt for a serial killer targeting blonde hookers.

Yes, that covers the first 12 (and a bit) chapters. There is no transition between the above stories, it just abruptly shifts to a new POV. Maybe the author is a George RR Martin fan? That is the ONLY comparison to Martin's writing that can be made...

I've been reading this book for two days and only left off the cop bit a few minutes ago when I decided I simply cannot carry on any longer. And, I honestly can't remember any of the characters names apart from David; the doctor gone werewolf. Not one. They're that utterly forgettable.

In addition, this is one of those books/authors where it's all stuff you already know given stupid names and shoved off as "world building":

Stunners - tasers
Boomers - guns

I can't remember anymore, but they were there. It's like this book has a spell of forgetting on it, I swear! It might be eating my brain as I write.

Lastly, he kept talking about people's "short hairs lifting" over and over and over again. (In and of itself, that would have been repetitive phrasing which is a pet peeve.) Now, I know from context he meant the hair on the back of your neck. But, alas, I think he heard the term "short hairs" and WILDLY mistook what it meant. Short Hairs, folks, are NOT on your neck...at least I hope not. *cringes*

Unfortunately I can't think of anyone I would recommend this book to. Now that I think of it, maybe that is fortunate...for me.… (mer)

Wow! It is not often that I forego sleep because I have become so enthralled by a story but that is what happened to me while listening to Rune Gate. The beginning dragged a bit and I found myself losing interest but then the story line took a turn and recaptured my full attention. The story line seems a bit predictable until it begins to take some unique twists that keep the reader engaged.
Alex Yorke has returned home to her grandparent’s farm to heal her battered soul. Her work with the Los Angeles police department has left her feeling wounded and vulnerable. Pretending to be a clairvoyant has been quite taxing on Alex because she is not one at all but rather a witch. A witch who has never really been able to rein in her powers and make the most of them. She reluctantly agrees to consult on a ritualistic murder even though it means working with her ex-lover. In the midst of investigating the murder a time portal opens and Douglas is thrust into Alex’s world. He holds the key to not only the identity of the murderer but also on helping Alex learn how to use her powers.
I loved the numerous elements this story threw at the reader. Time travel, witch craft and romance to name a few. Most of the main characters were quite likeable and I found myself wondering if Alex and Thomas would reignite the old sparks or would her attentions gravitate to Douglas. I have read a few reviews that believed the ending was abrupt and designed to push the reader into pursuing the next book in the series. I have to disagree somewhat. I thought the ending was spectacular and unexpected. Yes it made me want to listen to the next book in the series but series are supposed to keep the reader on edge and eager to see what happens next.
Mikael Naramore did an excellent job narrating this story. It was my first time listening to him and he made the listening experience quite pleasurable. Each character was given their own distinct voice allowing the listener to forget that the voices all belong to one man. I will absolutely be adding both the author Mark E. Cooper and the narrator to my list of favorites.

*** I received a complimentary copy of this audio recording in exchange for a fair and honest review.
… (mer)