Michelle R. (mreneerouser) -
Helpful Score: 2
Melina Markowitz is a messenger. She didn't plan on being a messenger and she isn't always happy to make her "deliveries". Neverthless, she does her job when she is forced to. Who she is a messenger to is more interesting than the fact that she is a messenger. She delivers packages, notes and other important items to members of the "arcane" which includes vampires, werewolves and other "creatures".
Melina screws up one of her deliveries. It's not really her fault but the consequences are hers to bare regardless. She is attacked by a group of Ninjas (yes Ninjas) and never delivers a vampire to vampire delivery. Because she failed at her delivery, she tries to recover the item. This is where the story becomes even more unique and interesting.
Melina uncovers more than she should when investigating where her missing delivery went. In fact, she stumbles into a vicious gang war. Not your ordinary gang war but a war involving Chinese vampires and the master that controls them(it totally works in this story as weird as it sounds).
Melina makes serious mistakes along the way but she also learns about herself and her abilities. There is a love relationship but it only adds to the story. I loved how unique the entire story was. It's hard to be unique even though you are writing about vampires and werewolves. It seems that some of the authors are unwilling to take risks and they stick with the same stereotypical blood sucking, devilishly handsome vampire mold. The author goes way beyond the stereotypes in this book. This is why I loved it so much.
Melina screws up one of her deliveries. It's not really her fault but the consequences are hers to bare regardless. She is attacked by a group of Ninjas (yes Ninjas) and never delivers a vampire to vampire delivery. Because she failed at her delivery, she tries to recover the item. This is where the story becomes even more unique and interesting.
Melina uncovers more than she should when investigating where her missing delivery went. In fact, she stumbles into a vicious gang war. Not your ordinary gang war but a war involving Chinese vampires and the master that controls them(it totally works in this story as weird as it sounds).
Melina makes serious mistakes along the way but she also learns about herself and her abilities. There is a love relationship but it only adds to the story. I loved how unique the entire story was. It's hard to be unique even though you are writing about vampires and werewolves. It seems that some of the authors are unwilling to take risks and they stick with the same stereotypical blood sucking, devilishly handsome vampire mold. The author goes way beyond the stereotypes in this book. This is why I loved it so much.
Wendy H. (donkeycheese) -
Helpful Score: 1
The Messenger sides with no one; they are neutral. But when the Messenger is attacked, things can get personal.
Melina Markowitz drowned when she was three years old. When she was revived moments later, her life was forever changed. She can see and communicate with supernatural creatures. She is a Messenger, a person that moves between the supernatural beings with drop-offs, pick-ups, and information.
Melina tried to ignore her calling, but she learned her lesson well. When she doesn't complete her job, her life falls apart. Over the years, she has learned to always complete a job. So when a vampire doctor named Alex asks her to deliver a manila envelope to another vampire, she has no choice but to execute the job.
What she didn't count on was getting attacked by seven ninjas on her way to her drop-off, with her envelope being taken. It's an unwritten rule in the supernatural society that you don't kill the messenger. Melina has had defensive and offensive training, but she isn't prepared for their attack.
Melina is determined to get that envelope back and make sure it is delivered, so she begins to investigate, starting with the ninjas. She learns they are Chinese vampires, kiang shi, who are unearthed beneath a local Taoist temple. Their objective is to attack gang members to start a street war.
The last thing on Melina's mind is to get caught in the crossfire, but with the help of Ted Goodnight, a local cop, she may just survive it. But, she has to convince Ted to help her and he doesn't believe in the paranormal. Melina is determined to complete her mission, but her life is on the line.
DON'T KILL THE MESSENGER is a new twist on the paranormal genre. A great character with a unique job, a vividly painted world of supernatural beings, and a brush of romance will have you turning the pages long into the night. I look forward to more great things from Ms. Rendahl, as she can certainly pen a riveting and action-packed supernatural thriller. I want more!
Melina Markowitz drowned when she was three years old. When she was revived moments later, her life was forever changed. She can see and communicate with supernatural creatures. She is a Messenger, a person that moves between the supernatural beings with drop-offs, pick-ups, and information.
Melina tried to ignore her calling, but she learned her lesson well. When she doesn't complete her job, her life falls apart. Over the years, she has learned to always complete a job. So when a vampire doctor named Alex asks her to deliver a manila envelope to another vampire, she has no choice but to execute the job.
What she didn't count on was getting attacked by seven ninjas on her way to her drop-off, with her envelope being taken. It's an unwritten rule in the supernatural society that you don't kill the messenger. Melina has had defensive and offensive training, but she isn't prepared for their attack.
Melina is determined to get that envelope back and make sure it is delivered, so she begins to investigate, starting with the ninjas. She learns they are Chinese vampires, kiang shi, who are unearthed beneath a local Taoist temple. Their objective is to attack gang members to start a street war.
The last thing on Melina's mind is to get caught in the crossfire, but with the help of Ted Goodnight, a local cop, she may just survive it. But, she has to convince Ted to help her and he doesn't believe in the paranormal. Melina is determined to complete her mission, but her life is on the line.
DON'T KILL THE MESSENGER is a new twist on the paranormal genre. A great character with a unique job, a vividly painted world of supernatural beings, and a brush of romance will have you turning the pages long into the night. I look forward to more great things from Ms. Rendahl, as she can certainly pen a riveting and action-packed supernatural thriller. I want more!
