Book Review: Mercy Burns by Keri Arthur

Mercy Burns
Author: Keri Arthur
Series: Myth and Magic (Book 2)
Publication: Dell; 1st edition (April 19, 2011)

Description: For readers of Keri Arthur’s bestselling Riley Jenson Guardian series comes a new sexy and exciting paranormal romance—the second novel in her acclaimed Myth and Magic series.

Mercy Reynolds is a reporter in the San Francisco Bay area, but she’s also more—and less—than human. Half woman, half air dragon, she’s a “draman”—unable to shift shape but still able to unleash fiery energy. Now something will put her powers to the test.

Mercy’s friend Rainey has enlisted her help to solve her sister’s murder. Then a horrible accident claims Rainey’s life, leaving Mercy only five days to find the killer: If Mercy fails, according to dragon law, Rainey’s soul will be doomed to roam the earth for eternity. But how can Mercy help when she herself is a target? With nowhere else to turn, she must join forces with a sexy stranger—the mysterious man they call “Muerte,” or death itself, who’s as irresistible as he is treacherous. But can even Death keep Mercy alive for long enough to find her answers?

My Thoughts: MERCY BURNS was an interesting paranormal romance. Mercy is a draman - half-human, half-dragon - who has been raised a second class citizen and been abused by the full dragons in her area. She is a journalist who is investigating the extermination of some draman towns with her best friend Rainey when they are run off the road. Rainey is killed and Mercy has 5 days to find her killers in order to save her soul.

While investigating, she is taken captive and thrown into a cell with a muerte named Damon Rey - a full dragon who has special tasks and acts as an executioner for his kingdom. Mercy's dragon powers manage to get them free and, since they both want to know who and why the draman towns were destroyed, they team up. Mercy is rather impulsive and doesn't have much of a sense of self-preservation. If she had more sense, she would run from the muerte since everyone is afraid of them.

Mercy very hesitantly falls in love with him. Her main hesitation has to do with her previous experiences with full dragons. It doesn't help that he has certain mistaken prejudices about draman too. However, their love grows as they have to depend on each other to solve the mystery. The romance doesn't go smoothly since Damon doesn't believe that he can emotionally commit to anyone.

Fans of paranormal romance and especially dragon fans will enjoy this story.

Favorite Quote:

"Where the hell are we going?"

"Back to your brother's place. You need to get some things together, then get the hell away from there."

"I don't really think—"

"Yeah, we discovered that."

I bought this one on April 21, 2011. You can buy your copy here.