The Outcast Prince by Shona Husk-A Review and a Giveaway

 A giveaway copy to WIN of THE OUTCAST PRINCE at every tour stop.

The Outcast Prince
Court of Annwyn #1
by Shona Husk
Release Date: July 2, 2013

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Barnes and Noble/ The Book Depository

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 2, 2013

Just One Taste Is All It Takes…
This is no ordinary mirror. Caspian caught a hint of color, a whirl of a waltz just past his reflection—a glimpse into the decadent Fairy Court of Annwyn. The home he could never have. It called to him, whispering temptation after temptation…if he could only reclaim his rightful heritage.

To Be Forever Lost…
Caspian has an even stronger reason to stay in the world of humans. He’s just met a woman who captivates him like no other. But loving him has proven to be dangerous. And he will do whatever it takes to protect Lydia from the vicious, seductive world of Court—even if doing so requires the ultimate sacrifice: his soul.

••••••••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: I just finished Outcast Prince by Shona Husk and I’m sorry it’s done. I was such a fan of this book from the introduction of characters; the words started forming rather effortlessly into a glowing review. I hope I do it justice! Set between Charleston, South Carolina and the fairy world of Annwyn, Caspian Mort and Lydia Callaway discover that love doesn’t separate. It’s far from easy; outside influences, personal secrets and immortal beings with their own agendas do tend to make romance difficult. But when it’s meaningful, those obstacles become mere inconveniences.

A product of a dalliance between a human woman and Felan, the fairy Crown Prince of Annwyn, Caspian is a Changeling.
“Somehow his mother had convinced the Prince to let her go and give birth to him in the mortal world. Not a fairy and not quite mortal yet bound by the rules of both worlds.”

As such, Caspian has been allowed to escape the crush of fairy politics, but its lure is still in his blue blood (his magic touch is psychometry, the ability to read objects) and he longs to visit; to meet his father, to ask him why he was abandoned, to revel in all the purported beauty of fairy, but those desires are repressed. A temptation it must remain.

Speaking of temptation, here’s Lydia Callaway. Granddaughter of a prominent family from Charleston, Lydia has hired Caspian to value the famed Callaway House while the estate is in probate. Unprepared for Caspian’s good looks and unique ability to appraise objects, Lydia finds herself drawn to Caspian more than professionally.

Unbeknownst to either one of them, plus they’re too focused on finding each other incredibly attractive, a banished fairy, known as a Grey, has “made” Caspian; not his true parentage, but identified him as a fairy with “the touch” who can help him regain entry to fairy Court. The Window, a missing fairy mirror, when used in connection with the Counter-Window in Annywn, is a secret portal for traveling. If Caspian doesn’t locate the object, the Grey threatens to make life difficult (I referred to this in my opening). When things go awry, and INSIDE Callaway House, which is too close to Lydia, Caspian must make a deal with the Grey…and that arrangement alerts Annwyn…Daddy’s on his way! 😀

Felan as the Crown Prince, and legitimate threat to overthrowing his father the king, agreed to let Caspian be raised in the human world to prevent his son becoming a target for fairy manipulations (they are masters at trickery!). Relegated to clandestine parenting, Felan has provided for Caspian all along with a group of Brownies (another kind of fairy species who choose to live in the mortal world) to keep the Greys away and Dylis, Caspian’s own personal fairy protector of the last 35 years. The relationship between father and son is undoubtedly complicated, but Ms. Husk allows the reader a quality amount of dialogue to discover truths about each other. I was moved by the honesty.

There were aspects that felt overly rushed or lacking in details (Gran Callaway’s funeral services, Caspian’s visit to Annwyn), but there was more than enough to keep me thoroughly involved. Ms. Husk did an excellent job of keeping me on the edge regarding Caspian’s home. The lure of Annwyn was so palpable, so appealing; Caspian’s wavering allegiance almost had me convinced he belonged in the fairy world…almost.

“Fairies couldn’t make someone go against their beliefs or personal morals; all they could do was amplify the need.”

The need was mutual. Lydia was a balm for Caspian’s battered heart and Caspian began to right Lydia’s world after her grandmother’s death (and skeletons in her closet). Ms. Husk didn’t overindulge with the love scenes that have become so common, but thrilled with select intimacies that earned my swooooons. Her writing was purposeful and enticing. Yes, I do plan on devouring her catalog!

And so we arrive at the conclusion. I won’t reveal if the Windows are reunited, or if punishments are dispensed for brokering deals with banished fairies, but I can end this review on a positive note: Lord of the Hunt, Annwyn Book #2, is available next January!!! Trust me, there is SO much to explore. Do Caspian and Lydia travel to Annwyn…will Dylis and her freed mate get a story line…does Felan assume his father’s title of king…moreover, does Felan take a wife…I commend Ms. Husk for the overall story and the fairy world building. It is a setting I hope to visit in my dreams!

And in the end…the love you take…is equal to the love…you make…

Copy supplied by the publisher

Reviewed by Carmen

A civil designer by day and an author by night, Shona Husk lives in Western Australia at the edge of the Indian Ocean. Drawing on history, myth and imagination, she writes about heroes who are armed and dangerous but have a heart of gold—sometimes literally. Look for the next book in the Annwyn Series, Lord of the Hunt in January 2014. You can find out more information about Shona and her edgy romances at http://www.shonahusk.com/ or follow her on Twitter, @ShonaHusk.

The Outcast Prince Road to Annwyn Giveaway!

Shona Husk creates darkly sensual modern fairy tales, and first book in her new series, The Outcast Prince, is no different!

To celebrate, Sourcebooks is giving away copies of this book ALL MONTH LONG!

Each day this month, look for opportunities to win a print copy of The Outcast Prince with bloggers all over the book blogging community. Additionally, there will be a guest blogs and interviews with Shona throughout—a great way to get to know a new author!

The publisher is offering a paper copy of THE OUTCAST PRINCE to one lucky reader at The Reading Cafe.

1. Please register using the log in at the top of the page or by using one of the social log-ins.

2. The giveaway is OPEN to USA and CANADA only.

3. The giveaway runs from July 5 to July 30, 2013

Follow along all month long for a chance to win a copy of this fabulous new romance novel!

7/2          Peeking Between the Pages
7/3          Debbie’s Book Bag  GUEST BLOG
7/4          Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews
7/5          The Reading Café
7/7           Book Chick City  GUEST BLOG
7/8          Star-Crossed Romance
7/8          Sassy Book Lovers
7/8          Where the Night Kind Roam
7/9          Reading Between the Wines
7/9          Books-n-Kisses GUEST BLOG
7/10       Bitten By Love Reviews INTERVIEW
7/11       Manga Maniac Café INTERVIEW
7/11       Caffeinated Book Reviewer
7/12       Novels on the Run   INTERVIEW
7/15       Booked and Loaded
7/15       Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell   INTERVIEW
7/16       Book of Secrets   GUEST BLOG
7/17       Book Monster Reviews   GUEST BLOG
7/18       Thoughts in Progress
7/18       Anna’s Book Blog   INTERVIEW
7/18       Proserpine Craving Books
7/21       Book Lovin’ Mamas
7/22       RomFan Reviews
7/22       Night Owl Reviews   GUEST BLOG
7/23       The Royal Reviews   INTERVIEW
7/25       Fresh Fiction   GUEST BLOG
7/26       Romancing the Book  INTERVIEW
7/29       Urban Girl Reader   INTERVIEW
7/30       SOS Aloha   INTERVIEW