C2’s review of Shadow’s End (Elder Races, Book 9) by Thea Harrison
Paranormal romance released by Berkley 01 Dec 15
Faithful reader, you know Thea Harrison’s Elder Races series is one of my very favorites. It’s such a rich, interesting world. Ms. Harrison’s take on the usual fantasy/paranormal races are just different enough to make everything feel fresh.
I’ll admit I have never paid much attention to Graydon. I mean, he has always been a solid background character, but I had never wondered about his backstory and whatnot. So I never suspected he was pining for Beluvial, the High Elven Lord’s consort…or that something happened hundreds of years ago to keep them apart. Intrigued?? Keep reading!
I shall sum up the plot set-up: Beluviel’s stepson got into trouble with a renegade Djinn and Bel and Gray rescued him. But they all remained entangled with Malphas (the renegade Djinn who has caused trouble in previous books). The details are left for you to read yourself, faithful reader…you know you want to. Suffice it to say that getting out of debt with a less-than-honorable Djinn is no easy feat and requires a lot of plotting and planning. And even then, success is NOT guaranteed.
I wasn’t expecting as much backstory as we got in Shadow’s End. Most of the book takes place in Regency England and tells us how the mess happened. The rest of the book is trying to get everyone out of trouble alive. I won’t spoil anything, but there is a whale of a battle at the end of the book. Wow!
Overall, this book is much more somber in tone than previous Elder Races books – which makes sense. The two main characters have been pining for more than two hundred years! And I always enjoy authors writing outside their typical genre – the Regency-set portion is really well done! I would totally read a straight-up Regency from Ms. Harrison.
A lot of pretty major stuff happens at the end and big changes are set up for the series as it goes forward. I think I read that this book closes out the first big arc of the series and sets things up for the next. And I say YAY!
Does this book stand alone? I think yes. Certainly you should read the whole series – things will mean more and make more sense – but enough explanation of the world is provided for it make sense without reading any of the others. My advice, though? Read Dragon Bound (the first book in the series), at least. SO. GOOD.
My grade: B+
Summary:
For Beluviel, consort to the Elven High Lord, and Graydon, gryphon and First Sentinel of the Wyr, even the slightest desire for each other is forbidden. But two hundred years ago, after a desperate play to save Beluviel’s stepson left them indebted to the cruel Djinn Malphas, they found their fates inexorably linked together—and the hunger between them growing too strong to ignore…
Two centuries later, with their debt to Malphas coming due, Beluviel and Graydon realize that, if they are to stand any chance of saving their souls, they must once again work together—this time more closely than ever before. But every moment they spend with each other brings them nearer to losing something even more vital—their hearts…
No excerpt available.
Other books in the series:
