Wednesday, July 30, 2008

"Rogue" By Rachel Vincent

Author: Rachel Vincent
Title: "Rogue"
Pages: 400
Publisher: Mira Books

Rachel Vincent is one of the more recognized names in the urban fantasy community, although so far she had only one book in print, two right now but that is beside the point. The reason I give for her somewhat immediate plunge to stardom and bestseller lists lie on her idea to use big black cats instead of wolves as shapeshifters in her world. With one of the few strong heroines, who actually have coverage for their badass behavior, it was no wonder that Rachel Vincent has come and plans to stay.

"Rogue" follows the life of Faythe Sanders after she has returned to her Pride in Texas. Her stay is involuntary, being forced by her father to serve her Pride for three years before she could earn her freedom. However she does feel the perks of it working as the only female enforcer ever, monitoring the borders and getting rid off stray cats, who have no business in her Pride's territory. Everything starts off blissfully enough. Faythe is content with her life and relationship with Marc, her long time lover, but when a series of murdered tom cats start appearing out of nowhere every second matters and peace is a very abstract and far away concept. Parallel to this unnerving commotion in the werecat community, humanity takes notice of a strand of missing stripers. The disappearances overlap with the locations the dead toms were found and a frightening pattern is established. There are two criminals on the loose and one is after the other.

[Due to some spoiler alert, I would try to convey as less as possible from the plot, but whatever is revealed I urge for people, who would like to enjoy these discoveries of their own to skip as much as possible.]

Responsible for the death of the werecats appears to be a mysterious tabby, which elevates the situation at hand to a new level of complicated. Tabbies aka female werecats are a rarity among werecats and thus are handled as if made of glass. Having a tabby committing several capital crimes sets a dilemma, which only heightens the excitement of reading the novel. As far as the stripper kidnapper goes there are some unsettling revelations, which date pack to the first novel from the series “Stray”. Old villains resurface with a brand new weapon in the face of Andrew, Faythe’s human boyfriend.

This novel is a success in pretty much every way imaginable. I was curious to know what will Faythe get herself into, because after “Stray” there wasn’t much plot to hold on to. Most paranormal series have characters with a job, which can act as a plot finder. Faythe has still to finish college. Others use an arch villain in a grand good vs. evil battle; “Stray” ended quite definite although that was not entirely the case. In using the thinned tolerance towards about territory, the controversial regarding of female werecats and judicial system of the Pride Council Rachel Vincent draws the plot. Solely using world building as to move characters and tell new stories has yet to occur often.

Small details barely mentioned in “Stray” and “Rogue” sew together both books tightly. Both stories melt together in one rounded experience for Faythe. The wholeness and interconnection of what was and what is happening in both titles contribute to the pleasurable experience of reading Rachel Vincent. The three month silence period from Luiz, villain one from book one, happens to be the period to nurture Andrew through scratch-fever. This same Andrew we left with a cold in the first book. I rediscovered how such buried bits and pieces spring back to life to kick my head. This I call the Why-the-heck-didn’t-I-think-of-that effect, where the answers lay in front of you and yet you stomp through. In this regard Miss Vincent has utilized techniques, which would fit perfectly in a mystery novel ala Agatha Christie.

The prose involved is certainly another aspect I enjoy greatly as Rachel knows how to write a fighting scene and is the mistress to explain how pain can feel, spread and disable the body of its functions. Hand to hand combat hasn’t been depicted as clearly as in the Rachel Vincent novels and it’s diverse and entertaining at the same time. This I think is hard to pull off, since I have had my share of writing some fighting scenes and you have to admire the perfectionism in getting everything right to the very last comma. Plus I think the balance between what goes inside the character’s head and what he is doing or enduring is equally hard to pull, but effortlessly demonstrated.

However I could have been more satisfied, if Faythe hadn’t been a tad too stubborn in her relationship with Marc. I like Faythe’s hard character usually, because it’s totally explained. Living with almost only men, tends to give you a testosterone rush, which explains Faythe being a tomboy. She is rough around the edges and it feels natural, a quality most authors can’t quite deliver to their heroines and urban fantasy can’t suffer more. But, there is that word, when it came to make and making a commitment, her love and feelings would have prompted her to take the risk, which would make her character fuller instead of going in a rut about no strings attached. I perfectly understand that Rachel needs some base for further material on their relationship for the next installments, so the newly created rift is like a gold mine. My opinion on the matter would be to take the step further and see how she deals with the attached strings. Later when disaster strikes and a new rift opens, I would like to see the new problems, which in my opinion would be an even bigger gold mine. Of course this is just a minor glitch, which shouldn’t spoil “Rogue” too much.

