The continuation of the book Maggie's Solstice. I think if you haven't read the previous book, you will not understand much this one.The continuation of the book Maggie's Solstice. I think if you haven't read the previous book, you will not understand much this one....more
Orc Chieftain Theros and his friends and comrade-in-arms are ready for a new adventure. After the Black Dragon's War was over, all of them count losseOrc Chieftain Theros and his friends and comrade-in-arms are ready for a new adventure. After the Black Dragon's War was over, all of them count losses. Beloved have died. Although people want to celebrate the defeat of the darkness, unfortunately the darkness has started gathering again its forces.
Theros, Dominar, Sharka, Kiriana and Nal'drin will face new monsters, new adventures and new challenges. The author adds more features in the already established complicated world of Dragon's Fire and the result is engaging and explosive. There is angst and tension and fast pace scenes that keep you on your toes.
And why not? There is also desperation and love.
The truth is that I love you and want to be with you more than anything in this accursed life, but I feel the whole damned world will fall apart if that happens. And everything is out of my control right now.
There are spiritual elements in the book, but to be honest I invested almost exclusively to the adventure and the fantasy elements. Friendship, faith, hope, trust and the strength to bounce back are the basic principles that contribute and showcase the core of this fantasy story.
I have to say that it is a tough, complex book to read and I highly recommend that you read Dragon's Fire firstly. If you like Tolkien’s books, you will definitely enjoy Beating Back the Darkness’ world.
(I received a copy in exchange for an honest review )...more
Before I read the book or even read the blurb, I was curious for the book title. What “Planet Dragos”? Does This is the end of the world as we know it
Before I read the book or even read the blurb, I was curious for the book title. What “Planet Dragos”? Does Dragos move to space or is he an alien? As if... Well, the answer is “No”and “No”.
Men might be from Mars, Pia said, and women could possibly be from Venus, but Dragos is a planet all on his own. Just look how everyone revolves around him. On Planet Dragos everything goes the way he arranges it—unless you decide to cross him, and God help you then, because he doesn’t know how to back down, and he doesn’t ever, ever let up.
The book title simply signifies the importance of Dragos and fundamentally, it signifies the importance of having a single dragon on Earth (Hint: There are currently two dragons on Earth. Maybe the balance has shifted?).
So this is a super significant book for this series and I have to say that this is the only book in the series that Dragos is the absolutely most important character.
Yes, there is Pia in this book. The very pregnant Pia who is almost psychotic: “And as you are well aware, I’ve read several books about pregnancy. I’ve decided to consider you somewhat insane until the baby is born.”
Yes, there is Stinky Pot and Liam around. “I was never that little, was I?” “Of course you were”
Yes, there is Carling and Rune in this book. The story revolves around their coming marriage in Las Vegas after all. Two comments here: 1.Who had this “brilliant” idea of getting married in Las Vegas with the magic dampeners all over the place? 2. Rune and Carling, I can finally say that I can forgive you for abandoning Dragos in the third book.
Yes, there is death around. Dragons and Death naturally always go around hand in hand. “But I am not the same beast I once was. Like you said, I have reached for life. I will not go back to that feral time.” “Not unless she dies.”
Yes, there are sentinels around. And other Wyrs, Vampires, Djinns, Elves. And all kinds of magical beings.
But where it matters, Dragos -the oldest being on planet Earth- has to fight alone mostly with himself and he needs to question his decisions, his actions, his life so far, his future.
“Once upon a time, there was a dragon who lived so long he saw the world fill up with all kinds of people and creatures, and they didn’t all get along. But the dragon was clever and good at adapting, so he stamped out his kingdom in this growing world, and he ruled it very well.” A hint of male satisfaction eased the tightness of his expression. Strolling over, he poured another scotch. “He did, didn’t he?”
Yes, this is Dragos' book. And if you are a fan of this series, you do NOT want to miss it!...more
Rarz or Razriel: An angel who is not exactly fallen or unfallen BUT he is still outside heaven and he is not allowOnce upon a time, in the future…
Rarz or Razriel: An angel who is not exactly fallen or unfallen BUT he is still outside heaven and he is not allowed to return and he is still brutally punished with whipping even in times he least expects it.
