Full Moon Rising (Riley Jensen, Guardian, Book 1) Reviews

• Meh. Disappointing.

  
  By A3PV8W7A4GCS0J on 2006-05-09
  As an avid Kim Harrison fan, I read this book when she recommended it on her website. Her other recommendation, Moon Called by Patricia Briggs, was an excellent read, so I dug into Full Moon Rising with high hopes, but was disappointed.
  
  Unlike other reviewers, Riley's promiscuity didn't bother me (although the idea that werewolves lose an entire week each month because they are driven to do nothing but have constant sex makes me wonder how they stayed employed, and also seemed like a contrived plot device). What bothered me were predictable, one-dimensional characters (when the secondary characters like Rhoan's boyfriend become more sympathetic than the main ones, there is a problem), a plot that lacks cohesion and focus, and silly twists that make you roll your eyes at both the story line and the character's actions. The premise was interesting, and this could have been a much better book than it is. Instead it's yet another mediocre offering in a genre that's becoming flooded with poor quality works. There are much better books out there to spend your money on. Check out Kelley Armstrong, Robin McKinley (Sunshine), and Kim Harrison, to name a few.
  
  

• Keri Arthur delivers another incredible story...

  
  By A1HA6KZZNDCME9 on 2006-02-15
  I was so excited to read a new book by Keri Arthur and she did not disappoint me! Riley and Rhoan Jenson are twin dhampires, the product of a werewolf mother and a vampire father. Both were kicked out of their pack once reaching adulthood and have tried to keep their heritage a secret since then. Rhoan is a guardian for the Melbourne Directorate of Other Races while Riley is part of the office staff. The Directorate was created to protect humans from the supernatural races and to police within the supernatural races without involving humans. Riley has not yet met her soulmate and thus has two wolves, Talon and Misha, with whom she regularly mates with when the heat of the moon rises within her. She has little interest in gaining other mates until a naked vampire named Quinn shows up at the home she shares with her brother. Riley is attracted to Quinn but is also very suspicious as she senses that Rhoan is in trouble. She locates and rescues Rhoan with the assistance of her boss and the head of the guardian division, Jack. Meanwhile, someone is trying to kill Riley while one of her mates has betrayed her and is trying to impregnate her against her will. I won't spoil more of the plot but will tell you there are missing guardians, clones, and even other supernatural species that play a part in the plotline. Keri Arthur leaves this book wide open for a sequel and I for one hope she writes one quickly! Definitely a recommended read!
  
  

• My First and Last Foray Into Paranormal Romance

  
  By A97E5JRB2VQR8 on 2006-03-17
  There were two major questions that came to mind as I read Keri Arthur's Full Moon Rising. First, how could Bantam Books be so enthralled with this book they actually released it as a hardcover along with an abridged audiotape? Finally, if this is an example of the Paranormal Romance genre, where's the romance?
  
  Let's be upfront and honest and say exactly what you are getting: Full Moon Rising is a competently written Mary Sue-type tale where the characters and the plot and the settings serve only as a backdrop for the sex. And there is lots and lots of sex. I was hard pressed to find even a single page where sex was not taking place or at least the major part of the conversation. You have your rough sex, you have your non-consensual sex, you have your anonymous sex, bondage sex, werewolf-on-werewolf sex, werewolf-on-vampire sex, and any other way you can have it. And it's sex without consequences or meaning because werewolves can't get pregnant (unless they want to) and werewolves and vampires don't come down with any of those icky diseases.
  
  And the barebones plot by the end of the novel is not brought to any conclusion because, heaven help us, this is the first book of a trilogy. Not that you'd really care about the plot because the whole point of the book is the constant barrage of sex.
  
  So if sex between werewolves, vampires, and Otherkin is your bailiwick, then give this book five stars and have at it. Just keep the kiddies away from it and don't be promoting it among your co-workers if you value things like promotions and respect.
  
  
  

• Meanwhile...

  
  By A2C84YLA1MWAWY on 2006-04-08
  I couldn't agree more with some of the reviewer here. Yes. I did see many similarities is D.N.Simmons, LKH and Charlaine Harris, Joss Whedon and Kelley Armstrong. But that's to be expected in this genre, so I don't really "stress" that part of it. What matters is WHAT you do with it.
  
  "Full Moon Rising" had potential to be a better book, but after reading it, I feel as though this author went on ahead and did what a great deal of other authors are doing, including Laurell K. Hamilton and that's feel up blank pages in their books with gratuitous sex and all things related.
  
  Not only that, but I also feel as though, when writing some of the plot scenarios many authors, Keri included are so wrapped up in trying to make it "exciting" or "funny" or "clever" that they fail to make sure that it "make sense".
  
