When top paranormal authors like J.R. Ward, Nalini Singh and Christine Feehan pimp your books, I’m expecting to be blown way when I flip the cover open. I’m not quite sure if it’s because I was expecting so much, but this book didn’t completely rock my socks off. I still really enjoyed it, but around 200 pages in, I finally accepted that maybe this wasn’t what I was expecting.
Before this, I was rereading one of my all-time favourite books, Singh’s
Angels’ Blood. I’ve heard from others who have read this book that Dragos reminds them of Raphael. I can see some similarities with Dragos being the most powerful being in a powerful city and also the fact that he has some loyal sentinels who would do anything for him. But other than that, I thought Dragos was more in tune with the current culture. He has a great sense of humor despite the fact that he’s the most feared being in the city. And I loved that he was willing to bend a little when it came to Pia.
Pia finds herself in a lot of trouble in the beginning of this book. And although I like her snarky attitude and independence, she didn’t really stand out to me as a heroine. I
liked her, but I wasn’t completely enthralled by her. If you asked me why I didn’t fall in love with her, I wouldn’t be able to explain. Sometimes, when you read a book, you instantly fall in love with a hero or heroine and the book just carries you. Dragos grabbed my interests, but things never really took off with Pia for me. Simply put, this book cruised rather than soared.
There are, however, two or three characters that I am dying to know more about! I LOVED RUNE AND TRICKS! Dragos’s First sentinel and his PR faerie made a great first impression on me! I loved the idle banter between Dragos and his First. It was endearing and upbeat, making the book feel like a quick read. And I absolutely adored Tricks’s bright, sunshine attitude. She was wonderful. And then there’s Graydon who was such a
cupcake! I would love to read more about these characters.
What I also loved about this book is all the different “species” – dragons, elves, goblins, fae. It’s such a wonderful mix and I can already see the potential that Harrison has created for herself. I’m sensing that she can write about half a dozen more books with the worldbuilding she has done with this first book in the series. With this solid instalment in her new paranormal romance series, I’m sure that Thea Harrison will be a hot new name in the paranormal romance genre!
