Ash’s review of Dangerous Highlander by Donna Grant
Paranormal romance published by St. Martin’s Paperbacks 29 Dec 09
Mixing paranormal with highlanders is something that will draw me in every time, so Dangerous Highlander quickly found it’s way into my TBR pile. The first in the Dark Sword series, Donna Grant sets up a world that quickly gets shaken up and I was glad to go along for the ride.
After reading it, my feelings are mixed but I am hopeful for the series. My first feeling about it was that it was a comfort read, something I could sink into while real life fades away. Then we were given a glimpse of weird crazy witch hair sex and it took me way out of the story. It seemed to go that way throughout the story.
Lucan is a Warrior, a three hundred year old Highlander who has a god inside of him. In his case, he has Apodatoo, god of revenge. When he unleashes his god, it makes him to turn completely black and grow fangs and claws. The same goes for his two brothers, Fallon and Quinn. Lucan is easy to like, he’s mastered his god and is really the only stable one out of his brothers. I do feel like the other two are more interesting, and it seems Lucan is just there to fill in a space. He ends up saving Cara from falling from off a cliff, and so starts their romance. Cara is not totally your typical historical heroine. She doesn’t run screaming into the night when she first learns that there is more in the world than she knew, and she isn’t scared of things she probably should be. Though she does have her moments, such as running away from the big strong Warriors who can keep her safe, in order to protect them. She is, however, an eighteen year old virgin orphan who grew up in a nunnery, so I felt she was allowed to have a few less than bright ideas.
The big bad in this story is Deirdre, a witch who unleashed the gods within the brothers. We get only a few, but creepy, scenes with her and I felt like it wasn’t enough. We are told she’s bad, but we never really see it. We don’t even really know what exactly she did while she had the brother’s captive. The only thing that stands out about her is that she does some very unnatural things with her hair. The danger always seemed to be in the background, and the final fight scene left me wanting.
In the end I liked Cara, and her scenes with Lucan are what made him interesting. The story as a whole was a bit up and down. I feel like I still need more information on what is going on with the Warriors, magic, and especially Deirdre. She is someone I find equally fascinating and disturbing and I wanted more of her. The emotional conflicts the other two brothers, and the evil plans that Deirdre have in store turned out to be more interesting than Lucan and Cara’s romance.
This story is obviously just the beginning, and with at least two more books in the series it looks like we will have to wait for the real action to start. It is a pleasant read, but I don’t think it sticks out among the paranormal genre. However, Donna Grant has captured my attention with the possibilities of where it could go. I would like to continue with to see where it ends up, and I am especially looking forward to Quinn’s book.
Grade: C+
First in a breathtaking new series, the bold and passionate Lucan MacLeod—one of three brothers cursed by dark magic for eternity—is driven by desire for the one woman he dare not let himself possess…
He is magnificently strong—and dangerously seductive. One of the fiercest of his clan, Lucan MacLeod is a legend among warriors, inspiring fear in man and woman alike. For three hundred years, he has locked himself away from the world, hiding the vengeful god imprisoned in his soul. But then, a young lass caught in a raging storm awakens his deepest impulses…and darkest desires.
Cara doesn’t believe the rumors about MacLeod castle—until the majestic Highland warrior appears like a fiery vision in the storm, pulling her into his powerful arms, and into his world of magic and Druids. An epic war between good and evil is brewing. And Lucan must battle his all-consuming attraction for Cara—or surrender to the flames of a reckless, impossible love that threatens to destroy them both…
released May 25
Ash’s review coming soon!