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And I want to synchronize this post with the official giveaway of “Rogue” by Rachel Vincent. I know I won this off in a giveaway and it doesn’t seem as the most moral thing ever, but I have almost to none space at home to herd all my books. Besides the copy is almost new, spend in my hands only three days, so I hope you won’t lynch and crucify me. I bet all you have read used books *points at the library*.

So let’s start the party with some party rules and they do not involve not eating snacks on the good couch.

1) You can either comment here on this post or write me a nice e-mail at likenion(at)gmail(dot)com with subject title “Giveaway – Rogue”.

2) You have only one entry per person and people schizophrenia is no excuse to enter more time. My head is crowded too most of the time, but I resist the temptation.

3) This time I am expanding the period for entering till August the 31th. Yes, a whole month to enter. I am doing this mainly because I want to see how many different people will read this and because I love to make numbered lists.

4) Mark the end date on your calendar and then dash to send me your mailing address, if you win, because if you snooze you loose and Faythe will kick ass in somebody else’s hands.

33 comments:

Cathy M said...

I am a huge fan of shapeshifter stories, and have had Rogue on my wish list for awhile now. Would love a chance to read it.

tetewa said...

This would be a new author for me. Sounds like my kind of reads, count me in! tWarner419@aol.com

Melsy626 said...

I would love the chance to read this book, I've heard alot of positive things about it!!! :)

Thanks a bunch for the contest!! :)

Margay Leah Justice said...

I am fairly new to shapeshifter stories, so I am looking for good recommendations. This looks like a good one. I'd love a chance to win it.

Anonymous said...

I have read alot about this book and would love to win it.

Anonymous said...

I had written a comment 1/2 hour ago, but the runaround trying to login to post it means it got eaten by the ether.

The book sounds interesting, I'd love to read it.

I'd love to read this blog regularly, but commenting is too much work with the option to just put name and blog turned off.

Alessandra said...

I've heard a lot about this author and would love to try it. Please enter me!

Alessandra
outofblue1[at]gmail.com

Unknown said...

i really hope i win!! i've heard so much about this book

lc_intocable at yahoo.com

a real librarian said...

Looks like an exciting title!! Thanks for the contest!!

areallibrarian[at]gmail[dot]com

Wendy said...

Great review! I haven't read this one yet but I liked the first one so I might give it a go soon. :)

Enchanted by Books said...

Sounds great! I have the first one in my TBR pile still but I've heard nothing but great things about Rachel Vincent's writing.

Anita Yancey said...

I would love to read this book. It sounds like a good one. I think what you are doing is great. I always pass my books on to someone else after I read them.
ayancey@dishmail.net

catslady said...

This is a new genre for me and I'd love to give it a try.

catslady5 at aol.com

Rachel Vincent said...

Hey, Harry, thanks for the review!

Rachael Stein said...

i have the first book (which i have not read yet, but i will soon), so i really want the second one of course. plus the cover is so cool!

Anonymous said...

The cover looks very pretty. Make me curious how I would react if I read it!

Diana Dang

Contact me at faked_sugartone at hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

Totally love her, I would love to win this book!

peng said...

would love to read this. thanks

J said...

This book is on my wishlist. Thanks for the giveaway.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a really good book, please enter me into the contest!

penguinqueen@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

Woo hoo definitely count me in for this love her books.

Anonymous said...

I would love to win! Count me in :)

whatvanessareads@hotmail.com
whatvanessareads.wordpress.com

Unknown said...

yay!!! i've heard so much of this book i think it's in a series right? i can't remember anymore i have such a terrible memory, well i would love to read it thanks for being so generous

lc_intocable at yahoo.com

Breanna said...

Please enter me! I'd love to have a copy of Rogue. I really want to read it.

queenbloop@gmail.com
-Breanna

Unknown said...

i'd love to win this book! :D

Chesh said...

I read Stray and loved it so count me in.

Unknown said...

Wow, this book sounds great. Add me to your list please.

asdfjkl; said...

Cool! I would love to win Rogue. Thanks!

Becca said...

This sounds like a very cool book and I would love a chance to win. Thanks!

dd said...

I've read Stray- which was absolutely AWESOME, but I haven't had a chance to read Rogue yet. I have heard a lot of good things about it though! Thanks so much for the giveaway! =D

~Lucy D =)

BTW, I just saw the cover of Pride on your blog and it is gorgeous! Hope you have an awesome day!

Anonymous said...

Ooh I'm getting the first book, so I'd love the second one as well! :D Enter me please, oh and if I happen to win, please email me. Thanks!

-Cyndi
mistique44952@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

I would love to win this book and it wouldn't even hurt my feelings that it is used!

Melissa
melissaconatser at gmail dot com

Carolina said...

I've never read her books and I really want to. They sound great! :

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