Lord’s Fall by Thea Harrison – a Dual Review

Lord’s Fall by Thea Harrison is the 5^th novel in her The Elder Races series.  There are also  4 novellas.  Here is a brief description from Thea’s site.

Description:
In the latest Novel of the Elder Races, two mates find themselves on different paths, torn between their duty to the Wyr and the passion that binds them…

Before she met Dragos, half-human half-wyr Pia Giovanni was alone and on the run. Now, she’s mated, pregnant and heading south to repair the Wyr’s frayed relationship with the Elves. Being separated from Dragos is painful, but for the good of the Wyr demesne they need to figure out how to be partners, in more places than just the bedroom.

In New York to preside over the Sentinel Games, Dragos is worried about his mate, but knows that finding two replacement sentinels is essential to show the rest of the Elder Races just how strong and brutal the Wyr demesne can be. But as the games heat up, Pia’s negotiations with the Elves take a turn for the dangerous, straining her bond with Dragos and threatening everything they hold dear…

Barb’s Review:
Lord’s Fall takes us back to the couple that started it all…Dragos and Pia.  I have been anticipating this book, since I found out that we will get another book about Dragos and Pia, whom despite some great other lead characters, are still my favorite couple in this series.  I also get to see Rune, my second favorite wyr hunk.

In Oracle’s Moon, we knew that Dragos heard a strange “Freaky Deaky” prophecy message come out of the Oracle’s mouth that signaled danger for him and the world.  Months later, with this warning, Dragos and Pia set upon a plan to try to amend Dragos’s relationship with the Elves.  Something he lost, when he broke Elven rules to save Pia, which happened in Dragon Bound, the first book.  Only Pia, can visit the Elven High Lord, and try to find out any information pertaining to the warning, as well as open the door for Dragos to be able to be able to have a working relationship with the Elves.

Right from the start, Pia travels to the south to meet the Elves, with the Wyr Special Forces, that have been assigned to protect her.   One of the wonderful things about this book, was this group of new characters in this book.  Eva, is the leader of this group of soldiers, and if you think Aryal is tough, so is Eva, and surprisingly by the end of this story, I ended up loving Eva.  In the beginning, she gives Pia a hard time, looking down at her as a little princess.  But Pia stands up to her, and in a short time, the two come to an agreement to be civil, which will turn out to be a friendship based on respect and loyalty.

Eva’s team (Hugh, Miguel, Johnny, Andrea, James) are also fun to be with, not to mention tough, and hopefully in time, we will get to know more about them in future books.  When they enter Elven territory, they are openly welcomed, by the High Lord’s consort, Beluviel. But as we know, nothing is simple, and things will change that will put Pia, her team, as well as others in dire danger.

Where you ask is Dragos? After seeing Pia safely off with her protectors, Dragos goes back home to New York, to oversee the Sentinel Games.  The Sentinel Games is being held in Madison Square Garden, and will be a battle of all wyr’s to fight for the right to be one of Dragos ‘s 7 Sentinels.  Since Dragos has lost both Rune and Tiago, he decided to open these games, and choose his best 7 warriors, as well as show how strong his demesne is.  Of course, he has every confidence that the 5 Sentinenal left will continue to be part of his top team, but they will have to fight to finish on top, but they are the best. 

While the games go on, and Pia is now in Elven territory; Dragos and Pia have the ability to use their nightly dreams to meet each other live.  I may have said this before, but I love Dragos and Pia together, they make such a great couple, and Pia is the only one who can always tame our temperamental Dragon, not to mention their hot steamy sex together.  

Pia’s negotiations with the Elves are stymied, as Calondir, the High Lord is not at the Elves home.  He has been called away to an important meeting with another group of Elves, who have been hidden for a very very long time.  Pia makes the decision to go with Beluviel to the compound where the High Lord is, as she is determined to meet with him. The compound is devoid of high tech, as it does not work there.  So her connection to Dragos, is shut down, causing him to panic.

The last half of the book becomes very exciting, as we meet the elves, the other group of elves, and the danger that was warned in the prophecy becomes real.  Dragos, who cannot handle the loss of connection to his mate, becomes worried and heads to find her.  There is so much action, suspense, danger that brings all the Wry together to fight for their lives.  The villain in this story is named Amras, and he is a very strong ancient, with powers that can destroy them all.  Dragos brings in his Wyr to help in an epic battle.