  For instance. In the scene where Riley tries to rescue her brother with the aid of Quinn, they are planning to infiltrate the lab that has her brother, she and Quinn engage in a three page discussion about how much they want to screw each other and how hot the other looks to them. MEANWHILE her brother is STILL trapped!
  
  There are other scenes where she can use telepathy and control people's minds to make them do what she wants them to do. Okay, cool little feature right? But when she goes through great lengths to put on a charade just to get into the lab, it seems a bit ridiculous in the end when she just hypnotizes the guards to do what she wants. The book could have been over a while ago with that much mental power. It was like the plot and characters contradicted each other.
  
  Yes, Riley's obsession with sex blew the plot to pieces. Not only that but she took the time to stop the action to tell you about every other inconsequential details about EVERYTHING that ever popped up in the story. Includes the tale about her landlords dead husband.
  
  I wanted to like this story, because I simply LOVE this genre, but this book added nothing. It would have been better if the author had made sure the plot made sense and limited the amount of sexual related detail in the book.
  
  There's nothing wrong with sex, but it shouldn't overshadow everything else in a novel. I might give this series another chance, but first I'm going to skim.
  
  I'd highly recommend reading D.N. Simmons as another reviewer stated. That is a series with plenty of action and awesome/appropriate sex scenes. Also Kelley Armstrong's Bitten.
  
  

• Give A Dog A Bone

  
  By A17KMHCEI7AI56 on 2007-03-16
  
  Keri Arthur is Australian author whose work I've been a fan of for some years. Unfortunately, she's had to publish under ImaJin Books, an indy publisher whose books are rather difficult to find and really expensive. I loved Dancing with the Devil and Circle of Fire, so it was with great joy that I ordered her mass market debut Full Moon Rising. I'm not sure I would have passed on it if I'd known even the slightest thing about the premise before hand, but it would have dampened my enthusiasm. I honestly love the urban fantasy genre, but when I read book blurbs like "...a sassy, sexy werewolf whose just gone into heat..." I know I'm heading for mediocrity-ville.
  Full Moon Rising takes place in a future version of Australia (something I didn't figure out until the halfway point). Supernaturals of all kinds blend in with human society. Directorate acts as the police force for this community of Others. Riley Jenson is vampire/werewolf hybrid. Being more wolf than vamp, she is overcome for a week every month with Moon Fever, which makes her constantly amorous in the time period around the full moon. She is secretary for the Directorate, but her boss wants her become a Guardian, the muscle of the organization. Her twin brother Rhoan goes missing and she must find him. His disappearance is connected to something even more sinister, and Riley and Quinn, a vampire who is also seeking a missing friend, have to solve the mystery.
  I really appreciate that Arthur tried to involve an engaging plot in what is essentially another book in that noxious publishing trend that has taken over the genre: Tough Girl shags anything and everything for Great Justice! The problem is the plot contrivance used to get Riley into hormonal overdrive is not compatible with sleuthing. The Moon Fever causes Riley to constantly need sex, often at the most inappropriate times and it makes her come off as a complete bonehead. It's a shame, because I suspect she would be a pleasant main character if she weren't forced into lust-fueled idiocy by the plot. So desperate for sex she is that she is completely blind-sided by two skeevy evil boyfriends and engages in a rather emotionally charged affair with another guy whom constantly calls her a ho even as indulged himself in her ho-charms. And not in the "Come give Big Daddy a kiss" way, but rather the "Here's fifty buck on the dresser" way. Why her boss wants her in a more important position in the Directorate when she acts like a complete dunce for 25% of the year is beyond me.
  Unfortunately, the slightly interesting mystery disengages itself from the novel almost entirely at the midway point. This novel is written in first person, so anything Riley doesn't take part in, the reader only hears about in passing. Increasingly other people do all the investigating work while Riley goes skanking it up all around Melbourne. For example, her brother goes to break into a suspect's office to find out who is behind a nefarious cloning scheme. Riley on the other hand goes to a werewolf sex club to pump one of her evil, skeevy boyfriends for information (and other things) with great gusto even though she already knows he is evil, skeevy, and wants to do bad things to her.
  The final confrontation with the story's villain is so utterly ridiculous, it almost makes the non-climax of recent Laurell K Hamilton books look good in comparison. Riley, after being kidnapped by the bad guy, must fight her way out of his high security laboratory. A duel in werewolf form between the two seems eminent. There is a brief scuffle and then Riley settles things by playing with the bad guy's wing-dang-doodle. My jaw hit the floor, and I had to reread that section three times to believe what I had just read.
  To top it all off, to get the complete story behind the mystery, there are three more books to buy. Will I read them? I don't know. I know Keri Arthur is capable of much better, and maybe she can reach that point if the next couple books feature a Riley unencumbered by the Moon Fever.
  
