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Lionheart (Moonshadow #3) by Thea Harrison-Dual Review

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LIONHEART (Moonshadow #3) by Thea Harrison-dual review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date Octboer 15, 2018

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

•••••••••••

Sandy’s REVIEW: LIONHEART is the third instalment in Thea Harrison’s contemporary adult MOONSHADOW paranormal/fantasy trilogy-a spinoff from the author’s ELDER RACES series. This is Dark Fae King Oberon, and trauma surgeon Dr. Kathryn Shaw’s story line. LIONHEART can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary but I recommend reading the trilogy in order for backstory and cohesion.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Oberon and Kathryn) LIONHEART follows Wyr trauma surgeon Dr. Kathryn Shaw as she is tasked by Dragos Cuelebre, dragon shifter and leader of the Wyr Demense, with saving the life of King Oberon of the Dark Court. Over fifteen years earlier (200 in Otherworld time) an assassin was sent by Queen Isabeau of the Light Court to take down the once mighty and powerful King of the Dark. A sliver of magic sensitive silver had entered Oberon’s body, and was slowly destroying the man and leader he had become. In order to protect his people from his increasing instability, Oberon cast a stasis spell that sent the him into a two hundred year sleep. Enter Dr. Kathryn Shaw, and the woman with whom Oberon would fall in love. What ensues are Kathryn’s struggles to save the Dark Court King, and the potential fall-out as Oberon insists on going to war, in an effort to reclaim what was and what shall be again.

Dr. Kathryn Shaw loved New York, and her job as a trauma surgeon but when ordered to the Dark Court of Lyonesse, Kathryn struggled between head and heart knowing a man’s (King’s) life hung in the balance. King Oberon knew his time was drawing to an end. No longer able to keep his Power under control, his beautiful lands, and the people he loved were slowly being destroyed by the battle between good and evil.

The relationship between Kathryn and Oberon begins acrimoniously. Oberon never anticipated waking up to discover his lands destroyed, and his would-be mate struggling to keep him alive. Kathryn knew once she saved King Oberon’s life, nothing would ever be the same. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

All of the previous Moonshadow couples play secondary and supporting characters including LAPD consultant Sophie Ross, and Daoine Sidhe Knight of the Dark Court Nikolas Sevigny (Moonshadow #1), and sorcerer/lycanthrope Morgan le Fae, and musician Sidonie Martel (Spellbinder #2). We get a quick glimpse at Dragos and Rune from the original Elder Races series, but for the most part the characters include King Oberon’s court (Annwyn, Gawain, Owen) and his Puck (shapeshifter) Robin.

LIONHEART is a story of betrayal and revenge; recovery and loss; of one man’s struggle to reclaim what was lost, and one woman’s battle between head and heart. The premise is entertaining and imaginative; the characters are colorful and dynamic; the romance is provocative and moving. LIONHEART is a moving, animated and energetic tale-a perfect conclusion to Thea’s Moonshadow Trilogy.

_________

Barb’s REVIEW:  Lionheart by Thea Harrison is the 3rd and final book in her Moonshadow trilogy. The Moonshadow trilogy is a spinoff of Harrison’s Elder Races, focusing on the Wyr in European Elder Races. Though this can be read very well as a standalone, it is best to read the whole trilogy in order understand the theme and secondary characters that make appearances from the first two books.

We meet King Oberon, of the Dark Court in Lyonesse, years before during a gala.  Oberon was a strong and powerful magic user, and a popular king.  On the night of the gala, Oberon was hit by a deadly dart that put a spell on him which would slowly kill him.  The assassination attempt was ordered by the evil Isabeau, Queen of the Light Court, whom we knew from the earlier books.  Oberon put himself into a deep sleep to slow the damaging process; in hope that his loyal team would find a way to save him. As he remains unconscious throughout 200 (15 in human time) years, his land suffers as the effect of the spell makes him cold and uncaring, forcing the lands to become like him, bitter cold and unlivable.   

Dr. Kathryn Shaw, our heroine, works out of New York, being one of the best trauma specialists, and also the doctor for Dragos (the leader of the Elder Races series), and his team.  When members of Oberon’s team beg Dragos for help, he will convince Kathryn to try to use her expertise to find a way to counteract the spell and save Oberon, or Isabeau will take over the Dark Court.

When Kathryn arrives to see if find a way to stop the spell, she has no idea what she has to face in Oberon, who despite his deep sleep senses her. Oberon finds himself coming alive, and after a rough start that Kathryn surprises him with her stubbornness.  She was after all able to handle Dragos, and was equal to the challenge presented by the powerful and equally stubborn Oberon.

What follows is a wonderful, exciting, non-stop action packed story, but most of all a slow built romance that was destined to fail.  Kathryn loved New York, and Oberon was still the King of the Dark Court. If he survived.  Kathryn was an amazing, strong powerful heroine, who stood up to Oberon, forcing him to follow her instructions to find the spell and eliminate it.  Their chemistry was sizzling, and I loved them both together, as they were both strong, tough and independent. It was fun to watch them butt heads, and to slowly see them each fall in love. 

Once Oberon begins to get stronger, his team gathers to help him fight off the attempt to take over Lyonesse by Isabeau.  Oberon is also hell bent on revenge against the Light Court Queen. Kathryn was determined to watch over him, so that his recovery would continue, and I really enjoyed seeing her change in her Falcon Wyr to help him fight. Lionheart also had some great secondary characters, such as Robin, Sophie, Annwyn, Gawain to name a few.  It was nice to see more of Robin, the Puck in this story.

Thea Harrison once again gives us a fun, exciting, captivating, intense story, with an amazing couple that turned out to be the best in this trilogy.  Lionheart was a great finale to the Moonshadow trilogy, and I hope to see more of them in future Elder Races stories.  

 

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Moonshadow
Spellbinder
Lionheart

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Spellbinder (Moonshadow #2) by Thea Harrison – Dual Review

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Spellbinder (Moonshadow #2) by Thea Harrison – Dual Review

 

SpellbinderAmazon / B&N / Kobo / Book Depository

Description;
Kidnapped while on tour, musician Sidonie Martel is transported to the mystical land of Avalon. A human without magical ability, she is completely vulnerable to the deadly forces surrounding her.

When she defies her captors and refuses to share her music, an act of violent cruelty leaves her broken, her ability to play silenced, maybe forever. Her only hope is a whisper in the dark, gentle hands that offer healing, and a man who refuses to show her his face yet who offers advice she dare not ignore.

One of the most feared and powerful sorcerers in history, Morgan le Fae serves a Queen he despises, Isabeau of the Light Court. Once a famous bard and an advisor to kings, Morgan has been enslaved to Isabeau for hundreds of years, acting as enforcer and the commander of her deadly Hounds.

Sidonie’s music touches Morgan in places he had abandoned centuries ago, and her fiery spirit resurrects feelings he had believed long dead. For Sidonie, trapped in captivity, passion offers a comfort she cannot resist.

But Isabeau holds Morgan bound in magical chains that only Death can break. And in the court of a cruel, jealous Queen, the only thing that burns hotter than love is revenge…

 

Barb’s Review:

Spellbinder by Thea Harrison is the 2nd book in her Moonshadow series. I am a big fan of Harrison’s Elder Races series.  Spellbinder is a trilogy within this series, concentrating on the Elder Races in Europe. In the first book of this series, Morgan le Fae was the enemy, though we did know there was a story to be had for him. 

In Spellbinder, Morgan, who is a powerful sorcerer before being bound by Isabeau, and we learn why he did the awful things we have seen him do in some previous books.  Isabeau, who is the Queen of the Light Court, is vicious and terrifying; she owns Morgan forcing him to do her bidding.   We meet Sidonie Martel, a world renowned musician, who is on tour.   Morgan, who was injured in battle, goes to earth to recuperate and be free temporarily from the hated Isabeau.  While resting, he overhears about a female musician who captivates her audience. Morgan will become enamored with her music, as it not only soothes him, but allows him to feel again, something he has not done in hundreds of years. 

One night, Sidonie is kidnapped and transported to Avalon, the land of the light court and Isabeau.  The kidnapper wanted revenge on Morgan, and sensed his feelings for Sidonie.  Poor Sidonie, she had no idea where she was, or why. When she allows her temper to rise against the Queen, she is punished with them breaking all her fingers.  Sidonie, sitting in her prison cell and feeling her ilfe is over, will wake up one evening to find some dark stranger healing her hands.

Rather than to tell too much more, as you need to read this book; what follows is an exciting and sweet slow build romance between Morgan and Sidonie, as well as an tense captivating storyline.  It was great to see Morgan slowly open his heart and love again; allowing us to learn to sympathize and care about him.   In order to find a way to escape, Sidonie will use her music to charm the Queen, allowing her to roam freely in Avalon.  She will do anything she can to find a way to free Morgan too.  The last half of the book was very exciting, with a few twists along the way.  

