In her job at an association dedicated to stopping evil forces, Io must work with a sexy sorcerer to battle the Goblin King, but will she win that war…or lose her heart?
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Much of the action in Jackson's (The Selkie) paranormal romance takes place in a city that seems just like present-day Detroit, with one difference: this Motor City is home to an underground nightmare city populated by refugee goblins expelled from Europe. Though seemingly grateful for their new world haven, the foul-smelling goblins have in fact secretly replaced the nation's leading industrialists, including Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, with deodorized doubles-and the takeover trail may lead much higher. Pitted against mysterious goblin leader Horroban and his six-limbed, four-breasted rock star girlfriend are "siren fey" Io Cyphre, who's a H.U.G. (Humans Under Ground) magical agent, and charismatic cop Jonathan "Jack" Frost, who's half fairy. A deliciously playful tone, especially in the banter between Io and Jack, makes this a fun, light read. At times, however, Jackson's Detroit feels more like a cartoon world than a plausible alternate realm. Still, this imaginative tale, the first in a new series of mystical romances from Jackson, delivers sizzling romance and ghoulish thrills at a breathtaking clip.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
As an agent for Humans Underground, Io's first assignment is to infiltrate Goblin Town and discover why key figures in society are being replaced by "Lutins." She is also to contact Jonathan "Jack" Frost, a dangerous agent shrouded in lore. As the half-fey and the sorcerer forge a partnership, Io is forced to question everything she trusts and believes. Jackson often pushes the boundaries of paranormal romance, and this, the first in her Wildside series, is no exception. More dark romantic fantasy than fantasy romance, grimness permeates everything, even Jack and Io's relationship. The dark mood harkens to gothic fiction, but while that genre's desolation often has a haunting beauty, Jackson's world is relentlessly menacing, at times repulsive, numbing one even to the few periods of levity. This is not for readers who want romance to be beautiful and central to the story, nor for the faint of heart, but Jackson's fans and cross-over fantasy-fiction readers will want to judge for themselves. Nina Davis
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
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More About the Author
Melanie Jackson is the award-winning author of more than fifty novels, novellas and poems published in various languages. She lives with her writer husband, her bossy cat and spoiled dog in the Sierra foothills where it is almost impossible to grow pumpkins (or anything else the deer like). Besides gardening, she is involved with animal charities.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A wild mix...,
By Huntress Reviews (United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Traveler (Wildside Romance) (Mass Market Paperback)
You may think the world is a dangerous place now, but just imagine if it was run by goblins who have infiltrated every power cell of society. In that world, humanity is reduced to little more than slaves, or worse. Those who remain free have united in Humans UnderGround or HUG. Their current mission is to keep the Goblin King out of the White House, and their best hope of doing that is for Io, a young half fey woman they rescued to infiltrate Motor City, the major Goblin stronghold. Io will need the help of Jack Frost, another half fey who is a master of death, and of love.Wielding borrowed magics, hiding behind disguises, they navigate the dangerous maze of the goblin world. One wrong move could cost them and all of humanity a price too great to pay. Yet, if they are successful, they have a future and a hope, both as race and individuals. Jack and Io have discovered that their greatest magic is love. ***** Whether you want fantasy, action, intrigue, romance, or fun, this book is for you. The Lutin Empire is a well crafted world, with logical rules and believeable characters. In some ways, it reminds me of Piers Anthony's complex worlds, or Laurell K Hamilton, in others, there is a bit of the Matrix. Either way, it's a wild ride, worth every page. ***** Amanda Killgore
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Death Fey and Siren Fey Find Love and Battle Evil Goblins,
By Dakota "daxydakota" (Southern California) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Traveler (Wildside Romance) (Mass Market Paperback)
Wow! I cannot believe that I left TRAVELER by Melanie Jackson sitting on my bookshelf for months, ignored, in favor of reading other romantic paranormals. What an idiot I was! This book is a jewel among paranormal romances! It has fantastic characters, a fascinating storyline, and a creative setting. The best part is that Jackson can write - and I mean well! I cannot stop raving about this book.
The hero, Jack Frost, is sent in by the police to find out what dirty deeds the flesh-eating goblins are up to in Goblin Town. Jack happens to be a death fey, meaning he has potent death magic up his sleeve. At the same time, an underground organization called HUG is sending in Io, a siren fey, to intercept Jack and find out what he knows. Jack and Io meet, the attraction flares, and from that point on, they work together on a dangerous mission to stop an evil goblin from exterminating the human species. The alternate world that Jackson creates is fantastic. Goblin City comes alive in all its ugly weirdness. Jack and Io's magic spells are also fun; in many ways, the magic itself becomes a secondary character. I love the easy dialogue between these two, as well as their relationship. You can practically see these two fall in love. And it's not fast or cheesy. Plus, this book is NOT sex scene after sex scene, interspersed with minimal (or stupid) plot, as many other romances are. No, it actually has a great plot, which keeps you reading. You WANT to know what happens next in Goblin Town. Of course, the book is not perfect. Some reviewers complain the first chapter is confusing, which could be true. Certainly, it is almost all talk and no action, as it tries to explain the dynamics of humans, half-feys, and goblins within this alternate world. Also, I would have liked to see Jack use more of his death magic ... but that's not so much a complaint as it is curiosity. Anyway, if you are looking for a good, engaging read, try this book. TRAVELER is one of those stories that tickle the imagination. It is also the first in a series. The next book is called OUTSIDERS (supposedly, the hero is a dragon). I can't wait to read it! ***For a similar read, try Emma Holly's erotic THE DEMON'S DAUGHTER. It is also set in an alternate world, which is sort of like Victorian England.***
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Dark Fantasy. A Thrilling Page Turner.,
By
This review is from: Traveler (Wildside Romance) (Mass Market Paperback)
This is a book I just want to gush about. Simply put, it's probably one of most enjoyable books that I've read in a while. The paranormal romance genre is cluttered mainly by vampires, werewolves, ghosts, and timetravelers. Melanie Jackson's imagination introduces readers to a world very much like our own- but where the Fey Folk and goblins walk among humans. It's very evocative of Laurell K. Hamilton's work, but without the extreme gore factor and the ridiculous bed-hopping nonsense of her later works.
Io is one of the Fey. After her mother was killed by Goblins, she hooked up with HUG or Humans Underground, a vigilante group that is violently pro-human and anti-everything supernatural. Io is sent on a mission to find out what the goblins of Goblin Town are plotting and to keep an eye on Jack Frost, a death fey who works for an unknown third-party. However, Jack suspects that HUG itself may be compromised by the Goblins, who have now replaced the world's most prominent humans with their own kind. Jack and Io must team up to take out the goblin trash. I absolutely loved this story. It's an action packed roller coaster through a dark urban environment, my favorite kind. I found Goblin Town, with its perpetual Halloweenish landscape, to be an absolutely facinating setting. If there is anything wrong with the story, it's that the characters really aren't that meticulously developed, but they serve their purpose as sexy, magical action heroes.
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