Angel Stakes: An Amber Farrell Novel - M...

Okay, I have to say that Angel Stakes is the best installment of Bite Back series yet. Like all of previews books, Angel Stakes is full of action but this time I felt it was more spaced and I didn't feel like I had to play catch up with the plot. There were times for action and times for a brief break for laughs.
The problem with human trafficking in Angel Stakes is a real thing and unfortunately it can happen to anyone and anywhere. Doesn't matter what country you are from there will always be predators waiting in a dark. This book shines a light on that problem and despite being urban fantasy it shouldn't be treated lightly.
In regards of Amber and her trauma hidden in a strongbox I kind of figured it out in book one when Amber was talking to Top but still knowing it and reading the full scope what happened is totally a different thing. What has been done to her is simply horrible and unfortunately it happens more often then we know. I don't know what is happening with our society nowadays but more and more people turn to violence and think it is okay to hurt another person for fun but I'm coming off topic here.
I also figured out who was on another tape that Amber got a long time ago but still figuring out and having it confirmed was still a shock.
Angels Stakes is a really good book and I can't wait for another installment in this series.

Okay so to be fair I would give this book 3,5 star simply because I knew from the start who the killer was but other the that everything was good. The plot was full of action and I really liked it but sometimes I just couldn't keep up with the changes, I mean fro one crises to another but I think that is how it was supposed to be, Amber didn't have a time to take a breath why should we :)

It's particularly hard to take being stabbed in the back close to home. There's always a feeling of betrayal when people of your own group oppose you. - Catharine MacKinnon

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power. - Abraham Lincoln

The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire. - Ferdinand Foch

Amber Farrell knows everything about betrayal. Betrayal by the US Government, friends, coworkers. Betrayed in every way she ever thought possible – and some ways no one could have ever imagined. As a hybrid of Athanate, Werewolf and Adept, life is a complete misery. Athanates don’t trust her wolf side, wolves don’t trust her Athanate. And the Adept – well, they just want her dead.

War is coming, the first shots have been fired, and without her mentor, Diana, Amber may be going rogue. So, in a desperate bid to salvage her sanity Amber and Tullah make a desperate bid to find Diana by entering the forbidden territory of New Mexico. Now, they are trapped in plots within plots as enemies are revealed as friends, friends as enemies, and death.

"You tread a difficult path, Amber, where every way bears death and sorrow and pain and loss"

As the story continues to wind tighter and tighter, and war becomes inevitable, Amber and her kin, her friends, and even her enemies, walk the razors edge – the edge of death, sorrow, pain and loss – and the brutal fires of a world war between humans, Athenate, were, and adept.
Mark has outdone himself this time. His books have continuously gotten better, but this edition is beyond amazing. If you haven’t read the series, I can’t recommend it highly enough. But this one? This one is the best I have read this year. The hard part? Now I have to wait for the next one!

Sigh. Write faster, Mark!!

Highly, highly recommended!

Opening Sentence:

'It had been a couple of years and i was neither dead, nor undead, which i ranked as an achievement.

What a satisfying ending to a great read.
I am ridiculously glad I got to read this book.
Its a great new edition to the Urban Fantasy genre.

Now we all know i love the UF, but it can suffer from arrogant, prideful characters, I'm speaking/writing about the mains here, who can on occasion talk themselves up about how badass and dangerous they can be... one of the best things about this book is that (for the most part) Amber didn't suffer from the 'I am to Awesome disease'. she was clearly a pro at kicking butt and taking names... but she almost never...over emphasized it. She punched, she kicked and they went down, then she was off to do something else. I truly appreciate this, badass characters are so much more .... when they are not always bragging about it. I know weird thing to appreciate but its something I've noticed quite abit. Amber also happened to have an awesome personality, some of her humor was pretty bad, but it made her quirky and fun, which admittedly hid her serious anger issues quite well. Truthfully I can't wait to learn more about her past, because of her anger, you just know its going to be filled with juicy secrets.
really the only problem i had for Amber is my concern for an upcoming love triangle, i hate love triangles, almost nobody does them well. just give up already.

The other characters for the most part were quite good, though some could of used more fleshing out. The whole Jen thing was well done, the chemistry was great, I could tell from early on that there was something between them, at times i even thought my mind was playing tricks on me as Amber clearly see's herself as straight, so the build up for their possible relationship was quite enjoyable to watch.
I must admit I am concerned Amber will turn all slutty-mcgee with her new body change - there have been a few incidents of this nature in other books that i have previously read - and one thing i highly dislike is the excuse 'oh i have this thing now so i can do whatever i want and take zero responsibility because of said thing. NO, if you do something, whether good or bad, you own it, its your shit you fix it or leave it, but its your doing. anyhow ignore my ranting, this series probably wont even go in that direction *fingers crossed* it doesnt.

The world was good, very main stream with secret paranormal's running around and the government attempting to get their greedy mits on them, which im highly looking forward to seeing the outcome of.

hmmm what else... there was a nice touch of shaman/native american lore/magic to mix it up from the usual, which was fun exploring.
for the most part the 'villain' was great, it was pretty much a mystery for a good portion of the book, unfortunately the wrap up was a little anti-climatic for me personally. Good news that was pretty much just a PI case Amber was solving, there's much more going on in the back ground (not enough to get confusing) that i can't wait to get my fingers into.

The editing was rather good, I suck into the story with almost zero issue's which is nice.

So i think that's everything. An easy four star read for me and I'll definitely be keeping my eye out for book two, oh and that prequel that i apparently missed as well - though that didnt have a massive impact on the book as a whole, so nothing to be to concerned about if you havent read it yet either.

all in all Good Stuff. I would highly recommend to Urban Fantasy and paranormal readers.



also i believe i have to do one of these's, will do anyways just in case:
Complimentary Copy generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
like I'm smooth enough with words to lie

Spent quite a few hours yesterday (Valentine's day) reading this book and loving it.
ahhh good times.

side note: Obviously im a bit behind on typing and posting this thought, but i did have it written down were a keep all my book thoughts... im just lazy and therefor didnt post it til now. don't judge i have a busy life, lol.