Veena’s review of Bay of Sighs (The Guardians, Book 2) by Nora Roberts
Fantasy Romance published by Berkley 14 Jun 16
Sasha and Sawyer’s magic has pointed the guardians to the Isle of Capri to begin their search for the next star. The quest gathers momentum, but the evil goddess, having lost the first battle, prepares for war and retaliation. Ms. Roberts is a gifted story teller, reeling her readers into the next chapter of the story…
Annika is the author’s version of an adult-flavored “Little Mermaid.” Her sweet innocence and bright, sunny nature made her a favorite in the first book, so I settled in to read her chapter in the quest. The chemistry between her and Sawyer is strong, but he seems to be able to maintain his distance while she goes about investigating how human relationships and sexuality work. Her questions of the other guardians are delightful, as she seeks to bring Sawyer to her bed.
Sawyer is the traveler. Thanks to his magic compass and watch, he can travel to any place in the world in any time period. I couldn’t help but be a bit envious at such a gift, since I love both history and traveling. He’s so afraid of getting swept away in Annika’s sexual lure and does his best to hold out for as long as he can, only to find that she actually makes him stronger.
Battles rage as Nerezza pits her evil minions against the guardians and Sasha’s visions of blood and death come to fruition. The guardians step up on their practice and preparation, creating their own magical weapons that allow them to withstand the evil forces that come against them. Threaded through the story is the transformation of Riley’s competitor whom Nerezza wins to her cause. It’s inevitable that the reader will pity the results, but it’s a great example of evil temptation and how it can have unexpected and ugly consequences.
The only thing the guardians know for sure is that the star is located in water and so they quarter the waters around the island every day looking for clues. I love the tongue-in-cheek location when its finally revealed. As the story is told, we see the six solidifying into a close-knit family. Sawyer and Annika spend some very intimate moments together as they express their love and look for a future that will allow them to be together after Annika loses her legs and has to return to the depths of the oceans.
I find this story slightly slow in patches, but I am waiting with bated breath to see how it all comes together in the final chapter.
Grade: B
Summary:
To celebrate the rise of their new queen, three goddesses of the moon created three stars, one of fire, one of ice, one of water. But then they fell from the sky, putting the fate of all worlds in danger. And now three women and three men join forces to pick up the pieces…
Mermaid Annika is from the sea, and it is there she must return after her quest to find the stars. New to this world, her purity and beauty are nothing less than breathtaking, along with her graceful athleticism, as her five new friends discovered when they retrieved the fire star.
Now, through space and time, traveler Sawyer King has brought the guardians to the island of Capri, where the water star is hidden. And as he watches Annika in her element, he finds himself drawn to her joyful spirit. But Sawyer knows that if he allows her into his heart, no compass could ever guide him back to solid ground…
And in the darkness, their enemy broods. She lost one star to the guardians, but there is still time for blood to be spilled—the mermaid’s in the water and the traveler’s on the land. For she has forged a dangerous new weapon. Something deadly and unpredictable. Something human.
No excerpt available.
Other books in this series:
