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Average Customer Rating:

Rich characters and paranormal suspense

Customer Rating:

I haven't read all of the previous Dirk & Steele books so I knew I was taking a chance in reading a book out of order but this was a very pleasant surprise. Lannes was very easy to admire and Lethe and he seem to be a perfect fit for each other. It was one of those books that you want to finish to discover the ending but don't want to end. I know I'll be playing catch-up now as I read Liu's earlier books, but I'm looking forward to it if they're as original as this one.

Exciting and well-written

Customer Rating:

Marjorie Liu's books seem to be a bit hit or miss. I loved 'A Taste of Crimson' by her, couldn't get on with 'The Red Heart Of Jade' at all, and found some of her other books in the Dirk & Steele series rather forgettable. However 'The Wild Road' is a real return to form, a fast-paced and gripping story with some of her familiar themes (romance between humans and otherworldly creatures, the Dirk & Steele agency) but feeling very fresh. Lannes Hannelore is a gargoyle, a winged creature who has lived for seventy years but tends to keep to himself because of a troubled past. Lannes' closest friend, Frederick, is getting very old now and Lannes can see a time in the future where he has no-one for him apart from his brothers. Lannes knows that he needs to get out more so he is able to magic a certain amount of glamour which hides his wings and makes his appearance that of a normal human, albeit a very tall one. The glamour doesn't work against touch though so Lannes has to ensure that no-one touches his back or they will feel his wings. When Lannes' claustrophobia causes him to leave a bar in a hurry he's surprised to discover a woman trying to steal his car - a woman who is covered in blood and has lost her memory. He feels it's important to help her and tries to gain her trust. But the woman is afraid, she knows she must run but doesn't know what from or where to. As Lannes tries to help her they begin to discover that the fact that she's lost her memory isn't her main problem, and as people start dying they begin to uncover a long-ago secret which is having significant repercussions today. Can the woman and Lannes make something of their differences and can they keep each other safe? Once again Liu has written an unusual lead character in Lannes. He comes across as rather a gentle giant whose emotions are very close to the surface and whose loneliness has influenced much of his behaviour. The woman lead is also interesting in that she knows nothing about herself and has to learn about who she is, knowing that her and others' lives may depend on what she can uncover. The book was exciting, the characters were believable and engaging and the smallish list of side-characters, some of whom have appeared in previous Dirk & Steele books, were also well-drawn. This is a really enjoyable read and an excellent return to form for Marjorie Liu. Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book © Helen Hancox 2008

Fantastic book a real keeper

Customer Rating:

Just imagine you awake with no memory in a room full of blood and dead bodies and you just find a note with the word "Run". That is exactly what happened to the heroine of this book. When she runs into Lannes Hannelore, a gargoyle who hides his secrets well, he is her savior. She awakens something that he never thought possible and he would give his life for her. Together they try to find her past and the truth of what happened to her. This was my first book by Ms. Liu and I was absolutely fascinated by the whole idea of this series. THE WILD ROAD can be read as a stand-alone, although it is already the seventh story of the Dirk and Steele Series. I am definitely going to pick up the other books of this series. I just love stories about two broken souls that find solace in each other. Lannes is a tortured hero par excellence, who is haunted by the memories of imprisonment by a witch. He uses isolation and loneliness to keep himself safe, now that he is free again. Altogether, a very special and intriguing hero. Lethe, the heroine, undergoes quite a development in the story from the broken women at the beginning to a strong character. It's wonderful to see not only her development but also that of their relationship as the story progresses. I can highly recommend this book to all fans of paranormal stories who look for a special story that sets itself apart from the mainstream stories. Courtesy of Loveromances and more

The Wild Road

Customer Rating:

Lannes Hannelore is used to living a life of secrecy, hiding in plain sight. As a gargoyle, he can only go into the company of humans if he cloaks himself in a glamour. After a horrific experience, he's even more reluctant to trust than ever before. Despite his reluctance to trust, however, when he finds a woman covered in blood, terrified, with no memory, he feels the need to help her. He dubs the nameless woman Lethe. Because he won't let her go off on her own, he ends up drawn into the strange and terrifying mysteries surrounding her memory loss. The woman called Lethe knows nothing of her past. All she knows is she must run. As she slowly begins to unlock the mysteries of her life, the only person she trusts is Lannes. Can Lethe discover the secrets of her past before they destroy her, and the man she's beginning to love? When I pick up one of Marjorie Liu's Dirk & Steele books, I expect it to be action-packed, exciting, and emotional. The Wild Road more than met my expectations. Lannes is a great character. He's strong physically, but emotionally he's more vulnerable. Even after all the things he's endured, he's still willing to help a woman he doesn't know. Lethe is more of a puzzle. Since she's lost her memory, I had to learn about her character as she did, which was a neat experience. Her toughness, determination, and loyalty were admirable. As always in the Dirk & Steele books, the villains are terrible and powerful. A couple of other members of the Dirk & Steele team make appearances here as well. Unraveling the mystery of Lethe's past sends Lannes, Lethe, and others on a road trip to find answers. While they find answers, they also find a great deal of conflict. As always with the D & S stories, there's quite a bit of violence in The Wild Road, as well as allusions to past torture. Ms. Liu never goes overboard with gore or gratuitous violence, though. What is here feels necessary, if disturbing at times. If you like dark paranormal romance or the Dirk & Steele series, The Wild Road is a must read! If you haven't read any of Ms. Liu's books, what are you waiting for? Cassie reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

ummm....ok	Customer Rating:
i liked this book i bought it b/c i have read some of her books before and this was a slight disappointment but it was ok