Veena’s review of Maid of Ice (Blood and Silver, Book 3) by Shona Husk
Fantasy Romance published by Lyrical Press 21 Nov 17
This interesting series features “ALBAH,” who are descendants of pixies or fairies with magical skills, who are hunted by human guardians because of their ability to create vampires who need blood to survive. The previous books in the series have featured an encounter of a violent nature with either a vampire or a guardian and the associated suspense with the hunt and capture.
Finlay Ryder has left it all behind and moved to the other side of the world to become an actor. It seems, however, that he might somehow have put himself in the crosshairs of either an obsessed fan or he’s been found out by a guardian. Read on to discover what’s really going on… Every book builds upon the previous book, like unpeeling layers of an onion and coloring in the picture in more detail. While this story has a lot of interesting elements, it did not appeal to me as much as the earlier two books in the series. Finlay is the eldest in the Ryder family but feels that he was procreated as the obligatory ALBAH son, therefore distancing himself from his father and his half brothers.
However, it seems that trouble has found him in Los Angeles. Recovering from a near fatal car crash, he has to wonder if he’s being stalked or hunted. Then his father drops a bombshell, asking him to investigate who is making vampires in California. During this period Finlay has met Alina, an ice skater who appears to have magical powers and yet does not look like an ALBAH. As it becomes clear that Alina has a hidden magical heritage that her controlling and obsessive mother has hidden from her, she teams up with Finlay to explore her family as well as the vampire maker.
Between the vampires, Alina’s mother, her plastic surgeon grandfather, and Finlay’s stalker, there are enough moving parts to give the reader’s neck a great work out. Unfortunately for me, the story seemed to lack depth. There is that almost instant love between the protagonists, both of whom did not appeal to me at all. It is gratifying to finally get some background perspective on the love story, or lack thereof, between Finlay’s parents that helped me emote somewhat with the characters.
I am sure that this is my problem, given my most recent slump in reading fulfillment, and not the fault of the author or the words and characters. I’ll wait and see what happens next with this series before I throw the towel in.
Grade: C
Summary:
Stalkers and death threats . . .
For Finlay Ryder, danger means playing a racecar driver on a daytime soap. That is, until he’s forced to reckon with his true identity as an Albah, a magical ancient race, by one of his own kind. Someone wants him dead. And worse, an ancient vampire is on the prowl, drawing blood left and right. Now, Finlay has no choice but to hunt enemies with unspeakable powers—or risk being hunted himself . . .. . . and that’s just the first date
Ice skater Alina Nyx is using her broken wrist as an excuse for a career change. And when she falls for handsome Finlay, Albah drama feels like her new full-time job. Learning about magic and vampires is exciting, until her life is threatened. Now, as she begins to uncover her own mysterious powers, she must combine forces with Finlay to eradicate their foes for good, or all Albah will suffer . . .
No excerpt available.
Other books in this series:
