Title: The Quality of Mercy
Author: Jay Lygon
Cover Artist: N/A
Publisher: Torquere
Amazon: N/A
Genre: Paranormal M/M, Fantasy
Length: 5.7K, 15 pages
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
Review Summary: Brandr goes from being a Viking to Kyle’s new toy.
THE BLURB
A thousand years ago, Brandr and his band of Vikings were the scourge of the Baltic. Now he’s a romance novelist living quietly in the Hollywood Hills, until newly-turned vampire Kyle shows up on his doorstep. All Brandr wants to do is get ditzy, sweet, sexy Kyle out of his life. It seems so easy at first, just drop the boy off at his house and get away as quickly as possible. Except that Kyle lives with a violent pimp, and has no idea how to survive as a vampire. Just like a hero out of one of his novels, Brandr can’t resist coming to Kyle’s rescue.
THE REVIEW
Poor Brandr. What’s a former Viking turned writer to do when his rescued waif needs even more help? The solution is obvious.
Brandr was in a writing slump and was so furious the words wouldn’t come for his next story that he flung his laptop off the balcony of his cliffside home in the Los Angeles Hills since he couldn’t give it a decent burial like in the old days. Unfortunately the next sound he heard was “ouch.” He couldn’t see who was in the canyon in the dark even with his vampire vision, but before he thought of investigating, the laptop came whizzing back and almost hit him but with his enhanced reflexes he ducked out of the way. There was, however, one casualty – the glass door, which shattered. Then a voice came out of the darkness enquiring how to get home which of course he ignored since he didn’t welcome visitors, and in any case he had a lot of glass to clean up so that he didn’t get cut. He loved blood but not on himself.
A short while later the doorbell rang which he didn’t answer, seconds later the knocking started which he ignored. Then the door flew open and he saw a young man covered in dirt but he wasn’t so dirty that Brandr couldn’t see that he was very good looking. He told him to leave because he knew that if he stayed much longer he would drag him to bed but his uninvited guest said he didn’t know his way home, and as Brandr turned to close the door he cut his foot on a piece of glass and the next thing he heard was a hiss and when he looked around his guest’s fangs had dropped. Brandr couldn’t believe his bad luck – now he had to take care of a vampire who didn’t have a clue how to take care of himself
His name was Kyle and he was a recently made vampire. He turned tricks for a vicious pimp who controlled him and took every dime he earned. All Kyle wanted was directions back to the hell hole that was his life. Brandr, who wanted to get rid of Kyle despite the fact that he really needed him in his bed or any surface where he could have sex with him, decided that getting rid of him would be best, so he drove him home. Here’s a sample of their conversation:
“Why don’t you have a better car? Aren’t vampires really rich? You should have a Ferrari. I like red ones.” Kyle bounced in the passenger seat of Brandr’s gray economy sedan.
“First –keep your hands off my radio! Second –a Ferrari would stand out, even in Los Angeles.”
“Oh, I get it. You’re totally in stealth mode. Ninja vampire.” Kyle made karate chop motions with his hands while making sounds like an extra in a Bruce Lee movie.
“Is there some medication you should be taking?”
“Why does everyone ask that?” Kyle slammed back in the seat and pouted for all of two seconds before sitting up again and pointing.
When Brandr saw where Kyle lived and his pimp he knew he couldn’t leave him there even though his own motives would not stand a thorough investigation, and since Kyle had no place else to go he had no choice. At least that’s what the poor sod told himself.
Kyle in residence was just delightful and he spent his time tormenting and tempting Brandr by displaying his naked body until he was going crazy. Maybe there was a silver lining – Kyle could be his muse.
This book is very, very funny and you will be in stitches with Kyle’s antics and Brandr’s life after his home is invaded.
The Quality of Mercy is the first book in the Bonded series. I’ll review Twice Blest, another fun short, then the two novellas next week. Even though I rated this book 3.5 stars I really liked it and I hope you do too.
