Review: Release by M.R. Merrick

Release (The Protector #3) by M.R. Merrick

Release Date: December 8, 2012
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal
Pages: 372
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased on Amazon
Amazon • Goodreads

***Warning: if you haven't read Exiled and Shift, there will be spoilers.***

After uniting the shifters and calling in reinforcements, Chase has to face his toughest challenge yet: learning to control his emotions. But as tensions rise and his powers grow, controlling his emotions becomes the least of his problems. 

Terrorized by a multi-shifter who is hell-bent on turning him, Chase questions just how far he’s willing to go to stop his father. Meanwhile, Tiki’s virtuous nature has placed him in the middle of Vincent’s past, leaving Chase to oppose a senate of vampires and defend a demon he hates. 

Trying to balance his friends, his enemies, and his inner demons, Chase is left searching for answers about the Mark, his destiny, and where he can find the next soul piece. Stopping Riley is his top priority, but as more obstacles arise, he finds himself doubting all the decisions he’s made - especially regarding Rayna. 

One thing is for certain: Chase has finally realized that he doesn’t know anything. The light doesn’t always quell the darkness, the monsters don’t always stay in the shadows, and the past doesn’t always stay in the past - sometimes, the demons inside are the hardest to fight.


Release, for me, felt a bit slower than the previous books. It's getting to the point in the series where shit's gonna get real, but you're not quite there yet and the anticipation is killer. That being said, there's still plenty of drama unfolding. Chase's powers seem to be, quite literally, trying to destroy him from the inside out. His father is still at large and getting closer and closer to what might be too powerful to beat. Not to mention the strain of seeing his friends risk themselves for him and their cause is wearing heavily. At times you want to shake him to snap him out of it, but you'd be wallowing too, if you were him.

That still doesn't mean I'm okay with his decisions regarding Rayna. It takes no time at all for Chase to run scared. And while I can kind of understand it, it's really just frustrating as all get out because they're good for each other and the last thing they both need is another reason to be sad. So I think they're dumb. But I believe it'll all be okay. I have to. 

Pacing and decision-making frustrations aside, when the book picks up, it really picks up. Chock full of more fantastic and action-packed dimension-hopping, the later part of the book doesn't quit and keeps you on the edge of your seat. You'll be confused, anxious, and eventually heartbroken. 

Which brings us to the ending. Guys. Prepare for all the feels. Anything you thought was sad or hard in the series before this, about to be blown to pieces. I cried. Granted, it's not that hard to make me cry in a book, but this was difficult to get through. Heading into Endure is going to be painful.

Probably my favorite part of this series overall is that it defies a lot of the stereotypes of this genre. Sure, there's an all-powerful, Chose One teen, but I'm not sure I've ever seen an author make that very power the Achilles's heel. It leaves the reader wondering if all this power really was meant for Chase and whether he's going to be able to save everyone. I definitely can't wait to find out!

The series remains enthralling and full of adventure, and I can't wait to see how it all ends. If you still haven't checked out this series, you should get on it! Now! It's a fantastic series written by an awesome author (who also follows me on Twitter and it makes me fangirl real hard! :P) and any YA paranormal fan should try it. 

About the Author

M.R. Merrick is a Canadian writer and author of The Protector Series, a Young Adult mash-up between Urban and Epic Fantasy. Having never traveled, he adventures to far off lands through his imagination and in between cups of coffee. As a music lover and proud breakfast enthusiast, he’s usually found at the computer between a pair of headphones and in front of a large bowl of cereal.

Website   •   Facebook   •   Twitter

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Review: Shift by M.R. Merrick

     Shift (The Protector #2) by M.R. Merrick - 5 of 5 stars

Release Date: January 29, 2012
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal
Length: 348 pages
Goodreads
Amazon

***Warning: If you haven't read Exiled, there will be spoilers.***

Devastated by a terrible loss, Chase is trying to balance the life he’s been left with, a family he’s still getting to know, and power he never thought he’d have. He doesn’t understand why the Goddess has named him the Protector and granted him two gifts: the Mark, a tattoo that now covers his back, and the ring. But between getting interrogated by the Circle and psychic attacks from Riley, the Mark is the least of his concern. There’s a demon inside Rayna that’s fighting to be released, and it’s not her inner witch. It’s something else—a monster threatening to tear her apart. 

As Chase struggles to control his magic, his enemies are closing in. Everyone has staked a claim on his ring, and destroying it may be his only chance to stop Riley. But Chase must decide if stopping him is worth risking the lives of everyone he cares about, or if protecting the ring will be enough to save his world.



In a lot of ways, I liked Shift even more than I liked Exiled, the first in this series. The focus on Rayna's mysterious shifter heritage from the beginning served as an immediate hook in what could have been a very stilted transition into this second installment. When Exiled ended, it was on a tragic and unresolved note, with Chase's mother's death at the hands of his father and the question of whether Riley and the Dark Brothers had survived the showdown in Drakar. While Chase has his friends, it's easy to see how much he's reeling, and a lot of those emotions were manifesting in revenge lust, which always means bad things.

The book opens on an abrupt note, as Chase finds Rayna in the midst of what is revealed as a series of recent partial shifts that are creeping closer to completion and the possibility of killing her. I loved the increased focus on Rayna from the start found the shifter politics in general to be a great addition to the story line.

I loved the build in tension between Chase and Rayna. It took her almost dying (multiple times), but this is the book where the chemistry begins to boil over. Because seriously, those two are adorable. And kick-ass. Basically the epitome of a power couple.

There's even more action and dimension-hopping to keep the pace of the story interesting, and I never wanted to put it down. This whole book did an excellent job of developing the characters and showing their growth. From Chase to Willy, every single player is different by the end of Shift.

This book will be a winner for anyone who was a fan of the first in the series. It has the action, emotion, and magic you want from such a series in spades. And it has Chase. Enough said.

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Review: Exiled by M.R. Merrick

     Exiled (The Protector #1) by M.R. Merrick - 5 of 5 stars

Release Date: June 28. 2011
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal
Length: 264 pages
Goodreads
Amazon

Chase Williams is a demon hunter in the Circle, or at least he was supposed to be. On his fifteenth birthday, Chase stepped up to the altar to claim his elemental power, but it never came. Elemental magic is passed down to a hunter through the bloodline, but on Chase's birthday, the bloodline stopped. 

Exiled without the Circle's protection, Chase has spent two years trying to survive a world riddled with half-demons and magic. When he has a run in with a frightened and seemingly innocent demon, he learns the Circle's agenda has changed: the Circle plans to unlock a portal and unleash pure-blood demons into the world. Vowing to stop them, and knowing he can't do it alone, Chase forms a reluctant alliance with Rayna — a sexy witch with an attitude and a secret. 

In their attempt to stop them, Chase and Rayna find themselves in the middle of the Circle's plan, leaving one of them to decide what their friendship is worth, and the other's life depending on it.

One of the most interesting parts of this series for me is the fact that it's so different from the general formula for this genre. There's a very different perspective to a male protagonist who's also written by someone who was actually once a teenage male. I got just as frustrated with Chase (in a completely loving way, of course) as I have with all of my guy friends over the years. Things along the lines of 'god, you just don't get girls' and 'really, can't you see Rayna's awesome? Just kiss her already!', and 'why are you being such a dude' (pretty much exact transcripts right there). While there were a lot of thoughts along these lines, as well as eye rolls, and to some that may make it seem like I wasn't enjoying the book, it goes a long way to showing just how much I love the characters and got into the story. My annoyance is the truest expression of affection. Fact.

And I really did get into this story. Merrick creates a world that starts off close enough to the one we know that it's exceptionally easy to fall into. Then, by the end of the book, he's seamlessly woven in an addition in the different dimensions that is so interesting and fanciful, it's incredible. The descriptions of the landscape and residents of Drakar are amazing and so different from Earth, while still allowing the reader to create a vivid mental picture. You just can't help but be swept in as the images play along like a movie.

The descriptions throughout the book are like that: painting a vivid picture of every scene as it unfolds. Whether it's a fight scene or a highly emotional conversation, you're thrown into the thick of it and feel like an invested player. You can't help but feel everything that's happening to the characters and (if you're like me) may even start talking at your book. Maybe even aloud. I'm an enthusiastic individual.

Which might have something to do with why I enjoyed the characters so much. They're all deep and passionate, and easy to relate to in the ways that matter. Despite the fact that basically every character in the book could kill you pretty easily (except Willy, but we love him anyway), Merrick manages to seamlessly transition them into vulnerability when the time is right. There were moments I smiled stupidly, squealed, and cried, and it felt like it was right along with these characters. I certainly won't be forgetting them anytime soon.

I would basically recommend this to anyone. It's especially great, because I can even guilt my friends who make fun of my taste in "girly books" into trying it. I already bugged Caroline about picking it up. While I was still reading it. I was that into it. Anyone who YA paranormal will think this is a winner, if I do say so myself. And now that the last book is out, cliffhangers are a non-issue!

My only regret concerning this book is that I bought the Kindle version, thinking it wasn't available in hard copy. I much prefer hard copies, especially if I love the book. So now I want the paperback. Sigh.

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