Prey by Andrea SpeedMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
A friend pointed me to this book, and I need to send that friend a large hug and a box of good chocolates. I think I've fallen in love with these characters, with this series, and with Andrea Speed.
Let's start with the kitty virus. These aren't pretty shifters, and the transformation is brutal. The large cats that the infected become aren't even remotely human. There's nothing warm and fuzzy about this virus, and some strains of cat are more lethal than others. It's gritty, and real in a way that far too many shifter novels never achieve.
Roan McKichan was born with the virus, unlike most people who are infected by transmission of body fluids. He's also gay, largely antisocial, and brutally blunt. His partner, Paris Lehane, is bisexual and infected, and a master manipulator. Together, they are a formidable team.
The story is well crafted, and the twists and turns kept me guessing despite a lifelong addiction to mysteries. The characters are completely engaging and likable even at their darkest. There is such a strong core of decency in Roan and Paris both, and although they both are marked by the virus, they retain a humanity that singles them out in a world that hates them for all the wrong reasons.
The relationship between Roan and Paris is also extraordinarily well written. They are strong men, and Roan in particular is not given to romantic gestures or flowery declarations. It doesn't make the love between them any less powerful, and the careful journey they make through the pitfalls of love are beautifully written.
I'm going to be reading more of this series, and I recommend this book to anyone who likes a good mystery and an even better romance.
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