This was a fantastic ride, with non-stop action, excitement,  and I absolutely loved seeing most of our favorites, and Pia’s new protectors, especially Eva. It was great to see Rune, Carling, Graydon, Aryal, Constantine, Bayne, and meet some new Wyr’s.  But best of all, just seeing how much Dragos and Pia love one another is super.  Pia’s hidden abilities are shown more, as she remains a strong and wonderful mate for Dragos.  Kudos to Thea Harrison for keeping this series so fresh, with a wonderful and different storyline.  I love this series, and love Thea Harrison’s writing.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

LORD’S FALL by Thea Harrison (Sandy’s review)

Barb and I both received a copy of LORD’S FALL from the publisher and you will find my review below. Although some of the review will probably be duplicated, we will both agree that LORD’S FALL was an amazing ride.

LORD’S FALL is the 5th instalment in Thea Harrison’s Novels of the Elder Races. Thea revisits Pia and Dragos as they embark on different paths to save the Wyr.

Dragos is in need of 2 more sentinels. When Rune and Tiago left the Wyr Demesne , Dragos lost two of his best men and the remaining 5 were in desperate need of reinforcements. And with Rune’s departure, Dragos lost his best friend. The Sentinel Games would determine the best replacements and further enhance the Wyr Demesne stronghold proving to the others that the Wyr are a force to be reckoned. But with his mate determined to open a path between the Wyr and the Elves, Dragos is reluctant to let his pregnant mate negotiate the uneasy truce. There is a rumor that a once powerful group of Elves is journeying at the same time.

Pia’s journey will net a few surprises including a lack of negotiations with the Elven High Lord Calondir, and a new-found friendship and relationship with her very proud and outspoken guardian Eva. Pia’s true Wyr identity will come into question on several occasions when her powers are required throughout their visit to the Elven stronghold. The Elven consort Beluviel recognized Pia immediately when it was disclosed that Beluviel and Pia’s mother were once friends a long time ago. Eva will witness Pia’s abilities first hand but with that information, Eva has sworn to keep secret what she knows about Lord Dragos’s mate.

I had almost forgotten about Pia’s ½ human ½ Wyr DNA, so much so that I had to check Dragon Bound for a refresher on Elder Race species and mates. It is understandable why Pia and Dragos do not want Pia’s true identity revealed especially when she may be the last of her kind. The powers that come naturally to Pia would be prized by the Wyr in every Demesne.

Eva is a feisty wolf-shifter whose attitude towards PIa is blatantly aggressive as well as caustic and rude. But Pia knows, as Dragos’s mate, she has more power than most, and it is her handling of Eva’s acerbic rhetoric and sarcastic put-downs that force Eva to look at the dragon’s mate with respect and a renewed purpose. Why fight amongst yourself when there is an impending war with a more dangerous enemy.

The attack against the Elves, by an ancient and unknown power will place everyone in danger, and force an already unwelcome Dragos to cross into enemy territory to rescue his wife.. Dragos only option in order to save his mate and the lives of the Elves, is to call in his warriors to fight a battle against an ancient power that had long been thought destroyed.

I enjoyed the connection between Pia and Dragos. With their power to communicate telepathically as well as Dragos ability to unite with Pia in dream sleep revealed a man who truly loved his mate. His need as well as his love for Pia is never questioned, and their sexual chemistry together is ‘hawt’.

The aftermath of the battle is difficult We are aware that an ancient power is responsible for the actions of most of the Elves, but to know that the damage to one’s friend and one’s family will only increase when the power is finally removed, does not make Dragos’s only recourse any less daunting or easier to accept. And with that pronouncement, the already forced alliance between the Elves and the Wyr, will fracture a little more.

LORD’S FALL is an exciting and wonderful storyline that brought several of the Wyr back together including an uneasy meeting between Dragos and a former friend. Thea’s ability to draw the reader into the storyline with her detailed scenarios and thought worthy script, had me thinking about what ifs and what for. Lord’s Fall is a sensual journey into the world of the Wyr.

LINKS TO ORDER: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / The Book Depository / Books a Million

Copy supplied by the publisher

Reviewed by Sandy