Here’s my review of the second instalment of Marcia Meara’s delightful supernatural tale
The Emissary 2: To Love Somebody by Marcia Meara
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Jake and Dodger return for more adventures, looking for mortals to nudge away from making those wrong choices that ruin lives. They, and Azrael, are making up the rules as they go along, which leads to complications, as does Dodger’s realisation that having died so young, there are some things he’s missed out on.
This novella follows on directly from The Emissary, and you’ll need to read that first to grasp quite what is going on. As I’ve come to expect from this author, the writing is impeccable, the dialogue superb and often marvellously witty, the characters deeply engaging, and the exploration of human nature by turn, tragic and uplifting. Jake and Dodger have much to learn, and this book takes them a long way along that road in a very satisfying manner.
This does read as the middle of a book (which I believe it will be, once all three parts are released), and as such, I missed the driving force of an urgent plot, meaning I read it at a leisurely pace, rather than an obsessive one. The scenario at the start is not resolved, although the end of the book promises it might be in the next instalment, which I very much look forward to reading.
I highly recommend these books to anyone with an open mind for the supernatural. Don’t expect kick-ass action, but do read them if you enjoy stories of human nature and drama, with entertaining characters.
Find this book HERE
deborahjay 
What a lovely way to start my week! THANKS so much for such a great review, Debby! And yep, I did find writing the middle book a challenge. Hope I managed to do it well enough to entertain readers, while setting things up for the next one. I felt this was the place to make the bond between Jake and Dodger absolutely unbreakable. It needs to be at that level before the last part of their tale is told. And there were certain other things that needed to happen at this point, too. I tried to get all of those in there, so they’d be in play for the final installment.
I’m so glad you enjoy these three characters. They have become pretty special to me, and I admit, I’ll be sad to wrap this one up. But I really enjoyed the challenge of novella writing. I’m a person of many words (ask my husband), and cutting my usual 400 page story down to 105 or so was good exercise for me. 🙂
Thanks again for such a great review, and I hope it gave you some laugh out loud moments, along with a few sniffles there at the end, maybe. 🙂 ❤
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Marcia, I love your characters, and their interactions are so natural and so rewarding, and frequently hilarious, I’m so looking forward to reading the rest of their tale 😀
Good on you for dividing this book into 3 novellas – smart marketing move, I wish I could do that with mine!
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Oh, what a lovely thing to say about my characters, Debby! I try to make them fun, interesting, and worth investing one’s time in. (That’s what I like in a book, so that’s what I aim for.)
I’d read novellas are super popular right now, so I thought maybe I’d try my hand at one. Then I realized, I needed a couple more to tell the whole tale, or it would be another novel. 😀 It was a learning experience, and I’m encouraged to try more one of these days.
Your books are good just as they are, and no, I haven’t forgotten I owe you a review on The Prince’s Son, which I loved! I swear, it’s coming. I’ve had some issues going on lately that have really bogged me down, but I’m on the recovery now, and plan to get caught up on marketing AND reviews, both. That’s my story, an’ I’m stickin’ to it! 😀 ❤
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Life gets in the way sometimes, doesn’t it? I’d love to write more novellas in both my series, indeed I have several planned, but I really want to get the main books in the Five Kingdoms set finished before I dive off into side characters and their stories – so many stories to tell, so little time!
Glad you hear you are recovering now, and I hope you manage to get back up to speed before life throws you yet another curve ball!
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Reblogged this on The Write Stuff and commented:
What a lovely way to start my week! Hope you’ll check out Deborah Jay’s super review of The Emissary 2, and will pass it along on your social media. THANKS!!! And my heartfelt thanks to Debby for her kind and inspiring words! ❤
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Congrats, Marcia! Great review! 😘🤗
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Thank you so much, Janice! This got my day off to a bang-up start, and I’m so glad Debby enjoyed the second installment. I’m looking forward to writing #3 as soon as I finish my WIP, Wake-Robin Ridge Book 4: The Light. OH, for more writing hours, eh? 🙂 ❤
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💕
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Congratulations, Marcia a lovely review. Thanks for sharing, Deborah.
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Thanks, Robbie! So pleased to learn that Debby enjoyed this one! A perfect way to start my day and my week. 🙂 ❤
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Fab Deb. This book is coming up soon! Loved book 1, can’t wait to read ❤
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Thanks, Debby! Hope you’ll enjoy it when you get there. These guys have become pretty special to me, and I’ll be sad to wrap it up with Book #3. But who knows? Maybe they’ll return someday. (Never say never, right?) 🙂 ❤
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Right on. Shame to lock up great characters! ❤
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I second that!
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Terrific review Deborah and congratulations Marcia..
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Thanks so much, Sally. I’m so pleased Debby enjoyed it, and I can’t wait to finish WRR4, so I can get back to the final installment! 🙂 ❤
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Pleasure Marcia.. and all good things are worth waiting for….♥
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Thanks Sally, I know I’ll enjoy one of Marcia’s even before I start it 😉
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Again, you say the NICEST things, Debby! And it makes me very happy to know you feel that way. 🙂 ❤
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😀
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Your reviews are always so enlightening, Debby. And congrats to Marcia on her next novella!
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Thank you Jacqui 😀
Like my novels, I like to write these as reviews I’d want to read. I guess it’s working!
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Thanks, Jacqui! And Debby’s reviews are great. She has caused me to add many a book to my TBR pile. I THINK that’s a good thing. 😀 Even if I’m slow to get to them. 😉
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😀 😀 😀 I aim to be of service…
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