Spellbinder was another wonderful addition to this trilogy and the Elder Races series.  Thea Harrison once again gives us a fabulous couple, captivating storyline, evil villains, sweet romance in a wonderful world.

 

Sandy’s Review

SPELLBINDER is the second installment in Thea Harrison’s contemporary, adult MOONSHADOW paranormal/fantasy trilogy-a spin off from the author’s ELDER RACES series. This is sorcerer/lycanthrope Morgan le Fae, and musician Sidonie Martel’s story line. SPELLBINDER can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. Morgan le Fae has been a troubling character throughout a number of the Elder Races installments, and SPELLBINDER reveals the true extent of Morgan’s leashed confinement.

Told from dual third person points of view (Sidonie and Morgan) SPELLBINDER is loosely based in the Arthurian legend of Morgan Le Fay- a powerful sorceress whose name is also synonymous with Welsh folklore of shapeshifting myth.

For hundreds of years Morgan le Fae has been cursed to serve the sadistic and evil Queen Isabeau of the Light Court but her most recent acquisition, a human female and musician Sidonie Martel, finds Morgan attempting to usurp the curse byway of carefully treading around the rules that govern his cursed existence. Tortured and imprisoned, Sidonie will be befriended by a man she knows nothing about but a man with powers that can be used for nefarious purpose. What ensues is the forbidden but building relationship between Sidonie and Morgan le Fae, and their struggle to break Morgan free of Queen Isabeau’s control.

SPELLLBINDER is a slow building story line and relationship between two people thrown together by fate and circumstance. Sidonie is an award winning musician and Morgan has fallen in love with both the woman and her music. Discovering Sidonie has been imprisoned by the Queen of the Light Court Morgan tries desperately to make Sidonie’s life a little more comfortable while he struggles to find a way to set free them both.

Thea Harrison weaves folklore, myth and magic blending the Elder Races with the Moonshadow trilogy hinting at the origins of the Elder Races themselves. From fae to lycanthrope, sorcerers to dragons, gods to humans, the world of the supernatural comes alive when Thea Harrison puts pen to paper. The premise is entertaining and intriguing; the characters are colorful, dynamic and strong; the romance is seductive and intense. SPELLBINDER is a wonderful and exciting installment in Thea Harrison’s MOONSHADOW trilogy.

Copy supplied for review

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Moonshadow (Moonshadow #1) by Thea Harrison-a dual review

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MOONSHADOW (Moonshadow #1) by Thea Harrison-a dual review

Moonshadow

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 13, 2016

Her past is a blank, her future uncertain….

Recovering from a shooting, LAPD witch consultant Sophie Ross leaves her job and travels to the U.K. to search for answers about her childhood. When she encounters a Daoine Sidhe knight of the Dark Court, she becomes entangled in an ancient hatred between two arcane forces.

He has given his body and soul to fight for his people….

Barred from his homeland along with his surviving brother knights, Nikolas Sevigny is embroiled in a conflict that threatens everything he holds dear. Only by uniting his people’s resources can they hope to prevail against Isabeau, the deadly Queen of the Light Court. He will do anything and use anyone to return home to Lyonesse.

When Nikolas encounters Sophie, he sees a tool to be used. The insouciant witch might be the key to unlocking every passageway that has been barred to the knights of the Dark Court, even as a fascination for her takes root in what’s left of his soul.

Sophie has no intention of becoming anyone’s pawn, yet the fierce Nikolas is so compelling, she can’t deny the temptation that endangers her guarded heart.

As magic threatens Lyonesse, Queen Isabeau unleashes her merciless Hounds, and Nikolas and Sophie become embroiled in a race for survival. Meanwhile, the passion that ignites between them burns too hot to be denied and quickly turns into obsession.

Thank goodness they both know better than to fall in love…

••••••••••

Sandy’s Review

REVIEW: MOONSHADOW is the first installment in Thea Harrison’s MOONSHADOW paranormal romance series focusing on a hybrid species of triple threat creatures with the blood of three different races including the Wyr and the Fae. MOONSHADOW is a spin off from Thea’s Elder Races series but you do not have to have read the original series to follow. This is twenty nine year old witch, LAPD consultant Sophie Ross, and Daoine Sidhe Knight of the Dark Court Nikolas Sevigny’s story line.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Sophie and Nik) MOONSHADOW follows Sophie Ross as she embarks on a journey to uncover the truth, and straddles a timeline between worlds in the land of her ancestors in the UK. Sophie knows nothing about her heritage -the who, what or why-and when a stranger offers Sophie a chance to seek the answers to her questions, our heroine heads to the UK where the Knights of the Dark Court become the family she has always imagined. Enter Daoine Sidhe knight Nikols Sevigny- the man with whom Sophie will fall in love. What ensues is the search for the portal that leads back to Nikolas’s homeland, and the struggle to survive against more than one enemy of the Dark Court.

