Heir of Danger, by author Alix Rickloff, the third installment in the 'Heirs of Kilronan' fantasy romance. This was an impulse buy at a grocery store checkout and my first peak into this mystical world of Fey and Lore, amazingly I was pleasantly surprised and intrigued by the characters.
Plot:
After seven years outrunning enemies, friends, and his own soulcrushing memories, Brendan Douglas is risking everything on a desperate mission. He has vowed to thwart the evil mage Máelodor’s plans to unlock the past and reshape the future; unfortunately, the precious treasure that is his key to success lies with a woman Brendan jilted seven years before.When her golden-eyed childhood hero abandoned her at the altar—disappearing in a storm of magic and mayhem, destruction, betrayal, and disaster—Elisabeth Fitzgerald struggled to put away her humiliation and loss. Finally, she has found a new fiancé and a comfortable future. Then, the one man she thought she would never see again appears—among her wedding guests. Brendan Douglas has returned.It’s not just that Elisabeth is promised to another; Brendan knows he is drawing her into terrible danger. But he cannot resist the bewitching, brave, wholly unexpected woman his youthful nemesis has become. He promised to sacrifice everything, but is he willing to sacrifice Elisabeth?
If you like historical romance with a paranormal edge that's well-written and plot-heavy you'll surely enjoy this story. Taking place in Ireland in the early 1800's Elisabeth and Brendan are childhood friends who've grown up and taken on different paths into adulthood. While our damsel was abandoned on the day of her arranged marriage to Brendan years ago, these two get a chance to reunite. Sparks fly, and a few fists but as the story picks up you get a chance to uncover the whys and hows of a painful past.
Leading lady Elisabeth is a sheltered human who knows little of the Fey world, she's got a fiery attitude but is completely oblivious to the real world around her at times. I loved and hated her all at once. I liked her level-headed take on situations but hated how she would freeze up and want to faint all the time. When push comes to shove all your lady like manners need to be kicked to curb! But though she struggled I did find myself enjoying her more and more as the story goes on.
A ton of Lore involving Arthur and the good and bad courts of the Seelie Fey. Magics and spells mixed some well delivered fantasy do keep you involved in the story. While our leading man Brendan was courageous in spurts his tendency to become cowardly starts to grate on the nerves a bit. Chemistry between Brendan and Elisabeth was very believable and held together throughout. Overall this is a very well written story with history and Irish folk flavor to add believability. A mushy too well wrapped up ending was the story's only major downfall. Most series these days hate leaving an open ending or tragic turn but in this case I would have actually enjoyed that more.
Getting 3 and 1/2 Killer Sheep
KD
ooohh awesome! i just won this in a contest!! thanks for the awesome review!
ReplyDeleteWell it sounds as if the series has potential. I wonder if the characters evolve in the ongoing books :) Thanks for sharing today.
ReplyDeleteDoes this series have written accents? I hate it when I get showered with Nay, Lassie, dinna and stuff like that
ReplyDelete@Denise Z. From what I can tell quiet a few things have led up to whats going on atm. It was pretty good, lots of lore and such and VERY Irish. Aye aye!
ReplyDelete@McPig they do indeed talk with accents! But not to the point where you can't understand them. Some words will be lost on you/me but it's pretty true to 1800 Ireland.
Sounds like an interesting book, thanks for the heads up.
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