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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Psychics and Dragons and Cults, Oh My!, July 5, 2006
This review is from: The Red Heart of Jade (Dirk & Steele, Book 3) (Mass Market Paperback)
In THE RED HEART OF JADE, Marjorie M. Liu returns us to the fantastic world of Dirk & Steele, the detective agency which has more to offer than your average PI firm. This time it's wisecracking psychic Dean Campbell in the spotlight. He's in Taipei with his shapeshifter partner, Koni, investigating a series of grisly murders in which the victims apparently spontaneously combusted. In the course of his investigation, he finds something impossible, even for his world: his long-dead childhood sweetheart, Miribelle Lee, alive and well. And she's hip-deep in his case without even knowing it.
For her part, Miri rarely accepts things outside her normal worldview, but when Dean, whom she thought was killed long ago, shows up (along with other scary and seemingly impossible events and creatures) and tells her to trust him, she does, without question.
And that's the beauty of this story: the unconditional love and trust between Miri and Dean after so many years apart and so many questions between them. They've been given a miraculous second chance and neither has any hesitation about taking it. The dialogue between them sparkles and I love it.
The intrigue that surrounds Miri and Dean is harder for Miri to accept, but Dean she trusts absolutely. So she joins him in a game of cat-and-mouse against a dragon shifter and the cult sworn to protect the red heart of jade artifact found by Miri's archaeological team. The mystery surrounding the artifact is suspenseful right to the very end, and the larger story arc of Dirk & Steele moves along nicely. Just as in SHADOW TOUCH, readers (and characters) are left wondering about the allegiances of formerly trusted compatriots, and I for one can't wait to see where it goes next.
This book has it all -- action, adventure, intrigue, romance, basically something for everyone -- and I highly recommend it.
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15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
PARANORMAL FANTASY ROMANCE, July 19, 2006
This review is from: The Red Heart of Jade (Dirk & Steele, Book 3) (Mass Market Paperback)
Marjorie Liu takes us back into the world of shape-shifters and magic we first found in TIGER EYE.
Mirabelle Lee, a childhood friend, of Dean Campbell, is an archeologist. She is working in Taipei on the bodies of some ancient humans. She has thought that Dean was dead for the last 20 years. He has thought she was dead. When her mentor is kidnapped and the ancient remains stolen she finds Dean is the investigator that, Dirk and Steele have sent to find out who is killing people by burning them to death. Dirk and Steele are positive it is one of the same type of people they employ, shapeshifers psychics and other paranormals. The need to keep the secret of their existance is imperative.
Dean is a clairvoyant who experiences the deaths when he walks the scene of the crime. But these fires he can't escape even in his dreams. With the help of Koni, a shapeshifer who can change to a crow, he has managed to confront the killer one time and barely escapes with his life. Koni recognizes a fellow shapeshifter, a Dragon, the most powerful of the shapeshifters.
A piece of red jade found in the chest of one of the ancient bodies brings Mirabelle and Dean togather, and togather they complete each other. Now they must find the jade, and when they learn there is another, the mate to the one they found, things are about to be revealed that will either remake their lives or remake the world.
A wonderful deep, powerful adventure that takes your breath away and takes you spiriling through time and space. A totally unexpected conclusion that leaves you wanting more.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
another great book from Marjorie Liu!, July 5, 2006
This review is from: The Red Heart of Jade (Dirk & Steele, Book 3) (Mass Market Paperback)
Dean Campbell has been sent to Taipei by Dirk and Steele Detective Agency to investigate several murders. Dirk and Steele doesn't investigate ordinary murders, however, as these occurred when the individuals were burned alive through the power of someone's mind. Dean has an unusual power himself and tries to track the psychic threads of the killer but is instead led to his childhood best friend and sweetheart, Mirabelle Lee.
Miri and Dean each believed the other dead after a carjacking went wrong when they were merely teenagers. Miri has become an archaeologist and just discovered a mysterious jade piece imbedded in the chest of an ancient female mummy. Even more bizarre, flesh had grown over the jade indicating that the woman had continued to live after the jade was implanted in her. The discovery of the jade piece has attracted a great deal of attention in the immortal and psychic communities and not all of this attention is good. Now, forces bigger than either Miri or Dean are seeking to bring the two of them together to complete a task of which neither is aware.
Marjorie Liu has created her own version of the X-Men. The members of Dirk and Steele each have a unique power or powers that make them different from the rest of society, just as the Mutants do. Some characters, such as Koni, are shapeshifters while others are clairvoyant, telepathic, or psychic in some other manner. However, Marjorie Liu's series is not simply a rehash or carbon copy of the X-Men but is instead a unique blend of action, intrigue, romance, and the paranormal that makes this wonderful series stand apart from all others.
THE RED HEART OF JADE takes readers on a journey into the sensual, sometimes seedy, world of Taipei. The lush details bring Taipei to life and one can almost smell the various scents and aromas while envisioning the land itself. The action is intense and readers will be tempted to peek at the ending to see how Marjorie Liu can possibly resolve the mess that Dean and Miri find themselves in. Restrain yourself, however, as the build up and eventual conclusion are well worth the wait!
The intricate details of THE RED HEART OF JADE may be difficult for readers new to the series to completely understand. This reviewer highly recommends first reading TIGER EYE and SHADOW TOUCH so that the reader can truly appreciate the complexity of Marjorie Liu's world. There are several ongoing threads, such as those regarding the Consortium and the trustworthiness of Dirk and Steele, that are gradually being revealed throughout the series and are part of the continuity of the series.
Marjorie Liu demonstrates once again why she is such an exciting author to read. THE RED HEART OF JADE is a fascinating story with numerous dream sequences flawlessly intertwined with great action and a sweet romance. This stunning story is sure to keep the reader enthralled. One word of caution, however: once you start reading THE RED HEART OF JADE, you will not want to put it down!
COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES
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