Mortal Compass by Ann Cory

Mortal Compass by Ann Cory
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Short (38 pages)
Other: M/F
Rating: 3.5 Books
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

There’s always a choice…even if the options are deadly.

Rook Vasser hunts with the fate of his vampire clan riding on his shoulders. Without the clan’s stolen moonstone, an all-out war and his leader’s death are inevitable. Acting on a tip, he heads deep into the Blood Mountains, confident the stone is within his grasp. He doesn’t expect to find it hanging around the neck of a beautiful mortal—or that it will be nearly impossible to get it away from her.

Ember Chalane came to the mountains to recharge her critically low healing powers. The lovely stone she finds lying in the grass is more than a shiny trinket. She discovers it restores and enhances her empathic ability, flooding her body with fresh life force she’s unwilling to give up—not even to the dark, sexy vampire who wants it back.

Rook tries everything to get his hands on the stone, including seduction…only to learn that not only does it protect her from his bite, without it she becomes dangerously sick. With time running out, Rook faces the darkest of choices—save his falling clan, or save the woman for whom he’s fallen.

Mortal Compass is a story of choices, crossroads and loyalty tested against the backdrop of unexpected love.

Rook is the hero who has a duty and expects no complications in fulfilling it until he stumbles upon a woman in the wrong place at the wrong time. His character is developed enough for a reader to sense his internal conflict and briefly wonder what choice he’ll make. He’s strong but at times comes across as a bit of a jerk. It’s perfect because of his role and what he’s supposed to do.

Ember is the heroine. She’s at a point in her life where she needs to decide what is important to her. Her journey stuns her with the realization that she’s in dire need but doesn’t quite know how to fix it — or even if she wants to. Her character invoked sympathy and curiosity.

There is an internal conflict for both of them, compounded by external forces that don’t care what their issues are. The confrontation scene had some interesting and exciting elements to it. Along with this, the corporate images of these practitioner are also amplifying at levitra prices have a peek here a substantial level all-round the globe. It is best cialis prices very easily available in the market. Prostatitis is order viagra a very common disease but difficult to cure. I know that I could apply this to fishing, sometimes it is brutal, it is hot, you haven’t had a bite in three hours, but then all at once, you can see the color coming off the bottom and take your check out for info purchase viagra online fly. Ember is in danger on two fronts, but the question is, which is worse?

Mortal Compass has a unique quest and setting which I enjoyed. I found their falling in love to be too fast and unconvincing. In the beginning, some pieces of dialogue seemed a bit off for the characters but for the most part, it flowed well and in fact there were clever bits of repartee between Ember and Rook. There were some wonderfully done descriptive passages which I liked. By the time I finished this story one thing became clear to me. This story should have been more of a novella. Ms. Cory has an incredible world with many facets of character, political climate and emotional connection which, due to the nature of a short story, seemed rushed and not fully fleshed out. This story left an incredible amount of questions and possible story threads unanswered. The effect of the moonstone being one fascinating example because I had a feeling that something was there, just out of reach and Ms. Cory was teasing.

Mortal Compass has its focus on what vampire romance readers enjoy best: the coming together of two lovers who thought they’d never have a chance at happiness, and beat the odds. There are bad guys and a surprise, a revelation and a choice. The best part is a satisfying happily ever after supported with dialogue which made me smile. It’s what brought this story together and made it work and that makes this a worthwhile read.