Reviewed by Nikyta
Title: Cryptshiver
Author: Chacelyn Pierce
Series: Dark Regulators #1
Heroes: Jakob Ender & Avi Grissom
Genre: M/M Paranormal
Length: 106 Pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: June 11, 2014
Available at: Dreamspinner Press, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, All Romance eBooks and Kobo
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads
Blurb: When a skinned corpse found in a cemetery rises from the dead, supernatural agents Avi Grissom and Jakob Ender hunt for the killer. But Grissom is more interested in his partner’s mysterious disappearance two years ago and his recent return. Something isn’t right with Ender, and the werewolf in Grissom desperately needs to sniff out what has Ender so tight-lipped while fighting off the desire for the secretive vampire that has only grown during his absence. His quest to solve the murder unearths personal truths of vengeance and death magic, and reveals one of their most notorious enemies.
Review:
After a two year absence, Jakob Ender is back in town and once again Avi Grissom’s partner. This time around, things are not comfortable between them especially since Grissom is angry Ender disappeared and resentful that he’s back again with no explanation for leaving. But they have to put their issues behind when they’re called in to solve the case of a skinned corpse. As the case gets more intense and new facts come to light, things get more and more complicated. What are these two supposed to do when they realize the case gets too close for comfort?
I must say, this was a very interesting story. As a guilty pleasure, I love it when there are paranormal agencies that merge different species together. I always find those stories tons of fun because there’s usually some interspecies issues going on. With this one, while Ender is a vampire and Grissom is the big alpha wolf, there’s more sexual tension than anything else. The two can’t deny their attraction and I liked that years of lust had bottled up between them.
You don’t really know much about them as characters besides the fact that Ender is struggling to contain his hunger and Grissom can’t forgive Ender for leaving but what there is gives you enough to understand the story. However, because of that, I felt like it was weak on both the mystery and character development. We get a little snapshot into who Ender and Grissom are but I didn’t really feel like I knew them, especially since they had such a big past together. I would have also liked to experience more of Grissom and his shifter side.
In the end, this was still a good start to a new series. While the mystery didn’t have as much time to mature as I would have liked, I still liked the concept behind it and I’m looking forward to seeing where things go from here. Will the next book be about Ender and Grissom, as well, or will there be new players that get their story? I’m eager to find out!
Overall Impression: I really liked it
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in return for a fair and honest review.*