  
  
  
• Nikki and Michael all over again with weaker plot...
  By A2OWKNH3FGF84A on 2006-04-10
  My biggest problem with this book is that it lacks originality. It is pretty much the same inexperienced young girl meets way-old vamipire story that was actually intersting in the Nikki and Michael series. Wait. The girl is a half were half vamp rather than a human psychic. Which brings me to my next complaint - moon fever.
  
  Anyone else who is geting annoyed with Anita Blake's ardeur, get ready because here is an even more obnoxious plot device to force the main character to have lots of meaningless sex that adds nothing to the book. Moon fever - the drive that forces the heroine to have sex almost constantly for 7 out of every 28 days (or 1/4 of her entire life), and if she resists it she turns into a bloodthristy lunatic. If only someone could write a female character that doesn't need an excuse to have sex...
  
  There is another deeply disturbing point in this constant debauchery. This heroine enjoys being raped. I'm not even going to touch that one except as a warning for those who find this as revolting as I do.
  
  So why give it two stars rather than one? I actually cared enough about the characters from the first few chapters to put the skimming skills I developed with Laurell Hamilton's Incubus Dreams to use and got to the end. I generally like Keri Arthur's books, just felt this one lacked imagination, and because of that I might even get the sequel even though I'm certain it ends the same way the Nikki and Michael series does and the rest will just be hoops to jump through. Maybe the sequel will be during the new moon. We can only hope.
  
  
• I've read better by the Original Author!
  By A1FFMTWRA4YD71 on 2006-03-23
  75 pages into this book, I can't help but think Keri Author got her ideas for this book by reading all the cool novels of 2004 by D.N. Simmons's Knights of the Darkness Chronicles, Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse series and Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake series.
  
  I'm hardpressed to find the originality. The main character narration is jumbled. Every few lines, she talks about other things other than what's going on. It would have been better if a great deal of the things that she's talking about was summed up in the first few chapters instead of setting the plot "off-topic" thoughout the book.
  
  Riley, can't seem to make one intelligent thought without almost getting detoured by sexual lust. She thinks about sex every few lines. After a while, it get's old and boring, especially since the first sex scene is completely skimmed over.
  
  Meanwhile, she is searching for her brother between wasting time having 2-to- all nighter sexcapades.
  
  It is very difficult for me to enjoy this book when I've read better, much better. D.N. Simmons is awesome, I'd suggest reading that series. That's where I'm noticing a lot of the similarites anyway.
  
  
• The first two lines should give you a tip...
  By A1OCIYEI5MYKDM on 2007-02-27
  When I read the opening lines of this book I knew I was in trouble: "It was quiet. Almost too quiet."
  
  What? Huh? There's a competition for really bad opening lines for stories - I'm pretty sure this was a past contender.
  
  The characters were flat and I just wasn't very interested in what happened to them. The contrived plot device of werewolves' out of control libido for five days out of a month was just silly. Explicit sex in a story is fine, but the "full moon activities" got so monotonous I lost interest in the book and skimmed through it to the end. Which, unfortunatley, has our heroine's potential (I have to say potential because she has two other 'mates' - and I don't mean friends - she's bonking throughout the story) true-love leaving her a "sorry, but can't be there for you right now" note.
  
  An uninteresting read with an unsatisfying ending just doesn't do it for me. There are many, much better books in this genre - find another.
  
  
• Yes, there IS such a thing as too much sex
  By AX4WI207ZA637 on 2006-04-06
  I love books with strong, tail-kicking paranormal female heroines, so I was prepared to love "Full Moon Rising". I really was.
  
  Then I read it.
  
  The plot sounded good - werewolf/vampire hybrid Riley Jenson searches for her missing twin brother Rhoan and uncovers a secret program where Other Race hybrids are being genetically modified. She has help from Quinn, the super-wealthy vampire who shows up amnesiac and naked on her doorstep. To make things even more complicated, Riley has to fend off the professional advances of her boss, who wants her to join the Directorate of Other Races, and the sexual advances of her arrogant sometime-lover Talon. There's also the little problem of someone wanting her dead.
  
