Review: Top2BottomReviews
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 02 8, 2012
The lines between the tainted and the pure are blurred in Mongrel, where the hybrids are segregated from the humans, and there is no question as to who the true monsters are.The town of Taintwell exists on the periphery of the city of Purinton, their citizens interacting only insofar as the crossbreeds are capable of passing themselves off as human--or in the secret interactions of a more scandalous nature in the less reputable parts of the city.The preternatural residents of Taintwell are forbidden from touching the humans in Purinton, the stigma of their nature an offense to the untarnished purebreds. False impressions and prejudices breed ignorance, but lines are crossed when the Dog King, the Eminence of Taintwell Fanule Perfidor meets snake-oil selling human Will Marchman and their attraction to each other becomes the catalyst for exposing a nefarious plot orchestrated by the corrupt owner of Hunzinger's Mechanical Circus and the mayor of Purinton.With his distinctive, bi-colored eyes and purple/black hair, his oddly shaped ears and the mark displayed on his throat that identifies him as an anomaly, Fanule sweeps into the city and stumbles upon the man who will become both protector and protected. Sweet William, the symbol of chivalry, perfection, and strength becomes the tonic that soothes Fanule's soul as surely as the restorative he uses to lift him from the grip of his mercurial moods.In a world where the Mongrels were at one time branded with their ratio of humanity to other, where mystical powers exists, where incredible flying machines dot the sky, where a ghost plays healer and seer, and where a lustful hunter, a guileless salesman, a mongrel light-sucker who suffers from bipolar disorder, and a fearless vampire persevere to attempt to change the status quo; in a world where the misfits become the heroes, Fan and Will forge a remarkable and altering bond.For fans of paranormal and steampunk, Mongrel delivers beautifully. It is a blend of science and supernatural, a blend of the fantastical and the enchanting, and it is undeniably romantic and charming. From the vivid imagery of the city shrouded by the residual pollution of its extraordinary inventions to the cleverly named places and characters, I was drawn into the world that K.Z. Snow created and I didn't want to leave. The plot is detailed and imaginative, skillfully narrated from beginning to end. The characters are multi-faceted and irresistible; intrigue and danger round out the romantic elements, providing conflict to complement the fantasy.The fulfillment of the prophesy, the thread that weaves through the story and ties Fan and Will together in the end was a lovely ending--or beginning--to their romance.Reviewed By: Lisa