Review Tuesday moved to Thursday: Manticore by Kate Hill – #Paranormal #Erotic #ReviewTuesday

 

Manticore by Kate Hill

Changeling Press, 2022

In a world overrun by a plague of demons, Daisy Fay nurtures her own small magic and curates a collection of esoteric tomes saved from the invading hordes of hell. She and her friend Martin do what they can to support the human rebels who are trying to expel the armies of the night. Daisy Fay guesses that Martin could be more than a friend, but he seems too gentle and shy to step over that line.

Manticore has no such problem. He’s wild, impulsive, and totally besotted with Daisy Fay. With his marked face, vicious talons and razor-sharp teeth, he’s clearly not 100% human, but since Martin considers him an ally in the rebellion, Daisy can’t help but trust him – even when he overwhelms her with raw desire.

Two such different men... it is a shock when Daisy discovers they inhabit the same body. Manticore is a non-corporeal Manifestation who has fused with Martin, amplifying the powers of both. And Martin, far from being the quiet, retiring man she’d supposed, is in fact scion of an ancient and influential family of magicians, all of whom are are supported by their own paired Manifestations.

Martin and Manticore complete each other, but their love for Daisy Fay nearly tears them apart, and risks harming the rebel cause in the process.

I enjoyed Manticore. The premise is original, while the erotic scenes are gorgeous and intense. I applaud the author’s willingness to include homo-erotic content when Daisy, Martin and Manticore finally come together. Many authors shy away from any sort of “gayness” in a story that is primarily heterosexual, but I thought Martin’s and Manticore’s intimacy flowed naturally their relationship.

Manticore is a particularly fascinating character, a supernatural bad boy who is redeemed by pure love. My main complaint is that I thought the book was too short. I’d have liked the author to spend more time articulating her vision of the Realm of Manifestations. I found the ending disappointingly abrupt. Daisy Fay appears to have encountered a Manifestation named Medusa who will complete her as Manticore does Martin, but instead of the glorious four way scene I’d anticipated, we get only arousing hints.

Still, it’s a pleasure to read paranormal romance that ventures off the well-trodden paths of vampires and shifters. Perhaps Ms. Hill is saving Medusa for the next installment in this series.