Veena’s review of The Changeling Soldier (The Court of Annwyn, Book 2.5) by Shona Husk
Paranormal Fantasy Romance short story published by Shona Husk 29 May 14
This is a short story set in the time period immediately following the last book in the series. As is the nature of short stories, it has a strong compelling beginning, little or no middle and a rushed ending. While it is important to have read the earlier books in the series to understand the events that are alluded to in this story, the characters are new and stand alone to the series so far.
Ella, once a court fairy, has now lived more than three centuries in the human world, making a living as a world-famous fashion designer. She bestows good fortune on each of her clients in the seams of the gowns she creates for them. Melody has some inkling that Ella might be more that what she appears and desirous of the fame and fortune that visits all of Ella’s clients’ contracts to have a gown made by Ella.
Isaac Norton is Melody’s half-brother and, unbeknownst to himself, a changeling. Thanks to his half blood he can see other fairies, which earned him quite a few beatings before he learned to keep his mouth shut. Melody, however, believes there may be more to Isaac’s stories than just make believe and is determined to capture a fairy and use them to her benefit, little understanding that all those dark fairy tales about mortal bargains with fairies are more true than not.
Isaac, though, knows that Ella is a fairy right away and also knows that his fate is tied to hers in some way, since he has been dreaming about her and about an epic battle fought with ancient weapons. He too makes his own bargain with Ella that will allow him to survive the coming cataclysm, as the power shifts in Annwyn and a new fairy king takes the throne.
Bargains are made and battles are fought and Ella and Isaac end up on the winning side, but it is a bit disconcerting to know who the winner really is. Since I imagine the battle and its outcome are definitely a large part of the next book, I do understand the author’s desire to keep the cat in the bag and yet it leaves me feeling like the story is incomplete. I am also left a bit unclear about the author’s motives with regard to this story at this time, so I will hold my peace until after the next book is released.
Grade: C
Summary:
Her time in the mortal world is running out…
After fleeing Annwyn three centuries ago, Ella built a life in the mortal world making gowns for European royalty and playing in mortal intrigues. Now those Courts are long gone, and she dresses Hollywood starlets. Mortals come and go, but Ella always ends up alone. She longs for the home she left behind.He’s been dreaming of the coming battle all his life…
Isaac Norton is a returned soldier. Now home, he’s restless and his recurring dream is becoming more frequent: he’s fighting on a snow-covered field stained with blue blood. When he sees Ella, he knows she isn’t human. And she knows what he is, a changeling.Ella can give Isaac the answers he needs, but there will be a price to pay: his soul.
No excerpt available.
Other books in this series:
