Reviewed by Dan
TITLE: Greymalkin (Melusine’s Cats Book 1)
SERIES: Melusine’s Cats
AUTHOR: Chris Quinton
PUBLISHER: Kouros Books
LENGTH: 188 Pages
BLURB:
The mutual attraction between Jesse and Will is a bonus for Melusine when her enemies close in and she needs to rebuild her war band—starting with Jesse, Will, and Greymalkin.
Jesse Adams is an ex-rugby player who’s gone into seclusion to avoid the media following a guilty verdict in a court case. Jesse has come to live for a year in Greenlynn, where he is supposed to be writing his biography.
Will Blake is an out and proud policeman, respected and liked by the community he helps to protect from rural crime.
When the two men meet their attraction is instant, but they have no idea their love will draw them into a centuries’ old conflict.
Melusine, a deity of rivers and seas, long ago lost the Battle of the Betrayal and is imprisoned in a nexus centred on the source of the Lynn River. She can only travel in the flowing water of her river, and cannot set foot on her banks. Her cats are not so bound. Neither pets nor familiars, they move freely between the realities, her agents among the humans who live along the Lynn.
When Melusine’s enemies come to the valley in search of revenge, Jesse and Will discover they have a part to play in the ancient feud. Do they commit to becoming part of a mythical triad, or leave the valley and forget they ever knew that magic exists?
REVIEW:
I’m really glad I picked up this book. As we begin we are introduced to Jesse Adams, a professional rugby player who was outed by his ex-boyfriend. When it turned out no one was really that bothered, a group of homophobes decided to take matters into their own hands and jumped him. Jesse is described as a very large 250 pound guy. Not someone you want to mess with. When he beat up the ringleader and the other three ran away, they reported that he attacked them. Jesse is charged and convicted of assault based on their testimony and loses his position on the rugby team.
He heads to a quaint village in Devon to reflect and write an autobiography which will detail his side of the story. When he arrives in the village, he faces hostility and someone writes a not very nice message about him not being welcome on his car windshield. Because of the writing, he meets a certain hot cop named Will Blake, who will play heavily in the story. Later, while out for his daily run, Jesse rescues a child who has fallen into the river. While the town was initially hostile, the rescue of the child makes people come to see the real Jesse. Jesse’s windshield is cleaned overnight and a “sorry” note is left on his car.
Jesse and Will are both runners, and agree to start running together. Through their daily runs, they begin to get to know each other and move their friendship into new areas. But things are not all as they seem in Greenlynn, Devon. An ancient war is still simmering on another plane with direct ties to the Lynn Valley. Before too long both men are dragged into a mythical realm, with giant felines and mysterious powerful beings. They discover there is much more to the river valley than meets the eye. How can they help in a battle that has ranged for centuries?
I loved the way the author brought the everyday and the mythical together. I am a particular fan of books that involve another plane and humans from our plane interacting with the other. This book shows great promise for the series. I will be eagerly awaiting news of a second book! I enjoyed this story, and recommend it.
RATING: 
BUY LINKS: