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cexleybooks's review
5.0
This was my first book by this author and won't be my last. Once I picked up this book I found it incredibly hard to put down, I just wanted to continue reading until I was finished. Jodie gets home from work to find her brother Luke drunk again and his best friend Zach watching over him. The housework is not done, dishes are everywhere and washing is still on the line. When Luke passes out Zach and Jodie decide to get the housework done. Jodie heads out side to the clothes line and finds her washing is scattered everywhere, when moments before, it was all on the line. She hears a grunt behind her and a growl from over the fence and a pale grey leopard jumps over to scare away the boar, which is in-between herself and the safety of her house. The friendship the guys all have with each other and Jodie was a just a breath of fresh air, she has truly upped my expectations for other shape shifter authors. This book is a MUST read. Can't wait to read the next installment.
pipi2525's review against another edition
4.0
Read it in less than twenty-four hours! Did not want to put it down!
I picked up this book and didn't want to put it down. Seriously. Even when I finally had to go to sleep I woke up three hours later and with still a little over half the book left, immediately jumped back into it and didn't stop until it was finished. I'll start with the cons, because there really aren't that many. Editing-wise there are several places that if you're an OCD editor will make your eye twitch. However after the first few chapters I hardly noticed them and when I did I was too engrossed in the story to pay them much mind. I could also excuse any overlooked edits seeing as how this is the author's debut novel and she self-published it. There were also a few times where certain things were alluded to as if it had already been explained, yet hadn't. Again, the author was very forthcoming in admitting that the passages where such things had been referenced had been cut in the editing process. But the evidences of this happening were very few and did not hamper the reading the experience at all. The only other very small thing I noticed was the terminology the author, who is a native New Zealander, used for various places or objects. ie. car park is a parking lot. Again, while it caught my eye it did not hamper the story at all.
The pros:
This book was a breath of fresh air in the seemingly overwhelming mountain of were/shifter stories being pumped out. The characters sprang to life, jumping off the page and pulling me into their world with such ease that I was soon smiling, laughing, gasping, and even crying as they whisked me through their story in a way that only a handful of books has ever done before. It truly made me enjoy having picked up a book again after way too long. Even the `secondary' characters managed to wrap me around their fingers, some from their very first introduction (i.e. Rufus *Grins and nods like a dork*). At first I did feel like the female lead (Jodie) took to finding out about were's/shifters way to easily and calmly (especially given the circumstances of how she finds out). However once I stopped and thought about it, in this day and age with so many books on such creatures, along with vampires, zombies, etc. I had to reassess my initial thought, realizing that if I found out someone close to me whom I had known for a long time was really a were-, would I really freak out and go crazy? Or would I accept it. Obviously since this is in the `pro' section, it would be the latter.
The history of the `Therian's' was very plausible and very easy to understand. It was so believable and well explained that I had to go look up `Therian' online to see how much of it the author came up with herself. Imagine how pleasantly surprised I was to find out that she had woven together such an amazing world based on the definition of Therianthropy (an actual clinical term) and a basic knowledge of lycanthropy. Yet she didn't just stop at lycanthropy. One of the refreshing aspects of The Mercenary was that it's not just your typical were's, i.e. wolves, leopards, brown bears (although each are represented). The author has expanded the were- genre to include boars, lizards, polar bears, falcons, Tasmanian devils and even house cats. (Yes it even made me stop and look at my own house cats with an arched brow for a moment.) One can only imagine how many more were-species this amazingly talented author will include in future installments of this series. I for one will be waiting (rather impatiently) to find out.
In conclusion The Mercenary is, in my very humble opinion, a must read and a must buy. And Johanna Rae is definitely an author to keep your eye on.
I picked up this book and didn't want to put it down. Seriously. Even when I finally had to go to sleep I woke up three hours later and with still a little over half the book left, immediately jumped back into it and didn't stop until it was finished. I'll start with the cons, because there really aren't that many. Editing-wise there are several places that if you're an OCD editor will make your eye twitch. However after the first few chapters I hardly noticed them and when I did I was too engrossed in the story to pay them much mind. I could also excuse any overlooked edits seeing as how this is the author's debut novel and she self-published it. There were also a few times where certain things were alluded to as if it had already been explained, yet hadn't. Again, the author was very forthcoming in admitting that the passages where such things had been referenced had been cut in the editing process. But the evidences of this happening were very few and did not hamper the reading the experience at all. The only other very small thing I noticed was the terminology the author, who is a native New Zealander, used for various places or objects. ie. car park is a parking lot. Again, while it caught my eye it did not hamper the story at all.
The pros:
This book was a breath of fresh air in the seemingly overwhelming mountain of were/shifter stories being pumped out. The characters sprang to life, jumping off the page and pulling me into their world with such ease that I was soon smiling, laughing, gasping, and even crying as they whisked me through their story in a way that only a handful of books has ever done before. It truly made me enjoy having picked up a book again after way too long. Even the `secondary' characters managed to wrap me around their fingers, some from their very first introduction (i.e. Rufus *Grins and nods like a dork*). At first I did feel like the female lead (Jodie) took to finding out about were's/shifters way to easily and calmly (especially given the circumstances of how she finds out). However once I stopped and thought about it, in this day and age with so many books on such creatures, along with vampires, zombies, etc. I had to reassess my initial thought, realizing that if I found out someone close to me whom I had known for a long time was really a were-, would I really freak out and go crazy? Or would I accept it. Obviously since this is in the `pro' section, it would be the latter.