Jedda: A gem elf who creates gems from her blood every time she bleeds and may be the reason for Rarz’s punishment, although truly she is a good girl with the best intentions. And Rarz does not believe that she is not a demon. Because angels know everything and he knows that elves definitely do not exist.
Rarz and Jedda will be crazy in lust with each other from the second they meet. Jedda will feel compassion for him and he will want to look after her. Rarz will think that there is no way Jedda is a ruthless thief. Could their feelings develop and these two lovely lonely beings fall in love?
It is amazing how greatly and brilliantly after so many years and so many books, the world building is still ongoing and the Demonica World is still expanding.
A new realm in this book (the elves realm), new interesting characters: -A fallen angel, Shrike -A few Memitim, Suzanne and Hawkyn -An unfallen angel, Cipher (The Fabio wannabe) -A few important dhampires, Galen, Rhona and Isla (the Wardens, the Triad) -A lion shapeshifter who always comes back no matter how many times she dies, Lexi -And Jim Bob of course, who is this guy?
And we visit both the Sheoul Gra, where Azagoth is still the badass boss (I absolutely love Azagoth!) and Scotland where the dhampires live. Dhampires are both vampires and werewolves –in case you don’t remember. In Sin Undone, Conall Dearghul was a dhampire.
Most of the times, I am speechless when I read about all these magnificent creatures/monsters that the imagination of Larissa Ione’s creates.
I just wish that we have again some full length novels. I always feel hungrier and unsatisfied when I finish her books lately. Not enough pages.
Favorite quote, which shows the sublime humor of the Demonica world: “There’s a saying in Heaven,” he said lightly. “Angels keep their humor in their wings.” “So when they get cut off...” “So does their humor.” He shrugged. “Of course, fallen angels do grow wings eventually.” “But their sense of humor doesn’t grow back?” “Oh, it does. You just don’t want to be on the funny side of it.”
Demonica Underworld Book 4 Demonica Book 11.8 Lords of Deliverance Book 5.8...more
The author with his book delivers a promising, exciting, interesting world full of mythical creatures.
Aurion is into total war and Darnisi is next. ElThe author with his book delivers a promising, exciting, interesting world full of mythical creatures.
Aurion is into total war and Darnisi is next. Elves, orcs, dwarves and humans have been slain and the survivors are running away from their homes. Dragon Slayvin is responsible for the disaster. His army of Zenari is attacking and lay waste to each place, destruction and ruin. Mythical Minotaurs have crashed most of the resistance.
The refugees are still not safe. Most of the places that they are choosing for temporary or permanent place are still under attack. Actually, what you will mainly read in the book are the images of battles. The description of the characters is of secondary importance in comparison to the description of the epic battles.
Nevertheless, I had a number of my favorite characters in the book: The orc brothers Ogron and Theros (I loved the fact that the orcs are the good guys), Mistress Kiriana of the Brotherhood of the Unveiled Eye, Dominar the only true dwarven master smith, even king of elves Tua’Liluon (until a certain time that he disappointed me).
There is a prophecy about the hero who will defeat the dragon. The prophecy comes from the Brotherhood of the Unveiled Eye. They are the keepers of the Fate Scrolls, an ancient order for the protection of the prophetic writings of the Seraphim, beings from a lost age.
There will also be betrayal in the end, but I have high hopes for the traitor that he will be truly forgiven in the next books and he will come back as a hero.
The ultimate personal sacrifice and the forgiveness are important aspects of this book.
Fantasy lovers and Tolkien’s admires will be thrilled with this new, fascinating world which is pure fantasy, not romance.
(I received a copy of the book in exchange of an honest review)...more
"Do not push me, human." "I'll push you every bit much as you've pushed me."
Sophie met Nicholas through a vision, while she was Sophie and Nicholas
"Do not push me, human." "I'll push you every bit much as you've pushed me."
Sophie met Nicholas through a vision, while she was reading runes and she was concentrating on her near future. Nicholas was in a middle of a battle across the Atlantic, when he felt that someone was looking at him. Scared Sophie threw the stones away and the vision scattered.
