For Fans of the Series, Liam is Growing Up

                                   Liam Takes Manhattan by Thea Harrison

                                   My Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

“Everything felt at once too big and yet too restrictive  His chest constricted, and he couldn’t breathe as the wide, wild world crushed down on him.”

FINAL DECISION: This short story satisfies fans because we get to know more about the fascinating young man that Liam is becoming.  This novella focuses on Liam trying to figure of what to do as a young man in unique circumstances.  Cute, sweet and revealing about his character.

THE STORY: Liam is at an awkward phase.  The events in SHADOW’S END have left the young man feeling rebellious, confined and aimless.  He doesn’t know what to do with himself and has begun to feel the constriction of his loving family.  It is Christmas and his parents offer him something he has wanted for a while, but he is struggling with himself.

OPINION: This short story focuses on a moment of crisis for Liam.  Having too quickly grown into a young man, Liam is at the same crossroads that young people face — purpose in life.  I especially liked being given this glimpse into his life.  A fan of the series can expect that Liam will have an incredible story of his own one day and I appreciated being given insight into his evolving character.

Well written, sweet and moving the overarching story forward, this little gem of a novella will please fans of the Elder Races and provides a worthy coda to the events of SHADOW’S END.

WORTH MENTIONING: This is not a romance but rather part of the coming of age story for the amazing character of Liam.

CONNECTED BOOKS: LIAM TAKES MANHATTAN is book 9.5 of the Elder Races series.  It should be read after book 9 SHADOW’S END because it contains serious spoilers about that book.  It is also third of a trilogy of short novellas about the Cuelebre familly.  While readers don’t have to read the entire Elder Races series to enjoy this book, it would be better to at least read the prior books of the trilogy DRAGOS GOES TO WASHINGTON and PIA DOES HOLLYWOOD.

STAR RATING: I give this book 4.5 stars.

Shadow’s End by Thea Harrison
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This Book Made Me Cry for Pages

“You did not walk away from those you loved. You fought for them, always, with everything you had, even if it meant fighting the long fight, and staying the hardest, quietest, most difficult course.”

FINAL DECISION: Deeply emotional, SHADOW’S END has less of the Elder Races series humor and instead demonstrates more emotion and pain than any other book in the series. Beautiful. This book made me cry and cry and then ultimately smile with happiness.

THE STORY: Two hundred years ago, Grayden, gryphon and First Sentinel of the Wyr met and began to fall in love with Beluviel, consort to the Elven HIgh Lord. In a short time, the two found and lost one another when they ended up making a deal with the pariah Djinn Malphas. The two had to agree to forgo any potential relationship with one another. Now the deal is at a critical point and Bel and Grayden have to come together again in order to free themselves from the Djinn.

OPINION: SHADOW’S END brings together various threads in the Elder Races universe to dramatic effect. This is the saddest book in the series. Readers of the series should be prepared for the stakes in to be raised. There are casualties in the ongoing story and this book brings this home.

The love story between Graydon and Bel mirrors the intense sadness of this book. These two find one another and then almost immediately are separated. Their love story was already difficult because she was married to the Elven High Lord when they meet, but their choices are taken from them almost immediately. This leads to years of separation and loss.

“At times, he thought falling in love must be the loneliest experience in the world.”

I admit that I am a great fan of these poignant, angst filled romances. Bel and Graydon have a sweet and gentle connection. One of my favorite parts of the book is that after all the drama and angst, the book allows the reader to breathe at the end and see the aftermath of the dramatic storyline.

This one also neatly ties in lingering issues in the Elder Races universe. Claudia and Luis from NATURAL EVIL make appearances and explain some of the lingering questions from that novella. Also making significant appearances are Julian and Melly (MIDNIGHT’S KISS), Grace and Khalil (ORACLE’S MOON) and Rune and Carling (SERPENT’S KISS). Of course, Dragos, Pia and Liam also make appearances. I loved the blending of the storylines of these characters. This book feels like a progression in the story and some longstanding problems are finally resolved.

The end of this book gives readers an idea of the direction that the overarching storyline is going. I love this series and I look forward to continuing to see the characters I love and being introduced to new and interesting characters.

WORTH MENTIONING: Two words; preg. nant.

CONNECTED BOOKS: SHADOW’S END is the ninth novel in the Elder Races series. This book should be read as part of the series because it ties up threads from several other books and novellas.

STAR RATING: I give this book 4.5 stars.

View all my reviews