  All of this would have made for a thrilling yarn if it weren't so overshadowed by Riley's raging libido. Like the heroines of Laurell K. Hamilton (to whom Arthur has been likened), Riley spends more time thinking about sex, engaging in sex, or thinking about engaging in sex than she does solving her brother's disappearance. Yes, I get the fact that the werewolf part of her is in heat, since I'm told about this fact ad nauseum. But the constant, graphic sex does nothing to advance the story or the characterizations and really gets kind of tiresome after a while. "Full Moon Rising" lost my interest abot a third of the way through and never really managed to regain it. It's a shame because the potential was there, but I got very weary of slogging through the never-ending sex scenes. The ending was kind of ambiguous - it is a trilogy, after all - but I can't say that I'm eagerly awaiting the next installment. "Full Moon Rising" is disappointingly forgettable.
  
  
• A Tale of Lust, Intrigue and the Paranormal
  By A2F6N60Z96CAJI on 2006-02-06
  "The night was quiet. Almost too quiet." There is a distinct sense of dread and foreboding combined with a touch of knowing and self-referential humor that is palpable in these first lines of FULL MOON RISING by Keri Arthur.
  
  Indeed, the sentiment may strike readers as familiar, cliché even, but FULL MOON RISING is hardly a conventional thriller. Indeed, when the protagonist Riley bemoans the "Hollywood images" of paranormal creatures of the night --- the myths and half-truths propagated by popular stories of the supernatural --- those essentially familiar first two lines become imbued with the humor and self-awareness of a writer who knows what is expected of the genre she is working in and who is determined to undermine the obvious and defy the predictable.
  
  For Riley is by no means your typical femme fatal; instead, this sultry and wryly funny redhead is a rare crossbreed of Vampire and Werewolf. And her uncommon embodiment of the abilities of two such fierce and powerful supernatural beings is both a blessing and a curse as she battles unseen enemies and formidable foes who are targeting her --- and seem to want something from her --- because of her special abilities.
  
  To complicate matters further, Riley's troubles begin in conjunction with the waxing of the moon --- a time when she and her fellow werewolves are unable to resist the call of the moon and the urge to mate that comes with it. Vivacious Riley usually welcomes the turning of the moon and the powerful urges it brings, but now those urges prove dangerous as she cannot resist the invitations of her less-than-trustworthy werewolf lover Talon, nor can she deny her desire for Quinn, a vampire with a long past and murky motives. As Riley's world is turned upside down --- beginning with the kidnapping of her brother --- and she no longer knows who to trust, Quinn seems at times to be both a threat and a loving protector. But one thing is certain: Riley's desire for him is stronger than any she has ever experienced before.
  
  Keri Arthur treats the potentially chilling and unsettling themes of creatures of the night with a decidedly light touch. The danger Riley faces is real and deadly, and readers will turn each page with nail-baiting anticipation. But they also will find themselves chuckling at Riley's droll observations and dryly witty turns of phrase. She may be a rare and sought-after member of the paranormal race, but she also is a young woman with a powerful sexuality and a temper to match. Indeed, Riley's unabashed acknowledgment of the power of her lust is refreshing; her embodiment of werewolf traits renders her sexuality more a physical than an emotional need, thus freeing her to indulge her desire brazenly and without apology.
  
  Furthermore, Arthur has a marvelous imagination and sharp attention to details. Her conception of a night club specifically catering to werewolves in heat and her descriptions of the events that take place within its exclusive walls are titillating, amusing and original. Much like Riley's unabashed sexuality, there is something bordering on political in her portrayal of a place where sexual pleasure knows no stigma and there is no shame associated with passionate indulgence among all creeds of night creatures.
  
  The novel itself is a rather brazen and unapologetically indulgent treat of a read. It's easy to see why Keri Arthur is a much-lauded romantic thriller writer in her native Australia, and she should have no problem striking the fancy of American readers who hunger for harrowing and salacious tales of lust, intrigue and the paranormal. Furthermore, the ending of her American debut is just short of a tease, and is bound to whet the appetites of readers and even make them howl for more.
  
  --- Reviewed by Jennifer Krieger
  
  
• Great new start for a series
  By A3AFCZTWL5VNNR on 2006-02-13
  Keri Arthur has brought a new series to the genre - We meet Riley and Rhoan Jenson, employees of the Directorate of Other Races - twins who are half werewolf and half vampire - in a quest to find missing field agents, and to find who is trying to perfect cloning by experimenting on the missing - The book is filled with powerful characters, including a gorgeous ancient vampire, Quinn, who joins in the quest to find a friend who is so old that he participated in the original Olympics! The cast of characters is fascinating and sets up sequels - Fans of vamps and weres will be pleased -
  
