I had actually read Mona Lisa Awakening by Sunny awhile ago, but it was before I started Literary Escapism, so I decided to re-read them again so I can post reviews. With that said, I LOVE this series. It’s such a new take on shapeshifters that it’s refreshing. Before I go on, let me show you the blurb. I know I usually give you my own synopsis, but I don’t want to give anything away and I’m afraid I will if I try. So here it is…
From the time she was an orphan child, Mona Lisa knew she was different—but she never knew how different until a man of otherworldly beauty arrived during her night shift in the ER. Gryphon is hurting and hunted…and he attracts her as no man ever has before. He is a Monère, one of the children of the moon—and what’s more, so is she…
Sounds different, doesn’t it. I love the spin Sunny gives for her shapeshifters. Children of the Moon and they spend each full moon “basking” in it’s glory.
It’s very easy to get involved with this story. It may seem like Mona Lisa easily accepts this new lifestyle she has blindly fallen into, but it’s like she’s always known there was something out there that was missing and everything just clicks for her. Instead of a damsel who has been thrown into an impossible situation, she goes with it. She accepts everything that is thrown at her and deals with it as she’s able.
As for the plot, it was done really well. The story flows evenly and it’s not hard to find yourself inhaling the story in mere hours. I know I did. I had forgotten how effortless the writing seems and how all the transitions work to keep you steady on the plot.
Overall, Mona Lisa Awakening will definitely make you want to continue reading about Mona Lisa and her new found family. With the first novel, we’ve seen her get established in her new position. In Mona Lisa Blossoming, we’ll see how her new subordinates take to her new leadership and how well she adjusts to all the new pressures. The Monere series is one that once you read the first novel, you’ll instantly want to go out and get the following books. So I definitely recommend buying all the novels in this series and then starting it. It would be well worth your money.
Mona Lisa Awakening is followed by a story in the anthology Over the Moon; then goes to her second novel Mona Lisa Blossoming; continues with the story in On the Prowl; goes back to her third novel, Mona Lisa Craving; and will continue with her fourth novel, Mona Lisa Darkening, in January 2009.
Also reviewed by:
Amberkatze
Sounds like a good read to me. Nice review!
I’ve placed this book on my tbr list; it will get me reading in the shapeshifter genre, which I’ve been looking forward to.
Read these plus Lucinda Darkly the spinoff series. They are all hot hot hot !
Oh I definitely plan to get to Lucinda Darkly, however, since there was an awesome deal on the Monere series at Amazon, I couldn’t resist getting the three when I knew I shouldn’t. I couldn’t justify Lucinda as well. :)