Obviously the two of them did not have the best beginning in their relationship.
Things do not improve later on when Sophie travels at the border between England and Wales to try to be the owner of a spooky house that belonged to the man who saved her as a child and she meets Nicholas again face to face this time.
• Nicholas does not trust Sophie. • Sophie does not like Nicholas. • Nicholas keeps ordering around Sophie. • Sophie keeps pushing away Nicholas.
And suddenly and without thinking, they kiss. After that they cannot keep their hands and their mouths off each other.
Of course there will be “ordering around” and “pushing away” throughout the book, but there will be also sexual tension and mating tension. I just love it when a Wyr starts the mating process without realizing it and everybody is wondering what is wrong with him, because suddenly the Wyr becomes agitated, highly possessive and completely focused on his female.
The secondary characters are very interesting in this book: Nicholas’s comrades who just want to go back home to Lyonesse and feel safe, the highly magical Morgan who is the lackey of the cruel Light Queen Isabeu, Robin the puck and more monsters like deadly Hounds and lycanthropes.
Moonshadow is a spinoff of Elder Races. There are two main differences between the two series: a) The action takes place in England instead of USA, b) The characters do not belong to a particular Elder Race. They are mostly outcasts, partly Elder Race, partly human: -Sophie is described as “mostly human” and “highly magical”. We will find out at some point what she is partly. -Nicholas is almost a Wyr. Part man and part leopard and also “highly magical” -Nicholas’ friends are ABOMINATIONS, demons, challenging, impure, god’s monsters and part of the Dark Court: One is partly Gargoyle, two are dhampyres (the result of a union between a half-breed Fae or Elf and a human who is almost vampire), one is partly medusa, the rest have Wyr blood but they are not fully Wyr.
Thea Harrison is taking a break from Dragos and Pia, their children and their friends – although the book takes place in the same world. I am so happy because she has created once more an awesome new adventure that blew my mind.
I know that this is supposed to be a trilogy, but I strongly believe that THREE BOOKS ARE NOT ENOUGH....more
Let's begin from the beginning and let me state a few important facts that I noticed about this book cI have one word for this book: PHANTASMAGORICAL
Let's begin from the beginning and let me state a few important facts that I noticed about this book compared to the other Fantasyland books 1. The writing style of the book is different. There are multiple points of view in this book - mainly the points of view by Ilsa and Apollo. In previous books only the girl was describing her adventures (mostly with cheerful descriptions) and she was setting the pace of the book. 2. The book does not have big surprises. The parallel universe is more or less established. The readers know what to expect. The main couple is more self conscious. Apollo knows there is this alternative universe where everybody has a twin and he goes there to find his dead wife's twin and save her from her abusive husband. He knows what he is doing. Ilsa knows almost straight away that she is delivered in a land which is not earth and there is this man who is identical to her cruel husband only he is not him. There are no big surprises. They know. From the beginning. 3. The book is definetely darker. There is this magical place again with the snow, the elves, the dragons, the kingdoms, the amazing houses, castles, with the witches and the fairytale feeling. BUT there is also deep down soul darkness and brokenness. Ilsa is shattered. She had suffered domestic abuse by her husband and she had suffered rejection by her parents. Apollo is broken. He has lost the love of his life, the mother of his children. He has a half heart. The negative feelings and the dancing around the roots of these two peoples' true problems, made me finish the book later than I thought I would. I just could not make me myself finish it. It was darkening my soul as well. 4. The book is definetely more erotic. There are scenes between Apolo and Ilsa that will make you either blush or they will make you horny. Or maybe they will make you both, I don't know. BUT certainly their love scenes will be noticeable and remembered. The adela tea helps in the perfect first sex scene. There are also so many strong sexual plays between them throughout the book.
