Book Review: Last Wish (Highland Magic #4) by Helen Harper

Last Wish (Highland Magic #4)
by Helen Harper
December 1st 2016
Kindle Edition, 171 pages
It's not easy pretending to be dead - especially when it feels as if you have the weight of the world on your shoulders. Between an unfulfilled prophecy, the demon-occupied Lowlands, the continuing power of murderous Aifric Moncrieffe - not to mention her constant yearnings for Byron - Integrity Adair has a lot to worry about.

Still, how hard can it really be to save Scotland, maintain her morals, get the guy and keep her sense of humour?

This is the fourth and final book in the Highland Magic series.

Last Wish marks the final adventure for Integrity Adair and her troupe of clanless. I have absolutely adored this series from start to finish and have thoroughly enjoyed the ride. While I regret the story has ended, I’m ultimately satisfied. I’d rather a series end slightly prematurely than die a slow death. It’s difficult to write a review for a series finale. The feelings are mixed with inevitable letdown. Ultimately, dear readers, I want you to read this series from the start. And so, I won’t reveal overmuch.

Integrity has faked her death and must maintain the ruse. As chieftain, she faces a seemingly impossible situation. Hunted by lowland occupying Fomori demons and devious defacto fae king Aifric Moncrieffe, Integrity must stay "dead" until she can devise a plan to secure the safety of her clan and all of Scotland.

Once again, Integrity proves to be a clever risk-taker and wholly entertaining heroine. The cast of characters is complementary, most notably Bob the genie. Helen deftly weaves action, suspense, humour, and romance in her Highland Magic series. The plot is non-stop intense and rarely predictable. The series is not reliant on the romantic tension between Integrity and Byron, however, it undoubtedly adds appeal. Call me a borderline perv, but I, for one, would’ve immensely appreciated a greater ‘fleshing’ out of the romance, however, I realize this wasn’t the ‘thrust’ of the novel. Pardon my puns, they’re for Integrity.

So long Integrity, Highland Magic was truly magical.

Review: Gifted Thief (Highland Magic #1)

Review: Honour Bound (Highland Magic #2)

Review: Veiled Threat (Highland Magic #3)

4 ½ sheep

Bianca Greenwood

About the Author:
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After teaching English literature in the UK, Japan and Malaysia, Helen Harper left behind the world of education following the worldwide success of her Blood Destiny series of books. She is a professional member of the Alliance of Independent Authors and writes full time although she still fits in creative writing workshops with schools along with volunteering to teach reading to a group of young Myanmar refugees. That’s not to mention the procession of stray cats which seem to find their way to her door!

Helen has always been a book lover, devouring science fiction and fantasy tales when she was a child growing up in Scotland.

Helen currently lives in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with far too many cats – not to mention the dragons, fairies, demons, wizards and vampires that seem to keep appearing from nowhere!

Book Review: Veiled Threat (Highland Magic #3) by Helen Harper

Veiled Threat (Highland Magic #3)
by Helen Harper
238 pages
May 29th 2016
Integrity Taylor has regained possession of her ancestral lands - and inherited a whole host of new problems. The spectre of what really happened to her parents is casting a shadow over everything while Fomori demons are being sighted up and down the Highlands. It doesn't help that Aifric Moncrieffe still seems determined to see her dead and emerald eyed Byron remains stubbornly blind to his father's true nature.

Integrity is determined to stay in control of her own destiny, however, even if it means confronting the darkness across the Veil yet again. And at least she's still got a sense of humour.

I continue to adore this series, Highland Magic, and its writer Helen Harper. In this third installment, Integrity Adair is working to reclaim her ancestral clan lands after they were desecrated a generation previous. She assembles a rag-tag bunch of loyal followers and attempts to devise a plan to restore the Adair lands to their former glory. Part of that plan includes crossing the veil into Fomori demon territory. Feared by all of Scotland, the Fomori pose a serious security threat to clan and clan-less alike. Not one to shrink from a challenge, Integrity puts all her skills to the test as Chieftain Adair for the good of her family name as well as the ever-amassing clan she’s accumulating.

As always, this installment of Highland Magic was a pleasure to read. Book three has all the trademark humour, action, and romantic tension I’ve come to love in this series. I continue to like Integrity as a hero, genie Bob as comic relief, and Byron as a romantic interest. I really appreciate the strength Harper grants Integrity; while she might not be the most physically kickass heroine, she’s certainly among the most clever and resourceful. Tipsania’s development in this book was interesting surprise. Also, the additions of new characters like Sorley the troll and Fergus the bauchan helped further establish the fantastic theme as well as generate a newness within the series.

There are some fairly catastrophic loose ends at the end of book three, so be warned. With a book four release date set for December 2016, it’s going to be a long wait. 

Review: Gifted Thief (Highland Magic #1)

Review: Honour Bound (Highland Magic #2)

4 ½ sheep

Bianca Greenwood

About the Author:
website-FB-twitter
After teaching English literature in the UK, Japan and Malaysia, Helen Harper left behind the world of education following the worldwide success of her Blood Destiny series of books. She is a professional member of the Alliance of Independent Authors and writes full time although she still fits in creative writing workshops with schools along with volunteering to teach reading to a group of young Myanmar refugees. That’s not to mention the procession of stray cats which seem to find their way to her door!

Helen has always been a book lover, devouring science fiction and fantasy tales when she was a child growing up in Scotland.

Helen currently lives in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with far too many cats – not to mention the dragons, fairies, demons, wizards and vampires that seem to keep appearing from nowhere!

