Otherworld by Emma Jane and Liz Powell

71grRFrXTCL._SL1500_TITLE: Otherworld
AUTHOR: Emma Jane and Liz Powell
GENRE: Contemporary/Paranormal/Mystery
LENGTH: Super Novel (251 pages)
PUBLISHER: Torquere Press (November 4th, 2014)
HEAT LEVEL: Low
HEART RATING: ♥♥♥2.5Hearts
BLURB: Archetypal English toff William “Liam” Barnes is in big trouble. He’s borrowed money from Irish gangster Davey McGrath with one simple condition. Get a special prism from Matthew Luttrell – seducing Matthew if he has to – and bring it back. But the prism isn’t with Matthew, and Liam makes a decision he can’t undo, meaning he’s twenty thousand pounds in debt to a vicious gangster and has no idea where to find the prism.

That is, until he meets stoic Irishman Jim Henvey, the real owner of the prism, who has a cruel Demi-goddess of a mother on the warpath for him. Liam and Jim quickly find themselves tied up in each other’s messes, and with more than just the mortal world out to get them, they must find their way out of a battle between dimensions and still have time to figure out their feelings for each other. Or will they just sink deeper into trouble?

PRODUCT LINK: http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=4290

REVIEWER: Prime

REVIEW: I have to admit, just the cover and the blurb had me intrigued. Starting the story, we dive right into the action, where Liam is desperately trying save his hide by finding a mysterious prism after borrowing money.

The tone of book was immediately dark and I found myself concerned whether or not I would find sympathy for Liam. One thing is for certain, Liam has himself in a right proper mess. Although I wasn’t entirely impressed with Liam, but this has nothing to do with how he was written, it was the character himself. He was entirely too selfish, but that was the reason why he got into the situation he found himself in and I enjoyed watching him grow up as his mistakes just keep coming back to bite him. He becomes desperate to make amends. It is in his romance with Jim that we see the majority of Liam’s development.

On the other side of the story is Jim. We are introduced to him quickly. He has complicated family life, so it seems. He seems to be keeper to his fifteen-year-old twin sisters, who seem intent on getting Jim in trouble when it comes to their mysterious, evil mother. He also has the mysterious prism, which Liam is hunting for. Jim develops as a character as Jim learns that he can indeed trust Liam, despite the trouble that Liam has brought into their lives by going after the prism. Really, Jim is extremely generous when it comes to Liam.

Since the story began in the middle of action, the momentum took a little while to build sufficiently (at least in my mind), but that was because there was numerous pieces of information which we needed to know before going too far into the story. I can’t help but be impressed by all the threads that the authors use which links Liam and Jim. This includes numerous minor characters, including Jim’s family.

In between all that, there is the mysterious, mystical prism. Ultimately, the authors have managed to weave a pleasing tapestry, with an action packed ending all the loose ends tied up for a quick happily ever after.

However, some things had me thinking. I find myself wondering why Matthew was given such a prominent role in the blurb when he is barely in the book. It is important to point out his character’s appearance does play a pivotal role to Liam’s decisions that sets him on his path that leads to Liam. Another point, the prism that is key to the entire story, I liked how it remained mysterious by only vague allusions and limited displays of its power, which is the complete opposite for me normally because I’m usually big on wanting details.

To be honest, the story didn’t capture my imagination at the beginning and certainly didn’t get me emotionally. I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t particularly like it either and for that reason, I had trouble figuring out my rating, which in my mind lies somewhere between 2.5 and 3 (I wonder if anyone would appreciate a 2.75 middle ground rating?).

Perhaps the reason for this there is too much intrigue, it pisses me off and I’m liable to yell at the page. I realise that this will be a tough read for those who don’t like too much and complex intrigue. This is a proper mystery, a well-written story bound with a number of elements.

Regardless of my feelings, it had me intrigued until the end.