Mercy Burns by Keri Arthur

Title: Mercy Burns(A Myth & Magic Novel, #2)
Author: Keri Arthur
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Piatkus (5th May 2011)
Blurb:

HALF DRAGON, HALF WOMAN, CAN SHE SAVE HER FRIEND’S SOUL – WITHOUT LOSING HER HEART?

Mercy Wilson is a reporter in the San Francisco Bay Area, but she’s also more – and less – than human. Half woman, half dragon, she’s a draman – unable to shape shift but still able to unleash fiery energy. Soon her powers will be put 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 her 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?

Rating: *** (3 stars)
Review:

MERCY BURNS is the second book in Keri Arthur’s  MYTH & MAGIC series. It tells the story of Mercy Wilson, the sister of Trae Wilson from DESTINY KILLS, a reporter who is trying to track down the people who are destroying draman towns with her friend Rainey whose sister was killed in one. Unfortunately, Mercy and Rainey get too close and the people involved create an accident which leaves Rainey dead and Mercy injured with just five days to find Rainey’s killer so that Rainey can rest in peace.

MERCY BURNS is a story in much the same vein as the previous book in the series DESTINY KILLS, so if you enjoyed that book then you are pretty much guarenteed to enjoy this one too. However, MERCY BURNS has a more complicated plot and we get to learn a bit more about the dragon cliques that are mentioned in DESTINY KILLS. I really enjoyed learning more about the cliques, they sound like very unique but potential dangerous groups.

This book follows the story of Mercy Wilson, a draman who can wield fire like a dragon but who lacks the ability to fly although she doesn’t let that stop her. After her friend Rainey’s death Mercy is determined to track down her killer so that her friend’s spirit can go on, it is not however an easy task and having just five days in which to achieve it really racks up the tension. Mercy is a very strong-willed character, she is determined to do everything she can to get justice for her friend even when it puts her own life at risk. She is also a very resourceful character, and she isn’t afraid of asking for a little bit of help when she needs it. During her quest to track down Rainey’s killer, Mercy comes across Death who she convinces to help her in her quest. Death is a very mysterious character, he is also a very disciplined one. Arthur does a brilliant job at writing the tension and the chemistry between the two characters.

Like DESTINY KILLS, MERCY BURNS is pretty much porn with plot – although plot plays a larger role in this book than it does in the first book in the series, and I really enjoyed that. Although the plot plays a larger role, there are just two main plot threads to the book; the first being the potential romance between Mercy and Death which takes the whole book to be resolved, the second is the mystery aspect of the novel – who is behind the death of Rainey’s sister, and of the draman towns and why. Arthur does a brilliant job weaving these two strands together. If you are a paranormal romance fan then you should definitely considering giving this book and series a go.