Morgan Ferdinand

The Pardoner's Tale is an unusual and very funny story about a werewolf PI and his vampire sidekick. I read this book for the first time several years ago (in July 2008) and didn't like it then. I have no idea how I could have missed the tongue-in-cheek humor and the quirky characters. While this isn't a romance, it's a pretty good mystery and a fun character study. Bubbles (Dane) recently asked why I gave the book 1 star - and since I couldn't remember, I read it again and adjusted the rating.

Nick is, in many ways, a stereotypical PI. Except that he is a werewolf and has a very interesting side business on top of the 'visible' office. Alex is an entirely unexpected, and largely unwanted, additon to Nick's life. Interestingly, Nick sees something in the other man that stops him from killing the guy and the two end up being friends. Not that either of them would ever admit that - and this is half the fun of the book.

If you're looking for an unusual story, a mystery with lots of humor mixed in and some very stubborn men, you might like this book.

… (altro)

I remember the previous book in this short series as original and almost funny. The author decided to take two 'classical' paranormal heroes, like a Werewolf and a Vampire, and pair them together; it's not here the originality, but in what she made of them. Forget the classical paranormal description, the Vampire dark and brooding, the Werewolf strong and dominant... here we have a Werewolf who by day is an antique dealer and by night a private investigator; but more than his job, it's his behavior that it's not usual: Nicholas is an annoying man, who likes is life simple and a bit detached; he had not a simple childhood, and he is pretty cautious to let other people near him. When he meets Alex, he can't prevent the young vampire to overrun his life, but he does everything in his skill to take him on the other part of the invisible line he has drawn between them.

Alex is the exact opposite of Nicholas. He is pretty touchy feeling, he likes to have a human contact with people around him... he is not the classical lonely vampire who avoids love as much as the sunlight. And in fact Alex has no problem with the day light and this allows him to be the perfect partner for Nicholas. But Alex would like to be more than a business partner for the Werewolf. And till when the werewolf doesn't decide that he is ready for commitment, Alex will amuse himself with the nice cop Doderberg, who unlike Nicholas, is more than willing to be a donor for Alex.

Again the story is not very long, this time only 30 pages, but it allows you to know a bit more on Nicholas and Alex and to have some nice insight on their life together. At the end of the previous book I had some doubt on them as a couple, since it was not clear what Nicholas wanted and if Alex was too distracted by Doderberg. This novella clears a bit the scene, and since I'm cheering for Nicholas and Alex, I'm happy to see that they have good chance to be together.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002HPRBRG/?tag=elimyrevandra-20… (altro)

This is a little strange but funny creepy tale. The Everyday Spectres are always very interesting stories, usually paranormal with a twist, for how much a twist can be in paranormal genre.

Nicholas Pardoner is a PI and a werewolf. Actually his werewolf side is not a bonus for his work, giving him a lot of problem with an ultrasensitive smell and a lot of pain when he changes. Plus he has uncontrollable angry attack when he is emotional unstable. One of his task as shifter PI is to kill all the vampires around. There is not a specific in this task, and so when he is off duty and see a new vampire, he plans his attack. But the vampire, Alex, is not our usual vampire. Actually he is a pretty good buddy and an unwilling Nicholas ends up living with him. Why? Even Nicholas doesn't know. Maybe is a pack question: Alex becomes pack for Nicholas.

It's hate and love between Nicholas and Alex. Same age and same interest make them two compatible roommate, but sex seems not to enter in the list of thing they have in common. Plus a demon is hunting Alex, and Nicholas and Alex find themselves running. During the journey they bond tightens, but love still remains outside of the term.

The Pardoner's Tale is not an usual paranormal novel. Alex is not the classical vampire by night type. Actually he has no problem with the sun light and can eat everything he wants. And Nicholas is not the classical werewolf who is more at comfort in wolf form than in human one, au contraire he avoids to shift if he can. And Alex and Nicholas's life is not glamour and easy, they live in shitty apartment, eating in cheap restaurant and dealing with bills and lack of stability.

The story is not very long, less than 85 pages, and I think it doesn't have a real end: I don't know what will happen to Nicholas and Alex, what will be their life, if they will have a life together. Actually I didn't even know if Nicholas and Alex in the end are a couple... or if Nicholas is even gay! But well, more than the end of the story, it's interesting all the setting and the characters and their background... I think they are good materials for something more, maybe a second book?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001CBA9CA/?tag=elimyrevandra-20… (altro)