Full Moon Rising, by Keri Arthur (review)

In a world where nonhuman races are socially controlled, if not always fully accepted, secretive dhampire Riley Jenson finds herself involved in a series of violent events that might all be linked to a potential worldwide danger… Add in the nearing of the full moon that has the werewolf in her in a state of rising sexual need, arousal and appeal, and things could become really complicated.

I don’t often read urban fantasy/paranormal romance. It is meaningful because that specific romance subgenre has its own codes, which can be as far from standard romance ones as to make it feel more like regular urban fantasy than romance. In other words, this type of literature effectively straddles two genres, and it’s not always clear which one is dominant. Full Moon Rising struck me as having in common with romance only its steamy sex scenes, and even in that regard it was different, since most romance is not that steamy, especially when it doesn’t involve the hero.

Here is a basic list of what makes urban fantasy/paranormal stand aside from modern romance:

• 1st person narrator (the heroine) vs 3rd person (with a balance between the heroine and the hero’s POV)
• We follow the same heroine throughout a series, vs one couple per book
• The heroine has several sexual partners over time, vs exclusive couples
• No HEA to allow the series to continue, vs HEA

To soften the apparent contradiction between fantasy romance and standard romance, I should point out that at the end of the series, the paranormal heroine must find her happy ever after with the man whom we suspected was The One from the start. And the world must be saved for good. If you’re reading the first novel of an urban fantasy romance series, though, just be sure not to expect it because it won’t happen. It doesn’t in Full Moon Rising. And yet, the book ended better than it started.

As opposed to romance novels, in which the subplot supports the main romantic plot, in paranormal the romantic element often only accompanies the disaster scenario. The heroine must (help) save the world first and foremost, and good on her if she can find love at the same time (in modern romance, it would be rather like: in order to follow her heart and make love triumph, the heroine will incidentally find herself saving the world). Because of its prominence, as well as its necessity to span a whole series, the plot should therefore be pretty complex. Well, Keri Arthur’s book is evidence that introducing a complex plot from scratch isn’t easy.

By the first third of the book, I was only half-convinced. The action was both too intense and too slow: the fact that everything was coincidentally happening at once in Riley’s life, yet each thing tidily after the other, felt neither realistic nor consistent. Among the weaker points of the book, I would mention the repetitive character of fight and sex scenes. Don’t get me wrong, I like both kinds of scenes. And I understand that Riley is a vampire-werewolf, which implies an extraordinary sex drive and healing power. Still, at the end of the book all these orgasms and tearing of flesh left me tired.

It’s only when the plot thickens by the middle of the book, and the “hero” finally becomes more present, that I really began enjoying the story. By then, most fantasy elements were in place: the little team of miscellaneous experts, the outline of what they’re fighting against, the hints as to who the bad, bad guys are, and a general impression of the universe we’re into. It isn’t the most original or unpexected story, but I closed the book with a good feeling, and a distinct curiosity for its sequel.

A note on Riley’s sexuality: she’s a wolf, therefore she wants to fuck all the time. I mean especially during the week before the full moon, which is when the whole first book takes place. For me, it was a little frustrating to see her have so much fun with other guys than the hero, and relegate the latter to the role of potential third partner (the more, the merrier!). I mean, he’s the hero, godammit! The reader gets an I-want-him-if-she-doesn’t kind of feeling. But then, I have to say, the woman in me also went: phew… At last a book in which it’s the hero rambling on about fidelity and genuine feelings, while the heroine is allowed to have some fun!

“Hey, I fuck millionaires, so I already know all about luxury. Danger and discomfort can be just as thrilling, believe me.”
He shook his head. “I’m going to have to teach you better.”
I grinned. “Or maybe you just need some of that stuffiness shaken out of you.”

- Full Moon Rising, Keri Arthur (Dell Spectra, 2006)

Truth be told, the way she goes from one partner to the other might not be romantic, at least it was realistic. In real life, you can’t tell when you’re going to meet the one guy who’s going to touch your soul. Chances are, you’re already fucking someone else, just because there’s no more reason to wait for sex than to wait to eat good food or take a good hot shower. So, all in all, in spite of the ever-presence of sex in Ms. Arthur’s book, I liked the way it was portrayed, how she used it symbolically to define werewolves and the way they’re perceived in society. In the end, I grew fond of the heroine’s independence and strength, of her determination not to accept love at any price.

The freedom and excitement of these moon dances were part of my nature, and I’d be damned if I dropped them just because it offended his human sensibilities. I wasn’t human, and he shouldn’t judge me by those standards. And asking me to give up the moon dance would be like asking him to stop drinking blood. I wasn’t fair, and it wasn’t right.

- Full Moon Rising, Keri Arthur (Dell Spectra, 2006)

Do you read paranormal romance? Does crossing genres sound like it can increase your audience, or narrow it? How does Keri Arthur rate as an author of that genre, if you’ve read some of her books?