*Genre* Paranormal Romance*Rating* 3.0*Review*Mortal Ties is the ninth novel in the World of the Lupi Series by Eileen Wilks. FBI agent Lily Yu and wolf shifter Rule Tanner are living together at the Nokolai Clanhome while Lily ponders the fact that in two months she is to be wed to Rule. There is also the fact that none of the Lupi feel they are safe, especially the children, since the Great Bitch through Robert Friar, have declared an all-out war against them and the gifted people. When someone slips into their territory and steals one of Cullen's magical devices under the cover of explosions, things get a little intense. Since the device was a secret, Nokolai has a traitor in their midst and Isen, the leader of the Nokolai Clan, becomes more determined than ever to find the traitor within his clan before they can do any more damage. What really surprises Rule and Lily is the fact that Rule finds out that he has a brother that he didn’t know about and the brother is knee deep in kimchee over the theft of the magical skull.Another glaring result of this theft is the fact that Friar was wrongly presumed to have been killed off in another installment of this series. That, obviously, proves to be a fallacy since Friar won’t stop until the Lupi and gifted are removed from the planet once and for-all. He also won’t stop his hunt for Lily so that he can turn her over to the Great Bitch.There are some new elements added to this particular book in the Sidhe’s participation in the theft of Cullen’s magical skull and the fact that they have taken Friar’s side, or so it appears, in the war against the Lupi. I’m not sure where Wilks is heading in this particular instance. Does she intend that the Sidhe will split and enter into an alliance eventually with the Lupi? Or will they fight on the side of the Great Bitch leaving the Lupi to their own devices?This series has been on my radar for a very long time and I have read each and every book. I enjoy the world building that Wilks creates, and also understand that she’s very good at explaining police procedurals in the case of Lily and her Unit Twelve co-workers at the FBI. However, this book doesn’t do anything to advance the storyline towards an end game between Friar and the Lupi. The Great Bitch vs. the Lupi’s Lady. It also lacks any semblance of romance in what is considered to be a Paranormal Romance series. I guess it’s understandable, in a way that Lily and Rule are in the middle of a war against the Great Bitch and Lily is panicky in knowing that their wedding will be targeted by her allies including Friar.This book had me hanging by a thread for a moment knowing that Wilks appeared to be leaving us with a cliffhanger. The way it ended, leaves lots of room for interpretation. It also leaves room for more of Al Drummond who is somehow tied in death to Lily.Overall, an entertaining novel that introduced several new characters that will either be a part of this series until the end, or will fade into the background like Arjenie Fox. The author gives us a peek at the next book in the series called Ritual Magic and it looks like we are headed for more bumpy weather ahead! Expected publication: August 6th 2013 by Berkley
GizmosReviews
*Genre* Paranormal Romance*Rating* 3.0*Review*Mortal Ties is the ninth novel in the World of the Lupi Series by Eileen Wilks. FBI agent Lily Yu and wolf shifter Rule Tanner are living together at the Nokolai Clanhome while Lily ponders the fact that in two months she is to be wed to Rule. There is also the fact that none of the Lupi feel they are safe, especially the children, since the Great Bitch through Robert Friar, have declared an all-out war against them and the gifted people. When someone slips into their territory and steals one of Cullen's magical devices under the cover of explosions, things get a little intense. Since the device was a secret, Nokolai has a traitor in their midst and Isen, the leader of the Nokolai Clan, becomes more determined than ever to find the traitor within his clan before they can do any more damage. What really surprises Rule and Lily is the fact that Rule finds out that he has a brother that he didn’t know about and the brother is knee deep in kimchee over the theft of the magical skull.Another glaring result of this theft is the fact that Friar was wrongly presumed to have been killed off in another installment of this series. That, obviously, proves to be a fallacy since Friar won’t stop until the Lupi and gifted are removed from the planet once and for-all. He also won’t stop his hunt for Lily so that he can turn her over to the Great Bitch.There are some new elements added to this particular book in the Sidhe’s participation in the theft of Cullen’s magical skull and the fact that they have taken Friar’s side, or so it appears, in the war against the Lupi. I’m not sure where Wilks is heading in this particular instance. Does she intend that the Sidhe will split and enter into an alliance eventually with the Lupi? Or will they fight on the side of the Great Bitch leaving the Lupi to their own devices?This series has been on my radar for a very long time and I have read each and every book. I enjoy the world building that Wilks creates, and also understand that she’s very good at explaining police procedurals in the case of Lily and her Unit Twelve co-workers at the FBI. However, this book doesn’t do anything to advance the storyline towards an end game between Friar and the Lupi. The Great Bitch vs. the Lupi’s Lady. It also lacks any semblance of romance in what is considered to be a Paranormal Romance series. I guess it’s understandable, in a way that Lily and Rule are in the middle of a war against the Great Bitch and Lily is panicky in knowing that their wedding will be targeted by her allies including Friar.This book had me hanging by a thread for a moment knowing that Wilks appeared to be leaving us with a cliffhanger. The way it ended, leaves lots of room for interpretation. It also leaves room for more of Al Drummond who is somehow tied in death to Lily.Overall, an entertaining novel that introduced several new characters that will either be a part of this series until the end, or will fade into the background like Arjenie Fox. The author gives us a peek at the next book in the series called Ritual Magic and it looks like we are headed for more bumpy weather ahead! Expected publication: August 6th 2013 by Berkley