The history of the `Therian's' was very plausible and very easy to understand. It was so believable and well explained that I had to go look up `Therian' online to see how much of it the author came up with herself. Imagine how pleasantly surprised I was to find out that she had woven together such an amazing world based on the definition of Therianthropy (an actual clinical term) and a basic knowledge of lycanthropy. Yet she didn't just stop at lycanthropy. One of the refreshing aspects of The Mercenary was that it's not just your typical were's, i.e. wolves, leopards, brown bears (although each are represented). The author has expanded the were- genre to include boars, lizards, polar bears, falcons, Tasmanian devils and even house cats. (Yes it even made me stop and look at my own house cats with an arched brow for a moment.) One can only imagine how many more were-species this amazingly talented author will include in future installments of this series. I for one will be waiting (rather impatiently) to find out.
In conclusion The Mercenary is, in my very humble opinion, a must read and a must buy. And Johanna Rae is definitely an author to keep your eye on.
yvette863's review against another edition
5.0
I seriously could not put this book down. I loved every part of it. I'm not really one for books about shifters but as soon as I started this book, I knew it was going to be different. The struggles between Danny and Jodie were proof that even non humans have to fight to keep a relationship going. The interaction with all the characters was great too. And in places I actually laughed and I also cried a little. If a book can make you laugh, cry and have a fantastic storyline then you know it's a winner. Some authors can't achieve that but the author of this book certainly does. The ending was a real cliffhanger and I am certainly looking forward to the next book!!
This book is a defo must read.
natalier3's review against another edition
5.0
Thanks to Zooloos Book Tours for my gorgeous paperback and spot on the blog tour.
This was my first shifter novel, and as I am fairly new to the fantasy genre, I wasn't sure what to expect or whether it was my 'thing'. However, I needn't have worried! What a read. The start is straight in to the story, but completely accessible, as we meet Jodie who finds out her alcoholic brother isn't what he seems.
From there on, I couldn't get enough. It remained a book that stayed easy to follow but will keep even the hard-core fantasy fans blissfully happy. The characters were fantastic and I cheered them on through each scene.
This was a stellar read and I am seriously impressed! A great book for fans new to the genre or for fans looking for a gripping start to a shifter series that I can't wait to see what happens next.
This was my first shifter novel, and as I am fairly new to the fantasy genre, I wasn't sure what to expect or whether it was my 'thing'. However, I needn't have worried! What a read. The start is straight in to the story, but completely accessible, as we meet Jodie who finds out her alcoholic brother isn't what he seems.
From there on, I couldn't get enough. It remained a book that stayed easy to follow but will keep even the hard-core fantasy fans blissfully happy. The characters were fantastic and I cheered them on through each scene.
This was a stellar read and I am seriously impressed! A great book for fans new to the genre or for fans looking for a gripping start to a shifter series that I can't wait to see what happens next.
cexleybooks's review against another edition
5.0
This was my first book by this author and won't be my last. Once I picked up this book I found it incredibly hard to put down, I just wanted to continue reading until I was finished. Jodie gets home from work to find her brother Luke drunk again and his best friend Zach watching over him. The housework is not done, dishes are everywhere and washing is still on the line. When Luke passes out Zach and Jodie decide to get the housework done. Jodie heads out side to the clothes line and finds her washing is scattered everywhere, when moments before, it was all on the line. She hears a grunt behind her and a growl from over the fence and a pale grey leopard jumps over to scare away the boar, which is in-between herself and the safety of her house. The friendship the guys all have with each other and Jodie was a just a breath of fresh air, she has truly upped my expectations for other shape shifter authors. This book is a MUST read. Can't wait to read the next installment.
tish9130's review against another edition
5.0
I really really enjoyed this book.
Its been a long while since I read a shifter book and I forgot just how much I enjoyed them.
Off to look at the others in the series to binge on. I need more xx
Its been a long while since I read a shifter book and I forgot just how much I enjoyed them.
Off to look at the others in the series to binge on. I need more xx
staceybroadbent's review against another edition
4.0
I don’t normally read books about shifters, but something about this book called to me, and I can honestly say I wasn’t disappointed.
I didn’t even mind that it was written in third person, which normally distracts me.
The characters are just so damn lovable! I want to be part of their group and hang out with them. I especially love Eddie and Ains, and I really hope I get to see more of them in the next book.
The Mercenary is a story of acceptance and love but also forgiveness and sacrifice. It’s full of twists and turns that will keep you on your toes. And that ending! I’ve already ordered the next book so I can find out what happens next!
I didn’t even mind that it was written in third person, which normally distracts me.
The characters are just so damn lovable! I want to be part of their group and hang out with them. I especially love Eddie and Ains, and I really hope I get to see more of them in the next book.
The Mercenary is a story of acceptance and love but also forgiveness and sacrifice. It’s full of twists and turns that will keep you on your toes. And that ending! I’ve already ordered the next book so I can find out what happens next!
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