  
• not enought of a plot line!!!!!
  By A3DNKOEXB9XU5 on 2007-01-03
  I never thought i would find a novel that was worse because of the sex scenes!!!!!!!!!!! WWWWAAAAYYYY to much sex.( i usally can never get enought, but this book the sex scenes were more developed than the actual plot line).
  I had to force myself to finish the novel!!! I have read hundereds of paramormal romances and this was one of the worst I have read!~~~~~~
  I kind of enjoyed Riley and Quinn's plot line, but it looked like to me that the autor wanted a book that was ALL about the sex and nothing about the actual story. I know that I am repeating myself, but even the sex scenes were the same all throught out the book. Do not get me wrong, I love erotic novels- the more graphic the better! BUT THEY SHOULD ALSO HAVE to include a fully developed plot line.
  If you like a book all about the sex scenes (NOT GREAT ONES ON TOP OF THAT!!) this is the book for you! IF NOT DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY
  
  
• She's making a series out of this?
  By A2EWBSPUPNMNBP on 2007-01-29
  While this proved to be a quick read, I really felt that I shouldn't have been able to skim chapters at a time and still understand what was going on. That's a tell-tale sign that there's very little plot and character development. The fact that Arthur ends her book with a semi-cliffhanger was yet another disappointment. I would much rather have had a more sensical plot in one book, than a contrive one over multiple books.
  
  Her main character Riley is unrelatable. There's no nuiance to her. She's yet another hardboiled female character to join the ranks of the over-exposed and increasing derived Anita Blake character.
  
  Even though this was placed in the genre of "paranormal romance," I found very little in the story to identify it as a romance. Sex does not a romance make. The promiscuity of the werewolves make them very ineffective characters.
  
  Also, the concept of a lab for testing creatures of the underworld is such an unoriginal concept. It's been around since Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" and has been revived in sometimes intelligent ways (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Kelley Armstrong's "Stolen"), but this rehash came across as staid.
  
  Many authors have caught the wave of paranormal fiction, and those who have done is successfully have taken the time to bring a sense of originality and intelligence to their characters and stories. Ms. Arthur's novel falls way short of such aspirations.
  
  
• great supernatural romance
  By AFVQZQ8PW0L on 2006-02-01
  Riley and Rhoan are two hybrid siblings, half vampire and half werewolf with the wolf side dominating both of them. They keep their nature secret because the werewolves look down at the rare hybrid. Both work for the Directorate of Other Races, an organization that polices the supernatural and keeps humans safe from the ones that are evil. Riley enjoys sex with different partners because the heat of the moon demands she have sex as the full moon rises or she will be hit with moon madness, a state where she is not in control of her faculties and can commit damage without know she is doing it.
  
  Although she has two fantastic sex partners, she is aroused when a sexy powerful vampire knocks on her door asking to speak to Rhoan who is out on an assignment. When she senses he is in danger, she with the help of her new vampire friend Quinn rescues her brother from a place that is collecting sperm and eggs from the supernatural community against their will. This ties into the disappearance of several guardians who are part of the Directorate and an illegal cross species clones project to create the perfect soldier. As Riley, Rhoan, their boss and Quinn investigate, attempts are made on their lives and Riley will soon learn the pain of betrayed by those she trusted most.
  
  Keri Arthur is one of the best supernatural romance writers in the world and the best to come out of Australia. After the audience reads this book, they will want to read her backlist (see imajinnbooks.com) because they are as good as FULL MOON RISING. There is enough romance, action and intrigue to satiate the most discerning reader. Character development is fantastic making readers want to read future books starring Riley, an incredible person who will do what is necessary to keep her loved ones safe. There are several loose threads dangling so readers can be assured of at least one sequel and this reviewer can hardly wait.
  
  Harriet Klausner
  
  
  
• I put it down pretty quickly.
  By A3BVK510YAUBB2 on 2006-04-13
  Honestly, I didn't really care for the heroine's unabashed promiscuity. Paranormal or no, it *is* supposed to be a romance. Perhaps, in the end the hero was the only one scratching her itch, but alas I couldn't endure until then. If you like that kinda thing...sure, fine, whatever...read and enjoy, but I'm not a fan.
  
  
  
  
• A little disappointed
  By A2ZHYKR374FGYK on 2006-05-25
  I did not have a problem with the plot - in itself that point was interesting, however one of the main char. Riley would not have sex for 3 - 5 hours if she really thought that something was wrong concerning her brother Rhoan. I don't care how driven a werewolf would supposedly be during a moon cycle - that is totally out of the question. I also felt cheated that you got to the end of the book without actually putting an end to the conspiracy. I understand that the author wanted to continue into another book, but this is a really sloppy way of doing it - perhaps she just should have written a longer book and finished the story.
  
