Helpful Score: 9
Liu became one of my favorite authors as soon as I began reading her first book, Tiger Eye. If you can, I highly recommend you start there, as it is a good introduction to the Dirk & Steel organization and Liu's characters, who are shape shifters or have other paranormal abilities, with Liu's own brand of magic and mythology occasionally thrown in.
Liu is a relatively new author, all of whose books so far involve characters who work for Dirk & Steele, an undercover paranormal organization / detective agency. Supporting characters in Liu's books frequently turn up or have previously been in primary roles in other books in the Dirk & Steele series. I like learning more about the other characters as their back stories get told. Maggie Shayne does the same thing with vampire characters in her Twilight series. However, each Dirk & Steel novel will stand alone without having read any of the others, if you must.
"Fast paced. Likable characters. A story that sucks you in right away and is hard to put down. Liu doesn't write 'bodice rippers,' but there's plenty of romance." I can (and do) say that about all of her books. The primary characters are new and the shape shifter this time is a dolphin, if I remember correctly - a new twist in the series. Familiar characters return when Dirk & Steele get involved - after all, they work there. This book was not as good as some of the others in the series, but it was still a good read and kept my attention.
Liu is a relatively new author, all of whose books so far involve characters who work for Dirk & Steele, an undercover paranormal organization / detective agency. Supporting characters in Liu's books frequently turn up or have previously been in primary roles in other books in the Dirk & Steele series. I like learning more about the other characters as their back stories get told. Maggie Shayne does the same thing with vampire characters in her Twilight series. However, each Dirk & Steel novel will stand alone without having read any of the others, if you must.
"Fast paced. Likable characters. A story that sucks you in right away and is hard to put down. Liu doesn't write 'bodice rippers,' but there's plenty of romance." I can (and do) say that about all of her books. The primary characters are new and the shape shifter this time is a dolphin, if I remember correctly - a new twist in the series. Familiar characters return when Dirk & Steele get involved - after all, they work there. This book was not as good as some of the others in the series, but it was still a good read and kept my attention.
Helpful Score: 7
Great book! The concept seems a little odd at first but once you start reading it you get hooked!
Helpful Score: 5
I thought the characters were ok. Towards the end characters from the other books in the series appeared, or were mentioned, and I think a reader would be a bit confused if they hadn't read the other books. Not the best in the series IMHO, but still a good read.
Helpful Score: 5
I've read all of Marjorie M. Liu's Dirk & Steele books. I LOVED Tiger Eye, liked the next couple, but Soul Song was VERY DARK. Torture, rape, increasing amounts of violence...I could barely make it through to the end. If this is the direction the series is going, I'm afraid I won't be sticking with it.
Helpful Score: 4
I really enjoyed the character development, and I found the book to be very artistic and prosaic, with a lot of metaphors. The plot was very fast paced and the romance beautiful. The characters are both conflicted, and find hope in each other through some very dark times. M'Cal is one of my favorite heroes :-) This is a new author, but I've found her Dirk & Steel series to be quite good and have read all of them :-)
