"Myrmidons were known for their cruelty. They maintained order and enforced Empire law without
question, protest or pity." Mia and her underground renegades are desperately trying to get out from the rule of the Empire. With the help of a drug made of Ku, some people are able to affect physical changes and become more than they are or something else. With the drug in hand Mia and her friends Grere, Kale, and Shari fight to the bitter end and hope that Mia has the strength to do what needs to be done. ( )

Action-packed and quite enjoyable! There were some gory and disturbing parts, but overall I really liked this novel. I especially loved all of the various shifts, but Mia's especially, of course. ( )

I was surprised by this book, It was definately a twist from what the normals come of shape shifters and their lives. It was packed full of suspense from the first page to the last I was eager to keep turning the pages and feeling out how the story would go. The characters were their own individuals without feeling they had blurred the lines and/or got lost in translation while others took a fore front. I am very pleased by how this book went and look forward to more the author has to write. I can't wait to see what might next pop out of their mind. ( )

Red Smoke Rising has everything in a fantasy novel I love...action, lots of fantasy characters, including a minotaur, and a gritty, well thought out storyline that kept me interested from the very beginning. Sure, there are a few tiny story line character issues, things that happen which don't quite jive with the character's traits, but they are so insignificant that I am not even sure they are mistakes and maybe Mr. Anthony meant for them to be there. I can't wait to read another novel by Mr. Anthony as after reading Red Smoke Rising it isn't hard to tell that he is a very talented writer! ( )

I was excited to get this book as a members give away. The beginning of the story is a little confusing, it jumped into action so fast that it did manage to pull me in so that I wanted to know what was going to happen next. But I never fell in love with any of the characters, one of them was down right terrifying. I had a hard time finishing the book, I wanted to give an honest review so I completed it. . Its true I am not a writer or an editor but as a reader I saw in this book a gem that was cut with too many faucets, its too bare bones. It is a great concept that needs more back story and more character development. It may have enough action to fill out two or three books if the characters were fleshed out and the back story of how they became suppressed. I am going to keep my eye out for more books by Rick Anthony, he does have an eye for interesting story lines. I would also like to see this book revised. Thank you for the opportunity. ( )