  
• This book deserves Five Stars
  By A2Q3LJFJICS19A on 2006-02-01
  I will avoid the description since its listed above. I just want to say this is a fantastic book that should not be missed. I bought it the afternoon it was released and stayed up til two oclock in the morning because I could not put this book down, on a work night too.
  This book has a fast moving plot, with just enough action to keep the read very exciting. If you like vampires and werewolves with a wonderful designed back drop you will love this one as much as I did. Thanks Ms. Arthur for 8 great hours of reading pleasure.
  
  
• Potentially interesting debut but not quite as imaginative as it seems...
  By A3AVJCB1ZD6ZY5 on 2006-02-12
  I won't belabor the book and plot description. If you want a plotline, look at Harriet Klausner's review.
  
  True, there's nothing new under the sun, but "Full Moon Rising" takes a very similar line to one in Charlaine Harris' novels (e.g. having to deal with a naked vampire with amnesia) and does not handle the storyline near as well.
  
  On the other hand, her erotica is more consensual and less demeaning than Laurell K. Hamilton's. The sex is a fun romp and worth reading if that's what you're reading this type of novel for.
  
  Both Riley and the world they live in, are interesting and fun enough to give another try, despite some misgivings.
  
  
• Theres a Plot somewhere...
  By AJNTI3EWXRM8M on 2006-06-22
  I'm sorry but I thought this book was horrible. If someone asked me what this book was about all I could probably tell them was sex. All the characters wanted was sex SEX SEX. The story line was so buried beneath it all, it was just ridiculous. The only reason I gave the book two stars was because the others description was fairly good. This book is a long way from the Anita Blake Series which actually has a face paced storyline, and characters that have developed personalities...
  
  
• EXCITING, ENTERTAINING, AND ALMOST UTTERLY BELIEVABLE
  By A3M174IC0VXOS2 on 2006-09-22
  
  Australian author Keri Arthur has a gift - the unique ability to mix romance with the supernatural and make it exciting, entertaining, and almost utterly believable.
  
  With Full Moon Rising we meet Riley Jensen, a young person headed home, to the apartment she shares with her twin brother, Rhoan. It is a Friday night, after midnight. There is a full moon, the power of which she feels "shimmering in her veins." And rightly so, as Keri isn't just any young person, she is a blend of hybrid and werewolf blessed or perhaps cursed with unique senses. The night doesn't feel right to her, it's far too quiet. We hear:
  
  "Of course, curiosity not only killed cats, but it often took out inquisitive werewolves, too. Or, in my case, half weres. And my nose for trouble had caused me more grief over the years than I wanted to remember."
  
  There is even more grief in store for Riley when she discovers that Rhoan is not at home and she is unable to contact him. He works for Melbourne's Directorate of Other Races, an organization that looks into all things nonhuman. Not only was investigation done, but these so called guardians also determined the fate of their captives. If killing needed to be done it was Rhoan who did it.
  
  While Riley also worked for the same organization she was more of a minion, as she said she didn't have the ability to do any research - all she could find was trouble. And there's trouble aplenty when she first meets an extremely bothersome vampire intent on doing her in and then finds herself aroused by the moon heat which fills her with an uncontrollable urge to mate.
  
  Actress Tamara Lovatt Smith with a voice suitably Australian, distinct, and self-possessed gives a commendable reading of this story of a Werewolf/Vampire in love and danger.
  
  - Gail Cooke
  
  
  
• Three and a Half Stars
  By A3PMM0NFVEJGK9 on 2006-11-15
  This book was enjoyable. It offers a few new twists on the vampire and werewolf genre. Also offers a location twist in that it is set in Australia, a little in the future, where Supes live pretty openly. Instead of present day midwest, like most books out currently dealing with werewolves.
  
  Riley and her twin brother Rhoan are a very rare werewolf and vampire mix. The twins work for the government agency that regulates Supes. The story centers around Riley's search for her missing twin; who she fears has gotten mixed up in whatever has been killing gaurdians in Melbourne. Too further complicate matters a sexy nude vampire, Quinn, has shown up at her door. Quinn claims to know Rhoan, but distrusts werewolves. Riley is very drawn to Quinn but does not know if she can trust him, even though he seems to hold information necessary to find Rhoan. Her boss is trying to force her into being a gaurdian, a sort of supernatural hit man, inexchange for helping Riley. Plus Riley fears that her and her brothers secret mixed heritage may be discovered.
  
  As the book continues Riley finds out that things go much deeper than gaurdians being killed and that this mystery may hit a little too close to home.
  