Book Review: Honour Bound (Highland Magic #2) by Helen Harper

Honour Bound (Highland Magic #2)
by Helen Harper

Kindle Edition, 251 pages

February 29th 2016
Integrity Taylor should have been a Clan princess. Instead she's lived a life on the very periphery of society. Now that she's learnt more about her heritage, however, and the magic that she's capable of wielding, she's not going to hide in the shadows any longer. The once-in-a-generation Sidhe Games are going to provide the perfect opportunity for her to win back her birthright - and the fact that she'll be going head to head, toe to toe and mouth to mouth with golden haired Byron Moncrieffe might just be the icing on the cake.

This is the second book in the Highland Magic series. 

amazon

Honour Bound is the follow up to Helen Harper’s Highland Magic series opener Gifted Thief. In this installment Integrity Adair, fae misfit and de facto Adair Clan Chieftan, returns to fae lands to compete in the Sidhe Games. The individual winner of the games is granted one favour from the other clans and Integrity has the perfect prize in mind. With few, if any, fae friends or allies, Integrity descends upon the games with her loveable band of clanless criminals and fights to maintain her place in the competition.

I enjoyed this second installment in the Highland Magic series. I love Integrity as a main character and was delighted by the return other favourites from book one like Bob, the outrageously flamboyant genie. The storyline in this series is fairly fast-paced with loads of action and humour. It’s a quick, engaging read.

I hope book three is released efficiently so as not to disrupt momentum. The stop/start romance between Integrity and Byron needs to move a little more quickly to the inevitable. I’m feeling a little unsatisfied; however, the romantic tension is an effective hook for readers. In the next installment, I look forward to Integrity gaining some allegiance in the fae ranks. At times, the childish and seemingly unwarranted distain heaped on Integrity borders on stereotypical high school drama.

Consider adding the Highland Magic series to your TBR list. It’s pretty damn magical.

Review: Gifted Thief (Highland Magic #1)

4 ½ sheep

Bianca Greenwood

About the Author:
website-FB-twitter
After teaching English literature in the UK, Japan and Malaysia, Helen Harper left behind the world of education following the worldwide success of her Blood Destiny series of books. She is a professional member of the Alliance of Independent Authors and writes full time although she still fits in creative writing workshops with schools along with volunteering to teach reading to a group of young Myanmar refugees. That’s not to mention the procession of stray cats which seem to find their way to her door!

Helen has always been a book lover, devouring science fiction and fantasy tales when she was a child growing up in Scotland.

Helen currently lives in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with far too many cats – not to mention the dragons, fairies, demons, wizards and vampires that seem to keep appearing from nowhere!

Book Review: Gifted Thief (Highland Magic #1) by Helen Harper

Gifted Thief (Highland Magic #1)
by Helen Harper

January 29th 2016 

Paperback, 348 pages

Orphan. Runaway. Thief.

Since the moment I was ripped from my mother's womb, I've been an outcast amongst my own kind. The Sidhe might possess magical Gifts, unbelievable wealth and unfathomable power but I don't want a thing to do with them. I ran away from their lands in the Highlands of Scotland when I was eleven years old and I've never looked back. I don't need a Clan. I've got my own family of highly skilled thieves who mean more to me than any Sidhe ever could.

Unfortunately for me, the playboy heir to the Moncrieffe Clan has something I desperately need. To get it back, I'm going to have to plunge myself back into that world, no matter what the consequences may be. I suppose it's just as well I have sense of humour. I think I'm going to need it.

amazon

Helen Harper’s new urban fantasy series, Highland Magic, unfolds in modern day Scotland where fae clans enjoy power, privilege, and prestige while also serving as high-glam tabloid fodder. Integrity Taylor spent her formative years as a nameless orphan in the fae court. Tired of being ostracised, Integrity defects and carves out a life for herself among the clanless. Deemed criminals for the most part, the clanless provide refuge and an occupation for Integrity. As a woman, she’s a first-rate thief in a small ring of professionals, but wearies of the life and has plans to go straight. But when her trusted confidants find themselves in trouble, Integrity must not only put her thievery skills back in action, she must also face the fae court she’s tried desperately to avoid.

This book was fantastic; I read it like a fiend. The plot is action-packed and filled with romantic tension. Integrity is sassy, smart, and determined; definitely my kind of heroine: “I liked Hello Kitty and hot pink and sparkly nail polish. But pigeonholing me was unfair; I also liked science fiction and scaling high walls without a rope. Why did men always think you were either a tomboy or a princess? It was possible to be both.”

Integrity meets her match in fae prince Byron Moncrieffe. The sandy-haired fae with a playboy reputation is pulling strings of his own and a delicious revolving plot line of cat and mouse ensues. The worlds of urban fantastic Scotland and the fae realm are imaginatively described and wonderfully creative. This was my first Helen Harper book and I will certainly be adding her earlier series to my TBR list.

The worst part of this reading experience is realizing I’ll have to wait for the second installment. Gifted Thief is a fabulous read. You really must steal a moment to pick this up.

Five Sheep

Bianca Greenwood

About the Author:
website-FB-twitter
After teaching English literature in the UK, Japan and Malaysia, Helen Harper left behind the world of education following the worldwide success of her Blood Destiny series of books. She is a professional member of the Alliance of Independent Authors and writes full time although she still fits in creative writing workshops with schools along with volunteering to teach reading to a group of young Myanmar refugees. That’s not to mention the procession of stray cats which seem to find their way to her door!

Helen has always been a book lover, devouring science fiction and fantasy tales when she was a child growing up in Scotland.

Helen currently lives in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with far too many cats – not to mention the dragons, fairies, demons, wizards and vampires that seem to keep appearing from nowhere!