ARC: The Unseen by Thea Harrison (part 1 of 4 novellas)

Summary:

Saying goodbye to their old life in the Wyr demesne in New York may be hard, but Dragos and Pia are determined to create a new life in the Other land of Rhyacia.
At first, everything seems idyllic. Rhyacia is paradisiacal. Accompanied by old friends and new allies, the future looks safe and bright for Dragos, Pia, and baby Niall.
But strange things are happening beneath the picturesque façade. Items move unaccompanied, buildings collapse without justifiable cause, and even the most Powerful residents of Rhyacia can provide no logical explanation for the events transpiring. Whispered rumors point to something called the unseen.
As Dragos and Pia investigate, they uncover a greater mystery than they could have imagined, and they realize the startling truth…
They’re not alone in Rhyacia. The land Dragos had thought was uninhabited hides many secrets, a shocking history that’s not quite ready to be buried, and something more.
Something ancient, evil, and hungry. Something that wants to consume Dragos and take everything he holds dear.
Something that just may be powerful enough to overcome the dragon…

Review:

I think a lot of us forget that Pia is not even 30 years old yet nor have her and Dragos been mated even 5 years yet. Though, they are devoted to each other and have gone thru some heavy stuff they're relationship is still developing. As this story begins, Pia is coming to grips with another major chapter of her life ending as well another beginning. 

We also see nuances of Pia and Dragos's relationship as well as their interactions with other characters (sentinels and others). As the Unseen is  introduced we also get a glimpse into the growth that Pia's character has experienced and is experiencing. Dragos himself points it out. He follows it up with a gentle urging of allowing herself the room to be more of a leader and confident in her own skin.

 

Now enter the true idea of the Unseen. I knew going in that the book was going to end in a cliffhanger, but oh my goodness - did it ever. Dragos is gone now and Pia is in charge. My heart literally ceased to beat correctly as she laid out her directions to Graydon. It all became clear why the author chose to have Dragos give her such a pep talk. She would need it now as she is now the head Wyr in charge. She has to be confident in herself and trust her orders and choices as they all seek to get Dragos back. 

 

Rating: High and should be talked about

 

 

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ARC Lionheart (Moonshadow #3) by Thea Harrison

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From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Thea Harrison comes the final story in her spellbinding Moonshadow trilogy…

King Oberon reigned over his Dark Court in Lyonesse for centuries, until an assassination attempt laid him low. Now he lies unconscious in his snow-bound palace, while his Power battles the enchantment that threatens to end his life.

A skilled trauma surgeon and magic-user, Dr. Kathryn Shaw reigns at the top of her profession in New York. Then comes a challenge she can’t resist—she is asked to cure the uncureable. Just getting close enough to try healing Oberon is a dangerous proposition. When she does reach him, he awakens too soon.

Roused from darkness by Kathryn’s presence, Oberon confronts the beautiful stranger who claims she wants to save his life. But the enchantment has frozen his emotions. How can he learn to trust her when he can’t feel anything?

Oberon’s desire is icy, devoid of all tenderness. Not only must Kathryn match wits with him, she must also fight her reaction to his touch, because there is so much more at stake than her own endangered heart.

For the Dark Court faces its most deadly peril yet. Its ancient enemy Isabeau, Queen of the Light Court, is obsessed with its annihilation, and Oberon must be brought to remember his loyalty and affection for his people.

Because if he won’t fight for them, Lyonesse itself may very well be destroyed…

Review

Overall grade:  A+

Predictability: 1 out of 5 where 5 is I might as well have written the book I can lay it out so well 

I would say it’s pretty hard to use a common concept and flush out the story without being predictable, but Thea Harrison has done that in this book. As I made my way thru the book, I quickly noticed that I had no idea whatsoever of where the author was going with the story. And I loved it! So periodically, I found myself stopping in different areas of the book and wondering if I could predict what was going to happen. This was so refreshing and I enjoyed that aspect of this reading experience the most. 

Best part(s) of the book: 

Imagery. I immediately fell in love with the imagery the author presented in the capital of Lyonesse. So devastating in its beauty. First of all, the city had been completely destroyed under the onslaught of Oberon’s unchecked power and I could only imagine how heartbreaking and eerie the deserted city was.  Aqueducts partly submerged by water and palatial columns encased in solid pieces of ice. WHOA! I was taken aback and actually had to reread the scene where Dr. Kathryn entered the city and its palace multiple times. I was so enraptured by the imagery I am wondering if the author had an image she referred to as she wrote it. 

Another favorite part of the book was the internal struggle and the overall personality of Oberon. I thought it extremely interesting to compare the two personalities of Oberon vs Dragos. I understand that they are two separate characters and their similarities in no way shape or form equal their differences, but the dynamic was amazing. Two strong monarchs and to see how Oberon dealt with his impending downfall in comparison to how Dragos handled his memory loss and close call with death – night and day. Oberon, in his cursed state, in no shape or form is a likeable character. He is pushy, dangerous and outright scary. I, myself, almost had a heart attack when he shifted into a gigantic white lion. 

There is so much to love and appreciate in this book. Imagery. Tension. Personal struggle. Personality clashes. Heartache. Emotional agony. Recovery. War. Violence. Dedication. Suffice to say this book is the best, in my opinion, of this series so far. We’re all on pins and needles hoping against hope that Dr.Kathryn can save Oberon – if she doesn’t kill him herself because of his inflexibility. 

 *thanks to the Author for granting me this ARC

 

Dragos Takes a Holiday (Elder Races, #6.5) by Thea Harrison

Dragos Takes a Holiday by Thea Harrison
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What do you get when you mix a dragon and a unicorn? PEANUT!

Can we please talk about how adorable Peanut (aka Liam) is?



I will never get tired of reading about Dragos, Pia and Liam or just Dragos and Pia. I loved them from Dragon Bound and pray that they appear in some manner in the other Elder Race books. :sighs: I love Liam and I cannot wait til he grows into his scales. Now that is going to be quite the story.

If you love the Elder Race books then this one will not disappoint except that it ends too quickly. I WANT MORE!

Dragos is still yummy and oh so frightening and Pia is still all that is good and light wrapped up in a vegan package.




I loved the treasure hunting aspect because we all know that dragons love treasure and this was the perfect plot. A vacation of treasure hunting - time to find more for his horde. Amazing idea and an amazing story.

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