Nikolas Sevigny and his brethren have been trapped on this side of the crossover passageway for hundreds of years. In their quest to return to Lyonesse, most of the Knights have perished or left for other places but Nik and his few remaining warriors continue to battle and stay ahead of the evil Queen Isabeau of the Light Court, her Hounds, and their captain Morgan le Fae. Sophie’s appearance will coincide with the Hounds reappearance, and the Knights renew their quest for the passageway home.

The relationship between Sophie and Nik is fraught with the push and pull of attraction. Nik’s Wyr DNA knows Sophie is their mate but Nik’s lifestyle isn’t conducive to love or a relationship that could end with the death of a mate. Sophie is a woman who offers to help the Knights in their quest to return home, and is continuously pushed away by the man that she loves. The $ex scenes are intimate, provocative and intense.

We are introduced to a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including Nikolas’s fellow warriors, as well as Robin- a little shapeshifting imp (or puck) whose presence will be familiar to followers of Alexandra Ivy’s playful and heartbreaking gargoyle Levet. The requisite evil comes in many forms including captain of the Hounds Morgan Le Fae, Queen Isabeau of the Light Court, and someone close to the Knights of the Dark Court.

MOONSHADOW is a wonderful story of magic; where fantasy meets reality; where timelines and otherworlds collide. The premise is imaginative and wondrous; the characters are passionate and dynamic; the romance is fated and inspired. Thea Harrison’s word of the Moonshadow is a brilliant new series with engaging characters and a decadent story line.

Barb’s Review
Moonshadow by Thea Harrison is the first book in her new Moonshadow trilogy, which does use her Elder Races theme.  In Moonshadow, the story switches to England, with the focus on the Fae’s, both Dark and Light.   Sophie Ross, our heroine, is a witch consultant for the LA police department.   On leave from her job & suffering from constant nightmares due to being shot on assignment, Sophie decides to accept a quest that will take her to the U.K.   Her quest: Enter a broken down mansion that has been empty for hundreds of years, with no one able to get in, even with a key.

Nik  Sevigny is our hero, and a Daoine Sidhe knight from the Dark Court.  Nik recognizes Sophie from a vision, and thinks she is the enemy.  Nik has seen many of his warriors killed over the years, leaving only a select few, as they try to find a way to get back home to the Dark Court in Lyonesse.  Queen Isabeau, of the Light Court, and her knight, Morgan had destroyed all the portals that would allow any access to Lyonesse.  Nik has become difficult to deal with, trusting no one, especially trying desperately to keep his men alive. It will take Nik awhile to learn to trust Sophie and try to get her to use her witch/djinn powers to help them find the way home, and get help to defeat Isabeau and her vicious hounds. 

Sophie is determined to enter the mansion, and if she is able to enter it (many before her  have failed), she would then inherit it and receive a nice annuity for life.  Both Sophie and Nik do not get along in the beginning, especially since he is surly and demanding, and she being very independent, causes lots of clashes and words.  Their attraction for each other grows over a short time, but with Morgan on their trail, and Sophie’s life now in danger, they bond to help one another survive.  I loved the addition of Robin, an injured puck (brownie), who Sophie saves and nurtures like her “pet” during this story.  Whether a dog, monkey or a strange little boy, Robin was a great character.  I also liked some of Nik’s warriors.

What follows is a non-stop action packed story that was not only tense at times, but also lots of fun.  The romance between Sophie and Nik becomes hot and steamy, and I loved them together. They were both very strong, tough and independent heroes.  Will Nik and his men get back to Lyonesse and  the Dark Fae?   Will Sophie allow herself to be part of Nik’s life in the Dark Court?  Will they survive the onslaught by Queen isabeau?

Moonshadow was a wonderful addition to the Elder Races series, and I for one cannot wait for the second book in this trilogy.  There was so much action, excitement, danger, intrigue, wonderful characters and a great couple.  This story line had a bit of everything, from the Fae, Witches, Puck, and Djinn.  I loved ever moment of this story.

Copy supplied for review

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