A Familiar Face by Marie Harte
Self-Published
Erotic Shape-shifter, Sci-fi/Fantasy
ISBN: MRHRTX000001
Reviewed by Jo




Mallory West comes from a very powerful witch family, but she is just a trade witch and has to work extra jobs just to keep her rent-controlled apartment.  Things definitely don’t come easy for Mallory, heck she even has to be her own familiar because a good familiar costs a bundle.  Always in need of extra money, Mallory easily agreed to work an extra shift when her boss asked. When it was over and she was exhausted, Mallory didn’t even think to question being allowed to rest upstairs in the special rooms.  That is until she woke up.

A War Leader for the Talians, Core believes he has discovered a Phrellian spy when a door opens up and he faces an unknown woman.  Since they are in a pleasure house and he believes sex will give him the answers he wants from his little spy, Core does what’s natural and discovers not only the best sex he and Mallory have had in ages but it also tells him that there is something very special about Mallory.

Mallory can’t believe she has discovered a man who could be the twin of her boss, well if her boss was gray-skinned.  Even more unbelievable is the sex.  Both Mallory and Core have questions about what is going on and not really a lot of time to find the answers in a world that is at war.  Mallory might be a so-so trade witch at home but here her powers are outstanding and helping the Talians brings her almost as much pleasure as Core does.  However there still lingers the question about how Mallory got to Core’s world and just who sent her.  Both Core and Mallory know they need those answers before they can completely give in to the passion that rages between them.  When Core and Mallory find the door back to Mallory’s world will the answers free Mallory and Core to live and love as they want or will they be torn apart forever in two different worlds?

Accepting the chance to rest changes two lives forever when worlds collide in A Familiar Face.  Mallory should have been a bit more questioning when her boss offers her the chance to rest after a difficult shift but I think it was a good thing that she didn’t question it.  Mallory faces the world and her family with her own values, even if it means a hand to mouth existence.  Core deals with death and loss in a world constantly at war for many years now.  I knew when Core and Mallory met that sparks would fly and boy did they.  I enjoy watching as Mallory learned the true value of her powers and what they could mean.  I also enjoyed watching as Core learned that unexpected discoveries didn’t always mean it was bad.  The passion between Core and Mallory was hot and instant. Yet they both knew that before they could believe it was theirs forever, they would need to find the answers to why Mallory was sent to Core.  Those answers were even more eye opening.  A Familiar Face is erotic, fun in places and filled with suspense with each page.  A Familiar Face is a great addition to any sci-fi and fantasy library.