http://rivkat.livejournal.com/222411.... ( )

http://totally2aymless.blogspot.com/2... ( )

Really, really, really loved this book - full review at http://starfirenz.livejournal.com/468... ( )

In order to have revenge on two families that offered her daughter as a sacrifice to call upon demonic forces, an aunt enforces her will on her niece and takes over her body. She uses this to murder the people who called the demon. This abuse is so offensive, the niece psychically cuts out her own memories. She spends the rest of the book trying not to kill people and trying to find out why she is compelled to do so.
This is a good book if you aren't squeamish. ( )

Lannes is a gargoyle still dealing with trauma left over from long captivity by a witch. Claustrophobia, reluctance to be out among people, trust-issues.... But when he meets the woman with no name and no past, he feels honor-bound to help her.

Waking up bloody in a smoky hotel room with a gun and three dead men at her feet and no memory didn't leave the woman with much room for trust. But when the big man named Lannes catches her about to steal his car, she reluctantly agrees to be helped.

Now, the pair is on the run. With the help of Dirk & Steele operatives Koni & Rictor, they just might be able to elude the police - but the presence hiding in the woman's mind is bent on murder, and there doesn't seem to be any way to stop her.

Lannes is softer than Liu's usual heroes - more like a normal person, which is ironic, considering he's a gargoyle. The book's opening is intriguing, and there's certainly plenty going on, but ultimately, although more revelations are made regarding Dirk & Steele the agency, the story itself is somewhat disappointing. Well-written with good potential, the plot struggles a bit too much between suspense and romance, with too many details dependent upon other stories already told and yet to be told. I wouldn't have missed reading it, and I'll keep it, but it isn't Liu's strongest book. ( )

If you like paranormal romance and you haven't been reading Marjorie M. Liu's 'Dirk & Steele' series, you don't know what you're missing. She's created an urban fantasy/paranormal/romance series that allows her to write about everything from shapeshifters to psi-talents to gargoyles. Her latest is "The Wild Road" and once I picked it up, I just couldn't put it down...even to start "Acheron"! Now THAT'S saying something.

She wakes up with no memories, in a strange room, in a burning hotel, surrounded by three dead men and a note on her jacket reading, "RUN".

He's a gargoyle who learned to lock away his need to protect after he almost got his entire family killed by trying to help the wrong person. But something about this woman just won't let him turn away. And when his powers reveal the massive hole in her mind surrounded by a deep well of terror...he's hooked.

The action starts on page one and doesn't quit. These two are on the run and so was my heart-rate. Sexy gargoyles, nasty witches, demons, shapeshifters...what else could you possibly need? ( )