Let's talk about the main couple now: APOLLO: Hmm, well, hmm. For sure I liked him less than Frey, Lahn and Tor. Totally bossy, commanding, dictatorial, arrogant. And why not we use some other names? Let's call him also asshole and jerk. He was in love with his dead wife and he falls deeply in love for a second time in his life and he does not know how to handle it. ILSA: One word. Broken. She is the weakest of the female characters (Finnie, Circe and Cora) for the majority of the book. She keeps feeling empty. She is stronger in the beginning of the book (running away from Pol), but after a while she looses her purpose. She does one foolish thing after the other and Apollo is not helping. He makes her feel like dirt. He abuses her verbally. The first time she talks back to him, he retreats into anger and they do not talk for 4 days until she lays herself bared to him to short things out. APOLLO & ILSA: Thank god there is love in the end. Love words and apologies are exchanged. Apollo gives Ilsa safety, home laughter, kindness, good friends, his children, beautiful things like houses and jewels. Ilsa gives him her trust, her body and soul completely. They are both fixed in the end.
There is also Franca who is an interesting character and who speaks the truth in a way that does not make her likable. I love women who behave with lots of bitchiness, but it is almost certain they are hinding secrets and soft spots. I am looking forward to seeing her melting under the power of love in the next book of the series.
I cannot find enough words to recommend strongly this series to Fantacy books fans. If you love fantacy, read the books. The high quality and the depth of the books cannot be described. You will love them....more
Stories and magic worlds like this one make me realise why I absolutely ADORE fantasy books. There are so many things happening in the book that my heaStories and magic worlds like this one make me realise why I absolutely ADORE fantasy books. There are so many things happening in the book that my head is spinning. Finnie wants to live an epic adventure and meet again her parents who she adored but sadly she lost them when they she was young. When a witch mentions the existence of a parallel universe where everyone have their twin, Finnie decides to have the opportunity to exchange souls with her twin there and meet her parents again and spend some time with them before she gets back to her real life after a year. Finnie and the reader are transfered to a strange land full of magic, witches, bloodthirsty kings, epic adventures in the sea. What Finnie does not expect is to get married straight away to a guy who commands elves and dragons and to fall in love. Although there were times I wanted to strangle Frey, Finnie's husband and true love, I really enjoyed the book. Frey is almost barbaric, without manners. He never asks Finnie's opinion and he is hiding things from her which are influencing deeply her life. I only wish there were more dragons included in the book. Oh well still it was a great book and an epic full proportion adventure. Time to start next book in the series, which I heard it is awesome....more
The Elven high lady and the Sentinel gryphon. The fragile queen and the beastBeluviel and Graydon
"Eternity might be captured in a single kiss."
The Elven high lady and the Sentinel gryphon. The fragile queen and the beast.
Star crossed lovers kept away by an evil djinn, blackmailed to stay away for the sake of the wellbeing of Beluviel's son. There is everything in this book: adultery, true love, pain, fear for the future caused by visions of death, fighting, actual death, tension and sadness BUT true love is the winner in the end.
Perfect book for the fans of the series and the hopelessly romantic......more
"Can you control her?" "Of course I can control her," said Quentin nastily. "Every time she lets me."
Quentin CaeravornAryal and Quentin
"Can you control her?" "Of course I can control her," said Quentin nastily. "Every time she lets me."
Quentin Caeravorn is the winner of the Sentinel Games that took place during Lord's Fall. Dragos needed new sentinels after Rune and Diago abandoned him to ve with their mates and Quentin the panther will be the newest member of his little army. Aryal is a harpy and a Drago's sentinel for many many years. It is not easy for her to accept Quentin whom she also hates for her own reasons. Maybe because she knows that Quentin hinds secrets and maybe because she suspects that he is a bad guy.
This is a 'haters to lovers' story for these two powerful dominant creatures, so you will get all the sexual tension, the animal magnetism and the building up, until they get together.
For the main part of the book Aryal and Quentin are sent to a mission by the Dragos at the land of Elves, Nonmelaur in order to help any remaining Elves who survived Garvarel. They need to work together, so that they will survive. During this awesome adventure, they will learn so many things about themselves.
Another amazing book with a happy ending that takes place in the fantasy world Thea Harrison has created....more
Real life will start after the HEA of Dragon Bound. Dragos and Pia are happily mated with little peanut on his way. But nDragos and Pia - Part two
Real life will start after the HEA of Dragon Bound. Dragos and Pia are happily mated with little peanut on his way. But now it is also time to start behaving as a married couple i.e. communicate more, listen to each other more, take decisions together and report to their other half about their whereabouts.
Dragos needs to understand that Pia is his equal partner. So, when Pia wants to visit the Light Fae and re-establish the relations between the Wyr and the snotty Elves; Dragos has to let her do it - no matter how much worried he is for her safety.
The continuation of the story for one of the most beloved couples in PNR. This adventure will not be an easy one. Many fights, death and destruction. And yes, we will have another HEA but with a bittersweet taste for everything that was lost.
Dragos cannot definitely function and exist without Pia.
"You might just make me one the happiest men alive, if you don't kill me first"... "You always scare me, goddammit", he growled. "I've faced monsters and demons and nightmares that most people have never even heard of, but you have always scared me the most. We might make a list of pretty words that we can call each other or use in our relationship, but I don't feel pretty things for you. I feel things for you that are volcanic and dangerous, and I'm not safe at the best of times." ...more
Her eyes opened and she looked. His hard-edged features were raw, but his eyes had cleared, and they were… Steady. Adaman
Tiago and Tricks
Her eyes opened and she looked. His hard-edged features were raw, but his eyes had cleared, and they were… Steady. Adamant. Bedrock. “You will never lose me, faerie,” he said point-blank into her upturned face. “I love you too much.” Then he pushed his pelvis against her one last time in a slow, hard, voluptuous grind, and the explosion of pleasure was so intense it seared her soul as he destroyed her again. God, she adored him. He was such a walking, talking holocaust of a man.
Tiago and Tricks had been working for Dragos for hundreds of years, but they didn't interact much. Before this book, that is.
Thistle Tricks Periwinkle was handling the PR for the Wyr. But she is really Princess Niniane of the Dark Fae. Princess has been under the protection of Dragos, after her family had been murdered by her uncle. In this book, she decides to claim her throne, but she does not want to drag the Wyrs with her for political reasons. So she decides to do it by herself and she disappears. So in the end of last book, Tricks goes missing after an assassination attempt.
Tiago is the one who goes after her and all his protective instincts are suddenly awake.
“Tricks, what the hell? Seriously.” “I’m gonna be Queen, you know,” she said. “You gotta stop calling me Tricks. It makes me sound like a circus clown. And I don’t think I’ll be a highness for long, so you should practice calling me your majesty.” She hiccupped and waved a hand in the air. “You may begin.” “I notice how you’re ignoring the important part of what I said,” Tiago told her. He squatted and suddenly his upside-down face was in front of hers. “So I’ll repeat: what the hell?”
Tiago who is a sentinel and the head of Dragos' Wyr army. But once he was a god in Egypt. To an ancient people he was a god of storm and lightning, a prince of the sky. Tiago is a thunderbird, which means he transforms into a bird the size of an SUV.
Do you wanna know how Tiago looks like as a man?
She asked, “Has anybody ever told you, you look a lot like Dwayne Johnson?” He scowled. “Who the hell is Dwayne Johnson?” He tried to take the vodka bottle away from her. She clung to it. “You know, The Rock? Hot, sexy football player–wrestling guy turned movie actor? Only ... you’re a whole lot meaner.”
Do you want to know how Tiago looks like as a bird?
Then not twenty yards in front of her a gigantic bird of prey with a thirty-foot wingspan plummeted down. For one split second he was caught full in the headlights of the SUV, enormous wings splayed high in the air and razorlike sword-long talons outstretched. He was shaped like a golden eagle, but his color was a dark sooty black.
Needless to say, Tiago is the one that steals the show in this book. Tricks is sweet, funny and she really tries to hold her ground when Tiago behaves like a caveman.
The action moves from New York to Chicago and then to the Fae land of Arydal.
Tiago and Tricks will be a happily mated couple….
He wrapped both arms tight around her and crushed her back against his chest. Here was the necessary place. Now that he had reached it, he said, “Of course. Now I understand.” For the first time in his very long existence, Tiago knew what it meant to come home.