PRIDE

Author: Rachel Vincent ISBN: 9780778326496 2/2009 PARANORMAL Publisher: MIRA

HERE'S HOPING CATS DO HAVE NINE LIVES I'm on trial for my life. Falsely accused of infecting my human ex-boyfriend—and killing him to cover up the crime. Infecting a human is one of three capital offenses recognized by the Pride—along with murder and disclosure of our existence to a human. I'm two for three. A goner. Now we've discovered a rogue stray terrorizing the mountainside, hunting a wild teenage tabbycat. It's up to us to find and stop him before a human discovers us. With my lover Marc's help, I think I can protect the vulnerable girl from both the ambitious rogue and the scheming of the territorial council. If I survive my own trial...

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Rachel Vincent's PRIDE is the third installment in her urban fantasy series and let me tell you, it is awesome! I was pulled right into the character's mind and saw everything—and loved it all! I was surprised, actually, that I suspended belief so easily and fell right into the whole werecat world, but I did. I think it's because Ms. Vincent plants her werecats so fully into a world readers can recognize as their own, while still giving the characters enough leeway to bend "normal" just enough, that it's all wonderfully believable.

Faythe Sanders is on trial for her life and it doesn't look good. The werecats have a tribunal, and that tribunal dispenses judgment upon those who break their laws. Faythe is accused of killing her ex-boyfriend. While she did kill him, it is a case of self-defense, something that's going to be very difficult to prove given the fact she's a werecat and he was only an ordinary mortal. But while the trial is ongoing another, perhaps bigger, problem comes before the tribunal. A rogue is wreaking havoc in the area, and must be stopped. His actions could seriously compromise everyone's safety.

The world-building in this story is top notch. I could see the Bruin who comes to deliver the message regarding the rogue. I believed everything about the werecat DNA analysis, and was eager to learn even more than was presented. I felt the strong emotions between Marc and Faythe, and wanted them to find happiness. I was moved almost to tears when Faythe finds herself trying to build a connection with another who is even more frightened than she. It all adds up to good, strong storytelling.

My only issue is that there isn't a happily-ever-after ending, per se. There is the hope of that but it appears the reader will have to wait until the next installment to see the full story unfold. Not having read the two previous books I can't say whether or not this is typical of her style of storytelling, but I will say I'm going to be on pins and needles until the next book comes out. I cared about these characters, and I want to know what happens next. PREY releases is July 2009.

Kay James