  Things are further complecated by the week of the full moon, an intire week in which werewolves must have sex. This is where some significant plot flaws/devices come in. It is pretty hard to believe that werewolves could ever keep a job if they have to take a week every month to have sex. Or that werewolves were ever able to hide among humans for the same reason. Plus Riley seems to know nothing about her "mates", which of course gets her into further trouble.
  
  Personally I had no problems with Riley, or anyone else, having multiple partners. If you dislike nonmonogamous characters or sudden sexual incounters, this book is probably not for you. There are several instances where sex is a rather heavy handed device. It seems like the author used sex to solve plot problems. Also every man in this book is fascinated by Riley's boobs, even in the middle of fight. The "hey look at these" defense is annoying at the best of times. There are a few other plot holes. But I am hopefull that they can be explained later on in the series.
  
  I found the book enjoyable despite some flaws. I will give the next book in the series a shot, because there is some potental here, but it is not one of my must reads.
  
  
  
  
• Nothing new here...move along please....
  By A32GGXUECOZFRC on 2007-04-04
  I picked up 'Full Moon Rising' on a lark as I was searching for new authors in the genre and I was hoping for a read like Patricia Briggs or Carrie Vaughn. What Keri Arthur delivers is a paranormal romance plain and simple. If that is what you like then read this book. If you prefer urban fantasy then go with the other two authors mentioned above.
  
  I found I really didn't care about or identify with Riley's predicament or life and I've read better sex (and better plots) in other books. I have skimmed the other books in this series and I have to say that they are just the same.
  
  Again, if you are a paranormal romance reader (Feehan, Krinard, or the like) then you'll probably enjoy this series.
  
  
  
• Dreadful
  By A7QTAMCFQSP80 on 2007-08-22
  The story could be interesting, but the writing is very disappointing. The sex scenes are just *awful*, and the pacing is off. Save your money - this is another author trying to cash in on the sex-and-supernatural trend.
  
  
• A big disappointment
  By A2SA5FQBD9BF68 on 2006-03-07
  I heard the author interviewed on National Public Radio and from the novel's description thought it sounded like an interesting science-fiction plot: creatures we think of as being mythological (vampires, werewolves, etc.) actually existing and being integrated into human society. What I got was a plot that could have been handled in 25 pages and a book about the attempts of a nymphomaniacal secret agent to do her work while either having sex or thinking about having sex every waking moment.
  
  I've truly enjoyed Anne Rice's erotic vampires. Keri Arthur's vamps and were-beings aren't erotic at all, merely terminally horny. I'm not sure who this book's target audience might be, but it certainly isn't this fan of the science-fiction and horror genres.
  
  
• good!
  By A20JY8RL920U8H on 2006-06-12
  It read like the Anita Blake Series. The story is told from Riley's viewpoint. She has a twin brother, Rhoan, who has disappeared. They both work for the same agency. The only difference is that Rhoan is an assasin. What makes the twins different from the rest of the characters, is that they are dhampires. They are a combination of werewolves and vampires. Rhoan is more vampire than wolf and needs to drink blood. Riley is more werewolf and has more telepathic abilities. She has a stronger sexual urge than her brother.
  
  I love the fact that the characters in this book are not sexually inhibited. I would think that other creatures or species especially ones that are like wolves are not afraid of their nakedness. The description of the clubs is interesting.
  
  Quinn, a very old vampire, shows up on Riley's doorstep and claims to know Rhoan. Riley does not trust him which is refreshing that a female character does not immediately trust and fall in love with the male character.
  
  I did find the book kind of predictable perhaps, it is because I have read so many other books like this one. It is refreshing to read that the setting is in Australia. It is very different for this genre. I did want this book to continue. At the end, it did feel like a cliffhanger. I bet that she is going to have a sequel. I want to see what happens with Riley and Rhoan next.
  
  
• Thoroughly enjoyed it
  By A35EM5EBSHJJR4 on 2006-10-16
  I am a fan of Laurell K. Hamilton and this book reminds me of the first part of her Anita Blake series. The sex is good, the characters are well written, and all in all it's an enjoyable read.
  
  I'm looking forward to learning more about the characters as they develop exploring more about Quinn's past.
  
  
• Better than Rusty Anita Blake!!!!!!
  By A2BZ7MYTSNYMEW on 2007-01-03
  Now I will take exception to the comparison to Anita Blake that some reviewers are making. I ASOLUTELY HATE the Anita Blake Series...see some of my reviews. I think Mrs. Arthur's plot is way better than Mrs. Hamilton's. I know that some will hate me for my comment but it is the truth.
  
  First I think this book was extremely easy to read and follow. I read it in 2 days...and that is saying a lot because I have two kids, but it was Christmas break.
  