Christine H. (solarawynn) reviewed Don't Kill The Messenger (Messenger, Bk 1) on + 724 more book reviews
This was the best book I have read all summer.enjoyed the characters and the story. I like Kokopeli the best so far.
Ashley B. (Ashley1010) reviewed Don't Kill The Messenger (Messenger, Bk 1) on + 67 more book reviews
I am a fan of Eileen Rendahl so I was curious about this book. It is a different type of story - romance mixed with paranormal. Melina, the main character is cool, and the friends she has keeps the story interesting. There is action and excitement throughout. Overall, I liked this story but I would not recommend it for tweens (& maybe teens) as a few scenes are more for the adult audience - it's not so much chick-lit, it's more in the romance genre.
Debbie B. (orchid7) -
I wasn't sure if I was going to like this one or not, but I have to say- I loved it! The "author's voice" pulled me right in and had me really liking Melina by page 2! Her sarcasm and wit had me laughing out loud in so many places I actually started getting "shushed" by my family.
The characters were definitely different- quite refreshing after reading about the same old vampires in every novel out there lately. I will definitely read book 2 in this series when it comes out- I'm glad the story is continuing.
The characters were definitely different- quite refreshing after reading about the same old vampires in every novel out there lately. I will definitely read book 2 in this series when it comes out- I'm glad the story is continuing.
Nancy D. (miz-firefly) -
The foundation of this book drove me nuts. Melina is a "Messenger" She lives in a world of Canes (Arcanes) Vampires, werewolves and assorted mystical creatures, who do not interact with eachother. And Danes (Mundanes) normal people who have no idea the Canes exist.
No one gave her the job, She doesn't have a boss or a handler or even a soulless bureaucracy to answer to. The whole messenger gig is kinda wacked. Some creature shows up with an envelope or a gizmo or dingus and says "take this to....." Sometimes she knows who the recipient is. Sometimes she sort of feels her way to who she (thinks/hopes) the recipient is. There is no training manual or website. And apparently bad things happen to her if she fails to deliver the "message"
Despite hating the foundation this story was cruising toward a 4 or maybe 4 1/2 because I loved the authors voice and the story was pretty durn entertaining. But the delivery fell apart down the homestretch. Each of the Arcane communities keep pretty much to themselves. If it doesn't effect the werewolves they don't care about it. Likewise the Vampires - if it doesn't effect them they don't care about it either. etc...
Melina's last "messenger" gig has gone awry. The Arcane gizmo she was supposed to transport was stolen and is being used to start a (human) gang war. And since it doesn't effect any of the Arcane communities - they don't care. Melina is on her own. Rendahl did a fine job painting the mc into a corner. None of her arcane acquaintances want to get involved. She has a sweet roommate who doesn't know anything about Melina's messenger responsibilities or Arcane connections. And a new flame(?) A cop whom she should be holding off with a 10 foot pole because it's a bad idea for Danes to discover the Arcanes.
I was looking forward to the resolution of all the disparate pieces of Melina's life coming together. Until I got down to about 60 pages left in the story and it was like the author said "screw it" It's too much work, I'll just skip over the coming together part. And BAM. Instant team. I flipped back two or three times to make sure I hadn't missed a chapter. Nope. One page Melina is an island all on her own. The next page everyone is on her team. Talk about whiplash.
Over all I loved Rendahl's voice. And she created great characters. Her vehicle drove me crazy, but all things considered was a pretty fun ride.
No one gave her the job, She doesn't have a boss or a handler or even a soulless bureaucracy to answer to. The whole messenger gig is kinda wacked. Some creature shows up with an envelope or a gizmo or dingus and says "take this to....." Sometimes she knows who the recipient is. Sometimes she sort of feels her way to who she (thinks/hopes) the recipient is. There is no training manual or website. And apparently bad things happen to her if she fails to deliver the "message"
Despite hating the foundation this story was cruising toward a 4 or maybe 4 1/2 because I loved the authors voice and the story was pretty durn entertaining. But the delivery fell apart down the homestretch. Each of the Arcane communities keep pretty much to themselves. If it doesn't effect the werewolves they don't care about it. Likewise the Vampires - if it doesn't effect them they don't care about it either. etc...
Melina's last "messenger" gig has gone awry. The Arcane gizmo she was supposed to transport was stolen and is being used to start a (human) gang war. And since it doesn't effect any of the Arcane communities - they don't care. Melina is on her own. Rendahl did a fine job painting the mc into a corner. None of her arcane acquaintances want to get involved. She has a sweet roommate who doesn't know anything about Melina's messenger responsibilities or Arcane connections. And a new flame(?) A cop whom she should be holding off with a 10 foot pole because it's a bad idea for Danes to discover the Arcanes.
I was looking forward to the resolution of all the disparate pieces of Melina's life coming together. Until I got down to about 60 pages left in the story and it was like the author said "screw it" It's too much work, I'll just skip over the coming together part. And BAM. Instant team. I flipped back two or three times to make sure I hadn't missed a chapter. Nope. One page Melina is an island all on her own. The next page everyone is on her team. Talk about whiplash.
Over all I loved Rendahl's voice. And she created great characters. Her vehicle drove me crazy, but all things considered was a pretty fun ride.
