by Helen Harper
January 29th 2016
Paperback, 348 pages
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:
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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!
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.
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.
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
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!
