The Beast Without MM Paranormal Romance
IP (Interactive Publications)
May 23, 2013
236
Reylan is everything a Sydney vampire aspires to be: wealthy, handsome and independent, carefully feeding off companions plucked from the gay bars of Oxford Street.
When one of those companions is killed by Jorgas, a hot-headed young werewolf prowling his streets, Reylan reluctantly puts his cherished lifestyle of blood and boys on hold to help a mysterious alliance of supernatural beings track down the beast. It can't be that hard … not when Jorgas keeps coming after him.
But there's more to this werewolf than a body count and a bad attitude. As their relationship grows deeper and more twisted, Reylan tastes Jorgas' blood, reawakening desires the vampire had thought long dead. And what evolves between them may be far more dangerous than some rival predator in the dark...
Reviewed by Melissa Brus
Member of the Paranormal Romance Review Team
This is a fun, dark, and gritty take on a paranormal adventure. Reylan is a great anti-hero who is very much all about himself and his needs. Reylan is super snarky and his moral compass is very much set to his own version of true North. What I found most surprising were his moments of selflessness with regards to Jorgas, the young shapeshifter who is turning not only his life upside down, but who is also wreaking havoc on the nightlife of Sydney. Baines truly finds the balance in Reylan. It would be so easy to not like him. There is humor and sarcasm that finds the reader in great unexpected moments.
The world building is subtly done. Suddenly you are halfway through the book, and realize you have changed how you think of vampires and werewolves, calling them blood shades and flesh masters without blinking an eye. There is also a great blend of story and action, with a couple of twists and cleverly unfinished threads that make you ready for the next book! There is a brutality to this book as well. Reylan’s acceptance of the violence as due course is part of his charm. All in all, this is a great addition to any paranormal library.