  The plot is simple...Rhoan is missing and his twin, half-breed (half werewolf, half vampire= dhampire)sister Riley senses that he is in trouble...while finding herself in trouble because it is almost a full moon, that time of the month that she demands sexual satisfaction. While unraveling the plot behind, her brothers capture and a half-naked vampire who she found on her doorstep, and handling two lovers, she finds herself continuously in danger. You can read it, there is so much more and for a first novel, I think Arthur has set the stage for several sequels to come. When the story evolves (much quicker than those Hamilton novels where you have to stomach sex for the sake of sex) you find that someone (I have made a guess who it will eventually turn out to be) but wishes to make the perfect race of hybrids. There is of course, a plot within a plot (one of her lovers was her pregnant with the "perfect" werewolf...he doesn't realize that she is a halfbreed)....but there are "secret agencies to police the paranormal", secret experiments, and a very old vampire with a broken heart. While the rescue of her brother appears to be the goal of the novel, we soon learn that perhaps what the "secret" puppeter wants is something greater, perhaps Riley herself. I think future novels will answer a lot of questions and hopefully resolve the issues between Riley and Quinn (the vampire who desires her, but won't risk another broken heart). Hopefully, Arthur will make the next better than the first.
  
  
• Get It From The Library
  By A2S7HV7FGKVHNP on 2007-05-02
  I'm usually pretty easy-going about most of the books I read. I give them the benefit of the doubt. This is one book that I had high hopes for when I saw that others in the series have already been published. Unfortunately, this was a let-down.
  
  First of all, the positives.
  I liked the general idea of the Directorate being an agency of Weres and Vampires. The universe the author created has some interesting takes on the society not frequented by humans and this seems to have some definite potential for story lines. I also liked the futuristic and science aspects that were introduced and thought it was interesting to have the story take place in the future. It was also nice to see an Australian setting rather than someplace like yet another story set in New Orleans. I thought that some of the characters were appealing with their bit of mystery (such as Quinn and Liander). And, at the start, I had high hopes that this book would have a likeable, intelligent and strong female lead character who would combine Werewolve and vampire traits in some unique way.
  
  What didn't cut it for me was the fact that this lead character, Riley, wasn't likeable or smart at all. She came across as a hormone driven hussy who has no idea what happens to her when she's "mating" with some men. Even though it is established that she is at the beck and call of the moon, I still didn't buy her uncontrollable urge to mate with the nearest willing male no matter how inconvenient or how physically incapable she might be at the time. To top it off, she's not even clever enough or able to control herself enough to avoid "mates" that she knows are trouble after she realizes that she is uncomfortable with them and has times where she doesn't remember what's happened during her "escapades". Then, in spite of her personal beliefs, she'll sleep with these guys one more time anyway... just because of work and the moon, y'know... It's not her fault. Shades of Anita Blake anyone?
  
  In the end, I'm glad I took the book out of the library and didn't purchase it myself. I may even read the next in the series (from the library, of course) just to see if my hopes pan out at all and Riley somehow redeems herself. I would love to see the character turn into a stronger, more controlled woman. But truthfully, my hopes aren't high.
  
  
• Vampires and Werewolfs ,Oh my
  By AXEWCJKYWO3H5 on 2006-02-12
  After reading a few pages of Full Moon Rising my reaction was "What utter rubbish" But as I continued on, I began to realize that it was a well written story even if it was in a genre that I was not familiar with. Riley Jenson and her twin brother Rhoan are Dhampires, part wolf and part vampire,born of a wolf who was raped by a vampire within an hour of its emerging from the grave.
  This appears to give them great powers,with the ability to change from wolf to human form at will. It also gives them a lust for sex that grows stronger as the moon gets closer to full. This lust makes for some very graphic sex scenes which leave very little to the imagination.
  I doubt very much that I will seek out more books of this type although it was an eye opening experience.
  
  
• Good story, but too much sex . . .
  By A4PRJ24XEQJ1X on 2006-03-24
  I think the story was interesting, and I liked heroine Riley, but she spent too much time "in-heat", and it was a little hard to get into the story because so much time was spent on the sex. I like a story with attraction and heat and lust, and yes even some sex on occasion, but this almost got boring. The story did keep me interested enough to care how it ended, and I will read the next one - I just hope we can get into the story a little more and leave a few things to the imagination!
  
  

• Kissing Sin (Riley Jensen, Guardian, Book 2)
• Tempting Evil (Riley Jensen, Guardian, Book 3)
• Dangerous Games (Riley Jensen, Guardian, Book 4)
• Embraced By Darkness (Riley Jensen, Guardian, Book 5)
• The Darkest Kiss (Riley Jensen, Guardian, Book 6)